fifty years ago Martin Luther King jr. would have been 38 years old next year I
would have been 38 years old next year I
would have been 38 years old next year I will be 38 years old five hits the earth
will be 38 years old five hits the earth
will be 38 years old five hits the earth day Martin Luther King had written two
day Martin Luther King had written two
day Martin Luther King had written two books he’d marched on Washington and
books he’d marched on Washington and
books he’d marched on Washington and delivered the I have a dream speech he
delivered the I have a dream speech he
delivered the I have a dream speech he boycotted and desegregated the buses of
boycotted and desegregated the buses of
boycotted and desegregated the buses of Montgomery Alabama he marched on Selma
Montgomery Alabama he marched on Selma
Montgomery Alabama he marched on Selma oh yeah if you want to develop his prize
oh yeah if you want to develop his prize
oh yeah if you want to develop his prize so needless to say 2017 is gonna be a
so needless to say 2017 is gonna be a
so needless to say 2017 is gonna be a very busy year for me 50 years ago
very busy year for me 50 years ago
very busy year for me 50 years ago people that look like me lived in terror
people that look like me lived in terror
people that look like me lived in terror the kind of terror that we ascribed to
the kind of terror that we ascribed to
the kind of terror that we ascribed to other countries like Syria and Turkey
other countries like Syria and Turkey
other countries like Syria and Turkey Iraq and Afghanistan they were bombed
Iraq and Afghanistan they were bombed
Iraq and Afghanistan they were bombed and beaten and bruised they were lynched
and beaten and bruised they were lynched
and beaten and bruised they were lynched and murdered without the protection of a
and murdered without the protection of a
and murdered without the protection of a lot and sometimes even with the
lot and sometimes even with the
lot and sometimes even with the complicity of the law they were
complicity of the law they were
complicity of the law they were segregated they were estranged they were
segregated they were estranged they were
segregated they were estranged they were hated all because of the color of their
hated all because of the color of their
hated all because of the color of their skin in the zip code that they lived in
skin in the zip code that they lived in
skin in the zip code that they lived in because of an unreconciled history of
because of an unreconciled history of
because of an unreconciled history of our people that was the energy it’s
our people that was the energy it’s
our people that was the energy it’s burned the civil rights movement and
burned the civil rights movement and
burned the civil rights movement and while I related by the spirit of today
while I related by the spirit of today
while I related by the spirit of today and by celebrating dr. King last week
and by celebrating dr. King last week
and by celebrating dr. King last week and Black History Month next month
and Black History Month next month
and Black History Month next month I’d be doing a disservice to the
I’d be doing a disservice to the
I’d be doing a disservice to the movement not to pause and reflect on how
movement not to pause and reflect on how
movement not to pause and reflect on how far we still have to go and how much
far we still have to go and how much
far we still have to go and how much it’s going to take for us to get there
it’s going to take for us to get there
it’s going to take for us to get there right now we’re having one of the worst
right now we’re having one of the worst
right now we’re having one of the worst civil rights violations in our history
civil rights violations in our history
civil rights violations in our history and we don’t talk about it with each
and we don’t talk about it with each
and we don’t talk about it with each other
and if we do we talked about it in our
and if we do we talked about it in our own circles and hushed tones perhaps
own circles and hushed tones perhaps
own circles and hushed tones perhaps because we’re ashamed that it’s
because we’re ashamed that it’s
because we’re ashamed that it’s happening on our watch sure we read the
happening on our watch sure we read the
happening on our watch sure we read the books and we’ll watch the documentaries
books and we’ll watch the documentaries
books and we’ll watch the documentaries and we might even put something online
and we might even put something online
and we might even put something online about it but when the pages are shut and
about it but when the pages are shut and
about it but when the pages are shut and the screens are dark and the Twitter
the screens are dark and the Twitter
the screens are dark and the Twitter feed is rolled over the conversation
feed is rolled over the conversation
feed is rolled over the conversation ends we need to have that conversation
ends we need to have that conversation
ends we need to have that conversation every single day we talk about criminal
every single day we talk about criminal
every single day we talk about criminal justice reform as if it’s linear in
justice reform as if it’s linear in
justice reform as if it’s linear in acute we just say well some people are
acute we just say well some people are
acute we just say well some people are working on it and I do my part and
working on it and I do my part and
working on it and I do my part and everything’s gonna be okay if we
everything’s gonna be okay if we
everything’s gonna be okay if we re-examine some laws and take some
re-examine some laws and take some
re-examine some laws and take some people out of prison and protest about
people out of prison and protest about
people out of prison and protest about the police but I hate to tell you that
the police but I hate to tell you that
the police but I hate to tell you that it’s gonna take a lot more than
