[Music] once upon a time there was a sweet girl
once upon a time there was a sweet girl
once upon a time there was a sweet girl of only 13 who spotted a young man of 16
of only 13 who spotted a young man of 16
of only 13 who spotted a young man of 16 it was love at first sight because with
it was love at first sight because with
it was love at first sight because with one glance she knew that this was a man
one glance she knew that this was a man
one glance she knew that this was a man she was going to marry
she was going to marry
she was going to marry she was so certain that she proclaimed
she was so certain that she proclaimed
she was so certain that she proclaimed this news to her mother just moments
this news to her mother just moments
this news to her mother just moments after it seven years later her prophecy
after it seven years later her prophecy
after it seven years later her prophecy came true by that time though the young
came true by that time though the young
came true by that time though the young man was an officer in the Air Force and
man was an officer in the Air Force and
man was an officer in the Air Force and the young girl now a woman a junior at
the young girl now a woman a junior at
the young girl now a woman a junior at Rutgers University they had a small
Rutgers University they had a small
Rutgers University they had a small window to tie the knot before he was
window to tie the knot before he was
window to tie the knot before he was stationed in Great Falls Montana and
stationed in Great Falls Montana and
stationed in Great Falls Montana and they made another big leap leaving the
they made another big leap leaving the
they made another big leap leaving the home they both knew him East Coast for
home they both knew him East Coast for
home they both knew him East Coast for the wide open plains of Big Sky Country
the wide open plains of Big Sky Country
the wide open plains of Big Sky Country unfortunately there was a housing
unfortunately there was a housing
unfortunately there was a housing shortage on the Air Force Base so they
shortage on the Air Force Base so they
shortage on the Air Force Base so they had to find something else after dozens
had to find something else after dozens
had to find something else after dozens of calls and appointments to see vacant
of calls and appointments to see vacant
of calls and appointments to see vacant apartments the strangest thing kept
apartments the strangest thing kept
apartments the strangest thing kept happening as soon as they would show up
happening as soon as they would show up
happening as soon as they would show up to see the available apartment it was
to see the available apartment it was
to see the available apartment it was miraculously occupied and that is
miraculously occupied and that is
miraculously occupied and that is because they look like me the young
because they look like me the young
because they look like me the young couple in that story are my parents
couple in that story are my parents
couple in that story are my parents and while the year was 1967 and we
and while the year was 1967 and we
and while the year was 1967 and we weren’t quite in post-racial America it
weren’t quite in post-racial America it
weren’t quite in post-racial America it was obvious that the reason nobody they
was obvious that the reason nobody they
was obvious that the reason nobody they nobody would rent to them and why they
nobody would rent to them and why they
nobody would rent to them and why they had to live apart for an entire year on
had to live apart for an entire year on
had to live apart for an entire year on opposite sides of the country was
opposite sides of the country was
opposite sides of the country was because they were black now had they
because they were black now had they
because they were black now had they sounded black they might not have had
sounded black they might not have had
sounded black they might not have had the roller coaster ride of being excited
the roller coaster ride of being excited
the roller coaster ride of being excited about finding an apartment only to have
about finding an apartment only to have
about finding an apartment only to have the wet down of being turned away
the wet down of being turned away
the wet down of being turned away because when they showed up they weren’t
because when they showed up they weren’t
because when they showed up they weren’t what was expected so you see I come by
what was expected so you see I come by
what was expected so you see I come by my nondescript voice honestly I also
my nondescript voice honestly I also
my nondescript voice honestly I also don’t have a black scent as I college
don’t have a black scent as I college
don’t have a black scent as I college [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] this has been both an attribute and a
this has been both an attribute and a
this has been both an attribute and a detriment to my personal and
detriment to my personal and
detriment to my personal and professional life I’ve been teased by
professional life I’ve been teased by
professional life I’ve been teased by friends family members even lovers about
friends family members even lovers about
friends family members even lovers about the fact that I don’t sound black see I
the fact that I don’t sound black see I
the fact that I don’t sound black see I grew up in a place called Plano Texas a
grew up in a place called Plano Texas a
grew up in a place called Plano Texas a place that happens to have the ethnic
place that happens to have the ethnic
