so interesting story I was on Twitter a couple weeks ago and I learned that
couple weeks ago and I learned that
couple weeks ago and I learned that racism has returned I know I thought it
racism has returned I know I thought it
racism has returned I know I thought it kind of took a break but this guy was
kind of took a break but this guy was
kind of took a break but this guy was telling me that racism is popular again
telling me that racism is popular again
telling me that racism is popular again I mean I guess in the 60s it kind of
I mean I guess in the 60s it kind of
I mean I guess in the 60s it kind of hung out like 50 years and then on
hung out like 50 years and then on
hung out like 50 years and then on election night looking kind of bad on
election night looking kind of bad on
election night looking kind of bad on poll p.m. mmm 4 p.m. is looking a little
poll p.m. mmm 4 p.m. is looking a little
poll p.m. mmm 4 p.m. is looking a little bit better and then by midnight racism
bit better and then by midnight racism
bit better and then by midnight racism was here it was alive
was here it was alive
was here it was alive racism who has a here where hey isn’t it
racism who has a here where hey isn’t it
racism who has a here where hey isn’t it was born it was born on election night
was born it was born on election night
was born it was born on election night right no racism never left it’s always
right no racism never left it’s always
right no racism never left it’s always been here five days ago five years ago
been here five days ago five years ago
been here five days ago five years ago over 50 years ago it’s never left and
over 50 years ago it’s never left and
over 50 years ago it’s never left and yet it feels like racism seems worse why
yet it feels like racism seems worse why
yet it feels like racism seems worse why is that what’s what’s going on why is it
is that what’s what’s going on why is it
is that what’s what’s going on why is it that whenever I go on Twitter or
that whenever I go on Twitter or
that whenever I go on Twitter or Facebook I’m always reading articles
Facebook I’m always reading articles
Facebook I’m always reading articles about an elementary school or a train
about an elementary school or a train
about an elementary school or a train being vandalized with swastikas or hear
being vandalized with swastikas or hear
being vandalized with swastikas or hear about a white supremacist who murders
about a white supremacist who murders
about a white supremacist who murders someone because they’re black or because
someone because they’re black or because
someone because they’re black or because they’re brown happen over here in New
they’re brown happen over here in New
they’re brown happen over here in New York what’s going on why does it seem
York what’s going on why does it seem
York what’s going on why does it seem like we’re just more racist is there a a
like we’re just more racist is there a a
like we’re just more racist is there a a thing going on is there a person who’s
thing going on is there a person who’s
thing going on is there a person who’s responsible what is going on who do we
responsible what is going on who do we
responsible what is going on who do we point the finger dear it’s me it’s
point the finger dear it’s me it’s
point the finger dear it’s me it’s actually me I am the reason why it seems
actually me I am the reason why it seems
actually me I am the reason why it seems like we’re more racist it’s my fault but
like we’re more racist it’s my fault but
like we’re more racist it’s my fault but it’s also their fault and it’s also a
it’s also their fault and it’s also a
it’s also their fault and it’s also a lot of your fault
lot of your fault
lot of your fault and if the world seems more racist and
and if the world seems more racist and
and if the world seems more racist and that means that I’m actually doing my
that means that I’m actually doing my
that means that I’m actually doing my job as a social activist our
job as a social activist our
job as a social activist our responsibility is to educate you and
responsibility is to educate you and
responsibility is to educate you and teach you about racism so you know that
teach you about racism so you know that
teach you about racism so you know that it is everywhere so you know that it
it is everywhere so you know that it
it is everywhere so you know that it exists in these microaggressions at work
exists in these microaggressions at work
exists in these microaggressions at work or at school so you know that it is
or at school so you know that it is
or at school so you know that it is systemic it is everywhere it is constant
systemic it is everywhere it is constant
systemic it is everywhere it is constant but what’s the deal why does it still
but what’s the deal why does it still
but what’s the deal why does it still seem like racism is worse what what’s
seem like racism is worse what what’s
seem like racism is worse what what’s going on well a lot of is because we
going on well a lot of is because we
going on well a lot of is because we compare our knowledge of racism to
compare our knowledge of racism to
compare our knowledge of racism to happen in the 1960s civil rights
happen in the 1960s civil rights
happen in the 1960s civil rights movement and that is sort of our gauge
movement and that is sort of our gauge
movement and that is sort of our gauge of what racism looks like but what if
of what racism looks like but what if
of what racism looks like but what if we’re wrong about that what if we have a
we’re wrong about that what if we have a
we’re wrong about that what if we have a distorted perception of racism in the
distorted perception of racism in the
distorted perception of racism in the 60s let me explain so there is a scene
60s let me explain so there is a scene
60s let me explain so there is a scene it’s photo very famous photo happened in
it’s photo very famous photo happened in
it’s photo very famous photo happened in Birmingham Alabama and you see this
Birmingham Alabama and you see this
Birmingham Alabama and you see this gentleman being attacked by police dogs
