I have a vivid memory of the day I learned Trayvon Martin was killed my
learned Trayvon Martin was killed my
learned Trayvon Martin was killed my facebook newsfeed was filled with some
facebook newsfeed was filled with some
facebook newsfeed was filled with some of my friends who were pregnant with
of my friends who were pregnant with
of my friends who were pregnant with black boys at the time complaining about
black boys at the time complaining about
black boys at the time complaining about not being able to sleep feeling anxious
not being able to sleep feeling anxious
not being able to sleep feeling anxious frustrated angry hopeless they were
frustrated angry hopeless they were
frustrated angry hopeless they were lamenting bringing their children into
lamenting bringing their children into
lamenting bringing their children into this world juxtaposed to that anguish
this world juxtaposed to that anguish
this world juxtaposed to that anguish were some posts from some of my white
were some posts from some of my white
were some posts from some of my white friends who were giggling about adorable
friends who were giggling about adorable
friends who were giggling about adorable kitten memes posting cupcake recipes
kitten memes posting cupcake recipes
kitten memes posting cupcake recipes some of them were talking about the
some of them were talking about the
some of them were talking about the death of Trayvon but it was clear that
death of Trayvon but it was clear that
death of Trayvon but it was clear that none of them were holding in their
none of them were holding in their
none of them were holding in their bodies or felt personally threatened by
bodies or felt personally threatened by
bodies or felt personally threatened by the death of this stranger I have since
the death of this stranger I have since
the death of this stranger I have since become the mother of a delightfully
become the mother of a delightfully
become the mother of a delightfully precocious and sweet little boy I
precocious and sweet little boy I
precocious and sweet little boy I curious about his personality and who
curious about his personality and who
curious about his personality and who he’ll become and I admire the cook in a
he’ll become and I admire the cook in a
he’ll become and I admire the cook in a smile but I also wonder when the oohs
smile but I also wonder when the oohs
smile but I also wonder when the oohs and the ahhs the gushing of strangers
and the ahhs the gushing of strangers
and the ahhs the gushing of strangers will turn into clutched purses fear or
will turn into clutched purses fear or
will turn into clutched purses fear or perceptions of threat for me Trayvon is
perceptions of threat for me Trayvon is
perceptions of threat for me Trayvon is not a stranger he’s my son and the
not a stranger he’s my son and the
not a stranger he’s my son and the threat that killed him is not easily
threat that killed him is not easily
threat that killed him is not easily exchanged for kitten needs or cupcake
exchanged for kitten needs or cupcake
exchanged for kitten needs or cupcake recipes the threat to kill Trayvon is
recipes the threat to kill Trayvon is
recipes the threat to kill Trayvon is something that I consider every day as a
something that I consider every day as a
something that I consider every day as a mother and as a scientist as a scientist
mother and as a scientist as a scientist
mother and as a scientist as a scientist my work focuses on how our lived
my work focuses on how our lived
my work focuses on how our lived experiences contribute to racial
experiences contribute to racial
experiences contribute to racial inequalities and health I’m haunted by
inequalities and health I’m haunted by
inequalities and health I’m haunted by this pattern in the data that indicates
this pattern in the data that indicates
this pattern in the data that indicates that blacks fare worse than whites when
that blacks fare worse than whites when
that blacks fare worse than whites when it comes to health for the 15 leading
it comes to health for the 15 leading
it comes to health for the 15 leading causes of disease heart disease started
causes of disease heart disease started
causes of disease heart disease started 15 leading causes of death heart disease
15 leading causes of death heart disease
15 leading causes of death heart disease stroke hypertension blacks have an
stroke hypertension blacks have an
stroke hypertension blacks have an earlier onset faster progression in
earlier onset faster progression in
earlier onset faster progression in earlier death than whites what’s
earlier death than whites what’s
earlier death than whites what’s particularly striking about this pattern
particularly striking about this pattern
particularly striking about this pattern is that it persists at every level of
is that it persists at every level of
is that it persists at every level of socioeconomic status even when we
socioeconomic status even when we
socioeconomic status even when we account for education income health
account for education income health
account for education income health insurance we still see this difference
insurance we still see this difference
insurance we still see this difference between blacks and whites what do we do
between blacks and whites what do we do
between blacks and whites what do we do with that if it’s not education it’s not
with that if it’s not education it’s not
with that if it’s not education it’s not income why is race explaining health how
income why is race explaining health how
income why is race explaining health how do we account how do we understand the
do we account how do we understand the
do we account how do we understand the probability of my dying sooner than my
probability of my dying sooner than my
probability of my dying sooner than my white counterparts in spite of my
white counterparts in spite of my
white counterparts in spite of my education and income this collision of
