if you see something say something well I’ve been seeing these signs around the
I’ve been seeing these signs around the
I’ve been seeing these signs around the Washington area for the past couple of
Washington area for the past couple of
Washington area for the past couple of years I see them in the train station I
years I see them in the train station I
years I see them in the train station I see them on the sides of buses I even
see them on the sides of buses I even
see them on the sides of buses I even saw one in a restroom though I’m not
saw one in a restroom though I’m not
saw one in a restroom though I’m not sure what I was supposed to be on the
sure what I was supposed to be on the
sure what I was supposed to be on the lookout for at that moment I’ve also
lookout for at that moment I’ve also
lookout for at that moment I’ve also seen just a massive amount of media
seen just a massive amount of media
seen just a massive amount of media coverage about racial strife in America
coverage about racial strife in America
coverage about racial strife in America and these two things coming together
and these two things coming together
and these two things coming together these signs with this media coverage has
these signs with this media coverage has
these signs with this media coverage has gotten me thinking long and deep about a
gotten me thinking long and deep about a
gotten me thinking long and deep about a racially charged situation that I was
racially charged situation that I was
racially charged situation that I was involved with around 20 years ago here
involved with around 20 years ago here
involved with around 20 years ago here in Washington where I was the something
in Washington where I was the something
in Washington where I was the something that someone said something about so I
that someone said something about so I
that someone said something about so I want to tell you just a tiny bit about
want to tell you just a tiny bit about
want to tell you just a tiny bit about me so I grew up in New York and in 1987
me so I grew up in New York and in 1987
me so I grew up in New York and in 1987 I came to Washington right after college
I came to Washington right after college
I came to Washington right after college and I’ve been in the communications
and I’ve been in the communications
and I’ve been in the communications profession my whole career so I’ve
profession my whole career so I’ve
profession my whole career so I’ve worked on Capitol Hill I’ve worked in
worked on Capitol Hill I’ve worked in
worked on Capitol Hill I’ve worked in the White House and for the past 16
the White House and for the past 16
the White House and for the past 16 years I’ve worked at the Carlyle Group
years I’ve worked at the Carlyle Group
years I’ve worked at the Carlyle Group as Dave just said and I’m also a
as Dave just said and I’m also a
as Dave just said and I’m also a champion Whistler and I’ll tell you more
champion Whistler and I’ll tell you more
champion Whistler and I’ll tell you more why that’s relevant in just a moment so
why that’s relevant in just a moment so
why that’s relevant in just a moment so after being in Washington for a couple
after being in Washington for a couple
after being in Washington for a couple years I was in my mid to late 20s at
years I was in my mid to late 20s at
years I was in my mid to late 20s at that point I realized that if you are a
that point I realized that if you are a
that point I realized that if you are a low-income inner-city kid in Washington
low-income inner-city kid in Washington
low-income inner-city kid in Washington the education system just doesn’t serve
the education system just doesn’t serve
the education system just doesn’t serve you very well so I decided to see if I
you very well so I decided to see if I
you very well so I decided to see if I could make a tiny bit of a difference so
could make a tiny bit of a difference so
could make a tiny bit of a difference so I joined this tutoring and mentoring
I joined this tutoring and mentoring
I joined this tutoring and mentoring program called vision ministries which
program called vision ministries which
program called vision ministries which was based in Anacostia which is just
was based in Anacostia which is just
was based in Anacostia which is just across the river from here and I got
across the river from here and I got
across the river from here and I got matched up with this totally awesome
matched up with this totally awesome
matched up with this totally awesome seven-year-old boy named Monta and Monta
seven-year-old boy named Monta and Monta
seven-year-old boy named Monta and Monta was just filled with potential and he
was just filled with potential and he
was just filled with potential and he was witty and charming and bright and it
was witty and charming and bright and it
was witty and charming and bright and it is loved to spend time with him so for
is loved to spend time with him so for
is loved to spend time with him so for five years pretty much every Tuesday
five years pretty much every Tuesday
