At 16 years old, Aaron Sopelle of Baxter was born the son of a west African father and a white mother in the 21st century.
His main experiences with civil rights marches are through the lenses of history and Hollywood, making his participation in the youth rally and march honoring Martin Luther King Jr. in St. Paul Monday special, he said. The event was part of A Day of Service and Celebration in Honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
"I watched the movie 'Selma,' and I think that was as close to that as I could probably get," Sopelle said. "I felt great joy in actually participating in what many people have died and risked their lives for to bring social and racial equality to this country."
Sopelle said the march from the steps of the state Capitol to the Orpheum Theater included the singing of civil rights movement songs and a feeling of camaraderie with all participants.
"It was a huge experience," he said. "It felt like I was a big part of a family, that we were all standing for one beautiful thing. We were all standing before God himself for equality and in unison."
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Sopelle and his sister Elise, 14, are homeschooled, but once attended Pequot Lakes schools. They were some of the only students of African-American descent in the district while there, he said. Having family members in the area helped him and his sister to be prepared for potential discrimination, Sopelle said.
"Being raised as half-white, half-black ... we sort of know what to expect from people," Sopelle said.
Sopelle said he admires King for his role in the civil rights movement that cleared the path for young people like him to experience a more equitable world.
"He was a great orator and a great civil rights activist that fought and did give his life for a cause to bring racial and social justice to America," Sopelle said. "Without that, racial tensions in America would still be probably worse than they are today."
