In the News
Making it on Nick News
Christina Killion Valdez
January 15, 2009
Sometimes fifth-grader Kenyatta Kruetzfeldt pretends not to hear racist comments. But on Wednesday she let her voice be heard.
In front of a production crew for Nickelodeon's "Nick News with Linda Ellerbee," Kruetzfeldt proclaimed, "I am a proud African American."
The statement came from a line in a poem Kruetzfeldt wrote for the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Poetry Contest sponsored by the Rochester Civic Theatre and the Diversity Council.
Of the 170 contest entries, 10 were chosen to be read by their authors and possibly be seen on the cable television channel.
A student at Harriet Bishop Elementary, Kruetzfeldt began studying the civil rights leader in third grade. She based her poem on a speech he gave as well as her own beliefs.
"I am a believer in civil rights," she wrote.
"I understand I will have to work harder through life."
"I hope I will be judged by the content of my character."
As she read, producer Martin Toub adjusted the lights and checked the view through several cameras, including a 16 millimeter hand-cranked Bolex. Sitting at the back of the Rochester Civic Theatre where the filming took place was Kruetzfeldt's mother, Rebecca.
"I'm a strong believer that everyone should be treated equally regardless of what color they are - not just color, but sexual orientation and religion as well," she said.
As for her daughter, she said, "Being that her father is African American, I wanted to make sure she knew both cultures."
Also reading their poems for the production crew were 10th-graders Brett Vanderwiel, Taylor Kuramoto and Karolyn Wood, eighth- graders Halie Firl, Ellen Emrich and Sanji Surresh, sixth-grader Kiorra Walske, fourth-grader Rhea Kohli and third-grader Kaya Cross, all of Rochester schools.
At this point it's not known which students will be featured on the show. The program will feature students from around the country and is expected to air Feb. 8 as part of a Black History Month special called "We Shall Not Be Moved."
Winners of the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Poetry Contest also will read their poems at a poetry slam Jan. 31 at Rochester Civic Theatre.
Poetry by Olmsted County students is still being accepted for the contest. Submissions will be accepted until midnight Jan. 21. Details are outlined on the Diversity Council Web site.
© 2009 Post Bulletin. Used by permission.
