what you ought to take this opportunity to picture a cloud completely
to picture a cloud completely
to picture a cloud completely overshadowing a person or group of
overshadowing a person or group of
overshadowing a person or group of individuals having unique
individuals having unique
individuals having unique characteristics or traits belonging to
characteristics or traits belonging to
characteristics or traits belonging to them and outside of this cloud I want
them and outside of this cloud I want
them and outside of this cloud I want you to picture these labels that are
you to picture these labels that are
you to picture these labels that are filled with these misperceptions and
filled with these misperceptions and
filled with these misperceptions and stereotypes stamped all around there
stereotypes stamped all around there
stereotypes stamped all around there outside of this cloud and imagine how
outside of this cloud and imagine how
outside of this cloud and imagine how these labels become our truth our
these labels become our truth our
these labels become our truth our reality on how we perceive people to be
reality on how we perceive people to be
reality on how we perceive people to be and even though these illusions were
and even though these illusions were
and even though these illusions were created based off these first
created based off these first
created based off these first impressions we often will still refuse
impressions we often will still refuse
impressions we often will still refuse to see or believe otherwise even when
to see or believe otherwise even when
to see or believe otherwise even when the truth contradicts with our
the truth contradicts with our
the truth contradicts with our perception ladies and gentlemen that’s
perception ladies and gentlemen that’s
perception ladies and gentlemen that’s the halo effect now you don’t have to go
the halo effect now you don’t have to go
the halo effect now you don’t have to go too far to see this it’s in your homes
too far to see this it’s in your homes
too far to see this it’s in your homes Saul in your schools and it’s in every
Saul in your schools and it’s in every
Saul in your schools and it’s in every community on this planet for example one
community on this planet for example one
community on this planet for example one may come to mind or what do you think
may come to mind or what do you think
may come to mind or what do you think about when you hear the term immigration
about when you hear the term immigration
about when you hear the term immigration or building a wall possibly what may
or building a wall possibly what may
or building a wall possibly what may come to mind is Mexicans crossing the
come to mind is Mexicans crossing the
come to mind is Mexicans crossing the border right or a bit based off your
border right or a bit based off your
border right or a bit based off your first impression to me you may not have
first impression to me you may not have
first impression to me you may not have guessed that I have earned or AAA
guessed that I have earned or AAA
guessed that I have earned or AAA degrees here at r.j. Donovan
degrees here at r.j. Donovan
degrees here at r.j. Donovan [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] the reality is is that some people view
the reality is is that some people view
the reality is is that some people view or perceive endemic to being as no
or perceive endemic to being as no
or perceive endemic to being as no better than an animal as if we have
better than an animal as if we have
better than an animal as if we have somehow just become less human overnight
somehow just become less human overnight
somehow just become less human overnight the funny thing is that somebody makes
the funny thing is that somebody makes
the funny thing is that somebody makes film that a dog has a better chance to
film that a dog has a better chance to
film that a dog has a better chance to get an adopted right then a
get an adopted right then a
get an adopted right then a rehabilitated Emmy a human being going
rehabilitated Emmy a human being going
rehabilitated Emmy a human being going home to be with their families the halo
home to be with their families the halo
home to be with their families the halo effect now I found myself becoming a
effect now I found myself becoming a
effect now I found myself becoming a victim to the same effect for many years
victim to the same effect for many years
victim to the same effect for many years and at times I still catch myself
and at times I still catch myself
and at times I still catch myself becoming a victim today now first this
becoming a victim today now first this
becoming a victim today now first this wasn’t easy for me to recognize nor that
wasn’t easy for me to recognize nor that
wasn’t easy for me to recognize nor that ever one admit that any of the
ever one admit that any of the
ever one admit that any of the attributes that I have applied to people
attributes that I have applied to people
attributes that I have applied to people based off these first impressions were
based off these first impressions were
based off these first impressions were even wrong I remember how many times in
even wrong I remember how many times in
even wrong I remember how many times in the past how I would create these
the past how I would create these
the past how I would create these illusions that filled up my mind with
illusions that filled up my mind with
illusions that filled up my mind with these judgemental notions about
these judgemental notions about
these judgemental notions about individuals or people I barely knew or
individuals or people I barely knew or
individuals or people I barely knew or met for the very first time then all of
met for the very first time then all of
met for the very first time then all of a sudden this perception of mine became
a sudden this perception of mine became
a sudden this perception of mine became my truth my reality on how I perceived
