It's kind of depressing and sad when you think about the plight and condition of a lot of black people today. I think we kids owe a real debt to past generations - our parents, for example, they fought for civil rights. But nowadays, it seems like a lot of kids are just sitting on it. I worry about what happened at Howard Beach and this new wave of violent racist attacks. I think kids in general are scared about a lot of stuff, so they act kind of apathetic. They tend to have the attitude of if it doesn't touch them directly, oh well, big deal. I guess that's because so much stuff is happening. I feel that way too sometimes, but I believe if we each do the best we can do and stand up for our rights, things can turn around. I hope my generation can get through this apathetic period and work more towards a common goal of making a better society.

Nikki
Age: 17