hi hello do me a favor to your neighbor to say hello and then to your other
to say hello and then to your other
to say hello and then to your other neighbor just say hello alright now that
neighbor just say hello alright now that
neighbor just say hello alright now that we’re all acquainted let’s get started
we’re all acquainted let’s get started
we’re all acquainted let’s get started there’s research that says that right
there’s research that says that right
there’s research that says that right around 7 years old is when we start to
around 7 years old is when we start to
around 7 years old is when we start to develop long-term memories that is the
develop long-term memories that is the
develop long-term memories that is the memories that we can recall once we’re
memories that we can recall once we’re
memories that we can recall once we’re adults and look backwards the sustained
adults and look backwards the sustained
adults and look backwards the sustained memories if you will that sounds about
memories if you will that sounds about
memories if you will that sounds about right because it was right around 70
right because it was right around 70
right because it was right around 70 years old I can remember coming home and
years old I can remember coming home and
years old I can remember coming home and great delight saying to my mother mom
great delight saying to my mother mom
great delight saying to my mother mom that’s all you talk mom the next time I
that’s all you talk mom the next time I
that’s all you talk mom the next time I go to the barbershop I want to get my
go to the barbershop I want to get my
go to the barbershop I want to get my hair cut like Erik Galvin this is Erik
hair cut like Erik Galvin this is Erik
hair cut like Erik Galvin this is Erik Galvin Erik Galvin is white I am NOT but
Galvin Erik Galvin is white I am NOT but
Galvin Erik Galvin is white I am NOT but Erik Galvan’s hair would blow in the
Erik Galvan’s hair would blow in the
Erik Galvan’s hair would blow in the wind which I thought was just
wind which I thought was just
wind which I thought was just ridiculously cool and my hair just kind
ridiculously cool and my hair just kind
ridiculously cool and my hair just kind of stood there it’s funny those things
of stood there it’s funny those things
of stood there it’s funny those things we take for Greta it looking back right
but there I was making a declaration to
but there I was making a declaration to my mom mom I want to get my hair cut
my mom mom I want to get my hair cut
my mom mom I want to get my hair cut like Eric gal van next time we go to the
like Eric gal van next time we go to the
like Eric gal van next time we go to the barber shop and my mom look at looks at
barber shop and my mom look at looks at
barber shop and my mom look at looks at me as if to say maybe you know you black
me as if to say maybe you know you black
me as if to say maybe you know you black right and of course I know that I’m
right and of course I know that I’m
right and of course I know that I’m black I knew that I was black I know
black I knew that I was black I know
black I knew that I was black I know that I am black look I grew up in
that I am black look I grew up in
that I am black look I grew up in Detroit arguably one of the blackest
Detroit arguably one of the blackest
Detroit arguably one of the blackest cities in the country of course another
cities in the country of course another
cities in the country of course another I’m black I went to public schools my
I’m black I went to public schools my
I’m black I went to public schools my entire life in Detroit some of the best
entire life in Detroit some of the best
entire life in Detroit some of the best public schools mind you of course I know
public schools mind you of course I know
public schools mind you of course I know that I’m black because in those public
that I’m black because in those public
that I’m black because in those public schools I was told that I had to be two
schools I was told that I had to be two
schools I was told that I had to be two times as good as the people in the
times as good as the people in the
times as good as the people in the suburbs if I were to compete and those
suburbs if I were to compete and those
suburbs if I were to compete and those people are the suburbs are people who
people are the suburbs are people who
people are the suburbs are people who didn’t look like me who were not black
didn’t look like me who were not black
didn’t look like me who were not black of course I know their own plaque I was
of course I know their own plaque I was
of course I know their own plaque I was reminded this my thinking about the fact
reminded this my thinking about the fact
reminded this my thinking about the fact that my brother and I used to swim
that my brother and I used to swim
that my brother and I used to swim competitively that’s well from six years
competitively that’s well from six years
competitively that’s well from six years old to 18 years old he throughout
old to 18 years old he throughout
old to 18 years old he throughout college and let me tell you ain’t a
college and let me tell you ain’t a
college and let me tell you ain’t a whole lot of black people’s women
whole lot of black people’s women
whole lot of black people’s women compared over just keeping it real but I
compared over just keeping it real but I
compared over just keeping it real but I can remember in those years swimming
