The power of one
11th March 2024 · 0 Comments
Some people can’t stand to see Black people living large, achieving success and leveling the economic playing field. The animus, contempt and hostility is so thick these days, you can cut it with a knife. It’s a shame to see Americans acting out of fear of the “other” so much that they’re passing laws to suppress the votes of Black people. But that’s not all.
Along with whitewashing Black contributions out of American history, they are banning books by Black people, creating policies against being “woke,” which to them is synonymous with diversity, equity and inclusion, and forbidding any discussion that might make people “feel bad about their race.”
What Black Americans are experiencing is racism on steroids. That’s nothing new to baby boomers and newer generations who have been discriminated against.
So, we owe a debt of gratitude to individuals who have risen to meet the challenges of those of us being “othered” and attempts to force 21st-century apartheid upon our community, writ large.
It is indisputable that one individual’s power and brilliant mind can improve the world. Like our ancestors, we must protect our children, educate them and give them the tools to succeed.
Many individuals have made a difference in the lives of young people.
Take Pelicans Forward Larry Nance Jr., for example. After learning about children facing school lunch debt, he contacted NOLA Superintendent of Public Schools Dr. Avis Williams to determine if the problem exists in New Orleans schools. It doesn’t. However, Nance Jr. heard some statistics about hunger and decided to do something about food insecurity in New Orleans.
Nance Jr. launched the Zero Hunger Challenge campaign with Pelicans at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center last November.
He collaborated with New Orleans public high schools to identify ways to tackle hunger in the community, and Nance Jr. would provide resources for their projects.
On Sunday, March 3, Nance Jr. and the Pelicans hosted the triumphant finale for his Zero Hunger Challenge at Second Harvest of South Louisiana.
Four finalist schools (Eleanor McMain, Sophie B. Wright, The Willow School and Frederick A. Douglass) pitched their ideas to address the city’s hunger problem for a chance to win the grand prize of $50,000.
A distinguished panel of judges chose Frederick A. Douglass as the winner of the $50,000 ($10,000 per student).
Frederick A. Douglass students’ “Keep It Growing” project, which educates people on growing their food, was chosen because it could be implemented immediately.
Nance Jr. was impressed by the students’ collaboration with the mayor’s office and city government to launch their program. He also awarded $25,000 to the second-place team (the Willow School).
Like the generations preceding us, Nance understood that children are our future and the change we want to see.
“Change doesn’t happen without youth. They’ve got to be bought in, educated, and tuned into their community’s future and its real problems,” Nance Jr. commented.
Nance Jr. followed his father, Larry Donell Nance Sr., into the NBA. His dad played for the Phoenix Suns and the Cleveland Cavaliers, and he was a three-time NBA All-Star.
Retired Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Judge Arthur Hunter was a police officer and attorney on the Urban Squad. He is known for founding the Orleans Parish Reentry Court Program with Judge Laurie White.
Hunter sentenced dozens of nonviolent offenders to the Angola Reentry Court Program they started at Angola, where nonviolent offenders obtained a HiSet (GED) and learned a trade.
The Reentry Program is now in the Jefferson Parish, St Tammany Parish, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Lafayette, Monroe, Bastrop and DeRidder courthouses.
Judge Hunter founded the Allen Ray Bolin Trial Advocacy Workshop in August 2018. This months-long program brings together defense attorneys, prosecutors, judges, New Orleans police officers, high school juniors and seniors to introduce them to the legal system and explain how lawyers impact trial outcomes.
Legal community members volunteer their skills and legal training to educate these young men and women. Hunter first pitched the idea to students at the local high schools in Orleans Parish. They responded across the city.
Although retired, Hunter never stopped being an education advocate and seeking employment. Hunter announc-ed his recent collaboration last week. He brought together the Jefferson Parish Transit Authority and the Department of Corrections to provide buses for CDL certification and diesel mechanic training for the reentry program at Angola.
“When you bring the right people to the table for the right reasons, you get solutions, not excuses,” Hunter said.
Many in our community employ the power of one within our community. These are but two individuals who are changing lives and improving communities. How about you?
This article originally published in the March 11, 2024 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
