[Music] [Applause]
several years ago I had a student named
several years ago I had a student named David one day he was in my room not
David one day he was in my room not
David one day he was in my room not during class just talking and he asked
during class just talking and he asked
during class just talking and he asked me he said once dead do you ever say the
me he said once dead do you ever say the
me he said once dead do you ever say the n-word now I want to be clear David is
n-word now I want to be clear David is
n-word now I want to be clear David is black and he actually said the n-word
black and he actually said the n-word
black and he actually said the n-word which I didn’t and I won’t but I want
which I didn’t and I won’t but I want
which I didn’t and I won’t but I want you to have a picture of the scene
you to have a picture of the scene
you to have a picture of the scene I shoot back indignant what David why
I shoot back indignant what David why
I shoot back indignant what David why would you ask me that no but he won’t
would you ask me that no but he won’t
would you ask me that no but he won’t let up he keeps at me and I’m getting
let up he keeps at me and I’m getting
let up he keeps at me and I’m getting more and more upset and so he switches
more and more upset and so he switches
more and more upset and so he switches tactics I have a soft spot for Kanye
tactics I have a soft spot for Kanye
tactics I have a soft spot for Kanye West and those first couple of albums
West and those first couple of albums
West and those first couple of albums and David knows this so he says all
and David knows this so he says all
and David knows this so he says all right war instead let’s say you in your
right war instead let’s say you in your
right war instead let’s say you in your car driving around all alone the windows
car driving around all alone the windows
car driving around all alone the windows are up and you rapping along with Kanye
are up and you rapping along with Kanye
are up and you rapping along with Kanye what you gonna do
I’m really uncomfortable here my face is
I’m really uncomfortable here my face is getting red my ears are getting pink I
getting red my ears are getting pink I
getting red my ears are getting pink I just said no way David I just skipped
just said no way David I just skipped
just said no way David I just skipped those lyrics which is most of the song
those lyrics which is most of the song
those lyrics which is most of the song sometimes if it sounds ridiculous it was
sometimes if it sounds ridiculous it was
sometimes if it sounds ridiculous it was anything but David was testing me he
anything but David was testing me he
anything but David was testing me he wanted to know if I was trustworthy he
wanted to know if I was trustworthy he
wanted to know if I was trustworthy he respected me enough to learn math but he
respected me enough to learn math but he
respected me enough to learn math but he wanted to know more about me as a person
wanted to know more about me as a person
wanted to know more about me as a person not as a teacher I get that you might be
not as a teacher I get that you might be
not as a teacher I get that you might be feeling the same way right now am I
feeling the same way right now am I
feeling the same way right now am I gonna trust this guy
gonna trust this guy
gonna trust this guy I’ll get that – my name is Jo Armstead
I’ll get that – my name is Jo Armstead
I’ll get that – my name is Jo Armstead I’ve been teaching math here I’m about
I’ve been teaching math here I’m about
I’ve been teaching math here I’m about to enter my 13th year I spent all day
to enter my 13th year I spent all day
to enter my 13th year I spent all day around young people I spend my time here
around young people I spend my time here
around young people I spend my time here teaching and then I go home and I take
teaching and then I go home and I take
teaching and then I go home and I take care of my four small children I love
care of my four small children I love
care of my four small children I love both these jobs being a teacher and a
both these jobs being a teacher and a
both these jobs being a teacher and a parent it’s mostly the same thing you’re
parent it’s mostly the same thing you’re
parent it’s mostly the same thing you’re mostly trying to convince somebody to
mostly trying to convince somebody to
mostly trying to convince somebody to see things your way and that personally
see things your way and that personally
see things your way and that personally that person mostly ignores you there’s
that person mostly ignores you there’s
that person mostly ignores you there’s one big difference for me here here at
one big difference for me here here at
one big difference for me here here at Mae’s almost all of my students are
Mae’s almost all of my students are
Mae’s almost all of my students are black I have a few Hispanic students but
black I have a few Hispanic students but
black I have a few Hispanic students but something like 97% of our student body
something like 97% of our student body
something like 97% of our student body is black but when I go home my children
is black but when I go home my children
is black but when I go home my children like me and my wife they’re white
like me and my wife they’re white
like me and my wife they’re white thinking about a quantum leap I want to
thinking about a quantum leap I want to