can remember in those years swimming
can remember in those years swimming competitively feeling the awkward stares
competitively feeling the awkward stares
competitively feeling the awkward stares experiencing the passive aggressiveness
experiencing the passive aggressiveness
experiencing the passive aggressiveness overhearing the whispers that were laden
overhearing the whispers that were laden
overhearing the whispers that were laden with racial epithets I know that I’m
with racial epithets I know that I’m
with racial epithets I know that I’m black see even living in New York City
black see even living in New York City
black see even living in New York City where I live for six years or so I can
where I live for six years or so I can
where I live for six years or so I can remember more than I like to parking my
remember more than I like to parking my
remember more than I like to parking my car in a public parking garage probably
car in a public parking garage probably
car in a public parking garage probably parking structure and on my way out of
parking structure and on my way out of
parking structure and on my way out of the garage another patron walked by and
the garage another patron walked by and
the garage another patron walked by and give me his keys I know right mistaken
give me his keys I know right mistaken
give me his keys I know right mistaken me for a parking attendant I didn’t have
me for a parking attendant I didn’t have
me for a parking attendant I didn’t have on a uniform I did have a bag too said
on a uniform I did have a bag too said
on a uniform I did have a bag too said hi I’m Marcus but yet because I’m black
hi I’m Marcus but yet because I’m black
hi I’m Marcus but yet because I’m black he thought that I worked there now look
he thought that I worked there now look
he thought that I worked there now look I got nothing against parking attendants
I got nothing against parking attendants
I got nothing against parking attendants there to swallow the earth
there to swallow the earth
there to swallow the earth but I was in a parking attendant in fact
but I was in a parking attendant in fact
but I was in a parking attendant in fact I have the great pleasure the great
I have the great pleasure the great
I have the great pleasure the great honor to work at this prestigious
honor to work at this prestigious
honor to work at this prestigious University as a faculty member that’s
University as a faculty member that’s
University as a faculty member that’s right but I am reminded of my blackness
right but I am reminded of my blackness
right but I am reminded of my blackness when I look around the student
when I look around the student
when I look around the student population I don’t see very many people
population I don’t see very many people
population I don’t see very many people who look like me not only in the
who look like me not only in the
who look like me not only in the population but among my peers as well as
population but among my peers as well as
population but among my peers as well as educators see not only do I work in an
educators see not only do I work in an
educators see not only do I work in an industry where there aren’t a lot of
industry where there aren’t a lot of
industry where there aren’t a lot of black people there to remind me just how
black people there to remind me just how
black people there to remind me just how black I am I also work in advertising as
black I am I also work in advertising as
black I am I also work in advertising as an executive no less I work in
an executive no less I work in
an executive no less I work in advertising where there’s only four
advertising where there’s only four
advertising where there’s only four point two percent before point one
point two percent before point one
point two percent before point one percent check that four point one
percent check that four point one
percent check that four point one percent of black people in the entire
percent of black people in the entire
percent of black people in the entire industry and I can feel it I could feel
industry and I can feel it I could feel
industry and I can feel it I could feel the doubt when I walk into a room for
the doubt when I walk into a room for
the doubt when I walk into a room for the first time and I can feel them
the first time and I can feel them
the first time and I can feel them questioning my intellect my ability my
questioning my intellect my ability my
questioning my intellect my ability my pedigree because I’m black and if that’s
pedigree because I’m black and if that’s
pedigree because I’m black and if that’s not enough trust me there should be
not enough trust me there should be
not enough trust me there should be enough I’m reminded of the fact that I’m
enough I’m reminded of the fact that I’m
enough I’m reminded of the fact that I’m black when I consider that never met my
black when I consider that never met my
black when I consider that never met my paternal grandfather my father’s father
paternal grandfather my father’s father
paternal grandfather my father’s father who was murdered in rural Arkansas in
who was murdered in rural Arkansas in
who was murdered in rural Arkansas in late 1940s because he too was black
late 1940s because he too was black
late 1940s because he too was black leaving my seven-year-old father and his
leaving my seven-year-old father and his
leaving my seven-year-old father and his twin brother and their siblings
twin brother and their siblings
