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The Straight-Up Truth
Seven-year-old's
poem deemed inappropriate.
Seven-year-old Autum Ashante was so angered by a four-wall school
mural with depictions of Black folks kneeling at the feet of Abe Lincoln
with his hands outstretched 'like Jesus' and then Black folk building
the pyramids for a White pharaoh and his wife that she decided to write
a poem.
Her poem entitled White Nationalism Put You In Bondage, has sparked
a wave of controversy in America and led to the school where Autum performed
the poem, issuing a recorded message of apology to parents.
Autum doesn't believe there's anything wrong with her poem and says,
'I was just trying to tell them the straight-up truth.
The teacher who brought Autum to the school, Mel Bolden said that her
performance was inappropriate for a young audience and has apologized
for the incident viewed by some as racist.
Autum's father Batin Ashante was dismayed by the fuss. 'She's a little
girl who does poetry about real things,' he said . 'She's a serious little
person.'
In a press conference, Councilman Charles Barron said, Attorney General
Eliot Spitzer, needs to investigate this case. She’s a seven-year-old
who has the right to free speech.'
Click here to read Autum's poem and
decide for yourself
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