[Applause] survival is defined by merriam-webster
survival is defined by merriam-webster
survival is defined by merriam-webster as the state or fact of continuing to
as the state or fact of continuing to
as the state or fact of continuing to exist in spite of difficult conditions
exist in spite of difficult conditions
exist in spite of difficult conditions survival is a human necessity and in a
survival is a human necessity and in a
survival is a human necessity and in a lot of ways it begins to shape the way
lot of ways it begins to shape the way
lot of ways it begins to shape the way that we choose to navigate the world for
that we choose to navigate the world for
that we choose to navigate the world for our ancestors survival look like coming
our ancestors survival look like coming
our ancestors survival look like coming to a new world
to a new world
to a new world maybe escaping a dangerous regime or
maybe escaping a dangerous regime or
maybe escaping a dangerous regime or restricting government in order to
restricting government in order to
restricting government in order to provide a positive future for their
provide a positive future for their
provide a positive future for their families for others it looked like being
families for others it looked like being
families for others it looked like being forced into that new world stripped of
forced into that new world stripped of
forced into that new world stripped of their previous way of life and being
their previous way of life and being
their previous way of life and being forced to create something out of
forced to create something out of
forced to create something out of nothing
nothing
nothing we can find the various tactics used by
we can find the various tactics used by
we can find the various tactics used by our ancestors for survival in the way
our ancestors for survival in the way
our ancestors for survival in the way that we live today whether or not the
that we live today whether or not the
that we live today whether or not the conditions they created them in exist
conditions they created them in exist
conditions they created them in exist for us today or not for example a strong
for us today or not for example a strong
for us today or not for example a strong work ethic could be traced back to the
work ethic could be traced back to the
work ethic could be traced back to the ones who came before us it had to build
ones who came before us it had to build
ones who came before us it had to build with their hands what we tend to have
with their hands what we tend to have
with their hands what we tend to have easy access to or the way that we spend
easy access to or the way that we spend
easy access to or the way that we spend money for instance could be traced back
money for instance could be traced back
money for instance could be traced back to that great-great-grandfather who had
to that great-great-grandfather who had
to that great-great-grandfather who had to provide for a family of 10 the
to provide for a family of 10 the
to provide for a family of 10 the tactics that we use every day for
tactics that we use every day for
tactics that we use every day for survival are designed to defend our
survival are designed to defend our
survival are designed to defend our culture our value our personal rights
culture our value our personal rights
culture our value our personal rights our traditions or ID or our ideals but
our traditions or ID or our ideals but
our traditions or ID or our ideals but there’s a very strange thing about
there’s a very strange thing about
there’s a very strange thing about survival if survival is defined as the
survival if survival is defined as the
survival if survival is defined as the state or a fact of continuing to exist
state or a fact of continuing to exist
state or a fact of continuing to exist in spite of then in spite of insinuates
in spite of then in spite of insinuates
in spite of then in spite of insinuates some sort of opposition some sort of
some sort of opposition some sort of
some sort of opposition some sort of opposing force that we have to defend
opposing force that we have to defend
opposing force that we have to defend ourselves from what happens then when
ourselves from what happens then when
ourselves from what happens then when what we use to defend our culture our
what we use to defend our culture our
what we use to defend our culture our values our traditions or our ideals
values our traditions or our ideals
values our traditions or our ideals begins to center in on the differences
begins to center in on the differences
begins to center in on the differences of those that we were designed to
of those that we were designed to
of those that we were designed to coexist with rather they defend
coexist with rather they defend
coexist with rather they defend ourselves from I want to tell you a
ourselves from I want to tell you a
ourselves from I want to tell you a story about a time that survival changed
story about a time that survival changed
story about a time that survival changed for me and my family was the summer of
for me and my family was the summer of
for me and my family was the summer of 2014 it was very shortly after the
2014 it was very shortly after the
2014 it was very shortly after the shooting death of
shooting death of
shooting death of 18 year old Michael Brown by a police