education and income this collision of
education and income this collision of this deeply personal part of my life in
this deeply personal part of my life in
this deeply personal part of my life in my professional life has led me to a
my professional life has led me to a
my professional life has led me to a question of what would it take what
question of what would it take what
question of what would it take what would it take for you to understand that
would it take for you to understand that
would it take for you to understand that racism is more complex than being called
racism is more complex than being called
racism is more complex than being called a name or even violence at the hands of
a name or even violence at the hands of
a name or even violence at the hands of police what would it take for you to
police what would it take for you to
police what would it take for you to accept that we still live in a world
accept that we still live in a world
accept that we still live in a world where the color of someone’s skin can
where the color of someone’s skin can
where the color of someone’s skin can get them killed Passover for a job
get them killed Passover for a job
get them killed Passover for a job denied a loan denied housing a fair shot
what would it take for the videos and
what would it take for the videos and reports of black bodies being gunned
reports of black bodies being gunned
reports of black bodies being gunned down by police to register as a pattern
down by police to register as a pattern
down by police to register as a pattern of racism and not merely as a
of racism and not merely as a
of racism and not merely as a consequence of insubordination or
consequence of insubordination or
consequence of insubordination or criminality what would it take for the
criminality what would it take for the
criminality what would it take for the out cries of racial injustice to
out cries of racial injustice to
out cries of racial injustice to register not as a sensitivity or as a
register not as a sensitivity or as a
register not as a sensitivity or as a card to be played but as an unacceptable
card to be played but as an unacceptable
card to be played but as an unacceptable social reality what would it take for
social reality what would it take for
social reality what would it take for the data you see and that you say you
the data you see and that you say you
the data you see and that you say you get what would it take for that to for
get what would it take for that to for
get what would it take for that to for you to connect in fear
you to connect in fear
you to connect in fear the reality behind that data what would
the reality behind that data what would
the reality behind that data what would it take for you to not just feel bad or
it take for you to not just feel bad or
it take for you to not just feel bad or to empathize but to act and think
to empathize but to act and think
to empathize but to act and think differently to refuse to live in the
differently to refuse to live in the
differently to refuse to live in the world where the color of one’s skin can
world where the color of one’s skin can
world where the color of one’s skin can dictate their health or well-being I
talk a lot about racism and I’m used to
talk a lot about racism and I’m used to there being a point in the conversation
there being a point in the conversation
there being a point in the conversation for the audience to turn inward they
for the audience to turn inward they
for the audience to turn inward they start focusing on their emotions of
start focusing on their emotions of
start focusing on their emotions of guilt shame anger indifference I’m going
guilt shame anger indifference I’m going
guilt shame anger indifference I’m going to ask you to not do that stay in the
to ask you to not do that stay in the
to ask you to not do that stay in the room with me stay present there’s a
room with me stay present there’s a
room with me stay present there’s a quote I like by dr. Georgie an see in
quote I like by dr. Georgie an see in
quote I like by dr. Georgie an see in the letter that he published in the New
the letter that he published in the New
the letter that he published in the New York Times that he addressed to white
York Times that he addressed to white
York Times that he addressed to white America and in this letter he says I’m
America and in this letter he says I’m
America and in this letter he says I’m asking you to look deep to look into
asking you to look deep to look into
asking you to look deep to look into your soul with silence to quiet that
your soul with silence to quiet that
your soul with silence to quiet that voice that will speak to you of your
voice that will speak to you of your
voice that will speak to you of your white innocence take a deep breath make
white innocence take a deep breath make
white innocence take a deep breath make room for my voice in the deepest part of
room for my voice in the deepest part of
room for my voice in the deepest part of your psyche try to be silent practice
your psyche try to be silent practice
your psyche try to be silent practice listening so what I’m asking you to do
listening so what I’m asking you to do
listening so what I’m asking you to do is to not focus on how it feels for you
is to not focus on how it feels for you
is to not focus on how it feels for you to hear me describe oppression but focus
to hear me describe oppression but focus
to hear me describe oppression but focus on the oppression when I talk to my
on the oppression when I talk to my
on the oppression when I talk to my students I often give an example of me
students I often give an example of me
students I often give an example of me describing someone on the ground with
describing someone on the ground with
describing someone on the ground with the boot on their neck and they’re
the boot on their neck and they’re
