Dani, 12th- Oakland, CA
My mom always told me that her favorite color was white.

The purity reminded her of everything Holy and of everything that is right with the world. The white fluorescent glare removed stains of suffering, loss, fear and harm. All things that she tries escaping as a Mexican mother living in Neverland. But let us bless God for the endeavors and successes obtained in the gray world. White reminds her of the doors in her impossible house. It excites her when looking at pillowcases and soft blankets that keep her warm during cold winters and rainy days. And she asks me, “How can you not desire being surrounded in all things white? The white doors, the white sweaters, they’ve led us to where we are now.”

But even with beauty in all forms of white, I cannot imagine living in the selective world that’s white. She frowns.

My father always told me that his favorite color was black. It rejuvenated him to think of the black oil stains he got when fixing a car. It reminded him of Sundays when he picked up a black pen and designed drawings that fascinated his daughters. Without a sale for such beautiful creations, my father traded those moments for a gray world, but in return, earned more black pens with limited use. My dad couldn’t be bothered by any other color in the world, perhaps gray, but the color itself brought him luxuries of hard-work, desire and success. Leaving the gray world in Mexico felt like a win because the home he lives in now allows for much more. My father did not realize that they were the same gray regions with different stamps. So then he tells me, “Mija, this black world is what I came here for.”

But even with all the luxuries in all forms of black, I stop myself from succumbing to an exploited black world. He frowns.

I always tell my mom and dad that I do not have a preference in color. I tell them that the majority of gems are not one, but are multiple colors. I explain to them that it couldn’t be possible to fall in love with a single color of the world. I am reminded of the places I go and the liberties that hold every color from a paint palette.

And so I tell them, “How can you live in a bland world when all the colors of the world make up true beauty and true happiness?”

But even with grandeur, I am their radical daughter wanting more than one colored world. I frown. Then I realize that my eagerness of redirection could be frightening. The lives lived by my parents weren’t socially, emotionally or systematically wired for rainbows, but for a sole color. Their compliance to a black and white world was programmed. So, I reassure them that no matter how deflective I get or how eager I am to splash color onto their canvasses, I will respect their worlds. Because just like my parents did, I also have to learn to accept the gray world and find ways to paint its canvas with all the colors I have.

M.G. 11th - Oakland, CA
Since its creation in 1996, Proposition 209 has faced both harsh opposition and great support making it a highly controversial policy. During the nineties, affirmative action which is the practice of favoring individuals belong to previously discriminated against, was a debated topic with many arguing for or against its necessity. Proposition 209 was initiated onto the California ballot in response to this controversy beginning with Joe Gelman, Arnold Steinberg, and Larry Arn. The main goal of Proposition 209 is that it, “prohibits public institutions from discriminating on the basis of race, sex, or ethnicity.” (Ballotpedia) Additionally, Proposition 209 works to reverse affirmative action in that it also prohibits public institutions from making preferences towards particular groups. Over the years, this policy has faced opposition through lawsuits, in which groups cite that this policy has led to the decrease of minority enrollment rates and reduced outreach towards marginalized groups within California public universities. However, supporters of Proposition 209 argue that affirmative action policies in the past allowed for the discrimination of minorities in pubic employment and universities. This leads me to believe that Proposition 209 is overall a beneficial policy but serves an impactful role in a public employment but harmful role within California public universities.
            Since Proposition 209 eliminates the possibility of discrimination within public employment, contracting, and universities, it is a helpful policy. A supporter of Proposition 209 writes, “Job applicants are turned away because their race. It must not give a job, a university admission, or a contract based on race or sex. Government must judge all people equally.” (Vigarchive). This part of Proposition 209 is why it is known as the “Civil Rights Act”, because it protects minorities and women from being unfairly targeted within public institutions. Under this policy, marginalized groups who apply to universities and jobs can be considered without bias and prejudice. Employers and universities are legally held to the standard that they will not turn away or unfairly judge someone due to their race or gender. In a study conducted by Caitlin Knowles Myers that examined diversity rates indicated that, “...the rates at which people of color were employed in the public sector in California may have increased, rather than decreased, after 1995.” (Myers) After Proposition 209 was passed in 1995, the increasing rate of people of color employed in the public sector proves that the protection of minorities from discrimination has led to higher employment rates. It also disproves the idea that Prop 209 is a harmful policy which opposers believe that the reversal of affirmative action within public sector employment would have led to decreased minority rates.          
          An aspect of Proposition 209 that makes it a harmful policy is that it reverses affirmative action within California public universities which creates even more racially disproportionate student demographics. The detrimental impacts are shown when Proposition 209 was approved in 1996, and ever since minority enrollment rates in public universities have seen a decrease. Using the black student population as an example, The Sacramento Bee reports, “At UC Berkeley, African Americans have fallen from 6.3 percent of freshmen in 1995 to 2.8 percent this year [2015]” (Editorial Board).  Decreased minority rates have also been shown through, the number of Hispanic applicants to UCLA and UC Berkeley which have “[...] increased 350 percent, but the number admitted has remained relatively constant” (Editorial Board). The issue at hand with the lack of affirmative action is that California public universities are not maintaining diversity. Since Prop 209 was put in place, racial diversity has plummeted which is harmful because diversity is an important factor within California universities. This means that the student enrollment at California public universities is not reflective of the racial demographics of the state. Proposition 209 proves harmful to minority students shown through race-neutral admissions into California public universities not resulting in representation of Latino and Black students.             
             Proposition 209 is a beneficial policy when addressing public employment but harmful when used in California public universities. The stated goal of this policy was to put an end to discrimination or preference in public institutions on the basis of race, sex, and ethnicity. In theory, the outline of Proposition 209 is something that I support because it gives marginalized groups equal treatment within public institutions. However, the idea of giving equal treatment when discussing affirmative action shows the faults of this policy. A supporter of Proposition 209 claims, “... by making sure that all California children are provided with the tools to compete in our society. And then let them succeed on a fair, color-blind, race-blind, gender-blind basis.” (Vigarchive) My issue with Proposition 209 is that inequality of opportunity can not be addressed by suddenly taking away affirmative action which supports marginalized communities. Before letting Californian children succeed on a system that is blind to their identity, it has to ensure that the resources exist in the first place. Proposition 209 can only serve as an effective and helpful policy once the root issue of inequality among underserved communities is addressed.

