“Pity the Racist, it is Us”

Author: Brian MD, RRU Student

I have heard the alarm, I have rang the bell
To warn those good people who are afraid like me
I have so much to lose, I know not what it could be.
Why should I change, what must I learn
Is there something lesser about me?
What if I can’t, what if I am replaced
I don’t know their intent, I cannot see.
But surely, I must know their minds, I must know their kind
Because they are different than me.

Senses of discrimination

Author: Sophia Palahicky, RRU Staff & Associate Faculty

Watch with me. Our actions bequeath reasons to,
See with me. The subtle expressions that thrive as you,
View with me. Living places for unity’s dew.

Say with me. Our words bestow questions to,
Speak with me. The vibrant utterance that lingers as you,
Shout with me. Living souls exclaim “no more” in lieu.

Listen with me. Our voices impart values to,
Stay quiet with me. The resounding exclamation that declares as you,
Hear with me. Living voices bid exclusion adieu.

Feel with me. Our expressions expend flame to,
Hurt with me. The hatred dissipates when you,
Crave with me. Living spaces for inclusion anew.

Retention of Importance

Author: James, RRU Student

There’s a tortured soul by officer, authority and crown,
Hounded by medical dogs and colluding goons, seeing
Chastisement, patient-blame, and non-compliance.
Records shared, commander demanding, privacy obscenity,
Justified and correctified, as matching prejudgment.

We own your mind and this tome of notes! The worst of a nurse.
The wretch, a witchy curse, smoking, lurching, belching, burping.
The most improbable ilk, impervious to guilt, an ignorant bunch.
Scathing reports, gullible gossip, wrought discrimination,

Awards a sentence to the patient; you are human error.
Warping minds discover diagnosis, proudly proclaiming prognosis.
A wicked wizard, at his behest, dictates death upon the afflicted.
The corrupted, powerfully delirious, judge the alleged addicted.

Oh ye mighty authority, sneering lip, sunken face.
A colossal wreck you reap, you disgraceful sheep.
Self-awarding, self-promoting, generals gloating.
Strategic nothing, optics fussing, abuse of authority.
We retain this colossal, Canadian wreck.

Questions

Author: P.J. Kent, RRU Student

How can it be the colour?
How can it be gender?
How can it be age?
How can it be sex?
That determines our worth.

Why can’t it be thoughts?
Why can’t it be actions?
Why can’t it be values?
Why can’t it be character?
That defines our being.

What will it take to change the world?
What will it take to stop the hatred?
What will it take to remove the judgement?
Which keeps the ignorance alive.

Who must act?
Who must question their own beliefs?
Who must stand up and take a stand?
The questions are many, the answer is one.

It is me.

A Diverse Palette is Our Peace

Authors: MAGL (2020), RRU Students

Once within the grave of time
Begins a story of unimaginable crime
When
Shaking, shaking hearts combine
Peacefully marching, shoulders braced against apartheid
Causing no evil-committing no crime
Yet one by one they fall, then die
At the jaws of lions, filled with pride

Can
The Golden Rule not apply
When discrimination distinctly denies
and disunifies
“Us”

So despite our differences deliver us from evil
And
Stop this hate rising, history repeating
Words wield the flail
Of a lashing tail
With silence, complicit silence, suffocating
“Them”
Drums of Peace, THUNDER
Stand
Bow for Sharpeville, stand side by side
Mothers, fathers, brothers, wives
Stand together from different sides
Determined
To love them (us) because of our differences
Together, slowly, purposefully, streets are lined
Shaking, shaking, hearts collide
Voices question the senseless dying:
A world without difference would be boring, undefined!
When can we move forward? When can we align?
Can we celebrate, not alienate?

Slowly, slowly colours of peace align
Shaking, shaking, hearts unwind
Delightful diversity in all our minds
To
Create
A
Peaceful
Palette