That’s Pronounced, “White Nationalism Is What Put You In Bondage. Pirate And Vampires Like Columbus, Morgan And Darwin.”

This story is starting to sound like a really bad Paul Haggis screenplay:

Autum Ashante, a 7-year-old black girl who caused a stir at two Westchester schools by reciting a poem she wrote about white nationalism, received support from some New York City leaders on Tuesday.

First, she stood on the City Hall steps with Councilman Charles Barron, who denounced what he described as attacks and harassment since Autum spoke last month at a middle and high school. Barron said he planned to ask Attorney General Eliot Spitzer’s office to look into whether the girl’s free speech rights were violated.

Later, she had an appearance scheduled with the Rev. Al Sharpton.

On Feb. 28, Autum delivered a poem titled “White Nationalism Put U In Bondage,” in which Christopher Columbus and Charles Darwin are likened to pirates and vampires. She also asked students to stand and recite the “Black Child’s Pledge,” an oath of responsibility and black pride.

When white students at the Peekskill High School assembly stood with black students, Autum told them to sit down, the school district’s superintendent said. The Peekskill City School District then sent recorded messages to parents of its 3,000 students apologizing to anyone who was offended.

Barron said he couldn’t understand why anyone would be offended. He characterized the girl as “brave” and “outspoken in telling the truth,” and he defended her 162-word poem, praising it as evoking “peace, power and pride about her heritage.”

. . .

On the steps of City Hall, Autum recited the poem and pledge, drawing yelps of “Tell it!” and “Hallelujah!” from Barron’s staff and others in the small crowd.

Then she took questions, cautioning a reporter to use the term “African” instead of “African-American.”

Asked how she felt about some white students and parents being upset, she said, “I feel bad, but I know it was the right thing to do.”

When asked how much help she received to write the poem, she replied, “My dad helped with spelling and pronunciation.”