early in the morning on February 14th 1948 Lee kissed his wife as he always
1948 Lee kissed his wife as he always
1948 Lee kissed his wife as he always did and began making his rounds in Chase
did and began making his rounds in Chase
did and began making his rounds in Chase City Virginia he was a businessman and
City Virginia he was a businessman and
City Virginia he was a businessman and the father of five girls and five boys
the father of five girls and five boys
the father of five girls and five boys mr. Mills was very outspoken about the
mr. Mills was very outspoken about the
mr. Mills was very outspoken about the plight of black and brown people and he
plight of black and brown people and he
plight of black and brown people and he refused to remain being treated as
refused to remain being treated as
refused to remain being treated as though he were only three-fifths a
though he were only three-fifths a
though he were only three-fifths a person this raised eyebrows in the white
person this raised eyebrows in the white
person this raised eyebrows in the white community down in southern Virginia and
community down in southern Virginia and
community down in southern Virginia and although warned about his discourse he
although warned about his discourse he
although warned about his discourse he remained absolutely steadfast in his
remained absolutely steadfast in his
remained absolutely steadfast in his beliefs so that day morning turned into
beliefs so that day morning turned into
beliefs so that day morning turned into afternoon afternoon turned into evening
afternoon afternoon turned into evening
afternoon afternoon turned into evening and evening completely melted away into
and evening completely melted away into
and evening completely melted away into the darkness naturally his wife became
the darkness naturally his wife became
the darkness naturally his wife became worried she finally breathed a sigh of
worried she finally breathed a sigh of
worried she finally breathed a sigh of relief when she heard the familiar
relief when she heard the familiar
relief when she heard the familiar whinny of his horse
whinny of his horse
whinny of his horse her husband was home but much to her
her husband was home but much to her
her husband was home but much to her horror and much to her dismay she came
horror and much to her dismay she came
horror and much to her dismay she came outside to greet a corpse my
outside to greet a corpse my
outside to greet a corpse my grandfather’s horse jumped during
grandfather’s horse jumped during
grandfather’s horse jumped during thunder and lightning his foot was stuck
thunder and lightning his foot was stuck
thunder and lightning his foot was stuck in the stirrup and he was dragged home
in the stirrup and he was dragged home
in the stirrup and he was dragged home to his death naturally news spread very
to his death naturally news spread very
to his death naturally news spread very quickly in town the next day and so it
quickly in town the next day and so it
quickly in town the next day and so it was noted in the death report that
was noted in the death report that
was noted in the death report that accidental death had killed my
accidental death had killed my
accidental death had killed my grandfather
grandfather
grandfather however the deep furrows in his neck
however the deep furrows in his neck
however the deep furrows in his neck indicated that foul play was at hand
indicated that foul play was at hand
indicated that foul play was at hand loyd Mills my maternal grandfather was
loyd Mills my maternal grandfather was
loyd Mills my maternal grandfather was murdered
murdered
murdered specifically lynched
so is this perspective about his death
so is this perspective about his death valid or is it just a mere pigment that
valid or is it just a mere pigment that
valid or is it just a mere pigment that colors the mind about this particular
colors the mind about this particular
colors the mind about this particular situation what is racism its bias
situation what is racism its bias
situation what is racism its bias prejudice and discrimination based on
prejudice and discrimination based on
prejudice and discrimination based on the belief that there are biological
the belief that there are biological
the belief that there are biological differences in and among people its
differences in and among people its
differences in and among people its social actions political systems that
social actions political systems that
social actions political systems that rank one race as superior and another as
rank one race as superior and another as
rank one race as superior and another as inferior racism also purports that
inferior racism also purports that
inferior racism also purports that people should be treated differently and
people should be treated differently and
people should be treated differently and afforded particular privileges then
afforded particular privileges then
afforded particular privileges then there the more subtle acts of racism
stereotypes media portrayal historical
stereotypes media portrayal historical institutional and even socio-political
institutional and even socio-political
institutional and even socio-political social stratification in my humble
social stratification in my humble
social stratification in my humble opinion racism whether blatant or subtle
opinion racism whether blatant or subtle
opinion racism whether blatant or subtle causes significant dialogue and debate
causes significant dialogue and debate
causes significant dialogue and debate historically and contemporarily this
historically and contemporarily this
