[Applause] all right Jasmine they invited us to do
all right Jasmine they invited us to do
all right Jasmine they invited us to do a TED talk everybody loves a TED talk
a TED talk everybody loves a TED talk
a TED talk everybody loves a TED talk everybody head is a stage where people
everybody head is a stage where people
everybody head is a stage where people have taught us how to explain our
have taught us how to explain our
have taught us how to explain our procrastination vulnerability so funny
procrastination vulnerability so funny
procrastination vulnerability so funny on program today talking about racism
on program today talking about racism
on program today talking about racism and virtual reality even their virtual
and virtual reality even their virtual
and virtual reality even their virtual reality seasons girl the point is a lot
reality seasons girl the point is a lot
reality seasons girl the point is a lot of important things have been shared on
of important things have been shared on
of important things have been shared on this stage so you know everybody
this stage so you know everybody
this stage so you know everybody backstage is nervous because they don’t
backstage is nervous because they don’t
backstage is nervous because they don’t know what’s about to come out of our
know what’s about to come out of our
know what’s about to come out of our mouth because we are just trying to give
mouth because we are just trying to give
mouth because we are just trying to give y’all ideas we’re sharing we are also
y’all ideas we’re sharing we are also
y’all ideas we’re sharing we are also trying to be on Beyonce’s next album
trying to be on Beyonce’s next album
trying to be on Beyonce’s next album like fellow black girl TED talk alum
like fellow black girl TED talk alum
like fellow black girl TED talk alum Chimamanda
Chimamanda
Chimamanda so excuse us as we prepare our hearts
so excuse us as we prepare our hearts
so excuse us as we prepare our hearts and minds for that kind of black
and minds for that kind of black
and minds for that kind of black excellence in culture shift I received
excellence in culture shift I received
excellence in culture shift I received this so to censor ourselves every and I
this so to censor ourselves every and I
this so to censor ourselves every and I like to indulge and woke yet relaxing
like to indulge and woke yet relaxing
like to indulge and woke yet relaxing guided meditation yes and we would like
guided meditation yes and we would like
guided meditation yes and we would like to invite you to join us in an exercise
to invite you to join us in an exercise
to invite you to join us in an exercise from your seat
from your seat
from your seat inspired by freedom fighter Samantha
inspired by freedom fighter Samantha
inspired by freedom fighter Samantha master all right
master all right
master all right as we Center our joy all right let me
as we Center our joy all right let me
as we Center our joy all right let me get on my jana super soul sunday voice
get on my jana super soul sunday voice
get on my jana super soul sunday voice now as you are able beloved so I want
now as you are able beloved so I want
now as you are able beloved so I want you to close your eyes and from your
you to close your eyes and from your
you to close your eyes and from your seat make sure your feet are planted on
seat make sure your feet are planted on
seat make sure your feet are planted on the ground and sit with your back
the ground and sit with your back
the ground and sit with your back straight yes and with the tension to
straight yes and with the tension to
straight yes and with the tension to your breathing I want you to breathe in
your breathing I want you to breathe in
your breathing I want you to breathe in and out under the direction of our
and out under the direction of our
and out under the direction of our voices you’re ready very ready all right
voices you’re ready very ready all right
voices you’re ready very ready all right let’s go breathe in eight years of a
let’s go breathe in eight years of a
let’s go breathe in eight years of a black family in the white house breathe
black family in the white house breathe
black family in the white house breathe out the administration ten explicitly
out the administration ten explicitly
out the administration ten explicitly told us not to talk about today
breathe damn black joy breathe out the
breathe damn black joy breathe out the meats of silence or tone police and as
meats of silence or tone police and as
meats of silence or tone police and as we talk about it with you all today
we talk about it with you all today
we talk about it with you all today bring all of that out give it a little
bring all of that out give it a little
bring all of that out give it a little battle the lungs just get it out to
battle the lungs just get it out to
battle the lungs just get it out to system
system
system so now that we are sensitive our joy I
so now that we are sensitive our joy I
so now that we are sensitive our joy I want you to think about the thing that
want you to think about the thing that
want you to think about the thing that brings you the most joy
brings you the most joy
brings you the most joy my name is Amber Jay Phillips the High
my name is Amber Jay Phillips the High
my name is Amber Jay Phillips the High Priestess of black joy and I am Jasmine
Priestess of black joy and I am Jasmine
Priestess of black joy and I am Jasmine Walker the King of the South and you are
Walker the King of the South and you are
Walker the King of the South and you are about to listen to the blueprint for the
