We’re all different…
Why would society want us all the “same”?
Who says we can’t be ourselves—
Fake…
It’s what society wants
Tall, skinny…”Barbie-figured”
It’s all skin and bones!
Blue eyes…blonde hair,
Don’t care…right?
What about…the other parts of society?
Plus-sized,
Dark skin,
How about petite-sized?
They don’t matter…what you mean?
It’s what makes and creates diversity.
I’m not blue-eyed nor fully bone and skin…but I’m
still part of society,
I want to show the young girls it’s okay to be
who you are!
‘Cuz I’m human,
Not all models are perfect…
I’m a model
We’re all models who shine like the sexiness of diamonds
And we can all be on magazines!
— Aleanna G., Grade 10, Listening to the Trees
This anthology is a collection of poetry written by 10th grade students at the High School of Fashion Industries in Manhattan. After studying works by poets such as Audre Lorde, Lucille Clifton, Danez Smith, and Mahogany Browne, these young writers challenged themselves to turn their passion for social justice into poetry. From exploring the personal as political to demanding systemic change, these authors fights wholeheartedly for their beliefs.
