2615 this is jordan edwards his favorite color was red and he loved playing
color was red and he loved playing
color was red and he loved playing football
football
football this is Trayvon Martin his final
this is Trayvon Martin his final
this is Trayvon Martin his final birthday gift included a swag pack that
birthday gift included a swag pack that
birthday gift included a swag pack that had a pair of Levi’s jeans some adidas
had a pair of Levi’s jeans some adidas
had a pair of Levi’s jeans some adidas and a bottle of Izzy miacca Cologne
and a bottle of Izzy miacca Cologne
and a bottle of Izzy miacca Cologne this is Brandon tape brown a week before
this is Brandon tape brown a week before
this is Brandon tape brown a week before he was murdered he was celebrating a
he was murdered he was celebrating a
he was murdered he was celebrating a promotion at his job in a new apartment
promotion at his job in a new apartment
promotion at his job in a new apartment he had just made an announcement that he
he had just made an announcement that he
he had just made an announcement that he was returning to school and this is
was returning to school and this is
was returning to school and this is Darius Smith the intimate details of his
Darius Smith the intimate details of his
Darius Smith the intimate details of his family life are still unfolding as his
family life are still unfolding as his
family life are still unfolding as his life was just taken at the hands of law
life was just taken at the hands of law
life was just taken at the hands of law enforcement just a week ago today 15 17
enforcement just a week ago today 15 17
enforcement just a week ago today 15 17 26 15
26 15
26 15 now why am i showing you the faces of
now why am i showing you the faces of
now why am i showing you the faces of these men and recounting the lives and
these men and recounting the lives and
these men and recounting the lives and stories of these men unarmed black men
stories of these men unarmed black men
stories of these men unarmed black men whose lives were taken at the hands of
whose lives were taken at the hands of
whose lives were taken at the hands of law enforcement many of the faces and
law enforcement many of the faces and
law enforcement many of the faces and stories we already know and are familiar
stories we already know and are familiar
stories we already know and are familiar with and some this might be new
with and some this might be new
with and some this might be new information too we know most of these
information too we know most of these
information too we know most of these cases and at the very least we
cases and at the very least we
cases and at the very least we understand that this is an issue in our
understand that this is an issue in our
understand that this is an issue in our country the reality is that not all
country the reality is that not all
country the reality is that not all encounters between law enforcement and
encounters between law enforcement and
encounters between law enforcement and people of color in this country end in
people of color in this country end in
people of color in this country end in death in fact most of them don’t to be
death in fact most of them don’t to be
death in fact most of them don’t to be fair but we also must realize that all
fair but we also must realize that all
fair but we also must realize that all if not most though non life threatening
if not most though non life threatening
if not most though non life threatening leave just as permanent a mark as the
leave just as permanent a mark as the
leave just as permanent a mark as the men mentioned in this presentation I
men mentioned in this presentation I
men mentioned in this presentation I would imagine such was the case in
would imagine such was the case in
would imagine such was the case in Michigan when five Grand Rapids
Michigan when five Grand Rapids
Michigan when five Grand Rapids teenagers were held at gunpoint by
teenagers were held at gunpoint by
teenagers were held at gunpoint by police in a case of mistaken identity
police in a case of mistaken identity
police in a case of mistaken identity I’ll play a little bit of a police
I’ll play a little bit of a police
I’ll play a little bit of a police dashcam footage
this video continues all for about
this video continues all for about another ten minutes
another ten minutes
another ten minutes the officer yelling commands at the
the officer yelling commands at the
the officer yelling commands at the young men them crying pleading begging
young men them crying pleading begging
young men them crying pleading begging not to be shot saying that they don’t
not to be shot saying that they don’t
not to be shot saying that they don’t want to be killed that they have a
want to be killed that they have a
want to be killed that they have a basketball game tomorrow that it didn’t
basketball game tomorrow that it didn’t
basketball game tomorrow that it didn’t do anything
do anything
do anything wondering why they were being treated
wondering why they were being treated
wondering why they were being treated this way the young men in this video
this way the young men in this video
this way the young men in this video walk away alive thankfully but no doubt
walk away alive thankfully but no doubt
