what is mankind’s greatest invention this is a question that my father asked
this is a question that my father asked
this is a question that my father asked me when I was a kid and one that his
me when I was a kid and one that his
me when I was a kid and one that his father asked him and the answer wasn’t
father asked him and the answer wasn’t
father asked him and the answer wasn’t medicine
medicine
medicine it wasn’t technology it wasn’t even the
it wasn’t technology it wasn’t even the
it wasn’t technology it wasn’t even the wheel
wheel
wheel the answer is language this is the
the answer is language this is the
the answer is language this is the overriding theme that’s that I’ve held
overriding theme that’s that I’ve held
overriding theme that’s that I’ve held with me throughout my entire life I was
with me throughout my entire life I was
with me throughout my entire life I was raised in a bilingual home to two Arab
raised in a bilingual home to two Arab
raised in a bilingual home to two Arab parents my mother from Morocco and my
parents my mother from Morocco and my
parents my mother from Morocco and my father from Lebanon both were just as
father from Lebanon both were just as
father from Lebanon both were just as passionate about language as I am today
passionate about language as I am today
passionate about language as I am today and made sure to instill the same
and made sure to instill the same
and made sure to instill the same passion in me growing up bilingual meant
passion in me growing up bilingual meant
passion in me growing up bilingual meant I had to grapple with not only two
I had to grapple with not only two
I had to grapple with not only two dialects within the Arabic language but
dialects within the Arabic language but
dialects within the Arabic language but Arabic and then English when I go to
Arabic and then English when I go to
Arabic and then English when I go to school and this taught me language truly
school and this taught me language truly
school and this taught me language truly shapes identity you see language is the
shapes identity you see language is the
shapes identity you see language is the keystone of our human experience it’s
keystone of our human experience it’s
keystone of our human experience it’s how we communicate how we debates how we
how we communicate how we debates how we
how we communicate how we debates how we write constitutions and laws how we
write constitutions and laws how we
write constitutions and laws how we conversate how we defend our statements
conversate how we defend our statements
conversate how we defend our statements and our opinions how we share ideas and
and our opinions how we share ideas and
and our opinions how we share ideas and sometimes how we tweet out questionable
sometimes how we tweet out questionable
sometimes how we tweet out questionable tweets now this has been overriding him
tweets now this has been overriding him
tweets now this has been overriding him in my life and being an Arabic speaker
in my life and being an Arabic speaker
in my life and being an Arabic speaker has only intensified this passion for
has only intensified this passion for
has only intensified this passion for language you see the Arabic language is
language you see the Arabic language is
language you see the Arabic language is deeply poetic and it’s one that speaks
deeply poetic and it’s one that speaks
deeply poetic and it’s one that speaks to the power of language within its
to the power of language within its
to the power of language within its patterns let’s look at an example in the
patterns let’s look at an example in the
patterns let’s look at an example in the Arabic language the word for letter
Arabic language the word for letter
Arabic language the word for letter comes from the roots that means a sharp
comes from the roots that means a sharp
comes from the roots that means a sharp edge and the word for word comes from
edge and the word for word comes from
edge and the word for word comes from the roots that means wound and the word
the roots that means wound and the word
the roots that means wound and the word for story comes from the roots that
for story comes from the roots that
for story comes from the roots that means two cuts and there’s a theme here
means two cuts and there’s a theme here
means two cuts and there’s a theme here right and it’s some it’s something we’ve
right and it’s some it’s something we’ve
right and it’s some it’s something we’ve heard before and that is that words hurt
heard before and that is that words hurt
heard before and that is that words hurt they cut deep right and my name I am is
they cut deep right and my name I am is
they cut deep right and my name I am is the word used to label verses in the
the word used to label verses in the
the word used to label verses in the holy quran and its root meaning is
holy quran and its root meaning is
holy quran and its root meaning is miracle so not to be cheesy but while
miracle so not to be cheesy but while
miracle so not to be cheesy but while words can
words can
words can and cut deep words can also be magical
and cut deep words can also be magical
and cut deep words can also be magical it’s our choice now that I’ve told you
