[Music] air begins with me each of you are you
air begins with me each of you are you
air begins with me each of you are you afraid of me are you afraid of the big
afraid of me are you afraid of the big
afraid of me are you afraid of the big black man that’s standing in front of
black man that’s standing in front of
black man that’s standing in front of you when you see my last name do you
you when you see my last name do you
you when you see my last name do you understand that I’m more than just image
understand that I’m more than just image
understand that I’m more than just image could you predict that my mother is
could you predict that my mother is
could you predict that my mother is white there she is if you can’t tell we
white there she is if you can’t tell we
white there she is if you can’t tell we have pretty striking resemblance did you
have pretty striking resemblance did you
have pretty striking resemblance did you understand that my father and mother had
understand that my father and mother had
understand that my father and mother had clashing cultures throughout my life
clashing cultures throughout my life
clashing cultures throughout my life that made it impossible for me to
that made it impossible for me to
that made it impossible for me to understand who I was from the very
understand who I was from the very
understand who I was from the very beginning I remember my first day of
beginning I remember my first day of
beginning I remember my first day of kindergarten I had this sense of pride
kindergarten I had this sense of pride
kindergarten I had this sense of pride my father had this deep ganea knack sent
my father had this deep ganea knack sent
my father had this deep ganea knack sent and he always wanted me to understand
and he always wanted me to understand
and he always wanted me to understand where I came from I was Ashanti I was
where I came from I was Ashanti I was
where I came from I was Ashanti I was ganea I was more than just another
ganea I was more than just another
ganea I was more than just another person and so when i walked in i was
person and so when i walked in i was
person and so when i walked in i was excited just like any other
excited just like any other
excited just like any other five-year-old child I couldn’t wait for
five-year-old child I couldn’t wait for
five-year-old child I couldn’t wait for my opportunity start making friends and
my opportunity start making friends and
my opportunity start making friends and tell people all about who I was and how
tell people all about who I was and how
tell people all about who I was and how I like to play and so when it got to my
I like to play and so when it got to my
I like to play and so when it got to my turn to speak I stood proudly I said my
turn to speak I stood proudly I said my
turn to speak I stood proudly I said my name is none Aqua sea and for a moment I
name is none Aqua sea and for a moment I
name is none Aqua sea and for a moment I felt like I was on top of the world but
felt like I was on top of the world but
felt like I was on top of the world but in the next moment when another kid
in the next moment when another kid
in the next moment when another kid sitting right next to me pointed at me
sitting right next to me pointed at me
sitting right next to me pointed at me and said you’re just an African booty
and said you’re just an African booty
and said you’re just an African booty scratcher I immediately begun to break
scratcher I immediately begun to break
scratcher I immediately begun to break down you see I’ve lived in constant
down you see I’ve lived in constant
down you see I’ve lived in constant paranoia of not knowing who I am of
paranoia of not knowing who I am of
paranoia of not knowing who I am of understanding my purpose or
understanding my purpose or
understanding my purpose or understanding my ability to relay Who I
understanding my ability to relay Who I
understanding my ability to relay Who I am past what I’m wearing a constant
am past what I’m wearing a constant
am past what I’m wearing a constant paranoia of being pulled over by the
paranoia of being pulled over by the
paranoia of being pulled over by the wrong belief and so when I feel like I’m
wrong belief and so when I feel like I’m
wrong belief and so when I feel like I’m doing too much
doing too much
doing too much it’s really about protecting myself this
it’s really about protecting myself this
it’s really about protecting myself this three-piece suit is probably doing too
three-piece suit is probably doing too
three-piece suit is probably doing too much but it was like a bulletproof vest
much but it was like a bulletproof vest
much but it was like a bulletproof vest for me it made me feel comfortable it
for me it made me feel comfortable it
for me it made me feel comfortable it made me feel as if you could just listen
made me feel as if you could just listen
made me feel as if you could just listen to me and not focus on the color of my
you see my mother always called me fuzzy
you see my mother always called me fuzzy wuzzy and I felt like a teddy bear I
wuzzy and I felt like a teddy bear I
wuzzy and I felt like a teddy bear I mean are you afraid of me do I look like
mean are you afraid of me do I look like
mean are you afraid of me do I look like a teddy bear or am I threat I couldn’t
a teddy bear or am I threat I couldn’t
a teddy bear or am I threat I couldn’t understand by just being from where I
understand by just being from where I
understand by just being from where I was I didn’t always fit in with
was I didn’t always fit in with
was I didn’t always fit in with everybody I grew up with but very
everybody I grew up with but very
everybody I grew up with but very quickly post crack epidemic washington
quickly post crack epidemic washington
