Voices Unsilenced: A Poem for Linguistic Justice #1117

Voices Unsilenced: A Poem for Linguistic Justice In America's vast mosaic, History's whispers linger on the wind. English looms—towering, dominant. But beneath its mighty echo, Silenced voices murmur: Indigenous tongues, Vibrant African American cadences, Lyrical Spanish flows— Each softly spinning tales of neglect. School corridors echo with children’s laughter, Yet barriers invisible stand firm— Non-native whispers face a curricula unreflective, Tests deaf to diverse voices, A system teaching some to value foreign words over their own. Workplaces mask bias in politeness, Preferring familiar accents, Mainstream fluency, Leaving others in opportunity’s shadow, Their worth weighed on a dialect’s scale. Laws and debates storm around, Discussing which language holds the key To a unified gate— Pushing English as the sole identity, Erasing the rich tapestry of linguistic diversity. At the crossroads we stand, Where the path of change calls for courage— To advocate for schools embracing bilingual breaths, For laws that protect all speech rhythms, For workplaces judging not by tongue’s twist but by mind’s merit. Let us weave a new narrative: Each language a vital thread in our nation's fabric, Every voice heard, every dialect dignified— A nation true to its creed— E pluribus unum, out of many, one. In the chorus of diverse voices, In the symphony of spoken heritage, Lies our shared future's strength— Vibrant, inclusive, just. A testament poetic to the America that can be, If only we choose to listen. Written by Steven G. Lee (May 1, 2024)