it’s our choice now that I’ve told you
it’s our choice now that I’ve told you my name which is aiya I can tell you all
my name which is aiya I can tell you all
my name which is aiya I can tell you all how excited I am to be here standing in
how excited I am to be here standing in
how excited I am to be here standing in front of you tonight’s theme is about
front of you tonight’s theme is about
front of you tonight’s theme is about going from conversations to action
going from conversations to action
going from conversations to action pursuing change right and what I’m going
pursuing change right and what I’m going
pursuing change right and what I’m going to propose in my talk is that perhaps
to propose in my talk is that perhaps
to propose in my talk is that perhaps going beyond words simply requires that
going beyond words simply requires that
going beyond words simply requires that we change the words we’re using or in
we change the words we’re using or in
we change the words we’re using or in the very least be more conscious of them
the very least be more conscious of them
the very least be more conscious of them now I’m going to tackle this from a
now I’m going to tackle this from a
now I’m going to tackle this from a variety of perspectives as an Arab
variety of perspectives as an Arab
variety of perspectives as an Arab American Muslim woman I’m gonna talk
American Muslim woman I’m gonna talk
American Muslim woman I’m gonna talk about how language is monumental in
about how language is monumental in
about how language is monumental in either building an identity or utterly
either building an identity or utterly
either building an identity or utterly destroying it as a aspiring journalist I
destroying it as a aspiring journalist I
destroying it as a aspiring journalist I will discuss how media makers today and
will discuss how media makers today and
will discuss how media makers today and media creators actually have the chore
media creators actually have the chore
media creators actually have the chore or rather the responsibility to create
or rather the responsibility to create
or rather the responsibility to create truth through language and as a poets
truth through language and as a poets
truth through language and as a poets how language is of our greatest
how language is of our greatest
how language is of our greatest advantage in collaborating through human
advantage in collaborating through human
advantage in collaborating through human experience when I was a kid I would play
experience when I was a kid I would play
experience when I was a kid I would play this game with myself when I go to the
this game with myself when I go to the
this game with myself when I go to the library I loved reading but sometimes I
library I loved reading but sometimes I
library I loved reading but sometimes I would purposely check out books without
would purposely check out books without
would purposely check out books without words
words
words picture books and I would sit for hours
picture books and I would sit for hours
picture books and I would sit for hours on end trying to generate the greatest
on end trying to generate the greatest
on end trying to generate the greatest number of possible stories simply based
number of possible stories simply based
number of possible stories simply based on the illustrations and in the third
on the illustrations and in the third
on the illustrations and in the third grade I used up every recess session
grade I used up every recess session
grade I used up every recess session that we had to organize my classmates to
that we had to organize my classmates to
that we had to organize my classmates to put on a play that I wrote called a
put on a play that I wrote called a
put on a play that I wrote called a friendly monster effectively erasing all
friendly monster effectively erasing all
friendly monster effectively erasing all possible stigmas against giant fluffy
possible stigmas against giant fluffy
possible stigmas against giant fluffy creatures and forests what these
creatures and forests what these
creatures and forests what these experiences taught me as a child was
experiences taught me as a child was
experiences taught me as a child was something monumental that still sticks
something monumental that still sticks
something monumental that still sticks with me today till today and that is the
with me today till today and that is the
with me today till today and that is the bad guy and the good guy could defer
bad guy and the good guy could defer
bad guy and the good guy could defer simply based on the words we use to
simply based on the words we use to
simply based on the words we use to describe them as I’ve grown older this
describe them as I’ve grown older this
describe them as I’ve grown older this isn’t just a blast of a past this is an
isn’t just a blast of a past this is an
isn’t just a blast of a past this is an idea that I still hold today and as days
idea that I still hold today and as days
idea that I still hold today and as days go by it grows more relevance let’s
go by it grows more relevance let’s
go by it grows more relevance let’s backtrack to one particular day to make
