In August 2024, the UK witnessed a series of race riots that left communities shaken and questions hanging in the air; questions about justice, belonging, identity and how we live together. For many young people across the country, these events were not just something they saw on the news, they were personal. They sparked conversations in school corridors, at bus stops, around dinner tables and online. Conversations filled with confusion, sadness and hope. From Both Sides was created in response to that moment. A poetry project piloting in Manchester, creating a space for young people to express what community means to them, where they feel they belong and how their identity is shaped by the world around them. Over the course of 6 weeks, students across three high-schools discussed at great length their perspectives on racism, islamophobia, the refugee crisis and how violence is perpetuated and used against communities to cause further divide. The wonderful poems and artwork in this zine, created by the students are honest and full of feeling. A shared effort to speak the truth, in hopes of understanding one another and building community. The title From Both Sides is about holding space. It reminds us that behind every headline is a person, a story, a lived experience.
