in my senior year of high school I was told by my college counselor that
told by my college counselor that
told by my college counselor that college was a no-go
college was a no-go
college was a no-go with a 1.87 GPA I probably couldn’t even
with a 1.87 GPA I probably couldn’t even
with a 1.87 GPA I probably couldn’t even walk the stage this 1.87 GPA was a
walk the stage this 1.87 GPA was a
walk the stage this 1.87 GPA was a culmination of four years of no guidance
culmination of four years of no guidance
culmination of four years of no guidance no Direction no leadership and it was
no Direction no leadership and it was
no Direction no leadership and it was also four years of an institution that
also four years of an institution that
also four years of an institution that said it had my best interests but
said it had my best interests but
said it had my best interests but completely let me slip through the
completely let me slip through the
completely let me slip through the cracks
cracks
cracks ten years later I’m kind of flexing
ten years later I’m kind of flexing
ten years later I’m kind of flexing honorable a recent professor of Africana
honorable a recent professor of Africana
honorable a recent professor of Africana Studies contributor writer to Huffington
Studies contributor writer to Huffington
Studies contributor writer to Huffington Post Black Voices heck I even got to
Post Black Voices heck I even got to
Post Black Voices heck I even got to meet the President of the United States
meet the President of the United States
meet the President of the United States this very week thank you thank you I
this very week thank you thank you I
this very week thank you thank you I appreciate that but yet instill I found
appreciate that but yet instill I found
appreciate that but yet instill I found out something that I am an exception to
out something that I am an exception to
out something that I am an exception to a very dangerous rule a rule that allows
a very dangerous rule a rule that allows
a very dangerous rule a rule that allows at least one of me and a thousand black
at least one of me and a thousand black
at least one of me and a thousand black men who will never see the opportunity
men who will never see the opportunity
men who will never see the opportunity to speak to you all but why is that this
to speak to you all but why is that this
to speak to you all but why is that this is the myth of black male exceptionalism
is the myth of black male exceptionalism
is the myth of black male exceptionalism and I believe that it is fundamentally
and I believe that it is fundamentally
and I believe that it is fundamentally maura the ways that we perceive black
maura the ways that we perceive black
maura the ways that we perceive black boys and their futures moving forward
boys and their futures moving forward
boys and their futures moving forward but how do we fix this well I say that
but how do we fix this well I say that
but how do we fix this well I say that we reorient the ways that we perceive
we reorient the ways that we perceive
we reorient the ways that we perceive and engage black boys and I believe that
and engage black boys and I believe that
and engage black boys and I believe that if we do so that we can radically
if we do so that we can radically
if we do so that we can radically transform the ways that we see black
transform the ways that we see black
transform the ways that we see black boys moving from a model of where we see
boys moving from a model of where we see
boys moving from a model of where we see their behavior instead looking at their
their behavior instead looking at their
their behavior instead looking at their inherent value and I believe ladies and
inherent value and I believe ladies and
inherent value and I believe ladies and gentlemen I believe that if we take this
gentlemen I believe that if we take this
gentlemen I believe that if we take this on we will collectively be able to say
on we will collectively be able to say
on we will collectively be able to say that black lives matter
but black lives can’t matter until we
but black lives can’t matter until we fix the most important thing our
fix the most important thing our
fix the most important thing our perception we tend to categorize black
perception we tend to categorize black
perception we tend to categorize black boys based off of their appearance their
boys based off of their appearance their
boys based off of their appearance their socioeconomic status and their academic
socioeconomic status and their academic
socioeconomic status and their academic achievement and it’s very easy to do so
achievement and it’s very easy to do so
achievement and it’s very easy to do so when you find out that 54 percent of
when you find out that 54 percent of
when you find out that 54 percent of black boys will never graduate from high
black boys will never graduate from high
black boys will never graduate from high school are only 54 percent of African
school are only 54 percent of African
school are only 54 percent of African Americans graduate from high school that
Americans graduate from high school that
Americans graduate from high school that 2.5 times of black boys will be
2.5 times of black boys will be
2.5 times of black boys will be suspended more than their white peers
suspended more than their white peers
suspended more than their white peers and one in three black males born today
and one in three black males born today
and one in three black males born today yes I said one in three black males born