historically and contemporarily this Hatfield and McCoy feud has emerged when
Hatfield and McCoy feud has emerged when
Hatfield and McCoy feud has emerged when people talk about race you have one
people talk about race you have one
people talk about race you have one group emphatically and unequivocally
group emphatically and unequivocally
group emphatically and unequivocally saying that a particular event or action
saying that a particular event or action
saying that a particular event or action has occurred and it is absolutely racist
has occurred and it is absolutely racist
has occurred and it is absolutely racist yet on the other side you have another
yet on the other side you have another
yet on the other side you have another group with equal passion and equal vigor
group with equal passion and equal vigor
group with equal passion and equal vigor saying it was a coincidence in no way
saying it was a coincidence in no way
saying it was a coincidence in no way shape or form was racist so who’s more
shape or form was racist so who’s more
shape or form was racist so who’s more right or more wrong what is it Henry
right or more wrong what is it Henry
right or more wrong what is it Henry David Thoreau said it’s not what we look
David Thoreau said it’s not what we look
David Thoreau said it’s not what we look at that matters it’s what we see so I’m
at that matters it’s what we see so I’m
at that matters it’s what we see so I’m going to ask you to please direct your
going to ask you to please direct your
going to ask you to please direct your attention to the screen and I want you
attention to the screen and I want you
attention to the screen and I want you to take a mental note and I’ll give you
to take a mental note and I’ll give you
to take a mental note and I’ll give you a few seconds to look at take a mental
a few seconds to look at take a mental
a few seconds to look at take a mental note of
note of
note of every single thing that you see so what
every single thing that you see so what
every single thing that you see so what did you notice what did you see if I
did you notice what did you see if I
did you notice what did you see if I posed this question the same exact
posed this question the same exact
posed this question the same exact question to add with the same picture to
question to add with the same picture to
question to add with the same picture to a variety of individuals what they
a variety of individuals what they
a variety of individuals what they noticed would significantly vary it may
noticed would significantly vary it may
noticed would significantly vary it may align overlap or even contradict what
align overlap or even contradict what
align overlap or even contradict what you saw so what was the purpose of this
you saw so what was the purpose of this
you saw so what was the purpose of this very brief exercise it was to reiterate
very brief exercise it was to reiterate
very brief exercise it was to reiterate the fact that perception perception
the fact that perception perception
the fact that perception perception truly is in the eye of the beholder and
truly is in the eye of the beholder and
truly is in the eye of the beholder and that perception doesn’t exist on its own
that perception doesn’t exist on its own
that perception doesn’t exist on its own yet it’s created by the owner so what do
yet it’s created by the owner so what do
yet it’s created by the owner so what do I mean by that if I asked a feminist to
I mean by that if I asked a feminist to
I mean by that if I asked a feminist to view this picture she would clearly note
view this picture she would clearly note
view this picture she would clearly note that the male is sitting at the head of
that the male is sitting at the head of
that the male is sitting at the head of the table and although there are three
the table and although there are three
the table and although there are three males and three females why is it that a
males and three females why is it that a
males and three females why is it that a man always has to be in charge the
man always has to be in charge the
man always has to be in charge the sociologists might know interactions and
sociologists might know interactions and
sociologists might know interactions and behaviors of this particular group of
behaviors of this particular group of
behaviors of this particular group of individuals and take a look at the
individuals and take a look at the
individuals and take a look at the culture the social organizations or
culture the social organizations or
culture the social organizations or prophecies that they are involved in the
prophecies that they are involved in the
prophecies that they are involved in the civil rights activist and I will say
civil rights activist and I will say
civil rights activist and I will say what I notice first about this picture
what I notice first about this picture
what I notice first about this picture is why is the only character in this
is why is the only character in this
is why is the only character in this picture who has tint to their skin
picture who has tint to their skin
picture who has tint to their skin sitting alone in a completely different
sitting alone in a completely different
sitting alone in a completely different chair and that white privilege bias and
chair and that white privilege bias and
chair and that white privilege bias and segregation is completely evident in
segregation is completely evident in
segregation is completely evident in this picture again mere pigments of the
this picture again mere pigments of the
