good evening lady and my name
and my name
and my name voluma and today I’m here to talk to you
voluma and today I’m here to talk to you
voluma and today I’m here to talk to you about a perspective of race from an
about a perspective of race from an
about a perspective of race from an outsider and by outside I mean someone
outsider and by outside I mean someone
outsider and by outside I mean someone who didn’t know he was black until he
who didn’t know he was black until he
who didn’t know he was black until he came to the United States today I will
came to the United States today I will
came to the United States today I will share with you stories and experiences
share with you stories and experiences
share with you stories and experiences of race and dealing with it and how my
of race and dealing with it and how my
of race and dealing with it and how my mindset and race changed drastically
mindset and race changed drastically
mindset and race changed drastically over a short period of time i am from
over a short period of time i am from
over a short period of time i am from Uganda which is a small country in
Uganda which is a small country in
Uganda which is a small country in Eastern Africa Uganda is ninety-eight
Eastern Africa Uganda is ninety-eight
Eastern Africa Uganda is ninety-eight percent black and only about two percent
percent black and only about two percent
percent black and only about two percent other ethnicities growing up in Uganda
other ethnicities growing up in Uganda
other ethnicities growing up in Uganda race was something i hardly ever thought
race was something i hardly ever thought
race was something i hardly ever thought about if at all i guess for lack of a
about if at all i guess for lack of a
about if at all i guess for lack of a better word race was not quite as
better word race was not quite as
better word race was not quite as venomous as it is in the United States
venomous as it is in the United States
venomous as it is in the United States conversations and race didn’t get
conversations and race didn’t get
conversations and race didn’t get people’s blood boiling quite in the same
people’s blood boiling quite in the same
people’s blood boiling quite in the same way that they do here so I guess that’s
way that they do here so I guess that’s
way that they do here so I guess that’s the biggest reason why I never could
the biggest reason why I never could
the biggest reason why I never could quite understand from watching the TV
quite understand from watching the TV
quite understand from watching the TV why race was such a problem in the US
why race was such a problem in the US
why race was such a problem in the US when I came to the US I found myself
when I came to the US I found myself
when I came to the US I found myself having to deal with certain things and
having to deal with certain things and
having to deal with certain things and to give you a perspective of how I used
to give you a perspective of how I used
to give you a perspective of how I used to think about race this is my friend
to think about race this is my friend
to think about race this is my friend Kiki Kiki and I lived in the same floor
Kiki Kiki and I lived in the same floor
Kiki Kiki and I lived in the same floor my freshman year and I remember the
my freshman year and I remember the
my freshman year and I remember the first week of school our resident
first week of school our resident
first week of school our resident assistant had us get together and
assistant had us get together and
assistant had us get together and introduce ourselves and get to know each
introduce ourselves and get to know each
introduce ourselves and get to know each other and while Kiki was talking about
other and while Kiki was talking about
other and while Kiki was talking about herself at one point she said that she
herself at one point she said that she
herself at one point she said that she was black and I was sitting there and
was black and I was sitting there and
was black and I was sitting there and unfortunately I said allow out loud
unfortunately I said allow out loud
unfortunately I said allow out loud you’re not black your brown see I didn’t
you’re not black your brown see I didn’t
you’re not black your brown see I didn’t mean any ill intent in saying that but
mean any ill intent in saying that but
mean any ill intent in saying that but that’s just how I thought about race
that’s just how I thought about race
that’s just how I thought about race that it was just the color of people’s
that it was just the color of people’s
that it was just the color of people’s skin that there wasn’t anything else
skin that there wasn’t anything else
skin that there wasn’t anything else attached to it i also found myself
attached to it i also found myself
attached to it i also found myself identifying more with white people when
identifying more with white people when
identifying more with white people when I came to TCU it’s not because I like
I came to TCU it’s not because I like
I came to TCU it’s not because I like black people any less than I liked white
black people any less than I liked white
black people any less than I liked white people
people
people it’s because of a simple fact that at
it’s because of a simple fact that at
it’s because of a simple fact that at ECU there are more white people than
ECU there are more white people than
ECU there are more white people than black people at one point someone called
black people at one point someone called
black people at one point someone called me an Oreo which is slammed for someone
me an Oreo which is slammed for someone
me an Oreo which is slammed for someone who has black skin but is really a white
who has black skin but is really a white
