resist persists occupy rise up
rise up
rise up expect us do these imperatives sound
expect us do these imperatives sound
expect us do these imperatives sound familiar yes yes they are probably
familiar yes yes they are probably
familiar yes yes they are probably tattooed somewhere on my body but this
tattooed somewhere on my body but this
tattooed somewhere on my body but this that’s another talk these are the
that’s another talk these are the
that’s another talk these are the imperatives of a generation the battle
imperatives of a generation the battle
imperatives of a generation the battle cries of 21st century social movements
cries of 21st century social movements
cries of 21st century social movements they are also part of our currently
they are also part of our currently
they are also part of our currently trending hashtag culture the words that
trending hashtag culture the words that
trending hashtag culture the words that you may or may not be able to make out
you may or may not be able to make out
you may or may not be able to make out from these photos behind me are from the
from these photos behind me are from the
from these photos behind me are from the women’s March in DC this January these
women’s March in DC this January these
women’s March in DC this January these are the words that facilitate collective
are the words that facilitate collective
are the words that facilitate collective action and social change
action and social change
action and social change when invoked alongside what writer
when invoked alongside what writer
when invoked alongside what writer Rebecca Solnit caused a politics of
Rebecca Solnit caused a politics of
Rebecca Solnit caused a politics of process these words have created and
process these words have created and
process these words have created and continue to create unprecedented
continue to create unprecedented
continue to create unprecedented collective action rendering visible what
collective action rendering visible what
collective action rendering visible what are typically unnoticed cooperation and
are typically unnoticed cooperation and
are typically unnoticed cooperation and persistence the women’s March in DC and
persistence the women’s March in DC and
persistence the women’s March in DC and its sister marches all over the world
its sister marches all over the world
its sister marches all over the world and their continued pervasive efforts
and their continued pervasive efforts
and their continued pervasive efforts are a perfect example of this fellowship
are a perfect example of this fellowship
are a perfect example of this fellowship I’d like to shift emphasis from the
I’d like to shift emphasis from the
I’d like to shift emphasis from the aggregate force of these terms to be
aggregate force of these terms to be
aggregate force of these terms to be able to dissect what I think to be the
able to dissect what I think to be the
able to dissect what I think to be the most critical of all because it’s the
most critical of all because it’s the
most critical of all because it’s the single imperative that stands to
single imperative that stands to
single imperative that stands to facilitate all the rest it’s the one
facilitate all the rest it’s the one
facilitate all the rest it’s the one that catalyzes the remainder despite the
that catalyzes the remainder despite the
that catalyzes the remainder despite the context or goal without persistence
context or goal without persistence
context or goal without persistence there can be no rising up persistence
there can be no rising up persistence
there can be no rising up persistence sustains the efforts of so many in this
sustains the efforts of so many in this
sustains the efforts of so many in this era of popular resistance these are
era of popular resistance these are
era of popular resistance these are efforts that may never bear fruit in our
efforts that may never bear fruit in our
efforts that may never bear fruit in our lifetime but remember persistence is
lifetime but remember persistence is
lifetime but remember persistence is often germination for belated blooming
often germination for belated blooming
often germination for belated blooming meaning that simply demonstrating
meaning that simply demonstrating
meaning that simply demonstrating persistence becomes a trait that has
persistence becomes a trait that has
persistence becomes a trait that has legs
legs
legs don’t underestimate where it may take
don’t underestimate where it may take
don’t underestimate where it may take you so this is a picture of me when I
you so this is a picture of me when I
you so this is a picture of me when I was about 12 years old Cyrano around
was about 12 years old Cyrano around
was about 12 years old Cyrano around this time I began taking gymnastics
this time I began taking gymnastics
this time I began taking gymnastics classes with a few of my girlfriends in
classes with a few of my girlfriends in
classes with a few of my girlfriends in the neighborhood just to clue you in 12
the neighborhood just to clue you in 12
the neighborhood just to clue you in 12 years old is very old
years old is very old
years old is very old begin taking gymnastics classes were