it’s gonna take a lot more than
it’s gonna take a lot more than celebrating a day or month it’s gonna
celebrating a day or month it’s gonna
celebrating a day or month it’s gonna take a lot more than a protest or March
take a lot more than a protest or March
take a lot more than a protest or March it’s gonna take a lot more than just
it’s gonna take a lot more than just
it’s gonna take a lot more than just those few people working on it to move
those few people working on it to move
those few people working on it to move the needle on this issue I’m talking of
the needle on this issue I’m talking of
the needle on this issue I’m talking of course about mass incarceration in the
course about mass incarceration in the
course about mass incarceration in the land of the free in the home of the
land of the free in the home of the
land of the free in the home of the brave we represent 5% of the world’s
brave we represent 5% of the world’s
brave we represent 5% of the world’s population but 25% everything part of
population but 25% everything part of
population but 25% everything part of incarcerated population 2.2 million of
incarcerated population 2.2 million of
incarcerated population 2.2 million of our neighbors are in jails and prisons
our neighbors are in jails and prisons
our neighbors are in jails and prisons right now of the number 7 million people
right now of the number 7 million people
right now of the number 7 million people on probation and for a one misstep away
on probation and for a one misstep away
on probation and for a one misstep away from getting locked up 70% of people
from getting locked up 70% of people
from getting locked up 70% of people coming out of our jails and prisons
coming out of our jails and prisons
coming out of our jails and prisons recidivate within a few years
recidivate within a few years
recidivate within a few years one out of four every Americans has a
one out of four every Americans has a
one out of four every Americans has a criminal record
criminal record
criminal record one out of three every black men born
one out of three every black men born
one out of three every black men born today will end up in prison at some
today will end up in prison at some
today will end up in prison at some point in their lifetime despite making
point in their lifetime despite making
point in their lifetime despite making up 14% of the national population
up 14% of the national population
up 14% of the national population African Americans represent almost 50%
African Americans represent almost 50%
African Americans represent almost 50% of the incarcerated population indeed
of the incarcerated population indeed
of the incarcerated population indeed there are more African American men
there are more African American men
there are more African American men under correctional control now than
under correctional control now than
under correctional control now than there were slaves on the eve of the
there were slaves on the eve of the
there were slaves on the eve of the Civil War these are problems that are
Civil War these are problems that are
Civil War these are problems that are going on in our justice system and it
going on in our justice system and it
going on in our justice system and it continues to operate in the same way
continues to operate in the same way
continues to operate in the same way without innovation without creativity
without innovation without creativity
without innovation without creativity with the same result it’s because we
with the same result it’s because we
with the same result it’s because we don’t have the tough
don’t have the tough
don’t have the tough conversations it’s time for new civil
conversations it’s time for new civil
conversations it’s time for new civil rights movement this isn’t new news to
rights movement this isn’t new news to
rights movement this isn’t new news to the black community we’ve known this for
the black community we’ve known this for
the black community we’ve known this for a long time we’ve been saying it for
a long time we’ve been saying it for
a long time we’ve been saying it for decades and we blame inertia for
decades and we blame inertia for
decades and we blame inertia for something not happening we blame the
something not happening we blame the
something not happening we blame the lack of leadership for something not
lack of leadership for something not
lack of leadership for something not happening we were waiting for our next
happening we were waiting for our next
happening we were waiting for our next Martin where we’re late waiting for our
Martin where we’re late waiting for our
Martin where we’re late waiting for our next Malcolm we’re waiting for our next
next Malcolm we’re waiting for our next
next Malcolm we’re waiting for our next Rosa Parks we’re waiting for someone
Rosa Parks we’re waiting for someone
Rosa Parks we’re waiting for someone anyone to take us to the promised land
anyone to take us to the promised land
anyone to take us to the promised land you know what I say stop waiting the
you know what I say stop waiting the
you know what I say stop waiting the leaders of the new civil rights movement
leaders of the new civil rights movement
leaders of the new civil rights movement are sitting in this room take a look
are sitting in this room take a look
are sitting in this room take a look around go ahead take a look around
around go ahead take a look around
around go ahead take a look around I’m not talking about that next Martin
I’m not talking about that next Martin
I’m not talking about that next Martin Luther King is going to get that great
Luther King is going to get that great
Luther King is going to get that great speech I’m not talking about the Rosa
speech I’m not talking about the Rosa
speech I’m not talking about the Rosa Parks who’s going to sit in that bus at
Parks who’s going to sit in that bus at
Parks who’s going to sit in that bus at the risk of personal safety I’m not