about to listen to the blueprint for the
about to listen to the blueprint for the black joy era now you might be asking
black joy era now you might be asking
black joy era now you might be asking yourselves why is there a black joy and
yourselves why is there a black joy and
yourselves why is there a black joy and not just joy and the answer is quite
not just joy and the answer is quite
not just joy and the answer is quite simple white people have no self-control
now there might be alarming for a few of
now there might be alarming for a few of you I don’t know why but if you consider
you I don’t know why but if you consider
you I don’t know why but if you consider the annihilation of indigenous people
the annihilation of indigenous people
the annihilation of indigenous people the fact that white folks told millions
the fact that white folks told millions
the fact that white folks told millions of black people against our will and
of black people against our will and
of black people against our will and forced us on the boats to come over here
forced us on the boats to come over here
forced us on the boats to come over here and build this country – and they had
and build this country – and they had
and build this country – and they had the nerve to make it sound like a hiking
the nerve to make it sound like a hiking
the nerve to make it sound like a hiking trail or like teen angst or something by
trail or like teen angst or something by
trail or like teen angst or something by calling ms middle passage child the KKK
calling ms middle passage child the KKK
calling ms middle passage child the KKK mass incarceration who and that is just
mass incarceration who and that is just
mass incarceration who and that is just the recent past when you think about
the recent past when you think about
the recent past when you think about what folks have done to Brooklyn Oakland
what folks have done to Brooklyn Oakland
what folks have done to Brooklyn Oakland etc which all trying to do to the sacred
etc which all trying to do to the sacred
etc which all trying to do to the sacred land of Standing Rock crazy so I know
land of Standing Rock crazy so I know
land of Standing Rock crazy so I know this talk may already have you feeling
this talk may already have you feeling
this talk may already have you feeling uncomfortable but that’s okay because
uncomfortable but that’s okay because
uncomfortable but that’s okay because some of the most powerful ideas we’re
some of the most powerful ideas we’re
some of the most powerful ideas we’re sharing are also the ones that confront
sharing are also the ones that confront
sharing are also the ones that confront us plus honestly black people this one
us plus honestly black people this one
us plus honestly black people this one is for us
telling hard truths through comedy with
telling hard truths through comedy with dignity and with flair it’s the work
dignity and with flair it’s the work
dignity and with flair it’s the work that we do is black women in America on
that we do is black women in America on
that we do is black women in America on our weekly podcast as political
our weekly podcast as political
our weekly podcast as political commentators on the black join makes a
commentators on the black join makes a
commentators on the black join makes a and what is black joy is birthed from
and what is black joy is birthed from
and what is black joy is birthed from our age as well as our joy now a black
our age as well as our joy now a black
our age as well as our joy now a black joy means a lot of things to a lot of
joy means a lot of things to a lot of
joy means a lot of things to a lot of people we represent just a couple of
people we represent just a couple of
people we represent just a couple of those folks like for me I love to bring
those folks like for me I love to bring
those folks like for me I love to bring people together for a celebration
people together for a celebration
people together for a celebration aka aterna my love for seeing black
aka aterna my love for seeing black
aka aterna my love for seeing black people together eating laughing hugging
people together eating laughing hugging
people together eating laughing hugging addressed to our best comes from growing
addressed to our best comes from growing
addressed to our best comes from growing up in my black Baptist Church in my
up in my black Baptist Church in my
up in my black Baptist Church in my hometown of Columbus Ohio most Sundays
hometown of Columbus Ohio most Sundays
hometown of Columbus Ohio most Sundays you can find me behind my grandmother
you can find me behind my grandmother
you can find me behind my grandmother aka the love of my life Mary Alice
aka the love of my life Mary Alice
aka the love of my life Mary Alice Phillips because every Sunday was a
Phillips because every Sunday was a
Phillips because every Sunday was a celebration often followed up by dinner
celebration often followed up by dinner
celebration often followed up by dinner featuring some of my favorite foods and
featuring some of my favorite foods and
featuring some of my favorite foods and stories delivered by some of the
stories delivered by some of the
stories delivered by some of the greatest storytellers I have ever met
greatest storytellers I have ever met
greatest storytellers I have ever met like my mother miss Carol now as an Ohio
like my mother miss Carol now as an Ohio
like my mother miss Carol now as an Ohio and building my home in Washington DC I
and building my home in Washington DC I
and building my home in Washington DC I learned to find the type of community
learned to find the type of community
