Page 102 - Poems by Alyson Malach - Childhood to Adulthood

Awareness of racism in existence

It may appear underground but believe me it is not

Though racism was outlawed, it never disappeared,

For some, it went underground, or so it appeared.

But those who are diverse, in skin and in name,

Still face a harsh world where the rules are not the same.
Black males are over-policed, statistics lay bare,

Stopped and searched more often, with justice unfair.

A Black child in school, disciplined twice as much,

Education’s disparity, a systemic touch.
In the realm of employment, biases still hold sway,

Black candidates overlooked, kept at bay.

The health service too, shows a troubling divide,

With poorer outcomes for those darker in stride.

Social care’s no better, prejudice in the mix,
Services delivered through a racialised fix.

Day to day, microaggressions persist,

Invisible to some, yet they do exist.

Racism did not vanish, it’s cloaked in new guise,

Seen in numbers and stories, and in people’s eyes.

For those not diverse, it may seem out of view,

But for many, it’s a constant, it’s painfully true.

So, let’s not be fooled by the silence or calm,

Racism’s roots run deep, and it does great harm.

We must stay vigilant, with hearts open wide,
To uproot this injustice, stand by each side.

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