Hannah's Poem: What MLK Jr. Means to Me

A while ago, Hannah came home from school with a poem she had written in advance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day (a school holiday here in the USA, was on Monday). What she wrote is poignant not only for what she's saying about Martin Luther King Jr., but for what she is saying about herself.

Earlier this week, she was jumping up and down excited to tell us she'd heard her name in the school announcements - she'd won a prize for her poem. And a gift card!

Turns out it was a contest for the whole school district, and Hannah was presented with a certificate and gift card by Tony McClendon, the school district's Director of Multicultural Diversity.

Thanks for these photos from class, Mrs Bless!

We are so proud of you, Hannah!

This is what Martin Luther King Jr. means to me

By Hannah Michel, aged 8 

He helped give choices to black people like me.
He didn't even stop for tea.
For everyone to be alike, uncompared.
Even the people who thought they were better, he cared.
Without him and a few other heroes,
I wouldn't go to school,
I'd be a zero.
So he has changed the lives of many,
I will [not] spare my every penny.
Thank you Martin Luther King.
He has [not] spared his everything.

Image from http://www.harrisonburgva.gov/martin-luther-king-jr-day