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Autum Ashante, the 7-year-old poetry prodigy whose work sparked an uproar in a Westchester County school district, made no apologies yesterday, saying she did the right thing.
"I feel good about the response," Autum said of the firestorm engulfing the Peekskill City School District, where her recitation of a poem at a high school and a middle school offended students. "I know it was the right thing."
The schools sent recorded phone messages to 3,000 parents last week apologizing for Autum's poem, "White Nationalism Put U In Bondage," which accuses Christopher Columbus and Charles Darwin of robbing blacks of their human rights.
Her performance included a recitation of the "Black Child's Pledge," a Black Panther oath of civic responsibility and black pride, in which Autum asked only black and Hispanic students to stand.
Judith Johnson, the Peekskill superintendent, said the performance upset students and she stood by the apology.
"We had kids who were really upset," Johnson said. "We said [to parents], 'If your child was upset, we apologize for that.' There is nothing wrong with that."
New York City Councilman Charles Barron, a Brooklyn Democrat and former Black Panther, honored Autum at City Hall and defended her right to address only children of color.
Autum recited her poem at Barron's request, evoking praises of "Hallelujah!" from black leaders and activists who gathered for the press conference.
david.andreatta@nypost.com
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