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Growing up Latino and fighting for social justice | Agustin Diaz | TEDxMarmaladeLibrary


thank you so much

thank you so much here here thank you for just being

here here thank you for just being

here here thank you for just being president in space and allowing me to

president in space and allowing me to

president in space and allowing me to just share these words first and

just share these words first and

just share these words first and foremost I want to go ahead and

foremost I want to go ahead and

foremost I want to go ahead and recognize two important things one is

recognize two important things one is

recognize two important things one is that yours Andy I’m not your fight

that yours Andy I’m not your fight

that yours Andy I’m not your fight search your second occupied land or

search your second occupied land or

search your second occupied land or money I want to give a reserve a quick

money I want to give a reserve a quick

money I want to give a reserve a quick addition to people’s at this nation I

want to recognize that to begin with

want to recognize that to begin with because they are the bridge in many ways

because they are the bridge in many ways

because they are the bridge in many ways and enter their knowledge they can share

and enter their knowledge they can share

and enter their knowledge they can share with us to go forward so many different

with us to go forward so many different

with us to go forward so many different social investor so the second thing one

social investor so the second thing one

social investor so the second thing one recognized is an incredibly beautiful

recognized is an incredibly beautiful

recognized is an incredibly beautiful woman right back there who gave me life

woman right back there who gave me life

woman right back there who gave me life give me courage and has raised me and

give me courage and has raised me and

give me courage and has raised me and brought everything in the world that’s

brought everything in the world that’s

brought everything in the world that’s my mommy stop all the millions just

my mommy stop all the millions just

my mommy stop all the millions just right back

again although when I talk about her

again although when I talk about her because you know she did it well beyond

because you know she did it well beyond

because you know she did it well beyond her own raising four kids of course my

her own raising four kids of course my

her own raising four kids of course my father was there he was working

father was there he was working

father was there he was working literally all the time to Johnson from

literally all the time to Johnson from

literally all the time to Johnson from the New York hardly ever got to see him

the New York hardly ever got to see him

the New York hardly ever got to see him so there she was taking us back to the

so there she was taking us back to the

so there she was taking us back to the fourth to school to the grocery store

fourth to school to the grocery store

fourth to school to the grocery store across Subway’s the cross trains buses

across Subway’s the cross trains buses

across Subway’s the cross trains buses everything she did it she did it on her

everything she did it she did it on her

everything she did it she did it on her own because she’s just badass like that

own because she’s just badass like that

own because she’s just badass like that but she also had a blue is her family

but she also had a blue is her family

but she also had a blue is her family family of 15 brothers sisters that

family of 15 brothers sisters that

family of 15 brothers sisters that literally lived on the same building and

literally lived on the same building and

literally lived on the same building and there we were having parties the range

there we were having parties the range

there we were having parties the range of going back and forth between

of going back and forth between

of going back and forth between apartment doors and so forth enjoying

apartment doors and so forth enjoying

apartment doors and so forth enjoying life enjoying each other because family

life enjoying each other because family

life enjoying each other because family does that community doesn’t right and so

does that community doesn’t right and so

does that community doesn’t right and so one day as I was going up and I was

one day as I was going up and I was

one day as I was going up and I was moving forward in my life in Brooklyn I

moving forward in my life in Brooklyn I

moving forward in my life in Brooklyn I wanted to go see the world I wanted to

wanted to go see the world I wanted to

wanted to go see the world I wanted to see things that were different I want to

see things that were different I want to

see things that were different I want to get outside my cage and I had very

get outside my cage and I had very

get outside my cage and I had very deficit response to my own community to

deficit response to my own community to

deficit response to my own community to my own neighborhood and I realized I

my own neighborhood and I realized I

my own neighborhood and I realized I just want to see something different my

just want to see something different my

just want to see something different my mom totally supported me and so she let

mom totally supported me and so she let

mom totally supported me and so she let me go in this trip to Idaho of all

me go in this trip to Idaho of all

