There’s Only One Race | Adrian Hale | TEDxFlourCity

I was 12 years old on 9/11 2001 and I

I was 12 years old on 9/11 2001 and I can still remember it being one of the

can still remember it being one of the

can still remember it being one of the most terrifying days of my life I

most terrifying days of my life I

most terrifying days of my life I couldn’t understand how someone could

couldn’t understand how someone could

couldn’t understand how someone could commit such an evil an indiscriminate

commit such an evil an indiscriminate

commit such an evil an indiscriminate act of murder claiming the lives of

act of murder claiming the lives of

act of murder claiming the lives of thousands of innocent people I can still

thousands of innocent people I can still

thousands of innocent people I can still remember in my youth thinking that the

remember in my youth thinking that the

remember in my youth thinking that the thick clouds of smoke that came from the

thick clouds of smoke that came from the

thick clouds of smoke that came from the collapsing of the buildings were somehow

collapsing of the buildings were somehow

collapsing of the buildings were somehow gonna make their way to Rochester but

gonna make their way to Rochester but

gonna make their way to Rochester but little did I know what was headed my way

little did I know what was headed my way

little did I know what was headed my way and toward the rest of the country

and toward the rest of the country

and toward the rest of the country wasn’t even thicker and more dangerous

wasn’t even thicker and more dangerous

wasn’t even thicker and more dangerous cloud of fear and in it was being

cloud of fear and in it was being

cloud of fear and in it was being carried the debris of confusion anger

carried the debris of confusion anger

carried the debris of confusion anger and rage people all across America were

and rage people all across America were

and rage people all across America were wondering how could this happen who was

wondering how could this happen who was

wondering how could this happen who was to blame and most of all what was our

to blame and most of all what was our

to blame and most of all what was our country going to do I can also remember

country going to do I can also remember

country going to do I can also remember in those days immediately following 9/11

in those days immediately following 9/11

in those days immediately following 9/11 the media’s dissemination and

the media’s dissemination and

the media’s dissemination and cultivation of this cloud in this debris

cultivation of this cloud in this debris

cultivation of this cloud in this debris playing the horrifying moments of that

playing the horrifying moments of that

playing the horrifying moments of that day over and over again with no regard

day over and over again with no regard

day over and over again with no regard for the families of the victims or our

for the families of the victims or our

for the families of the victims or our grieving country the most poignant

grieving country the most poignant

grieving country the most poignant memory I have in those days following

memory I have in those days following

memory I have in those days following 9/11 was the proliferation of the image

9/11 was the proliferation of the image

9/11 was the proliferation of the image of Osama bin Laden and it would be this

of Osama bin Laden and it would be this

of Osama bin Laden and it would be this image of the terrorist that would have a

image of the terrorist that would have a

image of the terrorist that would have a lasting impact on not just my life and

lasting impact on not just my life and

lasting impact on not just my life and our lives but on the lives of millions

our lives but on the lives of millions

our lives but on the lives of millions of innocent people halfway around the

of innocent people halfway around the

of innocent people halfway around the world

world

world six years later disbelief that there was

six years later disbelief that there was

six years later disbelief that there was an imminent threat to our country from

an imminent threat to our country from

an imminent threat to our country from terrorists would lead me to enlisting

terrorists would lead me to enlisting

terrorists would lead me to enlisting within the United States Marine Corps at

within the United States Marine Corps at

within the United States Marine Corps at only 18 years old I became a Marine

only 18 years old I became a Marine

only 18 years old I became a Marine Corps recruit and found myself standing

Corps recruit and found myself standing

Corps recruit and found myself standing on the historic yellow footprints on so

on the historic yellow footprints on so

on the historic yellow footprints on so Parris Island

Parris Island

Parris Island south carolina i went to boot camp in

south carolina i went to boot camp in

south carolina i went to boot camp in the summer of 2007 and my drill

the summer of 2007 and my drill

the summer of 2007 and my drill instructors made it very clear to myself

instructors made it very clear to myself

