OHS student named runner-up in oratory contest

Justin Palmer placed second in a spoken word competition held at Nassau Community College on Feb. 25.

Courtesy Paulette Palmer

An excerpt — Crystal Valentine’s “Black Privilege”

Black privilege is the hung elephant swinging in the room

Is the memory of a slave ship, praying for the Alzheimer’s to kick in.

Black privilege is me having already memorized my nephew’s eulogy, my brother’s eulogy, my father’s eulogy, my unconceived child’s eulogy.

Black privilege is me thinking my sister’s name safe from that list. 

Black privilege is me pretending like I know Trayvon Martin on a first-name basis,

Is me using a dead boy’s name to win a poetry slam,

Is me carrying a mouthful of other people’s skeletons to use at my own convenience.

Black privilege is the concrete that holds my breath better than my lungs do. 

Black privilege is always having to be the strong one,

Is having a crowbar for a spine,

Is fighting even when you have no more blood to give,

Even when your bones carried you,

Even when your mother prayed for you,

Even after they prepared your body for the funeral.

Black privilege is being so unique that not even God will look like you.

Black privilege is still being the first person in line to meet him.

Justin Palmer is a young man of few words.

“If there’s a choice between a one- and a two-word answer,” his mother, Paulette, explained, “he will always give the one-word answer.”

But on Feb. 25, the Oceanside High School senior took the stage at the seventh annual Dynamic Speakers Theater event at Nassau Community College. In the last few days of Black History Month, Palmer placed second in the oratorical contest held by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s Nassau Alumnae Chapter for his performance of “Black Privilege,” written by poet and activist Crystal Valentine.

Palmer said his mother had showed him the poem, which discusses the hardships endured by African Americans in the past, and today. He had practiced since October, working on his memorization and public speaking skills in workshops hosted by the chapter. As he read aloud the poem in front a mixed crowd of family members and complete strangers last month, he said he didn’t feel nervous.

“When I was performing, I didn’t really focus on the audience,” Palmer said. “I was focusing more on the piece and trying to get the meaning out.”

Paulette said her son has followed in the footsteps of his sister Jasmin, who had previously won the competition. This year was his third year participating in the contest, she added, and he showed a maturity that she hadn’t seen before.

Because Justin hadn’t let her see him practice, Paulette explained, she hardly recognized her normally reserved child.

“We’re very proud,” Paulette said. “Me, his father, his grandmother, his godmother and his sister turned to each other and said, ‘Who is that?’”