[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] we’ve all had one of those days that
we’ve all had one of those days that
we’ve all had one of those days that doesn’t go as planned we’re hoping this
doesn’t go as planned we’re hoping this
doesn’t go as planned we’re hoping this is not that day but let me share with
is not that day but let me share with
is not that day but let me share with you a day I’m in this large cavernous
you a day I’m in this large cavernous
you a day I’m in this large cavernous discount shopping store doing clothes
discount shopping store doing clothes
discount shopping store doing clothes shopping which I don’t really like to do
shopping which I don’t really like to do
shopping which I don’t really like to do and I’m beginning to work my way down
and I’m beginning to work my way down
and I’m beginning to work my way down this aisle it’s very tightly packed with
this aisle it’s very tightly packed with
this aisle it’s very tightly packed with clothes almost claustrophobic but it
clothes almost claustrophobic but it
clothes almost claustrophobic but it also seems to extend infinitely into the
also seems to extend infinitely into the
also seems to extend infinitely into the distance now despite the fact that the
distance now despite the fact that the
distance now despite the fact that the store is almost completely empty I
store is almost completely empty I
store is almost completely empty I noticed there’s a woman in my aisle
noticed there’s a woman in my aisle
noticed there’s a woman in my aisle typical right and to my horror I realize
typical right and to my horror I realize
typical right and to my horror I realize even worse we’re gonna have to do the
even worse we’re gonna have to do the
even worse we’re gonna have to do the shimmy you know that really awkward you
shimmy you know that really awkward you
shimmy you know that really awkward you go left I go right you slide by one
go left I go right you slide by one
go left I go right you slide by one another you know as an American with the
another you know as an American with the
another you know as an American with the preferred social distance of at least a
preferred social distance of at least a
preferred social distance of at least a hundred feet this is very uncomfortable
hundred feet this is very uncomfortable
hundred feet this is very uncomfortable for me to consider so we’ve been sort of
for me to consider so we’ve been sort of
for me to consider so we’ve been sort of exchanging glances out of the corner of
exchanging glances out of the corner of
exchanging glances out of the corner of our eyes and this is sad to admit but I
our eyes and this is sad to admit but I
our eyes and this is sad to admit but I don’t particularly like this woman white
don’t particularly like this woman white
don’t particularly like this woman white middle-aged woman she seems really
middle-aged woman she seems really
middle-aged woman she seems really oblivious to our predicament and she’s
oblivious to our predicament and she’s
oblivious to our predicament and she’s not very responsive in a to me uh and
not very responsive in a to me uh and
not very responsive in a to me uh and and I realized it’s even worse than that
and I realized it’s even worse than that
and I realized it’s even worse than that she seems really entitled to be in my
she seems really entitled to be in my
she seems really entitled to be in my aisle but I I’m looking over her
aisle but I I’m looking over her
aisle but I I’m looking over her shoulder and I see that perfect outfit
shoulder and I see that perfect outfit
shoulder and I see that perfect outfit that I just know I want so I know I’m
that I just know I want so I know I’m
that I just know I want so I know I’m not the only crazy person that talks to
not the only crazy person that talks to
not the only crazy person that talks to themself I can I can tell you all talk
themself I can I can tell you all talk
themself I can I can tell you all talk to yourself too so I started having this
to yourself too so I started having this
to yourself too so I started having this internal conversation why don’t you like
internal conversation why don’t you like
internal conversation why don’t you like that woman you know just get over it
that woman you know just get over it
that woman you know just get over it look her in the eye and deal with the
look her in the eye and deal with the
look her in the eye and deal with the situation well you know I didn’t look at
situation well you know I didn’t look at
situation well you know I didn’t look at her directly cuz I didn’t like what I
her directly cuz I didn’t like what I
her directly cuz I didn’t like what I saw out of the corner of my eye I didn’t
saw out of the corner of my eye I didn’t
saw out of the corner of my eye I didn’t want to be with her I didn’t want to
want to be with her I didn’t want to
