I’m sure that a lot of you out there can remember being kids and going to the
remember being kids and going to the
remember being kids and going to the store with your parents and really
store with your parents and really
store with your parents and really wanting something and that might have
wanting something and that might have
wanting something and that might have been a candy bar or a video game or
been a candy bar or a video game or
been a candy bar or a video game or t-shirt I’m not sure how your parents
t-shirt I’m not sure how your parents
t-shirt I’m not sure how your parents responded to you but my mother who’s out
responded to you but my mother who’s out
responded to you but my mother who’s out there somewhere today hi mom hi mom she
there somewhere today hi mom hi mom she
there somewhere today hi mom hi mom she when I asked her for something that she
when I asked her for something that she
when I asked her for something that she didn’t want to give would sort of
didn’t want to give would sort of
didn’t want to give would sort of her head to the side and say yeah well
her head to the side and say yeah well
her head to the side and say yeah well people in Hell want ice water now
people in Hell want ice water now
people in Hell want ice water now sidestepping the fact that my suburban
sidestepping the fact that my suburban
sidestepping the fact that my suburban Maryland childhood was being compared to
Maryland childhood was being compared to
Maryland childhood was being compared to one of Dante’s circles this was also
one of Dante’s circles this was also
one of Dante’s circles this was also completely out of line with the somewhat
completely out of line with the somewhat
completely out of line with the somewhat demanding always determined to get what
demanding always determined to get what
demanding always determined to get what she wants and feel she deserves woman
she wants and feel she deserves woman
she wants and feel she deserves woman that I knew nothing illustrates that
that I knew nothing illustrates that
that I knew nothing illustrates that more than our time it drive-through
more than our time it drive-through
more than our time it drive-through windows my mother would pick me and my
windows my mother would pick me and my
windows my mother would pick me and my older brother Ryan up from burger king
older brother Ryan up from burger king
older brother Ryan up from burger king where excuse me up from daycare and we
where excuse me up from daycare and we
where excuse me up from daycare and we would head to Burger King and before we
would head to Burger King and before we
would head to Burger King and before we even placed our order they would already
even placed our order they would already
even placed our order they would already be at strike one because the line was
be at strike one because the line was
be at strike one because the line was too long and it was moving too slowly we
too long and it was moving too slowly we
too long and it was moving too slowly we get to the second window and we would be
get to the second window and we would be
get to the second window and we would be charged for french fries that we didn’t
charged for french fries that we didn’t
charged for french fries that we didn’t order and that was strike two now at
order and that was strike two now at
order and that was strike two now at this point me and my brother looking at
this point me and my brother looking at
this point me and my brother looking at each other in the backseat hoping and
each other in the backseat hoping and
each other in the backseat hoping and praying that the somewhat demanding
praying that the somewhat demanding
praying that the somewhat demanding always determined to get what she wants
always determined to get what she wants
always determined to get what she wants and feel she deserves woman that we knew
and feel she deserves woman that we knew
and feel she deserves woman that we knew didn’t reveal herself at the next window
didn’t reveal herself at the next window
didn’t reveal herself at the next window many times in my childhood this prayer
many times in my childhood this prayer
many times in my childhood this prayer would unanswered we would get to the
would unanswered we would get to the
would unanswered we would get to the third window and like clockwork I would
third window and like clockwork I would
third window and like clockwork I would be given a coke instead of a sprite now
be given a coke instead of a sprite now
be given a coke instead of a sprite now I’m sitting in the backseat trying to
I’m sitting in the backseat trying to
I’m sitting in the backseat trying to reason with her saying it’s okay I can
reason with her saying it’s okay I can
reason with her saying it’s okay I can drink the coke because quite frankly I
drink the coke because quite frankly I
drink the coke because quite frankly I was eight years old I just wanted a
was eight years old I just wanted a
was eight years old I just wanted a sugary drink anyway but she would ignore
sugary drink anyway but she would ignore
sugary drink anyway but she would ignore my protest from the backseat she would
my protest from the backseat she would
my protest from the backseat she would her head to the side and look out
her head to the side and look out
her head to the side and look out of her car window and say you know what
of her car window and say you know what
of her car window and say you know what I want to speak to the manager and she
I want to speak to the manager and she
I want to speak to the manager and she would proceed to tell the manager not
would proceed to tell the manager not
would proceed to tell the manager not just what was wrong with this specific
just what was wrong with this specific
just what was wrong with this specific visit to Burger King but what was wrong
visit to Burger King but what was wrong
visit to Burger King but what was wrong three weeks ago and how maybe this was
three weeks ago and how maybe this was
three weeks ago and how maybe this was indicative of a larger problem and how
indicative of a larger problem and how
indicative of a larger problem and how she felt she deserved to be treated as a
she felt she deserved to be treated as a
she felt she deserved to be treated as a customer at this establishment as I grew
customer at this establishment as I grew
customer at this establishment as I grew up and out of being an embarrassed
up and out of being an embarrassed
up and out of being an embarrassed eight-year-old this became one of the
eight-year-old this became one of the
eight-year-old this became one of the things I most admired about my mother
things I most admired about my mother
