Stop the Hate...Youth Speak Out!

Guest Post By: Cedric Thorbes
2nd Place Winner: Maltz Museum's "Stop the Hate" Essay Contest

I felt like Dr. Martin Luther King standing in front of an angry, racist mob delivering a peace sermon. I looked into the crowd only to see rolling eyes and angry faces. Staring at facial expressions of aggression and anger, I didn't feel welcome.

Placed on a panel discussion in southern Ohio, I was told to express my feeling about my high school experience. The majority of the audience was white. So were the four other students I say on the panel with. I was third in line to speak. I waited my turn as the first two students went to the podium and delivered their speeches. As each finished the crowd offered them thunderous applause. Now it was my turn. Nervously, I stood. The group in the front row shrank back into their seats. It seemed that they were frightened of me. As I walked over to the podium, people walked out. I knew it wasn't time for a bathroom break. My white counter parts didn't receive the "walk out" treatment. As I began to speak, I heard the chatter coming from the right corner of the room. I heard murmurs of the words "poor" and "nigger".

Rattled and confused, I finished my speech. There was absolute silence. I didn't receive the roaring ovation that my white counter parts did. I went back to my seat feeling underappreciated and useless. My presentation was well prepared. I couldn't understand why I didn't receive applause from the crowd. Was it because I was black? Was it because I was from the inner-city? I had no clue why they gave off this vibe. Being one of only six blacks in the room made me feel uneasy with this company. They showed they weren't too fond of my being there. I had no idea why this discrimination and racism occurred. After my experience on the panel, my spirit was crushed. After witnessing the uncomforting audience, I felt that maybe they think one race is superior to the other.

Something had to change. I began to join organizations that pushed social justice. I am currently the president of the SCLC Youth Division of Cleveland and The B.R.I.C.K Program which stands for Brotherhood, Respect, Intelligence, Conduct and Knowledge. I am most proud of my presidency over the Cleveland NAACP Youth Council. As president I speak out against injustice and for civil rights issues. From Cleveland to Chicago, from Washington D.C. to Atlanta, I have held peace rallies and marches to stop bullying and discrimination. I hold protests to speak out against the injustices of the youth. For someone to be treated as unequal because of economic status or skin color is wrong. Dr. King said a man should be judged not by the color of his skin but the content of his character. So I will preach the sermons of justice and peace and speak out against discrimination so no other student will have to hear the silence of racism again.

*Stop the Hate: Youth Speak Out! was developed out of the emotional response students had when visiting the Maltz Museum and their various exhibitions on hate. The first contest was held in 2008-2009 and was funded by the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage. Essays of no more than 500 words are submitted by young people and discuss combating acts of discrimination and intolerance. Students are asked to consider their own role in affecting change in the community. As a 2nd place winner, Cedric earned a $25,000 college scholarship. For more information visit: www.maltzmuseum.org