quickly post crack epidemic washington DC gave me tough skin and so when i
DC gave me tough skin and so when i
DC gave me tough skin and so when i matriculated to 7th through 12th grade
matriculated to 7th through 12th grade
matriculated to 7th through 12th grade along with the upper ten percent of the
along with the upper ten percent of the
along with the upper ten percent of the entire united states in washington DC at
entire united states in washington DC at
entire united states in washington DC at the marais school i felt as if i had
the marais school i felt as if i had
the marais school i felt as if i had been hardened already i felt as if i had
been hardened already i felt as if i had
been hardened already i felt as if i had a purpose and a mission I had to
a purpose and a mission I had to
a purpose and a mission I had to infiltrate the system and I had to make
infiltrate the system and I had to make
infiltrate the system and I had to make my way you see neither of my parents had
my way you see neither of my parents had
my way you see neither of my parents had gone to college at least traditionally
gone to college at least traditionally
gone to college at least traditionally my mother eventually did while taking
my mother eventually did while taking
my mother eventually did while taking care of her mother in her mid-twenties
care of her mother in her mid-twenties
care of her mother in her mid-twenties and so she went to college and she also
and so she went to college and she also
and so she went to college and she also happened to be working at the same time
happened to be working at the same time
happened to be working at the same time but for my family this was an
but for my family this was an
but for my family this was an opportunity so amazing so ridiculous so
opportunity so amazing so ridiculous so
opportunity so amazing so ridiculous so unfathomable that there were tears of
unfathomable that there were tears of
unfathomable that there were tears of joy tears of joy that was short-lived
joy tears of joy that was short-lived
joy tears of joy that was short-lived and the reason was because I couldn’t
and the reason was because I couldn’t
and the reason was because I couldn’t understand whether i need it to be fresh
understand whether i need it to be fresh
understand whether i need it to be fresh prince how many of you here have watched
prince how many of you here have watched
prince how many of you here have watched the freshman fidelity it’s based
the freshman fidelity it’s based
the freshman fidelity it’s based majority a majority of it is based on
majority a majority of it is based on
majority a majority of it is based on the difference between two main figures
the difference between two main figures
the difference between two main figures will and Carlton and will happens to be
will and Carlton and will happens to be
will and Carlton and will happens to be from an underserved community of west
from an underserved community of west
from an underserved community of west philadelphia born and raised
philadelphia born and raised
philadelphia born and raised and Carlton is a privilege and unable to
and Carlton is a privilege and unable to
and Carlton is a privilege and unable to really see the struggles that will is
really see the struggles that will is
really see the struggles that will is going through until much later as the
going through until much later as the
going through until much later as the seasons continue to develop and so I
seasons continue to develop and so I
seasons continue to develop and so I began to try to shield myself with
began to try to shield myself with
began to try to shield myself with things that my family couldn’t afford I
things that my family couldn’t afford I
things that my family couldn’t afford I had to have the pole I had to dress
had to have the pole I had to dress
had to have the pole I had to dress preppy I had to look like everybody else
preppy I had to look like everybody else
preppy I had to look like everybody else and my family quite frankly couldn’t
and my family quite frankly couldn’t
and my family quite frankly couldn’t afford it but my parents made a way for
afford it but my parents made a way for
afford it but my parents made a way for me to feel comfortable for me to have a
me to feel comfortable for me to have a
me to feel comfortable for me to have a shell for me to feel that sense of pride
shell for me to feel that sense of pride
shell for me to feel that sense of pride that my father had tried to instill in
that my father had tried to instill in
that my father had tried to instill in me when he told me your ashanti big an
me when he told me your ashanti big an
me when he told me your ashanti big an an and I remember very clearly all of a
an and I remember very clearly all of a
an and I remember very clearly all of a sudden I had all of these opportunities
sudden I had all of these opportunities
sudden I had all of these opportunities to do things that I wanted I could sing
to do things that I wanted I could sing
to do things that I wanted I could sing in the choir I could play sports and one
in the choir I could play sports and one
in the choir I could play sports and one particular day at the beginning of the
particular day at the beginning of the
particular day at the beginning of the fall football season in seventh grade I
fall football season in seventh grade I
fall football season in seventh grade I remember my little round self jogging
remember my little round self jogging
remember my little round self jogging out onto the field super excited to be
out onto the field super excited to be
out onto the field super excited to be able to play sports in full attire I
able to play sports in full attire I
able to play sports in full attire I mean I’ve been playing football in the