the risk of personal safety I’m not
the risk of personal safety I’m not talking about Malcolm X who’s marching
talking about Malcolm X who’s marching
talking about Malcolm X who’s marching through the streets with this end up I’m
through the streets with this end up I’m
through the streets with this end up I’m talking about each and every one of you
talking about each and every one of you
talking about each and every one of you you all came in here today with the
you all came in here today with the
you all came in here today with the ability to make to be the new leader of
ability to make to be the new leader of
ability to make to be the new leader of the civil rights movement before we get
the civil rights movement before we get
the civil rights movement before we get there though I want to cut and see what
there though I want to cut and see what
there though I want to cut and see what kind of leaders we have in this room and
kind of leaders we have in this room and
kind of leaders we have in this room and how many of you are keyed into the
how many of you are keyed into the
how many of you are keyed into the issues how many of you who have been
issues how many of you who have been
issues how many of you who have been convicted of a crime and gone to jail or
convicted of a crime and gone to jail or
convicted of a crime and gone to jail or prison or guarana how many of you have a
prison or guarana how many of you have a
prison or guarana how many of you have a family member or a friend who’s been
family member or a friend who’s been
family member or a friend who’s been convicted of a crime or is in prison few
convicted of a crime or is in prison few
convicted of a crime or is in prison few more how many of you are appalled at the
more how many of you are appalled at the
more how many of you are appalled at the numbers and at the functioning of our
numbers and at the functioning of our
numbers and at the functioning of our criminal justice system today how many
criminal justice system today how many
criminal justice system today how many of you would like to do something but
of you would like to do something but
of you would like to do something but you don’t know what good because each
you don’t know what good because each
you don’t know what good because each one of you can do something we think
one of you can do something we think
one of you can do something we think about the civil rights movement we think
about the civil rights movement we think
about the civil rights movement we think about these big marches in these big
about these big marches in these big
about these big marches in these big speeches these big protests but the
speeches these big protests but the
speeches these big protests but the civil rights movement was so much more
civil rights movement was so much more
civil rights movement was so much more than that it was young children leaving
than that it was young children leaving
than that it was young children leaving their schools and flooding the jails in
their schools and flooding the jails in
their schools and flooding the jails in Birmingham Alabama it was the death of
Birmingham Alabama it was the death of
Birmingham Alabama it was the death of four young girls and Birmingham in a
four young girls and Birmingham in a
four young girls and Birmingham in a church it was a death of one young boy
church it was a death of one young boy
church it was a death of one young boy in a swamp bed in Mississippi that
in a swamp bed in Mississippi that
in a swamp bed in Mississippi that everybody saw in the news it was the
everybody saw in the news it was the
everybody saw in the news it was the people who went and volunteered with the
people who went and volunteered with the
people who went and volunteered with the Freedom Riders and Markson
Freedom Riders and Markson
Freedom Riders and Markson streets it was the teachers it was the
streets it was the teachers it was the
streets it was the teachers it was the students it was the people sitting at
students it was the people sitting at
students it was the people sitting at home watching the news picking up the
home watching the news picking up the
home watching the news picking up the phone calling a local official having
phone calling a local official having
phone calling a local official having conversations and schools and churches
conversations and schools and churches
conversations and schools and churches and in homes it was people who didn’t
and in homes it was people who didn’t
and in homes it was people who didn’t have the right to vote
have the right to vote
have the right to vote having people who had the privilege to
having people who had the privilege to
having people who had the privilege to do so come and represent them in a way
do so come and represent them in a way
do so come and represent them in a way that gave them the power that’s what the
that gave them the power that’s what the
that gave them the power that’s what the Civil Rights was about and that’s why
Civil Rights was about and that’s why
Civil Rights was about and that’s why you were all acquitted
now if 19 years old I remember standing
now if 19 years old I remember standing in front of a police officer handing him
in front of a police officer handing him
in front of a police officer handing him money and drugs and drug paraphernalia
money and drugs and drug paraphernalia
money and drugs and drug paraphernalia thinking in my mind that my life was
thinking in my mind that my life was
thinking in my mind that my life was about to end
about to end
about to end why not because I knew anything about
why not because I knew anything about
why not because I knew anything about the criminal justice system but I knew
the criminal justice system but I knew
the criminal justice system but I knew that I might get grounded
that I might get grounded
that I might get grounded I knew that my car might get taken away
I knew that my car might get taken away