five years pretty much every Tuesday during the school year I’d go from my
during the school year I’d go from my
during the school year I’d go from my house on Capitol Hill and I Drive to
house on Capitol Hill and I Drive to
house on Capitol Hill and I Drive to Anacostia and we would meet so one time
Anacostia and we would meet so one time
Anacostia and we would meet so one time when Monta was around ten years old he
when Monta was around ten years old he
when Monta was around ten years old he said hey can you take me to McDonald’s
said hey can you take me to McDonald’s
said hey can you take me to McDonald’s for for dinner because I haven’t eaten
for for dinner because I haven’t eaten
for for dinner because I haven’t eaten and I said sure
and I said sure
and I said sure so we go to McDonald’s and so there’s
so we go to McDonald’s and so there’s
so we go to McDonald’s and so there’s the 10 year old african-american kid and
the 10 year old african-american kid and
the 10 year old african-american kid and me that at that point 30-something in a
me that at that point 30-something in a
me that at that point 30-something in a white businessman hang
white businessman hang
white businessman hang in the McDonald’s and I’m the only white
in the McDonald’s and I’m the only white
in the McDonald’s and I’m the only white person in the restaurant at that time
person in the restaurant at that time
person in the restaurant at that time and I were just chatting hanging out and
and I were just chatting hanging out and
and I were just chatting hanging out and suddenly I sensed something and I look
suddenly I sensed something and I look
suddenly I sensed something and I look up and there is a middle-aged
up and there is a middle-aged
up and there is a middle-aged african-american woman just standing
african-american woman just standing
african-american woman just standing right over us just hovering over at the
right over us just hovering over at the
right over us just hovering over at the table just staring at me clearly
table just staring at me clearly
table just staring at me clearly concerned when I look at her and she
concerned when I look at her and she
concerned when I look at her and she looks at me and she says what’s up with
looks at me and she says what’s up with
looks at me and she says what’s up with you and the boy well a thousand thoughts
you and the boy well a thousand thoughts
you and the boy well a thousand thoughts raced through my brain at that moment I
raced through my brain at that moment I
raced through my brain at that moment I said well what am I supposed to do who
said well what am I supposed to do who
said well what am I supposed to do who is she
is she
is she the thing I’m a kidnapper or a pervert
the thing I’m a kidnapper or a pervert
the thing I’m a kidnapper or a pervert or something like that
or something like that
or something like that should I tell her to take a hike is she
should I tell her to take a hike is she
should I tell her to take a hike is she a racist she had a problem with white
a racist she had a problem with white
a racist she had a problem with white people
people
people am ia racist for thinking she might be a
am ia racist for thinking she might be a
am ia racist for thinking she might be a racist or had she seen a sign that says
racist or had she seen a sign that says
racist or had she seen a sign that says if you see something say something while
if you see something say something while
if you see something say something while I pondered I pondered deep in heart of
I pondered I pondered deep in heart of
I pondered I pondered deep in heart of what should I do you know what should I
what should I do you know what should I
what should I do you know what should I do in that situation and this whole
do in that situation and this whole
do in that situation and this whole concept of pondering deep and hard about
concept of pondering deep and hard about
concept of pondering deep and hard about you know what should I do has been on my
you know what should I do has been on my
you know what should I do has been on my mind a lot and I bet it’s been on your
mind a lot and I bet it’s been on your
mind a lot and I bet it’s been on your minds a lot in recent years when I saw
minds a lot in recent years when I saw
minds a lot in recent years when I saw Tamir rice shot by police in a Cleveland
Tamir rice shot by police in a Cleveland
Tamir rice shot by police in a Cleveland Park I said well what should I do when I
Park I said well what should I do when I
Park I said well what should I do when I see churchgoers in Charleston gunned
see churchgoers in Charleston gunned
see churchgoers in Charleston gunned down by a psychopath I say what should I
down by a psychopath I say what should I
down by a psychopath I say what should I do when I see police assassinated while
do when I see police assassinated while
do when I see police assassinated while sitting in their cars in New York City I
sitting in their cars in New York City I
sitting in their cars in New York City I say what should I do when I see
say what should I do when I see
say what should I do when I see professional sports players taking a
professional sports players taking a
professional sports players taking a knee during the national anthem over
knee during the national anthem over
knee during the national anthem over serious issues of racism I say what
serious issues of racism I say what
serious issues of racism I say what should i do what should I do
should i do what should I do
should i do what should I do I said I think the answer is actually in
I said I think the answer is actually in
I said I think the answer is actually in the McDonald’s so there she is she’s
the McDonald’s so there she is she’s
the McDonald’s so there she is she’s hovering over me and says what’s up with
hovering over me and says what’s up with
hovering over me and says what’s up with you and the boy now and I know what I
you and the boy now and I know what I
you and the boy now and I know what I wanted to say I wanted to say take a
wanted to say I wanted to say take a
wanted to say I wanted to say take a hike lady I have a right to be here but
hike lady I have a right to be here but
hike lady I have a right to be here but I didn’t what I did is I stood up I
I didn’t what I did is I stood up I
I didn’t what I did is I stood up I handed my hand to her and I said hi I’m
handed my hand to her and I said hi I’m
handed my hand to her and I said hi I’m Kris Holman and this is monta and we’re
Kris Holman and this is monta and we’re
Kris Holman and this is monta and we’re in this Christian ministry together and
in this Christian ministry together and
in this Christian ministry together and we’re just getting a burger after
we’re just getting a burger after
we’re just getting a burger after hanging out doing our tutoring and like
hanging out doing our tutoring and like
hanging out doing our tutoring and like Saul on the road to Damascus the scales
Saul on the road to Damascus the scales
Saul on the road to Damascus the scales fall from her eyes and she says wow we
fall from her eyes and she says wow we
fall from her eyes and she says wow we need more people like you helping out
need more people like you helping out
need more people like you helping out kids in our cumin
kids in our cumin
kids in our cumin and we chatted for a moment and just as
and we chatted for a moment and just as
and we chatted for a moment and just as soon as she had arrived she departed and
soon as she had arrived she departed and
soon as she had arrived she departed and I go to Monta and I say well that was
I go to Monta and I say well that was
I go to Monta and I say well that was interesting and Monta says not a lot of
interesting and Monta says not a lot of
interesting and Monta says not a lot of white people in this part of town out of
white people in this part of town out of
white people in this part of town out of the bay out of the mouths of babes come
the bay out of the mouths of babes come
the bay out of the mouths of babes come such truths so so I’ve pondered for
such truths so so I’ve pondered for
such truths so so I’ve pondered for years why did that go well it could have
years why did that go well it could have
years why did that go well it could have been a disaster it could have been
been a disaster it could have been
been a disaster it could have been exhausted but it went well so I’m a PR
exhausted but it went well so I’m a PR
exhausted but it went well so I’m a PR guy and I tend to think in groups of
guy and I tend to think in groups of
guy and I tend to think in groups of three so I came up with love benefited
three so I came up with love benefited
three so I came up with love benefited the doubt and de-escalation so we could
the doubt and de-escalation so we could
the doubt and de-escalation so we could take a quick look at each of these
take a quick look at each of these
take a quick look at each of these things love well I was in that
things love well I was in that
things love well I was in that restaurant in the first place because I
restaurant in the first place because I
restaurant in the first place because I loved Monta I wanted him to succeed I
loved Monta I wanted him to succeed I
loved Monta I wanted him to succeed I wanted him to be able to use all of the
wanted him to be able to use all of the
wanted him to be able to use all of the the talents God had given him to the
the talents God had given him to the
the talents God had given him to the greatest and my faith teaches me that I
greatest and my faith teaches me that I
greatest and my faith teaches me that I need to love my neighbor as myself it’s
need to love my neighbor as myself it’s
need to love my neighbor as myself it’s in the Gospel of Mark and the great
in the Gospel of Mark and the great
in the Gospel of Mark and the great civil rights leader Martin Luther King
civil rights leader Martin Luther King
civil rights leader Martin Luther King said many things about love one that
said many things about love one that
said many things about love one that really stands out for me is when he said
really stands out for me is when he said
really stands out for me is when he said that love is the only force that can