instructors made it very clear to myself and my platoon that their task was to

and my platoon that their task was to

and my platoon that their task was to prepare us for the war in iraq and it

prepare us for the war in iraq and it

prepare us for the war in iraq and it would be in boot camp that this

would be in boot camp that this

would be in boot camp that this socialization of fear that i’ve been a

socialization of fear that i’ve been a

socialization of fear that i’ve been a product of as an american growing up in

product of as an american growing up in

product of as an american growing up in a post 9-11 world will be transformed by

a post 9-11 world will be transformed by

a post 9-11 world will be transformed by an indoctrination of animus and

an indoctrination of animus and

an indoctrination of animus and hostility towards the image and idea of

hostility towards the image and idea of

hostility towards the image and idea of the terrorists while in the marine corps

the terrorists while in the marine corps

the terrorists while in the marine corps i will become an avionics technician on

i will become an avionics technician on

i will become an avionics technician on ch-53 deltas and echoes the platform

ch-53 deltas and echoes the platform

ch-53 deltas and echoes the platform that has been the backbone of marine

that has been the backbone of marine

that has been the backbone of marine corps aviation since the Vietnam era

corps aviation since the Vietnam era

corps aviation since the Vietnam era this is what my unit found itself at the

this is what my unit found itself at the

this is what my unit found itself at the forefront of aerial operations in

forefront of aerial operations in

forefront of aerial operations in southern Helmand province Afghanistan

southern Helmand province Afghanistan

southern Helmand province Afghanistan for the first time in the summer of 2009

for the first time in the summer of 2009

for the first time in the summer of 2009 we eventually made two combat

we eventually made two combat

we eventually made two combat deployments during the duration of my

deployments during the duration of my

deployments during the duration of my enlistment I can still remember the

enlistment I can still remember the

enlistment I can still remember the Shaka though when we first landed in the

Shaka though when we first landed in the

Shaka though when we first landed in the country and I saw the people who we were

country and I saw the people who we were

country and I saw the people who we were supposed to be at war with walking

supposed to be at war with walking

supposed to be at war with walking around our base I can remember this

around our base I can remember this

around our base I can remember this creating feelings of suspicion and

creating feelings of suspicion and

creating feelings of suspicion and distrust and thinking to myself aren’t

distrust and thinking to myself aren’t

distrust and thinking to myself aren’t they supposed to be our enemy what was

they supposed to be our enemy what was

they supposed to be our enemy what was even more confusing was the types of

even more confusing was the types of

even more confusing was the types of mission my unit would conduct one day

mission my unit would conduct one day

mission my unit would conduct one day we’d be conducting combat assault

we’d be conducting combat assault

we’d be conducting combat assault support missions by inserting troops but

support missions by inserting troops but

support missions by inserting troops but then the next day we’d be delivering

then the next day we’d be delivering

then the next day we’d be delivering food to remote Afghan cities and

food to remote Afghan cities and

food to remote Afghan cities and villages

villages

villages I couldn’t understand if we were there

I couldn’t understand if we were there

I couldn’t understand if we were there to help or hurt the Afghan people and

to help or hurt the Afghan people and

to help or hurt the Afghan people and all the while I was constantly hearing

all the while I was constantly hearing

all the while I was constantly hearing the terms hearts and minds and being

the terms hearts and minds and being

the terms hearts and minds and being told that our mission in Afghanistan was

told that our mission in Afghanistan was

told that our mission in Afghanistan was to win hearts and minds yet at the same

to win hearts and minds yet at the same

to win hearts and minds yet at the same time I didn’t understand why people who

time I didn’t understand why people who

time I didn’t understand why people who cost our country such great pain or 9/11

cost our country such great pain or 9/11

cost our country such great pain or 9/11 or even worth our consideration at all

or even worth our consideration at all

or even worth our consideration at all I will be honorably discharged in the

I will be honorably discharged in the

I will be honorably discharged in the spring of 2012 I didn’t know it then but

spring of 2012 I didn’t know it then but

spring of 2012 I didn’t know it then but I know it now that in the name of safety

