I started working in the White House in 2013 it was shortly after President
2013 it was shortly after President
2013 it was shortly after President Barack Obama had won his second term in
Barack Obama had won his second term in
Barack Obama had won his second term in office and I had a job that was called
office and I had a job that was called
office and I had a job that was called an outreach director it was an advisor
an outreach director it was an advisor
an outreach director it was an advisor to Vice President Biden and I spoke to
to Vice President Biden and I spoke to
to Vice President Biden and I spoke to different groups on behalf of the White
different groups on behalf of the White
different groups on behalf of the White House and one of the groups that I spoke
House and one of the groups that I spoke
House and one of the groups that I spoke to was the labor union community not all
to was the labor union community not all
to was the labor union community not all but a lot of the people that I worked
but a lot of the people that I worked
but a lot of the people that I worked with we’re like stereotypical labor
with we’re like stereotypical labor
with we’re like stereotypical labor dudes right they’re big and they’re
dudes right they’re big and they’re
dudes right they’re big and they’re burly and a little bit gruff and
burly and a little bit gruff and
burly and a little bit gruff and sometime early in my time at the White
sometime early in my time at the White
sometime early in my time at the White House the vice president vice-president
House the vice president vice-president
House the vice president vice-president Biden was on the phone as one of these
Biden was on the phone as one of these
Biden was on the phone as one of these labor leaders and he checked in and
labor leaders and he checked in and
labor leaders and he checked in and asked him how I was doing this labor
asked him how I was doing this labor
asked him how I was doing this labor leader he says Oh Kerry she’s great
leader he says Oh Kerry she’s great
leader he says Oh Kerry she’s great straight forward she knows her stuff I’m
straight forward she knows her stuff I’m
straight forward she knows her stuff I’m still getting used to all that hair but
still getting used to all that hair but
still getting used to all that hair but it’s good and I was good at that job and
it’s good and I was good at that job and
it’s good and I was good at that job and I loved that job not just because I was
I loved that job not just because I was
I loved that job not just because I was honest and hard-working because I
honest and hard-working because I
honest and hard-working because I believed an American service which I do
believed an American service which I do
believed an American service which I do but because of how I constructed my
but because of how I constructed my
but because of how I constructed my identity and because I knew that you
identity and because I knew that you
identity and because I knew that you could be a big gruff labor leader and we
could be a big gruff labor leader and we
could be a big gruff labor leader and we would still have a lot in common and
would still have a lot in common and
would still have a lot in common and that’s what I want to talk to you all
that’s what I want to talk to you all
that’s what I want to talk to you all about today I want to talk about our
about today I want to talk about our
about today I want to talk about our identities and how we shape them and I
identities and how we shape them and I
identities and how we shape them and I want to talk about what that means for
want to talk about what that means for
want to talk about what that means for the future of this country so I am the
the future of this country so I am the
the future of this country so I am the daughter of two parents who have really
daughter of two parents who have really
daughter of two parents who have really kind of typical American stories but in
kind of typical American stories but in
kind of typical American stories but in different ways my mom is a daughter of
different ways my mom is a daughter of
different ways my mom is a daughter of the American Revolution I am a
the American Revolution I am a
the American Revolution I am a descendant of a signer of the
descendant of a signer of the
descendant of a signer of the Declaration of Independence the town
Declaration of Independence the town
Declaration of Independence the town that she grew up in a small rural Ohio
that she grew up in a small rural Ohio
that she grew up in a small rural Ohio town was not only founded by but it was
town was not only founded by but it was
town was not only founded by but it was named after her family my father is an
named after her family my father is an
named after her family my father is an immigrant he grew up he was born and
immigrant he grew up he was born and
immigrant he grew up he was born and raised in small islands in the Caribbean
raised in small islands in the Caribbean
raised in small islands in the Caribbean and he was basically forced here in his
and he was basically forced here in his
and he was basically forced here in his 20s by his grandmother he was smart he
20s by his grandmother he was smart he
20s by his grandmother he was smart he is smart hard-working earnest diligent
is smart hard-working earnest diligent
is smart hard-working earnest diligent and she knew that he would thrive if he
and she knew that he would thrive if he
and she knew that he would thrive if he were exposed to the kind of
were exposed to the kind of
were exposed to the kind of opportunities that this country promised
opportunities that this country promised
