My name is Kankou Samoura. I’m a thirteen- year-old girl who attends Uncommon Bed-Stuy East Middle School. I speak five languages and play basketball. One of my favorite books is Quicksilver by Callie Hart because it captured my imagination, taking my mind to a whole new world and inspiring me to keep reading. This book taught me that not everything is going to go my way, but as a woman, I have to remain strong. I also love Rebound by Kwame Alexander because it made my passion for basketball and poetry grow. Recently, I’ve also become interested in axolotls, which are sea creatures I find cute. 

My heroes are my aunts because they are always there for me when I need them and willing to help no matter what. When I grow up, I want to be a basketball player, nurse, and model because I like pushing myself to grow stronger, caring for others, and dressing up to look fabulous. 

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” This is my favorite quote because to make society equal, one group of people can’t be mistreated while the others are treated fairly. Even this results in an unjust society. 

BK2BAMA is a program where eighth graders spend a week in Alabama and Georgia, learning about history and our society’s injustices, past and present. I joined BK2BAMA this fall and can’t wait to travel in the spring. This trip will inspire us as young leaders to try and bring about change. I am especially excited to visit HBCUs like Tuskegee, Spelman, and Alabama State because I might go to these colleges when I’m older.