begin taking gymnastics classes were
begin taking gymnastics classes were once or twice a week I got to hang out
once or twice a week I got to hang out
once or twice a week I got to hang out with my girlfriends and be silly I
with my girlfriends and be silly I
with my girlfriends and be silly I thoroughly enjoyed them I used to learn
thoroughly enjoyed them I used to learn
thoroughly enjoyed them I used to learn how to do all these daring moves finally
how to do all these daring moves finally
how to do all these daring moves finally finally getting to do a back walkover
finally getting to do a back walkover
finally getting to do a back walkover without crumbling to the ground was a
without crumbling to the ground was a
without crumbling to the ground was a feeling I will never forget the aerial
feeling I will never forget the aerial
feeling I will never forget the aerial back handspring front semi off of the
back handspring front semi off of the
back handspring front semi off of the springboard all over the horse thing
springboard all over the horse thing
springboard all over the horse thing learning how to do these moves was
learning how to do these moves was
learning how to do these moves was exhilarating notice I said learning and
exhilarating notice I said learning and
exhilarating notice I said learning and I have to stress this learning part
I have to stress this learning part
I have to stress this learning part because it is the act of learning class
because it is the act of learning class
because it is the act of learning class after class month after month that has
after class month after month that has
after class month after month that has stayed with me all these years 30 years
stayed with me all these years 30 years
stayed with me all these years 30 years later it was the coach spotting me again
later it was the coach spotting me again
later it was the coach spotting me again and again showing me how to do the moves
and again showing me how to do the moves
and again showing me how to do the moves what I was doing wrong so I could fix it
what I was doing wrong so I could fix it
what I was doing wrong so I could fix it I stressed the learning part because in
I stressed the learning part because in
I stressed the learning part because in all honesty I don’t think I ever knew
all honesty I don’t think I ever knew
all honesty I don’t think I ever knew how to do any of those moves let’s put
how to do any of those moves let’s put
how to do any of those moves let’s put it this way some gymnastics kids are in
it this way some gymnastics kids are in
it this way some gymnastics kids are in full swing pun intended by age to
full swing pun intended by age to
full swing pun intended by age to semi-retired Eddie and basically injured
semi-retired Eddie and basically injured
semi-retired Eddie and basically injured by 12 so I was getting taller
by 12 so I was getting taller
by 12 so I was getting taller I was growing in other ways and I also
I was growing in other ways and I also
I was growing in other ways and I also had some lovely braces disastrous shag
had some lovely braces disastrous shag
had some lovely braces disastrous shag haircut and to top it all off a fancy
haircut and to top it all off a fancy
haircut and to top it all off a fancy perm so so now that we’re clear how
perm so so now that we’re clear how
perm so so now that we’re clear how striking I was off the gym mat let’s get
striking I was off the gym mat let’s get
striking I was off the gym mat let’s get to the gym at my accomplishments on the
to the gym at my accomplishments on the
to the gym at my accomplishments on the gym mat okay my biggest enemy gravity my
gym mat okay my biggest enemy gravity my
gym mat okay my biggest enemy gravity my back handsprings reminded me of this
back handsprings reminded me of this
back handsprings reminded me of this fact but I just couldn’t stop trying
fact but I just couldn’t stop trying
fact but I just couldn’t stop trying could not stop trying to get it right I
could not stop trying to get it right I
could not stop trying to get it right I would regularly hold up all the other
would regularly hold up all the other
would regularly hold up all the other kids behind me who are waiting for their
kids behind me who are waiting for their
kids behind me who are waiting for their turn telling the coach upon falling to
turn telling the coach upon falling to
turn telling the coach upon falling to the floor for the ninth time in two
the floor for the ninth time in two
the floor for the ninth time in two minutes let me do it again one more time
minutes let me do it again one more time
minutes let me do it again one more time one more time I’ll get it let me do it
one more time I’ll get it let me do it
one more time I’ll get it let me do it again
again
again he often obliged me but no matter the
he often obliged me but no matter the
he often obliged me but no matter the move I always struggled with the
move I always struggled with the
move I always struggled with the execution I requested to do it over and
execution I requested to do it over and
execution I requested to do it over and over again one more time so by the time