walk away alive thankfully but no doubt scarred in ways and measurable now I
scarred in ways and measurable now I
scarred in ways and measurable now I stand before you today is what some
stand before you today is what some
stand before you today is what some might think of as an anomaly or I am a
might think of as an anomaly or I am a
might think of as an anomaly or I am a young black man with two degrees just
young black man with two degrees just
young black man with two degrees just over the tender age of 30 I know it’s
over the tender age of 30 I know it’s
over the tender age of 30 I know it’s hard to believe because the baby face is
hard to believe because the baby face is
hard to believe because the baby face is still intact
still intact
still intact I have no criminal history and no
I have no criminal history and no
I have no criminal history and no heroine experiences with law enforcement
heroine experiences with law enforcement
heroine experiences with law enforcement but even still I realized that any of
but even still I realized that any of
but even still I realized that any of these men that I mentioned could have
these men that I mentioned could have
these men that I mentioned could have been me that these young men are me I
been me that these young men are me I
been me that these young men are me I grew up in North Philly and anybody who
grew up in North Philly and anybody who
grew up in North Philly and anybody who knows me knows that I rep for North
knows me knows that I rep for North
knows me knows that I rep for North Philly hard I mean the the inexplicable
Philly hard I mean the the inexplicable
Philly hard I mean the the inexplicable juxtaposition of triumph and tragedy and
juxtaposition of triumph and tragedy and
juxtaposition of triumph and tragedy and pain with suffering revelry with
pain with suffering revelry with
pain with suffering revelry with hardship is the only thing I know to
hardship is the only thing I know to
hardship is the only thing I know to call home these are my folks thank you
call home these are my folks thank you
call home these are my folks thank you right now y’all see where I get it from
right now y’all see where I get it from
right now y’all see where I get it from I live with mom and dad was involved but
I live with mom and dad was involved but
I live with mom and dad was involved but not in a household so although we felt
not in a household so although we felt
not in a household so although we felt the effects Wendy my mom she did
the effects Wendy my mom she did
the effects Wendy my mom she did everything to make sure that she could
everything to make sure that she could
everything to make sure that she could raise her me and my siblings with love
raise her me and my siblings with love
raise her me and my siblings with love affection and protection now there’s
affection and protection now there’s
affection and protection now there’s nothing particularly unique about that
nothing particularly unique about that
nothing particularly unique about that part of my experience in fact it’s a
part of my experience in fact it’s a
part of my experience in fact it’s a pretty standard issue where I come from
pretty standard issue where I come from
pretty standard issue where I come from in fact it’s strikingly similar to the
in fact it’s strikingly similar to the
in fact it’s strikingly similar to the lives of the young men that I mentioned
lives of the young men that I mentioned
lives of the young men that I mentioned earlier in this presentation now who is
earlier in this presentation now who is
earlier in this presentation now who is this anybody know you could talk back to
this anybody know you could talk back to
this anybody know you could talk back to me I grew up in church so I’m used to
me I grew up in church so I’m used to
me I grew up in church so I’m used to people yelling at the man with the
people yelling at the man with the
people yelling at the man with the microphone you could talk anybody know
microphone you could talk anybody know
microphone you could talk anybody know this is Michael Brown yes thank you he
this is Michael Brown yes thank you he
this is Michael Brown yes thank you he was 18 his favorite video games to play
was 18 his favorite video games to play
was 18 his favorite video games to play were Call of Duty and PlayStation Home
were Call of Duty and PlayStation Home
were Call of Duty and PlayStation Home he was affectionately known by those who
he was affectionately known by those who
he was affectionately known by those who loved him as Mike Mike or Big Mike his
loved him as Mike Mike or Big Mike his
loved him as Mike Mike or Big Mike his death can probably be credited as the
death can probably be credited as the
death can probably be credited as the catalyst that started would is known as
catalyst that started would is known as
catalyst that started would is known as the black lives matter movement here in
the black lives matter movement here in
the black lives matter movement here in the country and that’s me baby face
the country and that’s me baby face
the country and that’s me baby face still intact close four times bigger
still intact close four times bigger
still intact close four times bigger beer four times thinner I’m in high
beer four times thinner I’m in high
