2014 ~ Sierra's Point of View ...

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Update on Child Hunger Movement

So thankful to everyone who has signed the petition thus far. It warms my heart to see all of the different people from different places showing so much concern in this issue. I have read a few comments left on the signatures of my petition and I encourage everyone to continue doing so. I appreciate everyone who is helping take part in my movement ! If you didn't see my last post with the link you can click the one below. Have a nice day! Don't forget to join the movement! #ChildHungerMovement .

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/994/837/957/demand-wake-county-to-stop-wasting-cafeteria-food-/

Child Hunger Movement !

When I first noticed the wasting of the food in school I automatically wrote a letter addressed to several powerful people. I have been making much progress and wanted to share it with you. I believe that once you set your mind to something you have the power to achieve whatever it is you set your mind to. I don't want anyone who views my blog to think that they are not capable of making a difference. I sent out over 35 emails and letters in regards to my issue and was very proud to have made it to the newspaper and to have a reply in the paper from someone who'd read it. Today after school I checked my email and was surprised to see that president Obama had finally gotten back to me. His email was very inspiring and made me realize that there is so much more for me to do to help. I wanted to share his words of inspiration with you.

Thanksgiving .

Yesterday was the first day in my life I learned the TRUE meaning of Thanksgiving. All of my life I was told that we have Thanksgiving because the pilgrims and the NATIVE AMERICANS (NOT INDIANS) got together and had a big happy feast. While this may have happened at some point in time this is not the true celebration of Thanksgiving, this is what we are taught to believe.

In 1637 over 700 unarmed Native American men, women, and children were slaughtered by English and Dutch mercenaries. They called this massacre A Day of Thanksgiving. The 2nd Thanksgiving celebration was just as horrific. The churches celebrated the deaths of the Native Americans which they thought were heathen savages. Heads of Native Americans were cut off and used as soccer balls in the streets. These killings became tradition and would happen before they feasted and celebrated the success. This is what we today call Thanksgiving, the REAL meaning to it.

Eventually during the civil war Abraham Lincoln declared it to be a national holiday with a different meaning. He wanted to bring some form of peace so he introduced it as a holiday to sit down with your family and have a happy meal together. He was really smart to change the IDEA of Thanksgiving and transform it into the wonderful holiday it is today. However we can't just overlook it's TRUE MEANING, we can' t just eliminate it from our history. I feel it is essential to learn about things like this in our history so we don't have to worry about repeating it today. We can't just teach kids the things we think they should know about the world. Kids need to be taught not only the achievements and the accomplishments we have had throughout history, but they need to be taught about the horrific, terrible things like this too. Teaching kids all of the bad things we went through in our history, all of the people who died, and were murdered, all of the fighting and the wars, all of the discrimination and racism, will prepare them for the REAL WORLD. We can't fill their heads with the idea that there are no bad people or that the world is the safest place to be because it is not. I think every child should be taught the true meaning of Thanksgiving.

This year when I am eating my dinner with my family, I want to give my blessings to them. Them; the ones who lost their lives in 1637. The ones who were shot or beaten to death in the middle of the night. The ones who had families to raise. The ones who didn't get to have what I have today.

Newspaper !

My letter made it to the news paper, but it hasn't made much of a difference. I have heard back from 3 news stations, and Kay Hagan herself. There is not much being done right now but a lot to be done in the future.

Left-Over Food Debate still in session

I am continuing to write letters and emails, and will not stop until I get a reply. Maybe I can't change a federal law, maybe I can't stop these women from throwing out this food, but I won't stop until my voice has been heard. And it doesn't stop here; stopping the throwing away of food is only just the beginning. I am going to reach out to as many homeless shelters and food pantries/banks not only in America but in other locations that are in need of food. These are very big steps to take for someone of my age, but nothing is impossible. "Age is no barrier, it is a limitation you put on your mind"

Letter to the people.

As you can see this letter is not addressed to anyone. That is because I have sent this letter to every news station, every newspaper, every legislative board member, I even sent it to our president. Now I am sharing it with you.

Hello, my name is Sierra Moore, and I am a freshman at Garner Magnet High School. As a few weeks have passed by eating lunch at school, I often notice the cafeteria ladies throwing away uneaten food. I asked around about it and others say they noticed it too, not only at Garner High but in other high schools too. While everyone sits calmly and watches this happen, I however am furious. I have so much sympathy for all the hungry kids in the world. It breaks my heart to know that there are kids going weeks without one meal. I can’t imagine how grateful someone would be to have what we clearly don’t seem to need. It is not fair as those who can’t afford lunch in school have to watch as what could be their first meal in weeks is thrown in the garbage. And now everyone is telling me there is nothing we can do? It is some sort of federal law that all schools must dispose of the left-over food? To me that is completely insane and inconsiderate. Kids dying of starvation every day and we have the power to make just a little difference but can’t. I am writing this letter to you because I want to make a difference. I can’t sleep at night knowing the left-over food we take for granted could be someone’s first meal in weeks. I know this may not change much or even anything at all but it is the little things that count. I hope you can consider what I am saying. Have a good day.

