Solidarity

Rhea Viswanathan

Woodbury, Minnesota | Asian Indian

This is a piece inspired by love. While looking at the state of our nation, it is easy to see the countless ways in which we are driven apart and how often hate seems to prevail. However, if you look closely enough, there is also so much love to be found in the ways that communities uphold each other. As I attended a multitude of different protests this summer regarding topics like “STOP ASIAN HATE”, “BLACK LIVES MATTER” and “FIND OUR MISSING AND MURDERED INIDGINEOUS WOMEN’,’ I found so much comfort in the fact that my community showed up with me. People from all different racial and ethnic backgrounds showed up in support of the lives that were lost due to racism. As I still stand mourning the loss of my BIPOC brothers and sisters, and fighting to prevent the loss of any more, I am still so grateful that I am not mourning and fighting alone. I am still so grateful that love is stronger than hate. 

Rhea Viswanathan is currently a senior at Woodbury High School and plans on attending Loyola University in the fall. Their hobbies include creating art in a plethora of mediums including visual art, playing in their band and creating spoken word. Their passions include social justice, science, art and community building. Their goals for the future are to hopefully major in Pre-Med and continuously integrate the lessons they have learned and will learn surrounding racial justice in the medical field.