the boot on their neck and they’re focused on what it feels like to look at
focused on what it feels like to look at
focused on what it feels like to look at someone on the ground with the boot on
someone on the ground with the boot on
someone on the ground with the boot on their neck as opposed to focusing on the
their neck as opposed to focusing on the
their neck as opposed to focusing on the person on the ground with boot on their
person on the ground with boot on their
person on the ground with boot on their neck focus on the oppression I am a
neck focus on the oppression I am a
neck focus on the oppression I am a professor at Columbia University in New
professor at Columbia University in New
professor at Columbia University in New York City and in a school of social work
York City and in a school of social work
York City and in a school of social work at that I am grateful to be surrounded
at that I am grateful to be surrounded
at that I am grateful to be surrounded by people who share my values of racial
by people who share my values of racial
by people who share my values of racial justice and racial equity but I also
justice and racial equity but I also
justice and racial equity but I also find that even people who believe
find that even people who believe
find that even people who believe espouses beliefs
espouses beliefs
espouses beliefs of racial justice and racial equity
of racial justice and racial equity
of racial justice and racial equity don’t always understand racial injustice
don’t always understand racial injustice
don’t always understand racial injustice or racial inequity they don’t always get
or racial inequity they don’t always get
or racial inequity they don’t always get how that really shows up in people’s
how that really shows up in people’s
how that really shows up in people’s lives and in society I find that it’s
lives and in society I find that it’s
lives and in society I find that it’s easier to build consensus on what should
easier to build consensus on what should
easier to build consensus on what should be and much more difficult to build
be and much more difficult to build
be and much more difficult to build consensus on what is it’s much easier to
consensus on what is it’s much easier to
consensus on what is it’s much easier to agree that the world should be a fair
agree that the world should be a fair
agree that the world should be a fair place and that my kid deserves the same
place and that my kid deserves the same
place and that my kid deserves the same shot as your kid and it’s much more
shot as your kid and it’s much more
shot as your kid and it’s much more difficult to get on the same page about
difficult to get on the same page about
difficult to get on the same page about barriers that show up that prevent us
barriers that show up that prevent us
barriers that show up that prevent us from living in that reality in our
from living in that reality in our
from living in that reality in our change project we’re exploring the ways
change project we’re exploring the ways
change project we’re exploring the ways to use virtual reality to bridge this
to use virtual reality to bridge this
to use virtual reality to bridge this gap in understanding we’re asking the
gap in understanding we’re asking the
gap in understanding we’re asking the question can we immerse people in a
question can we immerse people in a
question can we immerse people in a virtual experience of racism that helps
virtual experience of racism that helps
virtual experience of racism that helps them to better understand the
them to better understand the
them to better understand the complexities of the realities of racism
complexities of the realities of racism
complexities of the realities of racism we are using quantitative and
we are using quantitative and
we are using quantitative and qualitative data that demonstrates that
qualitative data that demonstrates that
qualitative data that demonstrates that there are racial differences in how kids
there are racial differences in how kids
there are racial differences in how kids are disciplined in their classroom
are disciplined in their classroom
are disciplined in their classroom hiring practices policing demonstrated
hiring practices policing demonstrated
hiring practices policing demonstrated in empirical data the ways in which
in empirical data the ways in which
in empirical data the ways in which racism shows up in people’s lives in
racism shows up in people’s lives in
racism shows up in people’s lives in multiple spaces across the life course
multiple spaces across the life course
multiple spaces across the life course in collaboration with Jeremy bailenson
in collaboration with Jeremy bailenson
in collaboration with Jeremy bailenson of the virtual human interaction lab at
of the virtual human interaction lab at
of the virtual human interaction lab at Stanford University in my team the
Stanford University in my team the
Stanford University in my team the Cogburn research group and the Brown
Cogburn research group and the Brown
Cogburn research group and the Brown Institute of media innovation it’s a lot
Institute of media innovation it’s a lot
Institute of media innovation it’s a lot of people it could be a university we
of people it could be a university we
of people it could be a university we are asking you to step into the life or
are asking you to step into the life or
are asking you to step into the life or the virtual shoes of Michael sterling
the virtual shoes of Michael sterling
the virtual shoes of Michael sterling we’re asking you to think about the ways
we’re asking you to think about the ways
we’re asking you to think about the ways that you can embody an experience that’s
that you can embody an experience that’s
that you can embody an experience that’s not your own we know that we can help
not your own we know that we can help
not your own we know that we can help you through a virtual avatar feel and
