The following is an exploration of Birds on a Wire through a narrative on the learning concept of racism.

The New Bird

It was another day on the wire, the pigeons and I were waiting for a street human to drop something or leave something behind so we could swoop down and take it for their selves. They love showing off their prizes to the rest of the group. To be honest, I don’t like hanging out with the other pigeons. They all talk the same, think the same, look the same. They have the same goal as everybody else. To be the Best. It is so tiring to keep looking for new ways to have power. But I stick with them anyway because it’s easier to fly as a flock than to try flying by yourself. Because when you fly by yourself, you have to lookout for other birds. Vicious birds that see you as an easy target. Other birds who want to steal your dinner or nest. So, I stick to the wire that we’re all perched on, quietly wishing I could fly away. Abruptly a new bird, small and about seven different shades of green flew down and perched itself on the same wire as us. This bird was undeniably beautiful. He seemed so unique and full of life. I was about to tell the others we should invite him to perch with us, but they had already seen the new bird. And they did not look happy. Suddenly, a human walking by dropped a French fry from a bag. The biggest pigeons lifted his wings to move but the new bird was already off the wire. In seconds, the bird retrieved the French fry and ate it. For a moment we were all speechless, but then big pigeon got angry. “Hey!” he shouted, “that fry was mine” the new bird was startled “oh I’m sorry” he said in a calm tone I thought it was up for grabs for whoever got to it first.” “Well, you thought wrong! This is our wire, right pigeons?!” “Yeah!” they all shouted. Except for me, I was still to shocked to comprehend what was going on. “You can’t just fly in here and steal our food!” screamed a pigeon “yeah, get off our wire screamed another! “Screamed another, but the new bird paid us no attention, he sat there, concentrating to find more food. Enraged, the pigeons swooped down off the wire taking me with them. We all went back to our nest and all the pigeons started making signs of harmful words and images that would offend the bird. Big pigeon handed me a sign. I didn’t want to take it, but I had to, or I’d be outcasted. We flew back to the wire, all of us against one bird. When we arrived, the pigeons started yelling at the small bird. When the small bird saw us, he looked annoyed and flew away. We looked victorious, but he looked free, and for the first time I noticed that his green wingspan was bigger and more powerful that any pigeon’s.