[Music] it’s 2011 I’m sitting on my couch
it’s 2011 I’m sitting on my couch
it’s 2011 I’m sitting on my couch stressed-out clutching the remote glued
stressed-out clutching the remote glued
stressed-out clutching the remote glued to CNN Fox News and MSNBC I’m holding my
to CNN Fox News and MSNBC I’m holding my
to CNN Fox News and MSNBC I’m holding my breath waiting for the Republicans in
breath waiting for the Republicans in
breath waiting for the Republicans in Congress to vote to and extend my
Congress to vote to and extend my
Congress to vote to and extend my unemployment benefits now I had been
unemployment benefits now I had been
unemployment benefits now I had been unemployed on and off since 2009 and it
unemployed on and off since 2009 and it
unemployed on and off since 2009 and it was rough so rough
was rough so rough
was rough so rough I’m surrounded by boxes because I’ve got
I’m surrounded by boxes because I’ve got
I’m surrounded by boxes because I’ve got to move out of my loft into a bedroom in
to move out of my loft into a bedroom in
to move out of my loft into a bedroom in my sister’s house next week and I’m
my sister’s house next week and I’m
my sister’s house next week and I’m trying to figure out how I’m gonna pay
trying to figure out how I’m gonna pay
trying to figure out how I’m gonna pay for the storage unit and the u-haul
for the storage unit and the u-haul
for the storage unit and the u-haul truck and I’ve gotta listen to these
truck and I’ve gotta listen to these
truck and I’ve gotta listen to these filibustering knuckleheads label me a
filibustering knuckleheads label me a
filibustering knuckleheads label me a 99er lazy don’t want to work I’m
99er lazy don’t want to work I’m
99er lazy don’t want to work I’m thinking lazy you calling me lazy when
thinking lazy you calling me lazy when
thinking lazy you calling me lazy when you’re getting ready to take a break
you’re getting ready to take a break
you’re getting ready to take a break from doing nothing from the last time
from doing nothing from the last time
from doing nothing from the last time you took a break from doing nothing
it’s not my fault Wall Street crash and
it’s not my fault Wall Street crash and too-big-to-fail failed
too-big-to-fail failed
too-big-to-fail failed I’ve worked hard all my life as did my
I’ve worked hard all my life as did my
I’ve worked hard all my life as did my mother and my mother’s mother before
mother and my mother’s mother before
mother and my mother’s mother before that I paid my taxes and my dues Google
that I paid my taxes and my dues Google
that I paid my taxes and my dues Google me I earned those benefits and these
me I earned those benefits and these
me I earned those benefits and these suited up good old boys with no
suited up good old boys with no
suited up good old boys with no connection to my life or holding my rent
connection to my life or holding my rent
connection to my life or holding my rent hostage in their little scheme to extend
hostage in their little scheme to extend
hostage in their little scheme to extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy I’m on
the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy I’m on
the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy I’m on my feet I’m all up in the TV screaming
my feet I’m all up in the TV screaming
my feet I’m all up in the TV screaming at the top of my lungs vote you
at the top of my lungs vote you
at the top of my lungs vote you constipated niches and when I heard
constipated niches and when I heard
constipated niches and when I heard myself screaming at the TV pointing my
myself screaming at the TV pointing my
myself screaming at the TV pointing my fingers at a Congress that could care
fingers at a Congress that could care
fingers at a Congress that could care less and couldn’t hear me I vowed that I
less and couldn’t hear me I vowed that I
less and couldn’t hear me I vowed that I would do never ever ever let anyone
would do never ever ever let anyone
would do never ever ever let anyone dictate my life my liberty and the
dictate my life my liberty and the
dictate my life my liberty and the pursuit of my happiness I vowed that I
pursuit of my happiness I vowed that I
pursuit of my happiness I vowed that I would do what I loved to do for the rest
would do what I loved to do for the rest
would do what I loved to do for the rest of my life no matter what now I’m not
of my life no matter what now I’m not
of my life no matter what now I’m not gonna lie I was terrified of my
gonna lie I was terrified of my
gonna lie I was terrified of my uncertain future when I moved into that
uncertain future when I moved into that
uncertain future when I moved into that bedroom in my sister’s house but little
bedroom in my sister’s house but little
bedroom in my sister’s house but little did I know only a few months later my
did I know only a few months later my
did I know only a few months later my life would change when I met them off at
life would change when I met them off at
life would change when I met them off at a story slam in Detroit now I love
a story slam in Detroit now I love
a story slam in Detroit now I love stories I’m a storyteller I come from a
stories I’m a storyteller I come from a