who has black skin but is really a white person on the inside as time went on I
person on the inside as time went on I
person on the inside as time went on I immersed myself more and more into
immersed myself more and more into
immersed myself more and more into American culture and race was something
American culture and race was something
American culture and race was something I started having to deal with on a
I started having to deal with on a
I started having to deal with on a consistent basis for example one day at
consistent basis for example one day at
consistent basis for example one day at the school cafeteria it was game day so
the school cafeteria it was game day so
the school cafeteria it was game day so it was packed and I was lucky enough to
it was packed and I was lucky enough to
it was packed and I was lucky enough to find a booth right next to this lady and
find a booth right next to this lady and
find a booth right next to this lady and her kids and as soon as i got my plate
her kids and as soon as i got my plate
her kids and as soon as i got my plate put my foot down on the table it seemed
put my foot down on the table it seemed
put my foot down on the table it seemed like the instant that i sat down she
like the instant that i sat down she
like the instant that i sat down she moved her handbag which was in between
moved her handbag which was in between
moved her handbag which was in between her booth and my own and clutched it
her booth and my own and clutched it
her booth and my own and clutched it closely almost as if she was protecting
closely almost as if she was protecting
closely almost as if she was protecting herself from the threat of a notorious
herself from the threat of a notorious
herself from the threat of a notorious thief unfortunately I have never stolen
thief unfortunately I have never stolen
thief unfortunately I have never stolen a thing in my life so I couldn’t quite
a thing in my life so I couldn’t quite
a thing in my life so I couldn’t quite understand why she would think that I
understand why she would think that I
understand why she would think that I would I also used to like running late
would I also used to like running late
would I also used to like running late at night the cool off steam from school
at night the cool off steam from school
at night the cool off steam from school but I gave that up because one time I
but I gave that up because one time I
but I gave that up because one time I run into a friend of mine who was coming
run into a friend of mine who was coming
run into a friend of mine who was coming from the library with her buddies and I
from the library with her buddies and I
from the library with her buddies and I stopped to say hi and continued in my
stopped to say hi and continued in my
stopped to say hi and continued in my way a few days after that she comes to
way a few days after that she comes to
way a few days after that she comes to me and tells me that one of her friends
me and tells me that one of her friends
me and tells me that one of her friends was a little bit spooked out by me and
was a little bit spooked out by me and
was a little bit spooked out by me and said that I looked kind of sketchy I
said that I looked kind of sketchy I
said that I looked kind of sketchy I didn’t even know I was pretty scared
didn’t even know I was pretty scared
didn’t even know I was pretty scared because I didn’t want to spook anyone
because I didn’t want to spook anyone
because I didn’t want to spook anyone now door have the cops called in me for
now door have the cops called in me for
now door have the cops called in me for no good reason I also couldn’t i also
no good reason I also couldn’t i also
no good reason I also couldn’t i also got frustrated with the fact that many
got frustrated with the fact that many
got frustrated with the fact that many of my friends couldn’t get past the fact
of my friends couldn’t get past the fact
of my friends couldn’t get past the fact that i was black many of my white
that i was black many of my white
that i was black many of my white friends would always introduce me as
friends would always introduce me as
friends would always introduce me as this is my wife this is my black friend
this is my wife this is my black friend
this is my wife this is my black friend philip or this is my african friend
philip or this is my african friend
philip or this is my african friend philip it seemed like there was never a
philip it seemed like there was never a
philip it seemed like there was never a time when I was just Philip and so many
time when I was just Philip and so many
time when I was just Philip and so many of our conversations it would always
of our conversations it would always
of our conversations it would always come up the fact that I was black or
come up the fact that I was black or
come up the fact that I was black or that I was African
that I was African
that I was African and what frustrated me even more was
and what frustrated me even more was
and what frustrated me even more was that there were people who would be
that there were people who would be
that there were people who would be defensive towards me before they met me
defensive towards me before they met me
defensive towards me before they met me but when they met me and they hardly
but when they met me and they hardly
but when they met me and they hardly speak and they heard my accent it was
speak and they heard my accent it was
speak and they heard my accent it was almost like their eyes would light up as
almost like their eyes would light up as
almost like their eyes would light up as though they were saying well you’re
though they were saying well you’re
though they were saying well you’re black but you’re a different kind of
