Chess train to the White House

Monday, March 23, 2009
Open letter: White House Challenge traps

I am learning fast the danger of using the words white + house in a sentence, or the name Obama, is that some people immediately look for something negative to say. Seeing blogs turn from the issue of kids who devise a strategy, using chess to learn, thrive and survive, get twisted into ugly things about politicians is a built-in trap. Let’s recognize it and make some smart moves.

This is about love, strength, diversity and economic survival through unity. As Adisa Banjoko and the HHCF taught us, chess has been our tool for letting go of hate, anger and making bad moves without thinking. So we have to let the hate and fear attached to the economy and politics to wash over us, swim through it to our island of hope that is The White House and a chess match that can help us raise the money we need to keep educating these children.

The Hip-Hop Chess Federation and our students in the Life Strategies Program: Ryan Academy, Norolk, Va. and John O’Connell School, Ca. are too busy trying to survive the economy and daily life to take sides. We are non-partisan and I just want to get that out there for everyone to take note and a deep breath.

We are just teachers and students trying to find a strategy to survive this economy with our spirits, dignity and minds in tact.

We are not politicians. We just learned to play this game in September, so we are not grandmasters. We are the CHANGE come to life, trying to cling to that new life in an environment where, often, it seems everything around us is trying hard to snuff us out.

Like the first queen placed on the chessboard in the days of Eleanore of Aquitaine, we are the variant, that crops up and is so versatile, strong, lively and interesting that we find the power to become the new game. We are the new game.

Like that first queen, “The Mad Queen” we need everyone, all sides, all races, religions, nations, parties and people to find the love and appreciation to support our acceptance into this game. So yes, we started with a King.

My students are fond of saying “We began this game as pawns.” But they will not remain so because these kids are headed for promotion to more powerful pieces who can retain their dignity, sustain their personal change and spread the power that has been placed in their hands every time they lay them on a chess piece.

This train is bound for D.C. All A-board!

FAX your support to The White House now: 1 (202)456-2461

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