I knew that my car might get taken away I knew that I might not be able to go
I knew that I might not be able to go
I knew that I might not be able to go back to school but I was standing there
back to school but I was standing there
back to school but I was standing there thinking God my life is over I had no
thinking God my life is over I had no
thinking God my life is over I had no idea how close I was to the edge I
idea how close I was to the edge I
idea how close I was to the edge I didn’t know that if I had been convicted
didn’t know that if I had been convicted
didn’t know that if I had been convicted that crime would have convicted felon I
that crime would have convicted felon I
that crime would have convicted felon I would have lost the ability to go to
would have lost the ability to go to
would have lost the ability to go to college the next year and probably a
college the next year and probably a
college the next year and probably a year after that and probably thereafter
year after that and probably thereafter
year after that and probably thereafter that I didn’t know that if I lived in
that I didn’t know that if I lived in
that I didn’t know that if I lived in another zip code and I was convicted
another zip code and I was convicted
another zip code and I was convicted drug felon I would have lost my
drug felon I would have lost my
drug felon I would have lost my opportunity of public housing forcing me
opportunity of public housing forcing me
opportunity of public housing forcing me out on the street I didn’t know that I
out on the street I didn’t know that I
out on the street I didn’t know that I would have gone on probation had a 75%
would have gone on probation had a 75%
would have gone on probation had a 75% likelihood of violating within the first
likelihood of violating within the first
likelihood of violating within the first six months and that that violation would
six months and that that violation would
six months and that that violation would have entered me up at least the house of
have entered me up at least the house of
have entered me up at least the house of correction if not state prison and then
correction if not state prison and then
correction if not state prison and then coming out of that house of correction
coming out of that house of correction
coming out of that house of correction in state prison I would have been in an
in state prison I would have been in an
in state prison I would have been in an environment that would were required me
environment that would were required me
environment that would were required me to go back a drug dealer and something
to go back a drug dealer and something
to go back a drug dealer and something worse and then something worse usually
worse and then something worse usually
worse and then something worse usually meant physical violence against another
meant physical violence against another
meant physical violence against another person by stealing something and from
person by stealing something and from
person by stealing something and from there the cycle continued and continued
there the cycle continued and continued
there the cycle continued and continued and continuing until I was in safe
and continuing until I was in safe
and continuing until I was in safe prison for the rest of my life on your
prison for the rest of my life on your
prison for the rest of my life on your dollar I had no idea that that was going
dollar I had no idea that that was going
dollar I had no idea that that was going to happen but I knew something so bad
to happen but I knew something so bad
to happen but I knew something so bad was going to happen I was standing on
was going to happen I was standing on
was going to happen I was standing on the edge of my life and then I did I was
the edge of my life and then I did I was
the edge of my life and then I did I was allowed to go back to college I was
allowed to go back to college I was
allowed to go back to college I was allowed to go to law school I graduated
allowed to go to law school I graduated
allowed to go to law school I graduated from law school with honors I went on to
from law school with honors I went on to
from law school with honors I went on to get one of the most prestigious jobs in
get one of the most prestigious jobs in
get one of the most prestigious jobs in the country as an assistant district
the country as an assistant district
the country as an assistant district attorney and
attorney and
attorney and County district attorneys in Boston and
County district attorneys in Boston and
County district attorneys in Boston and a highly decorated Korean within the
a highly decorated Korean within the
a highly decorated Korean within the last year I’ve sat with celebrities with
last year I’ve sat with celebrities with
last year I’ve sat with celebrities with athletes with musicians with secretaries
athletes with musicians with secretaries
athletes with musicians with secretaries of state with the 44th cars in the
of state with the 44th cars in the
of state with the 44th cars in the United States Barack Obama advising him
United States Barack Obama advising him
United States Barack Obama advising him on the criminal justice reform bill
on the criminal justice reform bill
on the criminal justice reform bill how did that happen because that police
how did that happen because that police
how did that happen because that police officer did it stop me stop me in my
officer did it stop me stop me in my
officer did it stop me stop me in my living a police officer but it’s got me
living a police officer but it’s got me
living a police officer but it’s got me it was white a police officer that
it was white a police officer that
it was white a police officer that stopped me was my father and because my
stopped me was my father and because my
stopped me was my father and because my father and my mother were the most
father and my mother were the most
