The Human Library

"I am not going to give you community hours. Instead, I'm going to sentence you to serve 50 hours at The Human Library."

The judge looked at the youth. He believed everyone should be given a chance and Kevin, hostile, yes, but still so young, did not look like he had been given much of one so far. He could offer him that.

"That's all."

The courtroom rose on instruction and Kevin felt like he had got off lightly.

***

Emma read the details she had been given of Kevin's life: convicted of racial abuse, threat of violence, carrying a concealed weapon. He was 14. Broken home. In care. Mother absent living with new boyfriend. Father not interested.

Emma sighed. She had wanted to put him with Colin, an old army officer. Not here. Who did that leave?

Nia. Too confrontational?

She would ask her.

***

"I'm Nia."

Kevin was sat in a chair by the window with his social worker when Nia went over and sat down opposite. His posture belied an attempt to be relaxed but she could sense his nervousness and his scorn from his tapping foot and his drumming fingers.

"I'm here to tell you my story."

Kevin continued to look out of the window.

Undeterred, Nia continued with her story. She knew boys like him, pretending to be men.

"My name is Nia. I'm 20 years old and when I was 15, I was attacked."

Kevin grimaced, still looking away.

"The acid was thrown in my face by a group of lads. I didn't know them. They threw it because they didn't like the colour of my skin."

Kevin snatched a glance. He could see a face, melted, eye partially obscured by a skin graft, making it misshapen.

"They wanted to make it white. Thought acid would bleach it. Wanted to see if it would. But it didn't work. Racists don't make good chemists."

Kevin had no deep seated racism. He loathed his mum's Jamaican boyfriend and had launched himself into hatred, egged on by the wrong people.

"It hurt. Badly. But the doctors patched it up. I can see. I just look awful."

Kevin glanced again.

Nia sensed a thaw.

***

366 words

There is such a thing as The Human Library, which aims to tackle prejudice by asking people from different groups, whether racial, religious, different sexual orientation, alternative beliefs - whatever - to make themselves available for you to go and talk to. The idea is to educate yourself by speaking to someone real and connect on a human level and dispel those prejudices you may have.

I think this is a great idea.

Thank you for stopping by! If you do read this, please do drop a comment as I do like to interact with my readers.

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