good evening well as I take you on this last journey I’d like you to leave
last journey I’d like you to leave
last journey I’d like you to leave behind everything you came with
behind everything you came with
behind everything you came with everything you know to be true and
everything you know to be true and
everything you know to be true and embark on a journey with me now what I’m
embark on a journey with me now what I’m
embark on a journey with me now what I’m about to share with you is the story of
about to share with you is the story of
about to share with you is the story of my evolution as a person but also my
my evolution as a person but also my
my evolution as a person but also my evolution as a human being with myself
evolution as a human being with myself
evolution as a human being with myself so are you ready for the journey so
so are you ready for the journey so
so are you ready for the journey so growing up I never really thought of
growing up I never really thought of
growing up I never really thought of differences much less of them as a bad
differences much less of them as a bad
differences much less of them as a bad thing to me differences where the norm
thing to me differences where the norm
thing to me differences where the norm and perhaps the only way to achieve
and perhaps the only way to achieve
and perhaps the only way to achieve excellence now of course we say we tend
excellence now of course we say we tend
excellence now of course we say we tend to align ourselves with individuals who
to align ourselves with individuals who
to align ourselves with individuals who share things in common with us make
share things in common with us make
share things in common with us make sense but it should be on a spiritual
sense but it should be on a spiritual
sense but it should be on a spiritual level rather than on a physical one and
level rather than on a physical one and
level rather than on a physical one and at least it is for me but growing up
at least it is for me but growing up
at least it is for me but growing up this concept change for me at the young
this concept change for me at the young
this concept change for me at the young age of seven my family and I moved to
age of seven my family and I moved to
age of seven my family and I moved to the United States of America quite the
the United States of America quite the
the United States of America quite the journey where I learned to read write
journey where I learned to read write
journey where I learned to read write and literally think for myself there I
and literally think for myself there I
and literally think for myself there I learned about the importance of thinking
learned about the importance of thinking
learned about the importance of thinking and creating thoughts of my own
and creating thoughts of my own
and creating thoughts of my own the move was revolutionary to my
the move was revolutionary to my
the move was revolutionary to my character to my beliefs even to my
character to my beliefs even to my
character to my beliefs even to my manner of being but simply because I
manner of being but simply because I
manner of being but simply because I went at such a young age now it also
went at such a young age now it also
went at such a young age now it also meant that they made me aware of a
meant that they made me aware of a
meant that they made me aware of a number of different issues and things
number of different issues and things
number of different issues and things that were my issues to begin with and
that were my issues to begin with and
that were my issues to begin with and you may all be sitting here today like
you may all be sitting here today like
you may all be sitting here today like well what’s that well it was during this
well what’s that well it was during this
well what’s that well it was during this time that America taught me about
time that America taught me about
time that America taught me about differences and their negative
differences and their negative
differences and their negative implications now when I first arrived in
implications now when I first arrived in
implications now when I first arrived in America my family and I moved into a
America my family and I moved into a
America my family and I moved into a predominantly white neighborhood in
predominantly white neighborhood in
predominantly white neighborhood in scope there I was constantly told that I
scope there I was constantly told that I
scope there I was constantly told that I was different and taught how to deal
was different and taught how to deal
was different and taught how to deal with this difference but that’s just it
with this difference but that’s just it
with this difference but that’s just it I had never thought of myself as
I had never thought of myself as
I had never thought of myself as different much less of having a problem
different much less of having a problem
different much less of having a problem that I had to cope with and you may be
that I had to cope with and you may be
that I had to cope with and you may be sitting here like hmm you were African
sitting here like hmm you were African
sitting here like hmm you were African in 1999 America but it isn’t that simple
in 1999 America but it isn’t that simple
in 1999 America but it isn’t that simple take a look at the image of these two
take a look at the image of these two
take a look at the image of these two boys
boys
boys who you may have seen at the Internet
who you may have seen at the Internet
who you may have seen at the Internet most recently now they got a same
most recently now they got a same
most recently now they got a same haircut in an attempt to confuse their
