Anne Frank, Did You Know

Anne Frank, Did You Know

Dear Anne Frank,

You don't know me. Your birth happened fifty-three years before I was born. You died at the early age of fifteen. But your story is known by millions of people throughout the world. And you are known as a marvelous example of what a noble and courageous person should be.

Many people aim to follow in your footsteps; even though, you are such a young leader. You were a better leader at the age of fifteen than the leader of your country who took your life. You are soaring above him in decency, nobility, and maturity.

I am African American; and, in many ways, my people are just like yours. The oppression they were subjected to was done by the same kinds of, hateful, people. The oppressors of our people shared a common belief based on White supremacy. And my people and yours could each do nothing but wonder why, when people are minding their own business and just trying to survive in a life that is already a great struggle for both the good and the bad, do other people have to abuse and oppress others just because of the color of their skin, the nationality they're of, the size of their nose, the color of their eyes.

Anne Frank, did you know when you were finding peace in such a harsh situation, writing in your diary, aspiring to fulfill your dreams, grateful for a minor amount of peace, that your story would be told to the world? Did you know that your name would be written in millions of history books throughout my country? Did you know that people would aspire to be you, have your character, your spirit?

How could a young woman such as you, making due with what she has, in such a tragic circumstance have known that her story would change the lives of many? And the fact that you didn't know is part of what shows how marvelous you are. It reveals your sincerity. It reveals your innocence.

But did you know that I, a woman who lives, nearly, a hundred years after your birth and death would write about you in the comfort of her livingroom on a, laptop, a device that had never even entered anyone's imagination during your time, surrounded by such objects of what is now modern technology - a flat screened television, a ceiling fan, a space heater, an internet modem, a cellphone. Did you know that a thirty-nine year old woman like me would be amazed at your decency and character, elevating it over her own - a thirty-nine year old woman who can't say that she'd be as strong as you were under your circumstances?

No one in leadership during your time and in your country would ever have said that there was anything bad about the horrible things that they did to you, your family, your friends, your people. Did you know that people years later would document it as one of the greatest injustices and hate crimes done on the face of this earth? Did you know that we would hate Hitler? Did you know that he goes down in history as one of the worst villains on the planet?

In actuality, though you died at fifteen while I am now thirty-nine, had you lived, you would be my elder. I just wonder what it would be like to meet you, such an extraordinary person. I wonder how much more I would learn from you. I can't help but wish that I could meet you and learn those lessons, lessons that most people do not have the wisdom to teach.

And, after reading your diary, most of us would say that you would have been just the Journalist that you dreamed of being. Thanks for being the inspiration that you are to us all!

THE END