backtrack to one particular day to make
backtrack to one particular day to make this example to make this more clear to
this example to make this more clear to
this example to make this more clear to you
you
you 9/11
9/11
9/11 now in this room raise your hand if you
now in this room raise your hand if you
now in this room raise your hand if you remember exactly where you were on the
remember exactly where you were on the
remember exactly where you were on the day the attacks happened or what you
day the attacks happened or what you
day the attacks happened or what you were doing okay well basically all of
were doing okay well basically all of
were doing okay well basically all of you um
you um
you um and same for me but what I want us is
and same for me but what I want us is
and same for me but what I want us is not the day the attacks happened but
not the day the attacks happened but
not the day the attacks happened but what came after the aftermath you see
what came after the aftermath you see
what came after the aftermath you see 9/11 was an acts of hate that created a
9/11 was an acts of hate that created a
9/11 was an acts of hate that created a language of hate one that continues to
language of hate one that continues to
language of hate one that continues to persist till today
persist till today
persist till today this language translates into words like
this language translates into words like
this language translates into words like a Reb towelhead terrorist it translates
a Reb towelhead terrorist it translates
a Reb towelhead terrorist it translates into the phrases the phrase go home
into the phrases the phrase go home
into the phrases the phrase go home Arabs with a swastika sign carved into
Arabs with a swastika sign carved into
Arabs with a swastika sign carved into the hood of my family’s 90s maroon
the hood of my family’s 90s maroon
the hood of my family’s 90s maroon Chevrolet station wagon and
Chevrolet station wagon and
Chevrolet station wagon and coincidentally every time without fail
coincidentally every time without fail
coincidentally every time without fail it translates into the phrase ma’am I
it translates into the phrase ma’am I
it translates into the phrase ma’am I think we’re gonna have to do a random
think we’re gonna have to do a random
think we’re gonna have to do a random Security check at the airport you see
Security check at the airport you see
Security check at the airport you see 9/11 wasn’t the day that my story
9/11 wasn’t the day that my story
9/11 wasn’t the day that my story started but it was a day that my story
started but it was a day that my story
started but it was a day that my story and the stories of many others were
and the stories of many others were
and the stories of many others were hijacked typically stories begin way
hijacked typically stories begin way
hijacked typically stories begin way before birth
before birth
before birth they begin through bloodlines through
they begin through bloodlines through
they begin through bloodlines through geography through mother tongue but when
geography through mother tongue but when
geography through mother tongue but when we reduced people to sound bites labels
we reduced people to sound bites labels
we reduced people to sound bites labels one word tag lines we stripped them of
one word tag lines we stripped them of
one word tag lines we stripped them of all these things and make them more
all these things and make them more
all these things and make them more susceptible to being dehumanized you see
susceptible to being dehumanized you see
susceptible to being dehumanized you see we sustain stereotypes through the
we sustain stereotypes through the
we sustain stereotypes through the language that polarizes and simplifies
language that polarizes and simplifies
language that polarizes and simplifies entire groups of people no longer are we
entire groups of people no longer are we
entire groups of people no longer are we individuals virtus one big muddle of one
individuals virtus one big muddle of one
individuals virtus one big muddle of one word now I’m gonna play a game with you
word now I’m gonna play a game with you
word now I’m gonna play a game with you guys there are no rules except for that
guys there are no rules except for that
guys there are no rules except for that you need to be really honest with
you need to be really honest with
you need to be really honest with yourself not with me you don’t use write
yourself not with me you don’t use write
yourself not with me you don’t use write anything down I’m just gonna go ahead
anything down I’m just gonna go ahead
anything down I’m just gonna go ahead and put on some words on the screens and
and put on some words on the screens and
and put on some words on the screens and I want you to pay very close attention
I want you to pay very close attention
I want you to pay very close attention to what your visceral reaction to them
to what your visceral reaction to them
to what your visceral reaction to them to them is are you going to feel
to them is are you going to feel
to them is are you going to feel uncomfortable what’s the image that’s
uncomfortable what’s the image that’s