haircut in an attempt to confuse their
haircut in an attempt to confuse their teacher
teacher
teacher these boys thought that by simply having
these boys thought that by simply having
these boys thought that by simply having the same haircut their teacher wouldn’t
the same haircut their teacher wouldn’t
the same haircut their teacher wouldn’t be able to tell them apart now this for
be able to tell them apart now this for
be able to tell them apart now this for me is blissful ignorance interrupting
me is blissful ignorance interrupting
me is blissful ignorance interrupting this ignorant would have been to say and
this ignorant would have been to say and
this ignorant would have been to say and of course the teacher will tell you boys
of course the teacher will tell you boys
of course the teacher will tell you boys apart your complexions are different or
apart your complexions are different or
apart your complexions are different or even naming any other difference between
even naming any other difference between
even naming any other difference between them but it was at that moment that
them but it was at that moment that
them but it was at that moment that their mother took to understanding that
their mother took to understanding that
their mother took to understanding that prejudice is something that is taught
prejudice is something that is taught
prejudice is something that is taught and quoting her she says if this isn’t
and quoting her she says if this isn’t
and quoting her she says if this isn’t proof that hate and Prejudice is
proof that hate and Prejudice is
proof that hate and Prejudice is something that is taught I don’t know
something that is taught I don’t know
something that is taught I don’t know what is so in an attempt to take you on
what is so in an attempt to take you on
what is so in an attempt to take you on the journey with me I went in googled
the journey with me I went in googled
the journey with me I went in googled some images of what 1999 America thought
some images of what 1999 America thought
some images of what 1999 America thought of Africans in general we all know that
of Africans in general we all know that
of Africans in general we all know that most of it was based on The Lion King
most of it was based on The Lion King
most of it was based on The Lion King and whatever other images of social
and whatever other images of social
and whatever other images of social media that were around at the time but
media that were around at the time but
media that were around at the time but or even any campaigns that were around
or even any campaigns that were around
or even any campaigns that were around at the time basically to help Africans
at the time basically to help Africans
at the time basically to help Africans we know that but this is my reality now
we know that but this is my reality now
we know that but this is my reality now clearly I wasn’t very stylish I know I
clearly I wasn’t very stylish I know I
clearly I wasn’t very stylish I know I had the polkadot pants weren’t very nice
had the polkadot pants weren’t very nice
had the polkadot pants weren’t very nice but you can tell that I had the very
but you can tell that I had the very
but you can tell that I had the very same basic needs met as most Americans
same basic needs met as most Americans
same basic needs met as most Americans did I had food I had shelter and I had
did I had food I had shelter and I had
did I had food I had shelter and I had clothes but if you don’t yet understand
clothes but if you don’t yet understand
clothes but if you don’t yet understand where I’m coming from ask yourself this
where I’m coming from ask yourself this
where I’m coming from ask yourself this question would you tell a five-year-old
question would you tell a five-year-old
question would you tell a five-year-old that Santa Claus is not real now
that Santa Claus is not real now
that Santa Claus is not real now obviously it sounds pretty
obviously it sounds pretty
obviously it sounds pretty straightforward no in essence it’s the
straightforward no in essence it’s the
straightforward no in essence it’s the same thing we want our children to be
same thing we want our children to be
same thing we want our children to be naive and oblivious to certain realities
naive and oblivious to certain realities
naive and oblivious to certain realities we try to preserve their innocence we
we try to preserve their innocence we
we try to preserve their innocence we want them to believe in Santa Claus and
want them to believe in Santa Claus and
want them to believe in Santa Claus and the image of Santa Claus should be right
the image of Santa Claus should be right
the image of Santa Claus should be right here my sister and I we want them to
here my sister and I we want them to
here my sister and I we want them to have imaginary
have imaginary
have imaginary friends and have imaginary tea parties
friends and have imaginary tea parties
friends and have imaginary tea parties because in essence their innocence is
because in essence their innocence is
because in essence their innocence is the most important thing to us in
the most important thing to us in
the most important thing to us in essence taking away their innocence
essence taking away their innocence
essence taking away their innocence would be somewhat callous so what I’m
would be somewhat callous so what I’m
would be somewhat callous so what I’m trying to say is that before arriving in
trying to say is that before arriving in
trying to say is that before arriving in America I grew up in the Mozambique that
America I grew up in the Mozambique that
America I grew up in the Mozambique that was rich with cultural and ethnic
was rich with cultural and ethnic