stories I’m a storyteller I come from a long line of storytellers
long line of storytellers
long line of storytellers old black women from the south who use
old black women from the south who use
old black women from the south who use storytelling to teach to warn to
storytelling to teach to warn to
storytelling to teach to warn to entertain to impart they could make go
entertain to impart they could make go
entertain to impart they could make go into the corner store sound like Lord of
into the corner store sound like Lord of
into the corner store sound like Lord of the Rings
the Rings
the Rings [Music]
[Music]
[Music] they were masters I could only hope to
they were masters I could only hope to
they were masters I could only hope to aspire to their greatness but through my
aspire to their greatness but through my
aspire to their greatness but through my name in the Hat anyway and a-one and The
name in the Hat anyway and a-one and The
name in the Hat anyway and a-one and The Moth asked me would I host the new slam
Moth asked me would I host the new slam
Moth asked me would I host the new slam coming to Ann Arbor and I said I would
coming to Ann Arbor and I said I would
coming to Ann Arbor and I said I would love to and it was a love fest they were
love to and it was a love fest they were
love to and it was a love fest they were flying me around the country telling
flying me around the country telling
flying me around the country telling stories I opened I was a host of the
stories I opened I was a host of the
stories I opened I was a host of the season opener in New York I shared the
season opener in New York I shared the
season opener in New York I shared the same stage at the Hudson Theatre with
same stage at the Hudson Theatre with
same stage at the Hudson Theatre with Adam Gopnik Richard Price and Garrison
Adam Gopnik Richard Price and Garrison
Adam Gopnik Richard Price and Garrison Keillor my story was on the moth radio
Keillor my story was on the moth radio
Keillor my story was on the moth radio our NPR podcast people all over the
our NPR podcast people all over the
our NPR podcast people all over the world were thanking me for telling my
world were thanking me for telling my
world were thanking me for telling my story like it was a service then one
story like it was a service then one
story like it was a service then one night I’m onstage in front of a sold-out
night I’m onstage in front of a sold-out
night I’m onstage in front of a sold-out crowd in Boston 900 people I’m telling
crowd in Boston 900 people I’m telling
crowd in Boston 900 people I’m telling my story it had taken six years for me
my story it had taken six years for me
my story it had taken six years for me to crawl back from the numb of Hell and
to crawl back from the numb of Hell and
to crawl back from the numb of Hell and the devastating grief over the loss of
the devastating grief over the loss of
the devastating grief over the loss of my mother told very in cancer in 2005
my mother told very in cancer in 2005
my mother told very in cancer in 2005 and then nine months later my son died
and then nine months later my son died
and then nine months later my son died of a massive seizure the result of a
of a massive seizure the result of a
of a massive seizure the result of a brain injury he suffered in a car
brain injury he suffered in a car
brain injury he suffered in a car accident just a few years before I was a
accident just a few years before I was a
accident just a few years before I was a dead woman walking my future looked like
dead woman walking my future looked like
dead woman walking my future looked like a joyless chore to live and then I
a joyless chore to live and then I
a joyless chore to live and then I noticed I could hear a pin drop
noticed I could hear a pin drop
noticed I could hear a pin drop the audience was breathing with me
the audience was breathing with me
the audience was breathing with me leaning forward waiting for my next word
leaning forward waiting for my next word
leaning forward waiting for my next word and I was struck by the fact that I had
and I was struck by the fact that I had
and I was struck by the fact that I had never been listened to so profoundly
never been listened to so profoundly
never been listened to so profoundly heard so deeply and in the space of my
heard so deeply and in the space of my
heard so deeply and in the space of my telling and their listening the
telling and their listening the
telling and their listening the connection was so powerful that I felt
connection was so powerful that I felt
connection was so powerful that I felt anything was possible I felt loved I
anything was possible I felt loved I
anything was possible I felt loved I felt complete I felt whole and free
felt complete I felt whole and free
felt complete I felt whole and free healed and when when I finished telling
healed and when when I finished telling
healed and when when I finished telling my story they applauded my struggle in
my story they applauded my struggle in
my story they applauded my struggle in my journey of overcoming and I thought
my journey of overcoming and I thought
my journey of overcoming and I thought every human being on earth no matter who
