Abigail Lee

Student Art Contest: Senior Division, First Place

9th Grade – Cerritos High School, Cerritos, CA

With conflicts in every aspect of life, human rights activists are indispensable.

A type of human rights activism that inspires me is speaking out against

racial discrimination. Racial turmoil is still prevalent today as it was in Minoru

Yasai’s time, so Amanda Gorman addresses this issue in her poem, “The Hill

We Climb”. Reflecting on the 2020 George Lloyd protests, Gorman writes, “we

are striving to forge a union with purpose, to compose a country committed

to all cultures, colors, characters and conditions of man.” These words have

not only given a voice to the Black community, but produced a world-wide

effect. This poem was read at Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021 and heard by

millions of people across the world.

Similarly, Minoru Yasui stated that, “If we believe in law and justice, then each

of us, when we see or believe that errors are being made, has an obligation to

make every effort to correct them.” Minoru believed that in order for our

society to change, we must be brave and speak up about injustice. With the

discrimination against the Japanese at the time, he was willing to voice his

beliefs and not be pushed around. Both Gorman and Minoru have spoken out

against racial attacks and inspired people around them to do the same.

In my piece, I capture this with Amanda Gorman reading her famous poem

“The Hill We Climb.” Surrounding her are growing irises, representing hope,

love, and positive change. Their vines wrap around individuals of varying skin

colors, giving them the strength to help each other. Instead of fighting and

pointing out their differences, they embrace and support one another.

By speaking out against what is wrong, activists represent those who are not

able to do the same.