so I shall ask quickly who here is a first-generation immigrant so that’s the
first-generation immigrant so that’s the
first-generation immigrant so that’s the way of me asking who here wasn’t born in
way of me asking who here wasn’t born in
way of me asking who here wasn’t born in Canada today we have a lot of hands up
Canada today we have a lot of hands up
Canada today we have a lot of hands up alright so let me ask you another
alright so let me ask you another
alright so let me ask you another question that’s completely unrelated
question that’s completely unrelated
question that’s completely unrelated have you ever wondered why magazine
have you ever wondered why magazine
have you ever wondered why magazine covers or TV shows or movies or
covers or TV shows or movies or
covers or TV shows or movies or billboard ads don’t have any anybody
billboard ads don’t have any anybody
billboard ads don’t have any anybody that really looks like you let me ask
that really looks like you let me ask
that really looks like you let me ask you another question actually if those
you another question actually if those
you another question actually if those magazine covers TV shows or billboard
magazine covers TV shows or billboard
magazine covers TV shows or billboard ads had a more diverse representation
ads had a more diverse representation
ads had a more diverse representation women man race sexual orientation how
women man race sexual orientation how
women man race sexual orientation how might that influence you from buying
might that influence you from buying
might that influence you from buying those magazines watching those movies or
those magazines watching those movies or
those magazines watching those movies or TV shows more recently I was at my
TV shows more recently I was at my
TV shows more recently I was at my parents house and I like to collect
parents house and I like to collect
parents house and I like to collect magazines from all over the world for
magazines from all over the world for
magazines from all over the world for fashion and design magazines and I
fashion and design magazines and I
fashion and design magazines and I realize out of 55 magazines that have
realize out of 55 magazines that have
realize out of 55 magazines that have collected over the years none of them
collected over the years none of them
collected over the years none of them have someone on the cover that’s not
have someone on the cover that’s not
have someone on the cover that’s not that’s not a van on white race Oh male
that’s not a van on white race Oh male
that’s not a van on white race Oh male or female and more recently I was
or female and more recently I was
or female and more recently I was actually thinking about this I am more
actually thinking about this I am more
actually thinking about this I am more likely to want to do a business
likely to want to do a business
likely to want to do a business partnership or engage in social venture
partnership or engage in social venture
partnership or engage in social venture with the white male then I am with one
with the white male then I am with one
with the white male then I am with one of my own race this may seem shocking to
of my own race this may seem shocking to
of my own race this may seem shocking to some of you but it shouldn’t be because
some of you but it shouldn’t be because
some of you but it shouldn’t be because I was originally born in Congo actually
I was originally born in Congo actually
I was originally born in Congo actually a country that’s been colonized by
a country that’s been colonized by
a country that’s been colonized by belgium and i immigrated to canada not
belgium and i immigrated to canada not
belgium and i immigrated to canada not so long ago and both in congo and in
so long ago and both in congo and in
so long ago and both in congo and in canada I’ve only been taught about
canada I’ve only been taught about
canada I’ve only been taught about characters or political leaders or
characters or political leaders or
characters or political leaders or wealthy businessman on TV that are white
wealthy businessman on TV that are white
wealthy businessman on TV that are white males now I know this is TEDx sfu or an
males now I know this is TEDx sfu or an
males now I know this is TEDx sfu or an educated crowd who do not have any
educated crowd who do not have any
educated crowd who do not have any prejudice or just carry to review stores
prejudice or just carry to review stores
prejudice or just carry to review stores others we know better well last semester
others we know better well last semester
others we know better well last semester in my master’s program here at us a few
in my master’s program here at us a few
in my master’s program here at us a few i’m a proud alumni my professor asked us
i’m a proud alumni my professor asked us
i’m a proud alumni my professor asked us in class
in class
in class do you think that a woman of African
do you think that a woman of African
do you think that a woman of African descent was black can have the same
descent was black can have the same
descent was black can have the same world impact as dr. Paul Farmer or
world impact as dr. Paul Farmer or
world impact as dr. Paul Farmer or mother Teresa how would you answer that
fair enough unanimously in a class of
fair enough unanimously in a class of about thirty graduate students everyone
about thirty graduate students everyone
about thirty graduate students everyone said no it’s 2016 guys this is a problem
said no it’s 2016 guys this is a problem
said no it’s 2016 guys this is a problem at the age of eight i immigrated canada
at the age of eight i immigrated canada
at the age of eight i immigrated canada in the city of Montreal with my family
in the city of Montreal with my family
in the city of Montreal with my family and I quickly realize that the way women
and I quickly realize that the way women