gentleman being attacked by police dogs
gentleman being attacked by police dogs and grabbed by an officer now if you are
and grabbed by an officer now if you are
and grabbed by an officer now if you are an activist and if you wanted people to
an activist and if you wanted people to
an activist and if you wanted people to understand that this happened that this
understand that this happened that this
understand that this happened that this existed first you’d have to be present
existed first you’d have to be present
existed first you’d have to be present you’d have to watch the whole thing take
you’d have to watch the whole thing take
you’d have to watch the whole thing take in all of the information who was
in all of the information who was
in all of the information who was involved what were their names what
involved what were their names what
involved what were their names what street were you on what time
street were you on what time
street were you on what time what did they say before gathering all
what did they say before gathering all
what did they say before gathering all that you rush over to the nearest
that you rush over to the nearest
that you rush over to the nearest payphone or an office phone or a
payphone or an office phone or a
payphone or an office phone or a residence and you make a call to a civil
residence and you make a call to a civil
residence and you make a call to a civil rights organization but if you were
rights organization but if you were
rights organization but if you were black and you got directed to a
black and you got directed to a
black and you got directed to a switchboard operator if they knew that
switchboard operator if they knew that
switchboard operator if they knew that you were black if they knew you’re
you were black if they knew you’re
you were black if they knew you’re trying to contact a civil rights
trying to contact a civil rights
trying to contact a civil rights organization they could hang up your
organization they could hang up your
organization they could hang up your call wouldn’t go through so that didn’t
call wouldn’t go through so that didn’t
call wouldn’t go through so that didn’t work so we had to find a different
work so we had to find a different
work so we had to find a different option so they’d go and go through what
option so they’d go and go through what
option so they’d go and go through what was called a Watts line a wide-area
was called a Watts line a wide-area
was called a Watts line a wide-area telephone service line and it would
telephone service line and it would
telephone service line and it would allow them to circum
allow them to circum
allow them to circum and the switchboard operator so they can
and the switchboard operator so they can
and the switchboard operator so they can make long-distance calls directly to the
make long-distance calls directly to the
make long-distance calls directly to the organization boom
organization boom
organization boom you’re patched in right now when you’re
you’re patched in right now when you’re
you’re patched in right now when you’re on the call you have to relay all that
on the call you have to relay all that
on the call you have to relay all that information fresh right after you’ve
information fresh right after you’ve
information fresh right after you’ve seen it now the person on the other line
seen it now the person on the other line
seen it now the person on the other line is writing as fast as they could about
is writing as fast as they could about
is writing as fast as they could about everything that is going on they can be
everything that is going on they can be
everything that is going on they can be taking dozens of calls all right now
taking dozens of calls all right now
taking dozens of calls all right now after they’ll take that story that Watts
after they’ll take that story that Watts
after they’ll take that story that Watts report and they’ll send it out to
report and they’ll send it out to
report and they’ll send it out to different publications different
different publications different
different publications different newspapers to see if they’d be
newspapers to see if they’d be
newspapers to see if they’d be interested in talking about this well
interested in talking about this well
interested in talking about this well unfortunately even if they were to go
unfortunately even if they were to go
unfortunately even if they were to go ahead and get that report out they
ahead and get that report out they
ahead and get that report out they didn’t always publish it luckily this
didn’t always publish it luckily this
didn’t always publish it luckily this photo over here you know it because it
photo over here you know it because it
photo over here you know it because it was actually published in the New York
was actually published in the New York
was actually published in the New York Times but if it wasn’t published in the
Times but if it wasn’t published in the
Times but if it wasn’t published in the New York Times you probably wouldn’t
New York Times you probably wouldn’t
New York Times you probably wouldn’t have heard about it it was published in
have heard about it it was published in
have heard about it it was published in the Birmingham News
the Birmingham News
the Birmingham News it’s a couple minutes away but it wasn’t
it’s a couple minutes away but it wasn’t
it’s a couple minutes away but it wasn’t even on the front cover it was in page
even on the front cover it was in page
even on the front cover it was in page four or page six and even if journalists
four or page six and even if journalists
four or page six and even if journalists got to these stories a lot of them who
got to these stories a lot of them who
got to these stories a lot of them who were white didn’t understand racism so
were white didn’t understand racism so
were white didn’t understand racism so when they were talking about it
when they were talking about it
when they were talking about it they didn’t add those context of why it
they didn’t add those context of why it
they didn’t add those context of why it was racist what happened so it was
was racist what happened so it was
