[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 56 (Tuesday, April 8, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E705-E706]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO ERIC SCOTT RUSSELL

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 8, 2003

  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a great American 
youth, Eric Scott Russell. Eric Scott Russell was born on May 1, 1985 
to Julie and Daryll Russell.
  The family is a member of St. Dominic parish where Eric attended 
elementary school. His academic learning was broadened with his 
attendance at University School, St. Ignatius High School and Charles 
Rush, where he was to graduate June 2003. In addition to his schooling, 
Eric was an exceptional athlete in cross country track and field and 
football.
  Eric had a desire to have a career in journalism. As a result of his 
diligence and hard work, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Cleveland 
National Association of Black Journalists selected Eric to participate 
in a seven-week internship and seminar, where he was honored as ``the 
most knowledgeable on current events''.
  At his home going services, I read Eric Scott Russell's college 
entrance essay entitled, ``Overcoming Adversity''. It read:

       Many people say that the adversity we face in life can 
     either make us or break us. Well, it all depends on the way 
     that you look at obstacles, placed in your path, and what you 
     learn as a result of going through them. I have learned the 
     true relevance of this for myself because of recent adversity 
     that I have faced. This adversity has taught me

[[Page E706]]

     that you have to always work for your best and never settle 
     for anything less because, even if you don't deserve it, 
     people will try to put you down and slight your name and your 
     character. If you haven't made sure that you are at the top 
     of your game, these attacks can break you.
       The obstacle that I was forced to face was racism. Racism 
     is, unfortunately, a common obstacle for African-American 
     people, but my situation was unique in that it allowed a 
     great number of people to learn of it. At the end of my 
     junior year, a student who worked as the sports editor of the 
     school yearbook decided, for reasons I still do not know, to 
     deliberately and maliciously misrepresent me in print. 
     Instead of putting my name under the Cross-Country Team 
     picture, this student editor put the slur ``Blacky''. The 
     yearbook staff and faculty advisor submitted then published 
     the yearbook and it was distributed to the entire school.
       When I was confronted with what this boy did it blew me 
     away. I couldn't understand why this had happened to me and 
     it sent me through a myriad of emotions. At first I was 
     confused, then anger set in to cloud my thinking even more. I 
     was filled with self-pity and fear of what people might say 
     or do. I worried what this boy's hateful actions would do to 
     my future and there wasn't much anyone could say to make me 
     feel any better. I had to sort it out on my own and come up 
     with my own answers.
       Over time, and after much thought, I was left with two 
     realizations. The first did not take me too long to reach. I 
     decided that I should not feel any self-pity because the slur 
     did not reflect on my character, but rather on the character 
     of the boy who did this to me. The second realization took 
     much more time because of its importance and its impact on my 
     life. I realized that up to that point, I had not 
     accomplished much in my high school career, and had not made 
     a lasting mark to show that the slur was not a reflection of 
     who I am. I decided to remain at my high school and complete 
     my senior year, rather than allow the pain of racism to drive 
     me away. I would face the racism and work to correct it. I 
     joined the ``Project LOVE'' student group to begin this task.
       Although the long-term ramifications of this one horrific 
     event can never be speculated upon with accuracy or fully 
     understood there are few things that I know for sure. I know 
     that our society often projects the guilty behind a veil of 
     obscurity while the victim is hung out to dry. I know that 
     there are poor people who will rush to defend, or even worse, 
     condone racism in our society. But, I also know that I must 
     show, by my deeds, that character and integrity mean 
     something in this world, because I believe as professed by 
     Mahatma Gandhi, that education without character is one of 
     the seven deadly social sins in our society. I know that my 
     actions must reflect my beliefs and that my life must be a 
     testimony to this fact.

  On behalf of the people of the 11th Congressional District of Ohio 
and the United States Congress, I extend my sincere condolences.

                          ____________________