Poet who caused controversy in Peekskill takes to airwaves

A controversial young poet who caused controversy in Peekskill took to the airwaves with the Reverend Al Sharpton Tuesday. Seven-year-old Autum Ashante read a poem called "White Nationalism Put U in Bondage"

News 12 Staff

Mar 14, 2006, 11:14 PM

Updated 6,752 days ago

Share:

A controversial young poet who caused controversy in Peekskill took to the airwaves with the Reverend Al Sharpton Tuesday. Seven-year-old Autum Ashante read a poem called "White Nationalism Put U in Bondage" on Sharpton's nationwide radio show. It is the same poem she read at a Black History Month assembly at the Peekskill Middle School. In the poem, Ashante compares Columbus and Darwin to pirates and vampires who robbed blacks of their human rights.The Peekskill City School District sent recorded messages to parents of its 3,000 students apologizing to anyone who was offended. At future assemblies, school officials say they will make sure they know what is being presented.Related story Poem at Black History Month assembly causes controversy in Peekskill