me go in this trip to Idaho of all places and there it was and I was stuck

places and there it was and I was stuck

places and there it was and I was stuck in some university called meadow the

in some university called meadow the

in some university called meadow the scholarship that I was really grateful

scholarship that I was really grateful

scholarship that I was really grateful for and I really enjoyed it at first but

for and I really enjoyed it at first but

for and I really enjoyed it at first but things started changing tokenization is

things started changing tokenization is

things started changing tokenization is interesting like that when you become

interesting like that when you become

interesting like that when you become Brown you realize it wasn’t one day not

Brown you realize it wasn’t one day not

Brown you realize it wasn’t one day not too long you know into magic

too long you know into magic

too long you know into magic to my education I was out for more

to my education I was out for more

to my education I was out for more seconds right because I was hanging out

seconds right because I was hanging out

seconds right because I was hanging out with friends and just a joint life and I

with friends and just a joint life and I

with friends and just a joint life and I became practice when there is my

became practice when there is my

became practice when there is my education and there I was in this

education and there I was in this

education and there I was in this motorcycle ride and I had no idea what

motorcycle ride and I had no idea what

motorcycle ride and I had no idea what happened no idea at all that semester

happened no idea at all that semester

happened no idea at all that semester completely blanked I woke up I can’t

completely blanked I woke up I can’t

completely blanked I woke up I can’t remember how long afterwards weeks

remember how long afterwards weeks

remember how long afterwards weeks hysterically I woke up afterwards and I

hysterically I woke up afterwards and I

hysterically I woke up afterwards and I was in the colon there suffered from a

was in the colon there suffered from a

was in the colon there suffered from a traumatic brain injury

traumatic brain injury

traumatic brain injury and the most powerful thing I saw that

and the most powerful thing I saw that

and the most powerful thing I saw that was first there and woke up was my

was first there and woke up was my

was first there and woke up was my mother’s face and then my family and I

mother’s face and then my family and I

mother’s face and then my family and I started crying because I don’t know what

started crying because I don’t know what

started crying because I don’t know what happened like I didn’t know where I was

happened like I didn’t know where I was

happened like I didn’t know where I was what was going on the same time after

what was going on the same time after

what was going on the same time after some time I was able to recover I was

some time I was able to recover I was

some time I was able to recover I was able to walk again talk again do all

able to walk again talk again do all

able to walk again talk again do all those things all over again and I was

those things all over again and I was

those things all over again and I was able to decide that I really wanted to

able to decide that I really wanted to

able to decide that I really wanted to go back into education I want to do it

go back into education I want to do it

go back into education I want to do it right this time and I wanted to make

right this time and I wanted to make

right this time and I wanted to make sure that I represent my family well

sure that I represent my family well

sure that I represent my family well because my mother my father everybody my

because my mother my father everybody my

because my mother my father everybody my family they came and left everything

family they came and left everything

family they came and left everything behind a Brooklyn New York just to be

behind a Brooklyn New York just to be

behind a Brooklyn New York just to be there with you just to make sure that

there with you just to make sure that

there with you just to make sure that nothing bad I’m going to go ahead and

nothing bad I’m going to go ahead and

nothing bad I’m going to go ahead and show a few pictures it’s all put

show a few pictures it’s all put

show a few pictures it’s all put together it makes us forever here and

together it makes us forever here and

together it makes us forever here and it’s actually perfect like that because

it’s actually perfect like that because

it’s actually perfect like that because life is like that life is just the whole

life is like that life is just the whole

life is like that life is just the whole nature of lower levels of visual images

nature of lower levels of visual images

nature of lower levels of visual images and messages I just think it’s powerful

and messages I just think it’s powerful

and messages I just think it’s powerful you’ll notice the picture where the pros

you’ll notice the picture where the pros

you’ll notice the picture where the pros hanging on the top and one bedroom

hanging on the top and one bedroom

hanging on the top and one bedroom apartment just chillin right there with

apartment just chillin right there with

apartment just chillin right there with her I froze out and it was it was a good

her I froze out and it was it was a good

her I froze out and it was it was a good life you also noticed my time and I have