twin brother and their siblings fatherless but this is where things get
fatherless but this is where things get
fatherless but this is where things get paradoxical because wow I’ve experienced
paradoxical because wow I’ve experienced
paradoxical because wow I’ve experienced all this time a salient sea of
all this time a salient sea of
all this time a salient sea of understanding my blackness when I’ve
understanding my blackness when I’ve
understanding my blackness when I’ve been a lug my peers growing up at the
been a lug my peers growing up at the
been a lug my peers growing up at the same time simultaneously among my peers
same time simultaneously among my peers
same time simultaneously among my peers who were also black I was called a white
who were also black I was called a white
who were also black I was called a white boy because I swam because I spent
boy because I swam because I spent
boy because I swam because I spent summers going to band camp right
summers going to band camp right
summers going to band camp right because I love the monkeys just as much
because I love the monkeys just as much
because I love the monkeys just as much as I love Tribe Called Quest the monkeys
as I love Tribe Called Quest the monkeys
as I love Tribe Called Quest the monkeys were great or because I excelled in
were great or because I excelled in
were great or because I excelled in school I was somehow diminishing my
school I was somehow diminishing my
school I was somehow diminishing my blackness and to make matters worse to
blackness and to make matters worse to
blackness and to make matters worse to exacerbate this issue I decided to fall
exacerbate this issue I decided to fall
exacerbate this issue I decided to fall in love and marry a woman who was not
in love and marry a woman who was not
in love and marry a woman who was not black and I was accused practically of
black and I was accused practically of
black and I was accused practically of betraying my race of unraveling the
betraying my race of unraveling the
betraying my race of unraveling the thread of the black community did this a
thread of the black community did this a
thread of the black community did this a few years ago I shared an article on
few years ago I shared an article on
few years ago I shared an article on Facebook from the New York Times that
Facebook from the New York Times that
Facebook from the New York Times that chronicled the increase in interracial
chronicled the increase in interracial
chronicled the increase in interracial marriages in the country I thought was
marriages in the country I thought was
marriages in the country I thought was interesting because I myself was in an
interesting because I myself was in an
interesting because I myself was in an interracial relationship and I shared
interracial relationship and I shared
interracial relationship and I shared this on Facebook I it was met with some
this on Facebook I it was met with some
this on Facebook I it was met with some delight some glee from some of my
delight some glee from some of my
delight some glee from some of my friends but one friend in particular
friends but one friend in particular
friends but one friend in particular friend I had known my entire life at
friend I had known my entire life at
friend I had known my entire life at that time 20-some odd years of close
that time 20-some odd years of close
that time 20-some odd years of close close friendship she chat this no this
close friendship she chat this no this
close friendship she chat this no this just kidding all right the glorification
just kidding all right the glorification
just kidding all right the glorification of interracial marriages is dangerous
of interracial marriages is dangerous
of interracial marriages is dangerous because it romanticizes diversity
because it romanticizes diversity
because it romanticizes diversity marriage is an institution for community
marriage is an institution for community
marriage is an institution for community building and it is not a decision based
building and it is not a decision based
building and it is not a decision based on love this was my friend of 20-some
on love this was my friend of 20-some
on love this was my friend of 20-some odd years who’s supposed to know me so
odd years who’s supposed to know me so
odd years who’s supposed to know me so well and I saw this in horror because a
well and I saw this in horror because a
well and I saw this in horror because a I didn’t see the world that way but I
I didn’t see the world that way but I
I didn’t see the world that way but I immediately thought of my soon-to-be
immediately thought of my soon-to-be
immediately thought of my soon-to-be wife and she was beside herself and
wife and she was beside herself and
wife and she was beside herself and rightfully so because this person who I
rightfully so because this person who I
rightfully so because this person who I cherished dearly didn’t know me at all
cherished dearly didn’t know me at all
cherished dearly didn’t know me at all and one person replied with two
and one person replied with two
and one person replied with two sentences that thought was super
sentences that thought was super
sentences that thought was super powerful and I said this new America
powerful and I said this new America
powerful and I said this new America old habits and indeed this was an old
old habits and indeed this was an old
old habits and indeed this was an old habit because I’ve experienced this my
