One Man’s Experience Strikes Familiar Chord

Bean’s article reminded me of an incident that occurred recently to me and four students. I am the principal of Mid-City Alternative School, and I took four students to an art store to buy supplies because they were involved in the “King Boulevard Memorial Project Poster Contest.”

As we entered the store, the manager approached the four black boys with arms outstretched, blocking them at the door. “Can I help you fellows,” he asked. He apparently didn’t see me talking with the young men because he completely ignored me. Of course I was dressed in a shirt and tie, and am light of skin. Amazed, I turned to him and said, “They’re with me.” He responded with “Do you have them under control?”

Here we had four black young men involved in a project to improve their lives and the community who were winners: One was a first-place winner in the 1986 Water and Power Conservation Poster Contest (citywide) and has won 14 honorable mentions in the last four years in art; one was an honorable mention in another contest and one was a first place winner this year in the 1990 Water and Power Poster Contest (city-wide) whose poster is illustrated in their 1990 calendar. He also won the “Be a Winner--Reach Out and Care Poster Contest,” which he received a trophy and other prizes.

This illustrates so vividly, so painfully, how black children are judged by the color of their skin, not by the content of their character. This, no matter what they achieve.

BUD CALLOWAY, Los Angeles