Update: BCPS Superintendent Dallas Dance “was made aware of this but is not getting involved other than to allow the situation to be handled at the school level between the principal and the student,” said BCPS spokesman Mychael Dickerson. “He supports the principal and her ability to come to a resolution with the student. My understanding is that the student will be participating in the talent show.”
Update 2: Marcus confirms that he will be allowed to recite his poem at the talent show, but it will be revised. “They want me to replace ‘weed’ and ‘shooting’ a brother to ‘hurting’ a brother,” he said. When asked what word he would use instead of weed, he said: “I have no idea.”
An online petition to allow a Towson High School senior to recite an original poem about police and race has garnered nearly 2,000 signatures and been shared extensively on social media since being posted three days ago.
According to the petition on change.org, senior Marcus Shaw wants to recite the poem he wrote at the schools’ talent show this Wednesday but was told he could not.
Contacted on Sunday, Shaw said in an email that he has “ambivalent feelings on being censored.”
“I am ecstatic because this poem has been read by so many more people than it would have if I wasn’t. Also more people are aware to the experiences and of African Americans and are seeking change to censorship policy because of my poem,” he said. “However, I am also frustrated that the administration is missing the point of the poem. The weed and the police (which [Towson High’s principal] Mrs. DiMino cites as the issues of the poem) are not part of the overall message which is to seek education to defy the stereotypes that are cast on you.”
The poem begins, “Officer, I’m begging you to believe //Â That never ever have I smoked weed //Â And please do not tell me that I have to leave //Â I need to stay in school and continue to read.”
Shaw said he wants to share the poem “because it is the last thing that people talk about or want to talk about. As a result, no one is aware of the realities and experiences of people of color, and the problems faced by people of color are ignored because there is no attention to them. I believe that people need to hear this poem in order to be aware of and face the problems that America has for minorities instead of running away from them.”
When asked for her thoughts, Towson High’s PTSA president Cheri Bond Pegues said she supports Shaw and that she spoke to the principal over the weekend.
“I believe by censoring this bright young man’s performance, the school and BCPS is missing out on the ultimate ‘teachable moment.’ This poem is about defying stereotypes and seeking to better oneself by education,” she said. “Although I have great respect for Principal DiMino and [School Resource] Officer Fiedler, I strongly disagree with censorship.”
Principal Charlene DiMino has not returned calls and emails seeking comment.
“Believe” by Marcus Shaw
Officer, I’m begging you to believe
That never ever have I smoked weed
And please do not tell me that I have to leave
I need to stay in school and continue to read
Picture if you were me
Where everyone believes that you have a baby
By the time you reach the age of a teen
And the only question they ask is if you crip or bleed
But what if that’s not the case
Up my sleeve, I think I have an ace
That can answer the problems that all people face
No matter the skin color, no matter the race
It doesn’t involve mixing baking soda
Or shooting a brother just cause somebody told ya
Or shooting a ball because that’s how they coached ya
Or rapping like Chief Keef, King Sosa.
It’s called education
No matter what you do that should be the foundation
You won’t need a welfare donation
You can live your life and even vacation
I now see some police
Some start riots instead of keeping the peace
That’s the difference between them and me
I see a few bad apples not a whole tree
Some will cause my parents grief
By killing me, by killing me
Like Eric Garner
I cannot breath
But I promise I will garner my responsibilities
I want to succeed
No, I have to succeed
My life will not end at 23
I will beat that expectancy
And have children to carry my legacy
But, Officer, it’s not my weed.
Officer it’s not my weed.
-Marcus Shaw
‘I now see some police. Some start riots instead of keeping the peace’ – really ? There are very bad cops – I KNOW THIS 1ST HAND – but the cop bashing is getting old.
When a majority of young, black men stop being harassed by cops for no other reason than being young and black, then the idea of cop bashing getting old will hold some water.
Here is a big YAWN for ya !
This young man’s poem should be given wide distribution.
Bravo Marcus!
Either they can’t comprehend the meaning of the words, or they don’t like what those words say. In either case, I don’t think the First Amendment has changed in the last 24 hours. He has every right to express himself, and talent like this should be nurtured, cultivated and encouraged.
Dear THS Principal, as a teacher of English and creative writing I can see there is no way the writer can replace the word ‘weed’ in this poem. It is clear that the word is central to the message (NOT my weed), to the rhyme, and to the rhythm of this spoken word artist’s work. Please relent or you will be censoring, in Orwellian fashion, the truth inherent in this high-quality, moving work. This is an opportunity to reach out to a disenfranchised community, not unnecessarily curb a young spokesperson expressing a deeper message.
If you are able to watch the video (I needed to use headphones) he uses the “N” word. In the article the word in the poem is substituted in as “brother.” I am guessing that is the REAL reason for the problem with the poem. You can also see him recite the poem very eloquently on YouTube by searching “officer it’s not my weed.”
The original poem In the video uses the “N” word. In the article where the poem is written they substitute the word “brother” instead. My guess is that was the reason for the controversy, his use of the word weed. I had to use headphones to watch the video because there was initially no sound. Clearly he is not glorifying drug use.
But that’s not the reason they cited, and if that were the real reason, why not just say so? That seems more legitimate than the reasons cited. And it would not be difficult to substitute “brother” in the performance. My guess is that the “N word” is not the real reason.
And the kid should not have to replace “weed.” I wish the adults would be adults. The kids know all about this stuff, and they should be able to use the most descriptive language (barring outright and gratuitous obscenity, perhaps).
That was censored by the school? That’s a pretty positive poem (very much in a hip-hop style). Towson High should be celebrating this kid’s creativity and awareness, rather than trying to shut him up.
Great job, Marcus! Mic drop, baby 🙂 This sensibility is what hip-hop aspired to be when it first started out…creatively and dramatically illustrating, for those who live outside of the cultural blast-zone, what life is like for the unprotected, the marginalized and the actively oppressed. I hope other students will join you on stage and provide a beat to support the rhythm of your poetical anthem.
Excellent poem..thoughts of from a young person trying to get it right. My biggest fear as I raise my son to be polite, respect the laws and law enforcement, but because of his size and stature my fear is he will be victimized..he’s only 8 and already I hear teachers and educators refer to his size, or he speaks to direct and it could be viewed as intimidating to his peers..my son see’s his family works hard and vacation in nice places..but that doesn’t stop me from having the fear in my mind when he turns 16..will another brother harm my son because I gave him a better opportunity or will his neighbors fear him because he is bigger than his peers…will they immediately feel threatened…As a mother I just want my son to grow to be a productive citizen and responsible man..but the fear is always there..I so understand.