uncomfortable what’s the image that’s conjured up in your head I’m gonna go
conjured up in your head I’m gonna go
conjured up in your head I’m gonna go through them little quickly but just go
through them little quickly but just go
through them little quickly but just go ahead and think really deeply as you
ahead and think really deeply as you
ahead and think really deeply as you read them
read them
read them you
all right
all right so like I said the only rule was to be
so like I said the only rule was to be
so like I said the only rule was to be honest so raise your hand if you were
honest so raise your hand if you were
honest so raise your hand if you were actually even slightly surprised by your
actually even slightly surprised by your
actually even slightly surprised by your responses to these words okay
responses to these words okay
responses to these words okay a few of us and including me I’ve done
a few of us and including me I’ve done
a few of us and including me I’ve done this game before as well um you’re not
this game before as well um you’re not
this game before as well um you’re not alone you see humans psychologically
alone you see humans psychologically
alone you see humans psychologically loved to simplify things we love to
loved to simplify things we love to
loved to simplify things we love to categorize things it makes things easy
categorize things it makes things easy
categorize things it makes things easy edible um Hermione from Harry Potter
edible um Hermione from Harry Potter
edible um Hermione from Harry Potter once said fear of a name only increases
once said fear of a name only increases
once said fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself what just
fear of the thing itself what just
fear of the thing itself what just happened there was we saw a word or a
happened there was we saw a word or a
happened there was we saw a word or a phrase and immediately we had a reaction
phrase and immediately we had a reaction
phrase and immediately we had a reaction we didn’t expect one so how was language
we didn’t expect one so how was language
we didn’t expect one so how was language that powerful you see what’s happening
that powerful you see what’s happening
that powerful you see what’s happening nowadays is that we’ve grown so afraid
nowadays is that we’ve grown so afraid
nowadays is that we’ve grown so afraid of certain words certain phrases certain
of certain words certain phrases certain
of certain words certain phrases certain labels and stereotypes that we’ve
labels and stereotypes that we’ve
labels and stereotypes that we’ve completely walled ourselves off from
completely walled ourselves off from
completely walled ourselves off from seeing those that lie behind them and
seeing those that lie behind them and
seeing those that lie behind them and this isn’t unique to only the Arab or
this isn’t unique to only the Arab or
this isn’t unique to only the Arab or Muslim American experience this has
Muslim American experience this has
Muslim American experience this has persisted across centuries if language
persisted across centuries if language
persisted across centuries if language is powerful those who control it have
is powerful those who control it have
is powerful those who control it have the power to control those will they
the power to control those will they
the power to control those will they describe right the power of language is
describe right the power of language is
describe right the power of language is why Native American does an example
why Native American does an example
why Native American does an example weren’t allowed to speak their native
weren’t allowed to speak their native
weren’t allowed to speak their native tongue when entered into boarding
tongue when entered into boarding
tongue when entered into boarding schools in the u.s. it’s why slavery was
schools in the u.s. it’s why slavery was
schools in the u.s. it’s why slavery was justified because it was fine to enslave
justified because it was fine to enslave
justified because it was fine to enslave a savage or property right it’s why
a savage or property right it’s why
a savage or property right it’s why colonialists renamed cities the moment
colonialists renamed cities the moment
colonialists renamed cities the moment they claim a piece of land and it’s my
they claim a piece of land and it’s my
they claim a piece of land and it’s my books are censored because of the
books are censored because of the
books are censored because of the language that they withhold within them
language that they withhold within them
language that they withhold within them and today it’s calling Mexicans drug
and today it’s calling Mexicans drug
and today it’s calling Mexicans drug dealers and rapists and refugees
dealers and rapists and refugees
dealers and rapists and refugees potential murderous Skittles according
potential murderous Skittles according
potential murderous Skittles according to our presidents
to our presidents
to our presidents from these examples we see that creating
from these examples we see that creating
from these examples we see that creating social change doesn’t just come from
social change doesn’t just come from