I know it now that in the name of safety

I know it now that in the name of safety national security and worst of all

national security and worst of all

national security and worst of all righteous indignation Islamophobia had

righteous indignation Islamophobia had

righteous indignation Islamophobia had infiltrated my subconscious the fear

infiltrated my subconscious the fear

infiltrated my subconscious the fear that was imparted to me on 9/11

that was imparted to me on 9/11

that was imparted to me on 9/11 transformed in boot camp and fully

transformed in boot camp and fully

transformed in boot camp and fully matured in the deserts of Afghanistan

matured in the deserts of Afghanistan

matured in the deserts of Afghanistan came home with me in the forms of

came home with me in the forms of

came home with me in the forms of prejudice and implicit bias and I

prejudice and implicit bias and I

prejudice and implicit bias and I carried this prejudice and implicit bias

carried this prejudice and implicit bias

carried this prejudice and implicit bias with me everywhere I went they will

with me everywhere I went they will

with me everywhere I went they will manifest on a bus on the subway at the

manifest on a bus on the subway at the

manifest on a bus on the subway at the airport on the train anywhere I even

airport on the train anywhere I even

airport on the train anywhere I even gave warrants of questions like why

gave warrants of questions like why

gave warrants of questions like why won’t the president use terms like

won’t the president use terms like

won’t the president use terms like radical Islam or Islamic terrorists

radical Islam or Islamic terrorists

radical Islam or Islamic terrorists these experiences that I’ve shared with

these experiences that I’ve shared with

these experiences that I’ve shared with you all are the origins of my story and

you all are the origins of my story and

you all are the origins of my story and what led me to subscribing to the

what led me to subscribing to the

what led me to subscribing to the ideologies of discrimination and other

ideologies of discrimination and other

ideologies of discrimination and other ization towards not just the

ization towards not just the

ization towards not just the practitioners of Islam but anyone who

practitioners of Islam but anyone who

practitioners of Islam but anyone who even had the appearance of a Muslim then

even had the appearance of a Muslim then

even had the appearance of a Muslim then one day while taking a class at Yale

one day while taking a class at Yale

one day while taking a class at Yale titled inequality in America my life

titled inequality in America my life

titled inequality in America my life would change we’d got to the subject of

would change we’d got to the subject of

would change we’d got to the subject of Islamophobia and the media is negative

Islamophobia and the media is negative

Islamophobia and the media is negative representation of both the Muslim

representation of both the Muslim

representation of both the Muslim community and the terrorists during this

community and the terrorists during this

community and the terrorists during this class

class

class another student I began to engage in a

another student I began to engage in a

another student I began to engage in a very passionate debate around the

very passionate debate around the

very passionate debate around the subjects of national security and the

subjects of national security and the

subjects of national security and the imminent threat of terrorism in other

imminent threat of terrorism in other

imminent threat of terrorism in other words at the time I’m justifying the

words at the time I’m justifying the

words at the time I’m justifying the media’s negative and biased

media’s negative and biased

media’s negative and biased representation of our Muslim community

representation of our Muslim community

representation of our Muslim community to someone who because of our physical

to someone who because of our physical

to someone who because of our physical appearance depth of understanding and

appearance depth of understanding and

appearance depth of understanding and most of all her empathy I perceived to

most of all her empathy I perceived to

most of all her empathy I perceived to be a Muslim I don’t remember everything

be a Muslim I don’t remember everything

be a Muslim I don’t remember everything she said with me word for word but as we

she said with me word for word but as we

she said with me word for word but as we engaged in this dialogue I began to

engaged in this dialogue I began to

engaged in this dialogue I began to follow her logic

follow her logic

follow her logic and as I followed her logic she led me

and as I followed her logic she led me

and as I followed her logic she led me to an aha moment I can remember thinking

to an aha moment I can remember thinking

to an aha moment I can remember thinking to myself wow

to myself wow

to myself wow and then posing the question in my

and then posing the question in my

and then posing the question in my thoughts how is the way that I think

thoughts how is the way that I think

thoughts how is the way that I think about the practitioners of Islam or

about the practitioners of Islam or

about the practitioners of Islam or anyone who even has the appearance of a

anyone who even has the appearance of a

anyone who even has the appearance of a Muslim any different from the media’s

Muslim any different from the media’s

Muslim any different from the media’s criminalization of my identity the body

criminalization of my identity the body

criminalization of my identity the body that I occupy wrapped within his brown

that I occupy wrapped within his brown

that I occupy wrapped within his brown skin as a black man has been deemed boy

skin as a black man has been deemed boy

skin as a black man has been deemed boy of innocence and value by many and has

of innocence and value by many and has

of innocence and value by many and has the power to generate suspicion and

the power to generate suspicion and

the power to generate suspicion and distrust within anyone subscribing to

distrust within anyone subscribing to

distrust within anyone subscribing to the same prejudiced and implicit bias I

the same prejudiced and implicit bias I

the same prejudiced and implicit bias I was describing – it was in that moment

was describing – it was in that moment

was describing – it was in that moment that I had realized here I was the

that I had realized here I was the