life you also noticed my time and I have

life you also noticed my time and I have all except the servant friends whom I

all except the servant friends whom I

all except the servant friends whom I feel like that connected mess of it

feel like that connected mess of it

feel like that connected mess of it because they were also people of color

because they were also people of color

because they were also people of color with marginalized entities just like

with marginalized entities just like

with marginalized entities just like myself and then you’ll notice the moment

myself and then you’ll notice the moment

myself and then you’ll notice the moment that truly change anything accident and

that truly change anything accident and

that truly change anything accident and I think the worst part wasn’t that that

I think the worst part wasn’t that that

I think the worst part wasn’t that that was a coma he said they took off all my

was a coma he said they took off all my

was a coma he said they took off all my beautiful hair at the same time so

beautiful hair at the same time so

beautiful hair at the same time so that’s all good I can live with that

that’s all good I can live with that

that’s all good I can live with that because it’s okay

because it’s okay

because it’s okay afterwards that that’s going to serve a

afterwards that that’s going to serve a

afterwards that that’s going to serve a university and I just flowered and from

university and I just flowered and from

university and I just flowered and from there and UVU able to explore myself in

there and UVU able to explore myself in

there and UVU able to explore myself in this color environment and ascension we

this color environment and ascension we

this color environment and ascension we articulate and we understand who I was

articulate and we understand who I was

articulate and we understand who I was and go forward there and a little and a

and go forward there and a little and a

and go forward there and a little and a really beautiful understanding of people

really beautiful understanding of people

really beautiful understanding of people and social injustice and pushing those

and social injustice and pushing those

and social injustice and pushing those those those messages forward with

those those messages forward with

those those messages forward with changing every dream but it was also an

changing every dream but it was also an

changing every dream but it was also an education that was involved my community

education that was involved my community

education that was involved my community and as well as just officially within

and as well as just officially within

and as well as just officially within academia the thing for me is that what I

academia the thing for me is that what I

academia the thing for me is that what I see and you’ll probably not see here

see and you’ll probably not see here

see and you’ll probably not see here will see it there he said the woman of

will see it there he said the woman of

will see it there he said the woman of my life have always shaped like it

my life have always shaped like it

my life have always shaped like it always informed how I go about things

always informed how I go about things

always informed how I go about things and have built my knowledge to see in

and have built my knowledge to see in

and have built my knowledge to see in the corner right there I would eat this

the corner right there I would eat this

the corner right there I would eat this remembers from a piece that so distally

remembers from a piece that so distally

remembers from a piece that so distally spoke long ago a letter from place

spoke long ago a letter from place

spoke long ago a letter from place called meant for my children she talks

called meant for my children she talks

called meant for my children she talks about our grand members to make sure the

about our grand members to make sure the

about our grand members to make sure the line of our Falcons and other ups share

line of our Falcons and other ups share

line of our Falcons and other ups share their wealth of knowledge that could

their wealth of knowledge that could

their wealth of knowledge that could change our societies you notice in most

change our societies you notice in most

change our societies you notice in most of my two young men Kings right there I

of my two young men Kings right there I

of my two young men Kings right there I think personally made this just right

think personally made this just right

think personally made this just right there the corner and this is what I hope

there the corner and this is what I hope

there the corner and this is what I hope that the understands well they have a

that the understands well they have a

that the understands well they have a patriarchal line power and knowledge

patriarchal line power and knowledge

patriarchal line power and knowledge that could be spread to them and they

that could be spread to them and they

that could be spread to them and they can go forward that now should take all

can go forward that now should take all

can go forward that now should take all the world all the structures because

the world all the structures because

the world all the structures because they look at resistance as we look at

they look at resistance as we look at

they look at resistance as we look at social justice and activism challenging

social justice and activism challenging

social justice and activism challenging these things just about to take it to

these things just about to take it to

these things just about to take it to place for me it’s quite simple it’s not

place for me it’s quite simple it’s not

place for me it’s quite simple it’s not it’s not complicated in the sense of

it’s not complicated in the sense of

it’s not complicated in the sense of what we have to do but it’s simple in

