Brenda Cherry facts for kids
Brenda Cherry (born March 19, 1958) is an American civil rights activist from Paris, Texas. She works to make sure everyone is treated fairly, no matter their race.
Brenda Cherry is the President and co-founder of Concerned Citizens for Racial Equality (CCFRE). This group helps people with their civil rights. It started in 2003 and has worked with important organizations like the U.S. Department of Justice and the American Civil Liberties Union.
Contents
- Growing Up: Brenda Cherry's Early Life
- Fighting for Fairness: Brenda Cherry's Activism
- Brenda Cherry's Advocacy for Change
Growing Up: Brenda Cherry's Early Life
Brenda Cherry grew up in Blossom, Texas. Her father was a farmer, and her mother worked in homes. When she was young, schools were separated by race. She had to ride a bus 10 miles to an all-Black school in Paris, Texas, even though there was a school closer to her home. Later, when schools became integrated (meaning students of all races could attend together), she went to the school in Blossom that used to be only for white students.
Brenda graduated from Prairiland High School. She then went to college at Paris Junior College and East Texas State University. Before becoming a civil rights activist, she worked as a nurse for nine years. Brenda Cherry has two daughters, Shauncia and Tiffany, and one son, Rico.
Fighting for Fairness: Brenda Cherry's Activism
Brenda Cherry has been involved in many important cases where she fought for justice and equal treatment for people in her community.
Standing Up for Students: Schoolyard Incidents
Helping a Student at Crockett Middle School
In October 2003, an 11-year-old Black student was reportedly treated unfairly at Crockett Middle School in Paris, Texas. The child was sent to a detention center. Brenda Cherry, along with the child's family and a small group, protested outside the school. Because of their protest, the child was released. This event was one of the first times Brenda Cherry led protests in Paris, Texas.
The Shaquanda Cotton Case: Unequal Justice
Shaquanda Cotton was a 14-year-old African-American student at Paris High School. In March 2006, she was arrested for allegedly pushing a school hall monitor. Even though she had never been in trouble before, she was sentenced to up to 7 years in a youth prison. Around the same time, a 14-year-old white girl with a past record was given probation for a serious crime.
When news of Shaquanda's unfair sentence spread, it got national attention. A big protest was held in Paris, Texas, led by comedian Rickey Smiley. About two weeks after a major newspaper article and the protest, Shaquanda was released. Brenda Cherry was interviewed by the BBC about this case, and it was even part of a BBC documentary.
The Brandarian Thomas Case: Challenging Unfair Punishment
Brandarian Thomas was a 14-year-old African-American student at Travis Junior High School. He was accused of something he denied doing. His mother contacted Brenda Cherry, who encouraged her to go to trial instead of accepting a plea deal (where you admit guilt for a lighter sentence).
Brenda Cherry believed that Black students in Paris schools were often punished more severely for small things. She said, "The black kids are punished more often, more harshly." She helped Brandarian's mother fight for a fair trial, even though prosecutors offered a plea deal. Brenda felt it was wrong to ruin a 14-year-old's life for such accusations.
The Cornelius Gill Incident: Police Interaction Concerns
Cornelius Gill was an 18-year-old high school student in Paris, Texas. In November 2009, he was picking up pecans when a police officer questioned him about a stolen car. When Gill refused to answer and used a curse word, the officer arrested him. Brenda Cherry saw part of what happened. She and Gill's mother filed a complaint with the Paris Police Department.
Brenda Cherry got a video from the police car's camera that showed the incident. Even though the video didn't show it, the officer claimed Gill had assaulted him. Gill was sentenced to 100 days in jail. The officer was suspended for a short time, but the suspension was lifted. This case led to many people speaking out against police actions and unfair force. Brenda Cherry said that the ruling made her "fearful" because it seemed to tell police they could act however they wanted.
Seeking Justice for Individuals: Important Cases
The Brandon McClelland Case: A Call for Full Investigation
Brandon McClelland was a 24-year-old African-American man from Paris, Texas, who died in 2008. The local newspaper first reported it as a hit-and-run. However, because of Brenda Cherry and Concerned Citizens for Racial Equality, the case gained national attention.