habit because I’ve experienced this my
habit because I’ve experienced this my entire life
entire life
entire life when I was among white people I was too
when I was among white people I was too
when I was among white people I was too black couldn’t be any blacker among my
black couldn’t be any blacker among my
black couldn’t be any blacker among my own people I wasn’t black enough one
own people I wasn’t black enough one
own people I wasn’t black enough one poet put it this way too foreign for
poet put it this way too foreign for
poet put it this way too foreign for home to foreign for here never enough
home to foreign for here never enough
home to foreign for here never enough for both what an isolating and lonely
for both what an isolating and lonely
for both what an isolating and lonely feeling what a feeling of loneliness now
feeling what a feeling of loneliness now
feeling what a feeling of loneliness now why does any of this matter it’s a
why does any of this matter it’s a
why does any of this matter it’s a Friday night why does any of this matter
Friday night why does any of this matter
Friday night why does any of this matter it’s pretty heavy I tell you I matters
it’s pretty heavy I tell you I matters
it’s pretty heavy I tell you I matters because my experience isn’t unique to me
because my experience isn’t unique to me
because my experience isn’t unique to me there are tons of people who felt
there are tons of people who felt
there are tons of people who felt isolated alone like a black sheep
isolated alone like a black sheep
isolated alone like a black sheep because of their race their ethnicity
because of their race their ethnicity
because of their race their ethnicity their ethnicity their gender their
their ethnicity their gender their
their ethnicity their gender their sexuality their religion in fact Harris
sexuality their religion in fact Harris
sexuality their religion in fact Harris did a the Harris Poll did a recent study
did a the Harris Poll did a recent study
did a the Harris Poll did a recent study that showed that 72% of people in this
that showed that 72% of people in this
that showed that 72% of people in this country have cited feeling lonely in
country have cited feeling lonely in
country have cited feeling lonely in this hyper connected world or just a
this hyper connected world or just a
this hyper connected world or just a tweet in a snap away from everybody we
tweet in a snap away from everybody we
tweet in a snap away from everybody we feel alone and yet man by nature is a
feel alone and yet man by nature is a
feel alone and yet man by nature is a social animal as Aristotle will say we
social animal as Aristotle will say we
social animal as Aristotle will say we all just want to belong it’s in the
all just want to belong it’s in the
all just want to belong it’s in the fabric of humanity to want to belong
fabric of humanity to want to belong
fabric of humanity to want to belong this reminds me of a trip I took last
this reminds me of a trip I took last
this reminds me of a trip I took last year to Hong Kong for the first time
year to Hong Kong for the first time
year to Hong Kong for the first time it’s in Hong Kong and there I didn’t
it’s in Hong Kong and there I didn’t
it’s in Hong Kong and there I didn’t feel any more out of place than I feel
feel any more out of place than I feel
feel any more out of place than I feel here in the United States in my country
here in the United States in my country
here in the United States in my country in my home which is both the liberating
in my home which is both the liberating
in my home which is both the liberating feeling and kind of sad but I remembered
feeling and kind of sad but I remembered
feeling and kind of sad but I remembered this remarkable thing happened I’m
this remarkable thing happened I’m
this remarkable thing happened I’m walking through the train station right
walking through the train station right
walking through the train station right so I’m walking through the train station
so I’m walking through the train station
so I’m walking through the train station in the metro and as I’m walking I see a
in the metro and as I’m walking I see a
in the metro and as I’m walking I see a white American down the way coming the
white American down the way coming the
white American down the way coming the opposite way of me right we’re
opposite way of me right we’re
opposite way of me right we’re approaching each other and as we
approaching each other and as we
approaching each other and as we approach each other we lock eyes not
approach each other we lock eyes not
approach each other we lock eyes not that kind of way but we lock eyes
that kind of way but we lock eyes
that kind of way but we lock eyes we lock eyes and then it happened it
we lock eyes and then it happened it
we lock eyes and then it happened it happened he gave me the nod though nod
happened he gave me the nod though nod
happened he gave me the nod though nod the nod he gave me the nod y’all now for
the nod he gave me the nod y’all now for
the nod he gave me the nod y’all now for you guys for some of you guys who may
you guys for some of you guys who may
you guys for some of you guys who may not know the nod
this is institution of higher learning
this is institution of higher learning but those guys may not know the nod the
but those guys may not know the nod the
but those guys may not know the nod the nod is an unwritten rule it’s a social
