The Color Club

The Note

I removed my hand from my mouth. "This is a note someone gave me the day it happened."
It read:
"Dear 'Innocent' Little Black Girl,
No one freaking likes you. You should stop and just leave our school. Do us all a favor and get the hell out of here. Honestly, no one gives a crap about you so what's the point of even coming to school. We never want to see your ugly face ever again.

-Alexis"

I just stared at the note. How could someone be this mean?

"I beat her up," Ariel said after a long pause.

"What?!" I said, again half-screaming.

"I had to. There was just so much anger," Ariel sighed and looked out the bus window, "She was the leader of that group that almost ate you alive. From that day on, no one messed with me. It's crazy how fast word gets around."

"I wish I could know why everyone couldn't just get along. If people knew...what would happen? Would other people stand up for us? Or are we just expected to solve everything ourselves?" I thought aloud.

The bussed stopped and I had to get off. I said goodbye to Ariel and entered my house with a large frown on my face.

"What's wrong?" my mom asked.

"It's nothing..." my voice trailed off. I ran to my room and started eating. I don't know why, but whenever I have a problem I just eat anything I can find. It's weird, but it helps me think, too.

I started thinking about Ariel's note. Why do people care so much about what color you are? It's like saying "you're 6'2 which means you should leave the school forever." We all have differences. Why can't people put it aside and just get along?

There was this feeling in my gut. It seemed to say, "Alisha, you need to stop this. You will make a difference.

"But I can't," I would say back, "who would listen to me?"

"You need to make friends. Show people it's okay to have friends of all colors. Go out of your comfort zone."

Thank you, strange gut voice...or conscience...