social change doesn’t just come from civil rights protests or marching in the
civil rights protests or marching in the
civil rights protests or marching in the streets which those things are important
streets which those things are important
streets which those things are important but we must recognize that social change
but we must recognize that social change
but we must recognize that social change also begins by resisting and reclaiming
also begins by resisting and reclaiming
also begins by resisting and reclaiming a deeply ingrained lexicon that
a deeply ingrained lexicon that
a deeply ingrained lexicon that criminalizes and vilifies us now this
criminalizes and vilifies us now this
criminalizes and vilifies us now this brings me to journalism in the fourth
brings me to journalism in the fourth
brings me to journalism in the fourth grade I finally put together and put
grade I finally put together and put
grade I finally put together and put into words my experiences after 9/11
into words my experiences after 9/11
into words my experiences after 9/11 things I spoke to you about earlier I
things I spoke to you about earlier I
things I spoke to you about earlier I put them in an essay and I read that I
put them in an essay and I read that I
put them in an essay and I read that I say out loud to my class and after
say out loud to my class and after
say out loud to my class and after school my teacher asked to speak with me
school my teacher asked to speak with me
school my teacher asked to speak with me she was really emotional she told me she
she was really emotional she told me she
she was really emotional she told me she was so happy that I was being brave and
was so happy that I was being brave and
was so happy that I was being brave and telling my story and she hugged me and
telling my story and she hugged me and
telling my story and she hugged me and she gave me a notebook
she gave me a notebook
she gave me a notebook and a really cute mention pen and she
and a really cute mention pen and she
and a really cute mention pen and she told me to be a journalist she told me
told me to be a journalist she told me
told me to be a journalist she told me to tell my story I ran home that day
to tell my story I ran home that day
to tell my story I ran home that day telling my mother I knew exactly what I
telling my mother I knew exactly what I
telling my mother I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up it all
wanted to be when I grew up it all
wanted to be when I grew up it all suddenly made sense now granted I had no
suddenly made sense now granted I had no
suddenly made sense now granted I had no idea what a journalist was at that time
idea what a journalist was at that time
idea what a journalist was at that time all I knew was that telling stories and
all I knew was that telling stories and
all I knew was that telling stories and getting free pens and notebooks
getting free pens and notebooks
getting free pens and notebooks occasionally cut sounded kind of nice
occasionally cut sounded kind of nice
occasionally cut sounded kind of nice but from then on I concerned myself with
but from then on I concerned myself with
but from then on I concerned myself with discovering what this occupation really
discovering what this occupation really
discovering what this occupation really was I would say after school with my dad
was I would say after school with my dad
was I would say after school with my dad watching the news every single day with
watching the news every single day with
watching the news every single day with such concentration in fact that I would
such concentration in fact that I would
such concentration in fact that I would nod and smile at the newscaster thinking
nod and smile at the newscaster thinking
nod and smile at the newscaster thinking that he or she actually could see me
that he or she actually could see me
that he or she actually could see me later I discovered this was not true so
later I discovered this was not true so
later I discovered this was not true so my relationship with the news has
my relationship with the news has
my relationship with the news has changed over the years as I’ve matured
changed over the years as I’ve matured
changed over the years as I’ve matured so too has my perspective on global
so too has my perspective on global
so too has my perspective on global issues on domestic issues and if there’s
issues on domestic issues and if there’s
issues on domestic issues and if there’s one thing that that’s taught me it’s
one thing that that’s taught me it’s
one thing that that’s taught me it’s that news is complicated it’s no longer
that news is complicated it’s no longer
that news is complicated it’s no longer just about bad guys and good guys like
just about bad guys and good guys like
just about bad guys and good guys like in my picture books and that has taught
in my picture books and that has taught
in my picture books and that has taught me that journalists hold a monumental
me that journalists hold a monumental
me that journalists hold a monumental responsibility they have a delicate and
responsibility they have a delicate and
responsibility they have a delicate and diverted tackle as Edward Chiappa dr.