There was a lot of discussion about how Brandon died. Brenda Cherry spoke to USA Today, saying, "Authorities have not seriously considered the possibility that this was a hate crime. There's a problem in Paris, Texas." She pushed for a deeper look into the case.
Further investigation showed Brandon was last seen with two white men who had past criminal records. These men were charged with killing Brandon, but later the charges were dropped due to a lack of evidence. Brenda Cherry told CBS News, "His body was dragged and nobody gets charged? ... It appears that a black man's life means nothing here in Paris." Brenda Cherry and others led many protests, and the case remains an open investigation.
The Bobby Yates Case: Advocating for a Person with a Disability
Bobby Yates was a 51-year-old African-American man in Paris, Texas, who was paralyzed and had lost part of his legs due to an old hunting accident. In 2008, he called 911 saying he had been treated badly by people at his home who wouldn't leave. Brenda Cherry and her organization held protests and filed complaints on Bobby Yates's behalf, advocating for him to receive proper help and justice.
The Aaron Hart Case: Fighting for Fair Sentencing
Aaron Hart has an intellectual disability. He was involved in an incident with a five-year-old child. At his trial, his lawyer did not call any witnesses or get a special doctor to check his mental ability. In June 2009, Judge Eric Clifford sentenced Aaron Hart to 100 years in prison, saying he had no other choice. Around the same time, the same judge gave a person without a disability, charged with a similar offense, only four years in prison.
Brenda Cherry and her organization strongly supported Aaron Hart. They held many protest marches, and the case became known across the country. Brenda Cherry told the Los Angeles Times, "How could the judge not take his mental ability into consideration?" Aaron Hart later received a new trial and accepted a plea deal, being sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Addressing Workplace Issues: Turner Industries
Turner Industries is a large industrial company with locations in many states, including Paris, Texas. In February 2009, Brenda Cherry's group received complaints and photos about unfair treatment at the Paris plant. These included racist symbols, offensive drawings, and claims that Black workers were not paid fairly or promoted.
Brenda Cherry's activism led to a federal investigation by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. This investigation found problems, and a lawsuit was settled. The company also made changes to how it treated employees. Brenda Cherry said that she was concerned about the people who put up the racist symbols, because those same people might serve on juries or hold positions of power. The Turner Industries investigation was one of the biggest civil rights investigations ever in Texas.
Protecting Vulnerable Students: Bullying at School
The Roping and Bullying of an Autistic Student
In April 2011, a 14-year-old African-American student with autism was taken into a greenhouse at Paris High School by an 18-year-old white student. The older student put a rope around the younger student's waist, kicked his feet, and hit his hand with a stick when he tried to get free. The older student's girlfriend filmed the incident and laughed. When they returned to class, a male teacher took the phone and erased the video.
After the school did not punish the older students or the teacher, Brenda Cherry and CCFRE stepped in to help the mother, Tina Washington, and her son. Even though it was a serious offense, the county attorney refused to charge the 18-year-old student. Brenda Cherry and others led protests about this incident. The case is still being looked into by the U.S. Department of Education.
Brenda Cherry's Advocacy for Change
Brenda Cherry's group, Concerned Citizens for Racial Equality, worked with the U.S. Department of Justice to hold a community meeting about fairness. Brenda Cherry spoke openly, saying, "I'm here to talk about racism. I don't see any sense in playing games, pretending it doesn't exist." She pointed out that in schools, mostly Black kids were in detention, and in court, Black people often received higher bail and longer sentences. She asked, "If that's not racism, what is it?"
Brenda Cherry told Newsweek that her town was "being forced to look at things they never wanted to look at before." She and a local law firm gathered information showing that the Paris Independent School District punished Black students eight times more often than white students, even though Black students were a smaller part of the population. While the U.S. Department of Education said there wasn't enough proof to call it racism, Brenda Cherry told The New York Times, "I think we are probably stuck in 1930 right about now. If you complain about anything, you are going to be punished."
Brenda Cherry continues her important work to address issues of race and human rights, always fighting for a more fair and equal community.
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