over again one more time so by the time
over again one more time so by the time our big gymnastics show case came
our big gymnastics show case came
our big gymnastics show case came I was as good as I was gonna get uh and
I was as good as I was gonna get uh and
I was as good as I was gonna get uh and it was gonna be videotaped I never saw
it was gonna be videotaped I never saw
it was gonna be videotaped I never saw myself doing gymnastics before so in my
myself doing gymnastics before so in my
myself doing gymnastics before so in my mind I was graceful smooth I was at my
mind I was graceful smooth I was at my
mind I was graceful smooth I was at my most flexible my most confident and I
most flexible my most confident and I
most flexible my most confident and I generally enjoyed performing so
generally enjoyed performing so
generally enjoyed performing so everybody was proud parents coach me I
everybody was proud parents coach me I
everybody was proud parents coach me I was over the moon so at the end of the
was over the moon so at the end of the
was over the moon so at the end of the show the coach gave out awards
show the coach gave out awards
show the coach gave out awards predictably I did not get an award that
predictably I did not get an award that
predictably I did not get an award that indicated I was a skilled gymnast but I
indicated I was a skilled gymnast but I
indicated I was a skilled gymnast but I got an award that reflected my
got an award that reflected my
got an award that reflected my persistence I watched that VHS tape a
persistence I watched that VHS tape a
persistence I watched that VHS tape a little bit later week later or so at my
little bit later week later or so at my
little bit later week later or so at my friend’s house on our giant tube TV I
friend’s house on our giant tube TV I
friend’s house on our giant tube TV I was dumbfounded not only was I none of
was dumbfounded not only was I none of
was dumbfounded not only was I none of the adjectives I just mentioned
the adjectives I just mentioned
the adjectives I just mentioned gracefully
gracefully
gracefully I was a happy sloppy confident ball of
I was a happy sloppy confident ball of
I was a happy sloppy confident ball of chaos close your eyes and just imagine
chaos close your eyes and just imagine
chaos close your eyes and just imagine with me one thing imagine for a moment
with me one thing imagine for a moment
with me one thing imagine for a moment the human version of a heaping pile of
the human version of a heaping pile of
the human version of a heaping pile of adolescent mashed potatoes trying to
adolescent mashed potatoes trying to
adolescent mashed potatoes trying to execute a back handspring precisely yeah
execute a back handspring precisely yeah
execute a back handspring precisely yeah fortunately for me though I was a kid
fortunately for me though I was a kid
fortunately for me though I was a kid hooked on persistence and not perfection
hooked on persistence and not perfection
hooked on persistence and not perfection so persist I did so maybe my talent was
so persist I did so maybe my talent was
so persist I did so maybe my talent was not recognized but something else was
not recognized but something else was
not recognized but something else was and this recognition has stuck with me
and this recognition has stuck with me
and this recognition has stuck with me all these years
all these years
all these years coach gave me the one more time award
coach gave me the one more time award
coach gave me the one more time award straight-up made up
straight-up made up
straight-up made up I didn’t care I was being recognized for
I didn’t care I was being recognized for
I didn’t care I was being recognized for something that would stay with me very
something that would stay with me very
something that would stay with me very long after my pedestrian flipping
long after my pedestrian flipping
long after my pedestrian flipping capabilities were a thing of the past I
capabilities were a thing of the past I
capabilities were a thing of the past I was being recognized for something that
was being recognized for something that
was being recognized for something that I didn’t even need an able body to
I didn’t even need an able body to
I didn’t even need an able body to implement something that I never knew
implement something that I never knew
implement something that I never knew one could get recognized for yet the
one could get recognized for yet the
one could get recognized for yet the reinforcements that my endurance and my
reinforcements that my endurance and my
reinforcements that my endurance and my efforts were qualities that were
efforts were qualities that were
efforts were qualities that were valuable outside of the flippin was a
valuable outside of the flippin was a
valuable outside of the flippin was a complete game changer I was recognized
complete game changer I was recognized
complete game changer I was recognized for my persistence by continuing in a
for my persistence by continuing in a
for my persistence by continuing in a course of action in spite of difficulty
course of action in spite of difficulty