place that happens to have the ethnic diversity of Sweden this is me in second
diversity of Sweden this is me in second
diversity of Sweden this is me in second grade fourth grade can you spot me I
grade fourth grade can you spot me I
grade fourth grade can you spot me I played soccer take your time take your
played soccer take your time take your
played soccer take your time take your time I know it’s difficult and sixth
time I know it’s difficult and sixth
time I know it’s difficult and sixth grade this continued on for the rest of
grade this continued on for the rest of
grade this continued on for the rest of my high school career actually even
my high school career actually even
my high school career actually even college my senior year of high school I
college my senior year of high school I
college my senior year of high school I start in an all-white production of the
start in an all-white production of the
start in an all-white production of the play a Raisin in the Sun she guesses on
play a Raisin in the Sun she guesses on
play a Raisin in the Sun she guesses on who the raisin was my real life
who the raisin was my real life
who the raisin was my real life experiences became material for my
experiences became material for my
experiences became material for my comedy and that is because that’s what
comedy and that is because that’s what
comedy and that is because that’s what comedy does it that’s the genius of it
comedy does it that’s the genius of it
comedy does it that’s the genius of it it takes something that’s painful and
it takes something that’s painful and
it takes something that’s painful and turns it on its head so that it takes
turns it on its head so that it takes
turns it on its head so that it takes the sting out of it now I didn’t realize
the sting out of it now I didn’t realize
the sting out of it now I didn’t realize my voice was that unusual until high
my voice was that unusual until high
my voice was that unusual until high school when I transferred school so I
school when I transferred school so I
school when I transferred school so I would have access to a media class but
would have access to a media class but
would have access to a media class but also to more african-american students
after I transfer schools
after I transfer schools nothing could have prepared me for
nothing could have prepared me for
nothing could have prepared me for having the black students tell me that I
having the black students tell me that I
having the black students tell me that I didn’t belong with them because I didn’t
didn’t belong with them because I didn’t
didn’t belong with them because I didn’t sound like them and I didn’t talk like
sound like them and I didn’t talk like
sound like them and I didn’t talk like them that’s when I realized that I was
them that’s when I realized that I was
them that’s when I realized that I was different I was unique I was kind of out
different I was unique I was kind of out
different I was unique I was kind of out of the box if you will now here’s the
of the box if you will now here’s the
of the box if you will now here’s the thing about stand-up comedy stand-up
thing about stand-up comedy stand-up
thing about stand-up comedy stand-up comedians were unusual I know this may
comedians were unusual I know this may
comedians were unusual I know this may come as a shock to you
come as a shock to you
come as a shock to you but we’re like the island of misfit toys
but we’re like the island of misfit toys
but we’re like the island of misfit toys okay each one of us has something unique
okay each one of us has something unique
okay each one of us has something unique something different some little quirk
but we all know that we belong because
but we all know that we belong because of that and I think that’s the one thing
of that and I think that’s the one thing
of that and I think that’s the one thing that kept me going for the longest time
that kept me going for the longest time
that kept me going for the longest time I thought that my voice was going to be
I thought that my voice was going to be
I thought that my voice was going to be a detriment to me and it was it was
a detriment to me and it was it was
a detriment to me and it was it was comedy Booker’s agents casting directors
comedy Booker’s agents casting directors
comedy Booker’s agents casting directors they had no idea what to do with me
they had no idea what to do with me
they had no idea what to do with me they were like sure she’s funny but
they were like sure she’s funny but
they were like sure she’s funny but where do we plug her in she doesn’t
where do we plug her in she doesn’t
where do we plug her in she doesn’t she’s not loud she’s not brash she
she’s not loud she’s not brash she
she’s not loud she’s not brash she doesn’t sound like everyone else for
doesn’t sound like everyone else for
doesn’t sound like everyone else for seeing on TV she certainly doesn’t roll
seeing on TV she certainly doesn’t roll
seeing on TV she certainly doesn’t roll her neck and have that sassy attitude
what do we do with her that was always
what do we do with her that was always the question what do we do with her and
the question what do we do with her and
the question what do we do with her and forever that seemed like the question
forever that seemed like the question
forever that seemed like the question until one day I received a call out of
until one day I received a call out of
until one day I received a call out of the blue a call from a comedy Booker who
the blue a call from a comedy Booker who
the blue a call from a comedy Booker who I’d worked was years ago