18 year old Michael Brown by a police
18 year old Michael Brown by a police officer my parents were preparing my
officer my parents were preparing my
officer my parents were preparing my younger brother here an avid runner and
younger brother here an avid runner and
younger brother here an avid runner and incoming college freshmen for his first
incoming college freshmen for his first
incoming college freshmen for his first semester at school so my mom sat him
semester at school so my mom sat him
semester at school so my mom sat him down and gave him a very strong list of
down and gave him a very strong list of
down and gave him a very strong list of suggestions that he was to take with him
suggestions that he was to take with him
suggestions that he was to take with him to his first semester like I’m sure many
to his first semester like I’m sure many
to his first semester like I’m sure many other mothers have done until she sat
other mothers have done until she sat
other mothers have done until she sat him down and she looked him in the eye
him down and she looked him in the eye
him down and she looked him in the eye and she said I want you to remember that
and she said I want you to remember that
and she said I want you to remember that your educational success is your first
your educational success is your first
your educational success is your first priority so that means not too much
priority so that means not too much
priority so that means not too much partying or none at all
partying or none at all
partying or none at all she said cultivate good study habits
she said cultivate good study habits
she said cultivate good study habits choose your friends wisely and boy you
choose your friends wisely and boy you
choose your friends wisely and boy you better manage that meal plan but then
better manage that meal plan but then
better manage that meal plan but then the conversation took a very interesting
the conversation took a very interesting
the conversation took a very interesting turn as she added and I know you’re a
turn as she added and I know you’re a
turn as she added and I know you’re a runner I know that you love running but
runner I know that you love running but
runner I know that you love running but please just don’t run with a hoodie on
be very careful around police be
be very careful around police be respectful but just try to steer clear
respectful but just try to steer clear
respectful but just try to steer clear of them if you have to walk around or
of them if you have to walk around or
of them if you have to walk around or during the day or at night to make sure
during the day or at night to make sure
during the day or at night to make sure that you’re walking with someone
that you’re walking with someone
that you’re walking with someone god forbid you get pulled over by an
god forbid you get pulled over by an
god forbid you get pulled over by an officer just keep your hands on the
officer just keep your hands on the
officer just keep your hands on the steering wheel and don’t you think about
steering wheel and don’t you think about
steering wheel and don’t you think about touching your wallet those are things a
touching your wallet those are things a
touching your wallet those are things a mother should never have to tell her son
mother should never have to tell her son
mother should never have to tell her son when preparing him to go to school I
when preparing him to go to school I
when preparing him to go to school I remember that moment like it was
remember that moment like it was
remember that moment like it was yesterday sitting at the kitchen table
yesterday sitting at the kitchen table
yesterday sitting at the kitchen table with my mother and my brother over
with my mother and my brother over
with my mother and my brother over listen over listening to their
listen over listening to their
listen over listening to their conversation and remembering how starkly
conversation and remembering how starkly
conversation and remembering how starkly different it was from the conversation
different it was from the conversation
different it was from the conversation that my mom and dad had with us just
that my mom and dad had with us just
that my mom and dad had with us just four years prior but this was our
four years prior but this was our
four years prior but this was our reality I was watching my mother look
reality I was watching my mother look
reality I was watching my mother look into the eyes of her only son and all of
into the eyes of her only son and all of
into the eyes of her only son and all of a sudden she wasn’t just preparing him
a sudden she wasn’t just preparing him
a sudden she wasn’t just preparing him for the best four years of his life as
for the best four years of his life as
for the best four years of his life as we like to label college or even to go
we like to label college or even to go
we like to label college or even to go out in the world and be an upstanding
out in the world and be an upstanding
out in the world and be an upstanding citizen I’m sure those were hopes that
citizen I’m sure those were hopes that
citizen I’m sure those were hopes that she did have for my brother but in this
she did have for my brother but in this
she did have for my brother but in this particular instance they seem so trivial
particular instance they seem so trivial