mean I’ve been playing football in the
mean I’ve been playing football in the street for years just tossing a pigskin
street for years just tossing a pigskin
street for years just tossing a pigskin in between oncoming cars but I finally
in between oncoming cars but I finally
in between oncoming cars but I finally had the opportunity to strap up and I
had the opportunity to strap up and I
had the opportunity to strap up and I felt like I was going to make a huge
felt like I was going to make a huge
felt like I was going to make a huge impact on my life I was headed to the
impact on my life I was headed to the
impact on my life I was headed to the NFL but I was immediately defeated
NFL but I was immediately defeated
NFL but I was immediately defeated because my coach started to put pieces
because my coach started to put pieces
because my coach started to put pieces of tape on everybody’s helmets the bats
of tape on everybody’s helmets the bats
of tape on everybody’s helmets the bats of their helmets so that he could
of their helmets so that he could
of their helmets so that he could remember our names and in so doing as
remember our names and in so doing as
remember our names and in so doing as you can see my last name is pretty long
you can see my last name is pretty long
you can see my last name is pretty long he started to write an acronym first the
he started to write an acronym first the
he started to write an acronym first the 0 then the w I thought a is he going to
0 then the w I thought a is he going to
0 then the w I thought a is he going to call me mr. Oh w but he added the two
call me mr. Oh w but he added the two
call me mr. Oh w but he added the two E’s at the end and began to I guess
E’s at the end and began to I guess
E’s at the end and began to I guess affectionately call me Alli now most of
affectionately call me Alli now most of
affectionately call me Alli now most of the people that I went to high school in
the people that I went to high school in
the people that I went to high school in middle school with think of that term as
middle school with think of that term as
middle school with think of that term as affectionate but it took me almost 12
affectionate but it took me almost 12
affectionate but it took me almost 12 years later to understand that I was
years later to understand that I was
years later to understand that I was different I wasn’t a Johnson I wasn’t
different I wasn’t a Johnson I wasn’t
different I wasn’t a Johnson I wasn’t Thompson I wasn’t someone who they could
Thompson I wasn’t someone who they could
Thompson I wasn’t someone who they could relate to immediately and so to be
relate to immediately and so to be
relate to immediately and so to be brought in I had to be given a title I
brought in I had to be given a title I
brought in I had to be given a title I wanted to be accepted and as i continue
wanted to be accepted and as i continue
wanted to be accepted and as i continue to develop i continue to understand that
to develop i continue to understand that
to develop i continue to understand that in order for me to be accepted i had to
in order for me to be accepted i had to
in order for me to be accepted i had to start changing my identity i had to be a
start changing my identity i had to be a
start changing my identity i had to be a different person than I was in my
different person than I was in my
different person than I was in my neighborhood but I still had to be cool
neighborhood but I still had to be cool
neighborhood but I still had to be cool and my father and I got into it severely
and my father and I got into it severely
and my father and I got into it severely so many times about me losing sight of
so many times about me losing sight of
so many times about me losing sight of who I was where I was from what the
who I was where I was from what the
who I was where I was from what the mission was at him again remember no one
mission was at him again remember no one
mission was at him again remember no one in my family and my nuclear family had
in my family and my nuclear family had
in my family and my nuclear family had gone to traditional college and so this
gone to traditional college and so this
gone to traditional college and so this was an opportunity that meant so much to
was an opportunity that meant so much to
was an opportunity that meant so much to our family but at what cost and so as I
our family but at what cost and so as I
our family but at what cost and so as I was making my way through I would have
was making my way through I would have
was making my way through I would have these back and forth with my dad I felt
these back and forth with my dad I felt
these back and forth with my dad I felt as if I was smarter he didn’t finish
as if I was smarter he didn’t finish
as if I was smarter he didn’t finish high school so he could never help me
high school so he could never help me
high school so he could never help me with my homework and my mother who had a
with my homework and my mother who had a
with my homework and my mother who had a different culture and was much more
different culture and was much more
different culture and was much more understanding had to supplement the cost
understanding had to supplement the cost
understanding had to supplement the cost of his disability and so we were talking
of his disability and so we were talking
of his disability and so we were talking past each other just within our home but
past each other just within our home but
past each other just within our home but when my father died when I turned 15 I
when my father died when I turned 15 I
when my father died when I turned 15 I was able to move past that towards the
was able to move past that towards the
was able to move past that towards the goal of getting to college and I very
