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 wasn91裸聊视频檛 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 Eevah91裸聊视频檚 impactful message Thursday (Oct. 21).
The following is what the young girl wrote:
91裸聊视频淭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. It91裸聊视频檚 kind of like when a tree gets cut down and it91裸聊视频檚 just left there and forgotten. That91裸聊视频檚 how I felt. Left there with damage, by myself.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 like some people think that because I91裸聊视频檓 black, because I91裸聊视频檓 not white, I am just something. An object. But what91裸聊视频檚 real is that it doesn91裸聊视频檛 matter what your skin looks like. You91裸聊视频檙e beautiful just the way you are. The most important things about me are my funniness and my kindness. I91裸聊视频檓 proud that I stick up for people. I speak up for people. I91裸聊视频檓 a safe place for someone.
91裸聊视频淪omeday, I91裸聊视频檓 going to dance en pointe. Someday people are going to see me 91裸聊视频� that I91裸聊视频檓 brave and I91裸聊视频檓 smart and I91裸聊视频檓 good and I91裸聊视频檓 strong, that I91裸聊视频檓 a sister and a daughter, that I91裸聊视频檓 sensitive and I91裸聊视频檓 funny, that I like to laugh, and I like to make people laugh. That I91裸聊视频檓 more than Black. But there91裸聊视频檚 nothing wrong with being Black. I91裸聊视频檓 happy that maybe this doesn91裸聊视频檛 happen as much anymore, that maybe some people don91裸聊视频檛 know it still happens. It91裸聊视频檚 not funny. It doesn91裸聊视频檛 matter where you heard it or who said it or if you read it on the Internet. It doesn91裸聊视频檛 matter how they meant it. It91裸聊视频檚 racism. It hurts. I91裸聊视频檓 a person, and I matter.91裸聊视频�
The bullying happened days before Eevah91裸聊视频檚 birthday, and Paddon took the opportunity to gather birthday wishes from women of colour in the BC government, 91裸聊视频渟o that she (Eevah) could see and hear that racism is not winning.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚 thank them for the real difference that they made to this young girl in Chilliwack-Kent,91裸聊视频� Paddon said. 91裸聊视频淭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.91裸聊视频�
eric.welsh@theprogress.com
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