beer four times thinner I’m in high school and I’m roughly about the same
school and I’m roughly about the same
school and I’m roughly about the same age as Michael when he was murdered full
age as Michael when he was murdered full
age as Michael when he was murdered full of the same potential arguably the same
of the same potential arguably the same
of the same potential arguably the same questionable decisions but the
questionable decisions but the
questionable decisions but the difference between Mike and I is that I
difference between Mike and I is that I
difference between Mike and I is that I got a chance to realize that potential
got a chance to realize that potential
got a chance to realize that potential Michael didn’t Jordan didn’t Trayvon
Michael didn’t Jordan didn’t Trayvon
Michael didn’t Jordan didn’t Trayvon didn’t Brandon didn’t Darius and so many
didn’t Brandon didn’t Darius and so many
didn’t Brandon didn’t Darius and so many others didn’t and so many more won’t and
others didn’t and so many more won’t and
others didn’t and so many more won’t and as that thought that that reality once I
as that thought that that reality once I
as that thought that that reality once I accepted that that that affected me and
accepted that that that affected me and
accepted that that that affected me and deeply and I became angry and achingly
deeply and I became angry and achingly
deeply and I became angry and achingly sad and frustrated and just about any
sad and frustrated and just about any
sad and frustrated and just about any other emotion that you can imagine right
other emotion that you can imagine right
other emotion that you can imagine right so that’s that’s exactly what I started
so that’s that’s exactly what I started
so that’s that’s exactly what I started to do I started to imagine myself as one
to do I started to imagine myself as one
to do I started to imagine myself as one of these young men what if my life had
of these young men what if my life had
of these young men what if my life had ended in the same way that there’s had
ended in the same way that there’s had
ended in the same way that there’s had ended what story will be told what what
ended what story will be told what what
ended what story will be told what what image will be painted what would they
image will be painted what would they
image will be painted what would they say in the media would I become a
say in the media would I become a
say in the media would I become a hashtag or what I just float away into
hashtag or what I just float away into
hashtag or what I just float away into the ether like so many other black men
the ether like so many other black men
the ether like so many other black men and women whose lives were taken at the
and women whose lives were taken at the
and women whose lives were taken at the hands of law enforcement but never made
hands of law enforcement but never made
hands of law enforcement but never made the national headlines and then I got
the national headlines and then I got
the national headlines and then I got specific now this is a picture of my
specific now this is a picture of my
specific now this is a picture of my family same as before only something’s
family same as before only something’s
family same as before only something’s missing in this picture me I begin to
missing in this picture me I begin to
missing in this picture me I begin to imagine my family I begin to imagine my
imagine my family I begin to imagine my
imagine my family I begin to imagine my family as one of the families that I
family as one of the families that I
family as one of the families that I mentioned before I imagine the phone
mentioned before I imagine the phone
mentioned before I imagine the phone call that my mom or my sisters would get
call that my mom or my sisters would get
call that my mom or my sisters would get about me I imagine who would identify
about me I imagine who would identify
about me I imagine who would identify the body if they even had the strength I
the body if they even had the strength I
the body if they even had the strength I imagine who would be tasked with the
imagine who would be tasked with the
imagine who would be tasked with the the duty of giving the the 24 hours
the duty of giving the the 24 hours
the duty of giving the the 24 hours after the death CNN interview I imagine
after the death CNN interview I imagine
after the death CNN interview I imagine who would be able to speak and who would
who would be able to speak and who would
who would be able to speak and who would be silenced by the devastation I
be silenced by the devastation I
be silenced by the devastation I imagined my village of people who know
imagined my village of people who know
imagined my village of people who know me and raised me who contributed to my
me and raised me who contributed to my
me and raised me who contributed to my success I imagined the void I imagined
success I imagined the void I imagined
success I imagined the void I imagined the loss the trauma that would ripple
the loss the trauma that would ripple
the loss the trauma that would ripple through my community and maybe into the
through my community and maybe into the
through my community and maybe into the entire country and perhaps even the
entire country and perhaps even the