and I quickly realize that the way women who look like me are perceived by
who look like me are perceived by
who look like me are perceived by society is not always positive or were
society is not always positive or were
society is not always positive or were there many of us in the media promoted
there many of us in the media promoted
there many of us in the media promoted as a success story for me to look up to
as a success story for me to look up to
as a success story for me to look up to in my preteens I never understood why
in my preteens I never understood why
in my preteens I never understood why every magazine cover have the same
every magazine cover have the same
every magazine cover have the same looking girl on it usually big perky
looking girl on it usually big perky
looking girl on it usually big perky breasts which is very hard to find real
breasts which is very hard to find real
breasts which is very hard to find real in reality blue eyes blonde hair really
in reality blue eyes blonde hair really
in reality blue eyes blonde hair really skinny and at that age I wasn’t familiar
skinny and at that age I wasn’t familiar
skinny and at that age I wasn’t familiar with photoshop so I really thought that
with photoshop so I really thought that
with photoshop so I really thought that for me to think of myself as beautiful
for me to think of myself as beautiful
for me to think of myself as beautiful or feel beautiful I had to look like
or feel beautiful I had to look like
or feel beautiful I had to look like that during my teens when I would watch
that during my teens when I would watch
that during my teens when I would watch Nickelodeon or white TV on Saturday
Nickelodeon or white TV on Saturday
Nickelodeon or white TV on Saturday mornings I never understood why none of
mornings I never understood why none of
mornings I never understood why none of the character and characters ever look
the character and characters ever look
the character and characters ever look like me from my hair my body shape I
like me from my hair my body shape I
like me from my hair my body shape I love my curves my skin color none and
love my curves my skin color none and
love my curves my skin color none and all of this I was observing at the age
all of this I was observing at the age
all of this I was observing at the age of eight now let’s fast forward a little
of eight now let’s fast forward a little
of eight now let’s fast forward a little bit at the age of 19 I’ll end in my
bit at the age of 19 I’ll end in my
bit at the age of 19 I’ll end in my first internship at the World Health
first internship at the World Health
first internship at the World Health Organization in Kinshasa where I was
Organization in Kinshasa where I was
Organization in Kinshasa where I was originally from and I was really honored
originally from and I was really honored
originally from and I was really honored to be part of boardroom meetings with
to be part of boardroom meetings with
to be part of boardroom meetings with international agency members from all
international agency members from all
international agency members from all over the world where one stakeholder
over the world where one stakeholder
over the world where one stakeholder told me that as an African idian I get
told me that as an African idian I get
told me that as an African idian I get to speak up at these meetings because
to speak up at these meetings because
to speak up at these meetings because I’m perceived as a white woman living in
I’m perceived as a white woman living in
I’m perceived as a white woman living in a black girl’s body
so a very intellectual powerful person
so a very intellectual powerful person told me that I was an Oreo yes yes now
told me that I was an Oreo yes yes now
told me that I was an Oreo yes yes now during my master’s program my professors
during my master’s program my professors
during my master’s program my professors explained to me that the way particular
explained to me that the way particular
explained to me that the way particular groups are portrayed by society goes
groups are portrayed by society goes
groups are portrayed by society goes back to poorly documented historical
back to poorly documented historical
back to poorly documented historical facts that continues to be poorly taught
facts that continues to be poorly taught
facts that continues to be poorly taught in classrooms such facts no Google
in classrooms such facts no Google
in classrooms such facts no Google search will elaborate on Google is not
search will elaborate on Google is not
search will elaborate on Google is not going to elaborate on how certain groups
going to elaborate on how certain groups
going to elaborate on how certain groups of people continue to be treated poorly
of people continue to be treated poorly
of people continue to be treated poorly Google is not going to talk about that
Google is not going to talk about that
Google is not going to talk about that because let’s be honest it’s
because let’s be honest it’s
because let’s be honest it’s uncomfortable to talk about nobody wants
uncomfortable to talk about nobody wants
uncomfortable to talk about nobody wants to talk about it it’s not a sexy topic
to talk about it it’s not a sexy topic
to talk about it it’s not a sexy topic it leads to many of us feeling so guilty
it leads to many of us feeling so guilty
it leads to many of us feeling so guilty in the fact that we’re on able to tackle
in the fact that we’re on able to tackle
in the fact that we’re on able to tackle the issue now at the age of 16 I had the
the issue now at the age of 16 I had the
the issue now at the age of 16 I had the chance of visiting South Africa for the
chance of visiting South Africa for the
chance of visiting South Africa for the very first time where I got to see the
very first time where I got to see the
very first time where I got to see the prison where Mandela spent his last few