I’d worked was years ago
I’d worked was years ago asking me if I’d be interested in a
asking me if I’d be interested in a
asking me if I’d be interested in a radio possibly television opportunity
radio possibly television opportunity
radio possibly television opportunity well any comic instantly says yes to
well any comic instantly says yes to
well any comic instantly says yes to that then he told me who that position
that then he told me who that position
that then he told me who that position would be with my response was
would be with my response was
would be with my response was nappy-headed hos Don Imus this was a
nappy-headed hos Don Imus this was a
nappy-headed hos Don Imus this was a huge huge thing to contemplate
huge huge thing to contemplate
huge huge thing to contemplate I was curious but reluctant but I also
I was curious but reluctant but I also
I was curious but reluctant but I also knew that this was a chance to be
knew that this was a chance to be
knew that this was a chance to be something and do something big so I
something and do something big so I
something and do something big so I agreed to meet with a man who at the
agreed to meet with a man who at the
agreed to meet with a man who at the time was one of the most reviled men in
time was one of the most reviled men in
time was one of the most reviled men in the media because of the disparaging
the media because of the disparaging
the media because of the disparaging remarks he made about the Rutgers
remarks he made about the Rutgers
remarks he made about the Rutgers women’s basketball team we both knew I
women’s basketball team we both knew I
women’s basketball team we both knew I was perfect for the job
was perfect for the job
was perfect for the job it was the perfect scenario I was black
it was the perfect scenario I was black
it was the perfect scenario I was black not too black right he needed a smart
not too black right he needed a smart
not too black right he needed a smart funny intelligent woman of color who
funny intelligent woman of color who
funny intelligent woman of color who could do comedy talk politics and news
could do comedy talk politics and news
could do comedy talk politics and news of the day I needed a new vehicle to be
of the day I needed a new vehicle to be
of the day I needed a new vehicle to be a beacon of light and truth something
a beacon of light and truth something
a beacon of light and truth something that I’d always dreamed of being and
that I’d always dreamed of being and
that I’d always dreamed of being and doing so when we met I knew with
doing so when we met I knew with
doing so when we met I knew with everything in my being that this was
everything in my being that this was
everything in my being that this was something I was supposed to do eight
something I was supposed to do eight
something I was supposed to do eight months after being fired from CB s radio
months after being fired from CB s radio
months after being fired from CB s radio for racially charged remark Don Imus is
for racially charged remark Don Imus is
for racially charged remark Don Imus is back on the air he says he has learned
back on the air he says he has learned
back on the air he says he has learned his lesson I must returned this morning
his lesson I must returned this morning
his lesson I must returned this morning with a new cast which includes two
with a new cast which includes two
with a new cast which includes two African American comedians Eyewitness
African American comedians Eyewitness
African American comedians Eyewitness News reporter Tim Fleischer was there
News reporter Tim Fleischer was there
News reporter Tim Fleischer was there for Imus his first day back hi banana a
for Imus his first day back hi banana a
for Imus his first day back hi banana a fresh start for Don Imus this time on a
fresh start for Don Imus this time on a
fresh start for Don Imus this time on a different radio station diversifying the
different radio station diversifying the
different radio station diversifying the staff Imus is now joined by comedian
staff Imus is now joined by comedian
staff Imus is now joined by comedian careth Foster I didn’t feel he was
careth Foster I didn’t feel he was
careth Foster I didn’t feel he was sincere and his efforts to turn a very
sincere and his efforts to turn a very
sincere and his efforts to turn a very awful negative situation into a positive
awful negative situation into a positive
awful negative situation into a positive one one that um you know creates a
one one that um you know creates a
one one that um you know creates a dialogue as well about race I wouldn’t
dialogue as well about race I wouldn’t
dialogue as well about race I wouldn’t be here for the first time ever there
be here for the first time ever there
be here for the first time ever there was stress in my family there was
was stress in my family there was
was stress in my family there was division my mother was strongly opposed
division my mother was strongly opposed
division my mother was strongly opposed for all of the motherly reasons and my
for all of the motherly reasons and my
for all of the motherly reasons and my father supported me and the cause I had
father supported me and the cause I had
father supported me and the cause I had no idea how anyone else was going to be
no idea how anyone else was going to be
no idea how anyone else was going to be view me it was probably one of the most
view me it was probably one of the most
view me it was probably one of the most stressful situations I had ever been in