diverted tackle as Edward Chiappa dr.
diverted tackle as Edward Chiappa dr. Edward Schiavo instead naming is never
Edward Schiavo instead naming is never
Edward Schiavo instead naming is never neutral as we strive to be objective we
neutral as we strive to be objective we
neutral as we strive to be objective we must always be aware that every single
must always be aware that every single
must always be aware that every single person me
person me
person me all of you here hold our own internal
all of you here hold our own internal
all of you here hold our own internal biases and we must be aware that what we
biases and we must be aware that what we
biases and we must be aware that what we choose to report how we choose to report
choose to report how we choose to report
choose to report how we choose to report it even how quick we choose to report it
it even how quick we choose to report it
it even how quick we choose to report it will affect the mindsets of others
will affect the mindsets of others
will affect the mindsets of others essentially media creators and
essentially media creators and
essentially media creators and journalists shape truth now I’m not
journalists shape truth now I’m not
journalists shape truth now I’m not speaking to a roomful of journalists so
speaking to a roomful of journalists so
speaking to a roomful of journalists so I understand some of you might be like
I understand some of you might be like
I understand some of you might be like okay so what does this have to do with
okay so what does this have to do with
okay so what does this have to do with me well whether we like it or not all of
me well whether we like it or not all of
me well whether we like it or not all of us are consumers of news we’re
us are consumers of news we’re
us are consumers of news we’re constantly scrolling liking watching
constantly scrolling liking watching
constantly scrolling liking watching videos they play automatically nowadays
videos they play automatically nowadays
videos they play automatically nowadays they don’t even have to want to watch it
they don’t even have to want to watch it
they don’t even have to want to watch it so we’re constantly digesting these
so we’re constantly digesting these
so we’re constantly digesting these headlines and these stories without even
headlines and these stories without even
headlines and these stories without even thinking twice and isn’t a fault they
thinking twice and isn’t a fault they
thinking twice and isn’t a fault they just kind of show up but now that you’ve
just kind of show up but now that you’ve
just kind of show up but now that you’ve heard this for me I challenge you all to
heard this for me I challenge you all to
heard this for me I challenge you all to be more critical consumers that when you
be more critical consumers that when you
be more critical consumers that when you see something you don’t just swallow it
see something you don’t just swallow it
see something you don’t just swallow it right away you taste test it you chew it
right away you taste test it you chew it
right away you taste test it you chew it check the ingredients and if it’s really
check the ingredients and if it’s really
check the ingredients and if it’s really fishy and you spit it out um like I
fishy and you spit it out um like I
fishy and you spit it out um like I mentioned I am I poets and much needs
mentioned I am I poets and much needs
mentioned I am I poets and much needs earlier and I’m a spoken word poet which
earlier and I’m a spoken word poet which
earlier and I’m a spoken word poet which means I perform poetry
means I perform poetry
means I perform poetry it also means I’m a huge nerd so if you
it also means I’m a huge nerd so if you
it also means I’m a huge nerd so if you see me typing vigorously away at my
see me typing vigorously away at my
see me typing vigorously away at my phone I’m probably not texting someone
phone I’m probably not texting someone
phone I’m probably not texting someone I’m probably actually just really
I’m probably actually just really
I’m probably actually just really inspired by the last TED talk and
inspired by the last TED talk and
inspired by the last TED talk and writing something down spoken word
writing something down spoken word
writing something down spoken word poetry is performed poetry and I’ve done
poetry is performed poetry and I’ve done
poetry is performed poetry and I’ve done it in countless venues I’ve performed in
it in countless venues I’ve performed in
it in countless venues I’ve performed in churches and mosques in schools
churches and mosques in schools
churches and mosques in schools conferences dinners I’ve taught
conferences dinners I’ve taught
