(Taken from "Patches and Pins,..." by Mike Walton (c)1988 Settummanque)

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While I was a undergrad at EKU, I also served as a paraprofessional with several Councils (a paraprofessional is a part-time employee that assists a District Executive (DE) or Program Director in a given area of emphasis. We in the BSA don't have many of us left, because of financial and insurance problems. More on that some other time).

One afternoon, a DE called me and asked if I would come and speak at a group in a small Kentucky town for him. He had to raise money five counties away and this group was eager to know how to get a Scout troop going...and they needed to be "pumped up". Of course, I said "sure" and went.

When I arrived, I walked up to the door of the building where the meeting was to be held. An old man stopped me before I even placed my hand on the door handle. "You can't go in there", he said.

"I was invited. My name is Mike Walton and I'm with the Boy Scouts". I then showed him one of my calling cards. He looked at it, then back at me, then back at the card.

He then let me pass and I walked in.

Inside, I found the main meeting room and as I do anywhere, I placed my things down and looked at the setup from the lectern. I like to get an idea of where everyone would be sitting down.

While I was setting my things together, I noticed that there were two black guys peering out from the back of the room. One was motioning his hands for me to come there. I looked at my watch and basically ignored them.

As the people started to come in, they all looked at the black man sitting at the head table. The President of the group, a local hardware store operator (I saw his name on the sign as I came into town) shook my hands and asked where Dean was. I explained that he was unable to come out and that I would be glad to talk with and explain Scouting's programs.

There were lots of stares. I was (and still am) used to lots of stares at being the only Black guy at a dinner, or at a meeting, or at an OA function, etc. So, when these folks were looking at me and (some) pointing, I felt okay but still those two Black guys were at the back of the room, waving at me to come in.

I waved back.

Like in every place I go to, I then look at the program. Sometimes, the group places the guest speaker at the beginning so that they can get their business done afterwards; other groups give you the last fifteen or so at the end so you can lull them to sleep after they have eaten. This one would be at the end. I read where I would be, the order of the meeting and then I looked at the top of the program. There in large black block letters is something that gave my tummy a big drop:

I was to speak to the local chapter of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.

Yes, the only black face there was to tell Klansmen about Scouting.

What could I say to them and keep my body intact afterwards??

Well, I told them about my experiences in Scouting. That Scouting is not for every kid that comes up and wants to join. That Scouting is important because unlike school or church we allow each person to progress at their own rate of speed…to learn at their own pace and to do so with the peer assistance of other youth and supervision by adults with their best interests in mind. I also stated that Scouting has always been the "great equalizer" because both rural and urban youth belong (I didn't mention anything about race).

Afterwards, while walking out, many of those there shook my hands and commented on the great speech (I was scared to death, folks!) I gave and when I could come back (not on your life!). Again, the president thanked me and then I left for the car.

Outside, one of the Black guys from the kitchen came out from the back and yelled " Hey! We tried to tell you that that was a Klan meetin' in there! Didn't you know??"

"Not until I read the program." I got in my car, drove slowly out of the town and fast until I hit the county line and then stopped to call the Scout Executive in Louisville and told him about my experience.

Both Hal Cory (the former Scout Executive in Louisville) and I relate this story to Scouting and to other groups. I tell people that everyone, even the Klan has a right to know about Scouting and the good it does. That doesn't mean that we have to let Klan groups organize Scouting units (and if you know of a group running a unit, you should inform your Scout Executive immediately).

This does mean that as Scouts, we are brave enough to do what is right; that we have reverence in our heart to disagree with what they are about but still respect their right to assemble; and that we are cheerful "even in the midst of toilsome tasks and weighty responsibilities".

In my office in my apartment, is a copy of the program framed. It reminds me that racism is still there, that it will always be there, but that I don't have to be petrified about it.

There are many instances where Scouts with me or I were subjected to these kinds of things. We talk about it then, we express our feelings about it and then we resolve to do something about it.

You would be amazed at the maturity level of a 12 or 13 year old who is faced with either "going against the grain" or leaving his Black (or Hispanic, or in one case American--this happened in Germany) brother Scouts "outside the door". There are many cases of "separate but unequal" troops out there (where two Troops are organized, one for the black kids and one for the white kids)...Predominately in the Deep South with the blessings of many Scout Executives ("two large units are better than one smaller unit") and Council Executive Boards. I could say much more, but I will leave this for others to comment on.

Settummanque!

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