today I’m going to be talking about something that I’m sure that you’ve all
something that I’m sure that you’ve all
something that I’m sure that you’ve all experienced or heard about and that is
experienced or heard about and that is
experienced or heard about and that is stereotypes imagine walking into a
stereotypes imagine walking into a
stereotypes imagine walking into a clothing store to do some shopping
clothing store to do some shopping
clothing store to do some shopping you’ve been here a thousand times before
you’ve been here a thousand times before
you’ve been here a thousand times before with your family and friends and never
with your family and friends and never
with your family and friends and never had an issue you have plenty of cash in
had an issue you have plenty of cash in
had an issue you have plenty of cash in your credit card and have no reason to
your credit card and have no reason to
your credit card and have no reason to feel uncomfortable yet as you look
feel uncomfortable yet as you look
feel uncomfortable yet as you look through the clothes for something that
through the clothes for something that
through the clothes for something that catches your eye you get the
catches your eye you get the
catches your eye you get the all-too-familiar feeling of someone
all-too-familiar feeling of someone
all-too-familiar feeling of someone watching you you stand up and you see a
watching you you stand up and you see a
watching you you stand up and you see a store employee quickly turning away from
store employee quickly turning away from
store employee quickly turning away from you acting as if they weren’t monitoring
you acting as if they weren’t monitoring
you acting as if they weren’t monitoring you as soon as you enter the store for
you as soon as you enter the store for
you as soon as you enter the store for fear of unwanted theft let me present
fear of unwanted theft let me present
fear of unwanted theft let me present you with another example you have to
you with another example you have to
you with another example you have to deliver a presentation for your history
deliver a presentation for your history
deliver a presentation for your history class on a certain topic the day the
class on a certain topic the day the
class on a certain topic the day the project is due you wear a button-down in
project is due you wear a button-down in
project is due you wear a button-down in khakis because you want to look
khakis because you want to look
khakis because you want to look especially nice for your presentation
especially nice for your presentation
especially nice for your presentation you get to school and you give your
you get to school and you give your
you get to school and you give your exposition to the class fairly confident
exposition to the class fairly confident
exposition to the class fairly confident in your preparation and your conveyance
in your preparation and your conveyance
in your preparation and your conveyance of your topic despite your success you
of your topic despite your success you
of your topic despite your success you feel as if something’s wrong the rest of
feel as if something’s wrong the rest of
feel as if something’s wrong the rest of the day your classmates tease you about
the day your classmates tease you about
the day your classmates tease you about acting white and dressing white many of
acting white and dressing white many of
acting white and dressing white many of your friends even characterize your
your friends even characterize your
your friends even characterize your diction as talking white because of how
diction as talking white because of how
diction as talking white because of how intelligent you sounded these scenarios
intelligent you sounded these scenarios
intelligent you sounded these scenarios and countless others like them are
and countless others like them are
and countless others like them are resultant of one of the most powerful
resultant of one of the most powerful
resultant of one of the most powerful and ubiquitous types of influence in our
and ubiquitous types of influence in our
and ubiquitous types of influence in our society today stereotypes stereotypes
society today stereotypes stereotypes
society today stereotypes stereotypes are everywhere and created for every
are everywhere and created for every
are everywhere and created for every distinctive characteristic there is
distinctive characteristic there is
distinctive characteristic there is religion gender socioeconomic status age
religion gender socioeconomic status age
religion gender socioeconomic status age place of origin etc and arguably the
place of origin etc and arguably the
place of origin etc and arguably the most divisive characteristic in our
most divisive characteristic in our
most divisive characteristic in our society racial or ethnic background now
society racial or ethnic background now
society racial or ethnic background now I’m sure that you’re all aware of the
I’m sure that you’re all aware of the
I’m sure that you’re all aware of the importance of a first impression
importance of a first impression
importance of a first impression according to recent studies it shows
according to recent studies it shows
according to recent studies it shows that it takes approximately seven
that it takes approximately seven
that it takes approximately seven seconds for someone to make an
seconds for someone to make an
seconds for someone to make an impression of you in these seven seconds
impression of you in these seven seconds
impression of you in these seven seconds people will ultimately make up their
people will ultimately make up their