opportunities that this country promised so ten years later my parents meet there
so ten years later my parents meet there
so ten years later my parents meet there in night class at a university in
in night class at a university in
in night class at a university in Columbus
Columbus
Columbus a civics lesson perhaps foreshadowing
a civics lesson perhaps foreshadowing
a civics lesson perhaps foreshadowing the interest of one of their future
the interest of one of their future
the interest of one of their future children and they get together we have a
children and they get together we have a
children and they get together we have a happy little family mom dad my older
happy little family mom dad my older
happy little family mom dad my older brother my older sister and I and I grew
brother my older sister and I and I grew
brother my older sister and I and I grew up in a kind of classic suburb upper
up in a kind of classic suburb upper
up in a kind of classic suburb upper middle-class well-to-do leave your bike
middle-class well-to-do leave your bike
middle-class well-to-do leave your bike in the front yard front doors never
in the front yard front doors never
in the front yard front doors never locked you have a community of energetic
locked you have a community of energetic
locked you have a community of energetic citizens who have high expectations for
citizens who have high expectations for
citizens who have high expectations for the young people who grew up there it’s
the young people who grew up there it’s
the young people who grew up there it’s great
great
great it’s an incredibly privileged type of
it’s an incredibly privileged type of
it’s an incredibly privileged type of way in place to grow up and I loved it
way in place to grow up and I loved it
way in place to grow up and I loved it with the exception of one very huge way
with the exception of one very huge way
with the exception of one very huge way that it failed it was completely lacking
that it failed it was completely lacking
that it failed it was completely lacking in diversity and in addition to making
in diversity and in addition to making
in diversity and in addition to making me and our family kind of the odd family
me and our family kind of the odd family
me and our family kind of the odd family out it also just wasn’t keeping pace
out it also just wasn’t keeping pace
out it also just wasn’t keeping pace with where the country is headed in 2040
with where the country is headed in 2040
with where the country is headed in 2040 somewhere around there America is gonna
somewhere around there America is gonna
somewhere around there America is gonna be a country that has that its citizens
be a country that has that its citizens
be a country that has that its citizens are majority non-white in 2050 or
are majority non-white in 2050 or
are majority non-white in 2050 or somewhere around there over a quarter of
somewhere around there over a quarter of
somewhere around there over a quarter of the population of Americans will be
the population of Americans will be
the population of Americans will be multiracial or biracial the youngest
multiracial or biracial the youngest
multiracial or biracial the youngest generation of Americans currently is the
generation of Americans currently is the
generation of Americans currently is the most diverse the most tolerant and the
most diverse the most tolerant and the
most diverse the most tolerant and the largest generation of Americans ever and
largest generation of Americans ever and
largest generation of Americans ever and this is a really radical social change
this is a really radical social change
this is a really radical social change for our country to undertake and if
for our country to undertake and if
for our country to undertake and if you’re student of history you know that
you’re student of history you know that
you’re student of history you know that periods of rapid social change are often
periods of rapid social change are often
periods of rapid social change are often periods of intense violence it’s really
periods of intense violence it’s really
periods of intense violence it’s really tempting to think that old people with
tempting to think that old people with
tempting to think that old people with old views are gonna die off and that the
old views are gonna die off and that the
old views are gonna die off and that the young people will save us but I will
young people will save us but I will
young people will save us but I will remind you that those were young men and
remind you that those were young men and
remind you that those were young men and women in Charlottesville
women in Charlottesville
women in Charlottesville and so if we want to have the type of
and so if we want to have the type of
and so if we want to have the type of country that lives up to its ideals if
country that lives up to its ideals if
country that lives up to its ideals if we want to be the type of Americans that
we want to be the type of Americans that
we want to be the type of Americans that embody the Creed of this country and we
embody the Creed of this country and we
embody the Creed of this country and we have a lot of work to do we have to do
have a lot of work to do we have to do
have a lot of work to do we have to do it together
it together
it together and there’s three things that we all can
and there’s three things that we all can
and there’s three things that we all can do and I I’ve had to go through these
do and I I’ve had to go through these
do and I I’ve had to go through these processes myself so I will assure you
processes myself so I will assure you
processes myself so I will assure you that you is possible we can do it
