Guest speaker stresses importance of taking ‘little steps’

Kitara McClure has a big presence: Her energy instantly fills a room as she radiates self-confidence and poise. McClure, who was the keynote speaker at last Tuesday's Take Action Against Hate banquet, was often put in tough situations growing up in inner-city Chicago, where she commonly was faced with both hate and violence.

"I grew up with violence," McClure said. "You go outside and gunshots are just as common as raindrops."

Her experiences have fueled her life's work and shaped her views on "hate crimes." She explained that hate crimes are considered to be racially motivated violence, however, she believes any violence is the product of hate.

"I think violent crimes have the same undertone as a hate crime," McClure said.

Raymond Reyes, vice president for intercultural relations, emphasized this point. His office, which organizes the annual dinner, is dedicated to looking at the disease, hate and violence, and to try and find a cure. Reyes said, "[We look at] the many faces of hate."

While it's important to remember and discuss events like the Holocaust, McClure said that the more relevant thing is to talk about the little steps people can take to prevent hate. Trying to take on something large, like the Holocaust or genocide in Darfur, is overwhelming and not possible for the majority of people. However, little daily things can make a huge difference, she said.

"It was everyday people in my community who made a difference," McClure said.

As a girl, she was known to be smart, if only because she went to school most days. People in her neighborhood encouraged her to stay in school. She said that the local fruit seller gave her a part-time job and She was paid in fresh fruit.

"In [that part of] America you don't get fresh fruit," she said. "He was a father [figure to me] for 1.5 hours a day."

She encouraged the audience to do seemingly little things, which can have a big impact. One of the more important little things that can be done, she said, is when men volunteer to read to kids at school. Studies show that having a positive male influence has a huge impact, with grades and test scores increasing dramatically, she said. Paradoxically, they have no positive male role models. They are told to be a man but have no idea what that means, she said.

"[It's] something simple," McClure said. "The next Hitler could be in a classroom or the next president of the USA."

      The Office of Intercultural Relations is dedicated to looking at the causes of hate, not just the symptoms, Rayes said. This is unique in the country, studying hate and violence to find a cure for those very things.

      "[We are] taking it from a different orientation," he said. "There is no place in higher education that has hate studies."

      The annual banquet is a fundraiser for the Office of Intercultural Relations and generally features speakers from the area, Rayes said. In addition to McClure's keynote address, several awards were given, to both graduate and undergraduate students. Overall, roughly 200 people attended the banquet, Rayes said.

      McClure, in addition to her responsibilities at SCC, runs a mentoring program with Roger's high school students.

      "I'm kind, but I'm not nice," she said. "Our leadership program teaches young people how to fail."

      Ultimately, though, she said it comes down to what individuals do, or don't do. Programs and scholarships can only go so far.

            "I know we're in a recession, but love is still free," McClure said.