particular instance they seem so trivial as they took a back seat
as they took a back seat
as they took a back seat to what I’m sure was her ultimate hope
to what I’m sure was her ultimate hope
to what I’m sure was her ultimate hope that her son would survive I think the
that her son would survive I think the
that her son would survive I think the most disheartening thing about wasn’t
most disheartening thing about wasn’t
most disheartening thing about wasn’t what wasn’t quite a new reality for us
what wasn’t quite a new reality for us
what wasn’t quite a new reality for us as a black family but definitely
as a black family but definitely
as a black family but definitely becoming a more prevalent one was the
becoming a more prevalent one was the
becoming a more prevalent one was the lack of empathy the lack of empathy for
lack of empathy the lack of empathy for
lack of empathy the lack of empathy for what was a traumatic reality not just
what was a traumatic reality not just
what was a traumatic reality not just for my family but for african-american
for my family but for african-american
for my family but for african-american and minority families across the country
and minority families across the country
and minority families across the country you never quite get used to hearing name
you never quite get used to hearing name
you never quite get used to hearing name after name after name after name of a
after name after name after name of a
after name after name after name of a young woman or young man that looks just
young woman or young man that looks just
young woman or young man that looks just like you being killed for reasons that
like you being killed for reasons that
like you being killed for reasons that have yet to be proven constitutional yet
have yet to be proven constitutional yet
have yet to be proven constitutional yet with no consequence are the times that
with no consequence are the times that
with no consequence are the times that me and my brother would go to class
me and my brother would go to class
me and my brother would go to class after hearing about yet another death
after hearing about yet another death
after hearing about yet another death and it feels like that person was a
and it feels like that person was a
and it feels like that person was a close family member but because you’re
close family member but because you’re
close family member but because you’re the minority in your society everyone
the minority in your society everyone
the minority in your society everyone kind of goes on as normal not a
kind of goes on as normal not a
kind of goes on as normal not a professor not a friend acknowledges the
professor not a friend acknowledges the
professor not a friend acknowledges the pain that you feel in that moment I’d
pain that you feel in that moment I’d
pain that you feel in that moment I’d lose count if I had to tell you how many
lose count if I had to tell you how many
lose count if I had to tell you how many times I heard suggestions or excuses for
times I heard suggestions or excuses for
times I heard suggestions or excuses for what a victim could have done or should
what a victim could have done or should
what a victim could have done or should have done to stay alive yet I have too
have done to stay alive yet I have too
have done to stay alive yet I have too many fingers to list for you how many of
many fingers to list for you how many of
many fingers to list for you how many of those suggested survival tactics have
those suggested survival tactics have
those suggested survival tactics have actually worked so far so me being a
actually worked so far so me being a
actually worked so far so me being a young african-american young adult I
young african-american young adult I
young african-american young adult I realized that I’m only one person but I
realized that I’m only one person but I
realized that I’m only one person but I felt the strongest urge that I had to do
felt the strongest urge that I had to do
felt the strongest urge that I had to do something I’d spent the majority of my
something I’d spent the majority of my
something I’d spent the majority of my undergraduate design career trying to
undergraduate design career trying to
undergraduate design career trying to solve the questions that I had
solve the questions that I had
solve the questions that I had surrounding being an african-american in
surrounding being an african-american in
surrounding being an african-american in America questions about our visibility
America questions about our visibility
America questions about our visibility education or the way that we were
education or the way that we were
education or the way that we were portrayed in the media and the news
portrayed in the media and the news
portrayed in the media and the news outlet all on a quest to find what I
outlet all on a quest to find what I
outlet all on a quest to find what I realized was simply understanding
realized was simply understanding
realized was simply understanding empathy is defined as the ability to
empathy is defined as the ability to
empathy is defined as the ability to share in the feelings of someone else
share in the feelings of someone else
share in the feelings of someone else and so as I approached my final year of
and so as I approached my final year of
and so as I approached my final year of school and my senior capstone I just had