prison where Mandela spent his last few
prison where Mandela spent his last few years behind bars and I’ll never forget
years behind bars and I’ll never forget
years behind bars and I’ll never forget until this day there was a quote beside
until this day there was a quote beside
until this day there was a quote beside the jalsa from a book which collected
the jalsa from a book which collected
the jalsa from a book which collected all of Mandela’s popular and famous
all of Mandela’s popular and famous
all of Mandela’s popular and famous speeches and until this day I have this
speeches and until this day I have this
speeches and until this day I have this very quote memorized to be free is to
very quote memorized to be free is to
very quote memorized to be free is to live in a way that respects and enhances
live in a way that respects and enhances
live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others our human
the freedom of others our human
the freedom of others our human compassion binds us to one another not
compassion binds us to one another not
compassion binds us to one another not in pity not patronizing Lee but as
in pity not patronizing Lee but as
in pity not patronizing Lee but as humans who have learned to turn outcome
humans who have learned to turn outcome
humans who have learned to turn outcome and suffering into hope for the future
now I really believe that it is possible
now I really believe that it is possible for our society to change the historical
for our society to change the historical
for our society to change the historical portrayals of particular groups we
portrayals of particular groups we
portrayals of particular groups we notified that to occur there’s a need
notified that to occur there’s a need
notified that to occur there’s a need for social change and for social change
for social change and for social change
for social change and for social change to occur there’s a need for a paradigm
to occur there’s a need for a paradigm
to occur there’s a need for a paradigm shift first in order for that to occur
shift first in order for that to occur
shift first in order for that to occur we must recognize our very own innate
we must recognize our very own innate
we must recognize our very own innate and inherited by sees again we must
and inherited by sees again we must
and inherited by sees again we must recognize our innate and internalized by
recognize our innate and internalized by
recognize our innate and internalized by sees which we all have this includes
sees which we all have this includes
sees which we all have this includes recognizing that those who you are at
recognizing that those who you are at
recognizing that those who you are at least exposed to are usually the ones
least exposed to are usually the ones
least exposed to are usually the ones that you have the most prejudiced
that you have the most prejudiced
that you have the most prejudiced towards this includes recognizing that
towards this includes recognizing that
towards this includes recognizing that the majority of your life has been lived
the majority of your life has been lived
the majority of your life has been lived in particular spaces of dominance where
in particular spaces of dominance where
in particular spaces of dominance where when you’re in elementary school your
when you’re in elementary school your
when you’re in elementary school your teacher would unknowingly teacher about
teacher would unknowingly teacher about
teacher would unknowingly teacher about particular characters that would uplift
particular characters that would uplift
particular characters that would uplift particular groups at the expense of
particular groups at the expense of
particular groups at the expense of others this includes recognizing your
others this includes recognizing your
others this includes recognizing your position of power and supremacy which we
position of power and supremacy which we
position of power and supremacy which we all exercise on others without any care
all exercise on others without any care
all exercise on others without any care any conscious or any thoughts that’s why
any conscious or any thoughts that’s why
any conscious or any thoughts that’s why it is so critical to recognize the harsh
it is so critical to recognize the harsh
it is so critical to recognize the harsh reality live by others and only through
reality live by others and only through
reality live by others and only through exposing yourself to those with lived
exposing yourself to those with lived
exposing yourself to those with lived experiences that are different from your
experiences that are different from your
experiences that are different from your own will you allow yourself to shift
own will you allow yourself to shift
own will you allow yourself to shift these misconception that you continue to
these misconception that you continue to
these misconception that you continue to exercise on others and it is so critical
exercise on others and it is so critical
exercise on others and it is so critical to always be reflective of our own
to always be reflective of our own
to always be reflective of our own biases it’s not comfortable but you have
biases it’s not comfortable but you have
biases it’s not comfortable but you have to do it and only then will you shift
to do it and only then will you shift
to do it and only then will you shift the discourse that continues to uphold
the discourse that continues to uphold
the discourse that continues to uphold social inequities not inequalities with
social inequities not inequalities with
social inequities not inequalities with social inequities secondly once we
social inequities secondly once we
social inequities secondly once we recognize these internalized biases we
recognize these internalized biases we
recognize these internalized biases we must address it and I truly believe that
must address it and I truly believe that