conferences dinners I’ve taught workshops to young kids to teach them
workshops to young kids to teach them
workshops to young kids to teach them how they can express themselves and I’ve
how they can express themselves and I’ve
how they can express themselves and I’ve done duets but recently I ended up in
done duets but recently I ended up in
done duets but recently I ended up in this weird funk I deliberately decided I
this weird funk I deliberately decided I
this weird funk I deliberately decided I didn’t wanna write poetry anymore I
didn’t wanna write poetry anymore I
didn’t wanna write poetry anymore I didn’t want to perform and the reason I
didn’t want to perform and the reason I
didn’t want to perform and the reason I believed words were powerless words
believed words were powerless words
believed words were powerless words meant nothing
meant nothing
meant nothing I became demoralized amidst all the
I became demoralized amidst all the
I became demoralized amidst all the injustice not only abroad but it was in
injustice not only abroad but it was in
injustice not only abroad but it was in her in her own backyards I thought to
her in her own backyards I thought to
her in her own backyards I thought to myself what difference is this going to
myself what difference is this going to
myself what difference is this going to make after a lot of thought in several
make after a lot of thought in several
make after a lot of thought in several months and the encouragement of several
months and the encouragement of several
months and the encouragement of several friends I came to the realization that
friends I came to the realization that
friends I came to the realization that it actually wasn’t poetry that was so
it actually wasn’t poetry that was so
it actually wasn’t poetry that was so important
important
important it wasn’t what made the performance so
it wasn’t what made the performance so
it wasn’t what made the performance so important it wasn’t about the rhymes or
important it wasn’t about the rhymes or
important it wasn’t about the rhymes or the alliterations or the metaphors
the alliterations or the metaphors
the alliterations or the metaphors rather it was simply about speaking my
rather it was simply about speaking my
rather it was simply about speaking my truth
truth
truth and speaking the truth of many others
and speaking the truth of many others
and speaking the truth of many others whose voices otherwise couldn’t hear us
whose voices otherwise couldn’t hear us
whose voices otherwise couldn’t hear us now I’m not asking you all to go ahead
now I’m not asking you all to go ahead
now I’m not asking you all to go ahead and write a Shakespearean sonnet because
and write a Shakespearean sonnet because
and write a Shakespearean sonnet because to be honest I would never want to take
to be honest I would never want to take
to be honest I would never want to take up that offer either
up that offer either
up that offer either I’m simply challenging you guys to find
I’m simply challenging you guys to find
I’m simply challenging you guys to find a means of expression to state your
a means of expression to state your
a means of expression to state your truth to use language to grapple with it
truth to use language to grapple with it
truth to use language to grapple with it and if not to listen to others you see
and if not to listen to others you see
and if not to listen to others you see what’s special about spoken word poetry
what’s special about spoken word poetry
what’s special about spoken word poetry and I love spoken word poetry so I’m
and I love spoken word poetry so I’m
and I love spoken word poetry so I’m gonna talk about this all day what’s
gonna talk about this all day what’s
gonna talk about this all day what’s special about spoken word poetry is the
special about spoken word poetry is the
special about spoken word poetry is the fact that it’s not about following rules
fact that it’s not about following rules
fact that it’s not about following rules and regulations set by professors and
and regulations set by professors and
and regulations set by professors and their offices it’s about breaking the
their offices it’s about breaking the
their offices it’s about breaking the rules of language it’s about writing a
rules of language it’s about writing a
rules of language it’s about writing a twenty five line poem that actually
twenty five line poem that actually
twenty five line poem that actually includes three languages and is like
includes three languages and is like
includes three languages and is like five different sentences like it doesn’t
five different sentences like it doesn’t
five different sentences like it doesn’t make sense it’s so it’s so confusing and
make sense it’s so it’s so confusing and