An Excerpt from my Untitled Book

"I spent my last night in solitary confinement last night. It was an endless night. My body ached; not from the uncomfortableness of this cramped, incommodious twin sized cot, but from the pain I knew I was gonna be in when momma picked me up. We hadn't spoke since I'd first got incarcerated..a year ago. I worried how she'd been handling things at home, alone with the kids an all.
Before I got to this hellhole confinement, I was sent to a Juvenile detention along with 23 other black girls around my age. We all had the same stories; fighting, prostitution, stealing, or getting involved in some bogus drug deal. Most of the girls made it out of here after a week or two, some only a few days. I watched as an old face left, and a new face entered, each face just as scared to leave this place as they were when they came. Scared of they momma's and daddies waiting patiently outside the building to take them home to a world of hell and cruel punishment. The car ride home would be silent, not a word said or song played, but the minute they opened that front door they'd be wishing they were back at the detention.
I would have left juvi after a few weeks, I mean I was only in for a couple of bad fights. But then I met Navaeh, that’s heaven spelt backwards. Navaeh had long black hair with brilliant blonde highlights, that glowed as it cascaded past her firm dainty shoulders and layed gently on her back. She had eyes as beautiful as my grandmothers pearls that I only get the pleasure of seeing on Sunday mornings for Church. Her smile was bold and inviting, I'd never seen a girl so beautiful. I could tell she didn't belong here, all she needed was a halo and I'd say she was an angel. I didn't have any friends outside of juvi so I longed for a new friendship.
I met Navaeh officially during eating hours, I don't call it lunch because I never really considered slop to be appetizing enough to call lunch. She sat quietly at a table to herself, running a plastic spork through her slop. I picked up my tray and went to formally introduce myself. “Hi, my name is Syriah may I sit with you?” I said, hoping I didn't come off as a weirdo. She looked up at me for a few minutes ,stared into my plain brown eyes. I began to walk away confused as to if I said something wrong, but then I felt a moist hand grab me by the arm. I turned around and she released my arm, I took that as my cue to sit down. I had an awkward feeling running through my body as I sat there looking everywhere but directly at her. We sat there the whole eating hours, not a bite of food eaten, not a word said from either of us. The guards took us back to our rooms and we went our separate ways. "

My Children Will Do It Differently

I am 13, in a few days I will be 14. I don't know what my future holds, or if I'll get married and have a family. I'm barely a teenager so these aren't things I've thought about yet. I do however think about the world I live in today, the kids that surround me and the way they live their lives. Females exploiting their body for a couple likes online, boys wearing their pants below their bottoms. Kids with so much potential throwing it down the drain for gangs and other moronic involvements. Children too far into the ocean of technology to swim back to shore. I hear profanity and taunting jokes about one another. I live in a generation where shoes are a common core subject, not math or reading. The point I am trying to make is that I know what goes on around me. I know what the kids today are doing, simply because I am a kid too. I don't like what our generation of children has become and I KNOW my children will do it differently.

Monday, June 2, 2014

I am at the age of learning and expirencing new things. I have doubts, questions that need answering, problems with no solution, and things I just don't understand yet. As I get older the time is being limited...a limited time to know who or what I believe in, which side to choose. Limited time to decide wrong from right, good from bad. My biggest fear is that I'll choose all the wrong paths, believe in all the wrong things, and then where will I be? I am taught that God created Earth, he created man and women. I am then taught that humans evolved from other animals, but where did they evolve from? I am taught the world was created by what some people call a "big bang theory". But how do I know which to believe? We base our lives off of the words of another man or scientist. Off of an old book written centuries ago. Off of museums or churches. There are so many questions, so many doubts, so many things I just don't understand and when I finally do understand who's to say if I am right or wrong? I am looked down upon by today's society if I don't believe in God or religion. I am looked at as stupid if I don't believe in the Big Bang theory or agree that we evolved from other species. Freedom of speech? Freedom of religion? Then why does what I believe in or what anyone believes in make such an impact on the world?

Craving a simple life ...

I want to be known not famous.

Heard but not talked about.

I want to be seen but not displayed.

Appreciated but not praised.

I just want to be like a tree.

Simple.

Not elegant or beautiful.

Known like the bushes but not famous like the flowers.

Heard like the wind but not talked about like the storm.

Seen like the storm approaching but not displayed as the rainbow.