thinking about a quantum leap I want to see for the future that’s easy it’s a
see for the future that’s easy it’s a
see for the future that’s easy it’s a change I think about almost every day I
change I think about almost every day I
change I think about almost every day I want to see a world where one of my
want to see a world where one of my
want to see a world where one of my students could run into one of my
students could run into one of my
students could run into one of my children out there in the streets of
children out there in the streets of
children out there in the streets of Atlanta absent of this disease we call
Atlanta absent of this disease we call
Atlanta absent of this disease we call racism a world where a younger black man
racism a world where a younger black man
racism a world where a younger black man wouldn’t have to ask an older white guy
wouldn’t have to ask an older white guy
wouldn’t have to ask an older white guy about the n-word a world where the color
about the n-word a world where the color
about the n-word a world where the color of our skin would play no part in our
of our skin would play no part in our
of our skin would play no part in our ability to trust one another
ability to trust one another
ability to trust one another it’s ambitious I know maybe I should
it’s ambitious I know maybe I should
it’s ambitious I know maybe I should have shot lower but you know what they
have shot lower but you know what they
have shot lower but you know what they say about the best way to eat an
say about the best way to eat an
say about the best way to eat an elephant you take it one bite at a time
elephant you take it one bite at a time
elephant you take it one bite at a time let’s take a bite out of racism right
let’s take a bite out of racism right
let’s take a bite out of racism right here sure it’s a big thing it’s a huge
here sure it’s a big thing it’s a huge
here sure it’s a big thing it’s a huge thing and we got 10 minutes but the
thing and we got 10 minutes but the
thing and we got 10 minutes but the elephant isn’t going anywhere until we
elephant isn’t going anywhere until we
elephant isn’t going anywhere until we start to eat it why not now part two a
start to eat it why not now part two a
start to eat it why not now part two a little bit of background I heard on a
little bit of background I heard on a
little bit of background I heard on a podcast the other day that we don’t have
podcast the other day that we don’t have
podcast the other day that we don’t have a race problem in America we have a
a race problem in America we have a
a race problem in America we have a racism problem race differences in skin
racism problem race differences in skin
racism problem race differences in skin tone and body features that’s not
tone and body features that’s not
tone and body features that’s not problem racism though the belief that
problem racism though the belief that
problem racism though the belief that some of those skins are inherently
some of those skins are inherently
some of those skins are inherently better than others that’s the problem
better than others that’s the problem
better than others that’s the problem and it’s a problem that’s led
and it’s a problem that’s led
and it’s a problem that’s led historically and still leads presently
historically and still leads presently
historically and still leads presently to so much pain so much suffering so
to so much pain so much suffering so
to so much pain so much suffering so much inequity it seems like an
much inequity it seems like an
much inequity it seems like an impossible problem but there’s good news
impossible problem but there’s good news
impossible problem but there’s good news here we’re not trying to fix race we’re
here we’re not trying to fix race we’re
here we’re not trying to fix race we’re not trying to wipe away the differences
not trying to wipe away the differences
not trying to wipe away the differences that make us so interesting and diverse
that make us so interesting and diverse
that make us so interesting and diverse rather we’re trying to fix the prejudice
rather we’re trying to fix the prejudice
rather we’re trying to fix the prejudice the hatred the fear that some people
the hatred the fear that some people
the hatred the fear that some people feel when they see those differences
feel when they see those differences
feel when they see those differences race is a part of who we are there’s an
race is a part of who we are there’s an
race is a part of who we are there’s an education writer her name is Lisa Delpit
education writer her name is Lisa Delpit
education writer her name is Lisa Delpit she says if you don’t see color then you
she says if you don’t see color then you
she says if you don’t see color then you don’t see people we’re not trying to
don’t see people we’re not trying to
don’t see people we’re not trying to wash race away we’re just trying to
wash race away we’re just trying to
wash race away we’re just trying to teach people how not to be afraid of
teach people how not to be afraid of
teach people how not to be afraid of somebody that’s different
somebody that’s different
somebody that’s different in 2008 like a lot of white people I
in 2008 like a lot of white people I
in 2008 like a lot of white people I thought that America had taken its last
thought that America had taken its last