course of action in spite of difficulty opposition and malfunction to persist is
opposition and malfunction to persist is
opposition and malfunction to persist is to understand that a current may be
to understand that a current may be
to understand that a current may be working against you and you will advance
working against you and you will advance
working against you and you will advance on regardless it’s a survival skill also
on regardless it’s a survival skill also
on regardless it’s a survival skill also and it’s critical however it is
and it’s critical however it is
and it’s critical however it is important to remember that persistence
important to remember that persistence
important to remember that persistence is not intrinsic and it needs to be
is not intrinsic and it needs to be
is not intrinsic and it needs to be fostered persistence can be modeled it
fostered persistence can be modeled it
fostered persistence can be modeled it can be taught and it should be inspired
can be taught and it should be inspired
can be taught and it should be inspired each of us can share in the
each of us can share in the
each of us can share in the responsibility of being persisters for
responsibility of being persisters for
responsibility of being persisters for brothers and for people so when I intend
brothers and for people so when I intend
brothers and for people so when I intend to take this work of persisting beyond
to take this work of persisting beyond
to take this work of persisting beyond self-interest toward an area of
self-interest toward an area of
self-interest toward an area of cooperation where despite all sorts of
cooperation where despite all sorts of
cooperation where despite all sorts of risks cognitive material there is a
risks cognitive material there is a
risks cognitive material there is a return there is always a return on your
return there is always a return on your
return there is always a return on your investment this is because persistence
investment this is because persistence
investment this is because persistence is contagious from the gym map to the
is contagious from the gym map to the
is contagious from the gym map to the classroom the small act of allowing me
classroom the small act of allowing me
classroom the small act of allowing me to persist and then recognizing me for
to persist and then recognizing me for
to persist and then recognizing me for this gave rise to a horrendous gymnast
this gave rise to a horrendous gymnast
this gave rise to a horrendous gymnast with an unflappable work ethic and a
with an unflappable work ethic and a
with an unflappable work ethic and a boatload of confidence if you think
boatload of confidence if you think
boatload of confidence if you think about it especially educators we are
about it especially educators we are
about it especially educators we are always asking persistence of our
always asking persistence of our
always asking persistence of our students we are requiring it really show
students we are requiring it really show
students we are requiring it really show up yet we rarely spend time modeling
up yet we rarely spend time modeling
up yet we rarely spend time modeling this behavior or positively identifying
this behavior or positively identifying
this behavior or positively identifying it even good news it’s not too late we
it even good news it’s not too late we
it even good news it’s not too late we can all start right now when we ask an
can all start right now when we ask an
can all start right now when we ask an audience to bear with us during a
audience to bear with us during a
audience to bear with us during a presentation snafu we’re asking them to
presentation snafu we’re asking them to
presentation snafu we’re asking them to persist
persist
persist when we you know get through the
when we you know get through the
when we you know get through the presentation we have demonstrated
presentation we have demonstrated
presentation we have demonstrated persistence when Massachusetts senator
persistence when Massachusetts senator
persistence when Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren kept reading that
Elizabeth Warren kept reading that
Elizabeth Warren kept reading that letter by Coretta Scott King during a
letter by Coretta Scott King during a
letter by Coretta Scott King during a Senate debate earlier this year despite
Senate debate earlier this year despite
Senate debate earlier this year despite requests that she stopped she modeled
requests that she stopped she modeled
requests that she stopped she modeled persistence in action my seeing
persistence in action my seeing
persistence in action my seeing potential in my students is paramount to
potential in my students is paramount to
potential in my students is paramount to my ability to persist on university
my ability to persist on university
my ability to persist on university campuses potential is bursting at the
campuses potential is bursting at the
campuses potential is bursting at the seams come August in January the
seams come August in January the
seams come August in January the persistence persistence takes the
persistence persistence takes the
persistence persistence takes the downturn come week five or six and I