entire country and perhaps even the world that same that same trauma that
world that same that same trauma that
world that same that same trauma that had found me and arrested me
had found me and arrested me
had found me and arrested me aggressively pun intended
aggressively pun intended
aggressively pun intended now of course Michaels death wasn’t the
now of course Michaels death wasn’t the
now of course Michaels death wasn’t the first case of police brutality in this
first case of police brutality in this
first case of police brutality in this country but for some reason this felt
country but for some reason this felt
country but for some reason this felt different and personal and egregious to
different and personal and egregious to
different and personal and egregious to me in a way that previous cases hadn’t
me in a way that previous cases hadn’t
me in a way that previous cases hadn’t and I think it’s because it was the
and I think it’s because it was the
and I think it’s because it was the first time that I realized that I was
first time that I realized that I was
first time that I realized that I was also susceptible and vulnerable to this
also susceptible and vulnerable to this
also susceptible and vulnerable to this epidemic no matter where I came from or
epidemic no matter where I came from or
epidemic no matter where I came from or what I achieved or attained I realized
what I achieved or attained I realized
what I achieved or attained I realized that my body didn’t belong to me that it
that my body didn’t belong to me that it
that my body didn’t belong to me that it didn’t have the same value as other
didn’t have the same value as other
didn’t have the same value as other bodies in this country that then I had
bodies in this country that then I had
bodies in this country that then I had no control over what could happen to it
no control over what could happen to it
no control over what could happen to it or to me so I knew I had to do something
or to me so I knew I had to do something
or to me so I knew I had to do something I had to say something but what right
I had to say something but what right
I had to say something but what right arm with my own pain and despair about
arm with my own pain and despair about
arm with my own pain and despair about what happened with the situation and my
what happened with the situation and my
what happened with the situation and my commitment to the Arts and commitment
commitment to the Arts and commitment
commitment to the Arts and commitment that I believe truly has the ability to
that I believe truly has the ability to
that I believe truly has the ability to change and shape hearts minds and lives
change and shape hearts minds and lives
change and shape hearts minds and lives I attempted to synthesize these two
I attempted to synthesize these two
I attempted to synthesize these two ideas but first I needed a couple of
ideas but first I needed a couple of
ideas but first I needed a couple of things now growing up in a black
things now growing up in a black
things now growing up in a black household there there are two things
household there there are two things
household there there are two things that get you kicked out of the kitchen
that get you kicked out of the kitchen
that get you kicked out of the kitchen with the quickness okay that’s dirty
with the quickness okay that’s dirty
with the quickness okay that’s dirty hands and not knowing what the hell he
hands and not knowing what the hell he
hands and not knowing what the hell he was doing in the kitchen in the first
was doing in the kitchen in the first
was doing in the kitchen in the first place okay and on this day in fact my
place okay and on this day in fact my
place okay and on this day in fact my hands were dirty I felt like I that we
hands were dirty I felt like I that we
hands were dirty I felt like I that we collectively the people of this country
collectively the people of this country
collectively the people of this country were responsible for Michael’s murder
were responsible for Michael’s murder
were responsible for Michael’s murder that his blood was on our hands and
that his blood was on our hands and
that his blood was on our hands and while it was true yes that I did have a
while it was true yes that I did have a
while it was true yes that I did have a germ of an idea that I had convinced
germ of an idea that I had convinced
germ of an idea that I had convinced myself to act on I had no way of knowing
myself to act on I had no way of knowing
myself to act on I had no way of knowing what would actually become of it
what would actually become of it
what would actually become of it so quite naturally I did not go into
so quite naturally I did not go into
so quite naturally I did not go into Wendy’s kitchen but I got on a bike and
Wendy’s kitchen but I got on a bike and
Wendy’s kitchen but I got on a bike and Trek downtown I stopped at a grocery
Trek downtown I stopped at a grocery
Trek downtown I stopped at a grocery store along the way and picked up some
store along the way and picked up some
store along the way and picked up some corn syrup and red food dye these are
corn syrup and red food dye these are
corn syrup and red food dye these are ingredients necessary to create stage
ingredients necessary to create stage
