Scarboro Youth

The Oak Ridger
·3 min read

Five Oak Ridge youth - Ta’Lyssa Threat, La’Miya Duff, Jamari Duff, Cali Foster, and Keziah Strickland - were chosen 2023 Scarboro Youth.

These youth are part of a year-long community engagement program coordinated by the Scarboro Community Alumni Association, according to a news release. The program promotes community service, an understanding of Oak Ridge Schools desegregation, historical contributions made by the Scarboro 85, and the importance of education.

The Scarboro 85 were the 85 students from the Scarboro community who were the first Black students to desegregate schools in the Southeast after the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark Brown vs. Board of Education decision. They attended previously Robertsville Middle School and Oak Ridge High School in Oak Ridge Schools, which were run by the federal government at the time.

Jamari Duff, right, and Lamiya Duff at the Scarboro Community Alumni Association Parade in July.
Jamari Duff, right, and Lamiya Duff at the Scarboro Community Alumni Association Parade in July.

Students were recently recognized at an awards ceremony, where they received the city of Oak Ridge Scarboro 85 Ambassadors Certificates, a medal of service, trophy, cash awards, and backpacks with school supplies.

Ernestine Avery, one of the Scarboro 85 students shared with the youth how it was different when she was growing up and how Blacks had to go to the back of the restaurants as Blacks were not served in the front or not at all. The Scarboro Community Alumni Association plans to hold future engagement programs where youth can hear these stories.

Students are also receiving speech training by Ralph Mack to to help them with introducing themselves to the public and aid them in reading and writing. One of the requirements for this program is that each student raises funds in honor of the Scarboro 85 that will be donated to the Scarboro Community Alumni Association for future scholarships. The students raised a total of $1,590 and they challenge the community to raise funds.

Keziah Strickland, right, and Ta'Lyssa Threat at the Scarboro Community Alumni Association Parade in July.
Keziah Strickland, right, and Ta'Lyssa Threat at the Scarboro Community Alumni Association Parade in July.

Prior to their reception, the students participated in the Scarboro Community Alumni Association Parade on July 29 and the recent Scarboro 85 Celebration, as well at an upcoming City Council and Board of Education Meeting.

The students have also designated a Saturday in October to coordinate a Scarboro Clean Up effort demonstrating their “Give Back” attitude.

“We challenge each Adult in Scarboro to support the Scarboro community by donating to the monument or picking up trash,” said La’Miya and Jamari Duff in a recent interview.

La’Miya Duff’s parents are Timothy Sanders and Mineshia Duff. La’Miya is a cheerleader, plays basketball and enjoys reading and church. She attends Willow Brook Elementary School. Jamari’ Duff is the son of Jarvis Washington and Mineshia Duff. He attends Willow Brook and enjoys basketball, football, reading, and church. They honor Scarboro 85 student Sarah Mae Spratling, aunt to John Spratling.

Cali Foster is the daughter of Ernestine and Darrelle Foster. She attends Glenwood Elementary School, where she is part of the gifted program. She is a comprehensive development class (CDC) assistant working with handicap classmates at Glenwood and enjoys writing, art, and drawing, and taking care of her great-grandmother Ernestine Avery, a Scarboro 85 student.

Keziah Strickland is the daughter of Annitrice Strickland and attends Linden Elementary School, where she is a Girl Scout, loves arts and crafts and reading and writing. Her ties to the Scarboro Community includes historical warriors Katie Strickland, Dorothye Patterson, and Scarboro 85 students Margaret Guinn and Fred Guinn.

Ta’Lyssa Threat is the daughter of Treasure Threat. She attends Woodland Elementary School and enjoys basketball, skateboarding, playing with dolls, singing and dancing. She has ties through her grandparents and Edward Threat, a Scarboro 85 student.

They have been designated aas Ambassadors for the Scarboro 85 and will speak at upcoming events to share their family’s legacy as well as the importance of knowing and preserving family history.

Rose Weaver, Phyllis Alexander, and Sherry Simpkins are committee members of this program. Tina Henderson-Porter is the Scarboro Community Alumni Association president

This article originally appeared on Oakridger: 2023 Scarboro Youth recognized