what we have to do but it’s simple in

what we have to do but it’s simple in the sense of what we have to pursue

the sense of what we have to pursue

the sense of what we have to pursue first of all we have to understand that

first of all we have to understand that

first of all we have to understand that the bridge we built in our communities

the bridge we built in our communities

the bridge we built in our communities must go through a process of

must go through a process of

must go through a process of decolonization we must go to a positive

decolonization we must go to a positive

decolonization we must go to a positive process of decolonization of ourselves

process of decolonization of ourselves

process of decolonization of ourselves by doing that what must first come to

by doing that what must first come to

by doing that what must first come to love and understand ourselves in a way

love and understand ourselves in a way

love and understand ourselves in a way that hasn’t been done before we have to

that hasn’t been done before we have to

that hasn’t been done before we have to learn that we as individuals do not

learn that we as individuals do not

learn that we as individuals do not exist we as family communities as

exist we as family communities as

exist we as family communities as collective blocks

collective blocks

collective blocks exist and therefore with that

exist and therefore with that

exist and therefore with that understanding we go forward in a whole

understanding we go forward in a whole

understanding we go forward in a whole new sense of intogen aid that shares

new sense of intogen aid that shares

new sense of intogen aid that shares more about who we are and what we

more about who we are and what we

more about who we are and what we understand

understand

now that being said when we come to that

now that being said when we come to that point of contact we understand our

point of contact we understand our

point of contact we understand our decolonize cells we can then begin to

decolonize cells we can then begin to

decolonize cells we can then begin to build bridges we can then go ahead and

build bridges we can then go ahead and

build bridges we can then go ahead and shut down to the borders that

shut down to the borders that

shut down to the borders that separate us as people as communities so

separate us as people as communities so

separate us as people as communities so our problem was not only be

our problem was not only be

our problem was not only be intersectional in that sense but you see

intersectional in that sense but you see

intersectional in that sense but you see building at the same time and go for

building at the same time and go for

building at the same time and go for them that way and there’s a difference

them that way and there’s a difference

them that way and there’s a difference because I don’t want to go ahead and

because I don’t want to go ahead and

because I don’t want to go ahead and share this message up we have to look at

share this message up we have to look at

share this message up we have to look at unity we have to create connections you

unity we have to create connections you

unity we have to create connections you have to build bridges because that is

have to build bridges because that is

have to build bridges because that is how this is whole kumbaya colorblind

how this is whole kumbaya colorblind

how this is whole kumbaya colorblind that can sometimes get into play right

that can sometimes get into play right

that can sometimes get into play right and that’s oftentimes to a white lens

and that’s oftentimes to a white lens

and that’s oftentimes to a white lens through a very Eurocentric glance that

through a very Eurocentric glance that

through a very Eurocentric glance that we have to communicate with each other

we have to communicate with each other

we have to communicate with each other but sometimes we’re getting to

but sometimes we’re getting to

but sometimes we’re getting to understand as well is that there’s

understand as well is that there’s

understand as well is that there’s something called self-determination and

something called self-determination and

something called self-determination and that people have the power to be

that people have the power to be

that people have the power to be self-determining on their own so when

self-determining on their own so when

self-determining on their own so when you want to work with somebody they

you want to work with somebody they

you want to work with somebody they don’t want to work with you that’s okay

don’t want to work with you that’s okay

don’t want to work with you that’s okay that’s alright especially amongst

that’s alright especially amongst

that’s alright especially amongst indigenous societies now as a like an

indigenous societies now as a like an

indigenous societies now as a like an old man who is really keen oh-ho that’s

old man who is really keen oh-ho that’s

old man who is really keen oh-ho that’s my place that’s my space decolonization

my place that’s my space decolonization

my place that’s my space decolonization is something very interesting it’s an

is something very interesting it’s an

is something very interesting it’s an ongoing process doesn’t stop there is no

ongoing process doesn’t stop there is no

ongoing process doesn’t stop there is no end in the same way that when it was

end in the same way that when it was

end in the same way that when it was beginning so I have to understand I

beginning so I have to understand I

beginning so I have to understand I could put it myself

could put it myself

could put it myself they beat the guy he speaks of Balki Bob

they beat the guy he speaks of Balki Bob

they beat the guy he speaks of Balki Bob Donnie faught has a tongue and principle