my truth my reality on how I perceived
my truth my reality on how I perceived people to be and even when someone
people to be and even when someone
people to be and even when someone proves me wrong my pride my pride inside
proves me wrong my pride my pride inside
proves me wrong my pride my pride inside was still not allowed me to see
was still not allowed me to see
was still not allowed me to see otherwise
otherwise
otherwise for example many years back being raised
for example many years back being raised
for example many years back being raised as a Catholic I remember having this
as a Catholic I remember having this
as a Catholic I remember having this conversation with this Christian
conversation with this Christian
conversation with this Christian regarding the Hail Mary prayer and I
regarding the Hail Mary prayer and I
regarding the Hail Mary prayer and I remember he said that he didn’t recite
remember he said that he didn’t recite
remember he said that he didn’t recite the prayer nor did even believe in it
the prayer nor did even believe in it
the prayer nor did even believe in it and based off that one comment that one
and based off that one comment that one
and based off that one comment that one statement I pretty much had labeled
statement I pretty much had labeled
statement I pretty much had labeled those Christians as being a bunch of
those Christians as being a bunch of
those Christians as being a bunch of little demons or people that were lost
little demons or people that were lost
little demons or people that were lost don’t get me wrong at the time nothing
don’t get me wrong at the time nothing
don’t get me wrong at the time nothing would have changed my perception my
would have changed my perception my
would have changed my perception my perception was already set this is that
perception was already set this is that
perception was already set this is that halo effect now my views and my
halo effect now my views and my
halo effect now my views and my perception of the world they go way back
perception of the world they go way back
perception of the world they go way back when I was once a child I come from a
when I was once a child I come from a
when I was once a child I come from a mixed culture mixing between German
mixed culture mixing between German
mixed culture mixing between German Irish American on my dad’s side Mexican
Irish American on my dad’s side Mexican
Irish American on my dad’s side Mexican and my mom’s I saw the world through the
and my mom’s I saw the world through the
and my mom’s I saw the world through the eyes of my father and my mother through
eyes of my father and my mother through
eyes of my father and my mother through the eyes of my mother I saw love and
the eyes of my mother I saw love and
the eyes of my mother I saw love and perseverance because no matter what
perseverance because no matter what
perseverance because no matter what obstacles we’re trying to stand
obstacles we’re trying to stand
obstacles we’re trying to stand mother’s way my mother would still stand
mother’s way my mother would still stand
mother’s way my mother would still stand tall and proud and push right through
tall and proud and push right through
tall and proud and push right through just for her kids knocking here my mom I
just for her kids knocking here my mom I
just for her kids knocking here my mom I could see her say son mijo everything’s
could see her say son mijo everything’s
could see her say son mijo everything’s gonna be okay everything’s gonna be all
gonna be okay everything’s gonna be all
gonna be okay everything’s gonna be all right
right
right through the eyes I’m a father I saw this
through the eyes I’m a father I saw this
through the eyes I’m a father I saw this disciplinary giant having anger issues
disciplinary giant having anger issues
disciplinary giant having anger issues with the touch of racism I can hear my
with the touch of racism I can hear my
with the touch of racism I can hear my father say boy you’re never not to be
father say boy you’re never not to be
father say boy you’re never not to be in life for many years as a kid I
in life for many years as a kid I
in life for many years as a kid I couldn’t understand why my father would
couldn’t understand why my father would
couldn’t understand why my father would disown his own daughter my stepsister
disown his own daughter my stepsister
disown his own daughter my stepsister for marrying an african-american
for marrying an african-american
for marrying an african-american gentleman and the cool part about it is
gentleman and the cool part about it is
gentleman and the cool part about it is the last time and my sister got to see
the last time and my sister got to see
the last time and my sister got to see her father was while he was laid in his
her father was while he was laid in his
her father was while he was laid in his casket at his funeral for many years as
casket at his funeral for many years as
casket at his funeral for many years as a kid I couldn’t understand why my
a kid I couldn’t understand why my
a kid I couldn’t understand why my father would abuse my mother the woman
father would abuse my mother the woman
father would abuse my mother the woman he was supposed to love and care for and
he was supposed to love and care for and
he was supposed to love and care for and abuse my mother as it for being Mexican
abuse my mother as it for being Mexican
abuse my mother as it for being Mexican with some type of curse the halo effect
with some type of curse the halo effect
with some type of curse the halo effect I remember when my pops passed away I
I remember when my pops passed away I
I remember when my pops passed away I remember how I felt liberated don’t get
remember how I felt liberated don’t get
remember how I felt liberated don’t get me wrong I love my pops thought my heart
me wrong I love my pops thought my heart
