Cub Scout Booted From Den for Asking Lawmaker About Past Racist Comments
SCOUT’S HONOR
Cub Scout Booted From Den for Asking Lawmaker About Past Racist Comments
A fifth-grader held a state senator to account for past remarks about African Americans—and then was kicked out of his den
A Cub Scout questioning a local elected official would normally result in a Citizenship in the Community merit badge—but for an 11-year-old Scout in Broomfield, Colorado , asking a state senator about racially charged comments she made during a 2013 committee hearing resulted in his expulsion from his troop .
Ames Mayfield, a fifth-grader who has been a Scout for five years, was three months from graduating to Boy Scout when he was removed from his den, allegedly for asking state Sen. Vicki Marble a series of tough questions relating to her stance on gun control and comments she had made linking consumption of barbecue and chicken to poor health among African Americans.
“I was astonished that you blamed black people for poor health and poverty because of all the chicken and barbecue they eat,” Mayfield said at a forum being held with the Scout den and the state senator. Marble denied that she had made such comments, alleging that they were “made up by the media,” and lectured Mayfield on getting his facts straight.
“So you want to believe it? You believe it,” she said. “But that’s not how it went down. I didn’t do that. That was false. Get both sides of the story.”
Mayfield’s mother, Lori, captured the line of questioning, and Marble’s denial, on tape:
Marble’s recollection is not reflected by contemporary reports , which described her colleagues in the state Senate as “stunned” when she linked African American life expectancy to chicken and barbecue.
“When you look at life expectancy, there are problems in the black race,” said Marble, who at the time served on the legislature’s Economic Opportunity Poverty Reduction Task Force. “Sickle-cell anemia is something that comes up. Diabetes is something that’s prevalent in the genetic makeup, and you just can’t help it.”
She then complimented the taste of the foods, if not the quality.
“Although I’ve got to say, I’ve never had better barbecue and better chicken and ate better in my life than when you go down South and you, I mean, I love it,” Marble said at the time. “Everybody loves it.”
After the 2013 backlash, Marble issued a statement defending her remarks, saying they “were not meant to be disparaging to any community.”
During the den meeting, Marble highlighted her own ethnic background, which she characterized as including “black, Mexican, Jew, Native American” and “lousy Irish!”
An aggressive followup question from Mayfield on a bill Marble co-sponsored that would have allowed people who had been convicted of domestic violence to own a firearm—“Why on earth would you want someone who beats their wife to have access to a gun?”—prompted the den leader to step in.
And a few days later, Mayfield was booted from the den.
“The Denver Area Council is evaluating this matter closely and will treat all parties with dignity and respect,” Nicole Cosme, marketing director of the Boy Scouts of America Denver Area Council, told The Denver Post . Mayfield has reportedly been offered membership in other dens.
“We would like Ames to stay in Cub Scouts and become a Boy Scout,” Cosme said.
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A Republican state senator stunned her colleagues Wednesday during a discussion on poverty when she talked about blacks eating chicken and Mexicans eating vegetables until they move to the United States.
The remarks by Sen. Vicki Marble of Fort Collins drew a stinging rebuke from a black state lawmaker.
“When you look at life expectancy, there are problems in the black race,” Marble said. “Sickle-cell anemia is something that comes up. Diabetes is something that’s prevalent in the genetic makeup, and you just can’t help it.
“Although I’ve got to say, I’ve never had better barbecue and better chicken and ate better in my life than when you go down South and you, I mean, I love it. Everybody loves it.”
Marble also said Mexicans eat healthfully until they immigrate to America.
Marble serves on the legislature’s Economic Opportunity Poverty Reduction Task Force, which Wednesday was looking at statistics highlighting racial disparities and the poverty rate.
Two Democrats on the committee, Sen. John Kefalas of Fort Collins and Rep. Rhonda Fields of Aurora, later said Marble’s comments not only reinforced stereotypes, but that they also are inaccurate. They said those in the committee room appeared shocked by the remarks.
Fields, who is black, called Marble out in committee.
“You mentioned what we eat — I was highly offended by your remarks,” Fields said.
“I will not engage in a dialogue where you are using these stereotypical references about African-Americans and chicken and food. I will not tolerate that. This is not what this committee is all about. … What we are trying to do is come up with meaningful solutions. This is not about eating chicken.”
Marble tried to answer Fields, but Kefalas, the committee chairman, called for a recess “so we can all take a deep breath.” The issue was not brought up when the committee returned.
In a statement issued Wednesday night, Marble said her comments “were not meant to be disparaging to any community. I am saddened they were taken in that regard.
“I take my responsibility seriously, and I hope our work on this committee will offer real solutions to the health and financial challenges of our vulnerable populations.”
Kefalas said Marble must not be aware of a report issued earlier this year that shows Mexico now is the most obese industrialized nation in the world, narrowly surpassing the United States.
“I think sometimes she doesn’t understand the implications of what she is saying,” he said. “It was outrageous. Stereotyping doesn’t get us anywhere.”
Fields did not return to the committee hearing, as she was scheduled to attend a neighborhood meeting.
“Chicken and sickle-cell anemia,” she later said. “Can you believe it?”
Another black lawmaker who is on the committee did not publicly react to Marble’s remarks. Rep. Tony Exum, D-Colorado Springs, was the first committee member to speak after Marble. He talked about the importance of early-childhood education in reducing poverty.
Exum could not be reached for comment.
Marble’s comments were first reported by Fox31.
who put him up to it?
How is that relevant? He researched to make sure he asked pertinent questions, like a school assignment (sounds like good parenting to me). Do you think he should have been booted?
The boy's question did seem staged a little, but the point is that he was kicked out of the Cub Scout group because he embarrassed the politician. One of the links says the kids were encouraged to ask the congresswoman questions about issues. So he did.
very relevant, because that's the first thing many people ask in things like this and I know of times it has been done
No, I don't think he should have been kicked out, doing that undid all the good of being a Cub Scout
I love youtube.