Monday, June 15, 2020

“What did I do to you?”

OSU grad transfer Ferron Flavors details the racism he’s faced his entire life.

Cal Baptist

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OSU STUDENTS ARE PLANNING A MARCH FOR BLACK LIVES ON JUNE 19TH AT EDMON LOW LIBRARY

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‘If All Lives Matter, then I wouldn’t be fighting for mine’: Ferron Flavors Jr. shares his personal experiences Su dee p Tum m a , Sports Editor, @As k tu m ma

He’s dealt with police brutality, he’s dealt with prejudiced police, he’s even been held at gunpoint for no reason.

But that sort of injustice is all too common for Ferron Flavors Jr. Growing up in Federal Way, Washington, Flavors, the graduate transfer from California Baptist, has dealt with much racism and discrimination his entire life.

“Since I’ve been back these last couple of months from school, I go on runs and stuff and just to see the way people look at me,” Flavors said. “Or if I run by them, they grab their purse tighter or they pull their kids closer, just different things.

They don’t wave when I wave back, things like that.

“It’s just like, ‘What did I do to you?’”

Flavors has been treated differently his entire life — simply because of the color of his skin.

Despite always being a smart kid who took AP classes and excelled in school, people always looked at him differently.

“People of my color and my skin tone and my race aren’t really, figuratively speaking, MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020

‘supposed to be in these classes.’” Flavors said. “It sucks for sure. And I hope that this helps change a lot of stuff because it’s really disheartening.”

While Flavors kept his head on straight and worked hard on and off the court, the color of his skin forced him to approach life differently.

Flavors recalled a story from when he was 16. He and a few of his friends attended a party, which ended and as they were walking out, they heard gunshots.

Naturally, they all started running away. One of Flavors’ friends pulled up with a car, they all jumped in and drove away.

But during that whole sequence, the police saw Flavors’ and his friends all run and leave the scene.

“So they pulled us over and about two minutes later, we look back and there’s like 10 police cars, all with their guns pointed at us,” Flavors said. “Then, they made us get out of the car one by one and walk backward with our hands up and get handcuffed, put on the ground, all for them to say, ‘Oh, we thought you were somebody else.’ Just because of the color of our skin.

“They don’t know who the gun shots

came from. But they just assume that it was us. That was one of the most traumatizing experiences that I’ve been through.”

And even in those types of difficult situations, Flavors had to handle things differently..

“Growing up as a young black man, you’re always a threat,” Flavors said.

“My parents, they always taught me to be calm in those situations, (to) move differently so you’re not as suspicious. But either way, the color of my skin has always been a problem to a lot of people.”

Flavors has been through a lot of unjust situations, and he’s been a huge activist in the community, voicing his opinion to the public.

He’s a big part of Federal Way— he’s won two state championships for Federal Way High School, but still, he isn’t afforded simple peace of mind.

“Every time I walk out the door, I’m scared,” Flavors said.

“The first couple of days, when I got home from a trip, all the stuff started happening. I told my parents: ‘I wouldn’t feel safe going outside right now.’”

And he didn’t. At least for a few days.

Flavors brought

up the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed black man who was just going on a jog. Flavors said he was scared the same thing might happen to him.

These are the things that flow into the head of a Division I athlete who spends many nights hearing cheers from the crowd for his stellar play on the court.

But when he steps off the hardwood, everything changes. He doesn’t receive some of the basic civil liberties he should.

“We don’t want any special treatment aside from everybody else,” Flavors saiad.

“I’d seen something on Twitter the other day, people were washing protestors’ feet or something like that. This is not what this is about. We just want to be equal to you guys. We want to be able to walk outside and not have to always watch our back.”

It may seem like a simple request, but the issue still prevails in America. And so, Flavors talked about how important it is to use his platform to reach people.

Flavors has sisters that are heavily invested in the issues, as well as educated in them, but he’s the one

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Courtesy of Ferron Flavors

Ferron Flavors attends a Black Lives Matter protest to speak out against injustice.

with that platform to reach so many people.

And he plans to use it for exactly that reason — to differentiate right and wrong.

And certain things may send certain messages.

“A lot of these football programs where they say: ‘No, you’re not going to take a knee or you’re going to get kicked off the team,” Flavors said.

“So it’s like, why are you trying to hold this young man back from voicing his opinion on a certain situation that directly impacts him.

“It’s not like he’s out here protesting for a food place or protesting for clothes, he’s literally protesting for his life.”

But that’s not the

situation Flavors came into with OSU basketball and coach Mike Boynton. He said he’s been happy with the coaching staff here and how they’ve handled things.

Boynton has spoken extensively about the issues and how difficult it is to fix them.

Flavors relayed that same message.