people will ultimately make up their mind about who you are and the kind of
mind about who you are and the kind of
mind about who you are and the kind of relationship that you’re likely to have
relationship that you’re likely to have
relationship that you’re likely to have with them but what you may not know is
with them but what you may not know is
with them but what you may not know is that
that
that stereotypes have a great effect on your
stereotypes have a great effect on your
stereotypes have a great effect on your perceptions of others even if
perceptions of others even if
perceptions of others even if unintentionally we create ideas about
unintentionally we create ideas about
unintentionally we create ideas about who people are before we even get the
who people are before we even get the
who people are before we even get the chance to meet them because of initial
chance to meet them because of initial
chance to meet them because of initial misconceptions that we have about the
misconceptions that we have about the
misconceptions that we have about the demographic that they belong to these
demographic that they belong to these
demographic that they belong to these stereotypes are unstated all throughout
stereotypes are unstated all throughout
stereotypes are unstated all throughout of sistah all throughout society and I
of sistah all throughout society and I
of sistah all throughout society and I myself have experienced them in school
myself have experienced them in school
myself have experienced them in school in the real world and in multiple other
in the real world and in multiple other
in the real world and in multiple other situations now I’m sure that all of you
situations now I’m sure that all of you
situations now I’m sure that all of you have some sort of some type of social
have some sort of some type of social
have some sort of some type of social media snapchat Instagram Twitter and for
media snapchat Instagram Twitter and for
media snapchat Instagram Twitter and for the older folks in the room Facebook and
the older folks in the room Facebook and
the older folks in the room Facebook and even if you don’t have some type of
even if you don’t have some type of
even if you don’t have some type of social media you likely use the Internet
social media you likely use the Internet
social media you likely use the Internet play on the computer call others on your
play on the computer call others on your
play on the computer call others on your phone you know you use electronics in
phone you know you use electronics in
phone you know you use electronics in some sort of way and even though this
some sort of way and even though this
some sort of way and even though this technological interconnectivity has
technological interconnectivity has
technological interconnectivity has granted us so many new opportunities in
granted us so many new opportunities in
granted us so many new opportunities in the real world
the real world
the real world they have also contributed to the
they have also contributed to the
they have also contributed to the reiteration and the development of
reiteration and the development of
reiteration and the development of stereotypes against everyone in our
stereotypes against everyone in our
stereotypes against everyone in our society no matter how flawless you or
society no matter how flawless you or
society no matter how flawless you or others may deem you to be there are
others may deem you to be there are
others may deem you to be there are stereotypes directed against you even if
stereotypes directed against you even if
stereotypes directed against you even if you’re not aware of them now am I saying
you’re not aware of them now am I saying
you’re not aware of them now am I saying that all stereotypes are negative of
that all stereotypes are negative of
that all stereotypes are negative of course not
course not
course not there are numerous positive stereotypes
there are numerous positive stereotypes
there are numerous positive stereotypes as well as negative for nearly every
as well as negative for nearly every
as well as negative for nearly every group within a population am I saying
group within a population am I saying
group within a population am I saying that only young african-american men
that only young african-american men
that only young african-american men have to cope with negative pre-existing
have to cope with negative pre-existing
have to cope with negative pre-existing perceptions of themselves of course not
perceptions of themselves of course not
perceptions of themselves of course not I’m sure that there are so many of you
I’m sure that there are so many of you
I’m sure that there are so many of you who aren’t who also experience negative
who aren’t who also experience negative
who aren’t who also experience negative stereotypes but I am an informed young
stereotypes but I am an informed young
stereotypes but I am an informed young black man and the country of the United
black man and the country of the United
black man and the country of the United States of America and it is my job to
States of America and it is my job to
States of America and it is my job to inform you of what I know to be true and
inform you of what I know to be true and
inform you of what I know to be true and what countless others are oblivious to
what countless others are oblivious to
what countless others are oblivious to now I am constantly constantly
now I am constantly constantly
now I am constantly constantly surrounded by other people in their
surrounded by other people in their
