[Applause] so my first kiss was with a racist now
so my first kiss was with a racist now
so my first kiss was with a racist now at the time of the kiss I didn’t know he
at the time of the kiss I didn’t know he
at the time of the kiss I didn’t know he was racist and he didn’t know doesn’t
was racist and he didn’t know doesn’t
was racist and he didn’t know doesn’t know he was black mixed race of a white
know he was black mixed race of a white
know he was black mixed race of a white mother and an absent black father and we
mother and an absent black father and we
mother and an absent black father and we kissed in the back of an empty high
kissed in the back of an empty high
kissed in the back of an empty high school parking lots in the middle of
school parking lots in the middle of
school parking lots in the middle of winter this should have been my first
winter this should have been my first
winter this should have been my first clue but this was bad news I’ve been
clue but this was bad news I’ve been
clue but this was bad news I’ve been told to never fall in love a boy in a
told to never fall in love a boy in a
told to never fall in love a boy in a winter time but this wasn’t love it was
winter time but this wasn’t love it was
winter time but this wasn’t love it was less than it wasn’t really lest it was
less than it wasn’t really lest it was
less than it wasn’t really lest it was practicality because fish was the first
practicality because fish was the first
practicality because fish was the first time this black woman had ever had the
time this black woman had ever had the
time this black woman had ever had the chance to court a black man and I mean
chance to court a black man and I mean
chance to court a black man and I mean black baggy jeans extra Becky ball
black baggy jeans extra Becky ball
black baggy jeans extra Becky ball shirts big brown eyes I could see myself
shirts big brown eyes I could see myself
shirts big brown eyes I could see myself reflected in as something other than a
reflected in as something other than a
reflected in as something other than a shadow blocking the light he the only
shadow blocking the light he the only
shadow blocking the light he the only thing he was missing was a sean jean
thing he was missing was a sean jean
thing he was missing was a sean jean jacket i was thrilled he let’s call him
jacket i was thrilled he let’s call him
jacket i was thrilled he let’s call him Chris Chris walked me home our hands
Chris Chris walked me home our hands
Chris Chris walked me home our hands knocking each other sartatia sleeves we
knocking each other sartatia sleeves we
knocking each other sartatia sleeves we traversed the snow we jumped from topic
traversed the snow we jumped from topic
traversed the snow we jumped from topic to topic and Sylvie’s ever fade to the
to topic and Sylvie’s ever fade to the
to topic and Sylvie’s ever fade to the words left his mouth Janelle is blacker
words left his mouth Janelle is blacker
words left his mouth Janelle is blacker than you the world crashed around me but
than you the world crashed around me but
than you the world crashed around me but snow crunching beneath my feet became
snow crunching beneath my feet became
snow crunching beneath my feet became the breaking backs of my ancestors
the breaking backs of my ancestors
the breaking backs of my ancestors before me screaming what does that mean
before me screaming what does that mean
before me screaming what does that mean you know you’re you’re an Oreo your your
you know you’re you’re an Oreo your your
you know you’re you’re an Oreo your your black on the outside but your whites on
black on the outside but your whites on
black on the outside but your whites on the inside you know you’re not ghetto
the inside you know you’re not ghetto
the inside you know you’re not ghetto you’re educated educated and bernice
you’re educated educated and bernice
you’re educated educated and bernice thomas educated oreo i should have my
thomas educated oreo i should have my
thomas educated oreo i should have my own circus show maybe i do in five years
own circus show maybe i do in five years
own circus show maybe i do in five years later I can’t get this conversation out
later I can’t get this conversation out
later I can’t get this conversation out of my head because of a tender age of 15
of my head because of a tender age of 15
of my head because of a tender age of 15 he made me realize two things 1i was
he made me realize two things 1i was
he made me realize two things 1i was black
black
black and two I had no idea what that meant I
and two I had no idea what that meant I
and two I had no idea what that meant I never had to think about it before I
never had to think about it before I
never had to think about it before I mean I knew that he was wrong I mean
mean I knew that he was wrong I mean
mean I knew that he was wrong I mean just look at Michelle Obama but he cast
just look at Michelle Obama but he cast
just look at Michelle Obama but he cast his self doubted me some unlike anything
his self doubted me some unlike anything
his self doubted me some unlike anything I had ever known so to start my journey
I had ever known so to start my journey
I had ever known so to start my journey of self-discovery I asked a group of
of self-discovery I asked a group of
of self-discovery I asked a group of women of color in a Vancouver in
women of color in a Vancouver in
women of color in a Vancouver in vancouver island area if they had ever
vancouver island area if they had ever
vancouver island area if they had ever been called anything similar to an oreo
been called anything similar to an oreo
been called anything similar to an oreo the responses were creative to say the
the responses were creative to say the
the responses were creative to say the least there was banana coconut Twinkie
least there was banana coconut Twinkie
least there was banana coconut Twinkie Apple chocolate Miller swirl it’s not
Apple chocolate Miller swirl it’s not
Apple chocolate Miller swirl it’s not interesting how easily women of color
interesting how easily women of color
interesting how easily women of color can be compared to food marble cake
can be compared to food marble cake
can be compared to food marble cake honey cappuccino bounties if we are
honey cappuccino bounties if we are
honey cappuccino bounties if we are something to be eaten to be consumed to
something to be eaten to be consumed to
something to be eaten to be consumed to take away our darker outside you will
take away our darker outside you will
