Powerful words from a Chilliwack child filled the BC Legislature this week.
Eevah Macdonald, an 11-year-old student from the Chilliwack-Kent area, has been the target of racism and bullying at school, and her mother, Marina, posted about the incidents on Facebook.
Chilliwack-Kent MLA Kelli Paddon saw those posts and reached out to the Macdonald family.
Eevah was invited to visit the BC Legislature, and while she wasn香蕉视频直播檛 able to address MLAs directly in the House, she was asked to put pen to paper, writing a statement for Paddon to read.
Paddon delivered Eevah香蕉视频直播檚 impactful message Thursday (Oct. 21).
The following is what the young girl wrote:
香蕉视频直播淭hey said because I am black, I should go kill myself, that I should be an example for other black people to do the same. They said that I am like a dog. It香蕉视频直播檚 kind of like when a tree gets cut down and it香蕉视频直播檚 just left there and forgotten. That香蕉视频直播檚 how I felt. Left there with damage, by myself.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 like some people think that because I香蕉视频直播檓 black, because I香蕉视频直播檓 not white, I am just something. An object. But what香蕉视频直播檚 real is that it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 matter what your skin looks like. You香蕉视频直播檙e beautiful just the way you are. The most important things about me are my funniness and my kindness. I香蕉视频直播檓 proud that I stick up for people. I speak up for people. I香蕉视频直播檓 a safe place for someone.
香蕉视频直播淪omeday, I香蕉视频直播檓 going to dance en pointe. Someday people are going to see me 香蕉视频直播� that I香蕉视频直播檓 brave and I香蕉视频直播檓 smart and I香蕉视频直播檓 good and I香蕉视频直播檓 strong, that I香蕉视频直播檓 a sister and a daughter, that I香蕉视频直播檓 sensitive and I香蕉视频直播檓 funny, that I like to laugh, and I like to make people laugh. That I香蕉视频直播檓 more than Black. But there香蕉视频直播檚 nothing wrong with being Black. I香蕉视频直播檓 happy that maybe this doesn香蕉视频直播檛 happen as much anymore, that maybe some people don香蕉视频直播檛 know it still happens. It香蕉视频直播檚 not funny. It doesn香蕉视频直播檛 matter where you heard it or who said it or if you read it on the Internet. It doesn香蕉视频直播檛 matter how they meant it. It香蕉视频直播檚 racism. It hurts. I香蕉视频直播檓 a person, and I matter.香蕉视频直播�
The bullying happened days before Eevah香蕉视频直播檚 birthday, and Paddon took the opportunity to gather birthday wishes from women of colour in the BC government, 香蕉视频直播渟o that she (Eevah) could see and hear that racism is not winning.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淚 thank them for the real difference that they made to this young girl in Chilliwack-Kent,香蕉视频直播� Paddon said. 香蕉视频直播淭hen, we invited her here so that we could show her that her voice can be a powerful vehicle for change. It was certainly powerful to meet Eevah and hear her words.香蕉视频直播�
eric.welsh@theprogress.com
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