yes I said one in three black males born
yes I said one in three black males born today will see the inside of a prison
today will see the inside of a prison
today will see the inside of a prison cell how does this make you feel I think
cell how does this make you feel I think
cell how does this make you feel I think that we have an issue in a proof of our
that we have an issue in a proof of our
that we have an issue in a proof of our perception and we tend to categorize
perception and we tend to categorize
perception and we tend to categorize black boys for being good and being bad
black boys for being good and being bad
black boys for being good and being bad the good ones are the ones who are the
the good ones are the ones who are the
the good ones are the ones who are the ones who are exceptional who tend to
ones who are exceptional who tend to
ones who are exceptional who tend to navigate the destructive statistics that
navigate the destructive statistics that
navigate the destructive statistics that I just shared and the negative ones the
I just shared and the negative ones the
I just shared and the negative ones the bad ones are the ones that we
bad ones are the ones that we
bad ones are the ones that we collectively call thugs hoodlums
collectively call thugs hoodlums
collectively call thugs hoodlums gangsters and for all intents and
gangsters and for all intents and
gangsters and for all intents and purposes niggers and if we continue to
purposes niggers and if we continue to
purposes niggers and if we continue to label black boys in this particular
label black boys in this particular
label black boys in this particular fashion as opposed to actually analyzing
fashion as opposed to actually analyzing
fashion as opposed to actually analyzing the circumstances that create the 54% I
the circumstances that create the 54% I
the circumstances that create the 54% I think we are completely negating the
think we are completely negating the
think we are completely negating the dichotomy that allows us to put them in
dichotomy that allows us to put them in
dichotomy that allows us to put them in good boxes and bad backs boxes
good boxes and bad backs boxes
good boxes and bad backs boxes altogether now many of you may not find
altogether now many of you may not find
altogether now many of you may not find this to be a popular statement but I
this to be a popular statement but I
this to be a popular statement but I think that the myth of black male
think that the myth of black male
think that the myth of black male exceptionalism has only gotten worse and
exceptionalism has only gotten worse and
exceptionalism has only gotten worse and it’s only gotten worse with the election
it’s only gotten worse with the election
it’s only gotten worse with the election of the first black president President
of the first black president President
of the first black president President Barack Obama now buckle up
Barack Obama now buckle up
Barack Obama now buckle up this is all a part of the Obama effect
this is all a part of the Obama effect
this is all a part of the Obama effect with the election of President Obama we
with the election of President Obama we
with the election of President Obama we for even a brief moment believe dr.
for even a brief moment believe dr.
for even a brief moment believe dr. Martin Luther King’s dream that little
Martin Luther King’s dream that little
Martin Luther King’s dream that little black boys and little black girls could
black boys and little black girls could
black boys and little black girls could be whatever they put their mind to
be whatever they put their mind to
be whatever they put their mind to doctors lawyers mayors presidents heck
doctors lawyers mayors presidents heck
doctors lawyers mayors presidents heck even I wanted to run but I also realize
even I wanted to run but I also realize
even I wanted to run but I also realize that it negatively reinforced something
that it negatively reinforced something
that it negatively reinforced something it negatively reinforced that black kids
it negatively reinforced that black kids
it negatively reinforced that black kids can no longer make excuses because
can no longer make excuses because
can no longer make excuses because President Obama is in the White House
President Obama is in the White House
President Obama is in the White House and because they can no longer make
and because they can no longer make
and because they can no longer make excuses it’s because they live in what
excuses it’s because they live in what
excuses it’s because they live in what we like to kindly call a post-racial
we like to kindly call a post-racial
we like to kindly call a post-racial society a post-racial society is a
society a post-racial society is a
society a post-racial society is a society that we all live in today of
society that we all live in today of
society that we all live in today of course where it’s completely void of you
course where it’s completely void of you
course where it’s completely void of you know racial injustice systemic bias
know racial injustice systemic bias
know racial injustice systemic bias nobody goes to jail at disproportionate
nobody goes to jail at disproportionate
nobody goes to jail at disproportionate rates but do they with the election of
rates but do they with the election of
rates but do they with the election of President Obama the only way that black
President Obama the only way that black
President Obama the only way that black boys can ever succeed is if they choose
boys can ever succeed is if they choose