every human being on earth no matter who
every human being on earth no matter who they are should have this experience of
they are should have this experience of
they are should have this experience of being listened to and heard and that’s
being listened to and heard and that’s
being listened to and heard and that’s when I knew this is what I’m supposed to
when I knew this is what I’m supposed to
when I knew this is what I’m supposed to do this is my calling my purpose now by
do this is my calling my purpose now by
do this is my calling my purpose now by now I had moved into the basement of a
now I had moved into the basement of a
now I had moved into the basement of a friend’s
friend’s
friend’s in Ferndale and I’m sitting at her
in Ferndale and I’m sitting at her
in Ferndale and I’m sitting at her garden one morning and I’m thinking if
garden one morning and I’m thinking if
garden one morning and I’m thinking if storytelling healed me couldn’t heal the
storytelling healed me couldn’t heal the
storytelling healed me couldn’t heal the city of Detroit because Detroit was
city of Detroit because Detroit was
city of Detroit because Detroit was grieving had been grieving for years had
grieving had been grieving for years had
grieving had been grieving for years had lost many lives and health and wealth
lost many lives and health and wealth
lost many lives and health and wealth and loss of integrity loss of freedom of
and loss of integrity loss of freedom of
and loss of integrity loss of freedom of democracy and when I heard the news
democracy and when I heard the news
democracy and when I heard the news report only 17% of Detroiters turned out
report only 17% of Detroiters turned out
report only 17% of Detroiters turned out to vote in today’s election I tried to
to vote in today’s election I tried to
to vote in today’s election I tried to remember did I vote the year my mother
remember did I vote the year my mother
remember did I vote the year my mother and son passed away as I recall I could
and son passed away as I recall I could
and son passed away as I recall I could barely get out of bed and that’s when he
barely get out of bed and that’s when he
barely get out of bed and that’s when he came to me the idea for the secret
came to me the idea for the secret
came to me the idea for the secret society of twisted storytellers I would
society of twisted storytellers I would
society of twisted storytellers I would use storytelling with the intention of
use storytelling with the intention of
use storytelling with the intention of healing with the intention of connecting
healing with the intention of connecting
healing with the intention of connecting a city of Detroit with the intention of
a city of Detroit with the intention of
a city of Detroit with the intention of uplifting the spirits of the people who
uplifting the spirits of the people who
uplifting the spirits of the people who live here and out of telling stories we
live here and out of telling stories we
live here and out of telling stories we would heal and transform become leaders
would heal and transform become leaders
would heal and transform become leaders and take our leadership and
and take our leadership and
and take our leadership and transformation into community and make a
transformation into community and make a
transformation into community and make a difference be a service I fell in love
difference be a service I fell in love
difference be a service I fell in love with the idea I was so in love with the
with the idea I was so in love with the
with the idea I was so in love with the idea but I didn’t have any money I was
idea but I didn’t have any money I was
idea but I didn’t have any money I was living in the basement but the idea was
living in the basement but the idea was
living in the basement but the idea was so delicious that I sold tickets in
so delicious that I sold tickets in
so delicious that I sold tickets in advance for $15 to my friends and family
advance for $15 to my friends and family
advance for $15 to my friends and family and I rented this funky little theater
and I rented this funky little theater
and I rented this funky little theater space with 45 seats in downtown Detroit
space with 45 seats in downtown Detroit
space with 45 seats in downtown Detroit it was a sellout and the floor
it was a sellout and the floor
it was a sellout and the floor storytellers that evening got a standing
storytellers that evening got a standing
storytellers that evening got a standing ovation and I’m beaming like a proud
ovation and I’m beaming like a proud
ovation and I’m beaming like a proud mother wondering could this little
mother wondering could this little
mother wondering could this little social experiment work well we were we
social experiment work well we were we
social experiment work well we were we did pop ups for eight months until we
did pop ups for eight months until we
did pop ups for eight months until we found a home at the Charles Wright
found a home at the Charles Wright
found a home at the Charles Wright museum I moved into a dilapidated
museum I moved into a dilapidated
museum I moved into a dilapidated neighborhood in Detroit
neighborhood in Detroit
neighborhood in Detroit it looked out like Apocalypse Now on
