Every single one of us has a responsibility to fight for change injustice wears many faces – racism, sexism, poverty inequality and while the causes may differ the need for action remains the same. Activism is often born from pain, from the frustration of living in a world that feels unfair and broken but it is not the adversity itself that shapes our future – it is how we rise above. It is how we as people unite, how they refuse to back down, and they demand better. If we do not stand for what is right, who will? Change begins with us!

So, I chose the story of my late auntie's son Roland Adams because it spoke to me in a way few stories do. Roland was just fifteen when he was murdered in Thamesmead, London, by a gang of white youths, targeted simply because of his race.

In 1991, Britain was a country grappling with deep divisions, racial tensions were high and incidents like Roland's murder meant that parents Audery and Richard Adams could have been crushed by their grief, and no one would have blamed them. However, instead they chose to fight – for justice, for change and for a better world. Their story matters because it shows us how courage can rise from deepest pain, how activism is not just reacting but refusing to let injustice win. What intensified his murder was the reaction of the police who failed to thoroughly investigate, dismissing racial violence as an unfortunate but inevitable part of society. This was reflective in the absence of the archival evidence in Thamesmead.it was a pattern – a pattern that that Rolands family could not accept. They fought and they fought hard, not only for justice for their son but for every person who had ever been hurt by the poison of racism.

Roland's death was similar to that of Stephen Lawrence and wad referenced by the Lawrence family, whose son was murdered in 1993 in a similar racist attack just 2 years later. Stephen’s case too exposed the shocking failures of the police who failed to take the crime seriously simply because of the color of the victim's skin but it was the relentless effort of the Adams partnering with the Lawrences helped force the country to confront its uncomfortable truths. This seemed almost inevitable for my aunt Audrey and her husband Richard, and she felt it was her duty to stand up for what was right. After a series of protests governed by the Adams family, they were able to spark the attention of the Lawrences. They then worked on an investigation following the passing of Stephen Lawrence to unpick the policing system. They fought for years and years, gathering support. Finally ,1999 marked the birth of the MacPherson report which revealed these failings and called for stronger actions to combat racism, leading to reforms like, leading to reforms like the crime and disorder act 1998, which introduced tougher penalties for racially motivated crimes.

There are many who criticize the utility of activism and the extent of its effects. Simply down to reasons such as though, in the UK currently ,40 per cent of hate crimes reported involved racial prejudice yet only 15 per cent result in a conviction and this is not just a UK issue, it is a global problem. However, in the US the murder of George Floyd in 2020, though illustrated that racism has no borders, ignited a nationwide reckoning on racial injustice, demonstrating the necessity of activism.

The truth is change cannot come until we as a society confront our own prejudices. Roland's story reminds us that justice is not a privilege; it is a right. So, I ask you what kind of world do you want to live in? The activism sparked by Roland's family reveals the transformative power of collective action to expose injustice, challenge systematic racism and inspire change. Their fight turned personal tragedy into a wider movement – this is a historical mechanism that has echoed for centuries. Simply showing that activism can amplify unheard voices, demand accountability and push society to confront uncomfortable truths – it reminds us that even in the face of profound loss, activism has power to unite communities, shift perspectives and lay the ground works for a more just future.

Kaleigha is currently in Year 12 studying History, Biology and Psychology. She spends some of her free time working with the community in her local area. She is also a creative person, enjoying dance and playing the piano. After she has completed her A Levels, she plans to go on to University with the long term goal of becoming an advocate for others who do not have the platform or ability to speak up for themselves.