was rich with cultural and ethnic differences I was surrounded by
differences I was surrounded by
differences I was surrounded by different races and ethnicities
different races and ethnicities
different races and ethnicities I just never acknowledged them as being
I just never acknowledged them as being
I just never acknowledged them as being different to me difference was the norm
different to me difference was the norm
different to me difference was the norm in that aspect I was blissfully ignorant
in that aspect I was blissfully ignorant
in that aspect I was blissfully ignorant and it wasn’t until I moved to the
and it wasn’t until I moved to the
and it wasn’t until I moved to the United States of America and had my
United States of America and had my
United States of America and had my differences pointed out that I started
differences pointed out that I started
differences pointed out that I started to feel inferior the school and the
to feel inferior the school and the
to feel inferior the school and the students made sure to highlight my
students made sure to highlight my
students made sure to highlight my differences basically and their
differences basically and their
differences basically and their ignorance for that matter they picked on
ignorance for that matter they picked on
ignorance for that matter they picked on me for the color of my skin they picked
me for the color of my skin they picked
me for the color of my skin they picked on me for my hair they picked on me from
on me for my hair they picked on me from
on me for my hair they picked on me from my lack of english-speaking proficiency
my lack of english-speaking proficiency
my lack of english-speaking proficiency and they even picked on me for what they
and they even picked on me for what they
and they even picked on me for what they thought when you experience this for me
thought when you experience this for me
thought when you experience this for me in joining a modern-day society like
in joining a modern-day society like
in joining a modern-day society like entering a car for the first time or
entering a car for the first time or
entering a car for the first time or watching TV for the first time things
watching TV for the first time things
watching TV for the first time things that I had done my whole life and moving
that I had done my whole life and moving
that I had done my whole life and moving on on the journey that I wanted to take
on on the journey that I wanted to take
on on the journey that I wanted to take you on imagine that as you’re sitting
you on imagine that as you’re sitting
you on imagine that as you’re sitting here today someone comes up to you and
here today someone comes up to you and
here today someone comes up to you and asks you and fellas please bear with me
asks you and fellas please bear with me
asks you and fellas please bear with me but as women someone comes up to you and
but as women someone comes up to you and
but as women someone comes up to you and says listen you’re a woman and there’s
says listen you’re a woman and there’s
says listen you’re a woman and there’s nothing you can do about it and I’m
nothing you can do about it and I’m
nothing you can do about it and I’m sorry it’s a challenge but I’m here to
sorry it’s a challenge but I’m here to
sorry it’s a challenge but I’m here to help you cope with it and fellas imagine
help you cope with it and fellas imagine
help you cope with it and fellas imagine the same thing if someone said that to
the same thing if someone said that to
the same thing if someone said that to you now obviously we’re all adults we
you now obviously we’re all adults we
you now obviously we’re all adults we all have critical thinking we can simply
all have critical thinking we can simply
all have critical thinking we can simply brush off what they’re saying
brush off what they’re saying
brush off what they’re saying but I was 7 I was 7 years old and I was
but I was 7 I was 7 years old and I was
but I was 7 I was 7 years old and I was hearing this systematically every single
hearing this systematically every single
hearing this systematically every single day
day
day so naturally I began to question myself
so naturally I began to question myself
so naturally I began to question myself I questioned my looks
I questioned my looks
I questioned my looks I questioned myself I questioned
I questioned myself I questioned
I questioned myself I questioned everything and it was at that point in
everything and it was at that point in
everything and it was at that point in my life that my part my father played a
my life that my part my father played a
my life that my part my father played a pivotal role in my life
pivotal role in my life
pivotal role in my life he worked tirelessly perhaps and aware
he worked tirelessly perhaps and aware
he worked tirelessly perhaps and aware to keep me from conforming to the norm
to keep me from conforming to the norm
to keep me from conforming to the norm and that basically entailed just telling
and that basically entailed just telling
and that basically entailed just telling me every single day how special I was it
me every single day how special I was it
me every single day how special I was it meant that he reminded me day in and day
meant that he reminded me day in and day
meant that he reminded me day in and day out that American reality wasn’t my
out that American reality wasn’t my
out that American reality wasn’t my reality and of course I didn’t
reality and of course I didn’t
reality and of course I didn’t understand it all I wanted was to have
understand it all I wanted was to have
understand it all I wanted was to have my hair straight like all the other