it looked out like Apocalypse Now on
it looked out like Apocalypse Now on steroids I used to drive up to the front
steroids I used to drive up to the front
steroids I used to drive up to the front door call my neighbor breaker breaker
door call my neighbor breaker breaker
door call my neighbor breaker breaker 1-9 open the door I’m coming in until I
1-9 open the door I’m coming in until I
1-9 open the door I’m coming in until I got used to my hood and 11 people they
got used to my hood and 11 people they
got used to my hood and 11 people they lived on my block and then one morning I
lived on my block and then one morning I
lived on my block and then one morning I saw gentrification jogging through the
saw gentrification jogging through the
saw gentrification jogging through the streets of my neighborhood
her blonde ponytails swinging in the
her blonde ponytails swinging in the sunshine and I was overwhelmed with this
sunshine and I was overwhelmed with this
sunshine and I was overwhelmed with this false sense of security but it gave me
false sense of security but it gave me
false sense of security but it gave me hope and in 2013 we won tonight’s art
hope and in 2013 we won tonight’s art
hope and in 2013 we won tonight’s art challenge grant and I began to think
challenge grant and I began to think
challenge grant and I began to think bigger
bigger
bigger if storytelling could connect heal and
if storytelling could connect heal and
if storytelling could connect heal and transform Detroit could it do the same
transform Detroit could it do the same
transform Detroit could it do the same for the world
for the world
for the world well we became a non-profit 501c3 with a
well we became a non-profit 501c3 with a
well we became a non-profit 501c3 with a global mission to connect humanity heal
global mission to connect humanity heal
global mission to connect humanity heal and transform community and to provide
and transform community and to provide
and transform community and to provide an uplifting thought-provoking
an uplifting thought-provoking
an uplifting thought-provoking soul-cleansing entertainment experience
soul-cleansing entertainment experience
soul-cleansing entertainment experience through the art and craft of
through the art and craft of
through the art and craft of storytelling one story at a time we
storytelling one story at a time we
storytelling one story at a time we believe that everyone has a story and in
believe that everyone has a story and in
believe that everyone has a story and in your story when shared in community it
your story when shared in community it
your story when shared in community it has the power to make a difference in
has the power to make a difference in
has the power to make a difference in someone else’s life
someone else’s life
someone else’s life we believe that storytelling like
we believe that storytelling like
we believe that storytelling like organic fruits and vegetables is organic
organic fruits and vegetables is organic
organic fruits and vegetables is organic therapy healing transformation and
therapy healing transformation and
therapy healing transformation and celebration storytelling is a vital and
celebration storytelling is a vital and
celebration storytelling is a vital and necessary component to the health and
necessary component to the health and
necessary component to the health and well-being of any community in society
well-being of any community in society
well-being of any community in society and the storyteller the soul meat of the
and the storyteller the soul meat of the
and the storyteller the soul meat of the storyteller is a story listener and in
storyteller is a story listener and in
storyteller is a story listener and in the space between the two anything is
the space between the two anything is
the space between the two anything is possible and what I’ve learned over
possible and what I’ve learned over
possible and what I’ve learned over these years is that listening is a it’s
these years is that listening is a it’s
these years is that listening is a it’s a generosity it’s a human kindness
a generosity it’s a human kindness
a generosity it’s a human kindness listening grants being to the experience
listening grants being to the experience
listening grants being to the experience of others listening as a service it’s a
of others listening as a service it’s a
of others listening as a service it’s a revolutionary act and at its highest
revolutionary act and at its highest
revolutionary act and at its highest level listening is the possibility of
level listening is the possibility of
level listening is the possibility of love so here I am ladies and gentlemen
love so here I am ladies and gentlemen
love so here I am ladies and gentlemen doing what I love to do for the rest of
doing what I love to do for the rest of
doing what I love to do for the rest of my life and I thank you for your service
my life and I thank you for your service
my life and I thank you for your service and listening I love you too
and listening I love you too
and listening I love you too one story at a time
one story at a time
one story at a time [Applause]
”
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