Prejudice and Pride

Over The Rainbow

Maisie made her way through the sea of students who had gathered in the quad. The turnout had been huge for the event Kai had invited her to, the week before. She searched the crowd for a sign of Kai but there was none. Instead, she found a spot towards the front of the gathering area.

"Hey," a boy she had never met approached her.

"Hi," Maisie smiled.

He handed her a flyer.

"Take one. It has a lot more information on all the upcoming rallies and events, if you're interested."

"Oh thank you. Um, actually I'm looking for someone named Kai. I haven't run into her yet. I'm sorry, I'm a little late"

"She's the keynote speaker. Don't worry, you didn't miss her. She's up next."

Maisie nodded in appreciation as she continued to wait. There were so many people there. She couldn't imagine having to talk in front of all of them and she didn't know how Kai was going to get it done. After a few minutes, a girl Maisie didn't recognize, took the stage

"Thank you all for coming today. We have an amazing turnout on what is such an important day to discuss so many important issues. We hope you've enjoyed your time here and had a chance to meet fellow students and lend your voice and support to one or more of these important issues. And without further ado, today's keynote speaker...Kai Aponte."

The crowd erupted into as Maisie looked around and joined them. Kai took the stage with a smile and a nod, a portrait of confidence. Maisie couldn't help but be wowed just like everyone else. She wore a one sleeved black shirt with a rainbow flag on it, ripped jeans, and boots. Her make up was flawless, with bold, smoky eyes and black lipstick. She looked amazing.

"Thanks, guys. It's so awesome to be here, to look out into this audience and see all these beautiful faces. I feel so humbled and honored to be able to speak to you all today. You've heard from the other speakers and I, like them, implore you to get involved. The old saying goes, 'Stand for something or fall for anything'. Well, we are the future. And we live in a world of pure beauty. But the most dangerous things we can do, guys, is to live in this world, to live our lives without awareness. Today, we will take a stand and together, stand up for something important, for something  farbigger than all of us.

We rightfully denounce the evilness and ugliness of slavery from 400 yeas ago but my friends, what about the servitude that exists today? Did you know there are an estimated 400,000 enslaved human beings, as we speak? There's debt bondage, where individuals are made to work for free to pay off a debt. Then child slavery, forced marriage, domestic servitude, sex trafficking, and forced labor, where victims are forced to work through violence and coercion.

And then there's the environment. The water we drink and the air we breathe. There are so many worldwide environmental problems going on in the world today. The drastic increase in global warming, pollution and deforestation pose the greatest danger to biodiversity. Polluted water not only causes monumental financial difficulties, but it is literally killing human and marine life. Our very survival depends on plants and trees and the oxygen, food, water and medicine they provide for every single one of us. Then there's climate change. We hear that one all the time, huh? Well, you know what, guys? Climate change is real. Science is real. And if we don't wake up and do something right now, in the next 15 to 20 years, Mother Earth will suffer radically from global warming..."

The students cheered and clapped. Of course, Maisie had heard of climate change but it was something her church had deemed as nothing more than a liberal hoax.

"...Look around you, everybody. The trees and the greenery and the blue sky. Every day we go to class, the courses of our choice, and we learn and work towards a college degree. Some would say we're lucky, privileged even. There are countries, even today, where girls are not afforded the opportunity to even elementary education simply because they are girls. Then in our own country, kids and adults who can't afford college and those that do, end up the rest of their lives paying back insane amounts of student loan debt.