AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ms. Swanbeck speaks. “Let’s everybody stay calm. A friendly and fair debate. Isn’t that what we all want?”
Uh, yeah. I guess.
But you know what I want most of all?
I just want it to be over.
MS. SWANBECK SAYS,“Let’s get started, shall we? Are the debaters ready?”
“Yes, I’m ready,” I say.
“Yes, ma’am,” Sienna says.
I don’t have time to think about the fact that using the super-respectful “ma’am” puts Sienna ahead of me already. Ms. Swanbeck hits a button on her laptop, and the theme of the debate flashes on the screen behind Sienna and me.
THE DC POLICE
PART OF THE PROBLEM?
PART OF THE SOLUTION?
OR BOTH?
Coin toss. Sienna wins the toss and chooses to go first. And, damn, she is just like a TV personality. So cool. So calm. She’s not only got a sweet, sincere smile, but when she starts talking, well, she’s prepared. She’s got the cold hard facts to go with her look.
Smooth, confident, she talks to the audience like she’s talking to her best friend.
“The actual statistics speak to the real root of the problem. In areas of Southeast where, as we all know, the population is predominantly Black, the police officers assigned to it are”—Sienna pauses, a smart move on her part—“predominantly white. Just in this ten-block area, this area right here, surrounding this school, the neighborhood is 68 percent people of color. Yet according to public records, assigned police officers are only 35 percent Black. C’mon, people. Racist white police…”
I interrupt. I have to. “Hold on. Racist? How do you know these officers are ra—”
Ms. Swanbeck steps in. “Please, Ali. Let Sienna continue. You’ll have your time very soon. Continue, Sienna.”
She does. And wow is she clever.
“I think Ali has a good point. I think using the wordracistis prejudicial. I retract it.”
Okay, she’s cemented the wordracistby saying it twice, and now she sounds better than ever by apologizing for using it.
She continues.
“Yes, let’s deal only in facts. Here’s one. Last summer, during the months of June, July, and August, twenty-two police officers were brought up before the review board on brutality and abuse charges. Do you know how many of those twenty-two were further investigated?”
A voice from the audience. “Probably none of them.”
Sienna says, “You’re close, Leonard.” Ah, using the personal touch.
“But the accurate answer is ‘one.’ Yeah, that’s right. Of all those cops accused, only one went beyond the police review board to an actual court hearing. And, oh, by the way, that one cop was found not guilty.”
Cries of “Go, Sienna” and “You’re right, girl” and “Forget the cops” fill the huge room.
Ms. Swanbeck steps forward quick and tells the audience to calm down. Once they do, she can’t resist giving a short lecture.
“This is meant to be a civilized discussion of ideas.” Then she looks at me and says, “So, Ali, would you like to respond to Sienna’s comments?”
What the hell is Swanbeck expecting me to say? Uh, no—let’s end it here?
I squeeze my eyes shut, just for a second, but in that second, I decide exactly what I should say. I’ve learned a lesson from Sienna, but I’m going to be flying way higher, and I’m going to touch the freaking sky.