ingredients necessary to create stage blood what I had decided to do was stage
blood what I had decided to do was stage
blood what I had decided to do was stage a silent protest performance our
a silent protest performance our
a silent protest performance our installation and protest the mic was
installation and protest the mic was
installation and protest the mic was murdered so on a sunny Saturday
murdered so on a sunny Saturday
murdered so on a sunny Saturday afternoon in Center City Philadelphia
afternoon in Center City Philadelphia
afternoon in Center City Philadelphia the air was thick and teeming with
the air was thick and teeming with
the air was thick and teeming with excitement and visitors I lie face down
excitement and visitors I lie face down
excitement and visitors I lie face down on the ground for an hour under Robert
on the ground for an hour under Robert
on the ground for an hour under Robert Indiana’s iconic love park statue yellow
Indiana’s iconic love park statue yellow
Indiana’s iconic love park statue yellow police tape surrounding the area around
police tape surrounding the area around
police tape surrounding the area around my body it was an exact replica of the
my body it was an exact replica of the
my body it was an exact replica of the street of Ferguson where Michaels body
street of Ferguson where Michaels body
street of Ferguson where Michaels body was lying face down for hours uncovered
was lying face down for hours uncovered
was lying face down for hours uncovered motionless and bloody his red baseball
motionless and bloody his red baseball
motionless and bloody his red baseball cap spilling out on that hot asphalt
cap spilling out on that hot asphalt
cap spilling out on that hot asphalt ballot behind him and then what happened
ballot behind him and then what happened
ballot behind him and then what happened next was kind of incredible I didn’t put
next was kind of incredible I didn’t put
next was kind of incredible I didn’t put any of the slides here because the
any of the slides here because the
any of the slides here because the images are actually still quite
images are actually still quite
images are actually still quite disturbing to me what ended up happening
disturbing to me what ended up happening
disturbing to me what ended up happening was tourists walked up to my body
was tourists walked up to my body
was tourists walked up to my body stepped over my body stepped around my
stepped over my body stepped around my
stepped over my body stepped around my body because they all still wanted to
body because they all still wanted to
body because they all still wanted to get their selfie with the statue to
get their selfie with the statue to
get their selfie with the statue to remember their visit to the City of
remember their visit to the City of
remember their visit to the City of Brotherly Love they moved over me and
Brotherly Love they moved over me and
Brotherly Love they moved over me and around me as if I was invisible as I’m
around me as if I was invisible as I’m
around me as if I was invisible as I’m as if I wasn’t even there the same way
as if I wasn’t even there the same way
as if I wasn’t even there the same way that Ferguson police stepped over and
that Ferguson police stepped over and
that Ferguson police stepped over and around and beside Michael’s body but
around and beside Michael’s body but
around and beside Michael’s body but unlike Michael I wasn’t dead right I
unlike Michael I wasn’t dead right I
unlike Michael I wasn’t dead right I wasn’t really dead I wasn’t really
wasn’t really dead I wasn’t really
wasn’t really dead I wasn’t really bloody and in fact after an hour I got
bloody and in fact after an hour I got
bloody and in fact after an hour I got up off of the ground I changed my
up off of the ground I changed my
up off of the ground I changed my t-shirt and I biked back home and that
t-shirt and I biked back home and that
t-shirt and I biked back home and that experience taught me a couple of things
experience taught me a couple of things
experience taught me a couple of things it taught me about pain and and about
it taught me about pain and and about
it taught me about pain and and about black pain and it taught me about the
black pain and it taught me about the
black pain and it taught me about the power that each of us harnesses to
power that each of us harnesses to
power that each of us harnesses to create change a year later
create change a year later
create change a year later I created the bitter game it’s a play
I created the bitter game it’s a play
I created the bitter game it’s a play that addresses police violence and the
that addresses police violence and the
that addresses police violence and the trauma that it induces in communities of
trauma that it induces in communities of
trauma that it induces in communities of color across the country and then I go
color across the country and then I go
color across the country and then I go around and at or this play and I have
around and at or this play and I have
around and at or this play and I have conversations like this about this issue
now my opinion had a purpose I had a
now my opinion had a purpose I had a place to go it has somewhere to exist
place to go it has somewhere to exist
place to go it has somewhere to exist and it all started with an idea in my