father and my mother were the most wonderful people and they adopted brown
wonderful people and they adopted brown
wonderful people and they adopted brown children I was protected with the shield
children I was protected with the shield
children I was protected with the shield of white privilege and that privilege is
of white privilege and that privilege is
of white privilege and that privilege is what protected me from the depths of the
what protected me from the depths of the
what protected me from the depths of the criminal justice system just by growing
criminal justice system just by growing
criminal justice system just by growing up in a different zip code and just by
up in a different zip code and just by
up in a different zip code and just by having parents who didn’t see me the way
having parents who didn’t see me the way
having parents who didn’t see me the way that the rest of the world did because
that the rest of the world did because
that the rest of the world did because if I had grown up in another place in
if I had grown up in another place in
if I had grown up in another place in another zip code I would fallen down
another zip code I would fallen down
another zip code I would fallen down that rabbit hole because the shield I
that rabbit hole because the shield I
that rabbit hole because the shield I had of that privilege which most of the
had of that privilege which most of the
had of that privilege which most of the people in this room carry with you every
people in this room carry with you every
people in this room carry with you every single day I’m here before you that’s
single day I’m here before you that’s
single day I’m here before you that’s why you were to position to be the new
why you were to position to be the new
why you were to position to be the new civil rights leaders of our time because
civil rights leaders of our time because
civil rights leaders of our time because in my career I’ve had the opportunity to
in my career I’ve had the opportunity to
in my career I’ve had the opportunity to meet lots of men like me in fact the
meet lots of men like me in fact the
meet lots of men like me in fact the young man named David when I met him he
young man named David when I met him he
young man named David when I met him he was 19 years old he lived in one of the
was 19 years old he lived in one of the
was 19 years old he lived in one of the worst projects in Boston he lived there
worst projects in Boston he lived there
worst projects in Boston he lived there with his three older brothers and his
with his three older brothers and his
with his three older brothers and his mother he was nearly homeless and to put
mother he was nearly homeless and to put
mother he was nearly homeless and to put money and food on the table he was out
money and food on the table he was out
money and food on the table he was out selling drugs he got caught yucch
selling drugs he got caught yucch
selling drugs he got caught yucch probation he got arrested then he got
probation he got arrested then he got
probation he got arrested then he got probation and he violated then he came
probation and he violated then he came
probation and he violated then he came out join a gang the gang robbing stolen
out join a gang the gang robbing stolen
out join a gang the gang robbing stolen did bad things to people but he was
did bad things to people but he was
did bad things to people but he was doing it not because he was a bad person
doing it not because he was a bad person
doing it not because he was a bad person but because he missed out on all of
but because he missed out on all of
but because he missed out on all of these opportunities just because of
these opportunities just because of
these opportunities just because of where he lived and he continued to do
where he lived and he continued to do
where he lived and he continued to do bad things to continue to go to prison
bad things to continue to go to prison
bad things to continue to go to prison he continued to come out and still be in
he continued to come out and still be in
he continued to come out and still be in this gang and then one day when he’s 26
this gang and then one day when he’s 26
this gang and then one day when he’s 26 years old David died on a sidewalk david
years old David died on a sidewalk david
years old David died on a sidewalk david was one of the brightest young men that
was one of the brightest young men that
was one of the brightest young men that I knew two weeks ago as an Angola prison
I knew two weeks ago as an Angola prison
I knew two weeks ago as an Angola prison one of the worst prisons in our country
one of the worst prisons in our country
one of the worst prisons in our country in Louisiana and there I met 50 men all
in Louisiana and there I met 50 men all
in Louisiana and there I met 50 men all serving life without parole sentences
serving life without parole sentences
serving life without parole sentences for crimes they’d commit
for crimes they’d commit
for crimes they’d commit before the age of 17 I met a man who’s
before the age of 17 I met a man who’s
before the age of 17 I met a man who’s been in prison for stealing a purse from
been in prison for stealing a purse from
been in prison for stealing a purse from a woman by gunpoint and I don’t want to
a woman by gunpoint and I don’t want to
a woman by gunpoint and I don’t want to diminish his crime or the feeling that
diminish his crime or the feeling that
diminish his crime or the feeling that the victim had in that case but when I
the victim had in that case but when I
the victim had in that case but when I was speaking to this man he was telling
was speaking to this man he was telling
was speaking to this man he was telling me about how he lost his five brothers
me about how he lost his five brothers
me about how he lost his five brothers while he was in prison while he lost his
while he was in prison while he lost his
