NYC leaders support black girl who read white nationalism poem
By MARCUS FRANKLIN
Associated Press Writer
March 15, 2006, 4:06 PM EST
NEW YORK -- Autum Ashante, a 7-year-old black girl, caused a stir at two Westchester County schools by reciting a poem she wrote about white nationalism. But her words _ and her actions _ are earning high praise from some city leaders.
On Tuesday, Autum stood on the steps of City Hall with Councilman Charles Barron, who denounced what he described as attacks and harassment since Autum spoke last month at a middle and high school. Later, she appeared on the Rev. Al Sharpton's radio show.
At issue is a poem Autum delivered on Feb. 28 titled "White Nationalism Put U In Bondage," in which Christopher Columbus and Charles Darwin are likened to pirates and vampires. The young girl, who is homeschooled, also asked students to stand and recite the "Black Child's Pledge," an oath of responsibility and black pride.
When white students at the Peekskill High School assembly stood with black students, Autum told them to sit down, the school district's superintendent said. The Peekskill City School District then sent recorded messages to parents of its 3,000 students apologizing to anyone who was offended.
Mel Bolden, a Peekskill high school music teacher and black culture club adviser, invited Autum to speak, a school official said.
Barron said he couldn't understand why anyone would be offended. He characterized the girl as "brave" and "outspoken in telling the truth," and he defended her 162-word poem, praising it as evoking "peace, power and pride about her heritage."
"Someone decided to call parents and apologize," Barron, a former Black Panther, said at the news conference. "Some are talking about banning her from speaking in the school system. You don't have to agree with everything we say, but we have a right to say it. We are very, very proud of you, Autum."
Barron said he couldn't cite specific incidents of harassment of the girl since she read the poem. He said he planned to ask Attorney General Eliot Spitzer's office to look into whether the girl's free speech rights were violated.
Judith Johnson, the Peekskill superintendent, said Autum isn't banned from speaking in the district again.
"Never, ever would we do something like that," Johnson said. "But telling white kids you can't recite the pledge and to sit down _ in a multicultural district you can't do that."
The school district is about 40 percent black, 30 percent Hispanic and the rest mostly white and Asian. Johnson said "outsiders have interjected race into a town where it's not an issue."
Spitzer spokeswoman Juanita Scarlett said the attorney general doesn't investigate individual cases. "However, it is our understanding that the school district has not barred Autum Ashante from participating in further events," she said.
Autum is homeschooled with a curriculum by the Black Homeschoolers Association, said her father, Batin Ashante, of Mount Vernon. She also is an aspiring actress and soon-to-be poetry artist.
On the steps of City Hall, Autum recited the poem and pledge, drawing yelps of "Tell it!" and "Hallelujah!" from Barron's staff and others in the small crowd.
Then she took questions, cautioning a reporter to use the term "African" instead of "African-American."
Asked how she felt about some white students and parents being upset, Autum said, "I feel bad, but I know it was the right thing to do."
When asked how much help she received to write the poem, she replied, "My dad helped with spelling and pronunciation."
Autum said she is at work on another poem, "Two, Four, Six, Eight." Before she could explain what it's about, she was ushered away for her next public appearance.
NYC leaders support black girl who read white nationalism poem
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