[Applause] when I was 13 years old I exchanged
when I was 13 years old I exchanged
when I was 13 years old I exchanged South America for our nation’s capital
South America for our nation’s capital
South America for our nation’s capital as my new home my mother enrolled me in
as my new home my mother enrolled me in
as my new home my mother enrolled me in school and just like that I became part
school and just like that I became part
school and just like that I became part of this new world I absolutely adore I
of this new world I absolutely adore I
of this new world I absolutely adore I was still learning English and my accent
was still learning English and my accent
was still learning English and my accent made me shy I couldn’t really express
made me shy I couldn’t really express
made me shy I couldn’t really express myself much but I noticed a few things a
myself much but I noticed a few things a
myself much but I noticed a few things a few things that seemed bizarre boys
few things that seemed bizarre boys
few things that seemed bizarre boys would fight and call themselves names
would fight and call themselves names
would fight and call themselves names names I didn’t understand and girls
names I didn’t understand and girls
names I didn’t understand and girls would fight and call themselves names
would fight and call themselves names
would fight and call themselves names names I didn’t understand but soon my
names I didn’t understand but soon my
names I didn’t understand but soon my vocabulary expanded as I learned that
vocabulary expanded as I learned that
vocabulary expanded as I learned that the Robert Horry term for each race and
the Robert Horry term for each race and
the Robert Horry term for each race and my 13 year old brain can capture why
my 13 year old brain can capture why
my 13 year old brain can capture why skin color was part of the fight because
skin color was part of the fight because
skin color was part of the fight because I didn’t come from a place where I
I didn’t come from a place where I
I didn’t come from a place where I noticed race causing fists to fly but
noticed race causing fists to fly but
noticed race causing fists to fly but here I became acutely aware that the
here I became acutely aware that the
here I became acutely aware that the color of my skin was brown here I became
color of my skin was brown here I became
color of my skin was brown here I became acutely aware that some people didn’t
acutely aware that some people didn’t
acutely aware that some people didn’t like me because of that and it seems so
like me because of that and it seems so
like me because of that and it seems so ridiculous in my childhood mind that
ridiculous in my childhood mind that
ridiculous in my childhood mind that something so beautiful unchangeable and
something so beautiful unchangeable and
something so beautiful unchangeable and innate to my creation would be cause for
innate to my creation would be cause for
innate to my creation would be cause for abomination it seems so strange so
abomination it seems so strange so
abomination it seems so strange so strange almost like a game but
strange almost like a game but
strange almost like a game but inevitably I started to notice the veil
inevitably I started to notice the veil
inevitably I started to notice the veil had been lifted and dice had been
had been lifted and dice had been
had been lifted and dice had been inducted racism was the battlefield and
inducted racism was the battlefield and
inducted racism was the battlefield and skin color the catalyst so I hung out
skin color the catalyst so I hung out
skin color the catalyst so I hung out with Latino kids because I felt
with Latino kids because I felt
with Latino kids because I felt protected and thus began my American
protected and thus began my American
protected and thus began my American education with the experience of self
education with the experience of self
education with the experience of self separation and modern segregation
separation and modern segregation
separation and modern segregation fast-forward to today and then my
fast-forward to today and then my
fast-forward to today and then my experience we still segregate assert
experience we still segregate assert
experience we still segregate assert with myself Hispanics in the u.s. we
with myself Hispanics in the u.s. we
with myself Hispanics in the u.s. we have a sort of understanding a sort of
have a sort of understanding a sort of
have a sort of understanding a sort of Latin pack
Latin pack
Latin pack because of the language commonality and
because of the language commonality and
because of the language commonality and because of the experiences we’ve had in
because of the experiences we’ve had in
because of the experiences we’ve had in this land but it used to be such a
this land but it used to be such a
this land but it used to be such a hypocrite to this Latin pact because
hypocrite to this Latin pact because
hypocrite to this Latin pact because even though I have Mexican friends I
even though I have Mexican friends I
even though I have Mexican friends I could get so offended when someone
could get so offended when someone
could get so offended when someone called me Mexican when I’m not but
called me Mexican when I’m not but
called me Mexican when I’m not but instead of simply correcting and
instead of simply correcting and
instead of simply correcting and educating I’d get outside my skin to
educating I’d get outside my skin to
educating I’d get outside my skin to make sure just so sure people knew I was
