'A hugely proud moment': Leeds United stars moved by powerful poems from schoolgirls
The players were moved by the poems
Leeds United stars James Justin and Noah Okafor have heard a powerful anti-racism poem performed by three Leeds schoolgirls during a special visit to the club's training ground.
The players met Year 9 and 10 students from Bishop Young C of E Academy in Seacroft at Thorp Arch as part of the club's involvement in Black History Month and the Premier League's No Room For Racism campaign.
The visit saw students Rita, Maimuna and Praise perform their own poem titled We Carry More', which draws on their shared experiences of discrimination growing up.
The moving piece opens with the line: "Before they hear my voice, before they learn my name, they see my skin."
Justin and Okafor listened to the performance before taking part in a question and answer session with the students, who also gave a presentation on Leeds United's first black player, Gerry Francis, and club ambassador Lucas Radebe.
The group were given a tour of the training ground, while two lucky students received match-worn shirts signed by Okafor.
Speaking to Leeds United after the visit, defender Justin said he could relate to the themes raised in the poem, having grown up hearing about the prejudice experienced by his father.
The 27-year-old, whose father grew up in London during the 1980s, said: "Growing up in London in the 80s was a difficult thing, especially being with my mum, a white woman.
"There were definitely some scary, scary eyes looking at them, and people saying, 'No, this isn't right,' and stuff.
"I'm just glad we don't have to go through the calibre of things that they had to go through when they were growing up."
Justin said the students' poem highlighted how people could be judged differently depending on their background, adding that there was still work to do to achieve equality.
He said: "You still get these things - if they speak up, they're being like rude but if someone else speaks up, they're being confident.
"It's just trying to make that a thing of the past, really.
"And that's what this month is great for, bringing the awareness that everyone wants to be treated equally and we don't want discriminatory thoughts coming into people's heads anymore."
The Leeds United defender said schools had an important role in teaching children about equality and helping them understand different cultures.
He added: "Everyone comes from different cultures and backgrounds, and that's okay.
"You come from your own, and you can be proud of that as well."
Justin also spoke about the influence football could have in bringing people together, saying players from different backgrounds shared the same dressing rooms and were judged by their performances on the pitch.
He said: "Football is the best place to do it because as soon as you get on the pitch, everyone's thought of by the way they play football, not the way they look or their cultural differences.
"And so that's obviously why we're striving so much for it in football."
The visit was organised through Abbey Trust's partnership with the Leeds United Foundation and its Secondary School Hub programme, which uses sport and positive role models to engage young people.
The trust recently received the Foundation's Excellence in Education award at its Supporting Our City Awards.
Bishop Young's Head of Pastoral Care Cara Mahoney said meeting Justin and Okafor had made the workshop particularly memorable.
She said: "For our students to have the opportunity to showcase their oracy skills, share their ideas and demonstrate their passion for equality and inclusion, regardless of race or background, was a hugely proud moment.
"Both Noah and James were incredibly engaging and had a positive impact on every student involved.
"Their openness and willingness to speak with the students made the experience even more special and created memories that will stay with them for a very long time."
Abbey Trust chief executive Helen Pratten said she was proud of the students for sharing such a personal poem in front of the players.
She said the visit showed what young people could achieve when given the confidence and opportunity to speak.
The trust has also launched the Yorkshire Oracy Hub, a free regional network supporting more than 80 schools across Yorkshire to develop speaking and listening skills