black but you’re a different kind of
black but you’re a different kind of black so we can be cool and that brought
black so we can be cool and that brought
black so we can be cool and that brought me into quite the dilemma because I
me into quite the dilemma because I
me into quite the dilemma because I didn’t know if I was white or if I was
didn’t know if I was white or if I was
didn’t know if I was white or if I was black and I didn’t know why it should
black and I didn’t know why it should
black and I didn’t know why it should matter I didn’t understand why it was
matter I didn’t understand why it was
matter I didn’t understand why it was always coming up that I was black I was
always coming up that I was black I was
always coming up that I was black I was growing more and more frustrated with my
growing more and more frustrated with my
growing more and more frustrated with my white friends and yet at the same time I
white friends and yet at the same time I
white friends and yet at the same time I didn’t have enough black friends to help
didn’t have enough black friends to help
didn’t have enough black friends to help me understand what I was going through
me understand what I was going through
me understand what I was going through so I started asking myself more and more
so I started asking myself more and more
so I started asking myself more and more questions about race and like any good
questions about race and like any good
questions about race and like any good milenio I turned to my good old buddy
milenio I turned to my good old buddy
milenio I turned to my good old buddy google and asked what is race and google
google and asked what is race and google
google and asked what is race and google said races each of the measure divisions
said races each of the measure divisions
said races each of the measure divisions of humankind having distinct physical
of humankind having distinct physical
of humankind having distinct physical characteristics or race is a group of
characteristics or race is a group of
characteristics or race is a group of people sharing the same culture history
people sharing the same culture history
people sharing the same culture history language much like an ethnic group but
language much like an ethnic group but
language much like an ethnic group but these were the same ideas I had about
these were the same ideas I had about
these were the same ideas I had about race before so I couldn’t understand if
race before so I couldn’t understand if
race before so I couldn’t understand if race was just about ethnicity then why
race was just about ethnicity then why
race was just about ethnicity then why was it such a big deal so I delve deeper
was it such a big deal so I delve deeper
was it such a big deal so I delve deeper into the matter and I found that in fact
into the matter and I found that in fact
into the matter and I found that in fact race is just a social construct see I
race is just a social construct see I
race is just a social construct see I had grown up thinking that race was
had grown up thinking that race was
had grown up thinking that race was something natural that occurred in
something natural that occurred in
something natural that occurred in nature but in fact it was man-made that
nature but in fact it was man-made that
nature but in fact it was man-made that this isn’t something that God made so to
this isn’t something that God made so to
this isn’t something that God made so to say it was something that we created to
say it was something that we created to
say it was something that we created to give power over each other and I also
give power over each other and I also
give power over each other and I also learned that the way race the whole
learned that the way race the whole
learned that the way race the whole concept of racism forced is through
concept of racism forced is through
concept of racism forced is through racism and racism is the pred
racism and racism is the pred
racism and racism is the pred this discrimination or antagonism of a
this discrimination or antagonism of a
this discrimination or antagonism of a particular race over another in order to
particular race over another in order to
particular race over another in order to gain superiority over that race see now
gain superiority over that race see now
gain superiority over that race see now it started to make sense to me that in
it started to make sense to me that in
it started to make sense to me that in fact it wasn’t just about skin color it
fact it wasn’t just about skin color it
fact it wasn’t just about skin color it was about power and this went back
was about power and this went back
was about power and this went back hundreds of years ago from colonialism
hundreds of years ago from colonialism
hundreds of years ago from colonialism and slavery so it was much more
and slavery so it was much more
and slavery so it was much more complicated than I had ever imagined and
complicated than I had ever imagined and
complicated than I had ever imagined and so I asked myself well why is it still a
so I asked myself well why is it still a
so I asked myself well why is it still a problem I thought to myself well the
problem I thought to myself well the
problem I thought to myself well the civil rights act was passed and that was
civil rights act was passed and that was
civil rights act was passed and that was over 50 years ago so essentially the
over 50 years ago so essentially the
over 50 years ago so essentially the Civil Rights Act took away that power
Civil Rights Act took away that power
Civil Rights Act took away that power the races had over other races didn’t it
the races had over other races didn’t it
the races had over other races didn’t it so it should be an even playing field
