Geoffrey Canada and Freedom Awards

Posted on November 6, 2013

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I was privileged to attend the 2013 Freedom Awards tonight, presented by the National Civil Rights Museum.  Three fantastic individuals where honored.  However, Geoffery Canada stuck out in my mind as he always does with his charge to ensure that we do all we can to ensure that every child has the chance to obtain a high quality education.  I wasn’t able to videotape it, but he wrote and recited an excellent poem titled “Don’t Blame Me” that I wanted to reprint here.  As a teacher, it’s about taking responsibility for those in my charge.  It’s about not pushing the blame off onto someone else and doing everything I can to grow the children that I have right in front of me.  If you’d rather watch it read, you can check out an elementary school student reading it here.

The girl’s mother said, “Don’t blame me.
Her father left when she was three.
I know she don’t know her ABCs, her 1,2,3s,
But I am poor and work hard you see.”
You know the story, it’s don’t blame me.

The teacher shook her head and said,
“Don’t blame me, I know it’s sad.
He’s ten, but if the truth be told,
He reads like he was six years old.
And math, don’t ask.
It’s sad you see.
Wish I could do more, but it’s after three.
Blame the mom, blame society, blame the system.
Just don’t blame me.”

The judge was angry, his expression cold.
He scowled and said, “Son you’ve been told.
Break the law again and you’ll do time.
You’ve robbed with a gun.
Have you lost your mind?”
The young man opened his mouth to beg.
“Save your breath,” he heard instead.
“Your daddy left when you were two.
Your momma didn’t take care of you.
Your school prepared you for this fall.
Can’t read, can’t write, can’t spell at all.
But you did the crime for all to see.
You’re going to jail, son.
Don’t blame me.”

If there is a God or a person supreme,
A final reckoning, for the kind and the mean,
And judgment is rendered on who passed the buck,
Who blamed the victim or proudly stood up,
You’ll say to the world, “While I couldn’t save all,
I did not let these children fall.
By the thousands I helped all I could see.
No excuses, I took full responsibility.
No matter if they were black or white,
Were cursed, ignored, were wrong or right,
Were shunned, pre-judged, were short or tall,
I did my best to save them all.”
And I will bear witness for eternity
That you can state proudly,
“Don’t blame me.”

Geoffrey Canada

By Jon Alfuth

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