learned to find the type of community that I grew up with so I searched for my
that I grew up with so I searched for my
that I grew up with so I searched for my tribe and I found them and they happen
tribe and I found them and they happen
tribe and I found them and they happen to be some of the most dynamic
to be some of the most dynamic
to be some of the most dynamic revolutionary political or and cultural
revolutionary political or and cultural
revolutionary political or and cultural organizers this generation has ever seen
organizers this generation has ever seen
organizers this generation has ever seen they are black fish trans queer funny
they are black fish trans queer funny
they are black fish trans queer funny both stylish and loud people who also
both stylish and loud people who also
both stylish and loud people who also enjoy Turner so when my grandmother
enjoy Turner so when my grandmother
enjoy Turner so when my grandmother passed away in 2015 I wanted to make her
passed away in 2015 I wanted to make her
passed away in 2015 I wanted to make her celebrations that meant so much to me a
celebrations that meant so much to me a
celebrations that meant so much to me a regular part of my life so my home
regular part of my life so my home
regular part of my life so my home became affectionately known as black joy
became affectionately known as black joy
became affectionately known as black joy headquarters or the place where black
headquarters or the place where black
headquarters or the place where black people were welcome to hold space as we
people were welcome to hold space as we
people were welcome to hold space as we collectively mourned and gave each other
collectively mourned and gave each other
collectively mourned and gave each other permission to be our best in black
permission to be our best in black
permission to be our best in black itself to create to dance over
itself to create to dance over
itself to create to dance over home-cooked meals brown liquor and trap
home-cooked meals brown liquor and trap
home-cooked meals brown liquor and trap music
music
music – hold on for just another day to keep
– hold on for just another day to keep
– hold on for just another day to keep demanding justice and that these iconic
demanding justice and that these iconic
demanding justice and that these iconic black joy turn up and I do mean iconic
black joy turn up and I do mean iconic
black joy turn up and I do mean iconic because folks like myself
because folks like myself
because folks like myself we’re traveling across multiple state
we’re traveling across multiple state
we’re traveling across multiple state lines to get to these bargains we honor
lines to get to these bargains we honor
lines to get to these bargains we honor our humanity for ourselves in a world
our humanity for ourselves in a world
our humanity for ourselves in a world that refused to do so and in reflecting
that refused to do so and in reflecting
that refused to do so and in reflecting on these celebrations I append what
on these celebrations I append what
on these celebrations I append what black joy means to us black joy is the
black joy means to us black joy is the
black joy means to us black joy is the right to celebrate the right to relax
right to celebrate the right to relax
right to celebrate the right to relax and the right to love free from
and the right to love free from
and the right to love free from oppression and violence now consider
oppression and violence now consider
oppression and violence now consider what brings you the most joy for me it’s
what brings you the most joy for me it’s
what brings you the most joy for me it’s when I hear Cash Money Records taking
when I hear Cash Money Records taking
when I hear Cash Money Records taking over for them 992 2000 which is the
over for them 992 2000 which is the
over for them 992 2000 which is the opening lines to the southern hip-hop
opening lines to the southern hip-hop
opening lines to the southern hip-hop classic back as a black girl from
classic back as a black girl from
classic back as a black girl from Jackson Mississippi I have heard that
Jackson Mississippi I have heard that
Jackson Mississippi I have heard that beat drop for almost 20 years and I
beat drop for almost 20 years and I
beat drop for almost 20 years and I promise you I busted open like it’s the
promise you I busted open like it’s the
promise you I busted open like it’s the very first time every time I hear it
very first time every time I hear it
very first time every time I hear it okay I have worked everywhere to back
okay I have worked everywhere to back
okay I have worked everywhere to back that ass up from my middle school gym to
that ass up from my middle school gym to
that ass up from my middle school gym to my college graduation after-party with
my college graduation after-party with
my college graduation after-party with my best friend’s Jonathan Holly and Jay
my best friend’s Jonathan Holly and Jay
my best friend’s Jonathan Holly and Jay – right before I got on this stage with
– right before I got on this stage with
– right before I got on this stage with Amber
Amber
Amber you know it’s true back that a sub has
you know it’s true back that a sub has
you know it’s true back that a sub has not only been the soundtrack for my
not only been the soundtrack for my
not only been the soundtrack for my coming of age it has helped me express
coming of age it has helped me express
coming of age it has helped me express the joy and love I feel for myself and
the joy and love I feel for myself and
the joy and love I feel for myself and my body as a big fine woman whose works
