I’m Jaiden and I’m in the eighth grade. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, but my family is from Guatemala and Guyana. My grandparents on my mom’s side have two homes, one in Brooklyn and another on Guatemalan island called Livingston. I have visited Guatemala multiple times and always had a good time. I love the culture and beach. My favorite book series is most likely Percy Jackson because it’s entertaining and full of adventure. I’ve spent hours reading Percy Jackson. My mom is my hero because she does so much for me every day. When I grow up, I want to be an astronaut so I can go to space and fix rockets. My favorite civil rights leader is Martin Luther King Jr because no matter how many times he was arrested or beat up, or even made fun of, he still fought for equal rights in the U.S. 

I recently joined a program called BK2BAMA, which teaches students about Black history, the Civil Rights Movement, and activism. This April break my friends and I will travel to Alabama and Georgia to meet with veterans of the Civil Rights Movement and visit sites like Selma’s Edmund Pettus Bridge. 

BK2BAMA is an opportunity to better understand American history. I joined BK2BAMA because to improve as a history student, but also to visit Alabama and Georgia for an even deeper understanding of the Civil Rights Movement. I’m most excited about seeing a different place other than Guatemala or New York for once, but also visit Kelly Ingram Park, where Birmingham’s child marches took place.