this picture again mere pigments of the imagination what I’m suggesting to you
imagination what I’m suggesting to you
imagination what I’m suggesting to you is that we must shift the paradigm
is that we must shift the paradigm
is that we must shift the paradigm because when we talk about race it’s
because when we talk about race it’s
because when we talk about race it’s usually judgemental and it either has
usually judgemental and it either has
usually judgemental and it either has merit or fault what I’m submitting to
merit or fault what I’m submitting to
merit or fault what I’m submitting to you today is that we need to really take
you today is that we need to really take
you today is that we need to really take a closer look at what is behind the
a closer look at what is behind the
a closer look at what is behind the beliefs and the attitudes relative to
beliefs and the attitudes relative to
beliefs and the attitudes relative to race so you might ask me well how do we
race so you might ask me well how do we
race so you might ask me well how do we do that
do that
do that how do we get there first it’s important
how do we get there first it’s important
how do we get there first it’s important to take a look inside of yourself we all
to take a look inside of yourself we all
to take a look inside of yourself we all have things that we get completely
have things that we get completely
have things that we get completely disgusted about with other people we
disgusted about with other people we
disgusted about with other people we have absolutes we have non-negotiables
have absolutes we have non-negotiables
have absolutes we have non-negotiables that lead and guide our daily
that lead and guide our daily
that lead and guide our daily interactions but in my opinion when we
interactions but in my opinion when we
interactions but in my opinion when we take a closer look at what’s deep down
take a closer look at what’s deep down
take a closer look at what’s deep down inside it helps us to have a better
inside it helps us to have a better
inside it helps us to have a better understanding of how we interact with
understanding of how we interact with
understanding of how we interact with the world the second thing is to
the world the second thing is to
the world the second thing is to participate in courageous conversations
participate in courageous conversations
participate in courageous conversations and to capitalize on teachable moments
and to capitalize on teachable moments
and to capitalize on teachable moments so here where is where some offense may
so here where is where some offense may
so here where is where some offense may come into play I used to get extremely
come into play I used to get extremely
come into play I used to get extremely irritated when white people would ask me
irritated when white people would ask me
irritated when white people would ask me what I call dumb questions so when the
what I call dumb questions so when the
what I call dumb questions so when the summertime comes and the Sun comes out
lastly when that happens does your skin
lastly when that happens does your skin get darker or does it get lighter I was
get darker or does it get lighter I was
get darker or does it get lighter I was asked that the summer while on vacation
asked that the summer while on vacation
asked that the summer while on vacation [Music]
[Music]
[Music] lastly your hair changes quite a bit
lastly your hair changes quite a bit
lastly your hair changes quite a bit sometimes it’s short sometimes it’s long
sometimes it’s short sometimes it’s long
sometimes it’s short sometimes it’s long is it real can I touch it do you wash it
is it real can I touch it do you wash it
is it real can I touch it do you wash it and then lastly and this is where the
and then lastly and this is where the
and then lastly and this is where the lean in occurs and it becomes more of a
lean in occurs and it becomes more of a
lean in occurs and it becomes more of a hushed tone so less is it true that once
hushed tone so less is it true that once
hushed tone so less is it true that once you go black you never go back
so I’ve matured over time when I’ve been
so I’ve matured over time when I’ve been asked these questions and others and I’m
asked these questions and others and I’m
asked these questions and others and I’m able to approach it from a place of not
able to approach it from a place of not
able to approach it from a place of not being defensive but one that educates
being defensive but one that educates
being defensive but one that educates and informs and digs deeper lastly we
and informs and digs deeper lastly we
and informs and digs deeper lastly we must put ourselves in uncomfortable
must put ourselves in uncomfortable
must put ourselves in uncomfortable situations when is the last time that
situations when is the last time that
situations when is the last time that you were in a space that was completely
you were in a space that was completely
you were in a space that was completely unfamiliar to you I know that it’s so
unfamiliar to you I know that it’s so
unfamiliar to you I know that it’s so easy to hang out with people who look
easy to hang out with people who look
easy to hang out with people who look like us who think like us because I tend
like us who think like us because I tend
like us who think like us because I tend to do that but we have to step outside
to do that but we have to step outside
to do that but we have to step outside of our racial comfort zones and mix with
of our racial comfort zones and mix with
of our racial comfort zones and mix with other people who are different from us