school and my senior capstone I just had
school and my senior capstone I just had one
one
one to answer and that was how do you
to answer and that was how do you
to answer and that was how do you cultivate empathy between different
cultivate empathy between different
cultivate empathy between different cultures for research I look to the
cultures for research I look to the
cultures for research I look to the history of the Jewish Holocaust as one
history of the Jewish Holocaust as one
history of the Jewish Holocaust as one who had grown up drawn to study the
who had grown up drawn to study the
who had grown up drawn to study the stories of the survivors of that
stories of the survivors of that
stories of the survivors of that horrible time I was really interested
horrible time I was really interested
horrible time I was really interested and seeing what new perspectives I will
and seeing what new perspectives I will
and seeing what new perspectives I will gather this time around however I don’t
gather this time around however I don’t
gather this time around however I don’t think I was prepared for the emotional
think I was prepared for the emotional
think I was prepared for the emotional difference that I experienced this time
difference that I experienced this time
difference that I experienced this time you see as I was surrounded by the
you see as I was surrounded by the
you see as I was surrounded by the stories of the horrors that they faced I
realized that there was something
realized that there was something starkly different about what I had
starkly different about what I had
starkly different about what I had experienced about my people you see in
experienced about my people you see in
experienced about my people you see in Jewish culture these stories are kept
Jewish culture these stories are kept
Jewish culture these stories are kept alive in order that they’ve not repeated
alive in order that they’ve not repeated
alive in order that they’ve not repeated and I couldn’t help but see the
and I couldn’t help but see the
and I couldn’t help but see the differences in how the centuries-old
differences in how the centuries-old
differences in how the centuries-old atrocities that my people had faced were
atrocities that my people had faced were
atrocities that my people had faced were looked at every quote and every story
looked at every quote and every story
looked at every quote and every story that was telling us to never forget only
that was telling us to never forget only
that was telling us to never forget only reminded me of how many times over the
reminded me of how many times over the
reminded me of how many times over the course of my life I was told to forget
course of my life I was told to forget
course of my life I was told to forget and so here I faced another problem I
and so here I faced another problem I
and so here I faced another problem I was looking at two beautiful groups of
was looking at two beautiful groups of
was looking at two beautiful groups of people who had faced atrocities that are
people who had faced atrocities that are
people who had faced atrocities that are really unthinkable and I had to discover
really unthinkable and I had to discover
really unthinkable and I had to discover what the difference was in the way that
what the difference was in the way that
what the difference was in the way that we were in the way that they were viewed
we were in the way that they were viewed
we were in the way that they were viewed and so there are a lot of different
and so there are a lot of different
and so there are a lot of different things that you could consider you could
things that you could consider you could
things that you could consider you could consider the different systems that our
consider the different systems that our
consider the different systems that our country was built on but I wanted to do
country was built on but I wanted to do
country was built on but I wanted to do something that really made sense for the
something that really made sense for the
something that really made sense for the context I was in so I came to the
context I was in so I came to the
context I was in so I came to the hypothesis that the atrocities of the
hypothesis that the atrocities of the
hypothesis that the atrocities of the Jewish Holocaust were looked at as
Jewish Holocaust were looked at as
Jewish Holocaust were looked at as atrocities to humankind which meant this
atrocities to humankind which meant this
atrocities to humankind which meant this that there was quite a possibility that
that there was quite a possibility that
that there was quite a possibility that if we took the time to look at one
if we took the time to look at one
if we took the time to look at one another and find what made us human
another and find what made us human
another and find what made us human what connected us together it can be
what connected us together it can be
what connected us together it can be much easier for us to empathize with one
much easier for us to empathize with one
much easier for us to empathize with one another if
another if
another if I’m different from you but I can see us
I’m different from you but I can see us
I’m different from you but I can see us both as being a human being then all of
both as being a human being then all of
both as being a human being then all of a sudden we enter the same playing field