want to be with her I didn’t want to talk with her I didn’t even have any
talk with her I didn’t even have any
talk with her I didn’t even have any social interaction there wasn’t any part
social interaction there wasn’t any part
social interaction there wasn’t any part of me to thought maybe this is an
of me to thought maybe this is an
of me to thought maybe this is an opportunity to get to know someone
opportunity to get to know someone
opportunity to get to know someone exchange
exchange
exchange – smile you know I think there’s
– smile you know I think there’s
– smile you know I think there’s something there and basic realization we
something there and basic realization we
something there and basic realization we don’t like to look at things that make
don’t like to look at things that make
don’t like to look at things that make us uncomfortable that get too close that
us uncomfortable that get too close that
us uncomfortable that get too close that require intimacy or opening up we want
require intimacy or opening up we want
require intimacy or opening up we want people and things and ideas to confirm
people and things and ideas to confirm
people and things and ideas to confirm what we already believe we want life to
what we already believe we want life to
what we already believe we want life to turn out as planned
turn out as planned
turn out as planned right at my day job at James Madison’s
right at my day job at James Madison’s
right at my day job at James Madison’s Montpelier I’ve been wondering a lot
Montpelier I’ve been wondering a lot
Montpelier I’ve been wondering a lot about what makes us comfortable and not
about what makes us comfortable and not
about what makes us comfortable and not comfortable and what we see and don’t
comfortable and what we see and don’t
comfortable and what we see and don’t see as Americans you know I for one I
see as Americans you know I for one I
see as Americans you know I for one I want everyone to see the story of the US
want everyone to see the story of the US
want everyone to see the story of the US Constitution in all its radical beauty
Constitution in all its radical beauty
Constitution in all its radical beauty I’m really fond of this narrative of a
I’m really fond of this narrative of a
I’m really fond of this narrative of a young scrappy country throwing off the
young scrappy country throwing off the
young scrappy country throwing off the rule of a king crowd sourcing a
rule of a king crowd sourcing a
rule of a king crowd sourcing a blueprint for a new kind of government
blueprint for a new kind of government
blueprint for a new kind of government in creating and then adopting a
in creating and then adopting a
in creating and then adopting a constitution that many people historians
constitution that many people historians
constitution that many people historians consider a hinge point in human history
consider a hinge point in human history
consider a hinge point in human history and that still resonates and inspires
and that still resonates and inspires
and that still resonates and inspires people all over the world today who want
people all over the world today who want
people all over the world today who want government by the people but I think you
government by the people but I think you
government by the people but I think you know that’s only a little part of the
know that’s only a little part of the
know that’s only a little part of the story we’re only seeing remembering part
story we’re only seeing remembering part
story we’re only seeing remembering part of the narrative there’s a whole other
of the narrative there’s a whole other
of the narrative there’s a whole other half of our story where that same
half of our story where that same
half of our story where that same Constitution codified slavery without
Constitution codified slavery without
Constitution codified slavery without ever using the word our origin story our
ever using the word our origin story our
ever using the word our origin story our founding is based on freedom and slavery
founding is based on freedom and slavery
founding is based on freedom and slavery it’s in our democratic DNA and this is
it’s in our democratic DNA and this is
it’s in our democratic DNA and this is something I think many African American
something I think many African American
something I think many African American families know just from their own family
families know just from their own family
families know just from their own family history but a lot of us flat out deny
history but a lot of us flat out deny
history but a lot of us flat out deny forget or don’t see now I can tell it
forget or don’t see now I can tell it
forget or don’t see now I can tell it got really quiet and everyone’s worried
got really quiet and everyone’s worried
got really quiet and everyone’s worried oh no she’s going to get political I
oh no she’s going to get political I
oh no she’s going to get political I swear I’m not there there’s a lot of
