What about your teeth?

This one is dedicated to all my kids out there who stand strong...


I love kids, and when kids are subjected to bullcrap...such as racism it really bothers me. This story I will never forget and so proud of Tay-mare! It's perfect and I didn't have to go to jail!


I was the day camp director for the YMCA's Middle School Camp. Camp back in the day was popping...like we had about 80 teenagers everyday. We had so much fun together. It was like a big family. I actually miss camp! :( My home congregation and the "Y" partnered up and ran camp for over 20 yrs. I remember I was one of the first campers...not Just that I believe I was their first black day camp director. So, my home pastor...Pastor Bruce better known as PB is all about the kids. He really loves his calling. He worked with the "Y" putting this day camp together. And it is still going..not the same but still going. The camp got so big we had to split up the camp and have one for elementary and one for the middle school. I roll better with Middle school kids. So I was the first director for the Middle School Camp...

Well this one particular summer was extra special...mad funny stuff happened. However the "Y" hired a new Youth Program Director; His name was Mike. The guy before him, Neil was our man. When Neil left everything was different and I mean that. We really missed Neil. He was about the kids no matter their skin color. Neil is my Doughboy!!!

Mike was not about the project kids. He gave little interest and the staff and kids picked it up right away. Mike and I didn't see eye to eye on A LOT of things. However, we worked together...we made it work. Mike has a huge problem with his mouth. Like his gums are diseased and they look like a rainbow. His mouth is so messed up...he should hand a written warning to people letting them know is mouth is jacked up before he speaks...that bad. When I first met him. He said Hi, and I jumped back in my chair...Sorry but that's what happened. Trying not to make fun of him...He has a condition!


Anyway, PB and I believe in education. Every morning when the kids came in they had to do a half a hour study of math and reading. We made it fun for them. We didn't want them to fall behind for the upcoming school year. PB, was going on vacation and he wanted Mike to come in and do the morning lessons for the week with the campers. I told PB that it was not going to be a good idea. Mike hasn't come into camp to see the kids and we only had 3 more weeks left of camp. Camp went on for 8 weeks. However, Pb knows everything and said, "No, he needs to come in here and be with these kids. I'm tired of this." I knew deep down inside this was not going to be a good thing. However, this is what PB wanted.

So, I told my staff Mike was going to be coming in and they didn't like the idea either. They knew what it was hitting for. So, Monday morning... he comes Mike. HE was smiling and for some reason his mouth was extra diseased! We are all down in the fellowship hall and I'm sitting on the stairs behind Mike and he as is the podium. So he goes over the lesson. Then he asked one of the staff to collect the pencils and papers. Then for some reason he felt he needed to do some extra teaching.

Mike: I really need to talk to you guys about something. Does everyone know what the YMCA is right? (like the kids didn't already know. I'm sitting there thinking it is about to go bad). The YMCA runs this camp and you need to understand that. So, every morning I want you kids to look like you understand this. I don't want you in dirty clothes. You need to take baths, can't come in here stinking. (At this point the staff and kids are looking at him like they wanted to rock his head.) You need to comb your hair. You can't come in here looking anyway. You need to represent this camp when we go out into the public. You need to keep up your hygiene.

Side note...the campers are mostly Black and Puerto Rican....so was my staff except for Kara (she's white...but she ghetto, love you kara) Maybe one kid would stink but that would be after they played basketball. The kids wore like name brand clothes and name brand sneakers...Mike shopped for clothes at Kmart! I know I went with him one time.

Back to the story: Tay-mare who can't fight his way out of a wet paper bag was sitting in the back of the room. All of sudden, he raises his hand all nice and Christian like. And Mike said, Yes, Tay-mare. Tay-mare stands up and says, "WHAT ABOUT YOUR TEETH!" Yo!!! the whole camp busted out laughing. I wanted to laugh so bad but Mike turned around and looked at me. So, I had to put on a face. Now, the face I put must of been scary because everyone stopped laughing when I stood up. I said, Tay-mare come with me NOW!! Now, Tay-mare is looking all scared. Mike said, Woody I want him out of this camp. I said, Don't worry Mike I will handle this.

So, Tay-mare and I go back to my office...he still looking scared saying I'm sorry Woody. I tell him to go straight to my office...I'm behind him and I close the door. I said, OH MY GOD!! That was some funny stuff..give me a high five. WHAT ABOUT YOUR TEETH...THAT WAS BRILLIANT!!! Me and Tay laughed so loud everyone heard and started laughing.

Mike busted up into my office...What is going on?!! ( He demanded) I said, What about your teeth? You come up in here disrespected these kids with your racist mentality. I'm not kicking Tay out of camp. I would be wrong if I did that. What he did was right...because the condition of your mouth doesn't represent the YMCA!!! So, he said If I didn't send him home he would fire me. So, I sat down in my chair and thought for a moment. Tay-mare said, It's cool Woody, camp won't be the same if you are not here, so I will go home. I said, "Sit down Tay" and I stood up and said to Mike, "Fire me and I will let everyone know the real reason." Then we will see who represents the YMCA" He was PISSED!!!!! I didn't care! He deserved that! He left my office and I let him know we didn't need his services for the rest of the week.


Man, those were the days...I hate that kids have to be subjected to racism...All I have to say is...What about your teeth!

Peace!