nod is an unwritten rule it’s a social
nod is an unwritten rule it’s a social norm among african-american people black
norm among african-american people black
norm among african-american people black people black men in particular where you
people black men in particular where you
people black men in particular where you see you I don’t even know you but we are
see you I don’t even know you but we are
see you I don’t even know you but we are minorities in this setting I see you
minorities in this setting I see you
minorities in this setting I see you dude you exist you matter and it works
dude you exist you matter and it works
dude you exist you matter and it works like this it’s very simple we see
like this it’s very simple we see
like this it’s very simple we see someone who was black and you go like
someone who was black and you go like
someone who was black and you go like this or do the opposite
this or do the opposite
this or do the opposite what up it works both ways but you can
what up it works both ways but you can
what up it works both ways but you can imagine considering the experience that
imagine considering the experience that
imagine considering the experience that black people have had in this country
black people have had in this country
black people have had in this country where our existence let alone our rights
where our existence let alone our rights
where our existence let alone our rights didn’t matter the nod is super man
didn’t matter the nod is super man
didn’t matter the nod is super man powerful and Here I am on the other side
powerful and Here I am on the other side
powerful and Here I am on the other side of the globe and a white man gives me
of the globe and a white man gives me
of the globe and a white man gives me the nod as if to say I see you you exist
the nod as if to say I see you you exist
the nod as if to say I see you you exist you matter and here we are more alike
you matter and here we are more alike
you matter and here we are more alike than we are different here you matter
than we are different here you matter
than we are different here you matter I’ve often heard stories from friends of
I’ve often heard stories from friends of
I’ve often heard stories from friends of mine who are first-generation immigrants
mine who are first-generation immigrants
mine who are first-generation immigrants they mean their parents came here
they mean their parents came here
they mean their parents came here searching for new opportunities for
searching for new opportunities for
searching for new opportunities for themselves and their family and they
themselves and their family and they
themselves and their family and they were the first of their family to be
were the first of their family to be
were the first of their family to be born here first-generation immigrants
born here first-generation immigrants
born here first-generation immigrants and Americans are born here and they
and Americans are born here and they
and Americans are born here and they assimilate they adopt to the culture of
assimilate they adopt to the culture of
assimilate they adopt to the culture of America the shared believes the social
America the shared believes the social
America the shared believes the social norms the unwritten rules the language
norms the unwritten rules the language
norms the unwritten rules the language the artifacts that we’ve done and as
the artifacts that we’ve done and as
the artifacts that we’ve done and as much as they adopt to the culture they
much as they adopt to the culture they
much as they adopt to the culture they still felt different they still felt
still felt different they still felt
still felt different they still felt like black sheep typically because of
like black sheep typically because of
like black sheep typically because of the way they look now on the flip side
the way they look now on the flip side
the way they look now on the flip side if they went to their parents home
if they went to their parents home
if they went to their parents home country their homeland they felt
country their homeland they felt
country their homeland they felt different there also because of the way
different there also because of the way
different there also because of the way they talked because of the way they act
they talked because of the way they act
they talked because of the way they act too
too
too foreign for home to foreign for here
foreign for home to foreign for here
foreign for home to foreign for here never enough for both now why is this
never enough for both now why is this
never enough for both now why is this matter I’ll tell you why this matters it
matter I’ll tell you why this matters it
matter I’ll tell you why this matters it matters because that only do we all want
matters because that only do we all want
matters because that only do we all want to belong it’s in the very DNA of people
to belong it’s in the very DNA of people
to belong it’s in the very DNA of people to connect anthropologists would argue
to connect anthropologists would argue
to connect anthropologists would argue that it was man’s ability to socialize
that it was man’s ability to socialize
that it was man’s ability to socialize that allowed us to evolve the species
that allowed us to evolve the species
that allowed us to evolve the species one great poet said this dearly beloved
one great poet said this dearly beloved
one great poet said this dearly beloved we’ve gathered today to get through this
we’ve gathered today to get through this
we’ve gathered today to get through this thing called life and it’s true and
thing called life and it’s true and
thing called life and it’s true and because of that everything about us
because of that everything about us
because of that everything about us drives us to connect in fact it’s a part
drives us to connect in fact it’s a part
drives us to connect in fact it’s a part of the brain called the mirror neuron
of the brain called the mirror neuron
of the brain called the mirror neuron system whose job it is to mirror what it
system whose job it is to mirror what it
system whose job it is to mirror what it sees right the brain sees something that
sees right the brain sees something that
sees right the brain sees something that says wow that’s pretty cool we should
says wow that’s pretty cool we should
says wow that’s pretty cool we should try that and then you try it right like
try that and then you try it right like
try that and then you try it right like Freud would say that thought is just
Freud would say that thought is just
Freud would say that thought is just action and rehearsal you see it and
action and rehearsal you see it and
action and rehearsal you see it and before long you take on the behavior
before long you take on the behavior
before long you take on the behavior that’s why yawning is so contagious you
that’s why yawning is so contagious you
that’s why yawning is so contagious you see someone yawn your brain goes whoa
dude we’ve got to try that
dude we’ve got to try that and before long you’re yawning
and before long you’re yawning
and before long you’re yawning we’re mirror what we see it’s the same
we’re mirror what we see it’s the same
we’re mirror what we see it’s the same reason why we’re watching a horror movie
reason why we’re watching a horror movie
reason why we’re watching a horror movie we see this we’re like watch out going
we see this we’re like watch out going
we see this we’re like watch out going I’ll kill you because your brain is
I’ll kill you because your brain is
I’ll kill you because your brain is practicing but it might feel like if you
practicing but it might feel like if you
practicing but it might feel like if you like Liv Tyler in that situation or my
like Liv Tyler in that situation or my
like Liv Tyler in that situation or my wife watches The Notebook she just sobs
wife watches The Notebook she just sobs
wife watches The Notebook she just sobs oh she just balls because in her mind
oh she just balls because in her mind
oh she just balls because in her mind she’s practicing what it might feel like
she’s practicing what it might feel like
she’s practicing what it might feel like to be loved by Ryan Gosling and that’s
to be loved by Ryan Gosling and that’s
to be loved by Ryan Gosling and that’s totally cool totally cool the movie came
totally cool totally cool the movie came
totally cool totally cool the movie came out before we started dating it’s all
out before we started dating it’s all
out before we started dating it’s all good I’m strong in my manhood it’s all
good I’m strong in my manhood it’s all
good I’m strong in my manhood it’s all good but here’s the thing
good but here’s the thing
good but here’s the thing we’ve mirror what we see because
we’ve mirror what we see because
we’ve mirror what we see because mimicking art people brings us closer
mimicking art people brings us closer
mimicking art people brings us closer together it allows us to be much more
together it allows us to be much more
together it allows us to be much more empathetic strengthening a covalent
empathetic strengthening a covalent
empathetic strengthening a covalent bonds between our people because we all
bonds between our people because we all
bonds between our people because we all want to belong it’s probably why black
want to belong it’s probably why black
want to belong it’s probably why black people in particular have the uncanny
people in particular have the uncanny
people in particular have the uncanny ability
ability
ability to code-switch and that is we can adopt
to code-switch and that is we can adopt
to code-switch and that is we can adopt a way to talk the way to act we with
a way to talk the way to act we with
a way to talk the way to act we with certain people for instance if I get a
certain people for instance if I get a
certain people for instance if I get a call from a number I don’t recognize I
call from a number I don’t recognize I
call from a number I don’t recognize I answer the phone like this hello this is
answer the phone like this hello this is
answer the phone like this hello this is Marcus
Marcus
Marcus and then I realizes my friend I’m like
and then I realizes my friend I’m like
and then I realizes my friend I’m like what up son what I do
the coat switch because we all want to
the coat switch because we all want to belong now why does any of this matter I
belong now why does any of this matter I
belong now why does any of this matter I tell you why this matters to me
tell you why this matters to me
tell you why this matters to me personally because my wife and I are
personally because my wife and I are
personally because my wife and I are raising our daughter in a world where
raising our daughter in a world where
raising our daughter in a world where people will label her as mixed as
people will label her as mixed as
people will label her as mixed as biracial or maybe even other they’ll
