Atlanta, GA – Today The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) put on an amazing event for the kids here at the home of Super Bowl 53. A group of former and current players made their way down to Booker T. High School in Atlanta – Dr. Martin Luther King’s Alma Mater – to take a joint painting class with the students. It was an afternoon full of paint splatter, music, laughs, and even a special performance from the school’s marching band and dance team. These kids down here at Booker T. High School are truly talented.
Pro Player Insiders got a chance to catch up with Principal Tasharah Wilson about the event and we asked her what it meant to her to be able to host this event. “Well, it’s more about what it means to the children. They have looked forward to this event the entire week,” said Principal Wilson. “The buzz in the hallway was phenomenal and when they got off the bus this morning they were like “what time does it start?!”, “what time does it start?!” and so it really means a lot that all of the players took time out of their busy schedules to spend time with this students at Booker T. Washington High School.”
Principal Wilson also introduced us to their amazing school counselor, Dr. Erica Clark. Dr. Clark handles all the schools’ partnership programs and is known around the campus as, “The Plug”, due to her vast connections and the ability to make things happen. Making things happen is exactly what she did when it came to helping the NFL realize it was Booker T. Washington that deserved to host the Painting with the Pros event. When the NFL called, they explained that it was between them and another school for where the pros would end up painting with the kids. Dr. Clark wasn’t about to let the NFL hang up the phone without making them realize they really only had one choice – Booker T. Washington High School. “Well, why would you chose that other school? Why would you not choose us? We are the oldest school for African Americans – 1924!”, Dr. Clark strongly stated to the NFL representative over the phone. “Our children deserve an opportunity to be exposed to things they will never have an opportunity to.” Sold. The NFL would be coming to Booker T. Washington High School.
When it came to having players show up, Principal Wilson and Dr. Clark hoped at least a handful would actually show. Well, the NFL did better than that. The league actually had to close the event because too many people were trying to sign up. The list of attendees included Philadelphia Eagles legend, Freddie Mitchell, current Chicago Bear, Prince Amukamara, and even a few highly talented artists in Kevin Laroy and Katrina Jackson, also known as “Kat Tat”. Laroy and Jackson are known best for their work in the tattoo industry and have risen to fame through reality shows such as Ink Master and Black Ink Crew. The two weren’t here for the fame, though. They simply wanted to give back like they often do. We got a chance to catch up with Laroy and asked him just what this event meant to him. “I had so much fun in here because when I was in high school, this was like, me.“, Laroy said.” He wasn’t necessarily a straight “A” student, but he always did great in art, a place where he felt most comfortable.
We also spoke with Prince Amukamara and asked what motivated him to take part in the event. “It’s fun, it’s really been on my heart. Especially as an athlete, I feel like we take so much, or we’ve been given so much free stuff – whether it’s product, whether it’s money, and I’ve been trying to make an effort anytime I can just do something without expecting something in return,” Amukamara said. “Something like this, where I just come in and donate my time. Especially after having kids, when you see a role model, or someone that society puts on a pedestal and they come down and spend time and talk with you – that does a lot for your aspirations as a student.”
You didn’t have to know any of the high school kids personally to know what this event meant to them. The look in their eyes told you they’d remember this event for the rest of their lives. They say the greatest gift you can give another person is your time because your time is the only thing someone else can’t replicate. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. It’s the selflessness of these great people that makes all of this possible.
In the words of one of the greatest human beings to ever walk this earth, and a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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