make sure just so sure people knew I was
make sure just so sure people knew I was not Mexican why I helped create a sub
not Mexican why I helped create a sub
not Mexican why I helped create a sub separation in my culture which is
separation in my culture which is
separation in my culture which is already marginalized here so I think a
already marginalized here so I think a
already marginalized here so I think a really honest with myself to figure out
really honest with myself to figure out
really honest with myself to figure out that I was demeaning a nation to make my
that I was demeaning a nation to make my
that I was demeaning a nation to make my immigration situation seem better but in
immigration situation seem better but in
immigration situation seem better but in getting honest and really uncomfortable
getting honest and really uncomfortable
getting honest and really uncomfortable with myself I was able to move away from
with myself I was able to move away from
with myself I was able to move away from that space because that was not okay and
that space because that was not okay and
that space because that was not okay and I wish others would go within to figure
I wish others would go within to figure
I wish others would go within to figure out their pain because my cab driver was
out their pain because my cab driver was
out their pain because my cab driver was so proud so proud to be of white
so proud so proud to be of white
so proud so proud to be of white European descent fantastic man but in
European descent fantastic man but in
European descent fantastic man but in the same breath he said stuff and he
the same breath he said stuff and he
the same breath he said stuff and he damned our current immigration despair
damned our current immigration despair
damned our current immigration despair you may not remember my friend but
you may not remember my friend but
you may not remember my friend but someone in your family came here from
someone in your family came here from
someone in your family came here from somewhere else and now you’re
somewhere else and now you’re
somewhere else and now you’re complaining about immigration today when
complaining about immigration today when
complaining about immigration today when one of your white European ancestors
one of your white European ancestors
one of your white European ancestors came here on a boat crossing the sea to
came here on a boat crossing the sea to
came here on a boat crossing the sea to Ellis Island seeking the light of Lady
Ellis Island seeking the light of Lady
Ellis Island seeking the light of Lady Liberty trying to experience freedom
Liberty trying to experience freedom
Liberty trying to experience freedom just like the rest of us but now you
just like the rest of us but now you
just like the rest of us but now you forgotten your immigrant roots and
forgotten your immigrant roots and
forgotten your immigrant roots and somehow this allows you to feel superior
somehow this allows you to feel superior
somehow this allows you to feel superior to other immigrant groups when you two
to other immigrant groups when you two
to other immigrant groups when you two came crashing down on this land that
came crashing down on this land that
came crashing down on this land that belonged to our noble people before any
belonged to our noble people before any
belonged to our noble people before any of us so you are an immigrant too
of us so you are an immigrant too
of us so you are an immigrant too the proof is your white skin cab driver
the proof is your white skin cab driver
the proof is your white skin cab driver please go within and figure out why you
please go within and figure out why you
please go within and figure out why you are so angry I immigrated here in
are so angry I immigrated here in
are so angry I immigrated here in contrast I was having a conversation
contrast I was having a conversation
contrast I was having a conversation with a white Caucasian woman who kept
with a white Caucasian woman who kept
with a white Caucasian woman who kept whispering every time she said the word
whispering every time she said the word
whispering every time she said the word black she was frightened and 2pc
black she was frightened and 2pc
black she was frightened and 2pc reluctant to say the wrong thing but
reluctant to say the wrong thing but
reluctant to say the wrong thing but what has he been uncomfortable and
what has he been uncomfortable and
what has he been uncomfortable and learned to talk about race because the
learned to talk about race because the
learned to talk about race because the silence reluctance and inaction just
silence reluctance and inaction just
silence reluctance and inaction just isn’t helping out today and I’ll never
isn’t helping out today and I’ll never
isn’t helping out today and I’ll never pretend to know the exact struggle and
pretend to know the exact struggle and
pretend to know the exact struggle and pain of black America so for you I have
pain of black America so for you I have
pain of black America so for you I have but one request for the future of today
but one request for the future of today
but one request for the future of today I hear the n-word and certain songs as
I hear the n-word and certain songs as
I hear the n-word and certain songs as normal as putting butter on toast and I
normal as putting butter on toast and I
normal as putting butter on toast and I used to get so offended for you when
used to get so offended for you when
used to get so offended for you when someone who wasn’t black saying along
