Naima Scott

Can We All Just Get Along?

Six-year-old Naima Scott sits quietly waiting on a picnic bench ready to retell her experience of the Black Lives Matter/8 Can’t Wait protest. As she listens to the instructions she looks off into the distance as if she’s reflecting on her experience. She begins the interview by recalling how she felt. “It was good to protest, but I felt sad because a lot of people are dying from COVID 19 and polices.” She recalls two people, “I remember Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, everyone was on their knees honoring the people who have transitioned because of the polices.”  Naima is one of many children awakening to a world where people are judged by the color of their skin and not the content of their character.

Black Lives Matter is a chant she remembers from the protest. When asked what the chant meant to her she said, “Someone dies and it means enough is enough of people killing brown people.” Shrugging her shoulders she admits to not knowing what the problem is between police officers and Black people. Pondering the question of how to solve this issue she softly responds, “I don’t know”, a response most 6-year olds would give. A few seconds pass and she says, “See my friend Emma, she has a different skin color but we’re not fighting with each other, that will probably fix the problem.” Uncertain of the problem and how to fix it, Naima sees a world where people — of all colors —  can simply be friends.

Copyright © 2022 Aisha Scott. All Rights Reserved.