me wrong I love my pops thought my heart soul but on that day I remember I was
soul but on that day I remember I was
soul but on that day I remember I was about 13 14 years old didn’t feel like a
about 13 14 years old didn’t feel like a
about 13 14 years old didn’t feel like a regular day something about it just felt
regular day something about it just felt
regular day something about it just felt kind of like it was just slow motion
kind of like it was just slow motion
kind of like it was just slow motion throughout that whole day I mean my
throughout that whole day I mean my
throughout that whole day I mean my brother just got home for school and we
brother just got home for school and we
brother just got home for school and we noticed my mother pulling up on the
noticed my mother pulling up on the
noticed my mother pulling up on the driveway which was kind of early for her
driveway which was kind of early for her
driveway which was kind of early for her to be home at that time because normally
to be home at that time because normally
to be home at that time because normally she would have been at work she got out
she would have been at work she got out
she would have been at work she got out the car I noticed she was crying and
the car I noticed she was crying and
the car I noticed she was crying and these weren’t regular tears and my mom
these weren’t regular tears and my mom
these weren’t regular tears and my mom would have said in the past this was
would have said in the past this was
would have said in the past this was something different she made her way in
something different she made her way in
something different she made her way in the house she told us my father had just
the house she told us my father had just
the house she told us my father had just passed away from a heart attack at that
passed away from a heart attack at that
passed away from a heart attack at that moment I remember feeling liberated I
moment I remember feeling liberated I
moment I remember feeling liberated I felt liberated in the sense like this
felt liberated in the sense like this
felt liberated in the sense like this captive here had just broken free of
captive here had just broken free of
captive here had just broken free of being a bondage for many years and this
being a bondage for many years and this
being a bondage for many years and this disciplinary giant my father will no
disciplinary giant my father will no
disciplinary giant my father will no longer be around and tell me what to do
longer be around and tell me what to do
longer be around and tell me what to do or tell me how to live my life at that
or tell me how to live my life at that
or tell me how to live my life at that point I felt like a rebel with a cause
point I felt like a rebel with a cause
point I felt like a rebel with a cause my in-crowd became my new family my new
my in-crowd became my new family my new
my in-crowd became my new family my new familia and because of my young selfish
familia and because of my young selfish
familia and because of my young selfish ambitions I abandon my responsive
ambitions I abandon my responsive
ambitions I abandon my responsive these two my real family to my real
these two my real family to my real
these two my real family to my real familiar as the eldest brother I wasn’t
familiar as the eldest brother I wasn’t
familiar as the eldest brother I wasn’t even there for my younger siblings my
even there for my younger siblings my
even there for my younger siblings my brothers my sister like I was fostered
brothers my sister like I was fostered
brothers my sister like I was fostered in addition I didn’t forgot how to be a
in addition I didn’t forgot how to be a
in addition I didn’t forgot how to be a son a son to my own mother
son a son to my own mother
son a son to my own mother over the years after my past passing my
over the years after my past passing my
over the years after my past passing my views became more radical I felt like
views became more radical I felt like
views became more radical I felt like why should I show or give any type of
why should I show or give any type of
why should I show or give any type of respect to the law of the land or
respect to the law of the land or
respect to the law of the land or society as a whole
society as a whole
society as a whole since I felt they were structured around
since I felt they were structured around
since I felt they were structured around racism and corruption anyways I thought
racism and corruption anyways I thought
racism and corruption anyways I thought it was the same social norms that
it was the same social norms that
it was the same social norms that disrupted my family in the first place
disrupted my family in the first place
disrupted my family in the first place so through my eyes through my perception
so through my eyes through my perception
so through my eyes through my perception I felt it was only right hell at the
I felt it was only right hell at the
I felt it was only right hell at the time I even felt justified to give right
time I even felt justified to give right
time I even felt justified to give right back to society the same social disorder
back to society the same social disorder
back to society the same social disorder that disrupted my family my incra my
that disrupted my family my incra my
that disrupted my family my incra my hair slicked back wearing these big
hair slicked back wearing these big
hair slicked back wearing these big white t-shirts these big baggy pants
white t-shirts these big baggy pants
white t-shirts these big baggy pants having steel toe boots
having steel toe boots
having steel toe boots these were my symbols to this rebellion
these were my symbols to this rebellion
these were my symbols to this rebellion the halo effect
the halo effect
the halo effect now come on the prison is what you could
now come on the prison is what you could
now come on the prison is what you could call a very very powerful Great
