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害羞草研究所檛 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害羞草研究所檚 impactful message Thursday (Oct. 21).
The following is what the young girl wrote:
害羞草研究所淭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害羞草研究所檚 kind of like when a tree gets cut down and it害羞草研究所檚 just left there and forgotten. That害羞草研究所檚 how I felt. Left there with damage, by myself.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 like some people think that because I害羞草研究所檓 black, because I害羞草研究所檓 not white, I am just something. An object. But what害羞草研究所檚 real is that it doesn害羞草研究所檛 matter what your skin looks like. You害羞草研究所檙e beautiful just the way you are. The most important things about me are my funniness and my kindness. I害羞草研究所檓 proud that I stick up for people. I speak up for people. I害羞草研究所檓 a safe place for someone.
害羞草研究所淪omeday, I害羞草研究所檓 going to dance en pointe. Someday people are going to see me 害羞草研究所� that I害羞草研究所檓 brave and I害羞草研究所檓 smart and I害羞草研究所檓 good and I害羞草研究所檓 strong, that I害羞草研究所檓 a sister and a daughter, that I害羞草研究所檓 sensitive and I害羞草研究所檓 funny, that I like to laugh, and I like to make people laugh. That I害羞草研究所檓 more than Black. But there害羞草研究所檚 nothing wrong with being Black. I害羞草研究所檓 happy that maybe this doesn害羞草研究所檛 happen as much anymore, that maybe some people don害羞草研究所檛 know it still happens. It害羞草研究所檚 not funny. It doesn害羞草研究所檛 matter where you heard it or who said it or if you read it on the Internet. It doesn害羞草研究所檛 matter how they meant it. It害羞草研究所檚 racism. It hurts. I害羞草研究所檓 a person, and I matter.害羞草研究所�
The bullying happened days before Eevah害羞草研究所檚 birthday, and Paddon took the opportunity to gather birthday wishes from women of colour in the BC government, 害羞草研究所渟o that she (Eevah) could see and hear that racism is not winning.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚 thank them for the real difference that they made to this young girl in Chilliwack-Kent,害羞草研究所� Paddon said. 害羞草研究所淭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.害羞草研究所�
eric.welsh@theprogress.com
Like us on