while he was in prison while he lost his three sisters while he was in prison
three sisters while he was in prison
three sisters while he was in prison while he lost his father while he was in
while he lost his father while he was in
while he lost his father while he was in prison and that he was up for parole
prison and that he was up for parole
prison and that he was up for parole next month but he didn’t think he was
next month but he didn’t think he was
next month but he didn’t think he was going to get it he was 53 years old not
going to get it he was 53 years old not
going to get it he was 53 years old not because he was a bad person not because
because he was a bad person not because
because he was a bad person not because he was a violent evil person but because
he was a violent evil person but because
he was a violent evil person but because he didn’t have the privilege that I had
so what are we gonna do I became a
so what are we gonna do I became a prosecutor because I realized I could
prosecutor because I realized I could
prosecutor because I realized I could use the privilege that I got not only as
use the privilege that I got not only as
use the privilege that I got not only as a shield to myself maybe others around
a shield to myself maybe others around
a shield to myself maybe others around me but as a sword to fight the people
me but as a sword to fight the people
me but as a sword to fight the people that were trying to take it away from
that were trying to take it away from
that were trying to take it away from these folks you can do that you don’t
these folks you can do that you don’t
these folks you can do that you don’t even need to go to law school let me
even need to go to law school let me
even need to go to law school let me tell you that science tells us that when
tell you that science tells us that when
tell you that science tells us that when a baby’s in utero and the mother is
a baby’s in utero and the mother is
a baby’s in utero and the mother is suffering from any type of trauma or
suffering from any type of trauma or
suffering from any type of trauma or stress including homelessness or just
stress including homelessness or just
stress including homelessness or just not being able to get a job or not being
not being able to get a job or not being
not being able to get a job or not being able to take care of a nutritionally a
able to take care of a nutritionally a
able to take care of a nutritionally a child has a very strong likelihood of
child has a very strong likelihood of
child has a very strong likelihood of ending up in the criminal justice from
ending up in the criminal justice from
ending up in the criminal justice from the ages of zero to three seventy-five
the ages of zero to three seventy-five
the ages of zero to three seventy-five percent of people in jail and have had
percent of people in jail and have had
percent of people in jail and have had at least three interactions with the
at least three interactions with the
at least three interactions with the child welfare system seventy-five
child welfare system seventy-five
child welfare system seventy-five percent of the people sitting in jail
percent of the people sitting in jail
percent of the people sitting in jail right now
right now
right now when they were infants we’re telling us
when they were infants we’re telling us
when they were infants we’re telling us when they’re in the child welfare system
when they’re in the child welfare system
when they’re in the child welfare system I’m gonna go to prison unless you do
I’m gonna go to prison unless you do
I’m gonna go to prison unless you do something right now come take care of me
something right now come take care of me
something right now come take care of me come read to me come hold me do
come read to me come hold me do
come read to me come hold me do something and then those kids go into
something and then those kids go into
something and then those kids go into elementary school by the time they reach
elementary school by the time they reach
elementary school by the time they reach the first grade kids in the inner city
the first grade kids in the inner city
the first grade kids in the inner city have heard thirty million less words
have heard thirty million less words
have heard thirty million less words than kids in the suburbs kids in the
than kids in the suburbs kids in the
than kids in the suburbs kids in the inner city have been read to on average
inner city have been read to on average
inner city have been read to on average 24 hours from the time they’re 0 until
24 hours from the time they’re 0 until
24 hours from the time they’re 0 until the time they’re 6 kids in the suburb
the time they’re 6 kids in the suburb
the time they’re 6 kids in the suburb that number is 1800 that gap in literacy
that number is 1800 that gap in literacy
that number is 1800 that gap in literacy that gap and having someone sit there
that gap and having someone sit there
that gap and having someone sit there and read with
and read with
and read with you to share words with you talk to you
you to share words with you talk to you
you to share words with you talk to you show you some attention and love that
show you some attention and love that
show you some attention and love that disparity directly correlates in
disparity directly correlates in
disparity directly correlates in trajectory into the criminal justice
trajectory into the criminal justice
trajectory into the criminal justice system and by the time they reach middle
system and by the time they reach middle
system and by the time they reach middle school having lost the opportunities
school having lost the opportunities
school having lost the opportunities kids don’t have the opportunity to read
kids don’t have the opportunity to read
kids don’t have the opportunity to read learn from reading in middle school
learn from reading in middle school
learn from reading in middle school we’re not smart enough we’re not