must address it and I truly believe that we can address these biases by creating
we can address these biases by creating
we can address these biases by creating safe spaces safe spaces are where we
safe spaces safe spaces are where we
safe spaces safe spaces are where we learn to be comfortable with
learn to be comfortable with
learn to be comfortable with uncomfortable topics safe spaces are
uncomfortable topics safe spaces are
uncomfortable topics safe spaces are where we have this way of challenging
where we have this way of challenging
where we have this way of challenging the elephant in the room we all either
the elephant in the room we all either
the elephant in the room we all either do it or see it so much we’ll talk about
do it or see it so much we’ll talk about
do it or see it so much we’ll talk about it safe spaces must happen anywhere and
it safe spaces must happen anywhere and
it safe spaces must happen anywhere and everywhere from coffee shops to
everywhere from coffee shops to
everywhere from coffee shops to restaurant to classrooms to TEDx
restaurant to classrooms to TEDx
restaurant to classrooms to TEDx anywhere human
anywhere human
anywhere human dialogue can stimulate these
dialogue can stimulate these
dialogue can stimulate these conversations and shift our
conversations and shift our
conversations and shift our misconception of others and that way we
misconception of others and that way we
misconception of others and that way we can address the social myth that
can address the social myth that
can address the social myth that continue to undermine prejudice views
continue to undermine prejudice views
continue to undermine prejudice views that we exercise on others when you hear
that we exercise on others when you hear
that we exercise on others when you hear the story of graduate students here at
the story of graduate students here at
the story of graduate students here at sfu not not agree with the idea of a
sfu not not agree with the idea of a
sfu not not agree with the idea of a black mother teresa our black women have
black mother teresa our black women have
black mother teresa our black women have ever having the impact that mother
ever having the impact that mother
ever having the impact that mother Teresa had on the world your heart aches
Teresa had on the world your heart aches
Teresa had on the world your heart aches and I SAT there in class and there’s a
and I SAT there in class and there’s a
and I SAT there in class and there’s a voice in my head that said you’re never
voice in my head that said you’re never
voice in my head that said you’re never going to be as successful or no matter
going to be as successful or no matter
going to be as successful or no matter how hard you try you’re never going to
how hard you try you’re never going to
how hard you try you’re never going to get to the top you know guys it’s
get to the top you know guys it’s
get to the top you know guys it’s exhausting I wish I was part of a
exhausting I wish I was part of a
exhausting I wish I was part of a society where when I walked down the
society where when I walked down the
society where when I walked down the street or when I’m at a bar here in
street or when I’m at a bar here in
street or when I’m at a bar here in Vancouver some people don’t look at me
Vancouver some people don’t look at me
Vancouver some people don’t look at me weird I wish to someone like Beyonce yes
weird I wish to someone like Beyonce yes
weird I wish to someone like Beyonce yes the queen bee I love her when she
the queen bee I love her when she
the queen bee I love her when she released a song like formation which she
released a song like formation which she
released a song like formation which she talks about the issues that many blacks
talks about the issues that many blacks
talks about the issues that many blacks enough or african-americans I should
enough or african-americans I should
enough or african-americans I should specify continue to live that she didn’t
specify continue to live that she didn’t
specify continue to live that she didn’t get a lot of backlash for it I wish that
get a lot of backlash for it I wish that
get a lot of backlash for it I wish that when I walked down the street and I see
when I walked down the street and I see
when I walked down the street and I see beautiful muslim woman wearing a head
beautiful muslim woman wearing a head
beautiful muslim woman wearing a head job or a niqab that people behind them
job or a niqab that people behind them
job or a niqab that people behind them are not whispering things like terrorism
are not whispering things like terrorism
are not whispering things like terrorism bomb dropper or I Qaeda I wish that
bomb dropper or I Qaeda I wish that
bomb dropper or I Qaeda I wish that Asian women were not seen as some kind
Asian women were not seen as some kind
Asian women were not seen as some kind of weird fetish for their subordinate
of weird fetish for their subordinate
of weird fetish for their subordinate ways we’ve all seen mulan asian women
ways we’ve all seen mulan asian women
ways we’ve all seen mulan asian women are conquerors I’m just saying
I wish that my friend who just came out
I wish that my friend who just came out to her family about being a lesbian was
to her family about being a lesbian was
to her family about being a lesbian was not this owned by her family or she
not this owned by her family or she
not this owned by her family or she didn’t fear that when she’s at work
didn’t fear that when she’s at work
didn’t fear that when she’s at work she’ll be discriminated for her sexual
she’ll be discriminated for her sexual
she’ll be discriminated for her sexual orientation I wish that I was part of a
orientation I wish that I was part of a
orientation I wish that I was part of a generation that was more familiar with
generation that was more familiar with