that you is possible we can do it
that you is possible we can do it so the first thing we have to do is we
so the first thing we have to do is we
so the first thing we have to do is we have to identify our bias everyone has
have to identify our bias everyone has
have to identify our bias everyone has bias I have built in diversity and I’ve
bias I have built in diversity and I’ve
bias I have built in diversity and I’ve had to unlearn my bias like I should
had to unlearn my bias like I should
had to unlearn my bias like I should have been you know way ahead of the
have been you know way ahead of the
have been you know way ahead of the curve but I wasn’t so we have to
curve but I wasn’t so we have to
curve but I wasn’t so we have to identify that we all have bias it’s a
identify that we all have bias it’s a
identify that we all have bias it’s a legacy of the history of this country an
legacy of the history of this country an
legacy of the history of this country an implicit bias just as a refresher
implicit bias just as a refresher
implicit bias just as a refresher implicit bias is the set of values and
implicit bias is the set of values and
implicit bias is the set of values and opinions and assumptions you have of
opinions and assumptions you have of
opinions and assumptions you have of other people who are different than you
other people who are different than you
other people who are different than you that you’ve absorbed passively that
that you’ve absorbed passively that
that you’ve absorbed passively that you’ve learned from society that you’ve
you’ve learned from society that you’ve
you’ve learned from society that you’ve picked up and then from the media or
picked up and then from the media or
picked up and then from the media or from the coded language of politicians
from the coded language of politicians
from the coded language of politicians it’s something you’re unconscious of but
it’s something you’re unconscious of but
it’s something you’re unconscious of but I’ve we all have it it’s some
I’ve we all have it it’s some
I’ve we all have it it’s some combination of isms and phobias that
combination of isms and phobias that
combination of isms and phobias that help paint our view and our reactions to
help paint our view and our reactions to
help paint our view and our reactions to other people and so the process of
other people and so the process of
other people and so the process of undoing your bias it can be challenging
undoing your bias it can be challenging
undoing your bias it can be challenging and hurtful I assure you it is also
and hurtful I assure you it is also
and hurtful I assure you it is also embarrassing but we have to do it
embarrassing but we have to do it
embarrassing but we have to do it there’s a thing called the Harvard
there’s a thing called the Harvard
there’s a thing called the Harvard implicit bias test and when you take it
implicit bias test and when you take it
implicit bias test and when you take it it’ll help you to understand what your
it’ll help you to understand what your
it’ll help you to understand what your biases are and how they’re aligned I’ve
biases are and how they’re aligned I’ve
biases are and how they’re aligned I’ve taken it I didn’t do so hot on my first
taken it I didn’t do so hot on my first
taken it I didn’t do so hot on my first pass which is humiliating to admit but
pass which is humiliating to admit but
pass which is humiliating to admit but it’s true I nailed it the second time
and it’ll help you to start unpacking
and it’ll help you to start unpacking all the things that you have to unlearn
all the things that you have to unlearn
all the things that you have to unlearn now I’ll tell a story to help illustrate
now I’ll tell a story to help illustrate
now I’ll tell a story to help illustrate bias I’ve always been really sure and
bias I’ve always been really sure and
bias I’ve always been really sure and quick to push back on stereotypes
quick to push back on stereotypes
quick to push back on stereotypes I’ve always condemned any sort of
I’ve always condemned any sort of
I’ve always condemned any sort of offensive language but it’s not the
offensive language but it’s not the
offensive language but it’s not the overt stuff that really is so pernicious
overt stuff that really is so pernicious
overt stuff that really is so pernicious a lot of times it’s the subtle stuff so
a lot of times it’s the subtle stuff so
a lot of times it’s the subtle stuff so I was in college wasn’t my 20s when I
I was in college wasn’t my 20s when I
I was in college wasn’t my 20s when I was at a dinner party and again I grew
was at a dinner party and again I grew
was at a dinner party and again I grew up in an all-white not alway
up in an all-white not alway
up in an all-white not alway predominantly white town and I’m at a
predominantly white town and I’m at a
predominantly white town and I’m at a dinner party in college feeling very
dinner party in college feeling very
dinner party in college feeling very sophisticated I’m sure and I was
sophisticated I’m sure and I was
sophisticated I’m sure and I was chatting up as chatting up a handsome
chatting up as chatting up a handsome
chatting up as chatting up a handsome Latino man and he told me that he was a
Latino man and he told me that he was a
Latino man and he told me that he was a medical resident and I looked at him I
medical resident and I looked at him I
medical resident and I looked at him I got a doctor good for you
got a doctor good for you
got a doctor good for you amazing
amazing
amazing and he looked at me with a combination
and he looked at me with a combination