was racist what happened so it was already diluted so what we already know
already diluted so what we already know
already diluted so what we already know about racism in the civil rights
about racism in the civil rights
about racism in the civil rights movement is just a fragment of what
movement is just a fragment of what
movement is just a fragment of what actually happened imagine the thousands
actually happened imagine the thousands
actually happened imagine the thousands of instances just like that that didn’t
of instances just like that that didn’t
of instances just like that that didn’t go through that weren’t published and if
go through that weren’t published and if
go through that weren’t published and if it wasn’t published oh no one knew
it wasn’t published oh no one knew
it wasn’t published oh no one knew contrast that to today a lot of you are
contrast that to today a lot of you are
contrast that to today a lot of you are witnessing unfiltered racism the process
witnessing unfiltered racism the process
witnessing unfiltered racism the process is so much more simple we don’t have to
is so much more simple we don’t have to
is so much more simple we don’t have to worry about raises switchboard operators
worry about raises switchboard operators
worry about raises switchboard operators or publications not telling everybody
or publications not telling everybody
or publications not telling everybody about what’s going on in their
about what’s going on in their
about what’s going on in their neighborhood all you have to do is grab
neighborhood all you have to do is grab
neighborhood all you have to do is grab out your phone send out a text record a
out your phone send out a text record a
out your phone send out a text record a video take a photo or you can go ahead
video take a photo or you can go ahead
video take a photo or you can go ahead and stream it Facebook live or periscope
and stream it Facebook live or periscope
and stream it Facebook live or periscope everyone knows what is going on you’re
everyone knows what is going on you’re
everyone knows what is going on you’re having an altercation with a police
having an altercation with a police
having an altercation with a police officer or someone at a department store
officer or someone at a department store
officer or someone at a department store do you know it the minute that it
do you know it the minute that it
do you know it the minute that it happens and if where it doesn’t get out
happens and if where it doesn’t get out
happens and if where it doesn’t get out then you can contact me or you can
then you can contact me or you can
then you can contact me or you can contact any of the other civil rights
contact any of the other civil rights
contact any of the other civil rights organizations and civil rights pages and
organizations and civil rights pages and
organizations and civil rights pages and we specialize in talking about race and
we specialize in talking about race and
we specialize in talking about race and all these social issues I’m sure you’re
all these social issues I’m sure you’re
all these social issues I’m sure you’re familiar with them you’ve heard of Shaun
familiar with them you’ve heard of Shaun
familiar with them you’ve heard of Shaun King DeRay McKesson Kat Blaque
King DeRay McKesson Kat Blaque
King DeRay McKesson Kat Blaque Franchesca Ramsey and we’re all part of
Franchesca Ramsey and we’re all part of
Franchesca Ramsey and we’re all part of this network of social activists so when
this network of social activists so when
this network of social activists so when that person sends out that video we all
that person sends out that video we all
that person sends out that video we all receive it we all talk about it we
receive it we all talk about it we
receive it we all talk about it we dissect it everyone chimes in who do you
dissect it everyone chimes in who do you
dissect it everyone chimes in who do you know do you know the person in the video
know do you know the person in the video
know do you know the person in the video do you know their parents can you
do you know their parents can you
do you know their parents can you contact them do you know any lawyers do
contact them do you know any lawyers do
contact them do you know any lawyers do you know any politicians could we get in
you know any politicians could we get in
you know any politicians could we get in contact with the news what is going on
contact with the news what is going on
contact with the news what is going on so the community as itself they are all
so the community as itself they are all
so the community as itself they are all contributing to filling in those holes
contributing to filling in those holes
contributing to filling in those holes so now you are seeing a much more
so now you are seeing a much more
so now you are seeing a much more complete image of a racism is racism
complete image of a racism is racism
complete image of a racism is racism seems like it’s worse but it’s not it’s
seems like it’s worse but it’s not it’s
seems like it’s worse but it’s not it’s just more visible because within the
just more visible because within the
just more visible because within the activist community we’re talking about
activist community we’re talking about
activist community we’re talking about it’s conversations are out in the open
it’s conversations are out in the open
it’s conversations are out in the open the problem with the civil rights
the problem with the civil rights
the problem with the civil rights movement of the 1960s is that they were
movement of the 1960s is that they were
movement of the 1960s is that they were severely hindered by the communication
severely hindered by the communication
severely hindered by the communication and technology at the time they had to
and technology at the time they had to
and technology at the time they had to go through these different channels that
go through these different channels that
go through these different channels that would discriminate against them so their
would discriminate against them so their
would discriminate against them so their stories wouldn’t be heard if you were a