someone who wasn’t black saying along
someone who wasn’t black saying along but now I realized this word it’s a
but now I realized this word it’s a
but now I realized this word it’s a double standard of separation in our
double standard of separation in our
double standard of separation in our nation today because I know I’m not
nation today because I know I’m not
nation today because I know I’m not supposed to say it but most importantly
supposed to say it but most importantly
supposed to say it but most importantly teach kids not to say it yet I’m hearing
teach kids not to say it yet I’m hearing
teach kids not to say it yet I’m hearing it a bunch and from your mouth and this
it a bunch and from your mouth and this
it a bunch and from your mouth and this sense mixed messages about a word that
sense mixed messages about a word that
sense mixed messages about a word that it’s unkind so what if we stop saying it
it’s unkind so what if we stop saying it
it’s unkind so what if we stop saying it altogether what would it look like to
altogether what would it look like to
altogether what would it look like to try and stop the perpetuation of this
try and stop the perpetuation of this
try and stop the perpetuation of this historically heart-wrenching word I’ll
historically heart-wrenching word I’ll
historically heart-wrenching word I’ll follow your lead show me how because I’m
follow your lead show me how because I’m
follow your lead show me how because I’m telling you what I don’t see how this
telling you what I don’t see how this
telling you what I don’t see how this word is helping our divide but I think
word is helping our divide but I think
word is helping our divide but I think we all took it too far
we all took it too far
we all took it too far we separated into her own little world
we separated into her own little world
we separated into her own little world creating impressions of another race
creating impressions of another race
creating impressions of another race preconceived notions of what once
preconceived notions of what once
preconceived notions of what once someone told you history media or even
someone told you history media or even
someone told you history media or even experience and today we have a very
experience and today we have a very
experience and today we have a very culturally divided non United States and
culturally divided non United States and
culturally divided non United States and if you don’t think you’re part of this
if you don’t think you’re part of this
if you don’t think you’re part of this divide ask yourself
divide ask yourself
divide ask yourself how do you feel about other races or
how do you feel about other races or
how do you feel about other races or different religions or about those who
different religions or about those who
different religions or about those who identify as part of the LGBTQ skill and
identify as part of the LGBTQ skill and
identify as part of the LGBTQ skill and let’s not even get into the negative
let’s not even get into the negative
let’s not even get into the negative separations of women and men or our
separations of women and men or our
separations of women and men or our political identities splattered all over
political identities splattered all over
political identities splattered all over the internet because the truth is for as
the internet because the truth is for as
the internet because the truth is for as long as everyone in this room has been
long as everyone in this room has been
long as everyone in this room has been alive we have been experiencing some
alive we have been experiencing some
alive we have been experiencing some kind of divide we’ve fought so hard for
kind of divide we’ve fought so hard for
kind of divide we’ve fought so hard for equality in this segregation and today
equality in this segregation and today
equality in this segregation and today we step on them without hesitation we
we step on them without hesitation we
we step on them without hesitation we are afraid of one another and out of
are afraid of one another and out of
are afraid of one another and out of that fear has grown this Dehner we
that fear has grown this Dehner we
that fear has grown this Dehner we really surprised that what’s happening
really surprised that what’s happening
really surprised that what’s happening today because I’m gonna ask that we
today because I’m gonna ask that we
today because I’m gonna ask that we understand that the state of our nation
understand that the state of our nation
understand that the state of our nation isn’t just a statistic from the recent
isn’t just a statistic from the recent
isn’t just a statistic from the recent times know we have been dividing for a
times know we have been dividing for a
times know we have been dividing for a long time so be honest with yourself do
long time so be honest with yourself do
long time so be honest with yourself do you have a little slice of this body
because it is we who have helped create
because it is we who have helped create this we take steps forward yes but make
this we take steps forward yes but make
this we take steps forward yes but make no mistake going backwards still in our
no mistake going backwards still in our
no mistake going backwards still in our DNA and I have had enough haven’t you
DNA and I have had enough haven’t you
DNA and I have had enough haven’t you it’s time to reunite and create
it’s time to reunite and create
it’s time to reunite and create something new come out of your cocoon
something new come out of your cocoon
something new come out of your cocoon and research what social media says