make sense it’s so it’s so confusing and it’s messy but isn’t that how we are as
it’s messy but isn’t that how we are as
it’s messy but isn’t that how we are as human beings our identities are
human beings our identities are
human beings our identities are ever-evolving our backgrounds our
ever-evolving our backgrounds our
ever-evolving our backgrounds our stories see what spoken word poetry does
stories see what spoken word poetry does
stories see what spoken word poetry does and what other means of expression do is
and what other means of expression do is
and what other means of expression do is they challenge others who want to strip
they challenge others who want to strip
they challenge others who want to strip us down to one soundbite to one word to
us down to one soundbite to one word to
us down to one soundbite to one word to one label they’re nuanced they’re rich
one label they’re nuanced they’re rich
one label they’re nuanced they’re rich they’re chaotic like every single person
they’re chaotic like every single person
they’re chaotic like every single person in this room and every single person on
in this room and every single person on
in this room and every single person on this planet now we all gathered here
this planet now we all gathered here
this planet now we all gathered here today for this TED conference I guess
today for this TED conference I guess
today for this TED conference I guess with hopes of hearing the personal
with hopes of hearing the personal
with hopes of hearing the personal stories of others and crossing our
stories of others and crossing our
stories of others and crossing our fingers that we leave knowing exactly
fingers that we leave knowing exactly
fingers that we leave knowing exactly what we need to do to change the world I
what we need to do to change the world I
what we need to do to change the world I don’t that’s how you feel but sometimes
don’t that’s how you feel but sometimes
don’t that’s how you feel but sometimes I feel that way and this cut sounds kind
I feel that way and this cut sounds kind
I feel that way and this cut sounds kind of overwhelming right easy enough
of overwhelming right easy enough
of overwhelming right easy enough actually yeah it’s not so difficult we
actually yeah it’s not so difficult we
actually yeah it’s not so difficult we all communicate with others we all read
all communicate with others we all read
all communicate with others we all read we all attend classes and buy read I
we all attend classes and buy read I
we all attend classes and buy read I don’t mean just read books read the
don’t mean just read books read the
don’t mean just read books read the world around you reading science reading
world around you reading science reading
world around you reading science reading stories
stories
stories so what I’m challenging you to do is
so what I’m challenging you to do is
so what I’m challenging you to do is simply reassess the language you’re
simply reassess the language you’re
simply reassess the language you’re reading reassess the words others are
reading reassess the words others are
reading reassess the words others are using reassess the labels that we are
using reassess the labels that we are
using reassess the labels that we are calling ourselves by to know ourselves
calling ourselves by to know ourselves
calling ourselves by to know ourselves and thereby revolutionize the way we
and thereby revolutionize the way we
and thereby revolutionize the way we perceive the world now this whole time
perceive the world now this whole time
perceive the world now this whole time we’ve been talking about how powerful
we’ve been talking about how powerful
we’ve been talking about how powerful language is right and we know from
language is right and we know from
language is right and we know from Batman something very monumental and
Batman something very monumental and
Batman something very monumental and that is with great power comes yes great
that is with great power comes yes great
that is with great power comes yes great responsibility and so that means that we
responsibility and so that means that we
responsibility and so that means that we have a prime opportunity here it
have a prime opportunity here it
have a prime opportunity here it shouldn’t be overwhelming it should be
shouldn’t be overwhelming it should be
shouldn’t be overwhelming it should be exciting all of us could change the
exciting all of us could change the
exciting all of us could change the world simply by changing our words thank
world simply by changing our words thank
world simply by changing our words thank you guys so much
you guys so much
you guys so much [Applause]
”
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