and it all started with an idea in my
and it all started with an idea in my mom’s kitchen and the courage to act on
mom’s kitchen and the courage to act on
mom’s kitchen and the courage to act on that idea but then I thought what about
that idea but then I thought what about
that idea but then I thought what about everybody else what about so many other
everybody else what about so many other
everybody else what about so many other people who never have a chance to to
people who never have a chance to to
people who never have a chance to to shift their pain into something positive
shift their pain into something positive
shift their pain into something positive what if they don’t have the space to
what if they don’t have the space to
what if they don’t have the space to create and do that that pain of
create and do that that pain of
create and do that that pain of frustration has to go somewhere right it
frustration has to go somewhere right it
frustration has to go somewhere right it has to manifest itself somewhere and
has to manifest itself somewhere and
has to manifest itself somewhere and that’s the problem with black pain right
that’s the problem with black pain right
that’s the problem with black pain right the problem with black pain is that it’s
the problem with black pain is that it’s
the problem with black pain is that it’s oftentimes rendered invisible it’s the
oftentimes rendered invisible it’s the
oftentimes rendered invisible it’s the shoulder burden supposed to be suffered
shoulder burden supposed to be suffered
shoulder burden supposed to be suffered by the individual the problem with black
by the individual the problem with black
by the individual the problem with black pain is that it’s a play on your mentor
pain is that it’s a play on your mentor
pain is that it’s a play on your mentor and every day they squash your potential
and every day they squash your potential
and every day they squash your potential the problem with black pain is that is
the problem with black pain is that is
the problem with black pain is that is neither created nor destroyed no it’s
neither created nor destroyed no it’s
neither created nor destroyed no it’s merely transferred from one party to the
merely transferred from one party to the
merely transferred from one party to the next from Jim Crow to Gen X to a to a
next from Jim Crow to Gen X to a to a
next from Jim Crow to Gen X to a to a generation only moved by social media
generation only moved by social media
generation only moved by social media text and that’s the problem with black
text and that’s the problem with black
text and that’s the problem with black pain when athletes won’t stand we up in
pain when athletes won’t stand we up in
pain when athletes won’t stand we up in arms we will my brother my brothers are
arms we will my brother my brothers are
arms we will my brother my brothers are slain in the streets ain’t nobody
slain in the streets ain’t nobody
slain in the streets ain’t nobody ringing alarms it’s a state of emergency
ringing alarms it’s a state of emergency
ringing alarms it’s a state of emergency after the protests and riots but it’s
after the protests and riots but it’s
after the protests and riots but it’s not until after the aftermath that the
not until after the aftermath that the
not until after the aftermath that the world breaks the silence and that’s a
world breaks the silence and that’s a
world breaks the silence and that’s a problem with black paint you see the
problem with black paint you see the
problem with black paint you see the problem with like pain is that it cannot
problem with like pain is that it cannot
problem with like pain is that it cannot be unseen right
be unseen right
be unseen right and it’s only truly a problem if we
and it’s only truly a problem if we
and it’s only truly a problem if we never intended to do anything about it
never intended to do anything about it
never intended to do anything about it in the first place it’s not our beliefs
in the first place it’s not our beliefs
in the first place it’s not our beliefs that make us better it’s our behavior so
that make us better it’s our behavior so
that make us better it’s our behavior so if we really want to do the true work
if we really want to do the true work
if we really want to do the true work that we say we want to do of being
that we say we want to do of being
that we say we want to do of being change agents of a lie ship of advocacy
change agents of a lie ship of advocacy
change agents of a lie ship of advocacy of dismantling and disrupting systems of
of dismantling and disrupting systems of
of dismantling and disrupting systems of oppression that affects so many
oppression that affects so many
oppression that affects so many marginalized people in this in this
marginalized people in this in this
marginalized people in this in this country then we have to do a few things
country then we have to do a few things
country then we have to do a few things okay number one we have to win a black
okay number one we have to win a black
okay number one we have to win a black person or any marginalize person in this
person or any marginalize person in this
person or any marginalize person in this country tells you how they feel believe
country tells you how they feel believe
