Sixth Street Youth Poetry Spotlight: Tatiana Gonzalez

Tatiana is not your average sixth grader. Intellectual, curious, and a fierce believer in freedom of expression, Tatiana aspires to be a professional writer. We loved this poem she wrote during Sixth Street Youth Program, reflecting on the larger issues that burden our modern world.  The writing session was inspired by a visit from Lower East Side artist and poet Pitts. He shared poetry about the word "dictatorship" in hopes of sparking a conversation amongst the young people about power. Go Tati!   

I wonder

I wonder why people are judged for skin or culture 
I wonder why people make assumptions or claims about others 
I wonder why the majority of people focus on irrelevant news 
And the minority pay attention to relevant 
I wonder why society has higher and lower classes 
in which higher has more authority 
instead of an equalized world 
I wonder why important works of art and stories 
are being forgotten 
and replaced with a majority of (no offense) awful things 
I wonder why a majority of youth follow what the trends are 
I wonder why people label things and people when we were all nothing but human 
I wonder why we hide our true selves 
just to fit in