swear I’m not there there’s a lot of
swear I’m not there there’s a lot of that going around right now instead I
that going around right now instead I
that going around right now instead I want to get personal growing up I was
want to get personal growing up I was
want to get personal growing up I was pretty oblivious to issues about race
pretty oblivious to issues about race
pretty oblivious to issues about race when you here where I lived you’re gonna
when you here where I lived you’re gonna
when you here where I lived you’re gonna go I was
go I was
go I was must’ve been in a military family but
must’ve been in a military family but
must’ve been in a military family but that’s not true my father is a water
that’s not true my father is a water
that’s not true my father is a water resource planner he’s here today and
resource planner he’s here today and
resource planner he’s here today and he’d just like to move so I’m gonna give
he’d just like to move so I’m gonna give
he’d just like to move so I’m gonna give you my list Utah Wyoming before high
you my list Utah Wyoming before high
you my list Utah Wyoming before high school Utah Wyoming California New
school Utah Wyoming California New
school Utah Wyoming California New Mexico Wisconsin three places Idaho
Mexico Wisconsin three places Idaho
Mexico Wisconsin three places Idaho Maine Nebraska and finally Virginia
Maine Nebraska and finally Virginia
Maine Nebraska and finally Virginia growing up this way
growing up this way
growing up this way I saw a geographically diverse United
I saw a geographically diverse United
I saw a geographically diverse United States it was fantastic but but let’s
States it was fantastic but but let’s
States it was fantastic but but let’s face it most of the communities I’m
face it most of the communities I’m
face it most of the communities I’m growing up in everyone looks just like
growing up in everyone looks just like
growing up in everyone looks just like me right
me right
me right and I had some beautiful beautiful
and I had some beautiful beautiful
and I had some beautiful beautiful places growing up but it left me with a
places growing up but it left me with a
places growing up but it left me with a few holes I’m gonna share just one story
few holes I’m gonna share just one story
few holes I’m gonna share just one story growing up in rural Maine we had a field
growing up in rural Maine we had a field
growing up in rural Maine we had a field trip once a year to a theater in Bangor
trip once a year to a theater in Bangor
trip once a year to a theater in Bangor the big city of Bangor and we saw five
the big city of Bangor and we saw five
the big city of Bangor and we saw five years in a row the same film five years
years in a row the same film five years
years in a row the same film five years in a row you’re getting the rhythm here
in a row you’re getting the rhythm here
in a row you’re getting the rhythm here right and that film was gone with the
right and that film was gone with the
right and that film was gone with the wind which I frankly absorbed as a
wind which I frankly absorbed as a
wind which I frankly absorbed as a documentary film about the south in case
documentary film about the south in case
documentary film about the south in case I’m just letting the rest of you know
I’m just letting the rest of you know
I’m just letting the rest of you know it’s not yeah since then I’ve really had
it’s not yeah since then I’ve really had
it’s not yeah since then I’ve really had by the privilege of having most of my
by the privilege of having most of my
by the privilege of having most of my work life here in Virginia went to the
work life here in Virginia went to the
work life here in Virginia went to the University of Virginia not once but
University of Virginia not once but
University of Virginia not once but twice wah-hoo-wah
twice wah-hoo-wah
twice wah-hoo-wah and I’ve had some really interesting
and I’ve had some really interesting
and I’ve had some really interesting jobs and opportunities but I moved back
jobs and opportunities but I moved back
jobs and opportunities but I moved back from Montana to Virginia five years ago
from Montana to Virginia five years ago
from Montana to Virginia five years ago because I was so interested in and as
because I was so interested in and as
because I was so interested in and as equally baffled by our American story
equally baffled by our American story
equally baffled by our American story yeah I told people I want to be part of
yeah I told people I want to be part of
yeah I told people I want to be part of telling a more complete American story
telling a more complete American story
telling a more complete American story but you know honestly when I I didn’t
but you know honestly when I I didn’t
but you know honestly when I I didn’t really know what I was talking about
really know what I was talking about
