During his illustrious broadcasting career, retired Fox 2 Detroit news anchor Huel Perkins interviewed countless leaders from across the globe.
There were even times when big news stories pulled Perkins away from Detroit to some of the largest and most well-known cities and venues in the world.
However, on the afternoon of Feb. 4, the 71-year-old Perkins used his still golden voice and keen knack for identifying what the public needs to know, to express his excitement for an activity that was taking place nearly 1,200 miles away — in a small Southern town, no less.
And the primary beneficiaries of the activity were not celebrities or other people generally thought of as “newsmakers” or “influencers.”
Instead, the story that Perkins was delighted to share centered largely on an enthusiastic group of youngsters known mainly by their families and schoolmates — at least for now.
“The events of this week will yield incredible dividends for that part of Louisiana,” Perkins said about a visit to Opelousas, Louisiana, made by adult representatives of the Detroit City Chess Club to teach and train students and staff at two area middle schools, Creswell and Plaisance, to support the launch of sustainable chess programs.
“It’s wonderful because the group from Detroit is showing those schools how to do what has already been done successfully in Detroit. And more than just chess, those young people are learning how to think strategically about everything, which will enable them to be successful in life.”
It was not surprising that Perkins received a call from Louisiana a couple of days earlier about what was going on at the two schools, given that he is a native of the state who grew up in the capital city, Baton Rouge. In addition, Perkins has a long relationship with DCCC and the club’s founder, Kevin Fite, which was described in a March 25, 2022 Detroit Free Press article.
But, along with his familiarity with Louisiana and DCCC, Perkins said he also was pleased that the outreach took place during a time that is sacred to many Americans: Black History Month.
“Growing up, I saw ‘Colored Only’ water fountains. We will never return to those days in terms of segregation, but we are now living during a time of diminished opportunities,” said Perkins, who also shared another childhood experience of having to wait in a closet to see a doctor who needed to conceal that he treated Black patients.
“Nonetheless, we have seen worse. Our forefathers overcame far greater trials and tribulations, and our successes today are a tribute to them and everything they sacrificed. For the circle to continue, we must take this time to honor our forefathers through our actions. So, the effort to develop young thinkers all over the country is very important. And the work Kevin Fite has done since our first, chance meeting (in 1990) has been a hard-won miracle made not only by God, but also by a man who has been extremely committed to giving back to others.”
DCCC Board President Catherine Martinez also is committed to expanding access and opportunities to young people through chess.
In a statement released before the Detroit contingent traveled to Louisiana, Martinez said: “By investing directly in students and educators, we are helping ensure these programs continue to grow.” And after working with students and staff at the two schools her group visited, Martinez said all of her expectations were met and more.
“I felt so blessed and purposeful,” said Martinez, who made the trip with two experienced DCCC coaches — Kameron Wilson and Dominic Johnson — and Fite, a graduate of Southern University, an HBCU located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
“When we went to Plaisance, the whole school came out in shifts, including staff and faculty. And at both schools we were just highly impressed because the students were really excited, and they soaked up everything they were taught like sponges.”
Two students that fit Martinez’s description to a tee during the morning of Feb. 3 were relative chess newcomers, Zackery Perrodin and Levi Thomasson, who are both sixth grade students at Creswell.
“Honestly, Detroit people seem pretty cool and they taught me a lot,” said Perrodin, who confided that learning chess “helped him to calm down” while having fun in the process.
“It’s a game of life and it has changed my life. I love the strategy and it gives me the will to fight — not to fight another person — but to fight to win,” the young man said. “And even when I lose, I can accept it. That’s why I want to become the best chess player in the world alongside my friends, so that I can change other kids’ lives through chess.”
Like Perrodin, Thomasson says chess has already enriched his life.
“Chess is not easy, but it’s a new challenge that I enjoy and I also enjoy meeting new friends,” said Thomasson, an attentive 4.0 student in the classroom, who described the Detroit coaches as “really cool people” with different coaching styles that complement each other.
“Each of the Detroit coaches have taught me how to make notations and they have reinforced my understanding of playing with a clock, which has been a really fun experience. I can’t wait for the coaches to come back.”
The praise that the students expressed while talking about the recently started chess program at Creswell and the impact of the DCCC contingent, which worked its magic in Louisiana from February 2-4, was music to the ears of Creswell’s principal, Stephanie Senegal.
“We have sports, and we have arts and music, and we added robotics not too long ago, but some kids still need something else and chess has been like the icing on the cake for us — it’s next level,” said Senegal, who went on to explain some of the best indicators of a successful program from her perspective. “When our kids found out that the Detroit chess coaches were coming here, I could see the motivation and excitement when they came into my office.
“The students were excited to start the day and they enjoy the extra attention that they have been receiving. So, we’re going to keep our program going because we have already learned that chess is a difference-maker for our students.”
One person who is already looking forward to doing the work to sustain the chess program at Senegal’s school while promoting chess across the area is Ron Nicholas, who is known affectionally by his friends — including new friends he just met from Detroit — as “Knowledge.”
Nicholas, an educator with the St. Landry Parish School System, coaches the chess team at Creswell and played a major role in bringing DCCC to Opelousas, through a nearly 10-year relationship he has had with Fite.
“We started with 10 kids in our club at Creswell and that has grown to 25, and I already know that we will be getting many more members very soon after the rock star treatment that our kids have received because of our Detroit visitors,” said Nicholas, who also found time to educate some of the Detroit coaches about the historic importance of Opelousas, Louisiana, including the town being the site of one of the deadliest Reconstruction-era massacres during the fall of 1868 when armed white mobs killed what was believed to be more than 150 people in an attempt to suppress Black voters.
“The Detroit coaches have been awesome with their goodwill during what has been a journey of friendship through chess. And to see our students participate and flourish has been amazing. This is something we need to spread across our entire district.”
To assist Creswell and Plaisance in sustaining their chess programs, the DCCC representatives donated chess sets, clocks and demonstration boards to both schools. And students were gifted take-home chess sets and other chess-related paraphernalia. The students also will be receiving ongoing chess instruction from DCCC members online to keep the partnership strong.
And Nicholas says that kind of support from his Detroit friends should be rewarded in a special kind of way.
“Before the Detroit coaches go home, I’m going to make sure they have a good Southern dinner,” Nicholas announced during the morning of Feb. 3. “And when they return for their next visit, I’m going to personally cook them some gumbo with all the fixins.”
Scott Talley is a native Detroiter, a proud product of Detroit Public Schools and a lifelong lover of Detroit culture in its diverse forms. In his second tour with the Free Press, which he grew up reading as a child, he is excited and humbled to cover the city’s neighborhoods and the many interesting people who define its various communities. Contact him at stalley@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @STalleyfreep. Read more of Scott’s stories at www.freep.com/mosaic/detroit-is/. Please help us grow great community-focused journalism by becoming a subscriber.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: When Detroit took chess down South, people like Huel Perkins noticed
Reporting by Scott Talley, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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