Donnie faught has a tongue and principle

Donnie faught has a tongue and principle of socio spacial relations in which you

of socio spacial relations in which you

of socio spacial relations in which you acknowledge plan people and there were

acknowledge plan people and there were

acknowledge plan people and there were no borders is not an issue distance is

no borders is not an issue distance is

no borders is not an issue distance is not an issue all these other obstacles

not an issue all these other obstacles

not an issue all these other obstacles are not

are not

are not because she had your pupils and travel

because she had your pupils and travel

because she had your pupils and travel and current knowledge to travel the

and current knowledge to travel the

and current knowledge to travel the pumpkin bushes it is excluded which is a

pumpkin bushes it is excluded which is a

pumpkin bushes it is excluded which is a very powerful component to who we are

very powerful component to who we are

very powerful component to who we are that the Communist self because once we

that the Communist self because once we

that the Communist self because once we can do this we can understand much more

can do this we can understand much more

can do this we can understand much more about building bridges building

about building bridges building

about building bridges building community and going forward and

community and going forward and

community and going forward and assisting with social justice social

assisting with social justice social

assisting with social justice social justice movements that are currently

justice movements that are currently

justice movements that are currently occurring and pushing on to other places

occurring and pushing on to other places

occurring and pushing on to other places one of my favorite authors monthly Ethel