we’re not smart enough we’re not
we’re not smart enough we’re not developed enough to say listen mister
developed enough to say listen mister
developed enough to say listen mister I’m having a problem understanding I
I’m having a problem understanding I
I’m having a problem understanding I didn’t learn how to read so I can’t
didn’t learn how to read so I can’t
didn’t learn how to read so I can’t learn from reading please help me that’s
learn from reading please help me that’s
learn from reading please help me that’s not what we do when we’re in middle
not what we do when we’re in middle
not what we do when we’re in middle school what do we do we act up we throw
school what do we do we act up we throw
school what do we do we act up we throw things with a class clown when we sit
things with a class clown when we sit
things with a class clown when we sit the back and we fall asleep those kids
the back and we fall asleep those kids
the back and we fall asleep those kids because they’re failing in school age
because they’re failing in school age
because they’re failing in school age have direct path in the criminal justice
have direct path in the criminal justice
have direct path in the criminal justice system and what does we do it what do we
system and what does we do it what do we
system and what does we do it what do we do as adults we punish them we suspend
do as adults we punish them we suspend
do as adults we punish them we suspend them we expel them and by the time
them we expel them and by the time
them we expel them and by the time that’s happened two or three or four
that’s happened two or three or four
that’s happened two or three or four times they’re so disengaged in school
times they’re so disengaged in school
times they’re so disengaged in school but it’s time to get the high school
but it’s time to get the high school
but it’s time to get the high school they have the opportunity to drop out we
they have the opportunity to drop out we
they have the opportunity to drop out we wonder why do you not want to come back
wonder why do you not want to come back
wonder why do you not want to come back to this place what do they do they seek
to this place what do they do they seek
to this place what do they do they seek out other young men and women like them
out other young men and women like them
out other young men and women like them because those young men and women won’t
because those young men and women won’t
because those young men and women won’t love them and give them loyalty and
love them and give them loyalty and
love them and give them loyalty and respect when I was in high school and I
respect when I was in high school and I
respect when I was in high school and I searched that out when I was looking for
searched that out when I was looking for
searched that out when I was looking for those young men that I loved and I would
those young men that I loved and I would
those young men that I loved and I would do anything for and we’d go out on
do anything for and we’d go out on
do anything for and we’d go out on Friday nights and we’d commit violence
Friday nights and we’d commit violence
Friday nights and we’d commit violence against groups of other men we called
against groups of other men we called
against groups of other men we called that a football team
but in the inner city that’s called a
but in the inner city that’s called a gang not because of the violent inherent
gang not because of the violent inherent
gang not because of the violent inherent nature of these kids but because of the
nature of these kids but because of the
nature of these kids but because of the resource the zip code and the color of
resource the zip code and the color of
resource the zip code and the color of their skin and then those gangs get
their skin and then those gangs get
their skin and then those gangs get shook down there more arrested there
shook down there more arrested there
shook down there more arrested there more prosecutors are more detained and
more prosecutors are more detained and
more prosecutors are more detained and finally finally when they commit that
finally finally when they commit that
finally finally when they commit that bad act we sit there and point our
bad act we sit there and point our
bad act we sit there and point our fingers at them and we punish them for
fingers at them and we punish them for
fingers at them and we punish them for their failure you screwed up
their failure you screwed up
their failure you screwed up we absolve ourselves of all the failures
we absolve ourselves of all the failures
we absolve ourselves of all the failures that we made as adults along the way by
that we made as adults along the way by
that we made as adults along the way by simply not having a conversation by
simply not having a conversation by
simply not having a conversation by simply not taking the time to volunteer
simply not taking the time to volunteer
simply not taking the time to volunteer to do something anything that each of
to do something anything that each of
to do something anything that each of you can do as the new civil rights
you can do as the new civil rights
you can do as the new civil rights leaders 50 years from now we’re gonna
leaders 50 years from now we’re gonna
leaders 50 years from now we’re gonna look back in this period of time much
look back in this period of time much
look back in this period of time much like we’d sit here and look back 50
like we’d sit here and look back 50
like we’d sit here and look back 50 years we’re gonna look back into 2.2
years we’re gonna look back into 2.2
years we’re gonna look back into 2.2 million people in jail you were you have
million people in jail you were you have
million people in jail you were you have the government killing people 50% of
the government killing people 50% of
the government killing people 50% of your population in jail only represent a