Unknown, 8th - Oakland, CA
What is hope
Where can I get it
In times like these people say “don’t lose hope”
But I can’t lose something I never had
I’m drowning in my own sorrow and losing my breath running to find peace
I need hope
I need to feel again
I need to be reminded of the endless joy I once relished in 
But
Maybe
I do have hope
Is that why I feel the need to run to the light at the end of the tunnel
Is that the reason I take a million steps a day to find happiness
We all have hope, no matter how helpless we feel
The belief that we will one day rise to our feet is that hope
We need to cherish the memories we made in the past and anticipate the ones to come
We need to stay inside and work to heal the wounds we have
We have hope

Liya, 11th- Oakland, CA
USA
The land of the free 
Think about it how free can we really be
People blinded by the fact we not really free
People crossing countries and sailing seas
Just to see
And to be judged by skin color, race and the way you eat
This is America "the place to be" ain't no place can beat
A country that's divided by multiple sides 
And everyone stuck up in their own
We searchin' for bones 
Come on
We need to do better
We all been through stormy weather with hopes it will get better

We kneel down we pray for those whose bodies hit the ground 
Shot by supposed protection
How am I suppose to feel safe
When the ones that "protect and serve" got the nerve to be loud and disturb the peace but
But there was never peace
The ones that stood up are deceased 
Very little violence we just spoke
Yet our number one leaders were smoke 

We came a long way from being captives 
America's history has long chapters
But it doesn't stop the fact most prisons are filled with blacks and it's wack 
I'm tired 
I'm tired of being a statistic  
Because of my color, I'm considered a misfit so if you have the time just listen 
Just listen, please 

There are things we need to work out 
When you speak they close your mouth 
Filling your mind with nonsense 
Hiding the true facts 
Our education is trash, bring the culture back
The war on is being swept underneath the map 
While there's big facts being shown behind a colored glass 
Corruption is such an assumption but only truly a fact
Born to have a number slapped on my back
We have to win cause they don't expect us to pass
They time is slow because it moves fast 

Open your eyes the best way you can survive in this country is if you're white 
The unfairness in this country isn't right  
I want to fight 
I want change 
But America loves fixing problems with bandaids 
Rip them off 
Let's heal these wounds 
I wake up every morning wondering if things will change before I meet my doom 
We say we want change but never take that step 
If we don't work together, how are we considered the best

I get it 
We have fresh food and water 
But ourselves and other people we slaughter 
Killed by the guns we love 
Agitated by the clouds we make
"In God we trust"
Murdered by people of the same faith 

The clock is ticking its time for change
If we don't get it 
It's us to blame