so it should be an even playing field
so it should be an even playing field but of course that wasn’t true not with
but of course that wasn’t true not with
but of course that wasn’t true not with the wide economic gap between races or
the wide economic gap between races or
the wide economic gap between races or the lack of information we have about
the lack of information we have about
the lack of information we have about the day-to-day lives of other races or
the day-to-day lives of other races or
the day-to-day lives of other races or the fact that sometimes we just choose
the fact that sometimes we just choose
the fact that sometimes we just choose to simply ignore the evidence and the
to simply ignore the evidence and the
to simply ignore the evidence and the facts sometimes we will see what goes on
facts sometimes we will see what goes on
facts sometimes we will see what goes on in TV the police brutality and simply
in TV the police brutality and simply
in TV the police brutality and simply convince ourselves that that’s not
convince ourselves that that’s not
convince ourselves that that’s not really a big deal but there’s something
really a big deal but there’s something
really a big deal but there’s something else I think that hasn’t been given much
else I think that hasn’t been given much
else I think that hasn’t been given much attention the fact that we haven’t
attention the fact that we haven’t
attention the fact that we haven’t realized that the concept of racism has
realized that the concept of racism has
realized that the concept of racism has evolved over the last few years see
evolved over the last few years see
evolved over the last few years see racism isn’t the same as it was 50 years
racism isn’t the same as it was 50 years
racism isn’t the same as it was 50 years ago I believed it has changed at least
ago I believed it has changed at least
ago I believed it has changed at least for the most part into something a
for the most part into something a
for the most part into something a little less severe something I like to
little less severe something I like to
little less severe something I like to call racial tension and racial tension
call racial tension and racial tension
call racial tension and racial tension does not encompass things as Extreme as
does not encompass things as Extreme as
does not encompass things as Extreme as the things that would happen with a KKK
the things that would happen with a KKK
the things that would happen with a KKK but it is still a problem because it
but it is still a problem because it
but it is still a problem because it creates these nagging little things
creates these nagging little things
creates these nagging little things the just keep building and building for
the just keep building and building for
the just keep building and building for a white person it might be someone
a white person it might be someone
a white person it might be someone thinking that the only reason you have a
thinking that the only reason you have a
thinking that the only reason you have a job or a nice car is because of white
job or a nice car is because of white
job or a nice car is because of white privilege for a black person it might be
privilege for a black person it might be
privilege for a black person it might be someone saying that the only reason you
someone saying that the only reason you
someone saying that the only reason you can go to college is if you’re an
can go to college is if you’re an
can go to college is if you’re an athlete and those things when you hear
athlete and those things when you hear
athlete and those things when you hear them again and again just frustrate you
them again and again just frustrate you
them again and again just frustrate you and it just creates this tension and
and it just creates this tension and
and it just creates this tension and this divide between us and of course
this divide between us and of course
this divide between us and of course racial tension feeds off of stereotypes
racial tension feeds off of stereotypes
racial tension feeds off of stereotypes we don’t have the whole story that’s why
we don’t have the whole story that’s why
we don’t have the whole story that’s why we jump to conclusions based on the
we jump to conclusions based on the
we jump to conclusions based on the little that we have so what causes
little that we have so what causes
little that we have so what causes racial tension I think that is a lot
racial tension I think that is a lot
racial tension I think that is a lot simpler to answer then what causes
simpler to answer then what causes
simpler to answer then what causes racism I think the biggest cause of
racism I think the biggest cause of
racism I think the biggest cause of racial tension is language the words we
racial tension is language the words we
racial tension is language the words we use often the words we see being used in
use often the words we see being used in
use often the words we see being used in social media or on TV or on Facebook or
social media or on TV or on Facebook or
social media or on TV or on Facebook or things like that I believe that there’s
things like that I believe that there’s
things like that I believe that there’s a power in words a power that sometimes
a power in words a power that sometimes
a power in words a power that sometimes you don’t really accept and really think
you don’t really accept and really think
you don’t really accept and really think about and as far as racial tension is
about and as far as racial tension is
about and as far as racial tension is concerned these words we use often
concerned these words we use often
concerned these words we use often reflect our thoughts on certain things