really know what I was talking about since then I’ve been hearing a lot and
since then I’ve been hearing a lot and
since then I’ve been hearing a lot and I’m sure you have too what is our
I’m sure you have too what is our
I’m sure you have too what is our American story
American story
American story who owns the narrative there was this
who owns the narrative there was this
who owns the narrative there was this really passionate fabulous talk by the
really passionate fabulous talk by the
really passionate fabulous talk by the mayor of New Orleans Mitch Landrieu
mayor of New Orleans Mitch Landrieu
mayor of New Orleans Mitch Landrieu recently and in this talk he was talking
recently and in this talk he was talking
recently and in this talk he was talking about hey you know what are we doing
about hey you know what are we doing
about hey you know what are we doing with the Civil War monuments and about
with the Civil War monuments and about
with the Civil War monuments and about their decision to take some of them down
their decision to take some of them down
their decision to take some of them down he says in this talk and this is what’s
he says in this talk and this is what’s
he says in this talk and this is what’s so true for me
so true for me
so true for me I must have walked by those monuments a
I must have walked by those monuments a
I must have walked by those monuments a million times and never given them a
million times and never given them a
million times and never given them a second thought and then he went on to
second thought and then he went on to
second thought and then he went on to share hey I’m not judging anybody I
share hey I’m not judging anybody I
share hey I’m not judging anybody I don’t judge people we all take our own
don’t judge people we all take our own
don’t judge people we all take our own journey on race and and I’ve been taking
journey on race and and I’ve been taking
journey on race and and I’ve been taking my own journey too at Montpelier we
my own journey too at Montpelier we
my own journey too at Montpelier we recently opened a new exhibition about
recently opened a new exhibition about
recently opened a new exhibition about slavery and the Constitution and I have
slavery and the Constitution and I have
slavery and the Constitution and I have the good fortune to be able to learn
the good fortune to be able to learn
the good fortune to be able to learn more about race and slavery from people
more about race and slavery from people
more about race and slavery from people who were descended from folks who’d been
who were descended from folks who’d been
who were descended from folks who’d been enslaved on James Madison’s plantation I
enslaved on James Madison’s plantation I
enslaved on James Madison’s plantation I had a chance to learn from Rebecca
had a chance to learn from Rebecca
had a chance to learn from Rebecca Gilmore Coleman now Rebecca is the
Gilmore Coleman now Rebecca is the
Gilmore Coleman now Rebecca is the great-granddaughter of George Gilmore
great-granddaughter of George Gilmore
great-granddaughter of George Gilmore and after emancipation he built the
and after emancipation he built the
and after emancipation he built the little white cabin across the entrance
little white cabin across the entrance
little white cabin across the entrance from Appeal your’e Rebecca is with us
from Appeal your’e Rebecca is with us
from Appeal your’e Rebecca is with us here today so thank you for Rekha for
here today so thank you for Rekha for
here today so thank you for Rekha for being here Rebecca very poignant Lee
being here Rebecca very poignant Lee
being here Rebecca very poignant Lee describes herself as being three
describes herself as being three
describes herself as being three generations removed from being enslaved
generations removed from being enslaved
generations removed from being enslaved at Montpelier and Rebecca is also the
at Montpelier and Rebecca is also the
at Montpelier and Rebecca is also the woman who had the courage 20 years ago
woman who had the courage 20 years ago
woman who had the courage 20 years ago to drive down that long winding road and
to drive down that long winding road and
to drive down that long winding road and say to the people who were working at
say to the people who were working at
say to the people who were working at Montpelier then hey there’s some very
Montpelier then hey there’s some very
Montpelier then hey there’s some very important and interesting stories to
important and interesting stories to
important and interesting stories to tell here tell our story I’ve also had a
tell here tell our story I’ve also had a
tell here tell our story I’ve also had a chance to get to know and Margaret
chance to get to know and Margaret
chance to get to know and Margaret Jordan and she is the third
Jordan and she is the third
Jordan and she is the third great-granddaughter of Paul Jennings now