goal of getting to college and I very
goal of getting to college and I very clearly remember the day when I got the
clearly remember the day when I got the
clearly remember the day when I got the call from the posse foundation and
call from the posse foundation and
call from the posse foundation and Grinnell College letting me know that I
Grinnell College letting me know that I
Grinnell College letting me know that I had been accepted that I would be on my
had been accepted that I would be on my
had been accepted that I would be on my way to school all tuition taking care of
way to school all tuition taking care of
way to school all tuition taking care of I’ve never cried more tears of joy in my
I’ve never cried more tears of joy in my
I’ve never cried more tears of joy in my life and that moment forever shaped by
life and that moment forever shaped by
life and that moment forever shaped by ability to then embark on my true life
by the time I’d got into college my
by the time I’d got into college my sense of being my purpose my
sense of being my purpose my
sense of being my purpose my representation for my younger brother
representation for my younger brother
representation for my younger brother overshadowed all of the fears that I had
overshadowed all of the fears that I had
overshadowed all of the fears that I had of being able to fall in line with
of being able to fall in line with
of being able to fall in line with people who were pretty much sure that
people who were pretty much sure that
people who were pretty much sure that they were going to college their entire
they were going to college their entire
they were going to college their entire life
life
life I had gone to private school and had
I had gone to private school and had
I had gone to private school and had this sense of an ability to be able to
this sense of an ability to be able to
this sense of an ability to be able to actually speak with and dine with and
actually speak with and dine with and
actually speak with and dine with and play with and go to harris with tons of
play with and go to harris with tons of
play with and go to harris with tons of different people from all over the world
different people from all over the world
different people from all over the world and so when Senator Tom Harkin appeared
and so when Senator Tom Harkin appeared
and so when Senator Tom Harkin appeared on my campus I wasn’t afraid I saw it as
on my campus I wasn’t afraid I saw it as
on my campus I wasn’t afraid I saw it as an opportunity I began to have more and
an opportunity I began to have more and
an opportunity I began to have more and more of those opportunities stacking
more of those opportunities stacking
more of those opportunities stacking them on top of each other but I also
them on top of each other but I also
them on top of each other but I also began to understand that my duality was
began to understand that my duality was
began to understand that my duality was taking a new form I was becoming the
taking a new form I was becoming the
taking a new form I was becoming the token black men I was becoming that
token black men I was becoming that
token black men I was becoming that voice of diversity the one that’s always
voice of diversity the one that’s always
voice of diversity the one that’s always great to hear were at the end of a
great to hear were at the end of a
great to hear were at the end of a conversation but never in the middle the
conversation but never in the middle the
conversation but never in the middle the ideas that would help to be more
ideas that would help to be more
ideas that would help to be more inclusive until they were too loud but I
inclusive until they were too loud but I
inclusive until they were too loud but I also began to understand that I had a
also began to understand that I had a
also began to understand that I had a purpose and the image of that plan and
purpose and the image of that plan and
purpose and the image of that plan and that purpose came through my inspiration
that purpose came through my inspiration
that purpose came through my inspiration to work for president barack obama you
to work for president barack obama you
to work for president barack obama you see I finally had someone to aspire to
see I finally had someone to aspire to
see I finally had someone to aspire to be like another biracial
be like another biracial
be like another biracial african-american man who is well
african-american man who is well
african-american man who is well educated and had beat the odd and so I
educated and had beat the odd and so I
educated and had beat the odd and so I embarked on a whole journey of
embarked on a whole journey of
embarked on a whole journey of understanding this purpose in the
understanding this purpose in the
understanding this purpose in the position of wanting to be a public
position of wanting to be a public
position of wanting to be a public servant and I took on a great
servant and I took on a great
servant and I took on a great opportunity of working for him in
opportunity of working for him in
opportunity of working for him in Dubuque Iowa shortly after graduating
Dubuque Iowa shortly after graduating
Dubuque Iowa shortly after graduating bunnell college and truly began to
bunnell college and truly began to
bunnell college and truly began to understand just how much potential I had
understand just how much potential I had
understand just how much potential I had in bringing different types of people
in bringing different types of people
in bringing different types of people together for a common goal you see I
together for a common goal you see I
together for a common goal you see I started to understand that my duality
started to understand that my duality
