Story They Never Tell Us

All Aaliyah's ever known are the nurturing and culture-affirming bounds of her hometown. While her parents are absolutely ecstatic about her attending an Ivy League school Aaliyah, on the other hand, is not so sure. It's not that she doubts the university's quality of education, she's just never been in such a predominantly White atmosphere before. As Aaliyah adjusts to dorm life and tries to find her place in the school's community, she's forced to consider more than whether to be offended by her white roommate's curiosity for her hair products. The grimy roots of covert racism push a resentment-fueled hate crime into full bloom in her university's backyard. Her preconception of white people paired with the hate in front of her cause Aaliyah to fight to maintain balance in her response to the tragic event. Aaliyah's pro-Black upbringing prepares her to stand against hate but obstacles and brazen apathy make her question the degree to which she'll be able to affect change. Is mere belief in a just cause enough to hack away at the roots of hate? And where do allies fit into the big picture?