“It’s been going on for thousands of years,” Flavors said.

“It’s going to take a real big effort to fix that. And a lot of people putting behind, especially right now, the ‘All Lives Matter.’

People saying that has to stop.

“Because if All Lives Matter, then I wouldn’t be fighting for mine.”

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MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020

Horoscope

FOR RELEASE JUNE 15, 2020

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

By Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Today’s Birthday (06/15/20). You‚Äôre building something valuable together this year. Explore and expand your educational horizons. Untangle things with your partner and discover maximum profits. Switch tactics with shared accounts this summer, shifting your personal plan, before your romantic collaboration charms anew. To your own heart be true.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 9 — Adapt in the direction of love. Longterm goals seem distant. Avoid travel or publicity. Enjoy a personal project. Follow a passion where it leads you.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 7 — Allow time to process recent changes.

Find a private hideaway to organize and make plans. Careful preparations support the next phase. Meditate on love.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 9 — A team challenge offers a series of obstacles or hurdles to navigate. Align on roles and objectives. Coordinate the response. Loving bonds grow stronger.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — Keep your eye on the ball at work.

Adapt to service interruptions or delays. Connect with networks to find and share solutions and resources.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — Postpone travel or risk delays, stoppages and traffic. Explore your subject without direct experience. Study and investigate a subject you love. Let your heart lead.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — Challenging circumstances could impact family fortunes and shared finances. Wait for better conditions and further developments. Keep your attitude positive. Protect what you love.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 9 — Collaborate to get farther. Things may not go according to plan. Work with your partner to adapt to developments. Support each other through a challenge.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — A physical test or challenge pushes against limitations. Nurture your energy and health. Keep practicing your skills to improve performance. Get your heart pumping.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 9 — Have fun with your inner circle.

Share a show or movie, a game or story. Connect around a common passion. Create and play together.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is an 8 — Focus on practical domestic priorities. A family challenge requires adaptation. Build a workaround. Conserve resources. Nurture each other through unusual situations. Maintain compassion.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 9 — Find creative ways around communication breakdowns. Network and connect with a wider circle. Compile information and data. Share resources and solutions discovered.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is an 8 — Disruptions could delay or block your income and cash flow. Offer extra communication, patience and resourcefulness. Provide what’s needed as soon as possible.

Level 1

2

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4

6/15/20

Solution to Saturday’s puzzle

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9.

For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk

© 2020 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

ACROSS 1 The “M” in STEM, briefly 5 Bistro offerings 10 Darkened for emphasis, as text 14 New York canal 15 Quiver projectile 16 “Buy It Now” site 17 *Price a discarded item might fetch 19 Zonk out 20 Snail’s protection 21 Directs 23 “__ on Down the Road”: “The Wiz” song 26 Bus sked info 27 *Preliminary book copy for editing 33 Corp. money exec 35 Medical pros 36 Take great pleasure in 37 Ship frame 39 “__ one is better?”

42 Great Pyramid site 43 Physicist Newton 45 Surrey slammer 47 Butterfly catcher 48 *Salon job often shortened to its first four letters 52 RVer’s stopover 53 Interstate hauler 54 Glam or punk, to rock 59 Cinderella’s sweepings 63 Horror film assistant 64 Earthquake echo, or where the last words of the answers to starred clues might go 67 Sunscreen additive 68 Stale-smelling 69 Grape soda brand 70 “Well, I’ll be darned!”

71 “Family Ties” mother 72 Asian wheat noodle DOWN 1 Total disorder 2 Word with enemy or rival

6/15/20

By Mark McClain

3 Grow weary 4 Shaman, for one 5 Dallas NBAer 6 Important period 7 Woody’s singing son 8 Shutter with slanted slats 9 Sugary goodies 10 Places to sleep 11 Flute’s orchestral neighbor 12 Lounge (around) 13 Hair salon colors 18 Flannel shirt pattern 22 Knocks loudly 24 Winter forecast 25 Mark permanently 27 Kind of ice cap 28 Endorse digitally 29 Cleaner’s cloth 30 Like sheep 31 Move like molasses 32 Greek campus group 33 Short golf shot 34 Firecrackerlighting cord 38 Perp’s escape 40 Webber musical based on Eliot poems

Saturday’s Puzzle Solved

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41 Sewing machine inventor Elias 44 Wedding reception centerpiece 46 Buddhist teachers 49 Generic 50 Probably more than you wanted to hear 51 Hindu deity 54 Thailand, once

6/15/20

55 Like eyesores 56 Explosive sound 57 Western writer Zane __ 58 Crafter’s website 60 Worked the soil 61 Cavern phenomenon 62 Largest human organ 65 Sci-fi series extras 66 Whiskey grain

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