stories wouldn’t be heard if you were a
stories wouldn’t be heard if you were a MLK or Malcolm X chances are no one
MLK or Malcolm X chances are no one
MLK or Malcolm X chances are no one really care but now that activism is
really care but now that activism is
really care but now that activism is more accessible it is also incredibly
more accessible it is also incredibly
more accessible it is also incredibly inclusive so we’re hearing from
inclusive so we’re hearing from
inclusive so we’re hearing from different groups beyond just the black
different groups beyond just the black
different groups beyond just the black and the white dynamic who are talking
and the white dynamic who are talking
and the white dynamic who are talking about race so now we’re understanding
about race so now we’re understanding
about race so now we’re understanding okay so there are indigenous communities
okay so there are indigenous communities
okay so there are indigenous communities that are experiencing racism on the
that are experiencing racism on the
that are experiencing racism on the reservation we’re hearing and we’re
reservation we’re hearing and we’re
reservation we’re hearing and we’re seeing streams of them protests at
seeing streams of them protests at
seeing streams of them protests at Standing Rock we know that this is going
Standing Rock we know that this is going
Standing Rock we know that this is going on with them
on with them
on with them and Asian communities and Latino
and Asian communities and Latino
and Asian communities and Latino communities extend beyond that and
communities extend beyond that and
communities extend beyond that and you’re talking about racism that
you’re talking about racism that
you’re talking about racism that intersects with LGBTQ communities we can
intersects with LGBTQ communities we can
intersects with LGBTQ communities we can see and we can hear stories in their
see and we can hear stories in their
see and we can hear stories in their experiences about how transphobia
experiences about how transphobia
experiences about how transphobia intersects with racism again
intersects with racism again
intersects with racism again broadening our scope what of what racism
broadening our scope what of what racism
broadening our scope what of what racism actually is what it means take it a step
actually is what it means take it a step
actually is what it means take it a step further you’re talking about the
further you’re talking about the
further you’re talking about the different levels the different layers of
different levels the different layers of
different levels the different layers of racism now you’re also talking about
racism now you’re also talking about
racism now you’re also talking about disability rights and how that has an
disability rights and how that has an
disability rights and how that has an intersection with racism and when
intersection with racism and when
intersection with racism and when activism is conclusive all these
activism is conclusive all these
activism is conclusive all these different groups can come in and share
different groups can come in and share
different groups can come in and share their experiences you’re also including
their experiences you’re also including
their experiences you’re also including undocumented citizens or those who are
undocumented citizens or those who are
undocumented citizens or those who are Muslim are those who are afraid to be
Muslim are those who are afraid to be
Muslim are those who are afraid to be out in public they now have a safe space
out in public they now have a safe space
out in public they now have a safe space online to talk about it everyone is
online to talk about it everyone is
online to talk about it everyone is chipping in everyone is filling in these
chipping in everyone is filling in these
chipping in everyone is filling in these holes these little puzzle pieces so that
holes these little puzzle pieces so that
holes these little puzzle pieces so that we know that racism is everywhere and
we know that racism is everywhere and
we know that racism is everywhere and when your activism is accessible when
when your activism is accessible when
when your activism is accessible when activism is inclusive it is also
activism is inclusive it is also
activism is inclusive it is also incredibly effective think about it how
incredibly effective think about it how
incredibly effective think about it how many of you know about the phrase people
many of you know about the phrase people
many of you know about the phrase people of color how many of you know what
of color how many of you know what
of color how many of you know what whitewashing is how many of you know
whitewashing is how many of you know
whitewashing is how many of you know what white supremacy is did you know a
what white supremacy is did you know a
what white supremacy is did you know a couple years ago probably not know
couple years ago probably not know
couple years ago probably not know because we are having these
because we are having these
because we are having these conversations and because they are real
some of the other things that the
some of the other things that the activist community have done in the past
activist community have done in the past
activist community have done in the past two to four years just recently Donald
two to four years just recently Donald
two to four years just recently Donald Trump passed an executive action to ban
Trump passed an executive action to ban
Trump passed an executive action to ban Muslims from seven different countries
Muslims from seven different countries
Muslims from seven different countries what happened as an activist community
what happened as an activist community
what happened as an activist community we connected we organized we went to the
we connected we organized we went to the
we connected we organized we went to the nearest airport and we decided that
nearest airport and we decided that
nearest airport and we decided that ain’t going to happen
ain’t going to happen
ain’t going to happen you protested we got loud lawyers
you protested we got loud lawyers