you through a virtual avatar feel and
you through a virtual avatar feel and experience what your virtual avatar is
experience what your virtual avatar is
experience what your virtual avatar is feeling and experiencing we have
feeling and experiencing we have
feeling and experiencing we have complex uses of quantitative and
complex uses of quantitative and
complex uses of quantitative and qualitative data to construct narratives
qualitative data to construct narratives
qualitative data to construct narratives of race and racism through the life of
of race and racism through the life of
of race and racism through the life of Michael sterling we’re asking you to
Michael sterling we’re asking you to
Michael sterling we’re asking you to think about what it feels like to be
think about what it feels like to be
think about what it feels like to be Michael at age seven age 15 30 and 50 at
Michael at age seven age 15 30 and 50 at
Michael at age seven age 15 30 and 50 at age seven you’re in a classroom playing
age seven you’re in a classroom playing
age seven you’re in a classroom playing with your friends tossing blocks as
with your friends tossing blocks as
with your friends tossing blocks as airplanes and flying robots and suddenly
airplanes and flying robots and suddenly
airplanes and flying robots and suddenly you’re white female teacher appears
you’re white female teacher appears
you’re white female teacher appears hovering over you scolding you for being
hovering over you scolding you for being
hovering over you scolding you for being aggressive and dangerous you need to
aggressive and dangerous you need to
aggressive and dangerous you need to calm down Michael you’re gonna hurt
calm down Michael you’re gonna hurt
calm down Michael you’re gonna hurt someone go sit in timeout you’re not
someone go sit in timeout you’re not
someone go sit in timeout you’re not acting any differently than your white
acting any differently than your white
acting any differently than your white peers and as you sit in timeout
peers and as you sit in timeout
peers and as you sit in timeout as an avatar looking at your face in the
as an avatar looking at your face in the
as an avatar looking at your face in the mirror we’re asking you to reflect on
mirror we’re asking you to reflect on
mirror we’re asking you to reflect on how it felt to be treated that way as
how it felt to be treated that way as
how it felt to be treated that way as you watch your white peers continue to
you watch your white peers continue to
you watch your white peers continue to play at age 15 you’re preparing to go to
play at age 15 you’re preparing to go to
play at age 15 you’re preparing to go to a basketball game with your friend Jacob
a basketball game with your friend Jacob
a basketball game with your friend Jacob who’s white and he’s waiting at you if
who’s white and he’s waiting at you if
who’s white and he’s waiting at you if they don’t waiting for you at the door
they don’t waiting for you at the door
they don’t waiting for you at the door before you leave your mother asked you
before you leave your mother asked you
before you leave your mother asked you to stop she’s watching the local news
to stop she’s watching the local news
to stop she’s watching the local news and she realizes that the police are
and she realizes that the police are
and she realizes that the police are looking for someone who’s wearing
looking for someone who’s wearing
looking for someone who’s wearing something very similar to you she asks
something very similar to you she asks
something very similar to you she asks you to change you resist you’re running
you to change you resist you’re running
you to change you resist you’re running late for the game she stops and says
late for the game she stops and says
late for the game she stops and says don’t forget what happened to your
don’t forget what happened to your
don’t forget what happened to your brother you change your shirt assure
brother you change your shirt assure
brother you change your shirt assure your mother that you’ll be okay and head
your mother that you’ll be okay and head
your mother that you’ll be okay and head out of the house as you head to the game
out of the house as you head to the game
out of the house as you head to the game you’re waving to neighbors on the
you’re waving to neighbors on the
you’re waving to neighbors on the streets Jacob decides to run and catch
streets Jacob decides to run and catch
streets Jacob decides to run and catch the bus so that you’re not late as soon
the bus so that you’re not late as soon
the bus so that you’re not late as soon as you make the same choice to jaywalk
as you make the same choice to jaywalk
as you make the same choice to jaywalk you’re accosted by police officers who
you’re accosted by police officers who
you’re accosted by police officers who instruct you the user in the headset to
instruct you the user in the headset to
instruct you the user in the headset to get on your knees and put your hands up
get on your knees and put your hands up
get on your knees and put your hands up again this might seem extreme but it’s
again this might seem extreme but it’s
again this might seem extreme but it’s based on real data on stop-and-frisk
based on real data on stop-and-frisk
based on real data on stop-and-frisk practices in New York City as you hear
practices in New York City as you hear
practices in New York City as you hear the sounds of police yelling at you
the sounds of police yelling at you
the sounds of police yelling at you neighbors intervening on your behalf the
neighbors intervening on your behalf the
neighbors intervening on your behalf the sound shuts off and quiet and we fade
sound shuts off and quiet and we fade
sound shuts off and quiet and we fade back to your mother sitting in the house
back to your mother sitting in the house
back to your mother sitting in the house watching the local news hearing the same