great-granddaughter of Paul Jennings now
great-granddaughter of Paul Jennings now Margaret who lives in Texas and serves
Margaret who lives in Texas and serves
Margaret who lives in Texas and serves on our board is rightfully proud of her
on our board is rightfully proud of her
on our board is rightfully proud of her ancestor Paul Jennings he led an epic
ancestor Paul Jennings he led an epic
ancestor Paul Jennings he led an epic life that can really inspire all of us
life that can really inspire all of us
life that can really inspire all of us he’s born into slavery at Montpelier
he’s born into slavery at Montpelier
he’s born into slavery at Montpelier he’s credited as a young man for helping
he’s credited as a young man for helping
he’s credited as a young man for helping to save the portrait of George
to save the portrait of George
to save the portrait of George Washington when the White House is
Washington when the White House is
Washington when the White House is burned by the British in 1812 he gains
burned by the British in 1812 he gains
burned by the British in 1812 he gains his own freedom completely by the dint
his own freedom completely by the dint
his own freedom completely by the dint of his own effort then he goes on and he
of his own effort then he goes on and he
of his own effort then he goes on and he uses his freedom to save others and the
uses his freedom to save others and the
uses his freedom to save others and the Underground Railroad and he writes the
Underground Railroad and he writes the
Underground Railroad and he writes the first account of life in the White House
first account of life in the White House
first account of life in the White House it’s amazing and I also learned from the
it’s amazing and I also learned from the
it’s amazing and I also learned from the descendants that a complete story would
descendants that a complete story would
descendants that a complete story would honor all their ancestor
honor all their ancestor
honor all their ancestor in their individuality their courage
in their individuality their courage
in their individuality their courage their genius
their genius
their genius it would make what has been largely
it would make what has been largely
it would make what has been largely invisible visible
invisible visible
invisible visible you know folks are frankly tired of
you know folks are frankly tired of
you know folks are frankly tired of people being sort of extras in some
people being sort of extras in some
people being sort of extras in some movie about progress people who lived
movie about progress people who lived
movie about progress people who lived and died is just some sort of tragic
and died is just some sort of tragic
and died is just some sort of tragic footnotes The Descendants also shared
footnotes The Descendants also shared
footnotes The Descendants also shared with me that a complete story would not
with me that a complete story would not
with me that a complete story would not leave slavery as an artifact of the past
leave slavery as an artifact of the past
leave slavery as an artifact of the past but it would face up to the legacies of
but it would face up to the legacies of
but it would face up to the legacies of slavery in our society and our country
slavery in our society and our country
slavery in our society and our country today so you know I’ve been really
today so you know I’ve been really
today so you know I’ve been really fortunate I’m getting to see a more
fortunate I’m getting to see a more
fortunate I’m getting to see a more complete story even the parts that don’t
complete story even the parts that don’t
complete story even the parts that don’t make me very comfortable and it is
make me very comfortable and it is
make me very comfortable and it is changing the way I see America and maybe
changing the way I see America and maybe
changing the way I see America and maybe that’s why I was so shocked by what
that’s why I was so shocked by what
that’s why I was so shocked by what happened on August 12th in
happened on August 12th in
happened on August 12th in Charlottesville I can’t forget that day
Charlottesville I can’t forget that day
Charlottesville I can’t forget that day and I bet many of you here in the
and I bet many of you here in the
and I bet many of you here in the theater were here as well you know on
theater were here as well you know on
theater were here as well you know on that day I came to the Downtown Mall to
that day I came to the Downtown Mall to
that day I came to the Downtown Mall to with to my best friend’s Dorothea and
with to my best friend’s Dorothea and
with to my best friend’s Dorothea and Sonya and we were there to support
Sonya and we were there to support
Sonya and we were there to support Sonya’s daughter who was going to be a
Sonya’s daughter who was going to be a
Sonya’s daughter who was going to be a counter protester you know we wanted to
