Spotlight On...

Forrest Crossfield

Fifth Grade Student

Byron 5th grader Forrest Crossfield can remember almost every detail of True Colors, a film that is shown as part of the Prejudice Reduction Workshops. Forrest describes how a black and a white man both went to city to find jobs, cars, and apartments. As the two men apply for jobs, shop in stores, and try to rent an apartment, its clear that they are treated really differently.

Forrest describes the video: “One time, the white guy goes in and asks if there are any apartments for rent, he gets shown around. But the black guy asks for an apartment, the apartment owners tell him there aren’t any openings. When the people taping the two guys asked why it happened, they denied it. When they showed them the video tape, they said they didn’t want any gangs or people hiding out.”

When asked if he thought racism was still a problem, Forrest replied, “I think it still happens. It’s happened to my Dad. He wants to buy something like a car and people raise the price or tell him its sold.”

Forrest shrugs, “It doesn’t make any sense to me. Why should you treat somebody different because they have a different color skin? Maybe people think if you can make somebody feel less important or that they aren’t as good then you can take control of them or something.“

Forrest is glad to report that kids in his school don’t have as much problem with race as in the video. “Sometimes, when I introduce people to my cousin, they go ‘whoa’ cause he’s white and I’m black… It’s weird cause my skin is lighter than some kids who are white—I don’t get what the big deal is.”

Forrest shares that sometimes kids tease others because they dress differently, or have a disability, or can’t read as well as someone else. “Sometimes the teasing can get pretty bad. That’s why the Diversity Council has to keep doing the [PRW] workshops.”

Previous Spotlights:

Barbara Porter: First Vice President

Rev. Nancy Horvath-Zurn: New Board Member

Grant Eckhoff: 10-year-old Development Campaign Co-Chair

Mark Morizio: President

1130 1/2 7th St NW, Suite 204 , Rochester, MN 55901 · Tel: 507.282.9951 · Fax: 507.282.9964 · info@diversitycouncil.org

Diversity...It's all about respect.