started to understand that my duality didn’t have to be one of a dichotomy I
didn’t have to be one of a dichotomy I
didn’t have to be one of a dichotomy I didn’t always have to switch my
didn’t always have to switch my
didn’t always have to switch my personality in fact I could be both and
personality in fact I could be both and
personality in fact I could be both and I started to punch in started to code
I started to punch in started to code
I started to punch in started to code set of code switch so when Freddie gray
set of code switch so when Freddie gray
set of code switch so when Freddie gray was killed mercilessly by people
was killed mercilessly by people
was killed mercilessly by people officers in 2014 I had the courage to
officers in 2014 I had the courage to
officers in 2014 I had the courage to lead a protest on the steps of the US
lead a protest on the steps of the US
lead a protest on the steps of the US House of Representatives with a number
House of Representatives with a number
House of Representatives with a number of other young people old people black
of other young people old people black
of other young people old people black people white people blue purple for this
people white people blue purple for this
people white people blue purple for this sense of connectedness boards human
sense of connectedness boards human
sense of connectedness boards human dignity black lives matter my life
dignity black lives matter my life
dignity black lives matter my life mattered but more importantly I refuse
mattered but more importantly I refuse
mattered but more importantly I refuse to sit on the sideline as I continued to
to sit on the sideline as I continued to
to sit on the sideline as I continued to see the recreation of the 60 but
see the recreation of the 60 but
see the recreation of the 60 but furthermore I had this interesting
furthermore I had this interesting
furthermore I had this interesting situation that I had to deal with
situation that I had to deal with
situation that I had to deal with individual after all I had made it so
individual after all I had made it so
individual after all I had made it so far out of my situation that how could I
far out of my situation that how could I
far out of my situation that how could I stop I mean this was an opportunity to
stop I mean this was an opportunity to
stop I mean this was an opportunity to get both publicity and conduct some
get both publicity and conduct some
get both publicity and conduct some public service in fact i can remember
public service in fact i can remember
public service in fact i can remember plenty of people who use it specifically
plenty of people who use it specifically
plenty of people who use it specifically for that but I understood that my
for that but I understood that my
for that but I understood that my purpose was deeper than so I continued
purpose was deeper than so I continued
purpose was deeper than so I continued to ask myself how do we grow I mean
to ask myself how do we grow I mean
to ask myself how do we grow I mean police brutality racism prejudice those
police brutality racism prejudice those
police brutality racism prejudice those aren’t new things and I was fortunate
aren’t new things and I was fortunate
aren’t new things and I was fortunate enough to have been educated through a
enough to have been educated through a
enough to have been educated through a pretty liberal and social education that
pretty liberal and social education that
pretty liberal and social education that allowed me to understand that you know
allowed me to understand that you know
allowed me to understand that you know equality existed I mean sometimes I ask
equality existed I mean sometimes I ask
equality existed I mean sometimes I ask myself how we could possibly still be
myself how we could possibly still be
myself how we could possibly still be fighting over a national anthem that
fighting over a national anthem that
fighting over a national anthem that celebrates slavery I mean it’s in the
celebrates slavery I mean it’s in the
celebrates slavery I mean it’s in the third stanza of course that no one else
third stanza of course that no one else
third stanza of course that no one else really learns these days but how far
really learns these days but how far
really learns these days but how far have we really come you see the problem
have we really come you see the problem
have we really come you see the problem begins with those who have in those who
begins with those who have in those who
begins with those who have in those who don’t and understanding our ability to
don’t and understanding our ability to
don’t and understanding our ability to get what we would like starts at a very
get what we would like starts at a very
get what we would like starts at a very fundamental level we’re supposed to be
fundamental level we’re supposed to be
fundamental level we’re supposed to be the best nation in the world but 32
the best nation in the world but 32
the best nation in the world but 32 million adults in the u.s. can’t read
million adults in the u.s. can’t read
million adults in the u.s. can’t read and in DC we’re on from nine percent of
and in DC we’re on from nine percent of
and in DC we’re on from nine percent of true DC residents which happened to be
true DC residents which happened to be
true DC residents which happened to be seventy-five percent
seventy-five percent
seventy-five percent of color don’t even finish college in
of color don’t even finish college in
of color don’t even finish college in six years I had an opportunity but how
six years I had an opportunity but how
six years I had an opportunity but how would I move forth without looking back
would I move forth without looking back
would I move forth without looking back and I also began to understand that I