your population in jail only represent a
your population in jail only represent a 14% of the population and you just stood
14% of the population and you just stood
14% of the population and you just stood by 50 years from now they’re gonna be
by 50 years from now they’re gonna be
by 50 years from now they’re gonna be saying that and you’ll have one choice
saying that and you’ll have one choice
saying that and you’ll have one choice in it how do you want to be remembered
in it how do you want to be remembered
in it how do you want to be remembered because the dr. King said in the future
because the dr. King said in the future
because the dr. King said in the future we will not remember the words of our
we will not remember the words of our
we will not remember the words of our enemies will remember the silence of our
enemies will remember the silence of our
enemies will remember the silence of our friends so in 50 years from now it’s up
friends so in 50 years from now it’s up
friends so in 50 years from now it’s up to you do you want to be remembered as
to you do you want to be remembered as
to you do you want to be remembered as the person who stood silent apparently
the person who stood silent apparently
the person who stood silent apparently yes you answer yeah
50 years from now when we look back on
50 years from now when we look back on this period of our time in this period
this period of our time in this period
this period of our time in this period in our history do you want to be
in our history do you want to be
in our history do you want to be remembered as someone who remain silent
remembered as someone who remain silent
remembered as someone who remain silent do you want to be remembered as someone
do you want to be remembered as someone
do you want to be remembered as someone who took the time to take a pregnant
who took the time to take a pregnant
who took the time to take a pregnant mother and ask her if she needed
mother and ask her if she needed
mother and ask her if she needed something do you want to be someone that
something do you want to be someone that
something do you want to be someone that took the time to take a kid and go to an
took the time to take a kid and go to an
took the time to take a kid and go to an elementary school in the morning instead
elementary school in the morning instead
elementary school in the morning instead of maybe the yoga cap class and read to
of maybe the yoga cap class and read to
of maybe the yoga cap class and read to a child for 30 minutes do you want to be
a child for 30 minutes do you want to be
a child for 30 minutes do you want to be the one that can volunteer after school
the one that can volunteer after school
the one that can volunteer after school kids were having trouble learning from
kids were having trouble learning from
kids were having trouble learning from reading do you want to be the one that
reading do you want to be the one that
reading do you want to be the one that takes the time to volunteer in an
takes the time to volunteer in an
takes the time to volunteer in an after-school program do you want to be
after-school program do you want to be
after-school program do you want to be the one it takes the time just to have a
the one it takes the time just to have a
the one it takes the time just to have a conversation with a neighbor that might
conversation with a neighbor that might
conversation with a neighbor that might disagree with you just have a
disagree with you just have a
disagree with you just have a conversation the neighbor that you might
conversation the neighbor that you might
conversation the neighbor that you might not look like just to invite someone
not look like just to invite someone
not look like just to invite someone into your neighborhood or even better go
into your neighborhood or even better go
into your neighborhood or even better go into theirs and try to find out and
into theirs and try to find out and
into theirs and try to find out and understand something about their life so
understand something about their life so
understand something about their life so that you can use your sword you can use
that you can use your sword you can use
that you can use your sword you can use your shield you can use your privilege
your shield you can use your privilege
your shield you can use your privilege to give them the opportunity to be in
to give them the opportunity to be in
to give them the opportunity to be in this room and not locked up in prison do
this room and not locked up in prison do
this room and not locked up in prison do you want to do that so who is going to
you want to do that so who is going to
you want to do that so who is going to in 50 years from now you’ll be able to
in 50 years from now you’ll be able to
in 50 years from now you’ll be able to remember that some of them remain silent
remember that some of them remain silent
remember that some of them remain silent and someone who’s a leader in a new
and someone who’s a leader in a new
and someone who’s a leader in a new civil rights movement I encourage you I
civil rights movement I encourage you I
civil rights movement I encourage you I thank you I plead you to join me join
thank you I plead you to join me join
thank you I plead you to join me join everyone else that has been committed
everyone else that has been committed
everyone else that has been committed and stand there in 50 years or lay there
and stand there in 50 years or lay there
and stand there in 50 years or lay there and be remembered and someone who didn’t
and be remembered and someone who didn’t
and be remembered and someone who didn’t remain silent and someone who did
remain silent and someone who did
remain silent and someone who did something thank you let’s get to work
something thank you let’s get to work
something thank you let’s get to work [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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