my hair straight like all the other
my hair straight like all the other girls but today I do and for that I’ll
girls but today I do and for that I’ll
girls but today I do and for that I’ll always be thankful
so if America had never told me that I
so if America had never told me that I was different and that because of it I
was different and that because of it I
was different and that because of it I was at a disadvantage I would have never
was at a disadvantage I would have never
was at a disadvantage I would have never thought of myself as an inferior I would
thought of myself as an inferior I would
thought of myself as an inferior I would have never thought of myself at a
have never thought of myself at a
have never thought of myself at a disadvantage and this is the point when
disadvantage and this is the point when
disadvantage and this is the point when I started to notice the importance of
I started to notice the importance of
I started to notice the importance of information and years later my family
information and years later my family
information and years later my family and I moved to Vietnam we’re going back
and I moved to Vietnam we’re going back
and I moved to Vietnam we’re going back on that journey and there I had people
on that journey and there I had people
on that journey and there I had people taking unsolicited pictures of me
taking unsolicited pictures of me
taking unsolicited pictures of me touching me touching my baby brother
touching me touching my baby brother
touching me touching my baby brother because they had never seen people so
because they had never seen people so
because they had never seen people so dark putting it simply and moving on I
dark putting it simply and moving on I
dark putting it simply and moving on I went to Thailand I went study at
went to Thailand I went study at
went to Thailand I went study at Stanford International University and on
Stanford International University and on
Stanford International University and on one of the trips as we were moving from
one of the trips as we were moving from
one of the trips as we were moving from Bangkok to another province in Hua Hin
Bangkok to another province in Hua Hin
Bangkok to another province in Hua Hin our car broke down now we were about 10
our car broke down now we were about 10
our car broke down now we were about 10 people in this van so we all had to get
people in this van so we all had to get
people in this van so we all had to get out and wait for the driver to fix the
out and wait for the driver to fix the
out and wait for the driver to fix the vehicle and while we were there just
vehicle and while we were there just
vehicle and while we were there just waiting and chatting our car pulls up
waiting and chatting our car pulls up
waiting and chatting our car pulls up and a man comes off and obviously it was
and a man comes off and obviously it was
and a man comes off and obviously it was my first semester in Thailand so I
my first semester in Thailand so I
my first semester in Thailand so I didn’t speak Thai but my friend was
didn’t speak Thai but my friend was
didn’t speak Thai but my friend was there and she translated it to me
there and she translated it to me
there and she translated it to me basically the man was requesting to
basically the man was requesting to
basically the man was requesting to purchase me yeah he wanted to purchase
purchase me yeah he wanted to purchase
purchase me yeah he wanted to purchase me because he had never seen someone of
me because he had never seen someone of
me because he had never seen someone of a darker complexion than his own and now
a darker complexion than his own and now
a darker complexion than his own and now of course my friend said that he meant
of course my friend said that he meant
of course my friend said that he meant it in the best of terms but this is when
it in the best of terms but this is when
it in the best of terms but this is when I began to realize that how fundamental
I began to realize that how fundamental
I began to realize that how fundamental information sharing is so these
information sharing is so these
information sharing is so these differences in skin
differences in skin
differences in skin in hair in speech they’ve all taught me
in hair in speech they’ve all taught me
in hair in speech they’ve all taught me the importance of information sharing of
the importance of information sharing of
the importance of information sharing of self love and self-acceptance in order
self love and self-acceptance in order
self love and self-acceptance in order to help other people embrace differences
to help other people embrace differences
to help other people embrace differences as a good thing take it from me your
as a good thing take it from me your
as a good thing take it from me your self love and acceptance is your biggest
self love and acceptance is your biggest
self love and acceptance is your biggest weapon against any form of
weapon against any form of
weapon against any form of discrimination and they come in all
discrimination and they come in all
discrimination and they come in all shapes and sizes don’t take my own as
shapes and sizes don’t take my own as
shapes and sizes don’t take my own as the only source now as a part of sharing
the only source now as a part of sharing
the only source now as a part of sharing information I think one of the most
information I think one of the most
information I think one of the most important things is to actually show
important things is to actually show
important things is to actually show people so to take away from that image
people so to take away from that image
people so to take away from that image of what Africa is this is my reality
of what Africa is this is my reality
of what Africa is this is my reality this is Mozambique and this is the
this is Mozambique and this is the
this is Mozambique and this is the beautiful Mozambique this is the place
beautiful Mozambique this is the place
beautiful Mozambique this is the place that I grew up in now of course it’s
that I grew up in now of course it’s
that I grew up in now of course it’s evolved with time but my role is to
evolved with time but my role is to
evolved with time but my role is to share information as it is today so Paul
share information as it is today so Paul
share information as it is today so Paul Hudson wrote in elite magazine that
Hudson wrote in elite magazine that
Hudson wrote in elite magazine that ignorance is bliss
ignorance is bliss
ignorance is bliss knowledge is power happiness is finding
knowledge is power happiness is finding
knowledge is power happiness is finding the balance between the two now this was
the balance between the two now this was
the balance between the two now this was just the title but I got to me and I
just the title but I got to me and I
just the title but I got to me and I began to cast myself
began to cast myself
began to cast myself all sorts of questions I mean it’s a
all sorts of questions I mean it’s a
all sorts of questions I mean it’s a beautiful sentence but you start to
beautiful sentence but you start to
beautiful sentence but you start to wonder and I started to ask myself all
wonder and I started to ask myself all
wonder and I started to ask myself all sorts of questions balance well what’s
sorts of questions balance well what’s
sorts of questions balance well what’s the balance what’s the scale for this
the balance what’s the scale for this
the balance what’s the scale for this balance how much information is too much
balance how much information is too much
balance how much information is too much information how much information is not
information how much information is not
information how much information is not enough and most importantly who should
enough and most importantly who should
enough and most importantly who should have the information so in an attempt to
have the information so in an attempt to
have the information so in an attempt to decipher this to myself and I thought it
decipher this to myself and I thought it
decipher this to myself and I thought it was important to share with you is that
was important to share with you is that
was important to share with you is that there’s many different ways that we can
there’s many different ways that we can
there’s many different ways that we can perceive ignorance and information and
perceive ignorance and information and
perceive ignorance and information and there’s a very thin line between
there’s a very thin line between
there’s a very thin line between blissful ignorance and just plain
blissful ignorance and just plain
blissful ignorance and just plain ignorance but although there’s a broad
ignorance but although there’s a broad
ignorance but although there’s a broad spectrum of ways that we can approach
spectrum of ways that we can approach
spectrum of ways that we can approach this topic today with you I want to
this topic today with you I want to
this topic today with you I want to share its importance with children
share its importance with children
share its importance with children children are the key to tomorrow
children are the key to tomorrow
children are the key to tomorrow our duties are with them so as adults
our duties are with them so as adults
our duties are with them so as adults we’re all able to think critically we
we’re all able to think critically we
we’re all able to think critically we can make sound judgments we can brush
can make sound judgments we can brush
can make sound judgments we can brush off a situation when someone tells us
off a situation when someone tells us
off a situation when someone tells us something that we just don’t agree with
something that we just don’t agree with
something that we just don’t agree with but as kids we don’t have the same
but as kids we don’t have the same
but as kids we don’t have the same capacity adults are able to tell right
capacity adults are able to tell right
capacity adults are able to tell right from wrong and they’re able to hold
from wrong and they’re able to hold
from wrong and they’re able to hold their tongues when that something is not
their tongues when that something is not
their tongues when that something is not supposed to be said but till children
supposed to be said but till children
supposed to be said but till children just do it they’re said children just do
just do it they’re said children just do
just do it they’re said children just do as they see so it’s important for us to
as they see so it’s important for us to
as they see so it’s important for us to share this very same important
share this very same important
share this very same important information with our own our children
information with our own our children
information with our own our children with any one of them that surrounds us a
with any one of them that surrounds us a
with any one of them that surrounds us a similar thing is happening right now in
similar thing is happening right now in
similar thing is happening right now in Mozambique and I think by now we’ve gone
Mozambique and I think by now we’ve gone
Mozambique and I think by now we’ve gone back to Mozambique so let’s embark on
back to Mozambique so let’s embark on
back to Mozambique so let’s embark on that journey and imagine yourselves in
that journey and imagine yourselves in
that journey and imagine yourselves in Mozambique it’s a beautiful country and
Mozambique it’s a beautiful country and
Mozambique it’s a beautiful country and while we’re there we have an
while we’re there we have an
while we’re there we have an organization named lamda who basically
organization named lamda who basically
organization named lamda who basically fights for LGBTQ awareness and
fights for LGBTQ awareness and
fights for LGBTQ awareness and acceptance now let me take you back to
acceptance now let me take you back to
acceptance now let me take you back to the beginning of the story Mozambique
the beginning of the story Mozambique
the beginning of the story Mozambique has never been a country to prosecute
has never been a country to prosecute
has never been a country to prosecute anyone for homosexuality not since it to
anyone for homosexuality not since it to
anyone for homosexuality not since it to the independence we did have a law put
the independence we did have a law put
the independence we did have a law put in 1866 roughly by the colonial powers
in 1866 roughly by the colonial powers
in 1866 roughly by the colonial powers the Portuguese back in the day that
the Portuguese back in the day that
the Portuguese back in the day that basically meant they would punish anyone
basically meant they would punish anyone
basically meant they would punish anyone with hard labor who was guilty of
with hard labor who was guilty of
with hard labor who was guilty of homosexuality but since our independence
homosexuality but since our independence
homosexuality but since our independence in 1975 we simply never convicted anyone
in 1975 we simply never convicted anyone
in 1975 we simply never convicted anyone but with the increase of campaign ads
but with the increase of campaign ads
but with the increase of campaign ads from lamda with the aid of US aid I have
from lamda with the aid of US aid I have
from lamda with the aid of US aid I have witnessed an increase of harmful jokes
witnessed an increase of harmful jokes
witnessed an increase of harmful jokes and harmful behavior towards the LGBT
and harmful behavior towards the LGBT
and harmful behavior towards the LGBT community and of course it’s my
community and of course it’s my
community and of course it’s my perception but I asked yourself you this
perception but I asked yourself you this
perception but I asked yourself you this we’ve never been known to target anyone
we’ve never been known to target anyone
we’ve never been known to target anyone for whom sexuality why should we move in
for whom sexuality why should we move in
for whom sexuality why should we move in and attempt to solve a problem now much
and attempt to solve a problem now much
and attempt to solve a problem now much like myself Mozambique is a pretty young
like myself Mozambique is a pretty young
like myself Mozambique is a pretty young country
country
country like I said in 1975 and when I moved to
like I said in 1975 and when I moved to
like I said in 1975 and when I moved to the United States I was seven and in an
the United States I was seven and in an
the United States I was seven and in an attempt to perhaps avert a problem or
attempt to perhaps avert a problem or
attempt to perhaps avert a problem or solve a problem but neither Mozambique
solve a problem but neither Mozambique
solve a problem but neither Mozambique nor I had we made
nor I had we made
nor I had we made in the process of actually creating it
in the process of actually creating it
in the process of actually creating it we need to let our minds open to the
we need to let our minds open to the
we need to let our minds open to the idea that not everyone shares the same
idea that not everyone shares the same
idea that not everyone shares the same troubles as we do and we don’t have to
troubles as we do and we don’t have to
troubles as we do and we don’t have to target different communities and
target different communities and
target different communities and different people because of it we should
different people because of it we should
different people because of it we should just let things be
just let things be
just let things be let Mozambique grow at a sustainable
let Mozambique grow at a sustainable
let Mozambique grow at a sustainable pace encounter its problems as it comes
pace encounter its problems as it comes
pace encounter its problems as it comes and of course many may argue that it’s
and of course many may argue that it’s
and of course many may argue that it’s actually a good thing
actually a good thing
actually a good thing fighting LGBT awareness and promoting
fighting LGBT awareness and promoting
fighting LGBT awareness and promoting but who’s to say for now
but who’s to say for now
but who’s to say for now Zenaida machado a BBC analyst from
Zenaida machado a BBC analyst from
Zenaida machado a BBC analyst from Mozambique said and she puts it how I
Mozambique said and she puts it how I
Mozambique said and she puts it how I think precisely is that while many may
think precisely is that while many may
think precisely is that while many may be relaxed about homosexuality in
be relaxed about homosexuality in
be relaxed about homosexuality in Mozambique many see promoting gay rights
Mozambique many see promoting gay rights
Mozambique many see promoting gay rights as an attack on our cultural and
as an attack on our cultural and
as an attack on our cultural and religious practices we have no problem
religious practices we have no problem
religious practices we have no problem with them so let’s not try to fix a
with them so let’s not try to fix a
with them so let’s not try to fix a problem that we don’t have let’s not
problem that we don’t have let’s not
problem that we don’t have let’s not clean the milk before it’s even spilt
clean the milk before it’s even spilt
clean the milk before it’s even spilt it’s useless unless you’re actually
it’s useless unless you’re actually
it’s useless unless you’re actually hoping to spill the milk so let’s take a
hoping to spill the milk so let’s take a
hoping to spill the milk so let’s take a breath and try to understand what I’m
breath and try to understand what I’m
breath and try to understand what I’m trying to say because it’s a lot my
trying to say because it’s a lot my
trying to say because it’s a lot my biggest weapon against discrimination as
biggest weapon against discrimination as
biggest weapon against discrimination as I told you is my self love and
I told you is my self love and
I told you is my self love and acceptance and it’s been a journey since
acceptance and it’s been a journey since
acceptance and it’s been a journey since the first day that I moved to the United
the first day that I moved to the United
the first day that I moved to the United States I’ve grown in all shapes and
States I’ve grown in all shapes and
States I’ve grown in all shapes and forms and America has done great things
forms and America has done great things
forms and America has done great things for me it’s what has me standing here
for me it’s what has me standing here
for me it’s what has me standing here before you today
before you today
before you today it’s taught me confidence but most
it’s taught me confidence but most
it’s taught me confidence but most importantly it’s taught me to love
importantly it’s taught me to love
importantly it’s taught me to love myself and I want to share that with you
myself and I want to share that with you
myself and I want to share that with you guys today with whatever it is in life
guys today with whatever it is in life
guys today with whatever it is in life you go through look within yourselves no
you go through look within yourselves no
you go through look within yourselves no one has the power to target you for
one has the power to target you for
one has the power to target you for something you don’t accept so in perhaps
something you don’t accept so in perhaps
something you don’t accept so in perhaps what is the oldest quote or read
what is the oldest quote or read
what is the oldest quote or read original it from Thomas grey wrote an
original it from Thomas grey wrote an
original it from Thomas grey wrote an appointment 17:46 where ignorant is
appointment 17:46 where ignorant is
appointment 17:46 where ignorant is bliss it’s folly to be wise let’s
bliss it’s folly to be wise let’s
bliss it’s folly to be wise let’s preserve the innocence of our children
preserve the innocence of our children
preserve the innocence of our children let’s keep them unaware of unnecessary
let’s keep them unaware of unnecessary
let’s keep them unaware of unnecessary to unnecessary realities I can’t say
to unnecessary realities I can’t say
to unnecessary realities I can’t say what would have been of my life if I
what would have been of my life if I
what would have been of my life if I hadn’t gone through the things that I
hadn’t gone through the things that I
hadn’t gone through the things that I but we don’t all have to go through the
but we don’t all have to go through the
but we don’t all have to go through the same things so go home
same things so go home
same things so go home love your families look to your children
love your families look to your children
love your families look to your children look to any child and see them as a
look to any child and see them as a
look to any child and see them as a representation of tomorrow because the
representation of tomorrow because the
representation of tomorrow because the person standing before here today is a
person standing before here today is a
person standing before here today is a mere representation of yesterday so to
mere representation of yesterday so to
mere representation of yesterday so to wrap this up I want to leave you with a
wrap this up I want to leave you with a
wrap this up I want to leave you with a quote from a song from Whitney Houston
quote from a song from Whitney Houston
quote from a song from Whitney Houston the greatest love of all and in it she
the greatest love of all and in it she
the greatest love of all and in it she says I believe the children are our
says I believe the children are our
says I believe the children are our future teach them well and let them lead
future teach them well and let them lead
future teach them well and let them lead the way and show them all the beauty
the way and show them all the beauty
the way and show them all the beauty they possess inside now the rest of it
they possess inside now the rest of it
they possess inside now the rest of it you guys can hear for yourselves and as
you guys can hear for yourselves and as
you guys can hear for yourselves and as I leave you here today I urge you to
I leave you here today I urge you to
I leave you here today I urge you to think of the following and to carry it
think of the following and to carry it
think of the following and to carry it with you everywhere you go ask yourself
with you everywhere you go ask yourself
with you everywhere you go ask yourself this how much information is too much
this how much information is too much
this how much information is too much information and how can we keep it how
information and how can we keep it how
information and how can we keep it how can we avoid it from taking away
can we avoid it from taking away
can we avoid it from taking away childhood innocence thank you
childhood innocence thank you
childhood innocence thank you [Applause]
”
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