Andrew Young speaks to South Side High School students on racism

Over 100 Long Island high school students had an opportunity to hear a former United Nations Ambassador address the topic of racism in a roundtable discussion at the Garden City Hotel on June 2.

The event, hosted by the Syosset-based Education Research Advocacy & Support to Eliminate (ERASE) Racism, featured Andrew Young, who was invited to bring a "unique perspective and his focus on the challenges of this era," to Long Island, which the group says is the nation's third most segregated suburb.

Young, who in addition to being a former mayor of Atlanta and U.S. congressman, was an aide to the late civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Participating in the discussion led by Young were students from 27 Long Island high schools including South Side, Baldwin and Malverne. During his talk, Young equated racism with a "sickness" which he believes is a function of insecurity.

"There's something in us that makes us uncomfortable with who were are — and that's the root of racism," said Young. "Don't think you['re] dumb if the teachers say you're not so bright...Martin Luther King got a 'C' in public speaking."

Young peppered politics into his talk, touching on Arizona’s controversial anti-illegal immigration Senate bill, which would allow police officers with "reasonable suspicion" to request individuals to provide proof of citizenship.

Students who participated in the ERASE Racism discussion reacted positively to Young's speech. "I liked his view of racism — that it's really insecurity," said Ryan Williams, a South Side High School freshman.

"He had really interesting insights...that he could [also] apply to issues like the Middle East," said Zola Ray, a South Side High School junior.

South Side High School has been at the forefront in the exploration of racism on Long Island. Two students from South Side were recently featured in a documentary, “A Tale of Two Schools” filmed in part at the school. The film, by ERASE Racism, debuted recently at Hofstra University. It portrays the positive experience of a minority student at South Side High School against the less advantageous experience of a student from Wyandanch.

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