stressful situations I had ever been in
stressful situations I had ever been in was I going to be seen as a sellout or
was I going to be seen as a sellout or
was I going to be seen as a sellout or as a champion all I knew was that in my
as a champion all I knew was that in my
as a champion all I knew was that in my heart of hearts it was the right thing
heart of hearts it was the right thing
heart of hearts it was the right thing to do about a year later
my naivete wore off it wore off the
my naivete wore off it wore off the moment he said to me Karras you’re too
moment he said to me Karras you’re too
moment he said to me Karras you’re too nice and you don’t make fun of black
nice and you don’t make fun of black
nice and you don’t make fun of black people I think a dagger through the
people I think a dagger through the
people I think a dagger through the heart would have been less painful it
heart would have been less painful it
heart would have been less painful it became clear that I was being asked to
became clear that I was being asked to
became clear that I was being asked to do the unthinkable my boss had grown
do the unthinkable my boss had grown
do the unthinkable my boss had grown comfortable in his newfound position on
comfortable in his newfound position on
comfortable in his newfound position on the airwaves the angst and spotlight of
the airwaves the angst and spotlight of
the airwaves the angst and spotlight of not having to prove he wasn’t racist had
not having to prove he wasn’t racist had
not having to prove he wasn’t racist had waned it had gone unsaid for months but
waned it had gone unsaid for months but
waned it had gone unsaid for months but was inferred that I was to be the voice
was inferred that I was to be the voice
was inferred that I was to be the voice that he couldn’t be I could not I would
that he couldn’t be I could not I would
that he couldn’t be I could not I would not the black girl magic was gone and so
not the black girl magic was gone and so
not the black girl magic was gone and so was i I left the Imus in the Morning
was i I left the Imus in the Morning
was i I left the Imus in the Morning Show deflated defeated dismissed feeling
Show deflated defeated dismissed feeling
Show deflated defeated dismissed feeling as though I’d failed myself my family my
as though I’d failed myself my family my
as though I’d failed myself my family my gender my race this was my opportunity
gender my race this was my opportunity
gender my race this was my opportunity to represent the black community and I
to represent the black community and I
to represent the black community and I did and I did it well this was also my
did and I did it well this was also my
did and I did it well this was also my chance to have had a voice with his
chance to have had a voice with his
chance to have had a voice with his audience a group of people who had
audience a group of people who had
audience a group of people who had probably never interacted with anyone
probably never interacted with anyone
probably never interacted with anyone like me before so when everything came
like me before so when everything came
like me before so when everything came crashing down it took me months to
crashing down it took me months to
crashing down it took me months to recover it took me months to understand
recover it took me months to understand
recover it took me months to understand that there was nothing wrong with me and
that there was nothing wrong with me and
that there was nothing wrong with me and that’s the thing it’s almost never you
after some time I came to realize that I
after some time I came to realize that I still needed to use my talent my humor
still needed to use my talent my humor
still needed to use my talent my humor my voice for good and that has
my voice for good and that has
my voice for good and that has manifested in an incredible speaking
manifested in an incredible speaking
manifested in an incredible speaking career which has landed me and of all
career which has landed me and of all
career which has landed me and of all places at TEDx
y’all here’s the thing sometimes you
y’all here’s the thing sometimes you choose risk and sometimes risk is thrust
choose risk and sometimes risk is thrust
choose risk and sometimes risk is thrust upon you there is power in being
upon you there is power in being
upon you there is power in being yourself in a world that wants and
yourself in a world that wants and
yourself in a world that wants and expects something else being true to you
expects something else being true to you
expects something else being true to you is quite possibly the greatest risk you
is quite possibly the greatest risk you
is quite possibly the greatest risk you will ever take and the most daring one
will ever take and the most daring one
will ever take and the most daring one so never let anyone deny dismiss or
so never let anyone deny dismiss or
so never let anyone deny dismiss or squander the power of your voice honor
squander the power of your voice honor
squander the power of your voice honor the power of your voice because it’s
the power of your voice because it’s
the power of your voice because it’s yours it’s unique and you never know who
yours it’s unique and you never know who
yours it’s unique and you never know who might be listening or whose life it will
might be listening or whose life it will
might be listening or whose life it will change including your own
change including your own
change including your own [Applause]
”
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