In 2019, many of us learned the story of Kevin Richardson, who was one of five teenagers wrongly convicted for the 1989 rape of a white woman jogging in New York Cityβs Central Park.
Netflixβs When They See Us gave us a glimpse into Richardsonβs life before and after it was derailed by our corrupted criminal justice system, and one of the most heartbreaking scenes involved Richardsonβs aspirations to grow up and play the trumpet for Syracuse Universityβs marching band.
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Sadly, he was denied the opportunity to ever pursue that dream as a youth, but thanks to the students of Syracuse Universityβwho started a petition to reward Richardson for his perseveranceβthe youngest member of the Exonerated Five received an honorary degree from Syracuse during a virtual ceremony on October 16.
And in speaking to The Root, Richardson took a moment to reflect on how surreal it was to finally fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a graduate at such a prestigious university.
βI never thought that it would happen,β he told The Root. βWhen youβre a child, and you have dreams and hopes coming from the inner city, I always thought it would be cool to attend [Syracuse], but I never got the opportunity. Just to think it all started from being on When They See Us Nowβwhich was the interview with Oprahβbasically just speaking from my heart. She asked me about it and I said I wanted to attend Syracuse University, but I was robbed of the opportunity.
βThat line right there sent waves throughout the world. Then Syracuse University got in touch with meβRachel Vassel (Syracuseβs assistant vice president of multicultural advancement) and people of that nature. So to see everything come into full swing is just incredible. Iβm just happy that Iβm actually here to really receive this, because it could have been a different way.β
Indeed.
Whatβs also interesting is that honorary degrees are typically doctorates, but Richardson insisted on receiving a bachelor of fine arts in music instead. In explaining his decision, he pointed to his childhood aspirations as the deciding factor.
βIf I wouldβve went to university and graduated in the 90s, maybe class of 95 or 96, it wouldβve been a degree in that form,β he explained. βSo I wanted to have the same effect that I would have gotten had I attended the university. So I think that suits me well.β
Heβs also keenly aware that there are plenty of other Black and Brown folks who have fallen victim to our criminal justice system. So receiving his honorary degree not only fulfilled a lifelong dream, but serves to inspire others to never give up on their own.
βI love to be the first of anything,β Richardson said. βSo just to be the first in school history to get an [honorary] undergraduate bachelorβs [degree] is beautiful. And to set the way for others to follow. Out of everything, thatβs all I really wanted to do. Just inspire others.
βIf I could do it, after all Iβve been through 30 years ago...to be standing strong and positive and weather the storm, then you can do it as well. Because it wasnβt easy. It took every ounce of strength. [...] So I think if I could do it, anyone can do it, too. And just that alone gives me the strength to keep doing what Iβm doing.β
Heβs also incredibly proud of Syracuseβs Kevin Richardson Fund, a scholarship fund that supports Black and Brown students. It was announced as part of the schoolβs Our Time Has Come Scholarship last year during a ceremony honoring Richardson.
βThatβs another thing thatβs really dear to me,β he said. βThat was presented to me when I made my first visit to the university. [...] To have my name attached [and] have Black and Brown kids get an opportunity to attend schoolβcoming from the inner city or wherever in the city theyβre fromβto get that opportunity is the best thing that I can do. [...] Thatβs very dear to my heart.β
And in using his journey to provide inspiration and opportunities for so many others, Richardson wanted to make one point clear: to never give up on the dreams and aspirations that each of us holds dear.
βOnce I got incarcerated, I thought that ship had sailed,β he said. βWhen I was in prison, I got my [associate in arts]. And at that time, Governor Pataki stopped education in prison. So I thought, βWell, thatβs where Iβm ending.β So I just want to tell people to never give up on what you believe in. Because there is light.
βEspecially this year, period. Dealing with the pandemic, dealing with people of color getting killed, dealing with people dying. Itβs easy to give up hope. But you have to find that strength from within. [...] Even in your darkest times, you will come out of it.β
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