boys can ever succeed is if they choose to take the high road this high road I
to take the high road this high road I
to take the high road this high road I believe ladies and gentlemen to the
believe ladies and gentlemen to the
believe ladies and gentlemen to the White House is a very slippery slope and
White House is a very slippery slope and
White House is a very slippery slope and it has no staircase and so what we do to
it has no staircase and so what we do to
it has no staircase and so what we do to tell black boys that they can be a
tell black boys that they can be a
tell black boys that they can be a success is if they follow three basic
success is if they follow three basic
success is if they follow three basic things exceptionalism assimilation and
things exceptionalism assimilation and
things exceptionalism assimilation and respectability politics exceptionalism
respectability politics exceptionalism
respectability politics exceptionalism says it by all means please distance
says it by all means please distance
says it by all means please distance yourself from anyone that you think is
yourself from anyone that you think is
yourself from anyone that you think is less than and assimilation says well
less than and assimilation says well
less than and assimilation says well when you get in the room make sure you
when you get in the room make sure you
when you get in the room make sure you take off as much blackness as you can so
take off as much blackness as you can so
take off as much blackness as you can so that when you walk into that space white
that when you walk into that space white
that when you walk into that space white people feel comfortable and
people feel comfortable and
people feel comfortable and respectability politics says that when
respectability politics says that when
respectability politics says that when you are in that room make sure that your
you are in that room make sure that your
you are in that room make sure that your conduct and of quorum is appropriate and
conduct and of quorum is appropriate and
conduct and of quorum is appropriate and that everyone looks at you as you ought
that everyone looks at you as you ought
that everyone looks at you as you ought to be but that’s a problem ladies and
to be but that’s a problem ladies and
to be but that’s a problem ladies and gentlemen because if we’re telling
gentlemen because if we’re telling
gentlemen because if we’re telling little black boys that they have to be
little black boys that they have to be
little black boys that they have to be exceptions to the rule assimilate and be
exceptions to the rule assimilate and be
exceptions to the rule assimilate and be respectable how can we
respectable how can we
respectable how can we nor these things the pyramid of
nor these things the pyramid of
nor these things the pyramid of respectability this pyramid of
respectability this pyramid of
respectability this pyramid of respectability whether we’re conscious
respectability whether we’re conscious
respectability whether we’re conscious of a lot we judge black men based off of
of a lot we judge black men based off of
of a lot we judge black men based off of this we say that black men can either be
this we say that black men can either be
this we say that black men can either be prisoners working-class high school
prisoners working-class high school
prisoners working-class high school grads college grads are the elite and
grads college grads are the elite and
grads college grads are the elite and whether how high or low they go as long
whether how high or low they go as long
whether how high or low they go as long as you a Q PI a black body you will
as you a Q PI a black body you will
as you a Q PI a black body you will still be susceptible to racism and
still be susceptible to racism and
still be susceptible to racism and ladies and gentlemen I have fallen on
ladies and gentlemen I have fallen on
ladies and gentlemen I have fallen on this category even though I may be at
this category even though I may be at
this category even though I may be at the tippity-top that if law enforcement
the tippity-top that if law enforcement
the tippity-top that if law enforcement sees me with a hoodie
sees me with a hoodie
sees me with a hoodie we can all expect the results and
we can all expect the results and
we can all expect the results and imagine if little black boys have to
imagine if little black boys have to
imagine if little black boys have to navigate gate this on a daily basis
navigate gate this on a daily basis
navigate gate this on a daily basis imagine how acute it becomes when law
imagine how acute it becomes when law
imagine how acute it becomes when law enforcement looks at this in the ways
enforcement looks at this in the ways
enforcement looks at this in the ways that they engage them on a daily basis
that they engage them on a daily basis
that they engage them on a daily basis for instance let’s look at Trayvon
for instance let’s look at Trayvon
for instance let’s look at Trayvon Martin when he was walking home with
Martin when he was walking home with
Martin when he was walking home with Jeff skittles a hoodie and in the dark
Jeff skittles a hoodie and in the dark
Jeff skittles a hoodie and in the dark are what about to me our rights he was
are what about to me our rights he was
are what about to me our rights he was playing in a park with a toy gun and was
playing in a park with a toy gun and was
playing in a park with a toy gun and was gunned down by law enforcement within
gunned down by law enforcement within
