Represent

In the spring of 1980, a group of 30 students showed up at high schools across New York City carrying a just-launched newspaper, 150 copies each. The new outlet’s focus was radical for its time — race relations, environmental issues, education quality, gay rights and more.

Written by K.G., an anonymous 17-year-old from New York City. Names have been changed.  I met Ms. Taylor, from New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), in the hospital where my mom was detoxing.

I’m not giving my mom any more chances. My first memory of my mother is from when I was 12. She came and picked up my sister Yolanda and me from our aunt’s house in upstate New York.