Southland students grill former attorney general
Students say one can’t find a much better role model than Holder
Students at Southland College Prep Charter High School said you can’t find a much better role model than former Attorney General Eric Holder.
A group of 10 juniors and seniors from the school in Richton Park chatted with Holder during a recent presentation about his book “Our Unfinished March: The Violent Past and Imperiled Future of the Vote — a History, a Crisis, a Plan.”
The book, written with Sam Koppelman, explores the history of voter discrimination and nudges readers to get involved in the voting process. Southland was the only school participating in the event, which also included Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, former U.S. Sen. Carol Mosley Braun and TV news anchor Robin Robinson.
The Southland students, members of the school’s National Honor Society and Mock Trial Team, had the opportunity to ask Holder questions. Dorian Davis, a junior NHS member, asked if Holder held on to any regrets.
“He said everything is really a learning lesson,” Davis said. “It wasn’t really a regret but helping him learn something.”
Holder also told the students that research was key in deciding who to vote for rather than advertisements, and that change and progress were made over time, not in an instant, recalled Davis.
“He said if he was back in the 1890s and someone told him he would be the attorney general today, he wouldn’t have been able to believe it because of how much damage and heartbreak people faced,” Davis said.
The event at the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago was sponsored by The HistoryMakers, a nonprofit digital oral history archive focusing on Black accomplishments and contributions. It was hosted by John W. Rogers Jr., chairman of Ariel Investments, with Julieanna L. Richardson, founder and president of The HistoryMakers.
Both Blondean Davis, CEO of Southland Prep, and Barbara Radner, a former Southland board member and current director of
DePaul University’s Polk Bros. Foundation Center for Urban Education already knew Richardson. Radner suggested launching a pilot with the nonprofit.
“The idea was born that it would be amazing to use this program as a platform to spawn a reading group,” said Robert Lane, director of Academics, College Admissions, and Alumni Affairs for Southland.
Before the event, the students got busy and read the book in less than a week, each becoming an expert on a chapter. They had a “book talk” before the event, discussing the text and coming up with questions.
They also had been studying gerrymandering and the history of voter suppression in their civics classes and AP government classes.
“All 10 students selected have a vested interest in public service, politics, government, civics and the legal system,” Lane said. “As future domestic and global citizens, this text helped them understand the importance of civic duty and what the late John Lewis has described as ‘good trouble.’ ”
Hailey Love, a senior NHS member, said Holder was an inspiration.
“Mr. Holder demands your attention and respect in a way that I find very impressive,” she said, saying that quality is “something I hope to emulate in the future.”
Love, who enjoys playing the viola and making jewelry in her spare time, said the book is a mustread. She hopes one day to use her own voice and writing to make a difference in the world.
“It definitely helps you to understand why voting is so important, and it helps bring awareness to other issues such as the filibuster and Electoral College,” she said. “It is a good read for young voters, especially, to learn more about how government has worked and what it could look like in the future.”
Yehoshua McClerkin, a senior member of the Mock Trial Team, said he was struck by Holder’s humility.
“My father always talked about having humility and a lot of people may lose track of that as they get to higher places, but I would say he remained very humble,” McClerkin said. “It’s exciting to see the (former) attorney general who is at the top of law in the country.
“I do just want to be able to fight for what’s right,” said McClerkin, who plans to study law.
McClerkin, too, said the book was a “great read” not only for young African Americans like himself but everybody. He also said the event made him feel more hopeful.
“It made me want to strive for success even more,” he said.
Other students who took part were Isaiah Jones, Madison Hall, Robert Jackson, Ahavah McClerkin, Amari Price, KaMahri Scott and Simone Junious.