a sudden we enter the same playing field
a sudden we enter the same playing field so then I had another question to answer
so then I had another question to answer
so then I had another question to answer what is one thing one thing that exists
what is one thing one thing that exists
what is one thing one thing that exists in all spheres of humanity that can
in all spheres of humanity that can
in all spheres of humanity that can connect us together well I went back to
connect us together well I went back to
connect us together well I went back to my mother and the day that she prepared
my mother and the day that she prepared
my mother and the day that she prepared my brother for school because at the
my brother for school because at the
my brother for school because at the cornerstone of every sphere of society
cornerstone of every sphere of society
cornerstone of every sphere of society exists mothers they’re the people who
exists mothers they’re the people who
exists mothers they’re the people who give us life they move mountains they
give us life they move mountains they
give us life they move mountains they can literally do anything you know your
can literally do anything you know your
can literally do anything you know your mother can get you to do anything
mother can get you to do anything
mother can get you to do anything and so then mothers with sons was born
and so then mothers with sons was born
and so then mothers with sons was born this was my capstone event that would
this was my capstone event that would
this was my capstone event that would gather mothers all from different
gather mothers all from different
gather mothers all from different backgrounds with the one commonality
backgrounds with the one commonality
backgrounds with the one commonality they all had sons between the ages of 15
they all had sons between the ages of 15
they all had sons between the ages of 15 and 25 I chose this particular
and 25 I chose this particular
and 25 I chose this particular demographic because from a minority
demographic because from a minority
demographic because from a minority perspective this is the demographic that
perspective this is the demographic that
perspective this is the demographic that is most targeted especially when it
is most targeted especially when it
is most targeted especially when it comes to instances of police brutality
comes to instances of police brutality
comes to instances of police brutality and so I gathered these mothers around
and so I gathered these mothers around
and so I gathered these mothers around the dinner table but before then I had
the dinner table but before then I had
the dinner table but before then I had to do a lot of research and in my
to do a lot of research and in my
to do a lot of research and in my research I talked to mothers from all
research I talked to mothers from all
research I talked to mothers from all different backgrounds white mothers
different backgrounds white mothers
different backgrounds white mothers black mothers Hispanic mothers but my
black mothers Hispanic mothers but my
black mothers Hispanic mothers but my most favorite conversation had to have
most favorite conversation had to have
most favorite conversation had to have been with a former professor professor
been with a former professor professor
been with a former professor professor Jamie Mahoney Jamie a mother herself had
Jamie Mahoney Jamie a mother herself had
Jamie Mahoney Jamie a mother herself had had the privilege of creating
had the privilege of creating
had the privilege of creating advertising and marketing campaigns for
advertising and marketing campaigns for
advertising and marketing campaigns for mothers against drunk driving so she
mothers against drunk driving so she
mothers against drunk driving so she knew of the kind of force that I was
knew of the kind of force that I was
knew of the kind of force that I was trying to pull on but I think out of all
trying to pull on but I think out of all
trying to pull on but I think out of all of the information that I gained from
of the information that I gained from
of the information that I gained from Jamie my most favorite thing that she
Jamie my most favorite thing that she
Jamie my most favorite thing that she told me was about the experience when
told me was about the experience when
told me was about the experience when she first had her child and so Jamie
she first had her child and so Jamie
she first had her child and so Jamie looked at me what’s here’s in her eyes
looked at me what’s here’s in her eyes
looked at me what’s here’s in her eyes and she said Lauren the most amazing
and she said Lauren the most amazing
and she said Lauren the most amazing thing happened to me when I became a
thing happened to me when I became a
thing happened to me when I became a mother something that I really can’t
mother something that I really can’t
mother something that I really can’t really can’t describe but I’m going to
really can’t describe but I’m going to
really can’t describe but I’m going to try my best to put it into words she
try my best to put it into words she
try my best to put it into words she said when I became a mother
said when I became a mother
said when I became a mother it was like I wasn’t just the mother of
it was like I wasn’t just the mother of
it was like I wasn’t just the mother of my child but it was like I became the
