Layloni Marshall, an African American community activist and mother of three, gave her nephew, Melvin Berry, a card with the following message on the occasion of his graduation from Oakland High School earlier this year. We reprint it here as a contribution to discussions of racism, stereotypes, reality and struggle.
Dear Melvin-Pelvin,
Society says…
You’re supposed to be a
teen dropout,
Society says…
You’re supposed to be a
statistic,
Society says…
You’re supposed to be a
nothing.
But Melvin Pelvin showed
Society that a young black man with plenty of swag can do whatever he puts his mind to!
Melvin-Pelvin!!
You did it.
Melvin Berry has since entered college in Houston.
Photo: (University of California)
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