With all the discrimination and racial profiling present in the world today, it can take a child to put it all into perspective.  Or in the case of one fourth grade class, a group of children.

Stedwick Elementary School teacher Melinda Nwoye and one of her classes created a video, “The Lie,” showcasing original poetry from her students about lies they’ve heard about themselves. In the video, students identify a stereotype about their race or culture, then go on to say why it is a lie.

The students “wanted to tell others who they really are so [others] can stop believing and spreading the lies… about their gender, race, or religion that were negative,” Nwoye said.

“The video was taped after the students had shared their spoken poetry through a poetry slam for other students, staff, and parents,” Nwoye added. “At first, they were apprehensive to talk about the negative things that were being said, but once a couple of them shared their stories, others joined in.”

“As they shared, I felt their anger and pain from the comments. Using poetry as an avenue for them to express themselves, I felt, was important for them to help build a strong sense of self and a way to respond to those that said the negative comments in a positive manner,” Nwoye said.

“The video was heart wrenching,” English teacher Wendy Farmer said. “We like to think of elementary school kids of being innocent, but they’re so much more aware of what’s going on in the world than we think they are and how we talk to them and talk about them has a major impact on them.”

Principal Carol Goddard expects to see the young poets attending Watkins Mill High School in a few years. ”By the time they get here, hopefully they won’t see so [many] biased things happen to them,” Goddard said. “Hopefully in time, things do change.”

“I have received very positive feedback about the video,” Nwoye added. “The most exciting response came from the [Equal Employment Opportunity] Office of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue and Police Departments.  They came to our school to personally ask permission to use the video for their diversity training.”