watching the local news hearing the same
watching the local news hearing the same sounds and sirens
sounds and sirens
sounds and sirens not realizing that this incident
not realizing that this incident
not realizing that this incident involves her son at age 30 you’re
involves her son at age 30 you’re
involves her son at age 30 you’re getting ready for an interview the
getting ready for an interview the
getting ready for an interview the opportunity of a lifetime you’re well
opportunity of a lifetime you’re well
opportunity of a lifetime you’re well educated you have great experiences
educated you have great experiences
educated you have great experiences you’re prepared
you’re prepared
you’re prepared but you enter this very white space the
but you enter this very white space the
but you enter this very white space the old white founders are hanging on the
old white founders are hanging on the
old white founders are hanging on the walls the magazine’s in front of you are
walls the magazine’s in front of you are
walls the magazine’s in front of you are covered with white faces when the
covered with white faces when the
covered with white faces when the interviewer comes in he goes immediately
interviewer comes in he goes immediately
interviewer comes in he goes immediately to the white candidate who’s waiting
to the white candidate who’s waiting
to the white candidate who’s waiting with you and says you must be our
with you and says you must be our
with you and says you must be our candidate from Yale he’s not
candidate from Yale he’s not
candidate from Yale he’s not you are the receptionist corrects the
you are the receptionist corrects the
you are the receptionist corrects the interviewer who then acknowledges your
interviewer who then acknowledges your
interviewer who then acknowledges your presence and says oh I’m sorry I didn’t
presence and says oh I’m sorry I didn’t
presence and says oh I’m sorry I didn’t see you there we’ll be right with you
see you there we’ll be right with you
see you there we’ll be right with you as he takes the white candidate back for
as he takes the white candidate back for
as he takes the white candidate back for the interview you don’t get the job at
the interview you don’t get the job at
the interview you don’t get the job at age 50 we ask you to look into a mirror
age 50 we ask you to look into a mirror
age 50 we ask you to look into a mirror at your aged base reflecting on the
at your aged base reflecting on the
at your aged base reflecting on the experiences that have happened to you
experiences that have happened to you
experiences that have happened to you but also seeing video overlays of other
but also seeing video overlays of other
but also seeing video overlays of other black boys girls men and women who are
black boys girls men and women who are
black boys girls men and women who are also sharing their experiences at
also sharing their experiences at
also sharing their experiences at various points in their lives in various
various points in their lives in various
various points in their lives in various spaces across their life course it’s not
spaces across their life course it’s not
spaces across their life course it’s not just Michael it’s not just at age 7 its
just Michael it’s not just at age 7 its
just Michael it’s not just at age 7 its many people who carry these experiences
many people who carry these experiences
many people who carry these experiences across their lives we’re not only
across their lives we’re not only
across their lives we’re not only leveraging the power of Technology we’re
leveraging the power of Technology we’re
leveraging the power of Technology we’re leveraging the power of science if you
leveraging the power of science if you
leveraging the power of science if you will we are as I said using quantitative
will we are as I said using quantitative
will we are as I said using quantitative and qualitative data to construct these
and qualitative data to construct these
and qualitative data to construct these complex narratives in a virtual
complex narratives in a virtual
complex narratives in a virtual experience but we’re also employing
experience but we’re also employing
experience but we’re also employing experimental design to think about how
experimental design to think about how
experimental design to think about how we can assess changes at the individual
we can assess changes at the individual
we can assess changes at the individual and group level are we moving the needle
and group level are we moving the needle
and group level are we moving the needle are people different as a result of
are people different as a result of
are people different as a result of going through this experience I believe
going through this experience I believe
going through this experience I believe that achieving racial justice requires
that achieving racial justice requires
that achieving racial justice requires that we understand racism not an
that we understand racism not an
that we understand racism not an understanding that emerges from
understanding that emerges from
understanding that emerges from intellectual exercise or in the
intellectual exercise or in the
intellectual exercise or in the production or consumption of science but
production or consumption of science but
production or consumption of science but one that is based in your body in your
one that is based in your body in your
one that is based in your body in your spirit as much as reason
spirit as much as reason
spirit as much as reason so I ask you again what would it take
so I ask you again what would it take
so I ask you again what would it take for you to not just feel bad or
for you to not just feel bad or
for you to not just feel bad or empathize but to act and think
empathize but to act and think
empathize but to act and think differently what would it take
”
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