Who says there is no racism abroad anymore, well apparently, it seems racism is still being nurtured in Rochester High School, New York as it had denied its first black student the opportunity to give his valedictorian speech. Jaisaan Lovett, who became the first black valedictorian in the school’s history, was denied the invitation to give a speech at the commencement ceremony for The University Preparatory Charter School For Young Men as other past valedictorians had done.
According to Lovett, he sought permission to give remarks from the school’s president, Joseph Munno but the answer he gave was a very serious NO, probably thinking Lovett’s speech will be racially motivated. It was the Mayor of Rochester, Lovely Warren that intervened after learning Lovett was an intern at City Hall, the mayor gave him the opportunity to give the speech and have it uploaded to the City’s YouTube page. In the speech, Lovett was able to do what he couldn’t do at graduation, thanking his family and others who had helped him along the way to graduation.
Lovett will be attending Clark Atlanta University on a full scholarship later this year as he is planning on majoring in Computer Science and currently wants to pursue a career in Video Design.