[Music] on April 30th 2017 I was sworn in as the
on April 30th 2017 I was sworn in as the
on April 30th 2017 I was sworn in as the first black woman to hold the position
first black woman to hold the position
first black woman to hold the position of student government president at the
of student government president at the
of student government president at the American University
the following day May 1st
the following day May 1st my first day in office I was a victim of
my first day in office I was a victim of
my first day in office I was a victim of a racially motivated hate crime an
a racially motivated hate crime an
a racially motivated hate crime an individual hung bananas from nooses and
individual hung bananas from nooses and
individual hung bananas from nooses and various places around campus and
various places around campus and
various places around campus and blazoned with phrases and reference to a
blazoned with phrases and reference to a
blazoned with phrases and reference to a sorority of which I am a member and the
sorority of which I am a member and the
sorority of which I am a member and the gorilla that was killed at a zoo and the
gorilla that was killed at a zoo and the
gorilla that was killed at a zoo and the days that followed I was inundated with
days that followed I was inundated with
days that followed I was inundated with messages of support from family and
messages of support from family and
messages of support from family and friends but also from strangers from
friends but also from strangers from
friends but also from strangers from around the country telling me to stay
around the country telling me to stay
around the country telling me to stay strong keep my head held high and that I
strong keep my head held high and that I
strong keep my head held high and that I was handling the situation with grace
was handling the situation with grace
was handling the situation with grace and poise but there isn’t a handbook on
and poise but there isn’t a handbook on
and poise but there isn’t a handbook on how to cope with being the victim of a
how to cope with being the victim of a
how to cope with being the victim of a hate crime no one tells you how much as
hate crime no one tells you how much as
hate crime no one tells you how much as will forever change your life no one
will forever change your life no one
will forever change your life no one tells you that anytime you hear of
tells you that anytime you hear of
tells you that anytime you hear of another racially motivated act you
another racially motivated act you
another racially motivated act you become triggered and fear for your own
become triggered and fear for your own
become triggered and fear for your own safety no one tells you how much of a
safety no one tells you how much of a
safety no one tells you how much of a dark cloud this will become over every
dark cloud this will become over every
dark cloud this will become over every aspect of your life but what they do
aspect of your life but what they do
aspect of your life but what they do tell you that’s how much better things
tell you that’s how much better things
tell you that’s how much better things will be and expect you to go back to
will be and expect you to go back to
will be and expect you to go back to normal
normal
normal public service announcement this is my
public service announcement this is my
public service announcement this is my new normal being overwhelmed with the
new normal being overwhelmed with the
new normal being overwhelmed with the outpouring of support feeling guilty for
outpouring of support feeling guilty for
outpouring of support feeling guilty for having all of us support when so many
having all of us support when so many
having all of us support when so many others before me felt alone frustrated
others before me felt alone frustrated
others before me felt alone frustrated that people miss understand what it’s
that people miss understand what it’s
that people miss understand what it’s like to be at the center and envy the
like to be at the center and envy the
like to be at the center and envy the platform but forgetting but I never
platform but forgetting but I never
platform but forgetting but I never asked for this level of attention
asked for this level of attention
asked for this level of attention constantly asking why mean wondering why
constantly asking why mean wondering why
constantly asking why mean wondering why this act of hate and bigotry had to
this act of hate and bigotry had to
this act of hate and bigotry had to happen to begin with questioning myself
happen to begin with questioning myself
happen to begin with questioning myself my vision my purpose why me why me why
my vision my purpose why me why me why
my vision my purpose why me why me why me following the hate crime I
me following the hate crime I
me following the hate crime I facilitated a town hall of over 400
facilitated a town hall of over 400
facilitated a town hall of over 400 people I spoke about my experiences on a
people I spoke about my experiences on a
people I spoke about my experiences on a Prescott
Prescott
Prescott on Capitol Hill and I’ve shared my
on Capitol Hill and I’ve shared my
on Capitol Hill and I’ve shared my stories with countless others in order
stories with countless others in order
stories with countless others in order to let them know that they are not alone
to let them know that they are not alone
to let them know that they are not alone little by little I’ve begun to take back
little by little I’ve begun to take back
little by little I’ve begun to take back control of my life
control of my life
control of my life marianne williamson once wrote our
marianne williamson once wrote our
marianne williamson once wrote our sphere it’s not that we are inadequate
sphere it’s not that we are inadequate
sphere it’s not that we are inadequate our deepest fear is that we are powerful
our deepest fear is that we are powerful
our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure it is our light not our