things I most admired about my mother but needless to say this was in direct
but needless to say this was in direct
but needless to say this was in direct contradiction with this idea that I
contradiction with this idea that I
contradiction with this idea that I can’t have things that I want because
can’t have things that I want because
can’t have things that I want because people in Hell want ice water let’s
people in Hell want ice water let’s
people in Hell want ice water let’s think about what that statement really
think about what that statement really
think about what that statement really means there are two parts one there are
means there are two parts one there are
means there are two parts one there are people out there somewhere presumably in
people out there somewhere presumably in
people out there somewhere presumably in health who desperately wants something
health who desperately wants something
health who desperately wants something that they are never going to have access
that they are never going to have access
that they are never going to have access to the unspoken extension is why should
to the unspoken extension is why should
to the unspoken extension is why should you have what you want what makes me so
you have what you want what makes me so
you have what you want what makes me so special the second part of that revolves
special the second part of that revolves
special the second part of that revolves around this idea of being grateful and
around this idea of being grateful and
around this idea of being grateful and it’s a reassurance that actually you’re
it’s a reassurance that actually you’re
it’s a reassurance that actually you’re not inhale you’re just in Virginia in
not inhale you’re just in Virginia in
not inhale you’re just in Virginia in the middle of August and yeah it’s hot
the middle of August and yeah it’s hot
the middle of August and yeah it’s hot but it could be so much worse in fact it
but it could be so much worse in fact it
but it could be so much worse in fact it could be so much worse that you should
could be so much worse that you should
could be so much worse that you should be grateful and that even when I can see
be grateful and that even when I can see
be grateful and that even when I can see better when I can reach better I
better when I can reach better I
better when I can reach better I shouldn’t ask for it because people in
shouldn’t ask for it because people in
shouldn’t ask for it because people in Hell want ice water that leads me to the
Hell want ice water that leads me to the
Hell want ice water that leads me to the question that I want to ask you when is
question that I want to ask you when is
question that I want to ask you when is it hot enough when is something bad
it hot enough when is something bad
it hot enough when is something bad enough when is wrong wrong enough for
enough when is wrong wrong enough for
enough when is wrong wrong enough for you to not just know that somebody
you to not just know that somebody
you to not just know that somebody somewhere should say something but for
somewhere should say something but for
somewhere should say something but for you to be the one who speaks up I had to
you to be the one who speaks up I had to
you to be the one who speaks up I had to answer this question for myself during
answer this question for myself during
answer this question for myself during my second year at the University of
my second year at the University of
my second year at the University of Virginia that year I was the political
Virginia that year I was the political
Virginia that year I was the political action chair of the Black Student
action chair of the Black Student
action chair of the Black Student Alliance and if you recall from july to
Alliance and if you recall from july to
Alliance and if you recall from july to august of 2014 a black man was killed by
august of 2014 a black man was killed by
august of 2014 a black man was killed by law enforcement agents every week
law enforcement agents every week
law enforcement agents every week culminate
culminate
culminate in the death of Michael Brown and
in the death of Michael Brown and
in the death of Michael Brown and Missouri needless to say by the time we
Missouri needless to say by the time we
Missouri needless to say by the time we got back to grounds at the end of August
got back to grounds at the end of August
got back to grounds at the end of August black lives matter and eliminating
black lives matter and eliminating
black lives matter and eliminating police brutality where my main focus as
police brutality where my main focus as
police brutality where my main focus as political action chair and if there was
political action chair and if there was
political action chair and if there was a movement than we were in it we had
a movement than we were in it we had
a movement than we were in it we had rallies on the lawn we marched through
rallies on the lawn we marched through
rallies on the lawn we marched through libraries we had a die-in on president
libraries we had a die-in on president
libraries we had a die-in on president Sullivan’s steps but still there was an
Sullivan’s steps but still there was an
Sullivan’s steps but still there was an undeniable feeling of distance between
undeniable feeling of distance between
undeniable feeling of distance between what was what this larger problem was
what was what this larger problem was
what was what this larger problem was and where we were you see police
and where we were you see police
and where we were you see police brutality was something that happened in
brutality was something that happened in
brutality was something that happened in New York and something that happened in
New York and something that happened in
New York and something that happened in Cleveland and something that happened in
Cleveland and something that happened in
Cleveland and something that happened in Ferguson it didn’t happen here but stand
Ferguson it didn’t happen here but stand
Ferguson it didn’t happen here but stand in solidarity we did and before I knew
in solidarity we did and before I knew
in solidarity we did and before I knew it was March now at UVA on st. Patrick’s
it was March now at UVA on st. Patrick’s
it was March now at UVA on st. Patrick’s Day students go out the restaurants have
Day students go out the restaurants have
Day students go out the restaurants have discounts and the bars have drink deals
discounts and the bars have drink deals
discounts and the bars have drink deals and kids congregate on the corner to
and kids congregate on the corner to
and kids congregate on the corner to partake in the festivities that st.
