Dear Parents and friends,

This morning’s Assembly was a treat compliments of Sally Maier (Will, Grade One). A dear friend of hers, Christine Campbell, told her story and sang her song of being bussed, in Fifth Grade, from her home in Harlem to integrate P.S. 6, on the Upper East Side.

Christine, and Larry, the only other black child in the class, sat in the back of the room. Christine was never, ever, called on by the teacher, though her hand was raised all the time. ( if you met her you’re sure of that). When her fellow students asked the teacher why she never called on Christine, though her hand was raised, the teacher responded, “I don’t see anything.”

Christine became angry enough, and suppressed it enough, to make herself sick. But she decided to hang in, and things got better. Far from perfect, but better. At some point Christine realized that exactly two black children per class, had been transferred to P.S. 6 to comply with the new law for integration. She realized her suffering was in service to a larger cause. She was making history. She is one of the many, many heroes of our country’s freedom. We were so privileged to have her with us.

Ms. Campbell finished up with the book/song Don’t Laugh at Me. The first verse goes,

“Don’t laugh at me,

don’t call me names,

don’t get your pleasure from my pain.

In God’s eyes

We’re all the same,

Someday we’ll all have perfect wings.”

We’re put on earth to help each other live the best life available to us. Christine Campbell did her part as a child, and did that for us this morning, by telling her story and singing her song.

Tell your story, sing your song. It takes courage, but it invites others to do that, too. Then the world becomes the world it’s meant to be.

Christine Campbell told her story

One reminder:

Souper Bowl, is the theme of the Yorkville Common Pantry’s January – February 5 food drive. Please try to bring in: canned soup and stew (low sodium), whole wheat noodles or pasta.