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Letter to the editor

A young orator wins an ovation

By ERNEST HOOPER, Times Staff Writer
Published January 25, 2008

Bloomingdale High freshman Ashley Favors never hesitated as she stepped to the podium before more than 800 people in the Tampa Hyatt ballroom.

The crowd at the Tampa Organization of Black Affairs' 28th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Breakfast was enough to intimidate most, and the honored guests sitting on each side of the podium also could have unnerved her. To her right: Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, county Commissioner Kevin White, state Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa, and U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa. To her left: dynamic keynote speaker and New Jersey pastor DeForest B. Soaries Jr.

Yet Favors, who won the organization's annual youth heritage oratorical contest, was undaunted. She stood before the audience and delivered a resounding speech. The topic: "Rap music - Who's To Blame And How Do We Change The Game."

"I'm a people person," said Favors, the daughter of Ray and Starlin Favors. "It's just getting your voice to be heard in different ways."

In an era when critics often demonize hip-hop music as a cause of the ills in the black community, Favors took a different approach. She challenged parents and political leaders more than the artists who have come under fire for unsavory topics and degrading lyrics. Speaking confidently, she said rap lyrics merely reflect the current state of affairs and it's up to residents to change things.

"We need to stop placing all the blame on rap artists and rap music and stand up and reclaim our community," Favors said in her speech. "If we want our community to change, we must first look at the man in the mirror and then set high standards for him. It's time out for foolishness. It's time for us to step up, step out and clean up our streets and take back our community."

Applause interrupted her at that point, and the standing ovation at the end of her speech was proof that the audience appreciated her uncommon perspective.

Oratory success isn't new for Favors. She has represented Greater Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in the West Coast Baptist Oratorical Contest for six years, winning four competitions.

Favors also plays viola in the Bloomingdale High orchestra, and ranks among the varsity basketball team's top scorers. Yet she sees her future in court, not on the court. She aspires to be a defense attorney and wants to help young kids.

She feels good about her future, and her speech left the audience feeling good about society's future.

"When we see young people like Ashley, we know that America will be all right," said Soaries, the keynote speaker.

Ernest Hooper also writes a column for the Tampa & State section. He can be reached at hooper@sptimes.com or 226-3406.

[Last modified January 24, 2008, 22:58:00]