my child but it was like I became the
my child but it was like I became the mother of all children and this was a
mother of all children and this was a
mother of all children and this was a truth that I hoped
truth that I hoped
truth that I hoped what reigned through and the mothers
what reigned through and the mothers
what reigned through and the mothers that I gathered for this particular
that I gathered for this particular
that I gathered for this particular event so I gathered about six eight
event so I gathered about six eight
event so I gathered about six eight mothers around a dinner table a very
mothers around a dinner table a very
mothers around a dinner table a very intimate setting I wanted it to feel
intimate setting I wanted it to feel
intimate setting I wanted it to feel like a safe space of space for them to
like a safe space of space for them to
like a safe space of space for them to bond to grow and to connect and in this
bond to grow and to connect and in this
bond to grow and to connect and in this space they answered questions like what
space they answered questions like what
space they answered questions like what was the moment like when you first had
was the moment like when you first had
was the moment like when you first had your son what is your favorite memory of
your son what is your favorite memory of
your son what is your favorite memory of your son what was a moment when you were
your son what was a moment when you were
your son what was a moment when you were most proud of your son what was a moment
most proud of your son what was a moment
most proud of your son what was a moment when you were most afraid for your son
when you were most afraid for your son
when you were most afraid for your son what is your biggest fear for your son
what is your biggest fear for your son
what is your biggest fear for your son and if any of these women were to see
and if any of these women were to see
and if any of these women were to see your son walking across the street what
your son walking across the street what
your son walking across the street what is the first thing you would want them
is the first thing you would want them
is the first thing you would want them to know about him so I want to share
to know about him so I want to share
to know about him so I want to share with you really quickly one of the mini
with you really quickly one of the mini
with you really quickly one of the mini feedback that I got from the mothers at
feedback that I got from the mothers at
feedback that I got from the mothers at this particular dinner is it’s a
this particular dinner is it’s a
this particular dinner is it’s a situation is a problem and all of us all
situation is a problem and all of us all
situation is a problem and all of us all of us can relate to because I feel like
of us can relate to because I feel like
of us can relate to because I feel like being a mother is
being a mother is
being a mother is you black mother Hispanic mother or a
you black mother Hispanic mother or a
you black mother Hispanic mother or a jihad we are all mother and the cares
jihad we are all mother and the cares
jihad we are all mother and the cares things all others do is universal it
things all others do is universal it
things all others do is universal it doesn’t have raised admission
doesn’t have raised admission
doesn’t have raised admission intentionality even her mother my mom is
intentionality even her mother my mom is
intentionality even her mother my mom is pretty much have the same common
pretty much have the same common
pretty much have the same common denominator so it’s something that could
denominator so it’s something that could
denominator so it’s something that could should concern all of us as mother does
should concern all of us as mother does
should concern all of us as mother does matter where you’re from or what color
matter where you’re from or what color
matter where you’re from or what color your skin we should look at it as my
your skin we should look at it as my
your skin we should look at it as my mother spirit so it’s a concern that we
mother spirit so it’s a concern that we
mother spirit so it’s a concern that we should all have we should all be
should all have we should all be
should all have we should all be sensitive to be concern for this
sensitive to be concern for this
sensitive to be concern for this particular event we had a couple of
particular event we had a couple of
particular event we had a couple of different backgrounds present not as
different backgrounds present not as
different backgrounds present not as many as I would have hoped but what I
many as I would have hoped but what I
many as I would have hoped but what I loved so much about this particular
loved so much about this particular
loved so much about this particular event is that we didn’t host a pity
event is that we didn’t host a pity
event is that we didn’t host a pity party
party
party that wasn’t a was me sob story for the
that wasn’t a was me sob story for the
that wasn’t a was me sob story for the things that came out that maybe weren’t
things that came out that maybe weren’t
things that came out that maybe weren’t so pleasant but instead every woman left
so pleasant but instead every woman left
so pleasant but instead every woman left feeling empowered they left feeling