thought that America had taken its last step towards ending the racism that has
step towards ending the racism that has
step towards ending the racism that has haunted our shores
haunted our shores
haunted our shores since that day over 500 years ago when
since that day over 500 years ago when
since that day over 500 years ago when the Europeans landed here and stole land
the Europeans landed here and stole land
the Europeans landed here and stole land from the native population Barack Obama
from the native population Barack Obama
from the native population Barack Obama became president and though I voted for
became president and though I voted for
became president and though I voted for him twice I’m omit to you right now I
him twice I’m omit to you right now I
him twice I’m omit to you right now I never thought he was gonna win I never
never thought he was gonna win I never
never thought he was gonna win I never thought so many white people could vote
thought so many white people could vote
thought so many white people could vote for a black man push him over the line
for a black man push him over the line
for a black man push him over the line to become the most powerful person in
to become the most powerful person in
to become the most powerful person in the world but when he did win school
the world but when he did win school
the world but when he did win school here was so good we didn’t do math we
here was so good we didn’t do math we
here was so good we didn’t do math we watched speeches we looked at electoral
watched speeches we looked at electoral
watched speeches we looked at electoral maps and we talked and we talked about
maps and we talked and we talked about
maps and we talked and we talked about how we all felt there’s a political
how we all felt there’s a political
how we all felt there’s a political cartoon from that day it is still on my
cartoon from that day it is still on my
cartoon from that day it is still on my wall it’s the Lincoln Memorial and
wall it’s the Lincoln Memorial and
wall it’s the Lincoln Memorial and Honest Abe is leaning out he’s got his
Honest Abe is leaning out he’s got his
Honest Abe is leaning out he’s got his fist down Obama’s on the ground weaning
fist down Obama’s on the ground weaning
fist down Obama’s on the ground weaning up their fist bumping they’re both
up their fist bumping they’re both
up their fist bumping they’re both smiling it felt like we had fixed
smiling it felt like we had fixed
smiling it felt like we had fixed something that day and you know what I
something that day and you know what I
something that day and you know what I mean something that Lincoln started all
mean something that Lincoln started all
mean something that Lincoln started all those years ago in 1863 something we
those years ago in 1863 something we
those years ago in 1863 something we were gonna see the end of in 2008 fist
were gonna see the end of in 2008 fist
were gonna see the end of in 2008 fist bumps the end of racism and then racism
bumps the end of racism and then racism
bumps the end of racism and then racism didn’t end which probably came as a
didn’t end which probably came as a
didn’t end which probably came as a surprise to exactly zero black people
some of the response to Obama in
some of the response to Obama in Washington that’s just politics
Washington that’s just politics
Washington that’s just politics yeah but the birthers the guys that
yeah but the birthers the guys that
yeah but the birthers the guys that refused to believe this black man was
refused to believe this black man was
refused to believe this black man was born in America made him produce to
born in America made him produce to
born in America made him produce to birth certificates and still didn’t
birth certificates and still didn’t
birth certificates and still didn’t believe him that’s not politics that’s
believe him that’s not politics that’s
believe him that’s not politics that’s racism
racism
racism and remember that congressmen shouting
and remember that congressmen shouting
and remember that congressmen shouting out you lie in the middle of a speech he
out you lie in the middle of a speech he
out you lie in the middle of a speech he shattered it twice
shattered it twice
shattered it twice can you imagine something like that
can you imagine something like that
can you imagine something like that happening to Bill Clinton or one of the
happening to Bill Clinton or one of the
happening to Bill Clinton or one of the bushes and then Trayvon Martin is killed
bushes and then Trayvon Martin is killed
bushes and then Trayvon Martin is killed and yeah his killer wasn’t white but the
and yeah his killer wasn’t white but the
and yeah his killer wasn’t white but the message was clear clear black people you
message was clear clear black people you
message was clear clear black people you better be careful and then Eric garner
better be careful and then Eric garner
better be careful and then Eric garner is killed for not being polite to a
is killed for not being polite to a
is killed for not being polite to a police officer he wasn’t careful Michael
police officer he wasn’t careful Michael
police officer he wasn’t careful Michael Brown wasn’t careful and it’s 12 year
Brown wasn’t careful and it’s 12 year
Brown wasn’t careful and it’s 12 year old Tamir rice is killed for carrying a
old Tamir rice is killed for carrying a
old Tamir rice is killed for carrying a pellet gun while being black Walter
