Students, how are protests and conversations about racism affecting you?

Tell us in a six-word story. 

A protest in Newark on May 30, 2020, in response to the killing of George Floyd. (Patrick Wall)

The death of George Floyd in Minneapolis spurred protests against police brutality in cities across the U.S. and forced a national reckoning on racial injustice.

Students are part of the conversation, raising their voices and orchestrating marches in their own communities

“We see what’s happening,” said Kanara Bramlett, 17, who just graduated from high school in Denver. “We really needed to demonstrate that we as young people have a voice in our community and we’re capable of creating the same amount of change as the adults.”

Chalkbeat wants to amplify young people’s voices even further.

Students, how are you feeling about the civil unrest around police brutality and marches to support Black Lives Matter? What are your hopes for the future? What do you want to tell your parents, teachers, community and political leaders, and fellow students?

Share your thoughts via a six-word story. Want some inspiration? Here are a few examples from Brain Pickings and Buzzfeed.

Please submit your thoughts by June 17. Select responses will be published on Chalkbeat’s website and social media channels. We can’t wait to hear from you. 

The Latest

Ideas submitted so far include an indoor-outdoor sports complex, new locations for charter schools, and apartments for teachers.

The MSCS school board voted last week to shutter five schools by the end of this year. That leaves over 1,200 students to find a new place to go next fall, with the district extending its priority transfer deadline to accommodate last-minute changes.

The district wanted to use the operating millage to pay off capital and revolving fund debts ahead of schedule. The ruling will not allow it.

The survey is in: Parent coordinators told us what they want the city to know about their jobs.

Newark Public Schools is trying to address overcrowding but finding available land to do so is tricky. The district will hold a public hearing on its proposal in late March.

Two MSCS board races will be decided by the first ever partisan primary for the position on May 5. Seventeen candidates are vying for the four open spots.