partake in the festivities that st.
partake in the festivities that st. Patrick’s Day a friend of mine asked
Patrick’s Day a friend of mine asked
Patrick’s Day a friend of mine asked whether or not I would be going out to I
whether or not I would be going out to I
whether or not I would be going out to I told him that I wouldn’t that I had some
told him that I wouldn’t that I had some
told him that I wouldn’t that I had some work to complete but that he should have
work to complete but that he should have
work to complete but that he should have enough fun for the both of us the next
enough fun for the both of us the next
enough fun for the both of us the next morning I woke up and the first thing I
morning I woke up and the first thing I
morning I woke up and the first thing I did was check my phone I opened the
did was check my phone I opened the
did was check my phone I opened the group message of the Black Student
group message of the Black Student
group message of the Black Student Alliance and the image that hit me was
Alliance and the image that hit me was
Alliance and the image that hit me was one of a black boys busted head and
one of a black boys busted head and
one of a black boys busted head and blood-stained shirt I squinted at his
blood-stained shirt I squinted at his
blood-stained shirt I squinted at his shirt at his chest first to make sure
shirt at his chest first to make sure
shirt at his chest first to make sure that the blood on his shirt was not
that the blood on his shirt was not
that the blood on his shirt was not indicative of a more deadly wound then i
indicative of a more deadly wound then i
indicative of a more deadly wound then i splinted at his face because surely this
splinted at his face because surely this
splinted at his face because surely this couldn’t be the boy who I’d seen not 12
couldn’t be the boy who I’d seen not 12
couldn’t be the boy who I’d seen not 12 hours before until to have enough fun
hours before until to have enough fun
hours before until to have enough fun for the both of us but it was Marty’s
for the both of us but it was Marty’s
for the both of us but it was Marty’s Johnson and I would soon find out that
Johnson and I would soon find out that
Johnson and I would soon find out that his body was pinned to the red
his body was pinned to the red
his body was pinned to the red cobblestone and his ankles and wrists
cobblestone and his ankles and wrists
cobblestone and his ankles and wrists shackled over suspicions of a fake ID
myself joy the venn BSA president and VJ
myself joy the venn BSA president and VJ the president of the n-double-a-cp at
the president of the n-double-a-cp at
the president of the n-double-a-cp at uva at the time got together and we knew
uva at the time got together and we knew
uva at the time got together and we knew that we had to do something we decided
that we had to do something we decided
that we had to do something we decided that we would have a dialogue talking
that we would have a dialogue talking
that we would have a dialogue talking about yes what it happened to marty’s
about yes what it happened to marty’s
about yes what it happened to marty’s but also the larger problem that was
but also the larger problem that was
but also the larger problem that was facing our nation we booked Clark Hall
facing our nation we booked Clark Hall
facing our nation we booked Clark Hall which should sit about 200 people and as
which should sit about 200 people and as
which should sit about 200 people and as soon as we got there about 20 minutes
soon as we got there about 20 minutes
soon as we got there about 20 minutes before the event was set to begin we saw
before the event was set to begin we saw
before the event was set to begin we saw a line snaking out of the door and mobs
a line snaking out of the door and mobs
a line snaking out of the door and mobs of people still descend
of people still descend
of people still descend in that direction and we knew it
in that direction and we knew it
in that direction and we knew it wouldn’t be big enough so someone made a
wouldn’t be big enough so someone made a
wouldn’t be big enough so someone made a phone call to a university administrator
phone call to a university administrator
phone call to a university administrator and we booked a Newcombe ballroom within
and we booked a Newcombe ballroom within
and we booked a Newcombe ballroom within minutes Newcomb ballroom fits four
minutes Newcomb ballroom fits four
minutes Newcomb ballroom fits four hundred and still as we got there and
hundred and still as we got there and
hundred and still as we got there and watch people pile in we knew that this
watch people pile in we knew that this
watch people pile in we knew that this space wouldn’t be large enough either
space wouldn’t be large enough either
space wouldn’t be large enough either this must have been apparent to the
this must have been apparent to the
this must have been apparent to the crowd as well because without myself or
crowd as well because without myself or
