Teen member of Louisville group The Real Young Prodigys to speak on Capitol Hill

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Racism, gun violence and breaking stereotypes. Those are just some of the topics a Louisville hip-hop group made up of kids and teens, The Real Young Prodigys, write about in their songs.

Dressed in white and looking angelic, Genesis Hatchett with The Real Young Prodigys passionately sings the words of a song titled Journey to Eden. 

"She is just like us, and we are just like her," Hatchett said.

The song is a tribute to 15-year-old Dovia Pernell, who was shot and killed in Louisville's Algonquin neighborhood in January.

"We're supposed to be Dovia's angels," Hatchett said. 

The subject matter of the song is all too familiar to Hip Hop N 2 Learning, HHN2L, the parent organization of the Prodigys. 

The group's mission is in its name: Hip Hop as a positive outlet and a path to success for young people. 

"I don't want want to make songs about Black girls who have gotten murdered," Hatchett said. "But if I'm given the opportunity to speak on the behalf of a young girl whose life was taken, I definitely am going to."

Earlier this year Columbia Law school invited HHN2L to send two students to speak on a panel commemorating the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision.

Hatchett jumped at the chance. She had to prepare for several weeks and then did a mock panel with other members of HHN2L to compete for one of the two spots.

"I feel like in every opportunity that I'm given, where usually people who look like me or act like me or talk like me would not be in that position that I have to take that opportunity," Hatchett said. 

And she didn't miss a beat at Columbia. Love Eden also accompanying Hatchett from Louisville's HHN2L on the panel.

Hatchett shared the story of her granny -- one of the first Black students to attend an integrated school in Louisville -- who was forced to share her Homecoming Queen crown with a white student who came in second.

"I guess that's a lot of what we face today," Hatchett said. "Black kids having to do twice as much just to see to be seen as equal, or just doing what they're supposed to do and and achieving their goals and still not being given the awards that they deserve."

Hatchett's honesty and perspective earned her an invitation to speak again -- on Capitol Hill.

"But I think we're supposed to speak on the things because we are kids, and we're the next generation and we're the people who have to lead the way next," she said. "And we have to start somewhere. And I think it's important that we start now."

She will speak on May 14 during a Department of Justice panel commemorating the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education.

Expected guests include, Attorney General Merrick Garland and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Kristen Clarke, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine Lhamon, President and Director-Counsel of NAACP Legal Defense Fund Janai Nelson and Saba Bireda and co-founder and chief legal counsel of Brown's Promise.

Three members of The New Orleans Four, Leona Tate, Gail Etienne and Tessie Prevost are also expected to make remarks.

Hatchett is one of two high school students and one college student invited to the panel.

"I'm just proud to stand in the gap for kids like me," Hatchett said. "It's just such an honor and sometimes I don't believe it."

Yet another opportunity she won't let pass her by. 

Related Content:

• Coroner identifies 15-year-old girl shot and killed in Louisville's Algonquin neighborhood Monday
• The Real Young Prodigys accepts $500,000 award on national TV on behalf of Louisville nonprofit
• Louisville's Real Young Prodigies push for state passage of CROWN Act
• Louisville's Real Young Prodigys raising money to attend hip-hop conference at Harvard

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