Reason for Leaving by John Manderino

Author:John Manderino
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Published: 2012-08-15T04:00:00+00:00

Monday’s the beginning of Black Awareness Week. On Friday each of the Settlement House groups will give a little presentation on the gymnasium stage for members of the community. I’ve got the kids in my reading-writing group doing historical figures. Latisha’s going to be George Washington Carver; Allen will be Frederick Douglas; Gregory is W.E.B. Dubois; Jonella is Harriet Tubman; Erica is Rosa Parks; James is Martin Luther King; and I want Darryl to be Jackie Robinson, but he’s giving me trouble. He wants to be King.

I tell him after class he can’t be King because James is going to be King.”

“You said we could choose.”

“I know but you can’t both be King.”

“Let James be Jackie Robinson. He don’t even care. He tole me.”

“Darryl, I’m really surprised. I thought you’d wanna be Jackie Robinson. You know, if it wasn’t for him—”

“I wanna be King.”

“Well, you can’t. I’m sorry.”

“Then I don’t wanna be in it.”

I shrug. “That’s up to you.”

“You’re a ugly butthead.”

I sadly shake my head. “And you want to be Martin Luther King?”

“You’re Martin Luther Butthead!” he yells, and runs crying from the room.

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