crowd as well because without myself or VJ or joy telling anyone to do anything
VJ or joy telling anyone to do anything
VJ or joy telling anyone to do anything they began to move over their own accord
they began to move over their own accord
they began to move over their own accord towards the outdoor amphitheater at this
towards the outdoor amphitheater at this
towards the outdoor amphitheater at this point me and VJ are running just trying
point me and VJ are running just trying
point me and VJ are running just trying to catch up to this crowd that we’re
to catch up to this crowd that we’re
to catch up to this crowd that we’re supposed to be leading and we realize
supposed to be leading and we realize
supposed to be leading and we realize three things we have no microphones no
three things we have no microphones no
three things we have no microphones no speakers and nothing to say still we get
speakers and nothing to say still we get
speakers and nothing to say still we get to the amphitheater and we’re standing
to the amphitheater and we’re standing
to the amphitheater and we’re standing on the grassy area in front of it and
on the grassy area in front of it and
on the grassy area in front of it and after the only part of our originally
after the only part of our originally
after the only part of our originally planned program has finished the reading
planned program has finished the reading
planned program has finished the reading of an excerpt from James Baldwin’s
of an excerpt from James Baldwin’s
of an excerpt from James Baldwin’s letter to my nephew no one wants to take
letter to my nephew no one wants to take
letter to my nephew no one wants to take this megaphone that someone graciously
this megaphone that someone graciously
this megaphone that someone graciously gave us joy says you and Vijay are the
gave us joy says you and Vijay are the
gave us joy says you and Vijay are the ones who like to do this public speaking
ones who like to do this public speaking
ones who like to do this public speaking thing one of you should speak Vijay
thing one of you should speak Vijay
thing one of you should speak Vijay holds the megaphone like his hands are
holds the megaphone like his hands are
holds the megaphone like his hands are on fire and he says you guys know that I
on fire and he says you guys know that I
on fire and he says you guys know that I pre write all of my speeches Aaron’s the
pre write all of my speeches Aaron’s the
pre write all of my speeches Aaron’s the one who likes to talk off the top of her
one who likes to talk off the top of her
one who likes to talk off the top of her head until they hand the megaphone to me
head until they hand the megaphone to me
head until they hand the megaphone to me and I know that I don’t know what to say
and I know that I don’t know what to say
and I know that I don’t know what to say but as I look out at this crowd of a
but as I look out at this crowd of a
but as I look out at this crowd of a thousand people standing in front of me
thousand people standing in front of me
thousand people standing in front of me I realized something but they don’t
I realized something but they don’t
I realized something but they don’t really know what they came to hear they
really know what they came to hear they
really know what they came to hear they just know that something went wrong and
just know that something went wrong and
just know that something went wrong and that they want to be a part of the
that they want to be a part of the
that they want to be a part of the solution I knew that for my mother the
solution I knew that for my mother the
solution I knew that for my mother the difference between a coke and a sprite
difference between a coke and a sprite
difference between a coke and a sprite was reason enough to always say
was reason enough to always say
was reason enough to always say something and so surely I could do so
something and so surely I could do so
something and so surely I could do so about my friends busted head so I spoke
about my friends busted head so I spoke
about my friends busted head so I spoke I apologize that we’d had to change
I apologize that we’d had to change
I apologize that we’d had to change locations three times but that we’ve
locations three times but that we’ve
locations three times but that we’ve been talking about police brutality
been talking about police brutality
been talking about police brutality since August and never before have we
since August and never before have we
since August and never before have we had a crowd that was more than two or
had a crowd that was more than two or
had a crowd that was more than two or three hundred people i talked about how
three hundred people i talked about how
three hundred people i talked about how yes there were a lot of unfamiliar faces
yes there were a lot of unfamiliar faces
yes there were a lot of unfamiliar faces in that crowd of all colors but it
in that crowd of all colors but it
in that crowd of all colors but it didn’t matter if you would come to
didn’t matter if you would come to