and research what social media says
and research what social media says prove it for yourself and don’t
prove it for yourself and don’t
prove it for yourself and don’t sensationalize just because you can why
sensationalize just because you can why
sensationalize just because you can why are we letting fear propel when it can
are we letting fear propel when it can
are we letting fear propel when it can get the best of us can’t we keep our
get the best of us can’t we keep our
get the best of us can’t we keep our First Amendment intact and respect our
First Amendment intact and respect our
First Amendment intact and respect our beautiful differences and preferences as
beautiful differences and preferences as
beautiful differences and preferences as well and I’m not saying that I hang out
well and I’m not saying that I hang out
well and I’m not saying that I hang out with your own let’s just not disconnect
with your own let’s just not disconnect
with your own let’s just not disconnect to the point of exclusion anymore unite
to the point of exclusion anymore unite
to the point of exclusion anymore unite let’s unite we
let’s unite we
let’s unite we choose love yes I am brown I am an
choose love yes I am brown I am an
choose love yes I am brown I am an immigrant I am a woman who loves women
immigrant I am a woman who loves women
immigrant I am a woman who loves women but I am
but I am
but I am first of all human human and we all
first of all human human and we all
first of all human human and we all bleed the same can we look at that first
bleed the same can we look at that first
bleed the same can we look at that first if we like compassion take hold instead
if we like compassion take hold instead
if we like compassion take hold instead we would find the true essence of
we would find the true essence of
we would find the true essence of ourselves because deeply we are one one
ourselves because deeply we are one one
ourselves because deeply we are one one human race look look into my eyes and
human race look look into my eyes and
human race look look into my eyes and see my soul and realize that in that
see my soul and realize that in that
see my soul and realize that in that belief you and I are the same the same
ask me questions hold my hand and please
ask me questions hold my hand and please see me as your soul friend instead of us
see me as your soul friend instead of us
see me as your soul friend instead of us someone you should hate and if you’ve
someone you should hate and if you’ve
someone you should hate and if you’ve ever been offended in any way you have
ever been offended in any way you have
ever been offended in any way you have nothing to prove by attacking back be
nothing to prove by attacking back be
nothing to prove by attacking back be calm and this is hard I know be calm and
calm and this is hard I know be calm and
calm and this is hard I know be calm and show the elegance and the intelligence
show the elegance and the intelligence
show the elegance and the intelligence of our human mind you’ve heard this
of our human mind you’ve heard this
of our human mind you’ve heard this before but don’t just let it roll off
before but don’t just let it roll off
before but don’t just let it roll off now help me help me raise the
now help me help me raise the
now help me help me raise the consciousness of our world because we
consciousness of our world because we
consciousness of our world because we need to keep each other and our stories
need to keep each other and our stories
need to keep each other and our stories in mind to not allow this segment to
in mind to not allow this segment to
in mind to not allow this segment to settle in our hearts let’s be kind to
settle in our hearts let’s be kind to
settle in our hearts let’s be kind to those we don’t know and what if we’re
those we don’t know and what if we’re
those we don’t know and what if we’re not so afraid of the unknown what would
not so afraid of the unknown what would
not so afraid of the unknown what would happen if we don’t use words that hurt
happen if we don’t use words that hurt
happen if we don’t use words that hurt us anymore and what if we were willing
us anymore and what if we were willing
us anymore and what if we were willing to relearn what we think we know yes I
to relearn what we think we know yes I
to relearn what we think we know yes I know I cannot get back to my 13 year old
know I cannot get back to my 13 year old
know I cannot get back to my 13 year old mind but we are better than this
mind but we are better than this
mind but we are better than this much better I’m recognizing where we
much better I’m recognizing where we
much better I’m recognizing where we actually are
instead of where we one day hope to be
instead of where we one day hope to be it’s a good first baby step so let’s
it’s a good first baby step so let’s
it’s a good first baby step so let’s work on ourselves starting inside
work on ourselves starting inside
work on ourselves starting inside one-by-one dissolve the lines and maybe
one-by-one dissolve the lines and maybe
one-by-one dissolve the lines and maybe one day when they just around the corner
one day when they just around the corner
one day when they just around the corner my heart won’t be so broken and we will
my heart won’t be so broken and we will
my heart won’t be so broken and we will say we the people and really mean it
say we the people and really mean it
say we the people and really mean it for all of us this time
”
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