My name is Marc McCray and I am a senior at Northside College Prep.
How did you get involved with KRCC?
I got involved with KRCC when FYSH alumni, CK Kim and Katrina Monreal, gave a presentation at my school about FYSH.
What do you do?
I’m a member of KRCC’s Asian Culture Workshop program, where I’m learning how to play the buk, and I’m a member of FYSH. In FYSH, I helped organize Coffeehouse, a community talent show-fundraiser that FYSH puts on every year. The money we raise from Coffeehouse is used to fund a scholarship for other youth regardless of their documents.
(Marc is holding coffee beans and a coffee pot because he’s promoting Coffeehouse!)
I also play varsity lacrosse, I’m a poet and performer for Black Student Union, and I’m the treasurer for Japanese Honor Society all at Northside College Prep.
How would you describe your community?
One of my communities is the Black Student Union (BSU). At Northside, there are very few black students so I was happy to be apart of a community where I felt judgement did not exist and the Black Community at Northside is very understanding, forgiving, and very insightful. Through BSU, I have the opportunity to illuminate and educate peers about black issues with Showcase, an annual speaking event every during February .
What’s one thing about yourself that others wouldn’t know?
I’m left handed.
What do you think is the civil rights issue of the day?
Police brutality because it’s been going on for years. Now that we have phones and videos, police can finally be held accountable for their actions. As a black person I’ve come to the realization that an encounter with the police can be a matter of life and death, and I think this is an issue today because now that an institution has been exposed of having obvious racial biases it allows discussion of racism in other institutions (job market, prison system, schooling) to take place.
What is something you’re looking forward to in 2016-2017?
Another season of lacrosse, graduating high school and committing to a college!
