When Douglass seniors gathered in March for the annual pinning ceremony, Chase Davis had a dilemma.
Traditionally, parents of Douglass students will stand and pin their child during the ceremony. It’s a great photo opportunity; one that fills pages in the school yearbook annually.
But Davis had no parent to pin him. Davis’ mother passed away in 2012, and his aunt had to work.
Instead, he had the whole senior class.
When his turn arrived, about 30 classmates walked up to him in support and pinned him together.
“It was a happy moment, but was also a little depressing. It was a happy moment because I felt the brotherhood we have at Frederick Douglass, but it was depressing because I thought back to my mother and her passing,” said Davis. “I didn't expect my story to go viral. I thought it was a small thing, but so many people have offered me support after the story blew up.”
Counselor Joseph Rogers posted the moment on his Facebook page, and it drew 12,000 likes. It then found its way on The Shade Room Instagram page, which has 4.7 million followers.
Chase has since received offers of support from social media followers; offers for which he is grateful, but all he declined.
Douglass senior class officers came up with the idea to present Davis with his senior pin. The emotional moment brought tears to the staff at Frederick Douglass and even some students.
Davis, who is often attached to the phrase “Chase Knows,” didn’t have a clue.
He was surprised by the the gesture, he said, and cried a few tears himself.