counter protester you know we wanted to
counter protester you know we wanted to be witnesses and kind of offer whatever
be witnesses and kind of offer whatever
be witnesses and kind of offer whatever moral courage or protection we could but
moral courage or protection we could but
moral courage or protection we could but you know when I look back on that day I
you know when I look back on that day I
you know when I look back on that day I look I gotta say I was pretty darn naive
look I gotta say I was pretty darn naive
look I gotta say I was pretty darn naive you know it’s it’s one of those moments
you know it’s it’s one of those moments
you know it’s it’s one of those moments and you know I felt like I was a soccer
and you know I felt like I was a soccer
and you know I felt like I was a soccer aunt showing up to cheer on the kids
aunt showing up to cheer on the kids
aunt showing up to cheer on the kids right what we ran into that day was a
right what we ran into that day was a
right what we ran into that day was a wall of hate you know how was I really
wall of hate you know how was I really
wall of hate you know how was I really gonna protect anybody even though I
gonna protect anybody even though I
gonna protect anybody even though I wanted to from those men who are walk
wanted to from those men who are walk
wanted to from those men who are walk around with ar-15s how was what I wanted
around with ar-15s how was what I wanted
around with ar-15s how was what I wanted to say that day gonna be heard over the
to say that day gonna be heard over the
to say that day gonna be heard over the fighting with the sticks and the clubs
fighting with the sticks and the clubs
fighting with the sticks and the clubs we can talk intellectually about the
we can talk intellectually about the
we can talk intellectually about the first and second amendments colliding
first and second amendments colliding
first and second amendments colliding the monument debate or how a small city
the monument debate or how a small city
the monument debate or how a small city got overwhelmed by a network of hate
got overwhelmed by a network of hate
got overwhelmed by a network of hate groups or how a national conversation
groups or how a national conversation
groups or how a national conversation has ripped the scabs off a city with a
has ripped the scabs off a city with a
has ripped the scabs off a city with a painful past and present
painful past and present
painful past and present but what I really saw and felt for the
but what I really saw and felt for the
but what I really saw and felt for the first time that day was how personal the
first time that day was how personal the
first time that day was how personal the conversation about race in America has
conversation about race in America has
conversation about race in America has to get for us to get through it I hated
to get for us to get through it I hated
to get for us to get through it I hated the hate I hated that the police
the hate I hated that the police
the hate I hated that the police couldn’t or wouldn’t protect me I hated
couldn’t or wouldn’t protect me I hated
couldn’t or wouldn’t protect me I hated that I felt totally powerless I hated
that I felt totally powerless I hated
that I felt totally powerless I hated that on a day I thought love was gonna
that on a day I thought love was gonna
that on a day I thought love was gonna triumph over hate hate beat the crap out
triumph over hate hate beat the crap out
triumph over hate hate beat the crap out of love and I hated that even the
of love and I hated that even the
of love and I hated that even the enemies on that day could invoke the
enemies on that day could invoke the
enemies on that day could invoke the founding myths of America as their
founding myths of America as their
founding myths of America as their mission statement that day I saw a lot
mission statement that day I saw a lot
mission statement that day I saw a lot of unfinished business in this project
of unfinished business in this project
of unfinished business in this project we call democracy and since then I’ve
we call democracy and since then I’ve
we call democracy and since then I’ve had literally hundreds of whatnow
had literally hundreds of whatnow
had literally hundreds of whatnow conversations and and I bet you have – I
conversations and and I bet you have – I
conversations and and I bet you have – I you we we are all part of community and
you we we are all part of community and
you we we are all part of community and I know that you’re working on ways to
I know that you’re working on ways to
I know that you’re working on ways to make our society a better place
make our society a better place
make our society a better place maybe you’ve been metaphorically walking
maybe you’ve been metaphorically walking
maybe you’ve been metaphorically walking down that aisle and the discount
down that aisle and the discount
