'Stand Up For What's Right'

From John Severino of Fairport Harbor, Ohio, comes this meditation on racism.  John wrote this in his eighth grade English class last spring after reading The Year of Goodbyes.  I hope he continues to urge people to "stand up for what's right," as he says in his poem.

Racism

One problem in our society
Today
Is racism.  
Racism is the prejudice
Or discrimination directed against someone of a
Different race
Based on a belief.
Some people think racism doesn’t go on
But even in America
Racism is still a factor of the
Violence
That goes on today. Many people commit
Suicide because of
People bullying
Them just because of their
Skin being a different color.  So if you are against
Racism then you will
Stand up
For what’s
Right.