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Shanice

Shanice was a Black American Baltimore high-school senior and longtime volunteer at the West Baltimore Recreation Center. She controlled much of the volunteer group’s social hierarchy, psychologically abused Keisha Clark, participated in the exclusion of Marcus “MJ” Henderson Jr., and assaulted him in summer 2014. The center suspended her, Devon Morgan ended their relationship, and Shanice later retaliated against him on Facebook.

Recreation Center Volunteering

Shanice had volunteered at the West Baltimore Recreation Center for approximately three years by summer 2014. Her seniority and influence shaped the other teenage volunteers’ treatment of one another and of the children.

Shanice treated MJ’s disability-related fatigue as a reason to leave him alone rather than include him in activities. She dismissed the requests made by his friends and resisted Kelsey Morrison’s questions about the practice.

Personality and Communication

Shanice was socially controlling and dismissive when challenged. She often presented exclusion as a practical response to limited resources and demanded loyalty from people close to her. After the assault, she minimized the harm in messages to Devon and used a disability slur when he ended their relationship.

Physical Characteristics

In summer 2014, Shanice was tall and light-skinned and wore intricate braids in a high ponytail.

Relationship with Keisha Clark

Main article: Shanice and Keisha Clark

Shanice subjected Keisha to sustained psychological abuse for approximately two years under the cover of friendship. She criticized Keisha’s appearance, choices, and opinions and taught her to suppress preferences and monitor Shanice’s reactions. The relationship ended during the summer 2014 recreation-center crisis.

Treatment of Marcus Henderson

Main article: Summer 2014 MJ Assault Crisis

Shanice helped sustain months of exclusion in which volunteers treated MJ’s need for rest as a reason not to invite him into activities. In summer 2014, Kelsey and MJ’s friends found Shanice shaking the eleven-year-old hard enough to leave finger-mark bruises. Kelsey stopped the assault, and the center suspended Shanice pending investigation.

Shanice continued minimizing the assault in text messages to Devon. Devon ended their relationship and reported what he knew to the center’s director.

Romantic and Significant Relationships

Devon Morgan

Main article: Devon Morgan and Shanice

Shanice and Devon dated for approximately three months in 2014. Shanice criticized his motivation and expected his support after the assault. Devon ended the relationship after she used a disability slur about MJ.

Social Media Retaliation

Main article: Shanice Facebook Slander Incident (Summer 2014)

After the breakup and assault report, Shanice published a Facebook post that recast her as the victim and portrayed Devon as dishonest and disloyal. Strangers joined the public attack, while Keisha, Kelsey, and Tyrone Morgan supported Devon privately.

Memorable Quotes

“Look, new girl, MJ’s got his thing. He gets tired, he sleeps. We leave him alone. That’s just how it works here.” (Spoken to Kelsey at the recreation center.)

“are you seriously breaking up with me over this?? over some retarded kid who doesn’t even know what’s happening half the time? who just sleeps all day like a lazy piece of shit?” (Texted to Devon after the assault.)

Characters Supporting Characters Living Characters Black Characters Black American Characters