and I also began to understand that I
and I also began to understand that I was up against a completely new beasts
was up against a completely new beasts
was up against a completely new beasts see the internet had given the younger
see the internet had given the younger
see the internet had given the younger generation a sense of an ability to make
generation a sense of an ability to make
generation a sense of an ability to make things happen at a much quicker pace and
things happen at a much quicker pace and
things happen at a much quicker pace and so I had this frustration through social
so I had this frustration through social
so I had this frustration through social media your snapchat through Facebook a
media your snapchat through Facebook a
media your snapchat through Facebook a sense of purpose the sense of urge that
sense of purpose the sense of urge that
sense of purpose the sense of urge that needed to be gratified instantly and I
needed to be gratified instantly and I
needed to be gratified instantly and I would fight and our toil all kinds of
would fight and our toil all kinds of
would fight and our toil all kinds of people that I would work with or under
people that I would work with or under
people that I would work with or under because they looked at me as the short
because they looked at me as the short
because they looked at me as the short side of millennial I mean sure my points
side of millennial I mean sure my points
side of millennial I mean sure my points were great but how was I going to see
were great but how was I going to see
were great but how was I going to see things through how could they possibly
things through how could they possibly
things through how could they possibly pass the torch to someone like me when
pass the torch to someone like me when
pass the torch to someone like me when they couldn’t even retire they were
they couldn’t even retire they were
they couldn’t even retire they were focusing on things like social security
focusing on things like social security
focusing on things like social security and I are raised never quite thinking
and I are raised never quite thinking
and I are raised never quite thinking about investing into our bench into our
about investing into our bench into our
about investing into our bench into our future moreover how was I going to fight
future moreover how was I going to fight
future moreover how was I going to fight this chain of conservatism that I found
this chain of conservatism that I found
this chain of conservatism that I found myself falling into you how was I going
myself falling into you how was I going
myself falling into you how was I going to fight feeling better than the people
to fight feeling better than the people
to fight feeling better than the people that I’d grown up with but the community
that I’d grown up with but the community
that I’d grown up with but the community surrounding me constantly but I began to
surrounding me constantly but I began to
surrounding me constantly but I began to understand that my opportunity was more
understand that my opportunity was more
understand that my opportunity was more than just for me someone else had
than just for me someone else had
than just for me someone else had invested in my human dignity someone
invested in my human dignity someone
invested in my human dignity someone else had seen me as more than just that
else had seen me as more than just that
else had seen me as more than just that little black boy more than just the
little black boy more than just the
little black boy more than just the Ghanaians the half white male more than
Ghanaians the half white male more than
Ghanaians the half white male more than a teddy bear and even more than a threat
a teddy bear and even more than a threat
a teddy bear and even more than a threat they understood that that dignity that
they understood that that dignity that
they understood that that dignity that they gave me that I started to
they gave me that I started to
they gave me that I started to understand that resonated within me was
understand that resonated within me was
understand that resonated within me was a path to social mobility and if my path
a path to social mobility and if my path
a path to social mobility and if my path could be created so many other paths
could be created so many other paths
could be created so many other paths could be as well and so my network began
could be as well and so my network began
could be as well and so my network began to expand
to expand
to expand and even though I didn’t start off
and even though I didn’t start off
and even though I didn’t start off having a Bentley we’re going on all the
having a Bentley we’re going on all the
having a Bentley we’re going on all the cool trips that all of my friends did I
cool trips that all of my friends did I
cool trips that all of my friends did I had equity I could see the playing field
had equity I could see the playing field
had equity I could see the playing field that I was working and I had opportunity
that I was working and I had opportunity
that I was working and I had opportunity and I began to understand that with
and I began to understand that with
and I began to understand that with opportunity I was using my duality in
opportunity I was using my duality in
opportunity I was using my duality in all of these different circles to bring
all of these different circles to bring
all of these different circles to bring people together to innovate to talk with
people together to innovate to talk with
people together to innovate to talk with each other with the intent of listening
each other with the intent of listening
each other with the intent of listening but listening without a response you see