gunned down by law enforcement within 2.5 seconds or what about falando
2.5 seconds or what about falando
2.5 seconds or what about falando Castille who was sitting in his car with
Castille who was sitting in his car with
Castille who was sitting in his car with his girlfriend and his daughter in the
his girlfriend and his daughter in the
his girlfriend and his daughter in the back or what about Alton sterling who
back or what about Alton sterling who
back or what about Alton sterling who was killed for selling CDs outside of a
was killed for selling CDs outside of a
was killed for selling CDs outside of a convenience store I think that the
convenience store I think that the
convenience store I think that the reason why every single one of these
reason why every single one of these
reason why every single one of these black men died was because black male
black men died was because black male
black men died was because black male exceptionalism they fell on one of these
exceptionalism they fell on one of these
exceptionalism they fell on one of these categories and law enforcement saw them
categories and law enforcement saw them
categories and law enforcement saw them in this way see what we don’t understand
in this way see what we don’t understand
in this way see what we don’t understand is victims of state violence die twice
is victims of state violence die twice
is victims of state violence die twice first they die because the flawed
first they die because the flawed
first they die because the flawed perception of who they are
perception of who they are
perception of who they are and then they die a second time in the
and then they die a second time in the
and then they die a second time in the court of public opinion all based off of
court of public opinion all based off of
court of public opinion all based off of the worthiness of the crime this is why
the worthiness of the crime this is why
the worthiness of the crime this is why in 2016 you will hear
in 2016 you will hear
in 2016 you will hear hands up don’t shoot hands up don’t
hands up don’t shoot hands up don’t
hands up don’t shoot hands up don’t shoot black lives matter black lives
shoot black lives matter black lives
shoot black lives matter black lives matter black lives matter
matter black lives matter
matter black lives matter these aren’t black Millennials who are
these aren’t black Millennials who are
these aren’t black Millennials who are essentially saying that we are tired of
essentially saying that we are tired of
essentially saying that we are tired of institutions looking down on us based
institutions looking down on us based
institutions looking down on us based off of how well we perform in class
off of how well we perform in class
off of how well we perform in class based off of how well we answered that
based off of how well we answered that
based off of how well we answered that to that taillight or how well we look at
to that taillight or how well we look at
to that taillight or how well we look at an officer without any indignation black
an officer without any indignation black
an officer without any indignation black lives matter says let’s do away with
lives matter says let’s do away with
lives matter says let’s do away with this myth of exceptionalism and I agree
this myth of exceptionalism and I agree
this myth of exceptionalism and I agree but how do we do so I want to equip you
but how do we do so I want to equip you
but how do we do so I want to equip you ladies and gentlemen with the ways to
ladies and gentlemen with the ways to
ladies and gentlemen with the ways to engage with your little brothers with
engage with your little brothers with
engage with your little brothers with your little cousins heck even your
your little cousins heck even your
your little cousins heck even your homeboys off the block we do this by
homeboys off the block we do this by
homeboys off the block we do this by changing our perception of black boys
changing our perception of black boys
changing our perception of black boys altogether let’s move away from a model
altogether let’s move away from a model
altogether let’s move away from a model that says that black boys are inherently
that says that black boys are inherently
that says that black boys are inherently criminal and have delinquent behaviors
criminal and have delinquent behaviors
criminal and have delinquent behaviors and also we should stop the blame game
and also we should stop the blame game
and also we should stop the blame game where we blame black boys for
where we blame black boys for
where we blame black boys for underperforming and meeting this
underperforming and meeting this
underperforming and meeting this negative expectation as opposed to
negative expectation as opposed to
negative expectation as opposed to actually looking at the circumstances
actually looking at the circumstances
actually looking at the circumstances that Korean negativity to begin with and
that Korean negativity to begin with and
that Korean negativity to begin with and then thirdly we just affirm all black
then thirdly we just affirm all black
then thirdly we just affirm all black lives whether they have a 1.8 7 GPA or a
lives whether they have a 1.8 7 GPA or a
lives whether they have a 1.8 7 GPA or a 4.0 we know that their lives matter
4.0 we know that their lives matter
4.0 we know that their lives matter thank you ladies and gentlemen
thank you ladies and gentlemen
thank you ladies and gentlemen [Applause]
”
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