that love is the only force that can
that love is the only force that can transform an enemy into a friend so love
transform an enemy into a friend so love
transform an enemy into a friend so love is the foundation and only good things
is the foundation and only good things
is the foundation and only good things can come from love such as benefited the
can come from love such as benefited the
can come from love such as benefited the doubt if you love someone truly love
doubt if you love someone truly love
doubt if you love someone truly love them even if you don’t know them you
them even if you don’t know them you
them even if you don’t know them you will give them the benefit of the doubt
will give them the benefit of the doubt
will give them the benefit of the doubt and I had no idea who this woman was why
and I had no idea who this woman was why
and I had no idea who this woman was why would I think the worst I’d wanted to
would I think the worst I’d wanted to
would I think the worst I’d wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt and it
give her the benefit of the doubt and it
give her the benefit of the doubt and it finally de-escalation when I was growing
finally de-escalation when I was growing
finally de-escalation when I was growing up my mother had a plaque on the kitchen
up my mother had a plaque on the kitchen
up my mother had a plaque on the kitchen wall that said Great Spirit grant that I
wall that said Great Spirit grant that I
wall that said Great Spirit grant that I might not judge my neighbor until I’ve
might not judge my neighbor until I’ve
might not judge my neighbor until I’ve walked a mile in his moccasins and that
walked a mile in his moccasins and that
walked a mile in his moccasins and that message of empathy has really seeped
message of empathy has really seeped
message of empathy has really seeped into my soul over the years and has
into my soul over the years and has
into my soul over the years and has taught me the power of offering someone
taught me the power of offering someone
taught me the power of offering someone a hand rather than giving them the
a hand rather than giving them the
a hand rather than giving them the finger so love benefit of the doubt and
finger so love benefit of the doubt and
finger so love benefit of the doubt and de-escalation now I get it I’m a white
de-escalation now I get it I’m a white
de-escalation now I get it I’m a white man now it’s probably easier for me to
man now it’s probably easier for me to
man now it’s probably easier for me to love someone or give them the benefit of
love someone or give them the benefit of
love someone or give them the benefit of the doubt in a tense kind of racial
the doubt in a tense kind of racial
the doubt in a tense kind of racial situation I understand that
situation I understand that
situation I understand that however Christ’s message and King’s
however Christ’s message and King’s
however Christ’s message and King’s message are universal they are
message are universal they are
message are universal they are colorblind
colorblind
colorblind it’s
it’s
it’s all of us should behave even if it’s
all of us should behave even if it’s
all of us should behave even if it’s difficult so I mentioned earlier that
difficult so I mentioned earlier that
difficult so I mentioned earlier that I’m a Whistler and I have been able to
I’m a Whistler and I have been able to
I’m a Whistler and I have been able to take this very simple gift and share it
take this very simple gift and share it
take this very simple gift and share it with people which brings people joy
with people which brings people joy
with people which brings people joy brings me a lot of joy and as Dave noted
brings me a lot of joy and as Dave noted
brings me a lot of joy and as Dave noted I was here in 2013 and got to share my
I was here in 2013 and got to share my
I was here in 2013 and got to share my whistle with folks and the point of that
whistle with folks and the point of that
whistle with folks and the point of that talk was that everyone has a simple gift
talk was that everyone has a simple gift
talk was that everyone has a simple gift a very simple gift mine happens to be
a very simple gift mine happens to be
a very simple gift mine happens to be whistling but each of you has a simple
whistling but each of you has a simple
whistling but each of you has a simple gift as well and the key is to find out
gift as well and the key is to find out
gift as well and the key is to find out what your gift is develop it share it
what your gift is develop it share it
what your gift is develop it share it and try to share it with people one
and try to share it with people one
and try to share it with people one person at a time to try to make the
person at a time to try to make the
person at a time to try to make the world a better place and the key is one
world a better place and the key is one
world a better place and the key is one person at a time I think we have a real
person at a time I think we have a real
person at a time I think we have a real hero centric culture we’re waiting for
hero centric culture we’re waiting for
hero centric culture we’re waiting for the heroes to save the world and folks
the heroes to save the world and folks
the heroes to save the world and folks let me tell you there aren’t enough
let me tell you there aren’t enough
let me tell you there aren’t enough heroes to save the world we need to do
heroes to save the world we need to do
heroes to save the world we need to do it so it’s very much an empowerment
it so it’s very much an empowerment
it so it’s very much an empowerment message about what we as individuals are
message about what we as individuals are
message about what we as individuals are capable of doing if we set our minds to
capable of doing if we set our minds to
capable of doing if we set our minds to it and I think that concept can help us
it and I think that concept can help us
it and I think that concept can help us when it comes to healing race relations
when it comes to healing race relations
when it comes to healing race relations in America now if this is on your mind
in America now if this is on your mind
in America now if this is on your mind you’re trying to figure out what you can
you’re trying to figure out what you can
you’re trying to figure out what you can do well there are many roles that people
do well there are many roles that people
do well there are many roles that people can play we need the leaders we need
can play we need the leaders we need
can play we need the leaders we need people to organize rallies to call out
people to organize rallies to call out
people to organize rallies to call out injustice when they see it and hatred
injustice when they see it and hatred
injustice when they see it and hatred and racism we need people to write
and racism we need people to write
and racism we need people to write letters to the editor and speak out in
letters to the editor and speak out in
letters to the editor and speak out in street corners all those things are
street corners all those things are
street corners all those things are important they are critical however most
important they are critical however most
important they are critical however most people aren’t going to do any of those
people aren’t going to do any of those
people aren’t going to do any of those things so then the question becomes
things so then the question becomes
things so then the question becomes again what should I do
again what should I do
again what should I do well I think the answer once again is
well I think the answer once again is
well I think the answer once again is found in the McDonald’s is to simply
found in the McDonald’s is to simply
found in the McDonald’s is to simply love people think about it every day
love people think about it every day
love people think about it every day each of us encounters dozens perhaps
each of us encounters dozens perhaps
each of us encounters dozens perhaps scores of people from the moment we wake
scores of people from the moment we wake
scores of people from the moment we wake up to the moment we go to bed literally
up to the moment we go to bed literally
up to the moment we go to bed literally scores of people what if we proactively
scores of people what if we proactively
scores of people what if we proactively decided today that we are going to love
decided today that we are going to love
decided today that we are going to love those people we’re gonna love the people
those people we’re gonna love the people
those people we’re gonna love the people we know we’re gonna love the people we
we know we’re gonna love the people we
we know we’re gonna love the people we don’t know we’re gonna love the people
don’t know we’re gonna love the people
don’t know we’re gonna love the people that are maybe make us uncomfortable or
that are maybe make us uncomfortable or
that are maybe make us uncomfortable or maybe in a sticky situation if it’s a
maybe in a sticky situation if it’s a
maybe in a sticky situation if it’s a racial nature for example and the
racial nature for example and the
racial nature for example and the cumulative effect of people proactively
cumulative effect of people proactively
cumulative effect of people proactively loving the people they encounter
loving the people they encounter
loving the people they encounter even when it’s hard will make a
even when it’s hard will make a
even when it’s hard will make a measurable meaningful impact over time
measurable meaningful impact over time
measurable meaningful impact over time so the next time you see a sign that
so the next time you see a sign that
so the next time you see a sign that says if you see something say something
says if you see something say something
says if you see something say something think about it differently think of it
think about it differently think of it
think about it differently think of it said if you see someone do something
said if you see someone do something
said if you see someone do something simply love them thank you very much
”
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