it’s working created and popularized by
it’s working created and popularized by black films over centuries allows us to
black films over centuries allows us to
black films over centuries allows us to farm ourselves as we are char backs move
farm ourselves as we are char backs move
farm ourselves as we are char backs move our knees ankles and feet simultaneously
our knees ankles and feet simultaneously
our knees ankles and feet simultaneously as we thrust to the beat however we
as we thrust to the beat however we
as we thrust to the beat however we don’t always get to twerk in peace
it’s workers or people who decide to
it’s workers or people who decide to indulge in this amazing dance are not
indulge in this amazing dance are not
indulge in this amazing dance are not granted the full humanity of those who
granted the full humanity of those who
granted the full humanity of those who decide not to you know how it is when
decide not to you know how it is when
decide not to you know how it is when women and fans are doing things not
women and fans are doing things not
women and fans are doing things not under the male gaze they try to use it
under the male gaze they try to use it
under the male gaze they try to use it to justify sexual harassment rape and
to justify sexual harassment rape and
to justify sexual harassment rape and the overall disrespect then we have to
the overall disrespect then we have to
the overall disrespect then we have to endure in our schools jobs and on our
endure in our schools jobs and on our
endure in our schools jobs and on our streets it’s working is a celebration it
streets it’s working is a celebration it
streets it’s working is a celebration it is not an invitation for harm touch
is not an invitation for harm touch
is not an invitation for harm touch without permission or assumptions about
without permission or assumptions about
without permission or assumptions about my career aspects or sexuality hello so
my career aspects or sexuality hello so
my career aspects or sexuality hello so when we asked you to think about the
when we asked you to think about the
when we asked you to think about the thing that brings you the most joy what
thing that brings you the most joy what
thing that brings you the most joy what did you see black joy is the right to
did you see black joy is the right to
did you see black joy is the right to turn on that was the case for Jordan
turn on that was the case for Jordan
turn on that was the case for Jordan Davis who was murdered because his music
Davis who was murdered because his music
Davis who was murdered because his music was too loud by Michael David Dunn Mike
was too loud by Michael David Dunn Mike
was too loud by Michael David Dunn Mike joy is the right to relax that was the
joy is the right to relax that was the
joy is the right to relax that was the case for Sandra bland who died in police
case for Sandra bland who died in police
case for Sandra bland who died in police custody because she refused to put out
custody because she refused to put out
custody because she refused to put out her cigarette black joy is the right to
her cigarette black joy is the right to
her cigarette black joy is the right to love that was the case for ty Underwood
love that was the case for ty Underwood
love that was the case for ty Underwood a black trans woman who was killed by
a black trans woman who was killed by
a black trans woman who was killed by her ex-boyfriend
her ex-boyfriend
her ex-boyfriend Carlton ray champion who murdered her
Carlton ray champion who murdered her
Carlton ray champion who murdered her after she decided their relationship was
after she decided their relationship was
after she decided their relationship was over black joy is our right and we
over black joy is our right and we
over black joy is our right and we deserve to feel it free from oppression
deserve to feel it free from oppression
deserve to feel it free from oppression and violence especially in our
and violence especially in our
and violence especially in our communities that is why we must also
communities that is why we must also
communities that is why we must also remember that white people’s treatment
remember that white people’s treatment
remember that white people’s treatment of us should never be the standard for
of us should never be the standard for
of us should never be the standard for how we treat each other
how we treat each other
how we treat each other anybody can get dragged in these streets
anybody can get dragged in these streets
anybody can get dragged in these streets especially serial rapists around tire
especially serial rapists around tire
especially serial rapists around tire syndicated sitcoms anyone can get this
syndicated sitcoms anyone can get this
syndicated sitcoms anyone can get this work if they are detriments a black joy
that is why black joy is all right and
that is why black joy is all right and black women black women that is why we
black women black women that is why we
black women black women that is why we must not believe in the difference
must not believe in the difference
must not believe in the difference between blacks dis women and black trans
between blacks dis women and black trans
between blacks dis women and black trans women as if all women have the same
women as if all women have the same
women as if all women have the same experience anyway the term cisgender
experience anyway the term cisgender
experience anyway the term cisgender simply means that I would agree with the
simply means that I would agree with the
simply means that I would agree with the gender that was assigned to me at Birth
