In occasione del Black History Month che ricorre a marzo di ogni anno, gli alunni della classe 3^ A della Scuola Secondaria di Primo grado “Giovanni XXIII”, hanno letto alcuni passi del libro The Hate You Give della giovane scrittrice e rapper americana Angie Thomas. Il romanzo racconta la storia della sedicenne afroamericana Starr, divisa tra il quartiere degradato e preda di gang spietate in cui vive e il raffinato liceo per gente altolocata che frequenta. La sua quotidianità è sconvolta dall’omicidio dell’amico Kahlil durante un normale controllo di polizia e del quale lei è l’unica testimone. Il romanzo si snoda tra proteste, denunce, desiderio di verità e fornisce un’intima consapevolezza sulla scottante tematica del movimento Black Lives Matter. Al termine della lettura dei testi, gli alunni sono stati invitati a scrivere in inglese una lettera destinata a Starr o una pagina di diario in cui s’immedesimano nella protagonista.
Dear Starr,
I heard your story about
the death of your childhood friend Khalil and I’m very sorry and angry
because the policeman’s behaviour was so
wrong and discriminatory towards you and all black people in the world.
Certainly I know that
Khalil was a good boy who just wanted to protect his mum from King, the boss of
the gang. For this reason, I hope that justice will be done by the authorities.
They should arrest the cop to show to the world that all people are equal from
every point of view. Nobody can kill a person because he’s racist: the problem
is theirs and not of the discriminated person. Therefore, keep on fighting
against these acts of racial discrimination and never stop because only with
people like you we can make a world free from intolerance and never stop these
protests to gratify Khalil’s sacrifice. I hope you’re doing well despite the
difficult time that you are experiencing.
Yours,
Simone
Simone
Del Console
Dear Diary,
Today is a big day, because I have been on TV to give an interview about
Kahlil’s murder: I was really scared, but I had to talk about my best friend’s
innocence because he wasn’t a thug and he didn’t deserve to be killed by the
policeman “115”. I accused him, in fact that night he threatened me with his
gun too. During the interview I took my courage in both hands and shouted ”Justice
for Kahlil”, because I wanted the world to know how my friend died. He was clean.
He was just a kid and a kind person. Should a kid be killed without a reason?
The policeman was as cold as a stone while he was shooting at Kahlil and
his good heart died with him, but I will give him justice. I promise.
Starr
Simona Colamartino
I don’t know where to start. Kahlil was one of the
most important people for me and his death was unacceptable. Together we spent
unforgettable moments and finding another person like him is impossible. When
he was shot I felt a sharp and intense pain which has now changed my fear into
an unbridgeable void. In that moment I realized that my life will never be the
same. He was my point of reference and now, without him, my life seems not to
have a meaning anymore.
Yours,
Starr
Andrea Catucci