didn’t matter if you would come to events like this before what mattered
events like this before what mattered
events like this before what mattered was that they were there now and that
was that they were there now and that
was that they were there now and that they kept coming back I talked about how
they kept coming back I talked about how
they kept coming back I talked about how when they did come back yes we should
when they did come back yes we should
when they did come back yes we should talk about Marty’s because what happened
talk about Marty’s because what happened
talk about Marty’s because what happened to him was
to him was
to him was I ibly horrible but we should also talk
I ibly horrible but we should also talk
I ibly horrible but we should also talk about the society that we lived in that
about the society that we lived in that
about the society that we lived in that was bigger than Marty’s and bigger than
was bigger than Marty’s and bigger than
was bigger than Marty’s and bigger than UVA and bigger than Charlottesville and
UVA and bigger than Charlottesville and
UVA and bigger than Charlottesville and bigger than Virginia it was nationwide
bigger than Virginia it was nationwide
bigger than Virginia it was nationwide and we needed to dissect why it was that
and we needed to dissect why it was that
and we needed to dissect why it was that so many charge to protect and serve hurt
so many charge to protect and serve hurt
so many charge to protect and serve hurt their citizens in the coming days we
their citizens in the coming days we
their citizens in the coming days we would hear a lot about how marty’s was
would hear a lot about how marty’s was
would hear a lot about how marty’s was lucky to have lived and how we should be
lucky to have lived and how we should be
lucky to have lived and how we should be grateful that it wasn’t worse and of
grateful that it wasn’t worse and of
grateful that it wasn’t worse and of course we were grateful but we didn’t
course we were grateful but we didn’t
course we were grateful but we didn’t want to spend our time listing off all
want to spend our time listing off all
want to spend our time listing off all of the reasons that we weren’t in hell
of the reasons that we weren’t in hell
of the reasons that we weren’t in hell trying to justify injustice instead we
trying to justify injustice instead we
trying to justify injustice instead we wanted to figure out how we could get to
wanted to figure out how we could get to
wanted to figure out how we could get to heaven so we wrote towards a better
heaven so we wrote towards a better
heaven so we wrote towards a better University a 26-page document that
University a 26-page document that
University a 26-page document that outlines recommendations for how to
outlines recommendations for how to
outlines recommendations for how to create a more racially harmonious UVA in
create a more racially harmonious UVA in
create a more racially harmonious UVA in Charlottesville community in a year and
Charlottesville community in a year and
Charlottesville community in a year and a half since its publication we have
a half since its publication we have
a half since its publication we have seen increased black faculty the
seen increased black faculty the
seen increased black faculty the introduction of directors of diversity
introduction of directors of diversity
introduction of directors of diversity in each school in each department we’ve
in each school in each department we’ve
in each school in each department we’ve seen the introduction of an engaging
seen the introduction of an engaging
seen the introduction of an engaging difference component to the curriculum
difference component to the curriculum
difference component to the curriculum we’ve seen pamphlets given to citizens
we’ve seen pamphlets given to citizens
we’ve seen pamphlets given to citizens about how they can know their rights
about how they can know their rights
about how they can know their rights when dealing with police officers so
when dealing with police officers so
when dealing with police officers so that’s how I came to answer this
that’s how I came to answer this
that’s how I came to answer this question of when is wrong wrong enough
question of when is wrong wrong enough
question of when is wrong wrong enough thanks mom for inadvertently teaching me
thanks mom for inadvertently teaching me
thanks mom for inadvertently teaching me to be a little bit less grateful and to
to be a little bit less grateful and to
to be a little bit less grateful and to and to everybody here if life is a
and to everybody here if life is a
and to everybody here if life is a metaphorical burger king then just know
metaphorical burger king then just know
metaphorical burger king then just know that a little bit of wrong is always
that a little bit of wrong is always
that a little bit of wrong is always wrong enough to go ahead and ask for the
wrong enough to go ahead and ask for the
wrong enough to go ahead and ask for the manager thank you
”
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