reflect our thoughts on certain things
reflect our thoughts on certain things but most importantly they affect the way
but most importantly they affect the way
but most importantly they affect the way other people think for example if you
other people think for example if you
other people think for example if you taught your son to think about a
taught your son to think about a
taught your son to think about a particular race in a certain way of
particular race in a certain way of
particular race in a certain way of course he’s going to grow up thinking
course he’s going to grow up thinking
course he’s going to grow up thinking that way they say that racism can cannot
that way they say that racism can cannot
that way they say that racism can cannot be born it must be taught and that is
be born it must be taught and that is
be born it must be taught and that is the thing we are constantly conditioning
the thing we are constantly conditioning
the thing we are constantly conditioning ourselves to think about race in a
ourselves to think about race in a
ourselves to think about race in a certain way take for example the
certain way take for example the
certain way take for example the following words animal beast savage
following words animal beast savage
following words animal beast savage cold-blooded assassin an apologetic
cold-blooded assassin an apologetic
cold-blooded assassin an apologetic monster the first time you hear these
monster the first time you hear these
monster the first time you hear these words you might think well those must
words you might think well those must
words you might think well those must have been used to describe some maniac
have been used to describe some maniac
have been used to describe some maniac of cereal
of cereal
of cereal killer that’s probably locked up behind
killer that’s probably locked up behind
killer that’s probably locked up behind bars for life but in fact these words
bars for life but in fact these words
bars for life but in fact these words were used to describe someone you all
were used to describe someone you all
were used to describe someone you all might know LeBron James it’s funny that
might know LeBron James it’s funny that
might know LeBron James it’s funny that we can use such harsh words every day in
we can use such harsh words every day in
we can use such harsh words every day in the news and on facebook to describe
the news and on facebook to describe
the news and on facebook to describe someone like LeBron and no one blinks an
someone like LeBron and no one blinks an
someone like LeBron and no one blinks an eye and I do believe that LeBron is a
eye and I do believe that LeBron is a
eye and I do believe that LeBron is a pretty good guy considering all the good
pretty good guy considering all the good
pretty good guy considering all the good work he’s done in his community and all
work he’s done in his community and all
work he’s done in his community and all his social activism and yet no one
his social activism and yet no one
his social activism and yet no one hesitates or very few people hesitate to
hesitates or very few people hesitate to
hesitates or very few people hesitate to call him by such such strong words yes I
call him by such such strong words yes I
call him by such such strong words yes I do understand the LeBron is six foot
do understand the LeBron is six foot
do understand the LeBron is six foot eight 250 pounds but that does not make
eight 250 pounds but that does not make
eight 250 pounds but that does not make him a monster it does make him a really
him a monster it does make him a really
him a monster it does make him a really good basketball player but that is about
good basketball player but that is about
good basketball player but that is about it see we need to be able to divide
it see we need to be able to divide
it see we need to be able to divide between the two physical aspects don’t
between the two physical aspects don’t
between the two physical aspects don’t make monsters actions if you kill
make monsters actions if you kill
make monsters actions if you kill someone that makes you a killer throwing
someone that makes you a killer throwing
someone that makes you a killer throwing down a high dunk does not make you a
down a high dunk does not make you a
down a high dunk does not make you a killer or a monster but because we have
killer or a monster but because we have
killer or a monster but because we have said it is okay to think in this way or
said it is okay to think in this way or
said it is okay to think in this way or to say certain things then we start to
to say certain things then we start to
to say certain things then we start to think in this way so why do I bring up
think in this way so why do I bring up
think in this way so why do I bring up LeBron well LeBron is just one in a
LeBron well LeBron is just one in a
LeBron well LeBron is just one in a group of people athletes athletes are
group of people athletes athletes are
group of people athletes athletes are some of the most popular black people in
some of the most popular black people in
some of the most popular black people in the United States so if we constantly on
the United States so if we constantly on
the United States so if we constantly on TV here the athletes or black athletes
TV here the athletes or black athletes
TV here the athletes or black athletes being described by words like monster
being described by words like monster
being described by words like monster assassin then why is it a surprise that
assassin then why is it a surprise that
assassin then why is it a surprise that the next time we see a black guy running
the next time we see a black guy running
the next time we see a black guy running on the street we’re going to be taken