call a very very powerful Great
call a very very powerful Great Awakening for me because I realized that
Awakening for me because I realized that
Awakening for me because I realized that my views and my perception of the world
my views and my perception of the world
my views and my perception of the world needed a whole new outlook on life this
needed a whole new outlook on life this
needed a whole new outlook on life this was the beginning to the deconstruction
was the beginning to the deconstruction
was the beginning to the deconstruction of my halo effect for the last 17 years
of my halo effect for the last 17 years
of my halo effect for the last 17 years I’ve been on this journey searching for
I’ve been on this journey searching for
I’ve been on this journey searching for all the right answers to start a new
all the right answers to start a new
all the right answers to start a new beginning and nothing was more
beginning and nothing was more
beginning and nothing was more fulfilling for me they gave me more
fulfilling for me they gave me more
fulfilling for me they gave me more insight to myself and to society as a
insight to myself and to society as a
insight to myself and to society as a whole and embracing the both then
whole and embracing the both then
whole and embracing the both then receiving an education and earning for a
receiving an education and earning for a
receiving an education and earning for a degrees and I remember when I decided to
degrees and I remember when I decided to
degrees and I remember when I decided to embark on this journey I signed up for
embark on this journey I signed up for
embark on this journey I signed up for college at first I just want to see if I
college at first I just want to see if I
college at first I just want to see if I had the potential and passing a college
had the potential and passing a college
had the potential and passing a college class and at the same time I wanted to
class and at the same time I wanted to
class and at the same time I wanted to prove my dad’s theory wrong that when he
prove my dad’s theory wrong that when he
prove my dad’s theory wrong that when he said I couldn’t accomplish nothing in
said I couldn’t accomplish nothing in
said I couldn’t accomplish nothing in life so the two first classes I decided
life so the two first classes I decided
life so the two first classes I decided to sign up for was biology and business
to sign up for was biology and business
to sign up for was biology and business marketing and little did I know what I
marketing and little did I know what I
marketing and little did I know what I was getting myself involved because
was getting myself involved because
was getting myself involved because these were pretty tough classes to take
these were pretty tough classes to take
these were pretty tough classes to take during an eight-week summer session
during an eight-week summer session
during an eight-week summer session right so even though I barely passed
right so even though I barely passed
right so even though I barely passed these classes with the see this still
these classes with the see this still
these classes with the see this still gave me enough
gave me enough
gave me enough confidence inside me to believe in
confidence inside me to believe in
confidence inside me to believe in myself this was the first solid
myself this was the first solid
myself this was the first solid foundation for the first time in my life
foundation for the first time in my life
foundation for the first time in my life I actually had something solid to stand
I actually had something solid to stand
I actually had something solid to stand on education was my key to unlocking
on education was my key to unlocking
on education was my key to unlocking this new dream for me so where do we go
this new dream for me so where do we go
this new dream for me so where do we go from here let us look beyond the veil of
from here let us look beyond the veil of
from here let us look beyond the veil of this halo effect and let us look within
this halo effect and let us look within
this halo effect and let us look within these clouds to see the real person for
these clouds to see the real person for
these clouds to see the real person for who she is or for who he is as opposed
who she is or for who he is as opposed
who she is or for who he is as opposed to defining each other as labels
to defining each other as labels
to defining each other as labels misperceptions or stereotypes because
misperceptions or stereotypes because
misperceptions or stereotypes because only then will we possess the
only then will we possess the
only then will we possess the possibility the possibility to see each
possibility the possibility to see each
possibility the possibility to see each other as her own brothers as her own
other as her own brothers as her own
other as her own brothers as her own sisters breathing from the same
sisters breathing from the same
sisters breathing from the same bloodline because in reality we are each
bloodline because in reality we are each
bloodline because in reality we are each and every one of us here today belong to
and every one of us here today belong to
and every one of us here today belong to the same family called humanity so I
the same family called humanity so I
the same family called humanity so I leave you with this one quote by Mahatma
leave you with this one quote by Mahatma
leave you with this one quote by Mahatma Gandhi that says be the change you would
Gandhi that says be the change you would
Gandhi that says be the change you would like to see in the world and with that
like to see in the world and with that
like to see in the world and with that we may go beyond the surface to make a
we may go beyond the surface to make a
we may go beyond the surface to make a difference thank you
difference thank you
difference thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment