Monday 12 April 2010
Dear Delois and Dr. Tommie Smith,
We are ninth-graders from Edouard Manet’s school, set in an underserved area in the outskirts of Paris, France. We would be much honored if you could consider meeting with us in Boston this coming May.
As young teenagers learning about the civil rights movement in the USA, we would love to learn about your experience. We were terribly shocked by the segregation which took place in American history and strongly admire the courage you had in standing up for what you believed in, even if it meant losing everything. We learned that you were expelled from the Olympic village, that you received multiple death threats, that you even lost your job because of your silent gesture, and that people did not understand it.
We, as young girls and boys, cannot understand how such a peaceful and significant gesture could anger so many people. However, studying history helped us to better understand the place African American people had at the time, and how the racist system they had to live in worked. We are particularly moved by your personal implication because you were so young and successful. You could have decided to live as a champion, to keep that gold medal and to earn a lot of money, but instead you chose another path. Money and fame did not tempt you and you chose to deliver a message to the world .You stand as a hero for young people like us. We realize that there is a price to pay if we want to stand up for our ideas, such as fighting for human rights, or denouncing any form of racial injustice. We are aware that this fight is not over and we need people like you to share your vision with us.
This month, we created original posters against racism and injustice, and we made an exhibition of them in our school’s assembly hall. We invited people to see them. You, Dr. Tommie Smith, like many other freedom fighters, were a true inspiration for us in creating these pieces of artwork. This is the reason why we would be ever so grateful if we could meet with you in Boston this coming May.
Last year, we were disappointed to learn that you could not come to Saint-Ouen with your TSYA athletes. This year, we would be tremendously happy if you could come meet us during our stay in Boston. It would be an opportunity for us to learn more about your work and your involvement with underserved American youth.
Visiting the USA is part of our dream, but meeting a powerful and committed personality like you would be an unforgettable experience. Back home, we will have to give a feedback on our stay in Boston to every group that has kindly offered us their financial support to make this trip possible. Mentioning our meeting with you will be the highlight of this project and will justify all our efforts to make this dream of ours come true.
We, the students, our parents and our teachers wish to thank you warmly for all the human qualities you embody. We look forward to meeting you soon. May our wish come true.
Yours truly,
Ms. Khiat and Ms. Tazi’s ninth-grade students
Year 2009-2010
