1
00:00:01,815 --> 00:00:06,376
I'm Clint Smith and this is
"Ode to the Only Black Kid in the Class."

2
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You, it seems,
are the manifestation

3
00:00:11,256 --> 00:00:13,826
of several lifetimes
of toil.

4
00:00:13,826 --> 00:00:16,065
Brown v. Board
in flesh.

5
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Most days
the classroom feels

6
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like an antechamber.

7
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You are deemed expert

8
00:00:20,646 --> 00:00:25,756
on all things Morrison,
King, Malcolm, Rosa.

9
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Hell, weren’t you sitting
on that bus, too?

10
00:00:28,446 --> 00:00:30,106
You are every-
body’s best friend

11
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until you are not.

12
00:00:31,796 --> 00:00:33,236
Hip-hop lyricologist.

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Presumed athlete.

14
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Free & Reduced sideshow.

15
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Exception and caricature.

16
00:00:38,576 --> 00:00:41,226
Too black and too white
all at once.

17
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If you are successful

18
00:00:42,466 --> 00:00:44,666
it is because
of affirmative action.

19
00:00:44,666 --> 00:00:46,146
If you fail it is because

20
00:00:46,146 --> 00:00:47,836
you were destined to.

21
00:00:47,836 --> 00:00:51,466
You are invisible until they turn on
the Friday night lights.

22
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Here you are star before
they render you asteroid.

23
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Before they watch
you turn to dust.