you protested we got loud lawyers translators they all donated their
translators they all donated their
translators they all donated their services and the ACLU eventually came in
services and the ACLU eventually came in
services and the ACLU eventually came in said you know what we got this took in
said you know what we got this took in
said you know what we got this took in the court and they won the first time
the court and they won the first time
the court and they won the first time another instance of our progress
another instance of our progress
another instance of our progress happened last year a female black
happened last year a female black
happened last year a female black activist trended the Tag Oscars so white
activist trended the Tag Oscars so white
activist trended the Tag Oscars so white because surprise all the nominees were
because surprise all the nominees were
because surprise all the nominees were unanimously white and this was a problem
unanimously white and this was a problem
unanimously white and this was a problem with representation the issue of who is
with representation the issue of who is
with representation the issue of who is selecting these nominees and why there
selecting these nominees and why there
selecting these nominees and why there weren’t more diverse members again the
weren’t more diverse members again the
weren’t more diverse members again the activist community stepped in they
activist community stepped in they
activist community stepped in they boycotted they got loud and within days
boycotted they got loud and within days
boycotted they got loud and within days the Academy came out with initiative
the Academy came out with initiative
the Academy came out with initiative that they were going to go ahead and
that they were going to go ahead and
that they were going to go ahead and make the selection process more diverse
make the selection process more diverse
make the selection process more diverse and just a couple of weeks ago if you
and just a couple of weeks ago if you
and just a couple of weeks ago if you watch the Oscars you’d know that there
watch the Oscars you’d know that there
watch the Oscars you’d know that there were 18 black nominees more than we’ve
were 18 black nominees more than we’ve
were 18 black nominees more than we’ve ever seen that’s progress and this goes
ever seen that’s progress and this goes
ever seen that’s progress and this goes beyond just these two examples you can
beyond just these two examples you can
beyond just these two examples you can see them everywhere
see them everywhere
see them everywhere we have eradicated the use of
we have eradicated the use of
we have eradicated the use of confederate flags in public spaces
confederate flags in public spaces
confederate flags in public spaces no more we’ve initiated police reform to
no more we’ve initiated police reform to
no more we’ve initiated police reform to encourage them so police have to wear
encourage them so police have to wear
encourage them so police have to wear body cameras we’ve helped to get racist
body cameras we’ve helped to get racist
body cameras we’ve helped to get racist people fired who can impact their
people fired who can impact their
people fired who can impact their clients or their associates
clients or their associates
clients or their associates so no more racist chiropractors or
so no more racist chiropractors or
so no more racist chiropractors or lawyers or owners of NBA teams no more
lawyers or owners of NBA teams no more
lawyers or owners of NBA teams no more again it’s everywhere this progress is
again it’s everywhere this progress is
again it’s everywhere this progress is everywhere and because this information
everywhere and because this information
everywhere and because this information is so accessible there is absolutely no
is so accessible there is absolutely no
is so accessible there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t be on board
reason why you shouldn’t be on board
reason why you shouldn’t be on board there is absolutely no reason why you
there is absolutely no reason why you
there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t understand that racism exists
shouldn’t understand that racism exists
shouldn’t understand that racism exists and you shouldn’t be surprised you
and you shouldn’t be surprised you
and you shouldn’t be surprised you shouldn’t think that it just became
shouldn’t think that it just became
shouldn’t think that it just became popular it’s accessible everyone can
popular it’s accessible everyone can
popular it’s accessible everyone can join in and if you do join in I would
join in and if you do join in I would
join in and if you do join in I would definitely urge you first thing is to
definitely urge you first thing is to
definitely urge you first thing is to understand that even though activism
understand that even though activism
understand that even though activism today versus the 1960s is very different
today versus the 1960s is very different
today versus the 1960s is very different there has always been one constant
there has always been one constant
there has always been one constant and it is simple fact that leadership
and it is simple fact that leadership
and it is simple fact that leadership then and today is black and until we can
then and today is black and until we can
then and today is black and until we can understand and appreciate the
understand and appreciate the
understand and appreciate the contributions the black community to
contributions the black community to
contributions the black community to civil rights we won’t have progress and
civil rights we won’t have progress and
civil rights we won’t have progress and we need to understand that we need to
we need to understand that we need to
we need to understand that we need to appreciate their efforts and we need to
appreciate their efforts and we need to
appreciate their efforts and we need to respect that their lives to in fact
respect that their lives to in fact
respect that their lives to in fact matter thank
”
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