‘Friends Not Foes’: Grade 6 student from St. Albert launches picture book about racial discrimination

Naza Ezenyem, who is currently 11-years-old, was only five when she experienced the first taste of racial discrimination.

“As I opened my food, which was fried rice with more spices, she took one look at my food and said why is it smelling here?” she explained.

The lunchtime incident happened not long after her family immigrated from Nigeria to northern Alberta.

“When she said that I looked around my table and all I could see was sandwiches, sandwiches, sandwiches and more sandwishes, so I felt really bad so I packed up my food and put it back,” said Naza.

Makuachukwa Ezenyem, Naza’s mother, said, “She told me was ashamed of the food she came to school with. She said the previous days the kids would say her food smelled somehow and nobody would like to stay close to her during lunch.”

Naza is a Grade 6 student at St. Albert’s Elmer S. Gish school, and is turning her pain into purpose. She’s launching the book, “Friends not Foes” to address bullying and raise awareness among kids for anti-discrimination.

Naza loves reading and writing. She says her dream is to become a lawyer. She says she’s happy to launch her book during black history month to raise awareness for anti racial descrimination, and encourage everyone to be kind and accept others.

“It doesn’t matter what colour is on your skin, what your hair looks like, what food you eat. You are a Canadian!” said Naza.

Naza says she’s grateful for her family’s support.

“I really like this is the page she’s talking to her mom, where her mom is talking about how bullies aren’t allowed to make you feel bad or sad,” Naza explained while showing a page from her book.

Naza’s father, Chidi Ezenyem, stressed the significance of launching the book during black history month to send a clear message.

“You are who you are. The most important thing is that we love you and we are here for you,” said Chidi.

“If kids are going to be more open, they’ll find out that making friends is a lot easier and much more enjoyable and a little more lasting than making foes.”

Derek Harrison, the principal of Elmer S. Gish School, said, “A big part of what we’re doing is building the capacity of teachers, building the capacity of students with empathy, and building bridges to work towards acceptance.”

Naza, adding, “Every kid is different in their own unique ways and that doesn’t make you more or less Canadian.”

‘Friends not Foes’ is available on Amazon and some local book stores.