Politics & Government

Ellison to Middle Schoolers: 'Reach Higher and Go Further'

The congressman met with student council members as part of the school's Black History Month celebration.

A handful of  students put U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison in the hot seat Monday in a roundtable discussion that covered about the congressman's role in the House of Representatives to his identity as a Muslim, among other topics.

Ellison spent about 45 minutes with six members of the school's student council and Cultural Showcase Planning Group, which requested the congressman's visit as part of its efforts to recognize Black History Month. 

Minnesota's first black and Muslim elected official at the national level, Ellison told students that “being the first” to achieve these things never meant that much to him. He wanted to serve in Congress, he said, "to make good laws." 

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“Whenever you’re the first at anything, it always means more to other people than it does to you,” he said. “I was motivated by service [when I ran for Congress]. I was raised to believe that I need to serve my community.”

While Richfield is becoming increasingly diverse, students told Ellison they see racism and stereotypes as prevalent in their daily lives, and they asked for the congressman's views on the subject.

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“Prejudice is easy—'I see you, you look a certain way and that’s all I need to know,'" he said. "However, we’re [starting to break down] barriers. We know that a person’s talent and ability is not confined to our own stereotypes.”

Students were also interested to know whether Ellison had ever experienced bullying—as a kid or while in Congress. While people had tried, Ellison said, he never accepted the “negative energy.”

“If [bullies] were happy with themselves, they’d be happy with you,” he said. “[If you remember that] you’ll get through it. It gets better.”

When asked whether he had plans for higher office, Ellison admitted he lacks the ambition to reach beyond the office he now holds.

“I’m happy doing what I’m doing, [but] I want you guys to reach higher and go further," he said. "You guys are creative and talented. The answers to tomorrow’s problems are in your minds.”


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