4h incident report

4H incident report On Friday Jan 11, 2002 myself and 5 youth members of 21 Futures attended a Youth Leadership Workshop.

When we arrived, the rooms were already assigned and bunks were taken. When we went into the bunk to settle in, the comment was made by one of the other people in the bunk that they were “stuck in a bunk with the inner city kids”. Phillip Dennis and Darrin Gass heard this remark and came and told me. I told tem to just ignore it and continue settling in for the night.

It was approximately 9:20pm and the group asked me if we could go outside and play football till its “lights out” time. I told them I would play with them. While outside we noticed a group of girls coming out of the common hall, they were very loudly singing a rap song. Once they saw us, one of the girls yelled out… “Stop singing that song, you are too white”. They all laughed and continued singing till they got to their bunk.

For the rest of our time there, comments, gestures and looks each of the 21 Futures members subjected to were made, as well as what I witnessed myself. It had gotten so tense that on Saturday afternoon Antione Heath as well as a few others expressed a desire to leave. I tried my best to get them to first calm down and stay focused on why we were there. But I too felt the way they were feeling. I noticed some of things they were complaining about.

Saturday night was the “formal” dinner and talent show and the group and myself went back into the bunk to get changed. Some other youths were already inside when we got there. When Darrin came into the bunk, he noticed that someone had gone through his bag. I told him to make sure nothing was missing. Timothy Batts was the last to enter the bunk and as he made his way to his bed, he brushed against the youth that made the comment about bunking with the “inner city kids”. As Timothy brushed against the youth, the youth yelled out “hey!” and brushed off his shoulders, implying Timothy was dirty. This was something we ALL witnessed.

It was during Saturday night dinner when I decided to pack up the group and leave. During dinner Damion Robinson and myself were sitting at a table when he directed my attention to someone who was making the comment to someone else about splitting up the “Africans”. At the same time, at another table, Phillip Dennis came over and told me about an incident him and another person at his table. It was a very hostile situation and I told them that we were leaving. But we cannot run. I sat down to write a letter to read during the talent show.

“The Call of the Wild” When the call of the wild is made…

It calls ALL of gods creatures, not favoring the wolf to the bear or rabbit to the deer…

When the call to SERVICE is made…

It calls to ALL man…

Preparing to come to this Youth Leadership Conference was a month long endeavor, to join other youth in common goals.

This common goal was overshadowed when we are looked at, not for the content of our hearts or the reason we are all even here, but for the color of our skin.

To be told that we are not worth bunking with because we are “inner-city” or to hear someone say they cannot sing a rap song because they are too white will not just be dismissed. The words sting deep. It goes to the very CORE of who we are.

These words not only insulted us, but also insulted ALL those who fought and died to prove that we are equal.

As we head home with a NEW vigor and sense of purpose, we want a few things to be known.

We are STRONG, We are POWERFUL, We are UNSTOPPABLE… Members of 21 Futures.

After that letter was read in front of the audience we stood up, walked out, and returned to our bunk where we packed up the remains of our belongings and headed to the van. As we were leaving Peg from 4H stopped us and asked why we didn’t say anything to her. Without a full explanation I told the group to load the van and we drove home.

Omar Xavior R. Ford ______________________________ / / Received by ______________________________ / /