We gaze upon the fall trees with thoughts of beauty and bliss.

All the leaves’ colors and textures submerged on lands’ natural canvas

Seeming unsystematic

But in the same moment methodical

Appearing as one singular body

But in actuality is crowded with individualism

Why can we appreciate the colors of the fall leaves

But not the colors of human beings

We detest parts of our own kind

Our own anatomy

Our own history

So why are we not repelling expectancy of all colors in our world

That differ from one singular color

Because denying the importance of color is impossible

A color can be pleasing alone

But in multiple variations it becomes a masterpiece

We should not fixate on discrimination

But on learning how to appreciate all colors of humans

Like we learned how to appreciate the colors of the fall leaves

— Vanessa Friend, CHHS Class of 2015