downturn come week five or six and I
downturn come week five or six and I think that persistence can invoke a
think that persistence can invoke a
think that persistence can invoke a singular and collective spirit of
singular and collective spirit of
singular and collective spirit of something either that we want to attain
something either that we want to attain
something either that we want to attain or reclaim you can get back to class any
or reclaim you can get back to class any
or reclaim you can get back to class any time this can be a goal any goal
time this can be a goal any goal
time this can be a goal any goal political academic health-related or
political academic health-related or
political academic health-related or personal but when persistence seems to
personal but when persistence seems to
personal but when persistence seems to fly in the face of expected outcomes
fly in the face of expected outcomes
fly in the face of expected outcomes it’s easy to question its worth in her
it’s easy to question its worth in her
it’s easy to question its worth in her new book the new better off courtney
new book the new better off courtney
new book the new better off courtney martin interrogate our commonplace
martin interrogate our commonplace
martin interrogate our commonplace assumptions about how younger people are
assumptions about how younger people are
assumptions about how younger people are choosing to persist in to forge ahead
choosing to persist in to forge ahead
choosing to persist in to forge ahead she finds that the old American Dream
she finds that the old American Dream
she finds that the old American Dream may no longer be doing it for them her
may no longer be doing it for them her
may no longer be doing it for them her research reveals that Americans are
research reveals that Americans are
research reveals that Americans are actually no longer pining for their
actually no longer pining for their
actually no longer pining for their parents or their grandparents version of
parents or their grandparents version of
parents or their grandparents version of the American dream instead persisting in
the American dream instead persisting in
the American dream instead persisting in their own ways on alternative paths to
their own ways on alternative paths to
their own ways on alternative paths to seek happiness and success through
seek happiness and success through
seek happiness and success through avenues that disturb the cliched dictate
avenues that disturb the cliched dictate
avenues that disturb the cliched dictate that homeownership marriage and a
that homeownership marriage and a
that homeownership marriage and a nine-to-five job frame the quest for the
nine-to-five job frame the quest for the
nine-to-five job frame the quest for the American Dream that is despite the
American Dream that is despite the
American Dream that is despite the notions that do persist about being well
notions that do persist about being well
notions that do persist about being well off her findings are that young people
off her findings are that young people
off her findings are that young people are coalescing toward more of a
are coalescing toward more of a
are coalescing toward more of a community finding value in and seeking
community finding value in and seeking
community finding value in and seeking worth from reinventing the often trite
worth from reinventing the often trite
worth from reinventing the often trite upwardly mobile to-do list to step back
upwardly mobile to-do list to step back
upwardly mobile to-do list to step back from my gymnast years and my current
from my gymnast years and my current
from my gymnast years and my current days in the classroom let’s circle back
days in the classroom let’s circle back
days in the classroom let’s circle back to those battle cries of the
to those battle cries of the
to those battle cries of the Republic an expert on social movements
Republic an expert on social movements
Republic an expert on social movements dr. michael white recently suggested in
dr. michael white recently suggested in
dr. michael white recently suggested in his latest book the end of protests that
his latest book the end of protests that
his latest book the end of protests that activism today is a crossroads between
activism today is a crossroads between
activism today is a crossroads between innovation and irrelevance dr. White’s
innovation and irrelevance dr. White’s
innovation and irrelevance dr. White’s tactics are meant to ensure that the
tactics are meant to ensure that the
tactics are meant to ensure that the next generation of activists doesn’t
next generation of activists doesn’t
next generation of activists doesn’t suffer from generational amnesia which
suffer from generational amnesia which
suffer from generational amnesia which he sees currently plaguing our culture
he sees currently plaguing our culture
he sees currently plaguing our culture his message focus is not on the Y but on
his message focus is not on the Y but on
his message focus is not on the Y but on the how of persistence and on the how of
the how of persistence and on the how of
the how of persistence and on the how of protest in other words he offers us a