other people who are different from us
other people who are different from us try attending a cultural event try
try attending a cultural event try
try attending a cultural event try immersing yourself in a different
immersing yourself in a different
immersing yourself in a different environment do something uncommon
seventy-seven years ago on the day of
seventy-seven years ago on the day of love Valentine’s Day mr. Lloyd Mills
love Valentine’s Day mr. Lloyd Mills
love Valentine’s Day mr. Lloyd Mills spoke his truth and he paid the ultimate
spoke his truth and he paid the ultimate
spoke his truth and he paid the ultimate price with his life I did not have the
price with his life I did not have the
price with his life I did not have the opportunity to grow and learn from him
opportunity to grow and learn from him
opportunity to grow and learn from him that opportunity was stolen from me
that opportunity was stolen from me
that opportunity was stolen from me because of hatred because of fear and
because of hatred because of fear and
because of hatred because of fear and because of ignorance talking about
because of ignorance talking about
because of ignorance talking about racism is tough challenging systems and
racism is tough challenging systems and
racism is tough challenging systems and structures that are seeped and privilege
structures that are seeped and privilege
structures that are seeped and privilege are extremely difficult and
are extremely difficult and
are extremely difficult and uncomfortable but is extremely necessary
uncomfortable but is extremely necessary
uncomfortable but is extremely necessary now you may think that I’m just this
now you may think that I’m just this
now you may think that I’m just this angry angry black woman with a chip on
angry angry black woman with a chip on
angry angry black woman with a chip on her shoulder because of my family
her shoulder because of my family
her shoulder because of my family history or because of my personal and
history or because of my personal and
history or because of my personal and professional experiences but racism and
professional experiences but racism and
professional experiences but racism and race relations are at a precipice in a
race relations are at a precipice in a
race relations are at a precipice in a recent Gallup poll 46% of Americans
recent Gallup poll 46% of Americans
recent Gallup poll 46% of Americans indicated that race relations are either
indicated that race relations are either
indicated that race relations are either somewhat bad or very bad
somewhat bad or very bad
somewhat bad or very bad so I’m asking you to flip the script
so I’m asking you to flip the script
so I’m asking you to flip the script today and take and make the steps
today and take and make the steps
today and take and make the steps towards understanding information
towards understanding information
towards understanding information seeking and truly holding your own
seeking and truly holding your own
seeking and truly holding your own mirror up to nature but you’re going to
mirror up to nature but you’re going to
mirror up to nature but you’re going to have to be strong enough you’re going to
have to be strong enough you’re going to
have to be strong enough you’re going to have to be bold enough to leave your
have to be bold enough to leave your
have to be bold enough to leave your environmental your physical your
environmental your physical your
environmental your physical your psychological spiritual and even dare I
psychological spiritual and even dare I
psychological spiritual and even dare I say political comfort zones you can no
say political comfort zones you can no
say political comfort zones you can no longer wait for someone else to do it
longer wait for someone else to do it
longer wait for someone else to do it please rise from your luxurious
please rise from your luxurious
please rise from your luxurious complacency and do something now I’m a
complacency and do something now I’m a
complacency and do something now I’m a realist and I know that I can’t do
realist and I know that I can’t do
realist and I know that I can’t do everything but I can do something and I
everything but I can do something and I
everything but I can do something and I refuse to let what I cannot do interfere
refuse to let what I cannot do interfere
refuse to let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do so I close by posing
with what I can do so I close by posing
with what I can do so I close by posing three simple questions for you to
three simple questions for you to
three simple questions for you to cogitate and hopefully hopefully act
cogitate and hopefully hopefully act
cogitate and hopefully hopefully act upon if not us then who if not right now
upon if not us then who if not right now
upon if not us then who if not right now then when and if not here then where I
then when and if not here then where I
then when and if not here then where I beg of you I beseech you to please not
beg of you I beseech you to please not
beg of you I beseech you to please not let Lloyd Mills my grandfather’s death
let Lloyd Mills my grandfather’s death
let Lloyd Mills my grandfather’s death be in vain
be in vain
be in vain don’t let him become a pigment of your
don’t let him become a pigment of your
don’t let him become a pigment of your imagination the journey of a thousand
imagination the journey of a thousand
imagination the journey of a thousand miles yet begins with a single step
miles yet begins with a single step
miles yet begins with a single step it’s completely up to you
”
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