but listening without a response you see
but listening without a response you see I started to understand that I had
I started to understand that I had
I started to understand that I had directly benefited from equity sure laws
directly benefited from equity sure laws
directly benefited from equity sure laws can be made that say that everybody can
can be made that say that everybody can
can be made that say that everybody can walk through the same for boss can be
walk through the same for boss can be
walk through the same for boss can be made that ensure that every child has
made that ensure that every child has
made that ensure that every child has the opportunity to get to school but
the opportunity to get to school but
the opportunity to get to school but what about all of the other things what
what about all of the other things what
what about all of the other things what about all of the parents that can afford
about all of the parents that can afford
about all of the parents that can afford the tutor what about all of the parents
the tutor what about all of the parents
the tutor what about all of the parents that are able to put their kids into
that are able to put their kids into
that are able to put their kids into karate and basketball and ballet and
karate and basketball and ballet and
karate and basketball and ballet and piano but those factors possibly add to
piano but those factors possibly add to
piano but those factors possibly add to social capital could those factors have
social capital could those factors have
social capital could those factors have been the difference between my success
been the difference between my success
been the difference between my success and so many who had not made it out of
and so many who had not made it out of
and so many who had not made it out of my neighborhood but how do we advocate
my neighborhood but how do we advocate
my neighborhood but how do we advocate so often our fear has us wearing an
so often our fear has us wearing an
so often our fear has us wearing an invisible cloak where we just want to
invisible cloak where we just want to
invisible cloak where we just want to make it at least that’s how I feel where
make it at least that’s how I feel where
make it at least that’s how I feel where I want to be accepted where I want to be
I want to be accepted where I want to be
I want to be accepted where I want to be seen even and on an even playing field
seen even and on an even playing field
seen even and on an even playing field regardless of who else is with me my
regardless of who else is with me my
regardless of who else is with me my mindset obviously changed but so much of
mindset obviously changed but so much of
mindset obviously changed but so much of that unlearning and that hurt had to
that unlearning and that hurt had to
that unlearning and that hurt had to happen through my experiences and so as
happen through my experiences and so as
happen through my experiences and so as I worked in electoral politics with all
I worked in electoral politics with all
I worked in electoral politics with all different types of people and worked as
different types of people and worked as
different types of people and worked as a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill
a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill
a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill creating policies that I wanted to see
creating policies that I wanted to see
creating policies that I wanted to see come to fruition so that we could create
come to fruition so that we could create
come to fruition so that we could create better levels of equity I started to ask
better levels of equity I started to ask
better levels of equity I started to ask myself what can I do without a
myself what can I do without a
myself what can I do without a constituent how do I stand up to a
constituent how do I stand up to a
constituent how do I stand up to a corporation or a pack or international
corporation or a pack or international
corporation or a pack or international donor or billionaire or special
donor or billionaire or special
donor or billionaire or special interests that have nothing to do with
interests that have nothing to do with
interests that have nothing to do with human dignity but simply restoration you
human dignity but simply restoration you
human dignity but simply restoration you see I started to understand that I was
see I started to understand that I was
see I started to understand that I was getting ahead of myself I had to relearn
getting ahead of myself I had to relearn
getting ahead of myself I had to relearn and understand that our coexistence had
and understand that our coexistence had
and understand that our coexistence had to be more our our coexistence had to be
to be more our our coexistence had to be
to be more our our coexistence had to be one of collaboration I’m of the firm
one of collaboration I’m of the firm
one of collaboration I’m of the firm belief that we are at a time in our life
belief that we are at a time in our life
belief that we are at a time in our life where our electoral process our
where our electoral process our
where our electoral process our democracy our freedom our liberties and
democracy our freedom our liberties and
democracy our freedom our liberties and our overall belief in our nation are at
our overall belief in our nation are at
our overall belief in our nation are at stake see we can have the same outcomes
stake see we can have the same outcomes
stake see we can have the same outcomes that we’ve had for centuries and
that we’ve had for centuries and
that we’ve had for centuries and centuries rolling our feet in the mud
centuries rolling our feet in the mud
centuries rolling our feet in the mud trying to move something like Fred