generation that was more familiar with terms like intersectionality I wish that
terms like intersectionality I wish that
terms like intersectionality I wish that more of us when we take the bus 135 a
more of us when we take the bus 135 a
more of us when we take the bus 135 a walk down down the East Side area in
walk down down the East Side area in
walk down down the East Side area in Hastings we didn’t just look at the
Hastings we didn’t just look at the
Hastings we didn’t just look at the population as they’re from a pitiful I
population as they’re from a pitiful I
population as they’re from a pitiful I but we ask ourselves why is it that
but we ask ourselves why is it that
but we ask ourselves why is it that indigenous Canadians first nation in and
indigenous Canadians first nation in and
indigenous Canadians first nation in and so forth are disproportionately way more
so forth are disproportionately way more
so forth are disproportionately way more impoverished than any other racial
impoverished than any other racial
impoverished than any other racial groups and saying that they choose to be
groups and saying that they choose to be
groups and saying that they choose to be poor it’s garbage I come from a
poor it’s garbage I come from a
poor it’s garbage I come from a third-world country poverty is not a
third-world country poverty is not a
third-world country poverty is not a choice nor is it great trust me i wish
choice nor is it great trust me i wish
choice nor is it great trust me i wish the more of us in this generation we’re
the more of us in this generation we’re
the more of us in this generation we’re familiar with terms like
familiar with terms like
familiar with terms like institutionalized racism write that down
institutionalized racism write that down
institutionalized racism write that down if you don’t know what that is i wish i
if you don’t know what that is i wish i
if you don’t know what that is i wish i wish that black man that are perceived
wish that black man that are perceived
wish that black man that are perceived on television were more than just
on television were more than just
on television were more than just violent rappers seeing vulgarity because
violent rappers seeing vulgarity because
violent rappers seeing vulgarity because that’s what the industry wants and I
that’s what the industry wants and I
that’s what the industry wants and I wish oh I wish that more of us will be
wish oh I wish that more of us will be
wish oh I wish that more of us will be more curious to inquire about other
more curious to inquire about other
more curious to inquire about other people’s culture because after all the
people’s culture because after all the
people’s culture because after all the majority of us here are immigrants I
majority of us here are immigrants I
majority of us here are immigrants I wish that some of you would come up to
wish that some of you would come up to
wish that some of you would come up to me and ask me but my culture I love it I
me and ask me but my culture I love it I
me and ask me but my culture I love it I asked me what about black hair maybe
asked me what about black hair maybe
asked me what about black hair maybe people find their very interesting ask
people find their very interesting ask
people find their very interesting ask it’s okay to be curious if anything it’s
it’s okay to be curious if anything it’s
it’s okay to be curious if anything it’s a good thing but what’s not okay is
a good thing but what’s not okay is
a good thing but what’s not okay is internalize these biases that we all
internalize these biases that we all
internalize these biases that we all have and lie to yourself in thinking
have and lie to yourself in thinking
have and lie to yourself in thinking that you’re not acting on those biases
that you’re not acting on those biases
that you’re not acting on those biases you are whether you like it or not
you are whether you like it or not
you are whether you like it or not that’s why I chose to speak here today
that’s why I chose to speak here today
that’s why I chose to speak here today because it’s crazy to me that in the
because it’s crazy to me that in the
because it’s crazy to me that in the year 2016 a group of well-educated
year 2016 a group of well-educated
year 2016 a group of well-educated graduate student from an institution
graduate student from an institution
graduate student from an institution that prides itself in engaging the world
that prides itself in engaging the world
that prides itself in engaging the world is training future leaders who don’t
is training future leaders who don’t
is training future leaders who don’t believe that a woman like myself could
believe that a woman like myself could
believe that a woman like myself could ever have a global impact
guys I’ll see it again recognize those
guys I’ll see it again recognize those internal biases which we all have
internal biases which we all have
internal biases which we all have address it in an environment that’s
address it in an environment that’s
address it in an environment that’s welcoming where you create the space
welcoming where you create the space
welcoming where you create the space that you have to create it where you
that you have to create it where you
that you have to create it where you welcome these conversations where you
welcome these conversations where you
welcome these conversations where you open minded in being comfortable with
open minded in being comfortable with
open minded in being comfortable with what’s up may seem as uncomfortable that
what’s up may seem as uncomfortable that
what’s up may seem as uncomfortable that way we stop putting particular groups of
way we stop putting particular groups of
way we stop putting particular groups of people in a box of limitations thank you
people in a box of limitations thank you
people in a box of limitations thank you [Applause]
”
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