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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFound this on Facebook from a friend of mine, re: Justin Pearson
Facebook isnt really my thing, as I rarely find good stuff there, I cant vouch for the veracity, but this sounds about right
"When I was a young organizer, we would often sit in MCS (Memphis City Schools) board meetings, even when we had nothing pressing on the agenda, to listen and observe. In those days, public comments came last, which meant if you wanted to say something you were sitting in a 3 hour meeting into the night in order to do so. This often culled many a poorly planned or not determined speaker. Often by the point theyd be called it was 10 PM and the three minutes they were about to get didnt seem worth it anymore.
As the meeting wore on it always thinned and it was usually me, a few reporters, and staff. This particular night I looked over and noticed a young man who was sitting and waiting to speak. We didnt often get young people who came and spoke in those days and I was very interested in what he was going to say. He was the very last of the public comments called which meant it was nearly 10:30 by the point he got to speak.
Once he got to the podium and started talking the room completely shifted. This young man was from Mitchell High School and he wanted to know why his school wasnt respected enough to have textbooks students could use. He explained he was going to college and the credits that Mitchell offered wasnt even enough for him to qualify for most prestigious schools. He challenged the board to answer for why they had such low expectations for his school and his community and how those expectations were reflected in the resources they allocated. He pushed them in a way I had never seen another public speaker do. I was amazed. Once he was done I gave him a standing ovation.
From there, that kid got some things in motion. Books were distributed. People paid closer attention. I went to go speak with his dad who was a pastor and I never forgot him speaking about intentionally moving into New Chelsea and sending his child to his alma mater because he believed in investing back in the communities that raised you. I remember telling him, your kid is going to change the world, and he said, thats the hope.
That kid is an adult now and that adult just got expelled from our house floor making national news. I stand with Justin J. Pearson. I stood with him when he was 17 and I stand with him now. And I can tell you one thing, he has been unstoppable since 2012, and that aint changing any time soon."
brer cat
(24,615 posts)He seems like a remarkable young man.
crickets
(25,983 posts)Thank you for this post.
WVGal1963
(145 posts)I am super excited about our future given these remarkable young men!!! Faith in America restored - - but oh am I ready to KEEP WORKING!!! And to start working harder
..and to NEVER GIVE UP!!
To our Justins
..you two have my personal standing ovation, you two have inspired us all, you two will continue to do so and WE ARE WITH YOU BOTH!!!
Bring it, rock it, never forget how AWESOME you are and THANK YOU for bringing new and youthful and amazing energy to a movement that is going to carry this country forward.
Donating NOW!!!
tiredtoo
(2,949 posts)This young man has a future. May be president some day.