on the street we’re going to be taken
on the street we’re going to be taken aback of course we are because we’ve
aback of course we are because we’ve
aback of course we are because we’ve conditioned ourselves to expect certain
conditioned ourselves to expect certain
conditioned ourselves to expect certain things from black people just because of
things from black people just because of
things from black people just because of the words be often here and the words we
the words be often here and the words we
the words be often here and the words we often use but it also goes past that
often use but it also goes past that
often use but it also goes past that there’s words like sketchy what does
there’s words like sketchy what does
there’s words like sketchy what does that even mean I didn’t even understand
that even mean I didn’t even understand
that even mean I didn’t even understand it I don’t know what it means to
it I don’t know what it means to
it I don’t know what it means to be sketchy all words like jungle fever
be sketchy all words like jungle fever
be sketchy all words like jungle fever and this is a word that think is used
and this is a word that think is used
and this is a word that think is used when a white girl has a history with
when a white girl has a history with
when a white girl has a history with black guys maybe she has a lot of black
black guys maybe she has a lot of black
black guys maybe she has a lot of black friends or she has dated a couple of
friends or she has dated a couple of
friends or she has dated a couple of black view of black guys and then people
black view of black guys and then people
black view of black guys and then people say oh she has jungle fever but I don’t
say oh she has jungle fever but I don’t
say oh she has jungle fever but I don’t understand the relation between jungle
understand the relation between jungle
understand the relation between jungle and a white girl and black guys lions
and a white girl and black guys lions
and a white girl and black guys lions are in jungles leopards are in jungles
are in jungles leopards are in jungles
are in jungles leopards are in jungles not people or words like inner-city
not people or words like inner-city
not people or words like inner-city youth see I think this word is just a
youth see I think this word is just a
youth see I think this word is just a substitute for thug and gangsta I often
substitute for thug and gangsta I often
substitute for thug and gangsta I often hear it being used on TV in the news to
hear it being used on TV in the news to
hear it being used on TV in the news to describe young black people or up to no
describe young black people or up to no
describe young black people or up to no good so to say because no one wants to
good so to say because no one wants to
good so to say because no one wants to use the word thug and gangsta so how do
use the word thug and gangsta so how do
use the word thug and gangsta so how do we get past this how do we remove racial
we get past this how do we remove racial
we get past this how do we remove racial tension I think that’s easy because if
tension I think that’s easy because if
tension I think that’s easy because if the biggest reason for racial tension is
the biggest reason for racial tension is
the biggest reason for racial tension is language then we need to think before we
language then we need to think before we
language then we need to think before we speak because there is a power in words
speak because there is a power in words
speak because there is a power in words but also we need to actually speak we
but also we need to actually speak we
but also we need to actually speak we have to speak we have to have these
have to speak we have to have these
have to speak we have to have these uncomfortable conversations if we are to
uncomfortable conversations if we are to
uncomfortable conversations if we are to learn from each other and find a way
learn from each other and find a way
learn from each other and find a way forward and finally someone might ask
forward and finally someone might ask
forward and finally someone might ask why even bother correcting racial
why even bother correcting racial
why even bother correcting racial tension see I like to think of racial
tension see I like to think of racial
tension see I like to think of racial tension like a rubber band all these
tension like a rubber band all these
tension like a rubber band all these tiny things we hear you know someone
tiny things we hear you know someone
tiny things we hear you know someone saying oh you’re only wealthy because
saying oh you’re only wealthy because
saying oh you’re only wealthy because you’re white or you can only go to
you’re white or you can only go to
you’re white or you can only go to college because you’re a black athlete
college because you’re a black athlete
college because you’re a black athlete all these tiny little things just feed
all these tiny little things just feed
all these tiny little things just feed into that and just keep increasing the
into that and just keep increasing the
into that and just keep increasing the tension in the rubber band and
tension in the rubber band and
tension in the rubber band and eventually it’s going to snap and then
eventually it’s going to snap and then
eventually it’s going to snap and then we’re going to be right where we started
we’re going to be right where we started
we’re going to be right where we started with a full-blown racism thank you all
with a full-blown racism thank you all
with a full-blown racism thank you all and have a good evening
and have a good evening
and have a good evening [Applause]
”
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