that I had realized here I was the victim of prejudice and now the

victim of prejudice and now the

victim of prejudice and now the perpetuator of it that’s when it dawned

perpetuator of it that’s when it dawned

perpetuator of it that’s when it dawned on me it wasn’t them who should be fear

on me it wasn’t them who should be fear

on me it wasn’t them who should be fear but me you see prejudice and implicit

but me you see prejudice and implicit

but me you see prejudice and implicit bias are culprits to which we have all

bias are culprits to which we have all

bias are culprits to which we have all been hostage they infiltrate our hearts

been hostage they infiltrate our hearts

been hostage they infiltrate our hearts and minds through the unsecured doors of

and minds through the unsecured doors of

and minds through the unsecured doors of fear and the windows of ignorance and

fear and the windows of ignorance and

fear and the windows of ignorance and through these very same windows of

through these very same windows of

through these very same windows of ignorance they force us to see a person

ignorance they force us to see a person

ignorance they force us to see a person through our worldview and not within

through our worldview and not within

through our worldview and not within their greater context they come with

their greater context they come with

their greater context they come with presumptions of guilt against the

presumptions of guilt against the

presumptions of guilt against the innocent as they convince the jury of

innocent as they convince the jury of

innocent as they convince the jury of our innermost thoughts to convict the

our innermost thoughts to convict the

our innermost thoughts to convict the unknown and the stranger to biases and

unknown and the stranger to biases and

unknown and the stranger to biases and stereotypes that justify our sentencing

stereotypes that justify our sentencing

stereotypes that justify our sentencing of people to the dehumanizing status of

of people to the dehumanizing status of

of people to the dehumanizing status of other and once the classification of

other and once the classification of

other and once the classification of people is otherwise what atrocity will

people is otherwise what atrocity will

people is otherwise what atrocity will the unaffected and thus disinterested

the unaffected and thus disinterested

the unaffected and thus disinterested not willingly consent to astroscope for

not willingly consent to astroscope for

not willingly consent to astroscope for what level of injustice will I raise my

what level of injustice will I raise my

what level of injustice will I raise my hand and what innocence will add

hand and what innocence will add

hand and what innocence will add then for the other humankind is on the

then for the other humankind is on the

then for the other humankind is on the brink of losing the very core of who and

brink of losing the very core of who and

brink of losing the very core of who and what we are human as the word will

what we are human as the word will

what we are human as the word will become a contradiction unto itself its

become a contradiction unto itself its

become a contradiction unto itself its application will be granted to some of

application will be granted to some of

application will be granted to some of us and will be denied others history

us and will be denied others history

us and will be denied others history tells us this is a reality that we’ve

tells us this is a reality that we’ve

tells us this is a reality that we’ve experienced already for some for the

experienced already for some for the

experienced already for some for the word human once when it was replaced

word human once when it was replaced

word human once when it was replaced with words such as slave and just at the

with words such as slave and just at the

with words such as slave and just at the word slave was engineered for the

word slave was engineered for the

word slave was engineered for the purpose of its users and creators was

purpose of its users and creators was

purpose of its users and creators was now also the word nigger were not white

now also the word nigger were not white

now also the word nigger were not white trash bitch crippled Haji baguette spic

trash bitch crippled Haji baguette spic

trash bitch crippled Haji baguette spic and tranny and to all of us who have

and tranny and to all of us who have

and tranny and to all of us who have engaged in these psychological acts of

engaged in these psychological acts of

engaged in these psychological acts of terror what was our goal was it not to

terror what was our goal was it not to

terror what was our goal was it not to force someone to conform to a manner of

force someone to conform to a manner of

force someone to conform to a manner of behavior and an identity that we could

behavior and an identity that we could

behavior and an identity that we could understand whether we know it or not

understand whether we know it or not

understand whether we know it or not when we use these terms we involuntarily

when we use these terms we involuntarily

when we use these terms we involuntarily confined people within the walls of our

confined people within the walls of our

confined people within the walls of our words when they become incapable of

words when they become incapable of

words when they become incapable of seeing themselves as anything more than

seeing themselves as anything more than

seeing themselves as anything more than what society says they are our beliefs

what society says they are our beliefs

what society says they are our beliefs become their reality and it’s these

become their reality and it’s these

become their reality and it’s these psychological operations or what we

psychological operations or what we

psychological operations or what we refer to in the military as science that

refer to in the military as science that

refer to in the military as science that convinced those who are placed into

convinced those who are placed into

convinced those who are placed into another man’s chains that they were

another man’s chains that they were

another man’s chains that they were slaves even when those chains were never

slaves even when those chains were never

slaves even when those chains were never locked bondage is a physical condition

locked bondage is a physical condition

locked bondage is a physical condition but enslavement is a state of mind that

but enslavement is a state of mind that