beyond measure it is our light not our
beyond measure it is our light not our darkness that most frightens us we ask
darkness that most frightens us we ask
darkness that most frightens us we ask ourselves Who am I to be brilliant
ourselves Who am I to be brilliant
ourselves Who am I to be brilliant gorgeous talented fabulous actually who
gorgeous talented fabulous actually who
gorgeous talented fabulous actually who are you not to be you are a child of God
are you not to be you are a child of God
are you not to be you are a child of God your playing small does not serve the
your playing small does not serve the
your playing small does not serve the world
world
world there is nothing enlightened about
there is nothing enlightened about
there is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t
shrinking so that other people won’t
shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you we were all
feel insecure around you we were all
feel insecure around you we were all meant to shine as children do we were
meant to shine as children do we were
meant to shine as children do we were born to make manifest the glory of God
born to make manifest the glory of God
born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us it’s not just in some
that is within us it’s not just in some
that is within us it’s not just in some of us it’s in everyone and as we let our
of us it’s in everyone and as we let our
of us it’s in everyone and as we let our own light shine we unconsciously give
own light shine we unconsciously give
own light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same
other people permission to do the same
other people permission to do the same and as we are liberated from our own
and as we are liberated from our own
and as we are liberated from our own fear our presence automatically
fear our presence automatically
fear our presence automatically liberates others even walo is in the
liberates others even walo is in the
liberates others even walo is in the spotlight inside I was shrinking away
spotlight inside I was shrinking away
spotlight inside I was shrinking away trying to avoid the awkward stares and
trying to avoid the awkward stares and
trying to avoid the awkward stares and unwanted attention I was fearful of
unwanted attention I was fearful of
unwanted attention I was fearful of saying the wrong thing and afraid that
saying the wrong thing and afraid that
saying the wrong thing and afraid that what I was doing would never be enough
what I was doing would never be enough
what I was doing would never be enough rather than owning the stage and
rather than owning the stage and
rather than owning the stage and amplifying the voices of those bellowing
amplifying the voices of those bellowing
amplifying the voices of those bellowing around me but this is where I was wrong
around me but this is where I was wrong
around me but this is where I was wrong the more I tried to hide shrink around
the more I tried to hide shrink around
the more I tried to hide shrink around avoid the more power I was given to the
avoid the more power I was given to the
avoid the more power I was given to the act and the powers that precipitate hate
act and the powers that precipitate hate
act and the powers that precipitate hate bigotry racism and sexism this is why I
bigotry racism and sexism this is why I
bigotry racism and sexism this is why I can stand before you today to tell you
can stand before you today to tell you
can stand before you today to tell you that there is proof and telling your
that there is proof and telling your
that there is proof and telling your story but there is power and telling
story but there is power and telling
story but there is power and telling your story and if there is closure and
your story and if there is closure and
your story and if there is closure and telling your story in order to discuss
telling your story in order to discuss
telling your story in order to discuss inclusion we must first learn to talk
inclusion we must first learn to talk
inclusion we must first learn to talk about what being excluded looks and
about what being excluded looks and
about what being excluded looks and feels like
feels like
feels like in its most blunt and raw forms
in its most blunt and raw forms
in its most blunt and raw forms exclusion of something I’ve experienced
exclusion of something I’ve experienced
exclusion of something I’ve experienced my whole life exclusion looks like
my whole life exclusion looks like
my whole life exclusion looks like coming home at age three and asking your
coming home at age three and asking your
coming home at age three and asking your mommy if black is bad exclusion looks
mommy if black is bad exclusion looks
mommy if black is bad exclusion looks like being at
like being at
like being at Elementary School and being told by
Elementary School and being told by
Elementary School and being told by classmates I don’t really look at you as
classmates I don’t really look at you as
classmates I don’t really look at you as black I mean you’re white on the inside
black I mean you’re white on the inside
black I mean you’re white on the inside like an Oreo not having the vocabulary
like an Oreo not having the vocabulary
like an Oreo not having the vocabulary to explain that was my socio-economic
to explain that was my socio-economic
to explain that was my socio-economic background my social capital my
background my social capital my
background my social capital my privilege that put me in these white
privilege that put me in these white
privilege that put me in these white spaces exclusion looks like being told
spaces exclusion looks like being told
spaces exclusion looks like being told by a teacher to look up the Merriam
by a teacher to look up the Merriam
by a teacher to look up the Merriam Webster’s definition of nigger outloud
Webster’s definition of nigger outloud
Webster’s definition of nigger outloud and freeze it in front of the class at
and freeze it in front of the class at
and freeze it in front of the class at age 13 because you made a white girl cry