and he looked at me with a combination of fury and humiliation and also a
of fury and humiliation and also a
of fury and humiliation and also a certain like a to brown girl like really
certain like a to brown girl like really
certain like a to brown girl like really [Laughter]
[Laughter]
[Laughter] and his reaction was spot-on I would
and his reaction was spot-on I would
and his reaction was spot-on I would have reacted the same way and I often do
have reacted the same way and I often do
have reacted the same way and I often do when people register surprise that I’ve
when people register surprise that I’ve
when people register surprise that I’ve accomplished things so that I’ve
accomplished things so that I’ve
accomplished things so that I’ve achieved but that was a function of my
achieved but that was a function of my
achieved but that was a function of my bias I was in my 20s before I met a
bias I was in my 20s before I met a
bias I was in my 20s before I met a Latino doctor I didn’t I knew they
Latino doctor I didn’t I knew they
Latino doctor I didn’t I knew they existed but to me it was remarkable and
existed but to me it was remarkable and
existed but to me it was remarkable and it’s not it wasn’t and I offended him
it’s not it wasn’t and I offended him
it’s not it wasn’t and I offended him because I had not taken the time to
because I had not taken the time to
because I had not taken the time to assess the bias and the assumptions that
assess the bias and the assumptions that
assess the bias and the assumptions that I made about a different group of people
I made about a different group of people
I made about a different group of people that I had not been very exposed to so
that I had not been very exposed to so
that I had not been very exposed to so the first thing we’re gonna do is we’re
the first thing we’re gonna do is we’re
the first thing we’re gonna do is we’re gonna recognize that we all have a
gonna recognize that we all have a
gonna recognize that we all have a problem because we do and then the
problem because we do and then the
problem because we do and then the second thing we’re gonna do is we’re
second thing we’re gonna do is we’re
second thing we’re gonna do is we’re gonna try to fix it and that requires us
gonna try to fix it and that requires us
gonna try to fix it and that requires us to change our habits it requires us to
to change our habits it requires us to
to change our habits it requires us to go to different places talk to different
go to different places talk to different
go to different places talk to different people visit a house of worship of a
people visit a house of worship of a
people visit a house of worship of a different face than you sit and listen
different face than you sit and listen
different face than you sit and listen and learn intentionally expose yourself
and learn intentionally expose yourself
and learn intentionally expose yourself to different ideas and different people
to different ideas and different people
to different ideas and different people with the express purpose of learning you
with the express purpose of learning you
with the express purpose of learning you do not know what you think you do I
do not know what you think you do I
do not know what you think you do I assure you you don’t and again I have a
assure you you don’t and again I have a
assure you you don’t and again I have a little story so I was maybe one of two
little story so I was maybe one of two
little story so I was maybe one of two or three black kids in my school of over
or three black kids in my school of over
or three black kids in my school of over 2000 because I like being good at things
2000 because I like being good at things
2000 because I like being good at things by the time I was a teenager I was
by the time I was a teenager I was
by the time I was a teenager I was convinced I was the blackest person in
convinced I was the blackest person in
convinced I was the blackest person in America and because none of my friends
America and because none of my friends
America and because none of my friends knew any better they were convinced to
knew any better they were convinced to
knew any better they were convinced to write
write
write got big hair I’m a great dancer I know
got big hair I’m a great dancer I know
got big hair I’m a great dancer I know all the music I know the artist I knew
all the music I know the artist I knew
all the music I know the artist I knew my history backwards and forwards and so
my history backwards and forwards and so
my history backwards and forwards and so I go to college I was very excited I can
I go to college I was very excited I can
I go to college I was very excited I can finally hang out with black kids in math
finally hang out with black kids in math
finally hang out with black kids in math it was gonna be amazing and because I am
it was gonna be amazing and because I am
it was gonna be amazing and because I am the blackest person in Ohio we were all
the blackest person in Ohio we were all
the blackest person in Ohio we were all gonna get along great right it was gonna
gonna get along great right it was gonna
gonna get along great right it was gonna be like straight out of a movie until I
be like straight out of a movie until I
be like straight out of a movie until I actually get there and I bore the
actually get there and I bore the
actually get there and I bore the unmistakable signs of someone who’s not
unmistakable signs of someone who’s not
unmistakable signs of someone who’s not actually spent much time with black kids
actually spent much time with black kids
actually spent much time with black kids I missed every social cue I couldn’t
