“Children and young people are perhaps the key to realizing true racial unity,” wrote Mike Lang, one of the organizers of the 12th Annual Race Unity Rally held June 7 at the Statehouse. “Young people tend to ignore superficial differences, and make friends with people from all strata of society — a key component to building unity and interracial understanding.”

To highlight the openness and idealism of children, the Baha’i community sponsors a Children’s Race Unity Art and Poetry Contest in conjunction with the unity rally. Some of the winning entries are published here.

People of the gate
By Curtis Penfold Auburn High School, grade 12

From womb to tomb, we pass through gates the same, and yet here we spend our entire lives as if we’ve gone through different gates We cry, we laugh, we grow, we learn, we love — all of us going from gate to gate But he’s black and he’s yellow and he’s gay and he’s an atheist and we forget the gates we’ll leave through.

If we all remembered that we’re all human our journey would be that much easier our lives would mean that much more

In my community
By Adrian Haley Matheny-Withrow School, Grade 4

In my community we need to change a couple of things.

We need to change the way we disagree with each other. We should help the poor, until poor doesn’t exist any more. We need to change the littering and the destruction Caused by not caring and poor instruction.

We need to always go to school and do something with our life. After all, when we don’t give back it causes strife.

This is not just for one, but for one and all. In my community no one should be small.

If you want race unity
By Kathy Harold-Murray Matheny-Withrow School, Grade 4

If you want race unity in your community, what does it look like?

Could it be joining hands, having fun under one big sun?

How about showing respect, being responsible? It’s possible.

Involving all, deciding together, depending on one another.

Providing support, is the best, you cannot give it a rest.

Respecting, involving, supporting under one big sun until the day is done.

Race unity in your community, What does it look like?