feeling empowered they left feeling
feeling empowered they left feeling charged and challenged believing that if
charged and challenged believing that if
charged and challenged believing that if mothers of our background could get
mothers of our background could get
mothers of our background could get together to stand up for it not just
together to stand up for it not just
together to stand up for it not just their children my children that look
their children my children that look
their children my children that look like them but for all in particular then
like them but for all in particular then
like them but for all in particular then maybe change could happen and and that
maybe change could happen and and that
maybe change could happen and and that was because they were able to
was because they were able to
was because they were able to acknowledge the validity of the humanity
acknowledge the validity of the humanity
acknowledge the validity of the humanity of one another and it also means that
of one another and it also means that
of one another and it also means that when those mothers left that event
when those mothers left that event
when those mothers left that event there’s a big possibility that they ran
there’s a big possibility that they ran
there’s a big possibility that they ran into a young man that maybe did it look
into a young man that maybe did it look
into a young man that maybe did it look like them but they thought oh what about
like them but they thought oh what about
like them but they thought oh what about his mother or maybe thought about the
his mother or maybe thought about the
his mother or maybe thought about the fact that he was a son there’s a quote
fact that he was a son there’s a quote
fact that he was a son there’s a quote by Professor Michael Eric Dyson that he
by Professor Michael Eric Dyson that he
by Professor Michael Eric Dyson that he gave after the death of Trayvon Martin
gave after the death of Trayvon Martin
gave after the death of Trayvon Martin and he said at the end of the day
and he said at the end of the day
and he said at the end of the day recognize that young black teens are
recognize that young black teens are
recognize that young black teens are children of God and deserve every
children of God and deserve every
children of God and deserve every protection because if the women on that
protection because if the women on that
protection because if the women on that jury
jury
jury were to be we’re have have been able to
were to be we’re have have been able to
were to be we’re have have been able to see Trayvon as their child they may have
see Trayvon as their child they may have
see Trayvon as their child they may have heard his blood calling from the ground
heard his blood calling from the ground
heard his blood calling from the ground where George Zimmerman laid him to rest
mothers with sons is an ongoing project
mothers with sons is an ongoing project it’s something that I hope continues to
it’s something that I hope continues to
it’s something that I hope continues to to grow and gain new life and gather
to grow and gain new life and gather
to grow and gain new life and gather mothers from all backgrounds not only
mothers from all backgrounds not only
mothers from all backgrounds not only nationally but maybe one day
nationally but maybe one day
nationally but maybe one day internationally I believe that the power
internationally I believe that the power
internationally I believe that the power that mothers have to become the village
that mothers have to become the village
that mothers have to become the village that our society needs is very strong
that our society needs is very strong
that our society needs is very strong and very possible but Professor Dyson’s
and very possible but Professor Dyson’s
and very possible but Professor Dyson’s quote doesn’t just apply to young black
quote doesn’t just apply to young black
quote doesn’t just apply to young black teens it applies to every human being
teens it applies to every human being
teens it applies to every human being what would happen if we took the time to
what would happen if we took the time to
what would happen if we took the time to acknowledge the humanity of everyone we
acknowledge the humanity of everyone we
acknowledge the humanity of everyone we came in contact with not just ones that
came in contact with not just ones that
came in contact with not just ones that looked like us not just ones from the
looked like us not just ones from the
looked like us not just ones from the backgrounds that we’re used to but
backgrounds that we’re used to but
backgrounds that we’re used to but understanding that there is a human
understanding that there is a human
understanding that there is a human thread because we breathe the same air
thread because we breathe the same air
thread because we breathe the same air and we coexist in the same society how
and we coexist in the same society how
and we coexist in the same society how positively then could we change not only
positively then could we change not only
positively then could we change not only our pattern of survival but the survival
our pattern of survival but the survival
our pattern of survival but the survival pattern of someone else thank you
pattern of someone else thank you
pattern of someone else thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment