I grew up in garden Arkansas a small town with just over 2700 people I had a
town with just over 2700 people I had a
town with just over 2700 people I had a happy life until a defining event
happy life until a defining event
happy life until a defining event occurred during my senior year of high
occurred during my senior year of high
occurred during my senior year of high school
school
school I had the great highest grade point
I had the great highest grade point
I had the great highest grade point average in my graduating class so I was
average in my graduating class so I was
average in my graduating class so I was slated to be the valedictorian
slated to be the valedictorian
slated to be the valedictorian the first valedictorian since
the first valedictorian since
the first valedictorian since integrations of our school but for some
integrations of our school but for some
integrations of our school but for some that could not be because a black person
that could not be because a black person
that could not be because a black person could not be higher than a white person
could not be higher than a white person
could not be higher than a white person there was school board members and some
there was school board members and some
there was school board members and some influential community members who had
influential community members who had
influential community members who had gotten together over a course of years
gotten together over a course of years
gotten together over a course of years to devise a plan so that I wouldn’t be
to devise a plan so that I wouldn’t be
to devise a plan so that I wouldn’t be named but a white student would I found
named but a white student would I found
named but a white student would I found out about that from one of my oldest
out about that from one of my oldest
out about that from one of my oldest friends in the high school we had been
friends in the high school we had been
friends in the high school we had been friends since elementary school and she
friends since elementary school and she
friends since elementary school and she told me so what would a child do go home
told me so what would a child do go home
told me so what would a child do go home and tell your parent I went home and
and tell your parent I went home and
and tell your parent I went home and told my mother who happened to be a
told my mother who happened to be a
told my mother who happened to be a teacher in their same district and
teacher in their same district and
teacher in their same district and instead of telling me it would be okay
instead of telling me it would be okay
instead of telling me it would be okay she put herself at risk she hired an
she put herself at risk she hired an
she put herself at risk she hired an attorney and she’s threatened to sue the
attorney and she’s threatened to sue the
attorney and she’s threatened to sue the school district at the end of it all
school district at the end of it all
school district at the end of it all after a very emotional school board
after a very emotional school board
after a very emotional school board meeting where I was made the middle of
meeting where I was made the middle of
meeting where I was made the middle of the controversy even though I had done
the controversy even though I had done
the controversy even though I had done nothing wrong but my work in Excel
nothing wrong but my work in Excel
nothing wrong but my work in Excel I was named valedictorian but it shifted
I was named valedictorian but it shifted
I was named valedictorian but it shifted me I would no longer be the same
me I would no longer be the same
me I would no longer be the same although I had never been naive I’d
although I had never been naive I’d
although I had never been naive I’d never had been treated in such a hurtful
never had been treated in such a hurtful
never had been treated in such a hurtful in traumatic manner I decided I didn’t
in traumatic manner I decided I didn’t
in traumatic manner I decided I didn’t ever want anyone to ever feel that way
ever want anyone to ever feel that way
ever want anyone to ever feel that way because of something that I did so I
because of something that I did so I
because of something that I did so I wanted to be part of the solution and be
wanted to be part of the solution and be
wanted to be part of the solution and be positive change in any community I lived
positive change in any community I lived
positive change in any community I lived in as I moved through the world and
in as I moved through the world and
in as I moved through the world and became an adult
became an adult
became an adult I kept that with me in 1994 I moved to
I kept that with me in 1994 I moved to
I kept that with me in 1994 I moved to Portland to be closer to my family at
Portland to be closer to my family at
Portland to be closer to my family at that point I had a daughter and my
that point I had a daughter and my
that point I had a daughter and my parents had moved out here and I wanted
parents had moved out here and I wanted
parents had moved out here and I wanted her to have that same intergenerational
her to have that same intergenerational
her to have that same intergenerational connection that I had with my parent
connection that I had with my parent
connection that I had with my parent grandparents and my great grandmother so
grandparents and my great grandmother so
grandparents and my great grandmother so I thought I’d give Portland a try when I
I thought I’d give Portland a try when I
I thought I’d give Portland a try when I moved here people weren’t honest about
moved here people weren’t honest about
moved here people weren’t honest about the lack of diversity but no one could
the lack of diversity but no one could
the lack of diversity but no one could tell me why so I decided I’d educate
tell me why so I decided I’d educate
tell me why so I decided I’d educate myself I’d go to the Oregon Historical
myself I’d go to the Oregon Historical
myself I’d go to the Oregon Historical Society I’d read books I talked to
Society I’d read books I talked to
Society I’d read books I talked to people and I figure out why it was so so
people and I figure out why it was so so
people and I figure out why it was so so understanding the good and the bad and
understanding the good and the bad and
understanding the good and the bad and even though I felt welcome here I still
even though I felt welcome here I still
even though I felt welcome here I still wasn’t sure that I wanted to plant roots
wasn’t sure that I wanted to plant roots
wasn’t sure that I wanted to plant roots here instead of going to a more diverse
here instead of going to a more diverse
here instead of going to a more diverse and progressive City in 1999
and progressive City in 1999
and progressive City in 1999 specifically on April 22nd Oregon did
specifically on April 22nd Oregon did
specifically on April 22nd Oregon did something that most other states have
something that most other states have
something that most other states have never done it acknowledged it’s racist
never done it acknowledged it’s racist
never done it acknowledged it’s racist discriminatory history by having a day
discriminatory history by having a day
discriminatory history by having a day of acknowledgement at the State Capitol
of acknowledgement at the State Capitol
of acknowledgement at the State Capitol I went along with 800 800 other people
I went along with 800 800 other people
I went along with 800 800 other people to watch this resolution be passed and
to watch this resolution be passed and
to watch this resolution be passed and signed and become an incredible part of
signed and become an incredible part of
signed and become an incredible part of history during that day of
history during that day of
history during that day of acknowledgement the resolution removed
acknowledgement the resolution removed
acknowledgement the resolution removed language that prevented blacks and other
language that prevented blacks and other
language that prevented blacks and other groups from living in this state it was
groups from living in this state it was
groups from living in this state it was interesting because a hundred and fifty
interesting because a hundred and fifty
interesting because a hundred and fifty years plus in 1840 the exclusionary Act
years plus in 1840 the exclusionary Act
years plus in 1840 the exclusionary Act of Oregon was passed they prevented
of Oregon was passed they prevented
of Oregon was passed they prevented blacks from leaving in the state so I
blacks from leaving in the state so I
blacks from leaving in the state so I began to have a multitude of emotions
began to have a multitude of emotions
began to have a multitude of emotions and I started remembering how I felt
and I started remembering how I felt
and I started remembering how I felt when everything was happening to me and
when everything was happening to me and
when everything was happening to me and Gurdon and I said okay things are
Gurdon and I said okay things are
Gurdon and I said okay things are getting better but there’s a lot more
getting better but there’s a lot more
getting better but there’s a lot more work to do so I said let me
work to do so I said let me
work to do so I said let me part of it I’ve been doing dialogues and
part of it I’ve been doing dialogues and
part of it I’ve been doing dialogues and trying to bring people together across
trying to bring people together across
trying to bring people together across differences ever since I’ve been in
differences ever since I’ve been in
differences ever since I’ve been in Oregon but I said I’m gonna lean in a
Oregon but I said I’m gonna lean in a
Oregon but I said I’m gonna lean in a little bit more to that so 20 years
little bit more to that so 20 years
little bit more to that so 20 years later I’m still doing the work and I see
later I’m still doing the work and I see
later I’m still doing the work and I see that while we’ve made some progress
that while we’ve made some progress
that while we’ve made some progress there’s still a lot of work to do all we
there’s still a lot of work to do all we
there’s still a lot of work to do all we have to do is see what’s happening in
have to do is see what’s happening in
have to do is see what’s happening in the country today with the violent
the country today with the violent
the country today with the violent protests and the mass shootings we can’t
protests and the mass shootings we can’t
protests and the mass shootings we can’t help but feel unsafe I don’t know about
help but feel unsafe I don’t know about
help but feel unsafe I don’t know about you but I’m feeling sad and I’m weary
you but I’m feeling sad and I’m weary
you but I’m feeling sad and I’m weary people are walking around in their
people are walking around in their
people are walking around in their cocoons
cocoons
cocoons of privilege fear shame de sisse ties
of privilege fear shame de sisse ties
of privilege fear shame de sisse ties ation and they’re not being connected to
ation and they’re not being connected to
ation and they’re not being connected to one another we can’t even see each other
one another we can’t even see each other
one another we can’t even see each other I walk past people all the time every
I walk past people all the time every
I walk past people all the time every day in and out and I say hello they kind
day in and out and I say hello they kind
day in and out and I say hello they kind of jump they’re surprised I saw them
of jump they’re surprised I saw them
of jump they’re surprised I saw them they didn’t necessarily see me I think
they didn’t necessarily see me I think
they didn’t necessarily see me I think that’s a problem we have to see each
that’s a problem we have to see each
that’s a problem we have to see each other we have to acknowledge that
other we have to acknowledge that
other we have to acknowledge that violence poverty and lack of access to
violence poverty and lack of access to
violence poverty and lack of access to education housing health more health
education housing health more health
education housing health more health care and other systemic barriers are
care and other systemic barriers are
care and other systemic barriers are fracturing in our country and destroying
fracturing in our country and destroying
fracturing in our country and destroying our shared humanity we have to stand up
our shared humanity we have to stand up
our shared humanity we have to stand up to the divisive rhetoric that is coming
to the divisive rhetoric that is coming
to the divisive rhetoric that is coming out on a regular basis consistently
out on a regular basis consistently
out on a regular basis consistently letting us know that it is okay to
letting us know that it is okay to
letting us know that it is okay to demean and demonize people who don’t
demean and demonize people who don’t
demean and demonize people who don’t look like you I stand here and say it’s
look like you I stand here and say it’s
look like you I stand here and say it’s not okay
[Music]
[Music] we all have a responsibility to move to
we all have a responsibility to move to
we all have a responsibility to move to some collective awareness and start
some collective awareness and start
some collective awareness and start fighting things that are happening in
fighting things that are happening in
fighting things that are happening in our country it’s not enough to have
our country it’s not enough to have
our country it’s not enough to have these conversations internally or maybe
these conversations internally or maybe
these conversations internally or maybe in small groups that oh my gosh did you
in small groups that oh my gosh did you
in small groups that oh my gosh did you see that media attention where on one
see that media attention where on one
see that media attention where on one station people who are finding food and
station people who are finding food and
station people who are finding food and shelter during the hurricane are seen as
shelter during the hurricane are seen as
shelter during the hurricane are seen as survivors but gosh if you look at the
survivors but gosh if you look at the
survivors but gosh if you look at the footage on another one and then on
footage on another one and then on
footage on another one and then on another station there are people of
another station there are people of
another station there are people of color that calling them looters and
color that calling them looters and
color that calling them looters and refugees how can you be a refugee in
refugees how can you be a refugee in
refugees how can you be a refugee in your own country you can’t so you need
your own country you can’t so you need
your own country you can’t so you need to start questioning your sources of
to start questioning your sources of
to start questioning your sources of information how you interact with people
information how you interact with people
information how you interact with people when and why you feel you want to speak
when and why you feel you want to speak
when and why you feel you want to speak up expand those sources of information
up expand those sources of information
up expand those sources of information so that you won’t fall into what so many
so that you won’t fall into what so many
so that you won’t fall into what so many people fell into doing the recent
people fell into doing the recent
people fell into doing the recent political leads in our country the
political leads in our country the
political leads in our country the confirmation bias you have to move and
confirmation bias you have to move and
confirmation bias you have to move and stand and be bridges of understanding we
stand and be bridges of understanding we
stand and be bridges of understanding we need powerful discourse because
need powerful discourse because
need powerful discourse because discourse is an important thread in the
discourse is an important thread in the
discourse is an important thread in the fabric of our democracy it is important
fabric of our democracy it is important
fabric of our democracy it is important that we have those conversations we need
that we have those conversations we need
that we have those conversations we need to return to a level of civility have
to return to a level of civility have
to return to a level of civility have some integrity and then move to a higher
some integrity and then move to a higher
some integrity and then move to a higher level of listening understanding and
level of listening understanding and
level of listening understanding and respecting we have to see the links
respecting we have to see the links
respecting we have to see the links between the marginalization of people
between the marginalization of people
between the marginalization of people capitalism and everything in between we
capitalism and everything in between we
capitalism and everything in between we need to understand that inequality is
need to understand that inequality is
need to understand that inequality is not merely a problem of individual
not merely a problem of individual
not merely a problem of individual actions but is a consequence of
actions but is a consequence of
actions but is a consequence of institutions and social structures we
institutions and social structures we
institutions and social structures we got to stay awake
now I want you to understand that I have
now I want you to understand that I have a person of privilege as it was
a person of privilege as it was
a person of privilege as it was described as I came out but I can tell
described as I came out but I can tell
described as I came out but I can tell you that my privilege changes depending
you that my privilege changes depending
you that my privilege changes depending on where I am in my day job I have some
on where I am in my day job I have some
on where I am in my day job I have some power and privilege and influence
power and privilege and influence
power and privilege and influence depending on who the person is in the
depending on who the person is in the
depending on who the person is in the black community same can be true but let
black community same can be true but let
black community same can be true but let me step out of those courthouse steps
me step out of those courthouse steps
me step out of those courthouse steps and start going home not so much out of
and start going home not so much out of
and start going home not so much out of matter of fact maybe not at all I’m a
matter of fact maybe not at all I’m a
matter of fact maybe not at all I’m a black woman with all the stereotypes
black woman with all the stereotypes
black woman with all the stereotypes attached now that’s maybe what they
attached now that’s maybe what they
attached now that’s maybe what they think I reject that I am a beautiful
think I reject that I am a beautiful
think I reject that I am a beautiful human that has much to give
but I take that understanding and move
but I take that understanding and move in and out of the world I’ve been
in and out of the world I’ve been
in and out of the world I’ve been stopped by the police and when I was
stopped by the police and when I was
stopped by the police and when I was stopped they were like do you know why
stopped they were like do you know why
stopped they were like do you know why you would stop no I don’t know why I
you would stop no I don’t know why I
you would stop no I don’t know why I would stop because I had done anything
would stop because I had done anything
would stop because I had done anything wrong but I could tell you a lot of
wrong but I could tell you a lot of
wrong but I could tell you a lot of reasons why I was stopped because I
reasons why I was stopped because I
reasons why I was stopped because I think this is a pretext but I know that
think this is a pretext but I know that
think this is a pretext but I know that would be a problem so I learned how to
would be a problem so I learned how to
would be a problem so I learned how to as so many people have taught me how to
as so many people have taught me how to
as so many people have taught me how to survive the insult to live to fight and
survive the insult to live to fight and
survive the insult to live to fight and so I’m encouraging you to be awake and I
so I’m encouraging you to be awake and I
so I’m encouraging you to be awake and I want you to be awake by doing this
want you to be awake by doing this
want you to be awake by doing this a actively listen for understanding
a actively listen for understanding
a actively listen for understanding w-will early engaging in actions which
w-will early engaging in actions which
w-will early engaging in actions which are open hearts and minds a act in a
are open hearts and minds a act in a
are open hearts and minds a act in a respectful way tap into the humanity of
respectful way tap into the humanity of
respectful way tap into the humanity of everyone who comes before you k-keep
everyone who comes before you k-keep
everyone who comes before you k-keep judgments out of what you do resist that
judgments out of what you do resist that
judgments out of what you do resist that temptation resist that natural
temptation resist that natural
temptation resist that natural inclination to step back lean in II
engage in a way where you can create
engage in a way where you can create bonds and develop solutions our world is
bonds and develop solutions our world is
bonds and develop solutions our world is dependent upon it put all that together
dependent upon it put all that together
dependent upon it put all that together a w a ke spells awake I want you to stay
a w a ke spells awake I want you to stay
a w a ke spells awake I want you to stay awake I want you to stay awake because
awake I want you to stay awake because
awake I want you to stay awake because our collective conscience is dependent
our collective conscience is dependent
our collective conscience is dependent upon it we have to start being truth
upon it we have to start being truth
upon it we have to start being truth tell us we can’t pick and choose the
tell us we can’t pick and choose the
tell us we can’t pick and choose the part of the truth we like we have to
part of the truth we like we have to
part of the truth we like we have to address all of it the good the bad the
address all of it the good the bad the
address all of it the good the bad the ugly whatever we have to address that
ugly whatever we have to address that
ugly whatever we have to address that because otherwise we can’t move forward
because otherwise we can’t move forward
because otherwise we can’t move forward and without addressing what’s wrong we
and without addressing what’s wrong we
and without addressing what’s wrong we can’t be better we can’t build
can’t be better we can’t build
can’t be better we can’t build I don’t want you to keep focusing on the
I don’t want you to keep focusing on the
I don’t want you to keep focusing on the negative I want you to focus on words
negative I want you to focus on words
negative I want you to focus on words such as include invite invest initiate
such as include invite invest initiate
such as include invite invest initiate innovate inspire because by doing so
innovate inspire because by doing so
innovate inspire because by doing so you’re making the invisible visible
you’re making the invisible visible
you’re making the invisible visible and you’re creating the world that we
and you’re creating the world that we
and you’re creating the world that we need it to be not just that we want it
need it to be not just that we want it
need it to be not just that we want it to be I am very proud to be American not
to be I am very proud to be American not
to be I am very proud to be American not because of what other people have told
because of what other people have told
because of what other people have told me but because I believe America belongs
me but because I believe America belongs
me but because I believe America belongs to all of us and not just a select few
to all of us and not just a select few
to all of us and not just a select few and I don’t know about you but I’m not
and I don’t know about you but I’m not
and I don’t know about you but I’m not letting anyone define my America like I
letting anyone define my America like I
letting anyone define my America like I wouldn’t let anybody find define me I
wouldn’t let anybody find define me I
wouldn’t let anybody find define me I think what we need to do is really start
think what we need to do is really start
think what we need to do is really start talking about how we’re going to do this
talking about how we’re going to do this
talking about how we’re going to do this it’s time to move beyond feelings and
it’s time to move beyond feelings and
it’s time to move beyond feelings and move into action I think we need to have
move into action I think we need to have
move into action I think we need to have open hearts clarity of purpose and step
open hearts clarity of purpose and step
open hearts clarity of purpose and step into the uncomfortable I think it is
into the uncomfortable I think it is
into the uncomfortable I think it is time for us to believe once we believe
time for us to believe once we believe
time for us to believe once we believe then we lead we must lead so I want to
then we lead we must lead so I want to
then we lead we must lead so I want to leave with you this poem that was
leave with you this poem that was
leave with you this poem that was written by a local person in Portland
written by a local person in Portland
written by a local person in Portland her name is Shamika Owens and she wrote
her name is Shamika Owens and she wrote
her name is Shamika Owens and she wrote this for the black women for peace
this for the black women for peace
this for the black women for peace organization P protect the liberties of
organization P protect the liberties of
organization P protect the liberties of others as well as myself II educate
others as well as myself II educate
others as well as myself II educate myself so I can be the best I can be a
myself so I can be the best I can be a
myself so I can be the best I can be a actively listen to understand not to
actively listen to understand not to
actively listen to understand not to judge see choose grace when I have the
judge see choose grace when I have the
judge see choose grace when I have the opportunity to take offense
opportunity to take offense
opportunity to take offense II extend myself to others and expect
II extend myself to others and expect
II extend myself to others and expect nothing in return when you put all of
nothing in return when you put all of
nothing in return when you put all of that together it spells peace because I
that together it spells peace because I
that together it spells peace because I can tell you once you stay awake you do
can tell you once you stay awake you do
can tell you once you stay awake you do the work now gonna tell you it’s perfect
the work now gonna tell you it’s perfect
the work now gonna tell you it’s perfect you’re gonna be tired you’re gonna be
you’re gonna be tired you’re gonna be
you’re gonna be tired you’re gonna be exhausted but you can pick yourself back
exhausted but you can pick yourself back
exhausted but you can pick yourself back up and continue the work because once
up and continue the work because once
up and continue the work because once you see what is being beautifully
you see what is being beautifully
you see what is being beautifully created you get encouraged I believe
created you get encouraged I believe
created you get encouraged I believe that we need to stay awake so that we
that we need to stay awake so that we
that we need to stay awake so that we can have peace so I say to you peace
can have peace so I say to you peace
can have peace so I say to you peace blessings and love
blessings and love
blessings and love [Applause]
”
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