protest in other words he offers us a
protest in other words he offers us a manifesto that speaks in part to the
manifesto that speaks in part to the
manifesto that speaks in part to the starting place of persistence and I
starting place of persistence and I
starting place of persistence and I suggest that if we can move this how
suggest that if we can move this how
suggest that if we can move this how into the classroom to the office the gym
into the classroom to the office the gym
into the classroom to the office the gym the writing desk wherever we need it we
the writing desk wherever we need it we
the writing desk wherever we need it we will start seeing positive outcomes how
will start seeing positive outcomes how
will start seeing positive outcomes how comes that may not result in MVP awards
comes that may not result in MVP awards
comes that may not result in MVP awards but outcomes that can see us to the end
but outcomes that can see us to the end
but outcomes that can see us to the end of our goal whatever that is it might
of our goal whatever that is it might
of our goal whatever that is it might not be to fall down or to go to class
not be to fall down or to go to class
not be to fall down or to go to class today we’re gonna make it to the end of
today we’re gonna make it to the end of
today we’re gonna make it to the end of my shift at build-a-bear whatever it is
my shift at build-a-bear whatever it is
my shift at build-a-bear whatever it is active persistence should get you there
active persistence should get you there
active persistence should get you there I always tell my students that the
I always tell my students that the
I always tell my students that the semester is one long musical and if I
semester is one long musical and if I
semester is one long musical and if I can’t implement a musical theater
can’t implement a musical theater
can’t implement a musical theater analogy in my classes I have failed so
analogy in my classes I have failed so
analogy in my classes I have failed so here it is day one you come in you are
here it is day one you come in you are
here it is day one you come in you are canned canning your way into class front
canned canning your way into class front
canned canning your way into class front and center in the chorus line notebook
and center in the chorus line notebook
and center in the chorus line notebook color pens out ready for your solo and I
color pens out ready for your solo and I
color pens out ready for your solo and I tell me this is really great awesome
tell me this is really great awesome
tell me this is really great awesome start but remember you need to make it
start but remember you need to make it
start but remember you need to make it to May or December so as you can can can
to May or December so as you can can can
to May or December so as you can can can your way out I also tell them to my
your way out I also tell them to my
your way out I also tell them to my short-term memory much better than my
short-term memory much better than my
short-term memory much better than my long-term memory and for that reason
long-term memory and for that reason
long-term memory and for that reason alone they have got to remember the last
alone they have got to remember the last
alone they have got to remember the last scenes choreography and not neglect
scenes choreography and not neglect
scenes choreography and not neglect their final wardrobe change even if that
their final wardrobe change even if that
their final wardrobe change even if that number has the worst choreography and
number has the worst choreography and
number has the worst choreography and the most dreadful costumes in learning
the most dreadful costumes in learning
the most dreadful costumes in learning communities discomfort is paramount and
communities discomfort is paramount and
communities discomfort is paramount and being willing to examine the sources of
being willing to examine the sources of
being willing to examine the sources of our discomfort is one of the ways that
our discomfort is one of the ways that
our discomfort is one of the ways that persistence can happen
persistence can happen
persistence can happen so if persistence is the bullseye space
so if persistence is the bullseye space
so if persistence is the bullseye space around it has got to contain connection
around it has got to contain connection
around it has got to contain connection work cooperation empathy even anger
work cooperation empathy even anger
work cooperation empathy even anger these are the tools we need to hit that
these are the tools we need to hit that
these are the tools we need to hit that target when handling them be deliberate
target when handling them be deliberate
target when handling them be deliberate in using them be the most deliberate
in using them be the most deliberate
in using them be the most deliberate heaping pile of adolescent mashed
heaping pile of adolescent mashed
heaping pile of adolescent mashed potatoes that has ever flipped thank you
potatoes that has ever flipped thank you
potatoes that has ever flipped thank you [Applause]
”
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