gender that was assigned to me at Birth
gender that was assigned to me at Birth the doctor said it’s a girl my mom said
the doctor said it’s a girl my mom said
the doctor said it’s a girl my mom said yeah girl and I agreed with you I was
yeah girl and I agreed with you I was
yeah girl and I agreed with you I was like foreign words and grew into it so
like foreign words and grew into it so
like foreign words and grew into it so that is why when the first time I was
that is why when the first time I was
that is why when the first time I was called sis I felt it tight but that
called sis I felt it tight but that
called sis I felt it tight but that couldn’t be further from the case being
couldn’t be further from the case being
couldn’t be further from the case being lining sis with my gender is an
lining sis with my gender is an
lining sis with my gender is an opportunity to interrogate my own gender
opportunity to interrogate my own gender
opportunity to interrogate my own gender performance so that we can be in
performance so that we can be in
performance so that we can be in solidarity with one another because
solidarity with one another because
solidarity with one another because there is no difference and systems are
there is no difference and systems are
there is no difference and systems are oppressing all of us right now the
oppressing all of us right now the
oppressing all of us right now the leading cause of death for assists in
leading cause of death for assists in
leading cause of death for assists in trans black women is intimate partner
trans black women is intimate partner
trans black women is intimate partner homicide since black women must be
homicide since black women must be
homicide since black women must be committed to fight with trans black
committed to fight with trans black
committed to fight with trans black women and abandon this notion of
women and abandon this notion of
women and abandon this notion of scarcity or at or a friend like black
scarcity or at or a friend like black
scarcity or at or a friend like black womanhood is finite or there is only
womanhood is finite or there is only
womanhood is finite or there is only designated for a chosen few we must be
designated for a chosen few we must be
designated for a chosen few we must be committed to dismantle white supremacist
committed to dismantle white supremacist
committed to dismantle white supremacist capitalist patriarchy and I know that
capitalist patriarchy and I know that
capitalist patriarchy and I know that big-time patriarchy just means that how
big-time patriarchy just means that how
big-time patriarchy just means that how all of us can uphold systems of
all of us can uphold systems of
all of us can uphold systems of oppression regardless of our gender race
oppression regardless of our gender race
oppression regardless of our gender race or sexuality if we’re not careful James
or sexuality if we’re not careful James
or sexuality if we’re not careful James Baldwin once wrote
Baldwin once wrote
Baldwin once wrote thank you James Baldwin once wrote I was
thank you James Baldwin once wrote I was
thank you James Baldwin once wrote I was not born to be a slave nor was I born to
not born to be a slave nor was I born to
not born to be a slave nor was I born to hope to become equal to the slave master
hope to become equal to the slave master
hope to become equal to the slave master we don’t want just joy we need black joy
we don’t want just joy we need black joy
we don’t want just joy we need black joy and though everyone is not granted full
and though everyone is not granted full
and though everyone is not granted full access to black joy just like not
access to black joy just like not
access to black joy just like not everyone is invited to your Mama’s
everyone is invited to your Mama’s
everyone is invited to your Mama’s kitchen finally don’t come out up in
kitchen finally don’t come out up in
kitchen finally don’t come out up in there without washing your hands black
there without washing your hands black
there without washing your hands black joy has a seat at the table for everyone
joy has a seat at the table for everyone
joy has a seat at the table for everyone right and that is why now is the time to
right and that is why now is the time to
right and that is why now is the time to center black joy because like our friend
center black joy because like our friend
center black joy because like our friend and fellow magic practitioner malaya
and fellow magic practitioner malaya
and fellow magic practitioner malaya davis says this is about regenerations
davis says this is about regenerations
davis says this is about regenerations join us as we soon turn black joy
join us as we soon turn black joy
join us as we soon turn black joy because the side of Shakur already told
because the side of Shakur already told
because the side of Shakur already told us we have nothing to lose but I changed
us we have nothing to lose but I changed
us we have nothing to lose but I changed I am amber Jay Phillips the high pieces
I am amber Jay Phillips the high pieces
I am amber Jay Phillips the high pieces of black Joseph and I am jazz gonna walk
of black Joseph and I am jazz gonna walk
of black Joseph and I am jazz gonna walk at the King of the South and you just
at the King of the South and you just
at the King of the South and you just listened to a blueprint for the black to
listened to a blueprint for the black to
listened to a blueprint for the black to our era
our era
our era [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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