An African American Studies class listened Monday as state representative Wayne Ford, a Democrat from Des Moines, told the story of a “bastard kid desperate to be loved.”

The kid robbed buses and sold drugs. The kid was voted least likely to succeed by his Ballou High School classmates. The kid carried guns and knives and stole from grocery stores.

The 18 students in African American Studies 201: Introduction to African American Studies paid close attention with probing eyes, and it was clear there was one question on their mind: How did this troubled kid who used to think he was “one tough guy” turn into the 53-year-old state representative now telling them his story?

In 1969, Ford said he was sitting in his dorm room at Rochester Junior College in Minnesota with his roommate when he got a call from the FBI. After he dropped the phone, he packed his gun, his knife and all the drugs he had into a bag and threw it over a fence. There was now a barrier between the ugly part of his life and what he eventually wanted to become.

Lenola Sommerville, contract associate in curriculum and instruction and instructor of the class, said she invited Ford to talk to the class because of his background – overcoming the problems he had growing up to become a state representative.

“Wayne, you will do anything for attention,” Ford said his high school football coach used to say.

“Wayne, you are still trying to get some love, aren’t you?” his wife still says.

Ford said not much has changed from the time when he was a 17-year-old boy – who never had a dad at home – searching for love. And he said not much will change unless everyone in the class becomes an activist for change.

“Y’all are too quiet,” Ford said. “I worry about you all.”

Ford advocated the need for change, citing Hurricane Katrina. He spoke about how the media distorted the events to paint black people as looters and white people as victims finding food for survival. He spoke about how no black person spoke up about Al Sharpton’s drug conspiracy charge simply because he was a black person running for president. He spoke about Bill Clinton being nicknamed the first black president and how that shows a characteristic that is no different from one he had growing up.

“Black people are so desperate to be loved,” Ford said.

He said he used to be happy about having his elementary school, middle school and high school in the same neighborhood.

“I didn’t realize at the time that we were intentionally segregated to those neighborhoods,” he said.

Ford said everyone can be an agent of change. In 1985, he founded Urban Dreams, an agency that helps Des Moines’ inner-city residents. He said he has met drug dealers and murderers who have decided to change their lives.

“Y’all have the power to change the world,” Ford said. “Look at 5-foot-2 Rosa Parks who refused to give up her seat on the bus. Would you be defiant and say, ‘I am not moving,’?”