Posted on 02/17/2009 8:32:50 AM PST by stan_sipple
Talk about thorough research.
Taylor Headley, a fifth-grader at Lakeview Elementary, didn’t just read a biography about the nation’s second black U.S. Supreme Court justice. She didn’t just Google him.
She interviewed him.
The assignment from teacher Denise Golden: Read a biography of a famous black person as part of Black History Month. Then write a speech, dress up as your subject and give the speech as if you were him or her.
Originally, Taylor wanted to be Ella Fitzgerald, mostly because she had a beautiful new dress for church she thought would make a very fine Ella costume.
But then her mom got to talking with her friend.
The friend, Joanne Elliott, a former principal, has always been interested in Taylor’s school projects, and when she heard about this one she immediately thought of her brother-in-law.
That would be Clarence Thomas, who was named to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1991, succeeding the first black justice, Thurgood Marshall.
It turns out Thomas, whose wife’s family is from Nebraska, was coming to town in February to see his father-in-law, Donald Lamp.
So Taylor’s Ella Fitzgerald costume became judicial robes made by her grandma.
And the Headleys’ friend arranged a meeting at the retirement home where the father-in-law lives.
“I was nervous at first, then I thought it would be good because I could know what he was really like,” said Taylor.
And so, earlier this month, she and her mom went to the retirement home to meet Thomas, who arrived in a big black Dodge Durango. The security guys wore baseball caps.
After introductions, everybody left Taylor and the Supreme Court justice alone to talk. Even the security guys waited outside the door.
“I just thought he was really nice and patient and down-to-earth,” she said.
Thomas told Taylor’s mom her daughter was polite and professional, a good speller and very organized.
She took notes while Thomas answered the five questions Taylor had written neatly on a piece of notebook paper.
She asked about his accomplishments and his career and his childhood and struggles with discrimination. She asked him for his advice.
He told her to always do her best to be the best. Then he wrote it, along with his autograph, in the copy of his biography Taylor had taken along. He told her to treat people the way she’d like to be treated, and to always be honest.
And as she writes her speech, she can be sure it will be just like Clarence Thomas would have said it.
Because he did. To her.
Brought a lump to my throat.
Thanks for posting that.
If the teacher is a Lib, she won’t get a good grade no matter what she writes.
wish Justice Thomas could straighten out the Nebraska Supreme Court
“struggles with discrimination” still struggling with the liberal fascists in DC
Very constitutional principle, - the 'golden rule'..
Damn shame that most people in the USA now subscribe to the 'gold rule', get yours while the getting's good.
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