First and foremost, I would like to express that I am truly impressed by a “high school newspaper” team that has exhibited the courage to bring exposure to such a critically-important, yet often ignored or denied topic of discussion which is an unfortunate reality for countless people on this planet. The mere fact that a group of talented “high school teenage kids” took the initiative to research, interview various individuals who experience a perspective which is unknown, unrelatable and unimaginable to most non-black people, and cover such an ill-perceived controversial topic as ‘race relations’ is a POWERFUL statement! One would expect that mainstream newspapers and television news platforms comprised of “grown adults” throughout the U.S. and around the world should/would be speaking more on such an important topic as opposed to leaving such an unavoidable discussion to teenagers. So, thank you to Halle Shaeffer and each individual member of ‘The Bruin’ student newspaper staff for tackling such a pertinent issue…even if most adults of my age generation cowardly choose to avoid such conversations. And, even if members of the Wadsworth Schools Superintendent and School Board have unwisely refused to address the subject more responsibly by hiring a considerable number of teachers who represent Black, Hispanic, Latino and other ethnic groups.

Secondly, I must extend a special acknowledgement to Ms. Aniya Harris, Mr. Jayden Harris, Mr. Michael Jackson, Ms. Arlena Arnold, Ms. Ollena Arnold, and any other Wadsworth High School student(s) who contributed to this story. Each one of you undoubtedly possess an impressive, courageous spirit that is refreshing to see/learn about through your willingness to reveal the truth as to what you and other students of color have/are unnecessarily being subjected to on a typical day at school. Continue to be critical thinkers and advocates-for-what-is-right-in-a-sick-thinking-world, because unexpected blessings and opportunities are destined to come your way in the future. NEVER be intimidated about tactfully and respectfully challenging improper decisions of people…even those who are older than yourselves or in positions of leadership.

Despite those uncomfortable challenges, each one of you is gaining an early life-long lesson of acquiring insight, strength, and experience in learning how to properly deal with ignorance in its worst form and situations which are sadly quite prevalent throughout the world, and are known to permeate throughout every sector of life – from primary school systems & college campuses, to corporate America, to government and more, but no place likely worse than here in the U.S., and sadly most concentrated throughout the Northeast Ohio region. And, for anyone who would dare to doubt or deny that statement I would challenge them to first take a hard look at (#1) how many Black people are currently in decision-making positions on your city-county government, work in your company/business, serve on your school board, teach in your school system and are members of your church? And (#2), how many Black and Hispanic/Latino people can you honestly say are your real friends (meaning those you share special occasions with such as dinners at your home and theirs, spend consistent time with their family and them with yours, and would do anything within reason to help them and know they would do the same for you or a member of your family)?

As a successful businessman (who carried a double major in Social Work & Journalism and graduated from Ohio University), and someone who formerly lived in both Ohio and New York but now know the multi-diverse region of South Florida as ‘home,’ I can relate to and sympathize with what most non-white people have been or are often forced to endure living in Ohio. That is NOT meant to say that ALL white people or any other ethnic group(s) of people are not upstanding, compassionate people, because there are a number of those who are wonderful individuals who do not agree with racist thinking and can embrace ethnic equality and equity. Unfortunately, what is meant is that it’s a sad reality that the entire state of Ohio is NOT a progressive place to grow up or live in…even in 2020.

It often takes a person or people (myself included) to relocate somewhere else which is considered a “progressive-thinking environment” to be able to realize how far Ohio is behind forward-thinking communities and the level of deficiencies which continue to plague those residing in Ohio (and other Midwestern cities/states too). Before moving to South Florida twenty-plus years ago, I was often led to believe it was/is the Southern states (like Florida, Georgia, the Carolina’s, Tennessee and others) that are backwards-thinking, non-progressive environments. However, to my surprise and that of other family members and friends of mine who also live in the South today, once I/we moved down here I quickly learned that most of what I had been taught to believe about living in the South was/is so not true. In fact, it was/is just the opposite – it is the Northeastern/Midwestern cities and states like Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Canton and all of the surrounding little communities throughout Summit County, parts of the state of Illinois, parts of Michigan, Indiana and a few distinct other regions which actually are far more racist-thinking, non-progressive, opportunity-limited communities.

In conclusion, among the worst realities of all is that research has proven “Black people as a group alone spend an estimated $1.3 TRILLION dollars collectively per year in the U.S.” on everything from food, beverages, and alcohol – usually at restaurants, nightclubs and/or bars; clothes, shoes, vehicles, real estate/homes, jewelry, cell phones/I-Pads/computers, haircare products, hotel-resort-spa visits, airfare-travel excursions & MORE! That’s “$1.3 TRILLION dollars per year (and growing)!” And, they do so with companies/businesses/brands who are often made up of representatives (owners & employees) who look nothing like them.

Technically speaking, Black people really do not need any other ethnic group(s) of people since they have access to such exorbitant amounts of collective wealth like that. Especially if they were to take on a new approach and begin changing their spending habits to re-consider who they spend with and where they spend their money at. With those type of collective dollars, more short-sighted (racist-thinking) people should be striving to use common sense by considering what unexplored, amazing things could potentially be accomplished in the world if diverse groups of people began working together. And, imagining how ALL of us (as human beings) could prosper as a result?

Think about how unemployment, homelessness and hunger throughout the U.S. and even around the world could be solved if people were to come together and work on such issues? Think about how other real life issues could be solved like finding cures for global health challenges such as cancer, heart disease, HIV/AIDS and others if people were to include future thought scholars, scientists and medical experts whose only difference is that they have a different skin complexion that yours or someone else’s?

Most importantly, the main thing EVERY racist-thinking or discriminatory-thinking person seems to have overlooked: ‘What do they think their next realm (and hopefully for them it will be Heaven) is going to look like whenever they die and transition on to their final resting place?” One thing I’m pretty sure is that Heaven (and even Hell) for that matter will NOT be made up of entirely ‘one’ ethnic group of people. Instead, it will include the spirits of ALL people who we live amongst right now. Therefore, we need to understand and accept the value each and every person from all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds can bring to situations throughout life.

Good for you for writing this article. I was a minority student at Wadsworth and echo the sentiment of this article. Race relations was and still is an issue to be addressed in Wadsworth. This is one step toward addressing the issue.