age 13 because you made a white girl cry
age 13 because you made a white girl cry when you called her out for saying the
when you called her out for saying the
when you called her out for saying the word exclusion looks like walking down
word exclusion looks like walking down
word exclusion looks like walking down the street visiting family friends at
the street visiting family friends at
the street visiting family friends at the beach and being called niggers by a
the beach and being called niggers by a
the beach and being called niggers by a group of teenage white boys while
group of teenage white boys while
group of teenage white boys while walking with your parents and your 11
walking with your parents and your 11
walking with your parents and your 11 year old brother exclusion looks like
year old brother exclusion looks like
year old brother exclusion looks like being a freshman in college and watching
being a freshman in college and watching
being a freshman in college and watching people posts anonymously on social media
people posts anonymously on social media
people posts anonymously on social media racial epithets and derogatory comments
racial epithets and derogatory comments
racial epithets and derogatory comments not knowing if it was your roommates
not knowing if it was your roommates
not knowing if it was your roommates your classmates or your professors
your classmates or your professors
your classmates or your professors exclusion looks like being the target of
exclusion looks like being the target of
exclusion looks like being the target of a third banana related incident this
a third banana related incident this
a third banana related incident this academic year targeted at black women
academic year targeted at black women
academic year targeted at black women and being the only one to receive this
and being the only one to receive this
and being the only one to receive this level of attention due in part to the
level of attention due in part to the
level of attention due in part to the fact they were the first black woman
fact they were the first black woman
fact they were the first black woman student government president to those
student government president to those
student government president to those who might be uncomfortable by the words
who might be uncomfortable by the words
who might be uncomfortable by the words I’ve just spoken and feel guilty from
I’ve just spoken and feel guilty from
I’ve just spoken and feel guilty from hearing these accounts forgive me for
hearing these accounts forgive me for
hearing these accounts forgive me for refusing to hide behind my experiences
refusing to hide behind my experiences
refusing to hide behind my experiences any longer you see this is my life and
any longer you see this is my life and
any longer you see this is my life and these are my stories if I did not use
these are my stories if I did not use
these are my stories if I did not use this platform to do so and to share my
this platform to do so and to share my
this platform to do so and to share my story with you I would be reaffirming
story with you I would be reaffirming
story with you I would be reaffirming the faulty notion that this is OK and
the faulty notion that this is OK and
the faulty notion that this is OK and that we must hide our experiences and
that we must hide our experiences and
that we must hide our experiences and bottle it up and not share these things
bottle it up and not share these things
bottle it up and not share these things so how do we create more inclusive
so how do we create more inclusive
so how do we create more inclusive communities how do we build and come
communities how do we build and come
communities how do we build and come together first well it’s not turning to
together first well it’s not turning to
together first well it’s not turning to communities of color and asking the
communities of color and asking the
communities of color and asking the question well how do we create inclusive
question well how do we create inclusive
question well how do we create inclusive communities instead let’s turn to
communities instead let’s turn to
communities instead let’s turn to ourselves and ask the question what do
ourselves and ask the question what do
ourselves and ask the question what do we need to do to end these exclusive
we need to do to end these exclusive
we need to do to end these exclusive communities and create communities that
communities and create communities that
communities and create communities that validate the experiences of those who
validate the experiences of those who
validate the experiences of those who have felt unable to exist instead but
have felt unable to exist instead but
have felt unable to exist instead but to ourselves and ask the question how
to ourselves and ask the question how
to ourselves and ask the question how are we you know engaging in these topics
are we you know engaging in these topics
are we you know engaging in these topics how are we how are we putting other
how are we how are we putting other
how are we how are we putting other people in uncomfortable situations and
people in uncomfortable situations and
people in uncomfortable situations and let’s stop saying that everything is
let’s stop saying that everything is
let’s stop saying that everything is going to be okay if we’re not prepared
going to be okay if we’re not prepared
going to be okay if we’re not prepared to do what it takes to make sure that
to do what it takes to make sure that
to do what it takes to make sure that things actually are okay here at AU
things actually are okay here at AU
things actually are okay here at AU let’s build community by providing all
let’s build community by providing all
let’s build community by providing all students with the opportunity to express
students with the opportunity to express
students with the opportunity to express themselves through town hall meetings
themselves through town hall meetings