Appreciated like a summers day but not praised like a cold drink to cool you off.

I want to be like a tree.

12:36 AM

It is currently 12:36 AM, and I am still as awake as ever.

Deprived of sleep.

Could it be the snoring amongst those of other rooms?

Could it be the thoughts running through my head?

Or could it be just a lack of tiredness?

It is 12:40 AM, and as time goes by I feel more awake.

Insomnia is getting the better of me.

The blades of the fan, they make such a sound.

The pitter patter of the water coming from the bathroom.

The bass of the cars, that quickly pass by.

How could one focus, or even sleep?

It is 12:51 AM, everyone is quietly at rest.

except me.

Such a long day I had today.

And another long day waits ahead of me.

So why, just why can't I sleep?

Tossing and turning.

Closing my eyes, then opening them up.

Drinking water, and even warm milk.

I even tried giving my mind a rest, yet nothing still seems to work.

I am not going to sleep tonight , I hope i'll make up for it tomorrow.

It is 1:00 AM now, and I really wish I was sleep.

Sierra point of view on the the modern day use of the word "nigga"

How often do you hear people of your community referring to people as "nigga"? I hear this often, in fact too often. Some people say they see it as a term of endearment or a way to express a close friendship, I see it as a term of mistreatment with a whole history behind it.

The word nigga, originates from the word nigger. The word started off, as just a mere way to define a black person. Nothing more nothing less, no values attached. The word evolved, and intentionally became a derogatory word meant to depict African Americans as inferior. It was a familiar insult in the United States. To be referred to as this demeaning name, was NOT a term of endearment, it was not used to express close friendships..To be referred to by this name, was insulting and racist. It was prejudice. So please, someone please explain to me why it is okay to use this term now? Please someone explain to me, how this derogatory nick name could go from insulting and racist, to loving and endearing? Just because you take away two letters, and add another does not mean this word is any different than it once was. It will always have its original meaning, regardless of how people choose to use it. To me this word isn't acceptable, no matter the circumstance. It is demeaning and discriminating, and if I had the power the word wouldn't be used.

Dark Skin vs. Light Skin

"she's cute for a dark skin girl" "you know you light skin when..." 'dark skin girls be like..."

These statements are NOT okay. Today, we face the controversy of the idea that light skin African Americans are "better" than dark skin. I was highly disappointed when this light skin vs dark skin war came about. It disappoints me because think about our history. Think about how African Americans were treated by white people. Think about how we were slaves, and segregated. Now think about today, and think about all the things we African Americans have that we didn't have. Think about how we are free, and equal to everyone. So my question is after all that we have been through, after all the mistreatment and discrimination by white people, why is it okay for US to start it all over again? While we all still suffer from racism, another contributing form of discrimination we now suffer from is colourism (discrimination generally against your own community basis of skin color) . To all of you who thinks that because you are lighter or because you are darker that you are better? You are sadly mistaken. It doesn't matter what the package is wrapped in , it matters whats inside. All you hear now a days is "#teamlightskin", "#teamdarkskin", but in reality we are all on the same team. Skin complexion doesn't make you any less black than you are. Ladies .. your skin tone does not define your beauty. I am tired of seeing darker women being devalued because of their complexion. You do not have to be light to be beautiful, you do not have to have the perfect skin tone or color..your beauty should come from within.

All though slavery ended a while back, think about what is was like for ALL African Americans. The lighter ones, or mixed ones were given work in the house, and worked personally for their "massa", they were above the rest of the slaves. The darker ones however broke their backs working in cotton fields. I guess this light skin vs dark skin war could be based off our history, I mean is it any different than whats going on now? Darker people are being devalued because of their skin color, STILL. Ever since slavery, light skin were considered "better" than dark skin. But id like to inform you that we are NOT in that time anymore. It is NOT okay, it is NOT acceptable. We need to drop this false idea that ANY skin tone is better than another. We are ALL equally as great as one another. We have more things to worry about and stress about then being a shade or two too dark or light . Put a stop to this "war".

"After all the true seeing is within"

A common weakness, I suffer from; how it makes me a better person.

Vulnerability; being vulnerable or susceptible is my "Achilles heel". I am very well capable of being physically and emotionally wounded. I am clumsy, and insecure and sometimes I am just a mess. I am vulnerable. But my one weakness, is what makes me strong overall. When I am feeling vulnerable, I feel like I have been knocked down on to my feet and this motivates me. This motivates me to get up and move forward. Being knocked down so many times, is one day going to lead me to my miraculous up rise. Having weaknesses makes me a better person. It allows me to look at the brighter side of things. It allows me to move forward, and be able to look back at what I once couldn't do. I am weak, but I am strong.