pellet gun while being black Walter
pellet gun while being black Walter Scott Freddie gray Charleston and all
Scott Freddie gray Charleston and all
Scott Freddie gray Charleston and all along the way you have white people on
along the way you have white people on
along the way you have white people on TV saying this has nothing to do with
TV saying this has nothing to do with
TV saying this has nothing to do with race that it’s about this or that or the
race that it’s about this or that or the
race that it’s about this or that or the other but it’s not about race
other but it’s not about race
other but it’s not about race twelve-year-old Tamir rice would have
twelve-year-old Tamir rice would have
twelve-year-old Tamir rice would have been killed even if he was white it was
been killed even if he was white it was
been killed even if he was white it was just an accident Trayvon Eric Michael
just an accident Trayvon Eric Michael
just an accident Trayvon Eric Michael Walter Freddie they’re all accidents and
Walter Freddie they’re all accidents and
Walter Freddie they’re all accidents and then Donald Trump the most famous
then Donald Trump the most famous
then Donald Trump the most famous birther of all becomes president and it
birther of all becomes president and it
birther of all becomes president and it was official Barack Obama was not going
was official Barack Obama was not going
was official Barack Obama was not going to be able to heal our original sins of
to be able to heal our original sins of
to be able to heal our original sins of slavery and oppression racism hadn’t
slavery and oppression racism hadn’t
slavery and oppression racism hadn’t gone away system wasn’t going anywhere
gone away system wasn’t going anywhere
gone away system wasn’t going anywhere now we have white people in the streets
now we have white people in the streets
now we have white people in the streets marching carrying Confederate flags and
marching carrying Confederate flags and
marching carrying Confederate flags and Nazi banners chanting out they want to
Nazi banners chanting out they want to
Nazi banners chanting out they want to take our country back
take our country back
take our country back we have white people refusing to grant
we have white people refusing to grant
we have white people refusing to grant black athletes the right to peaceably
black athletes the right to peaceably
black athletes the right to peaceably protest telling them that they should
protest telling them that they should
protest telling them that they should just be grateful for all the money they
just be grateful for all the money they
just be grateful for all the money they make him be quiet white people would
make him be quiet white people would
make him be quiet white people would shear a black man on if he catches the
shear a black man on if he catches the
shear a black man on if he catches the ball on the right part of a field
ball on the right part of a field
ball on the right part of a field they’ll go crazy for him but they will
they’ll go crazy for him but they will
they’ll go crazy for him but they will tear him apart if he tries to take a
tear him apart if he tries to take a
tear him apart if he tries to take a knee use his power to protest the
knee use his power to protest the
knee use his power to protest the mistreatment of a child like Samir rice
mistreatment of a child like Samir rice
mistreatment of a child like Samir rice so here we are in the middle of all this
so here we are in the middle of all this
so here we are in the middle of all this anger the severe this hatred we’re not
anger the severe this hatred we’re not
anger the severe this hatred we’re not politicians or athletes
politicians or athletes
politicians or athletes we’re not white supremacists we’re just
we’re not white supremacists we’re just
we’re not white supremacists we’re just people regular people stuck in a world
people regular people stuck in a world
people regular people stuck in a world where racism hasn’t ended what do we do
part three in my classroom a couple of
part three in my classroom a couple of times a year I get called a racist by a
times a year I get called a racist by a
times a year I get called a racist by a student you got to remember I’m the only
student you got to remember I’m the only
student you got to remember I’m the only white person in my room every day all
white person in my room every day all
white person in my room every day all day surrounded by hundreds of black and
day surrounded by hundreds of black and
day surrounded by hundreds of black and brown faces so it probably makes sense
brown faces so it probably makes sense
brown faces so it probably makes sense to a student when he or she feels that
to a student when he or she feels that
to a student when he or she feels that I’m mistreating them to come back at me
I’m mistreating them to come back at me
I’m mistreating them to come back at me with something like that when they’re
with something like that when they’re
with something like that when they’re angry accused me of racism it used to be
angry accused me of racism it used to be
angry accused me of racism it used to be that I would play with it I would say
that I would play with it I would say
that I would play with it I would say something like you think I’d choose to
something like you think I’d choose to
something like you think I’d choose to be surrounded by black people because
be surrounded by black people because
be surrounded by black people because I’m racist you think I’ve come down here
I’m racist you think I’ve come down here
I’m racist you think I’ve come down here every day for 13 years like some kind of
every day for 13 years like some kind of
every day for 13 years like some kind of plot of the white man to take down the
plot of the white man to take down the
plot of the white man to take down the black man like I’m a spy and that’ll get
black man like I’m a spy and that’ll get
black man like I’m a spy and that’ll get a laugh and it would usually get a laugh
a laugh and it would usually get a laugh
a laugh and it would usually get a laugh from the student that came at me in the
from the student that came at me in the
from the student that came at me in the first place and for years that felt good
first place and for years that felt good
first place and for years that felt good enough but last year well things just
enough but last year well things just
enough but last year well things just felt tense and you know what I mean the
felt tense and you know what I mean the
felt tense and you know what I mean the election was just going on and on and it
election was just going on and on and it
election was just going on and on and it was coming up a couple of times a week
was coming up a couple of times a week
was coming up a couple of times a week and students kept asking me who I was
and students kept asking me who I was
and students kept asking me who I was going to vote for like it was a test of
going to vote for like it was a test of
going to vote for like it was a test of my ability to be their teacher like
my ability to be their teacher like
my ability to be their teacher like David and the n-word and no matter how
David and the n-word and no matter how
David and the n-word and no matter how many times I said Clinton they kept
many times I said Clinton they kept
many times I said Clinton they kept asking and so last year when a
asking and so last year when a
asking and so last year when a frustrated student finally accused me of
frustrated student finally accused me of
frustrated student finally accused me of racism
racism
racism I knew that making a joke was the wrong
I knew that making a joke was the wrong
I knew that making a joke was the wrong move Barack Obama was giving way to
move Barack Obama was giving way to
move Barack Obama was giving way to Donald Trump and something about my
Donald Trump and something about my
Donald Trump and something about my classroom had to change I’m never gonna
classroom had to change I’m never gonna
classroom had to change I’m never gonna forget the first person who called me a
forget the first person who called me a
forget the first person who called me a racist it was early in my career here in
racist it was early in my career here in
racist it was early in my career here in May is over ten years ago I was having
May is over ten years ago I was having
May is over ten years ago I was having so much trouble with a student I will
so much trouble with a student I will
so much trouble with a student I will call Sean Sean wasn’t doing classwork he
call Sean Sean wasn’t doing classwork he
call Sean Sean wasn’t doing classwork he wasn’t doing homework no kind of work he
wasn’t doing homework no kind of work he
wasn’t doing homework no kind of work he was just talking and playing and we kept
was just talking and playing and we kept
was just talking and playing and we kept lending heads and so finally one day
lending heads and so finally one day
lending heads and so finally one day when I had to ask him three or four
when I had to ask him three or four
when I had to ask him three or four times to take out his headphones and
times to take out his headphones and
times to take out his headphones and work with this group on their assignment
work with this group on their assignment
work with this group on their assignment as I was walking away muttered under his
as I was walking away muttered under his
as I was walking away muttered under his breath barely loud enough for me to hear
and I freaked out I didn’t know what to
and I freaked out I didn’t know what to do I wasn’t nearly a good enough teacher
do I wasn’t nearly a good enough teacher
do I wasn’t nearly a good enough teacher you had to handle something like this
you had to handle something like this
you had to handle something like this and so I blessed her and I sputtered and
and so I blessed her and I sputtered and
and so I blessed her and I sputtered and I kind of dinners stuttered and I said
I kind of dinners stuttered and I said
I kind of dinners stuttered and I said that’s it we’re gonna go see the
that’s it we’re gonna go see the
that’s it we’re gonna go see the principal
right looking back it’s a ridiculous
right looking back it’s a ridiculous thing to take a child to the principal
thing to take a child to the principal
thing to take a child to the principal for I can only imagine Sean now
for I can only imagine Sean now
for I can only imagine Sean now following me down the hodges laughing
following me down the hodges laughing
following me down the hodges laughing how much trouble was he going to get
how much trouble was he going to get
how much trouble was he going to get into none he didn’t do anything wrong
into none he didn’t do anything wrong
into none he didn’t do anything wrong he was wrong of course I do like black
he was wrong of course I do like black
he was wrong of course I do like black people and he did get smart with me but
people and he did get smart with me but
people and he did get smart with me but I should have been able to handle that
I should have been able to handle that
I should have been able to handle that on my own the accusation of racism
on my own the accusation of racism
on my own the accusation of racism though just pushed all these buttons and
though just pushed all these buttons and
though just pushed all these buttons and I flipped out so I got him downstairs to
I flipped out so I got him downstairs to
I flipped out so I got him downstairs to the principal I explained the situation
the principal I explained the situation
the principal I explained the situation and he kept Shawn for me for the rest of
and he kept Shawn for me for the rest of
and he kept Shawn for me for the rest of class I can just imagine him to watching
class I can just imagine him to watching
class I can just imagine him to watching me as I walked out the door thinking to
me as I walked out the door thinking to
me as I walked out the door thinking to himself really why I’m stead for what
himself really why I’m stead for what
himself really why I’m stead for what because Shawn doesn’t trust you I never
because Shawn doesn’t trust you I never
because Shawn doesn’t trust you I never did figure out how to teach Shawn I know
did figure out how to teach Shawn I know
did figure out how to teach Shawn I know I lost a lot of respect that day I know
I lost a lot of respect that day I know
I lost a lot of respect that day I know I should have said something like Shawn
I should have said something like Shawn
I should have said something like Shawn I like black people plenty you driving
I like black people plenty you driving
I like black people plenty you driving me crazy but that’s got nothing to do
me crazy but that’s got nothing to do
me crazy but that’s got nothing to do with the color of your skin
with the color of your skin
with the color of your skin now it’s time to do some math let’s get
now it’s time to do some math let’s get
now it’s time to do some math let’s get down to business I didn’t say that
down to business I didn’t say that
down to business I didn’t say that I pawned off my responsibility lost a
I pawned off my responsibility lost a
I pawned off my responsibility lost a chance to earn Shawn’s trust
chance to earn Shawn’s trust
chance to earn Shawn’s trust we never did figure out how to get along
we never did figure out how to get along
we never did figure out how to get along and then years later I was thinking
and then years later I was thinking
and then years later I was thinking about this story and I googled his name
about this story and I googled his name
about this story and I googled his name and I saw a mugshot looking back at me
and I saw a mugshot looking back at me
and I saw a mugshot looking back at me and then it wasn’t just about my story
and then it wasn’t just about my story
and then it wasn’t just about my story my story of a bad year with a student it
my story of a bad year with a student it
my story of a bad year with a student it was about his story and the part I
was about his story and the part I
was about his story and the part I played in school having failed him and
played in school having failed him and
played in school having failed him and had to stop myself from breaking down
had to stop myself from breaking down
had to stop myself from breaking down and crying right there in the middle of
and crying right there in the middle of
and crying right there in the middle of third period surrounded by students did
third period surrounded by students did
third period surrounded by students did I put Shawn in jail no but did I do my
I put Shawn in jail no but did I do my
I put Shawn in jail no but did I do my best my very best to help him stay out
best my very best to help him stay out
best my very best to help him stay out also know that has a burden I have
also know that has a burden I have
also know that has a burden I have carried with me every day then last year
carried with me every day then last year
carried with me every day then last year when the election was pushing me towards
when the election was pushing me towards
when the election was pushing me towards a moral honest way to engage with these
a moral honest way to engage with these
a moral honest way to engage with these conversations a girl was leaving my room
conversations a girl was leaving my room
conversations a girl was leaving my room was that in the class she was the last
was that in the class she was the last
was that in the class she was the last one out and she turned set over her
one out and she turned set over her
one out and she turned set over her shoulder offhandedly mr. warm stead
shoulder offhandedly mr. warm stead
shoulder offhandedly mr. warm stead you’re the first white person I ever
you’re the first white person I ever
you’re the first white person I ever trusted and at first I was like wow kind
trusted and at first I was like wow kind
trusted and at first I was like wow kind of world is this that we live in that a
of world is this that we live in that a
of world is this that we live in that a seventeen year old black girl can go her
seventeen year old black girl can go her
seventeen year old black girl can go her whole life I never trust a white person
whole life I never trust a white person
whole life I never trust a white person but you know the answer to that question
but you know the answer to that question
but you know the answer to that question this is a world that pops with race pops
this is a world that pops with race pops
this is a world that pops with race pops with racism it pops with an anger at our
with racism it pops with an anger at our
with racism it pops with an anger at our first black president that was
first black president that was
first black president that was unmistakably racist over half of my
unmistakably racist over half of my
unmistakably racist over half of my students life had been spent with this
students life had been spent with this
students life had been spent with this first black president in the public eye
first black president in the public eye
first black president in the public eye under attack for a little more than the
under attack for a little more than the
under attack for a little more than the color of his skin the color of her skin
color of his skin the color of her skin
color of his skin the color of her skin how is somebody that looks like me not
how is somebody that looks like me not
how is somebody that looks like me not supposed to appear untrustworthy to
supposed to appear untrustworthy to
supposed to appear untrustworthy to somebody that looks like her and blame
somebody that looks like her and blame
somebody that looks like her and blame her
her
her or Sean or David for not trusting me off
or Sean or David for not trusting me off
or Sean or David for not trusting me off the bat I get I consider it one of my
the bat I get I consider it one of my
the bat I get I consider it one of my finest accomplishments here at Mays to
finest accomplishments here at Mays to
finest accomplishments here at Mays to be the first white person that this girl
be the first white person that this girl
be the first white person that this girl ever trusted I was no longer the man
ever trusted I was no longer the man
ever trusted I was no longer the man that had failed Sean the strange magic
that had failed Sean the strange magic
that had failed Sean the strange magic of intentionality and experience in time
of intentionality and experience in time
of intentionality and experience in time it had changed me I was somebody worth
it had changed me I was somebody worth
it had changed me I was somebody worth trusting now this is too big a
trusting now this is too big a
trusting now this is too big a responsibility to go about making jokes
responsibility to go about making jokes
responsibility to go about making jokes about racism anymore this is too big a
about racism anymore this is too big a
about racism anymore this is too big a responsibility to do anything other than
responsibility to do anything other than
responsibility to do anything other than respond with difficult honesty when
respond with difficult honesty when
respond with difficult honesty when these hard questions happen yeah white
these hard questions happen yeah white
these hard questions happen yeah white people have a long horrible history of
people have a long horrible history of
people have a long horrible history of racism I’m sorry about that I’m sorry
racism I’m sorry about that I’m sorry
racism I’m sorry about that I’m sorry for what some of us did and what some of
for what some of us did and what some of
for what some of us did and what some of us still do tell me what I can do better
us still do tell me what I can do better
us still do tell me what I can do better because I want to be somebody worth
because I want to be somebody worth
because I want to be somebody worth trusting part for next steps David came
trusting part for next steps David came
trusting part for next steps David came back to my room later on in the year he
back to my room later on in the year he
back to my room later on in the year he was in my room every day for class but
was in my room every day for class but
was in my room every day for class but he came back one day before class he had
he came back one day before class he had
he came back one day before class he had a friend with him this time he said to
a friend with him this time he said to
a friend with him this time he said to me didn’t even say hello wants that hey
me didn’t even say hello wants that hey
me didn’t even say hello wants that hey let me use your deodorant
let me use your deodorant
let me use your deodorant I had deodorant I ride my bicycle to
I had deodorant I ride my bicycle to
I had deodorant I ride my bicycle to work and I keep a stick in my bag but
work and I keep a stick in my bag but
work and I keep a stick in my bag but that’s the word stick not spray I told
that’s the word stick not spray I told
that’s the word stick not spray I told him
him
him I told him David I don’t have any spray
I told him David I don’t have any spray
I told him David I don’t have any spray I don’t share stick deodorants sorry
I don’t share stick deodorants sorry
I don’t share stick deodorants sorry ma’am but he wouldn’t take no for an
ma’am but he wouldn’t take no for an
ma’am but he wouldn’t take no for an answer he was getting more and more
answer he was getting more and more
answer he was getting more and more agitated so finally I had to get loud
agitated so finally I had to get loud
agitated so finally I had to get loud with him I said something like David I
with him I said something like David I
with him I said something like David I am NOT going to share my stick deodorant
am NOT going to share my stick deodorant
am NOT going to share my stick deodorant with you and he got loud right back at
with you and he got loud right back at
with you and he got loud right back at me why because I’m black because I’m
me why because I’m black because I’m
me why because I’m black because I’m unclean you don’t want to share your
unclean you don’t want to share your
unclean you don’t want to share your giotto with some unclean black man and
giotto with some unclean black man and
giotto with some unclean black man and this time I didn’t flip out and this
this time I didn’t flip out and this
this time I didn’t flip out and this time I didn’t make a joke
time I didn’t make a joke
time I didn’t make a joke this time I looked him in the eyes made
this time I looked him in the eyes made
this time I looked him in the eyes made a man and I said David it must be
a man and I said David it must be
a man and I said David it must be serious for you to come at me with all
serious for you to come at me with all
serious for you to come at me with all that racism stuff here you could use my
that racism stuff here you could use my
that racism stuff here you could use my deodorant brother he took it he turned
deodorant brother he took it he turned
deodorant brother he took it he turned to his friend he calm down instantly I
to his friend he calm down instantly I
to his friend he calm down instantly I knew I’d get him with all that black man
knew I’d get him with all that black man
knew I’d get him with all that black man stuff white people hate being called
stuff white people hate being called
stuff white people hate being called racist turns back to me
racist turns back to me
racist turns back to me thanks mom’s dead you are right after
thanks mom’s dead you are right after
thanks mom’s dead you are right after all and then he burst out laughing his
all and then he burst out laughing his
all and then he burst out laughing his friend burst out laughing I realize I’ve
friend burst out laughing I realize I’ve
friend burst out laughing I realize I’ve been played and I burst out laughing
been played and I burst out laughing
been played and I burst out laughing and it was so glorious for a moment or
and it was so glorious for a moment or
and it was so glorious for a moment or so there in my classroom sitting with a
so there in my classroom sitting with a
so there in my classroom sitting with a 16 year old boy who had finally learned
16 year old boy who had finally learned
16 year old boy who had finally learned to trust me we were all right after all
to trust me we were all right after all
to trust me we were all right after all I’ve got to believe that David would
I’ve got to believe that David would
I’ve got to believe that David would have trusted me either way even if I’d
have trusted me either way even if I’d
have trusted me either way even if I’d held my ground on the deodorant
held my ground on the deodorant
held my ground on the deodorant it was stick right but it was a chance
it was stick right but it was a chance
it was stick right but it was a chance for me to get to show him that I trusted
for me to get to show him that I trusted
for me to get to show him that I trusted him too and that’s gotta mean something
him too and that’s gotta mean something
him too and that’s gotta mean something for trust a matter it’s got to work both
for trust a matter it’s got to work both
for trust a matter it’s got to work both ways and we’ve got to learn to trust
ways and we’ve got to learn to trust
ways and we’ve got to learn to trust each other I don’t know when it happened
each other I don’t know when it happened
each other I don’t know when it happened for David and I but it happened strange
for David and I but it happened strange
for David and I but it happened strange magic we don’t have a race problem in
magic we don’t have a race problem in
magic we don’t have a race problem in America we have a racism problem white
America we have a racism problem white
America we have a racism problem white people go out share your deodorant with
people go out share your deodorant with
people go out share your deodorant with someone even if it’s stick
someone even if it’s stick
someone even if it’s stick learn how to be somebody worse worth
learn how to be somebody worse worth
learn how to be somebody worse worth trusting
trusting
trusting black people give us a chance or two or
black people give us a chance or two or
black people give us a chance or two or three talk to us laugh build bridges
three talk to us laugh build bridges
three talk to us laugh build bridges sometimes even those quantum leaps have
sometimes even those quantum leaps have
sometimes even those quantum leaps have to start with those smallest of steps
to start with those smallest of steps
to start with those smallest of steps that’s the only way we’re gonna be able
that’s the only way we’re gonna be able
that’s the only way we’re gonna be able to eat this elephant we call racism one
to eat this elephant we call racism one
to eat this elephant we call racism one bite at a time
bite at a time
bite at a time thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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