themselves through town hall meetings and group dialogues let’s brainstorm
and group dialogues let’s brainstorm
and group dialogues let’s brainstorm ways to create a more inclusive and
ways to create a more inclusive and
ways to create a more inclusive and accepting community through
accepting community through
accepting community through collaboration let’s evolve this campus
collaboration let’s evolve this campus
collaboration let’s evolve this campus culture and to one that validates the
culture and to one that validates the
culture and to one that validates the experiences of marginalized communities
experiences of marginalized communities
experiences of marginalized communities rather than discounting their realities
rather than discounting their realities
rather than discounting their realities let’s work together to address issues of
let’s work together to address issues of
let’s work together to address issues of hate and racism and bigotry on a in a
hate and racism and bigotry on a in a
hate and racism and bigotry on a in a head-on manner let’s create a different
head-on manner let’s create a different
head-on manner let’s create a different you now some of you may know that this
you now some of you may know that this
you now some of you may know that this was my campaign slogan when I ran for
was my campaign slogan when I ran for
was my campaign slogan when I ran for student government president a few
student government president a few
student government president a few months ago because although we have
months ago because although we have
months ago because although we have different experiences we are all a part
different experiences we are all a part
different experiences we are all a part of this university however I think that
of this university however I think that
of this university however I think that this slogan goes a little bit further
this slogan goes a little bit further
this slogan goes a little bit further than American University so here are my
than American University so here are my
than American University so here are my questions for you how can we come
questions for you how can we come
questions for you how can we come together to apply this to life in the
together to apply this to life in the
together to apply this to life in the real world can we hold ourselves
real world can we hold ourselves
real world can we hold ourselves accountable to creating a higher set of
accountable to creating a higher set of
accountable to creating a higher set of standards to abide by if so I think
standards to abide by if so I think
standards to abide by if so I think you’ll find ourselves in a world far
you’ll find ourselves in a world far
you’ll find ourselves in a world far greater than the one we currently exist
greater than the one we currently exist
greater than the one we currently exist in in order for us to create a truly
in in order for us to create a truly
in in order for us to create a truly inclusive environment it begins with
inclusive environment it begins with
inclusive environment it begins with each one of us whether that’s on our
each one of us whether that’s on our
each one of us whether that’s on our college campuses in our neighborhoods or
college campuses in our neighborhoods or
college campuses in our neighborhoods or across the nation so let’s start that
across the nation so let’s start that
across the nation so let’s start that change now instead of being tolerant be
change now instead of being tolerant be
change now instead of being tolerant be accepting instead of being closed-minded
accepting instead of being closed-minded
accepting instead of being closed-minded go beyond and open yourself to new
go beyond and open yourself to new
go beyond and open yourself to new experiences and new perspectives
experiences and new perspectives
experiences and new perspectives instead of being sympathetic dig deeper
instead of being sympathetic dig deeper
instead of being sympathetic dig deeper and have empathy once we commit
and have empathy once we commit
and have empathy once we commit ourselves to these three simple things
ourselves to these three simple things
ourselves to these three simple things we will find ourselves in a world that’s
we will find ourselves in a world that’s
we will find ourselves in a world that’s more kind more loving and more inclusive
more kind more loving and more inclusive
more kind more loving and more inclusive of all people until we are willing to
of all people until we are willing to
of all people until we are willing to combat these issues
combat these issues
combat these issues united people we will continue to be
united people we will continue to be
united people we will continue to be putting a bandaid on cancer the cancer
putting a bandaid on cancer the cancer
putting a bandaid on cancer the cancer that is a fear of the other until we are
that is a fear of the other until we are
that is a fear of the other until we are willing to provide the support necessary
willing to provide the support necessary
willing to provide the support necessary to eradicate acts of bigotry hate racism
to eradicate acts of bigotry hate racism
to eradicate acts of bigotry hate racism and Prejudice we will continue to have
and Prejudice we will continue to have
and Prejudice we will continue to have empty and cyclical conversations about
empty and cyclical conversations about
empty and cyclical conversations about inclusion yes we must recognize we are
inclusion yes we must recognize we are
inclusion yes we must recognize we are not all in the same place in terms of
not all in the same place in terms of
not all in the same place in terms of understanding inclusivity however we all
understanding inclusivity however we all
understanding inclusivity however we all have the ability to challenge ourselves
have the ability to challenge ourselves
have the ability to challenge ourselves to create a different you thank you
to create a different you thank you
to create a different you thank you [Applause]
”
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