country tells you how they feel believe them
them
them I know it’s profound right but it’s such
I know it’s profound right but it’s such
I know it’s profound right but it’s such a simple thing we all have a profound
a simple thing we all have a profound
a simple thing we all have a profound need to be seen heard and understood and
need to be seen heard and understood and
need to be seen heard and understood and that all starts by believing somebody
that all starts by believing somebody
that all starts by believing somebody when they tell you how they feel how the
when they tell you how they feel how the
when they tell you how they feel how the world around them has made them feel how
world around them has made them feel how
world around them has made them feel how you’ve affected them and made them feel
you’ve affected them and made them feel
you’ve affected them and made them feel we got to take an inventory of our own
we got to take an inventory of our own
we got to take an inventory of our own personal relationships and interactions
personal relationships and interactions
personal relationships and interactions it’s our responsibility individually to
it’s our responsibility individually to
it’s our responsibility individually to know how we move about the world and how
know how we move about the world and how
know how we move about the world and how we affect those around us number two we
we affect those around us number two we
we affect those around us number two we have to lean into discomfort we got to
have to lean into discomfort we got to
have to lean into discomfort we got to challenge ourselves to be comfortable
challenge ourselves to be comfortable
challenge ourselves to be comfortable with the idea of being uncomfortable so
with the idea of being uncomfortable so
with the idea of being uncomfortable so much of how we operate is a byproduct of
much of how we operate is a byproduct of
much of how we operate is a byproduct of our conditioning to avoid discomfort and
our conditioning to avoid discomfort and
our conditioning to avoid discomfort and an awkwardness at all costs right but in
an awkwardness at all costs right but in
an awkwardness at all costs right but in order to be an effective change agent we
order to be an effective change agent we
order to be an effective change agent we have to learn how to disrupt this habit
have to learn how to disrupt this habit
have to learn how to disrupt this habit so as a trained actor one of the major
so as a trained actor one of the major
so as a trained actor one of the major misnomers that I always come up against
misnomers that I always come up against
misnomers that I always come up against it’s people associating the ability to
it’s people associating the ability to
it’s people associating the ability to cry on cue with the mark of a great
cry on cue with the mark of a great
cry on cue with the mark of a great actor but the reality of it is is that
actor but the reality of it is is that
actor but the reality of it is is that that’s just the skill it’s a skill it’s
that’s just the skill it’s a skill it’s
that’s just the skill it’s a skill it’s a trick that you can learn and and
a trick that you can learn and and
a trick that you can learn and and reproduce over and over again what
reproduce over and over again what
reproduce over and over again what people fail to realize or understand is
people fail to realize or understand is
people fail to realize or understand is that the true skill of the master is
that the true skill of the master is
that the true skill of the master is having access to sadness and in the same
having access to sadness and in the same
having access to sadness and in the same way we must begin to look at our journey
way we must begin to look at our journey
way we must begin to look at our journey and activism in the same way that
and activism in the same way that
and activism in the same way that advocacy is not a destination but it’s a
advocacy is not a destination but it’s a
advocacy is not a destination but it’s a beautiful journey filled with awkward
beautiful journey filled with awkward
beautiful journey filled with awkward and uncomfortable moments and it’s
and uncomfortable moments and it’s
and uncomfortable moments and it’s already inside of you right you’re a
already inside of you right you’re a
already inside of you right you’re a sensitive person if you allow yourself
sensitive person if you allow yourself
sensitive person if you allow yourself to be open then your advocacy will
to be open then your advocacy will
to be open then your advocacy will emerge it’s not about becoming an
emerge it’s not about becoming an
emerge it’s not about becoming an advocate it’s about the willingness to
advocate it’s about the willingness to
advocate it’s about the willingness to allow moments for advocacy to arise and
allow moments for advocacy to arise and
allow moments for advocacy to arise and those moments are often uncomfortable
those moments are often uncomfortable
those moments are often uncomfortable but therefore we have to do the job of
but therefore we have to do the job of
but therefore we have to do the job of welcoming and embracing discomfort
welcoming and embracing discomfort
welcoming and embracing discomfort and number three be specific about what
