By: Kaylie Barreda
“Back in the times of the Civil Rights Movement, people were being discriminated against just because they existed. Just because they were different. You’re all very fortunate to be born in this day and age, it’s all very progressive now.” Mrs.Collins said.
Ashley sat at her desk and wrote down notes with haste, she had always been a good student in school and she was planning on going to college. Her life was just beginning, she just had to get through high school first.
“Psst… shit wait what’d you say her name was? Hey Maria…no, it’s not Maria,” A voice mumbled.
“I think her name is Ashley,” Another voice said.
“Nah, I don’t think it can be that. It doesn’t fit her.” The first voice said.
“Just try it.”
“Hey Ashley?,” The voice asked.
Ashley pulled her eyes away from the slideshow and faced the voice.
“Yeah?,” Ashley said.
“Do you have a pencil I could borrow, por favor?,” The voice smiled.
Ashley didn’t react, she just nodded and reached into her bag for the extras she keeps at the bottom of it.
Ashley handed the person her pencil.
“Gracias, you’re the best.”
Ashley nodded and faced the board again- she sighed. Ashley thought, did they just? She just shook her head. She continued to write her notes, but only managed to get half of the slide down before Mrs.Collins would switch it.
The voice would just keep saying, “Gracias” and, “Por Favor.”
Ashley scribbled down notes harshly. Her lead tip had snapped.
The clock on the wall was ticking away at its own pace.
Tick…tock…tick…tock.
Ashley bit her lip.
Tick…tock…tick…tock
Ashley put down her pencil and folded her arms.
Tick…tock…tick…tock
Ashley looked down into her lap and her hair fell into view. Her eyes focused on the hair in front of her, it was like she hadn’t seen it before. It was too brown, and too dull.
She touched her hair and twisted the curls on themselves.
How odd.
She looked at her last name on the page and cringed.
How exotic.
She stared at her arms and pulled her sleeves down immediately.
How different.
Mrs.Collins continued her lecture, “…but things are better now. People are way more accepting of different ethnicities and races. We’re all more aware of others and we try to be conscious about the things that we say to one another. It’s all very progressive.”
An interesting discussion is definitely worth comment. I do believe that you should publish more about this subject, it might not be a taboo matter but usually people do not talk about such issues. To the next! Cheers!