but enslavement is a state of mind that convinced those of us who were told to

convinced those of us who were told to

convinced those of us who were told to ascend to the heights of success they

ascend to the heights of success they

ascend to the heights of success they had to shatter a glass ceiling even

had to shatter a glass ceiling even

had to shatter a glass ceiling even though the stairway of opportunity lay

though the stairway of opportunity lay

though the stairway of opportunity lay right before their eyes that convinced

right before their eyes that convinced

right before their eyes that convinced those of us who were told to hide our

those of us who were told to hide our

those of us who were told to hide our identities in secrecy

identities in secrecy

identities in secrecy whether that sin

whether that sin

whether that sin ship status sexual orientation gender

ship status sexual orientation gender

ship status sexual orientation gender identity religion disability to live a

identity religion disability to live a

identity religion disability to live a life comparable to that of someone

life comparable to that of someone

life comparable to that of someone holding their breath for fear being

holding their breath for fear being

holding their breath for fear being harmed by a toxic environment to those

harmed by a toxic environment to those

harmed by a toxic environment to those on the verge of suffocation I say your

on the verge of suffocation I say your

on the verge of suffocation I say your liberation begins when you take the deep

liberation begins when you take the deep

liberation begins when you take the deep breath of truth today I make an appeal

breath of truth today I make an appeal

breath of truth today I make an appeal to the conscience of this community that

to the conscience of this community that

to the conscience of this community that though we bear on our shoulders the

though we bear on our shoulders the

though we bear on our shoulders the weight of a complicated history a much

weight of a complicated history a much

weight of a complicated history a much more enlightened future can be made

more enlightened future can be made

more enlightened future can be made today if we can go beyond the choir of

today if we can go beyond the choir of

today if we can go beyond the choir of our thoughts and the words that dictate

our thoughts and the words that dictate

our thoughts and the words that dictate and influence our actions that originate

and influence our actions that originate

and influence our actions that originate within the echo chambers of our own

within the echo chambers of our own

within the echo chambers of our own minds if we can go beyond the choir of

minds if we can go beyond the choir of

minds if we can go beyond the choir of familiar accomplices who make it easy to

familiar accomplices who make it easy to

familiar accomplices who make it easy to keep doing what we already know doesn’t

keep doing what we already know doesn’t

keep doing what we already know doesn’t work by affirming our underdeveloped

work by affirming our underdeveloped

work by affirming our underdeveloped beliefs about people we don’t even know

beliefs about people we don’t even know

beliefs about people we don’t even know if we can go beyond the choir and look

if we can go beyond the choir and look

if we can go beyond the choir and look upon the stranger with empathy and

upon the stranger with empathy and

upon the stranger with empathy and resolve within ourselves with you I make

resolve within ourselves with you I make

resolve within ourselves with you I make war no more but now it is you who I make

war no more but now it is you who I make

war no more but now it is you who I make war for this war for the heart of our

war for this war for the heart of our

war for this war for the heart of our country and the soul of our human race

country and the soul of our human race

country and the soul of our human race isn’t fought against any one person or

isn’t fought against any one person or

isn’t fought against any one person or group of people but against a way of

group of people but against a way of

group of people but against a way of thinking and ideology a social

thinking and ideology a social

thinking and ideology a social psychology threatening to undo all the

psychology threatening to undo all the

psychology threatening to undo all the progress we’ve made and placing us on a

progress we’ve made and placing us on a

progress we’ve made and placing us on a path toward a dark and divisive future

path toward a dark and divisive future

path toward a dark and divisive future the Global War on Terror isn’t just

the Global War on Terror isn’t just

the Global War on Terror isn’t just fought in the hearts and minds of people

fought in the hearts and minds of people

fought in the hearts and minds of people in far-off places but it should also be

in far-off places but it should also be

in far-off places but it should also be fought in the hearts of minds of people

fought in the hearts of minds of people

fought in the hearts of minds of people like you and me right here today I ask

like you and me right here today I ask

like you and me right here today I ask you to join me in this effort by

you to join me in this effort by

you to join me in this effort by declaring war on the words of terror

declaring war on the words of terror

declaring war on the words of terror that have deprived many members of our

that have deprived many members of our

that have deprived many members of our human family of their humanity if we

human family of their humanity if we

human family of their humanity if we don’t think that

don’t think that

don’t think that that we won’t use them and when we don’t

that we won’t use them and when we don’t

that we won’t use them and when we don’t use them we break the cycle of

use them we break the cycle of

use them we break the cycle of oppression and become the change my life

oppression and become the change my life

oppression and become the change my life changed when I resolved to use empathy

changed when I resolved to use empathy

changed when I resolved to use empathy over ignorance and humanize the other

over ignorance and humanize the other

over ignorance and humanize the other I’m here today to tell you if it worked

I’m here today to tell you if it worked

I’m here today to tell you if it worked for me it can work for you

for me it can work for you

for me it can work for you thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]