biracial or maybe even other they’ll
biracial or maybe even other they’ll marvel at her curly hair
marvel at her curly hair
marvel at her curly hair they’ll bill the struggle with the
they’ll bill the struggle with the
they’ll bill the struggle with the ambiguity of her blue eyes their exotic
ambiguity of her blue eyes their exotic
ambiguity of her blue eyes their exotic size her olive skin and they’ll think to
size her olive skin and they’ll think to
size her olive skin and they’ll think to themselves and maybe be even as bold as
themselves and maybe be even as bold as
themselves and maybe be even as bold as to say what are you what are you and the
to say what are you what are you and the
to say what are you what are you and the sad part about this that is very clear
sad part about this that is very clear
sad part about this that is very clear what she is she’s back and she’s white
what she is she’s back and she’s white
what she is she’s back and she’s white and she’s Christian and she observes the
and she’s Christian and she observes the
and she’s Christian and she observes the Jewish High Holidays right she’s also
Jewish High Holidays right she’s also
Jewish High Holidays right she’s also very funny and she loves music and a
very funny and she loves music and a
very funny and she loves music and a whole host of other things but because
whole host of other things but because
whole host of other things but because of those superficial differences people
of those superficial differences people
of those superficial differences people are gonna see her and she’ll experience
are gonna see her and she’ll experience
are gonna see her and she’ll experience what it’s like to be a black sheep in
what it’s like to be a black sheep in
what it’s like to be a black sheep in ways that are far more salient than me
ways that are far more salient than me
ways that are far more salient than me and that just breaks my heart because
and that just breaks my heart because
and that just breaks my heart because when I think about the world that I want
when I think about the world that I want
when I think about the world that I want my daughter to experience as she
my daughter to experience as she
my daughter to experience as she navigates her journey in life I would
navigates her journey in life I would
navigates her journey in life I would hope that someone sees her and says I
hope that someone sees her and says I
hope that someone sees her and says I see you you matter and we are more alike
see you you matter and we are more alike
see you you matter and we are more alike than we are different
why should this matter to you well I’ll
why should this matter to you well I’ll tell you this should matter to you
tell you this should matter to you
tell you this should matter to you because we live in a world more divisive
because we live in a world more divisive
because we live in a world more divisive than ever before
than ever before
than ever before there’s the haves and have-nots there is
there’s the haves and have-nots there is
there’s the haves and have-nots there is the Liberals and the Conservatives
the Liberals and the Conservatives
the Liberals and the Conservatives Republicans and Democrats young and old
Republicans and Democrats young and old
Republicans and Democrats young and old and somewhere along the lines we find
and somewhere along the lines we find
and somewhere along the lines we find ourselves trying to navigate this
ourselves trying to navigate this
ourselves trying to navigate this spectrum and we all end up feeling like
spectrum and we all end up feeling like
spectrum and we all end up feeling like black sheeps
black sheeps
black sheeps out of place lonely and I think about
out of place lonely and I think about
out of place lonely and I think about that it makes me wonder imagine a world
that it makes me wonder imagine a world
that it makes me wonder imagine a world where we stop looking each other’s
where we stop looking each other’s
where we stop looking each other’s differences and started looking at the
differences and started looking at the
differences and started looking at the things that we have in common then we
things that we have in common then we
things that we have in common then we look at each other and say I see you and
look at each other and say I see you and
look at each other and say I see you and we’re more alike than we are different
we’re more alike than we are different
we’re more alike than we are different imagine that world will we take on
imagine that world will we take on
imagine that world will we take on people’s perspectives we allow ourselves
people’s perspectives we allow ourselves
people’s perspectives we allow ourselves to be super empathic because it’s what
to be super empathic because it’s what
to be super empathic because it’s what we’re wired to do look I’m not trying to
we’re wired to do look I’m not trying to
we’re wired to do look I’m not trying to romanticize diversity instead I’m
romanticize diversity instead I’m
romanticize diversity instead I’m promoting the unity of humanity because
promoting the unity of humanity because
promoting the unity of humanity because that’s the world that I want to live in
that’s the world that I want to live in
that’s the world that I want to live in and that I think is an idea worth
and that I think is an idea worth
and that I think is an idea worth spreading thank you so much
”
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