and number three be specific about what
and number three be specific about what you want to do Leah said this kind of
you want to do Leah said this kind of
you want to do Leah said this kind of earlier in her speech the kind of change
earlier in her speech the kind of change
earlier in her speech the kind of change that you want to affect you got to be
that you want to affect you got to be
that you want to affect you got to be specific about it you can think globally
specific about it you can think globally
specific about it you can think globally but act locally the problems that we’re
but act locally the problems that we’re
but act locally the problems that we’re dealing with and facing by enlargen is
dealing with and facing by enlargen is
dealing with and facing by enlargen is where they seem huge insurmountable so
where they seem huge insurmountable so
where they seem huge insurmountable so we gotta Zone in and hone in with a
we gotta Zone in and hone in with a
we gotta Zone in and hone in with a laser focus how effective can you be
laser focus how effective can you be
laser focus how effective can you be within your immediate circle how
within your immediate circle how
within your immediate circle how effective can you be right within your
effective can you be right within your
effective can you be right within your own sphere of influence think about what
own sphere of influence think about what
own sphere of influence think about what you do well and do it get creative enter
you do well and do it get creative enter
you do well and do it get creative enter each new circumstance with arms with
each new circumstance with arms with
each new circumstance with arms with empathy and information you have to
empathy and information you have to
empathy and information you have to enter open but not empty this is a slide
enter open but not empty this is a slide
enter open but not empty this is a slide of dr. Martin Luther King and rabbi
of dr. Martin Luther King and rabbi
of dr. Martin Luther King and rabbi Joachim Prinz at the 1963 march on
Joachim Prinz at the 1963 march on
Joachim Prinz at the 1963 march on Washington for Jobs and Freedom most of
Washington for Jobs and Freedom most of
Washington for Jobs and Freedom most of the speeches that they were geared
the speeches that they were geared
the speeches that they were geared toward exciting and inspiring action in
toward exciting and inspiring action in
toward exciting and inspiring action in the attendees but what Rabbi Prince
the attendees but what Rabbi Prince
the attendees but what Rabbi Prince decided to do was focus and stay on in
decided to do was focus and stay on in
decided to do was focus and stay on in action he spoke about his time as a
action he spoke about his time as a
action he spoke about his time as a young rabbi in Nazi occupied Germany and
young rabbi in Nazi occupied Germany and
young rabbi in Nazi occupied Germany and shared that through his observation
shared that through his observation
shared that through his observation bigotry and hatred were not the most
bigotry and hatred were not the most
bigotry and hatred were not the most tragic and urgent problem that the most
tragic and urgent problem that the most
tragic and urgent problem that the most urgent the most disgraceful the most
urgent the most disgraceful the most
urgent the most disgraceful the most shameful and the most tragic problem was
shameful and the most tragic problem was
shameful and the most tragic problem was silence suggesting that the people of
silence suggesting that the people of
silence suggesting that the people of Germany that had once been a great
Germany that had once been a great
Germany that had once been a great nation have become a nation of silent
nation have become a nation of silent
nation have become a nation of silent onlookers in the face of hate brutality
onlookers in the face of hate brutality
onlookers in the face of hate brutality and mass murder he caution Americans in
and mass murder he caution Americans in
and mass murder he caution Americans in attendance that that day to not become a
attendance that that day to not become a
attendance that that day to not become a nation of onlookers and to not remain
nation of onlookers and to not remain
nation of onlookers and to not remain silent
silent
silent not merely for the sake of the black
not merely for the sake of the black
not merely for the sake of the black community and black America but for the
community and black America but for the
community and black America but for the image idea and aspiration of America
image idea and aspiration of America
image idea and aspiration of America itself now it is a big brave world out
itself now it is a big brave world out
itself now it is a big brave world out there but it’s only brave if you’re
there but it’s only brave if you’re
there but it’s only brave if you’re brave in it
brave in it
brave in it so roll up your sleeves get your hands
so roll up your sleeves get your hands
so roll up your sleeves get your hands dirty and don’t be afraid to go on your
dirty and don’t be afraid to go on your
dirty and don’t be afraid to go on your mama’s kitchen thank you
mama’s kitchen thank you
mama’s kitchen thank you [Applause]
”
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