I missed every social cue I couldn’t
I missed every social cue I couldn’t understand cultural references I’m not
understand cultural references I’m not
understand cultural references I’m not it turns out a very good dancer
which was a hard one that was tough to
which was a hard one that was tough to give up and I probably said silly things
give up and I probably said silly things
give up and I probably said silly things like no no no I’ve bunch of black
like no no no I’ve bunch of black
like no no no I’ve bunch of black friends no no I’ve you know I probably
friends no no I’ve you know I probably
friends no no I’ve you know I probably did all of those faux pas and so imagine
did all of those faux pas and so imagine
did all of those faux pas and so imagine being that bewildered if I didn’t know
being that bewildered if I didn’t know
being that bewildered if I didn’t know the things I thought I knew about the
the things I thought I knew about the
the things I thought I knew about the group of people that I thought I
group of people that I thought I
group of people that I thought I belonged to what could I possibly know
belonged to what could I possibly know
belonged to what could I possibly know about anybody else
about anybody else
about anybody else I assure you you do not know what you
I assure you you do not know what you
I assure you you do not know what you think you do so one we’re gonna identify
think you do so one we’re gonna identify
think you do so one we’re gonna identify that we’ve bias two we’re gonna start
that we’ve bias two we’re gonna start
that we’ve bias two we’re gonna start fixing it and that requires humility and
fixing it and that requires humility and
fixing it and that requires humility and the requires listening and that requires
the requires listening and that requires
the requires listening and that requires us to stretch ourselves and to be
us to stretch ourselves and to be
us to stretch ourselves and to be uncomfortable
uncomfortable
uncomfortable the third thing we’re gonna do is we’re
the third thing we’re gonna do is we’re
the third thing we’re gonna do is we’re gonna be really graceful and patient if
gonna be really graceful and patient if
gonna be really graceful and patient if you go about the process of undoing your
you go about the process of undoing your
you go about the process of undoing your bias and you do it earnestly and
bias and you do it earnestly and
bias and you do it earnestly and honestly you are going to say the wrong
honestly you are going to say the wrong
honestly you are going to say the wrong thing you are going to say something
thing you are going to say something
thing you are going to say something that perhaps hurts someone that confuses
that perhaps hurts someone that confuses
that perhaps hurts someone that confuses someone if you’re going to help someone
someone if you’re going to help someone
someone if you’re going to help someone through this process they are going to
through this process they are going to
through this process they are going to say something that hurts you that
say something that hurts you that
say something that hurts you that confuses you we have to have space and
confuses you we have to have space and
confuses you we have to have space and we have to have grace to have these
we have to have grace to have these
we have to have grace to have these conversations
conversations
conversations that doesn’t mean say whatever you want
that doesn’t mean say whatever you want
that doesn’t mean say whatever you want doesn’t mean speak carelessly words are
doesn’t mean speak carelessly words are
doesn’t mean speak carelessly words are powerful there are our most powerful
powerful there are our most powerful
powerful there are our most powerful tool we have to use our language
tool we have to use our language
tool we have to use our language compassionately but we have to be able
compassionately but we have to be able
compassionately but we have to be able to try we have to be able to figure it
to try we have to be able to figure it
to try we have to be able to figure it out
out
out learning about other people as an
learning about other people as an
learning about other people as an indelicate process
it is incredibly important that we
it is incredibly important that we undertake these three steps if we are
undertake these three steps if we are
undertake these three steps if we are going to be responsible inheritors of
going to be responsible inheritors of
going to be responsible inheritors of this country’s future I have spent my
this country’s future I have spent my
this country’s future I have spent my entire adult life in service of this
entire adult life in service of this
entire adult life in service of this country and its ideals and its values I
country and its ideals and its values I
country and its ideals and its values I believe that we can be a country that is
believe that we can be a country that is
believe that we can be a country that is that is who we say we are we have a lot
that is who we say we are we have a lot
that is who we say we are we have a lot of work to do and we have to do it
of work to do and we have to do it
of work to do and we have to do it together
together
together we will be better you will be better our
we will be better you will be better our
we will be better you will be better our families our communities our country
families our communities our country
families our communities our country will be better if we do this work thank
will be better if we do this work thank
will be better if we do this work thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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