take away our darker outside you will find the glistening whites worth beneath
find the glistening whites worth beneath
find the glistening whites worth beneath it wow you’re so articulate you’re not
it wow you’re so articulate you’re not
it wow you’re so articulate you’re not like other black girls you were so
like other black girls you were so
like other black girls you were so pretty for an insert race here girl I
pretty for an insert race here girl I
pretty for an insert race here girl I never really think of you as black and
never really think of you as black and
never really think of you as black and my personal favorite I’m black given you
my personal favorite I’m black given you
my personal favorite I’m black given you because I know all of the words to Kanye
because I know all of the words to Kanye
because I know all of the words to Kanye West gold digger Wow who knew that race
West gold digger Wow who knew that race
West gold digger Wow who knew that race was as easy to become as memorizing the
was as easy to become as memorizing the
was as easy to become as memorizing the words of a song and it’s easy to erase a
words of a song and it’s easy to erase a
words of a song and it’s easy to erase a misplaced comma with s80 vernacular
misplaced comma with s80 vernacular
misplaced comma with s80 vernacular these phrases are like scalp holes
these phrases are like scalp holes
these phrases are like scalp holes tearing away my black body peeling apart
tearing away my black body peeling apart
tearing away my black body peeling apart the skin because i am worth something in
the skin because i am worth something in
the skin because i am worth something in spite of it but all of a sudden I felt
spite of it but all of a sudden I felt
spite of it but all of a sudden I felt alone because this oil categorization
alone because this oil categorization
alone because this oil categorization was happening to people of all races not
was happening to people of all races not
was happening to people of all races not just black people this mindset of
just black people this mindset of
just black people this mindset of Education meaning whiteness of being
Education meaning whiteness of being
Education meaning whiteness of being able to get a job get paid well settle
able to get a job get paid well settle
able to get a job get paid well settle down and live comfortably meaning
down and live comfortably meaning
down and live comfortably meaning whiteness of being able meaning
whiteness of being able meaning
whiteness of being able meaning whiteness
so I decided to look inside at my own
so I decided to look inside at my own family the only black people who I
family the only black people who I
family the only black people who I really knew my mom is from Jamaica my
really knew my mom is from Jamaica my
really knew my mom is from Jamaica my dad is from Sierra Leone may Mets in
dad is from Sierra Leone may Mets in
dad is from Sierra Leone may Mets in London England they had three children
London England they had three children
London England they had three children and we moved to ontario when i was seven
and we moved to ontario when i was seven
and we moved to ontario when i was seven so this is a beautiful example of a
so this is a beautiful example of a
so this is a beautiful example of a multicultural displaced black family my
multicultural displaced black family my
multicultural displaced black family my brother and I we were really close and
brother and I we were really close and
brother and I we were really close and when I was 11 he went he started high
when I was 11 he went he started high
when I was 11 he went he started high school and he went to school up the road
school and he went to school up the road
school and he went to school up the road has a good school rich white kids is a
has a good school rich white kids is a
has a good school rich white kids is a really really good school and he was
really really good school and he was
really really good school and he was charismatic energetic a sports guy
charismatic energetic a sports guy
charismatic energetic a sports guy really nice meaning the way older
really nice meaning the way older
really nice meaning the way older brothers are but never cruel and this
brothers are but never cruel and this
brothers are but never cruel and this all changed as soon as you started high
all changed as soon as you started high
all changed as soon as you started high school all of a sudden he was in and out
school all of a sudden he was in and out
school all of a sudden he was in and out of the principal’s office he was acting
of the principal’s office he was acting
of the principal’s office he was acting out talking back and just overall being
out talking back and just overall being
out talking back and just overall being really really mean a couple years later
really really mean a couple years later
really really mean a couple years later a sports school opened up a few few
a sports school opened up a few few
a sports school opened up a few few miles out of town at verse school it was
miles out of town at verse school it was
miles out of town at verse school it was almost a cultural lots of people of
almost a cultural lots of people of
almost a cultural lots of people of color and I brother mood fermo change in
color and I brother mood fermo change in
color and I brother mood fermo change in him was instantaneous the anger sizzled
him was instantaneous the anger sizzled
him was instantaneous the anger sizzled out the young thug disappeared and just
out the young thug disappeared and just
out the young thug disappeared and just like that I had my brother back when I
like that I had my brother back when I
like that I had my brother back when I asked him about it he said that that was
asked him about it he said that that was
asked him about it he said that that was the behavior they were expecting out of
the behavior they were expecting out of
the behavior they were expecting out of him they were treating him terribly
him they were treating him terribly
him they were treating him terribly because he was black and so black was
because he was black and so black was
because he was black and so black was what he became a young thug a menace
what he became a young thug a menace
what he became a young thug a menace angry hurt black this ain’t this
angry hurt black this ain’t this
angry hurt black this ain’t this stereotypical black and when he stopped
stereotypical black and when he stopped
stereotypical black and when he stopped being these things if you stop being
being these things if you stop being
being these things if you stop being black not at all but he was spoon-fed
black not at all but he was spoon-fed
black not at all but he was spoon-fed this idea this stereotype of the
this idea this stereotype of the
this idea this stereotype of the aggressive black male and he ate it up
aggressive black male and he ate it up
aggressive black male and he ate it up and they created exactly what they
and they created exactly what they
and they created exactly what they wanted and that is how simple and how
wanted and that is how simple and how
wanted and that is how simple and how easily a systematic cycle or racism
easily a systematic cycle or racism
easily a systematic cycle or racism begins with education with Miss
begins with education with Miss
begins with education with Miss educating
educating
educating and finally I looked at myself and
and finally I looked at myself and
and finally I looked at myself and I fought em I black so once again I post
I fought em I black so once again I post
I fought em I black so once again I post a question what is blackness I read this
a question what is blackness I read this
a question what is blackness I read this book by Tommy he see coats and he
book by Tommy he see coats and he
book by Tommy he see coats and he discusses what life is like living
discusses what life is like living
discusses what life is like living inside a black body in America and I
inside a black body in America and I
inside a black body in America and I thought exactly blackness is the state
thought exactly blackness is the state
thought exactly blackness is the state of being it is existing in a black body
of being it is existing in a black body
of being it is existing in a black body so the real question is what qualifies
so the real question is what qualifies
so the real question is what qualifies and quantifies blackness this is a bit
and quantifies blackness this is a bit
and quantifies blackness this is a bit harder to decide because blackness is a
harder to decide because blackness is a
harder to decide because blackness is a broad scale and it’s multicultural near
broad scale and it’s multicultural near
broad scale and it’s multicultural near people from all over the world who exist
people from all over the world who exist
people from all over the world who exist inside black bodies and so I decided to
inside black bodies and so I decided to
inside black bodies and so I decided to go with this blackness is a state of
go with this blackness is a state of
go with this blackness is a state of being is existing your life everything
being is existing your life everything
being is existing your life everything in your black body it is your history it
in your black body it is your history it
in your black body it is your history it is your future you’re creating for
is your future you’re creating for
is your future you’re creating for yourself it’s the present right now and
yourself it’s the present right now and
yourself it’s the present right now and however you choose to live it but as you
however you choose to live it but as you
however you choose to live it but as you are living it it is loving yourself
are living it it is loving yourself
are living it it is loving yourself every single step of the way as students
every single step of the way as students
every single step of the way as students from all over the world there are people
from all over the world there are people
from all over the world there are people who do not understand your greatness and
who do not understand your greatness and
who do not understand your greatness and they will try to bring it down to
they will try to bring it down to
they will try to bring it down to something that they can fit in the size
something that they can fit in the size
something that they can fit in the size of their hand do not select them the
of their hand do not select them the
of their hand do not select them the strongest thing you’ll ever have for
strongest thing you’ll ever have for
strongest thing you’ll ever have for yourself is knowing yourself every inch
yourself is knowing yourself every inch
yourself is knowing yourself every inch every corner every dark spot and loving
every corner every dark spot and loving
every corner every dark spot and loving it anyway Chris did not know himself he
it anyway Chris did not know himself he
it anyway Chris did not know himself he was given the stereotype of the ghetto
was given the stereotype of the ghetto
was given the stereotype of the ghetto black man and so in his journey of his
black man and so in his journey of his
black man and so in his journey of his own self belief he took down mine now
own self belief he took down mine now
own self belief he took down mine now that is not a very black thing to do but
that is not a very black thing to do but
that is not a very black thing to do but I thank him for it because about him
I thank him for it because about him
I thank him for it because about him opening up his mouth and saying these
opening up his mouth and saying these
opening up his mouth and saying these words I would not have begun my journey
words I would not have begun my journey
words I would not have begun my journey of self-discovery that’s a poet I lived
of self-discovery that’s a poet I lived
of self-discovery that’s a poet I lived the importance of words every single day
the importance of words every single day
the importance of words every single day because they mean something
because they mean something
because they mean something everything you utter has an impact if
everything you utter has an impact if
everything you utter has an impact if you wanted to or not and so today I will
you wanted to or not and so today I will
you wanted to or not and so today I will leave you with these words but I want
leave you with these words but I want
leave you with these words but I want you to repeat after me because the the
you to repeat after me because the the
you to repeat after me because the the impact of saying something out loud is
impact of saying something out loud is
impact of saying something out loud is truly unquantifiable so I would like you
truly unquantifiable so I would like you
truly unquantifiable so I would like you all to repeat with me I am NOT an Oreo I
am a whirlwind a thunderstorm of
am a whirlwind a thunderstorm of creation I am more than capable I am
creation I am more than capable I am
creation I am more than capable I am walking education and I am me thank you
”
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