down that aisle and the discount clothing store and you’re beginning to
clothing store and you’re beginning to
clothing store and you’re beginning to see someone coming towards you out of
see someone coming towards you out of
see someone coming towards you out of the corner of your eye you know you’re
the corner of your eye you know you’re
the corner of your eye you know you’re beginning to make calculations about him
beginning to make calculations about him
beginning to make calculations about him or her you know insulating yourself from
or her you know insulating yourself from
or her you know insulating yourself from the interaction if they’re different
the interaction if they’re different
the interaction if they’re different from you it’d be okay just to do a brief
from you it’d be okay just to do a brief
from you it’d be okay just to do a brief murmur of acknowledgement right and
murmur of acknowledgement right and
murmur of acknowledgement right and slide on by they don’t want to talk to
slide on by they don’t want to talk to
slide on by they don’t want to talk to you any more than you want to talk to
you any more than you want to talk to
you any more than you want to talk to them right and by the way they may be
them right and by the way they may be
them right and by the way they may be way too lofty or their closet
way too lofty or their closet
way too lofty or their closet conservative closet conservative or they
conservative closet conservative or they
conservative closet conservative or they have incivility written all over them
have incivility written all over them
have incivility written all over them right well going back to my day and that
right well going back to my day and that
right well going back to my day and that discount clothing store some of these
discount clothing store some of these
discount clothing store some of these thoughts are sort of going through my
thoughts are sort of going through my
thoughts are sort of going through my head sad to say but I really want that
head sad to say but I really want that
head sad to say but I really want that outfit that I can see over that woman’s
outfit that I can see over that woman’s
outfit that I can see over that woman’s shoulder so as we get closer and closer
shoulder so as we get closer and closer
shoulder so as we get closer and closer and she’s not getting out of the way I
and she’s not getting out of the way I
and she’s not getting out of the way I take charge of the situation
take charge of the situation
take charge of the situation I stand up very tall I suck in my
I stand up very tall I suck in my
I stand up very tall I suck in my stomach and I execute my slide by angle
stomach and I execute my slide by angle
stomach and I execute my slide by angle move and walked right into a mirror
move and walked right into a mirror
move and walked right into a mirror yep that oblivious entitled woman in the
yep that oblivious entitled woman in the
yep that oblivious entitled woman in the aisle was me that woman I was resenting
aisle was me that woman I was resenting
aisle was me that woman I was resenting and and very annoyed by I was me that
and and very annoyed by I was me that
and and very annoyed by I was me that person that I just knew was gonna take
person that I just knew was gonna take
person that I just knew was gonna take something I wanted for me was me we all
something I wanted for me was me we all
something I wanted for me was me we all have our blind spots and the things that
have our blind spots and the things that
have our blind spots and the things that we don’t want to face up to but we have
we don’t want to face up to but we have
we don’t want to face up to but we have this amazing moment as individuals as a
this amazing moment as individuals as a
this amazing moment as individuals as a community and as a nation to really step
community and as a nation to really step
community and as a nation to really step up and for the first time know our
up and for the first time know our
up and for the first time know our history and our story more completely I
history and our story more completely I
history and our story more completely I know my job is to look up and to have
know my job is to look up and to have
know my job is to look up and to have the courage to face those truths that
the courage to face those truths that
the courage to face those truths that are hidden to look into the eyes of the
are hidden to look into the eyes of the
are hidden to look into the eyes of the stranger or into the eyes staring back
stranger or into the eyes staring back
stranger or into the eyes staring back at me from the mirror but to have the
at me from the mirror but to have the
at me from the mirror but to have the courage to take it all in thank you
courage to take it all in thank you
courage to take it all in thank you [Applause]
”
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