one of my favorite authors monthly Ethel

one of my favorite authors monthly Ethel from UCLA is an incredible Oscar talk

from UCLA is an incredible Oscar talk

from UCLA is an incredible Oscar talk about the undocumented event in the past

about the undocumented event in the past

about the undocumented event in the past in the past what it is what it’s going

in the past what it is what it’s going

in the past what it is what it’s going he protects it especially in the sense

he protects it especially in the sense

he protects it especially in the sense of what the dreamer movement was about

of what the dreamer movement was about

of what the dreamer movement was about before now I have to acknowledge my

before now I have to acknowledge my

before now I have to acknowledge my privilege in essence and assistive and

privilege in essence and assistive and

privilege in essence and assistive and able-bodied male in this country among

able-bodied male in this country among

able-bodied male in this country among other things I have educated and so

other things I have educated and so

other things I have educated and so forth which is a constant set of

forth which is a constant set of

forth which is a constant set of privilege check that me to do that I

privilege check that me to do that I

privilege check that me to do that I need to do I wanted it though he speaks

need to do I wanted it though he speaks

need to do I wanted it though he speaks tell the dreamer woman himself as

tell the dreamer woman himself as

tell the dreamer woman himself as something that was very much deeply to

something that was very much deeply to

something that was very much deeply to anti-blackness

anti-blackness

anti-blackness something that was not query quite quite

something that was not query quite quite

something that was not query quite quite yet something that was just still

yet something that was just still

yet something that was just still limited many ways memories that people

limited many ways memories that people

limited many ways memories that people in governments etc not enter not taking

in governments etc not enter not taking

in governments etc not enter not taking a larger narratives and he speaks a

a larger narratives and he speaks a

a larger narratives and he speaks a woman to following and when movement

woman to following and when movement

woman to following and when movement above includes many more people so it

above includes many more people so it

above includes many more people so it doesn’t just include students is

doesn’t just include students is

doesn’t just include students is specific individual bodies but now

specific individual bodies but now

specific individual bodies but now includes entire collectives includes

includes entire collectives includes

includes entire collectives includes families adults people who’ve been there

families adults people who’ve been there

families adults people who’ve been there before because they dream dreams too as

before because they dream dreams too as

before because they dream dreams too as well as us so in this sense movement and

well as us so in this sense movement and

well as us so in this sense movement and the pursuit of social justice is really

the pursuit of social justice is really

the pursuit of social justice is really never-ending it is never-ending but

never-ending it is never-ending but

never-ending it is never-ending but neither is it limited or

movement can be indigenous in so many

movement can be indigenous in so many ways and yet it’s thought to be careful

ways and yet it’s thought to be careful

ways and yet it’s thought to be careful about that term we can’t cooperate or to

about that term we can’t cooperate or to

about that term we can’t cooperate or to just go ahead and say movement is

just go ahead and say movement is

just go ahead and say movement is indigenous we have the understand the

indigenous we have the understand the

indigenous we have the understand the implications we have to dig deep and

implications we have to dig deep and

implications we have to dig deep and brews and understand that movement can

brews and understand that movement can

brews and understand that movement can be so many things it could be query can

be so many things it could be query can

be so many things it could be query can be gladly be intersectional to be among

be gladly be intersectional to be among

be gladly be intersectional to be among various places and we have to do that if

various places and we have to do that if

various places and we have to do that if we’re going to do something for me this

we’re going to do something for me this

we’re going to do something for me this change does not happen within policy

change does not happen within policy

change does not happen within policy within structures or we transforming

within structures or we transforming

within structures or we transforming those structures because guess what

those structures because guess what

those structures because guess what power does that it just simply shapes

power does that it just simply shapes

power does that it just simply shapes this up to the structure and what is

this up to the structure and what is

this up to the structure and what is this for me the pursuit of change is

this for me the pursuit of change is

this for me the pursuit of change is truly something local it’s placed base

truly something local it’s placed base

truly something local it’s placed base it’s within you and your community and

it’s within you and your community and

it’s within you and your community and the bridges you build within those

the bridges you build within those

the bridges you build within those degrees to create something new and

degrees to create something new and

degrees to create something new and alternative whatever it is and you push

alternative whatever it is and you push

alternative whatever it is and you push forward with that you don’t stop you’re

forward with that you don’t stop you’re

forward with that you don’t stop you’re constantly reflect on it cause you

constantly reflect on it cause you

constantly reflect on it cause you critique it because that’s the beauty of

critique it because that’s the beauty of

critique it because that’s the beauty of the specific that’s our beauty

the specific that’s our beauty

the specific that’s our beauty originating then you go in a cycle back

originating then you go in a cycle back

originating then you go in a cycle back and understand the cosmologies the

and understand the cosmologies the

and understand the cosmologies the spiritualities that both all around you

spiritualities that both all around you

spiritualities that both all around you to shake me when they can become when

to shake me when they can become when

to shake me when they can become when they can be my young children are gonna

they can be my young children are gonna

they can be my young children are gonna grow up in a world full of issues full

grow up in a world full of issues full

grow up in a world full of issues full of injustice full of things that happen

of injustice full of things that happen

of injustice full of things that happen to communities left and right but we

to communities left and right but we

to communities left and right but we have to begin to see each other we have

have to begin to see each other we have

have to begin to see each other we have to begin to understand each other behind

to begin to understand each other behind

to begin to understand each other behind the obstacles of what people often times

the obstacles of what people often times

the obstacles of what people often times create against us these issues right

create against us these issues right

create against us these issues right here whether be standing wrong black

here whether be standing wrong black

here whether be standing wrong black lives matter

lives matter

lives matter homelessness etc etc etc it’s just these

homelessness etc etc etc it’s just these

homelessness etc etc etc it’s just these issues of Microsoft you can isolate and

issues of Microsoft you can isolate and

issues of Microsoft you can isolate and just go ahead for soon as

just go ahead for soon as

just go ahead for soon as we have to understand the beauty and

we have to understand the beauty and

we have to understand the beauty and very at the same time that were all

very at the same time that were all

very at the same time that were all interconnected and therefore our

interconnected and therefore our

interconnected and therefore our struggles are interconnected a movement

struggles are interconnected a movement

struggles are interconnected a movement many movements which require

many movements which require

many movements which require [Applause]

”

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