trying to move something like Fred
trying to move something like Fred Flintstone or we can start to have
Flintstone or we can start to have
Flintstone or we can start to have conversations that expose the truth of
conversations that expose the truth of
conversations that expose the truth of America that the little black boy just
America that the little black boy just
America that the little black boy just might have ideas that the rich white boy
might have ideas that the rich white boy
might have ideas that the rich white boy doesn’t because I didn’t have and
doesn’t because I didn’t have and
doesn’t because I didn’t have and through that innovation through those
through that innovation through those
through that innovation through those conversations we can start to think
conversations we can start to think
conversations we can start to think about creating pathways we can start to
about creating pathways we can start to
about creating pathways we can start to think about innovation and technology
think about innovation and technology
think about innovation and technology that will move us to a place where our
that will move us to a place where our
that will move us to a place where our respect for each other is truly based on
respect for each other is truly based on
respect for each other is truly based on our ability to perform we can hover we
our ability to perform we can hover we
our ability to perform we can hover we can float they don’t always have to walk
can float they don’t always have to walk
can float they don’t always have to walk you see I believe that deconstructing
you see I believe that deconstructing
you see I believe that deconstructing prejudice is begins at home and in the
prejudice is begins at home and in the
prejudice is begins at home and in the school but more importantly it begins
school but more importantly it begins
school but more importantly it begins with neighbors having conversations and
with neighbors having conversations and
with neighbors having conversations and to take it a step further every single
to take it a step further every single
to take it a step further every single one of you all who are listening have to
one of you all who are listening have to
one of you all who are listening have to ask yourself have you ever been
ask yourself have you ever been
ask yourself have you ever been uncomfortable when you’re looking at
uncomfortable when you’re looking at
uncomfortable when you’re looking at someone who doesn’t look the same as you
someone who doesn’t look the same as you
someone who doesn’t look the same as you are you uncomfortable are you afraid
are you uncomfortable are you afraid
are you uncomfortable are you afraid those conversations are where we can lay
those conversations are where we can lay
those conversations are where we can lay the foundation for stronger conversation
the foundation for stronger conversation
the foundation for stronger conversation and as we get older we’ve got to
and as we get older we’ve got to
and as we get older we’ve got to understand that when we vote it’s not
understand that when we vote it’s not
understand that when we vote it’s not just about ticking a box we have to hold
just about ticking a box we have to hold
just about ticking a box we have to hold our local elected officials counter in
our local elected officials counter in
our local elected officials counter in order to have a rippling effect the
order to have a rippling effect the
order to have a rippling effect the President of the United States has very
President of the United States has very
President of the United States has very little ability to control your life but
little ability to control your life but
little ability to control your life but your city councilman who you can push to
your city councilman who you can push to
your city councilman who you can push to sit in police meetings or kindergarten
sit in police meetings or kindergarten
sit in police meetings or kindergarten classes or local food banks or even
classes or local food banks or even
classes or local food banks or even homes for the aging those are the people
homes for the aging those are the people
homes for the aging those are the people that can truly have an impact those are
that can truly have an impact those are
that can truly have an impact those are the people who can watch the investments
the people who can watch the investments
the people who can watch the investments that are being pulled together go to the
that are being pulled together go to the
that are being pulled together go to the right place go to people and not
right place go to people and not
right place go to people and not institution and not buildings and not
institution and not buildings and not
institution and not buildings and not based on your income you see community
based on your income you see community
based on your income you see community building can replace our fears with
building can replace our fears with
building can replace our fears with excitement and I believe that if all of
excitement and I believe that if all of
excitement and I believe that if all of us remember that we will start to form
us remember that we will start to form
us remember that we will start to form it will start to place those who are
it will start to place those who are
it will start to place those who are unable to see on our shoulder so that
unable to see on our shoulder so that
unable to see on our shoulder so that that fence is even and when enough of a
that fence is even and when enough of a
that fence is even and when enough of a stack each other on our shoulders we can
stack each other on our shoulders we can
stack each other on our shoulders we can make a puncture from with thank
”
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