surrounded by other people in their conflicting ideals about Who I am and
conflicting ideals about Who I am and
conflicting ideals about Who I am and who I should be why do you act so white
who I should be why do you act so white
who I should be why do you act so white why do you dress so white why do you
why do you dress so white why do you
why do you dress so white why do you talk as if you’re white
talk as if you’re white
talk as if you’re white you can all see me I’m clearly not white
you can all see me I’m clearly not white
you can all see me I’m clearly not white I don’t understand why this continued
I don’t understand why this continued
I don’t understand why this continued perception follows me everywhere I go
perception follows me everywhere I go
perception follows me everywhere I go the idea that my intelligence my
the idea that my intelligence my
the idea that my intelligence my demeanor my poise or the life that God’s
demeanor my poise or the life that God’s
demeanor my poise or the life that God’s blessed me with and someone makes me
blessed me with and someone makes me
blessed me with and someone makes me separate from my own identity that being
separate from my own identity that being
separate from my own identity that being someone who is intelligent or ambitious
someone who is intelligent or ambitious
someone who is intelligent or ambitious somehow is only identified as white that
somehow is only identified as white that
somehow is only identified as white that being black and possessing these same
being black and possessing these same
being black and possessing these same traits is inconceivable is insulting
traits is inconceivable is insulting
traits is inconceivable is insulting ignorant and frankly instilled in the
ignorant and frankly instilled in the
ignorant and frankly instilled in the minds of so many people in the United
minds of so many people in the United
minds of so many people in the United States today the majority and minorities
States today the majority and minorities
States today the majority and minorities now this idea of blackness has been has
now this idea of blackness has been has
now this idea of blackness has been has been perpetuated through our society
been perpetuated through our society
been perpetuated through our society since the early 1970s in the birth of
since the early 1970s in the birth of
since the early 1970s in the birth of early modern rap and hip-hop the origins
early modern rap and hip-hop the origins
early modern rap and hip-hop the origins of the genre of music was to talk about
of the genre of music was to talk about
of the genre of music was to talk about the struggles in the real life
the struggles in the real life
the struggles in the real life situations of blacks in America and a
situations of blacks in America and a
situations of blacks in America and a creative outlet for a creative outlet
creative outlet for a creative outlet
creative outlet for a creative outlet for the voices of a people now as time
for the voices of a people now as time
for the voices of a people now as time has progressed the genre has become more
has progressed the genre has become more
has progressed the genre has become more and more centered towards less redeeming
and more centered towards less redeeming
and more centered towards less redeeming ideals
ideals
ideals although hip-hop and rap aren’t the only
although hip-hop and rap aren’t the only
although hip-hop and rap aren’t the only genres of music that black culture is
genres of music that black culture is
genres of music that black culture is pioneered they are the culture that most
pioneered they are the culture that most
pioneered they are the culture that most people affiliate they are the that is a
people affiliate they are the that is a
people affiliate they are the that is a genre that most people affiliate black
genre that most people affiliate black
genre that most people affiliate black culture with and as music has progressed
culture with and as music has progressed
culture with and as music has progressed to today we have as you probably know
to today we have as you probably know
to today we have as you probably know her lyrics and popular rap music that
her lyrics and popular rap music that
her lyrics and popular rap music that don’t contain positive or affirming
don’t contain positive or affirming
don’t contain positive or affirming messages but rather are centered towards
messages but rather are centered towards
messages but rather are centered towards violence or sex or abusive substances
violence or sex or abusive substances
violence or sex or abusive substances now I’m not saying that this transfer of
now I’m not saying that this transfer of
now I’m not saying that this transfer of self-expression to demoralisation and
self-expression to demoralisation and
self-expression to demoralisation and material goals materialistic goals is
material goals materialistic goals is
material goals materialistic goals is absolute I mean there are numerous
absolute I mean there are numerous
absolute I mean there are numerous rappers out there who still believe that
rappers out there who still believe that
rappers out there who still believe that music can be used as a voice of a people
music can be used as a voice of a people
music can be used as a voice of a people and the power of music itself one of my
and the power of music itself one of my
and the power of music itself one of my personal favorites being Kendrick Lamar
personal favorites being Kendrick Lamar
personal favorites being Kendrick Lamar this is way too crazy eh I do not know
this is way too crazy eh I do not know
this is way too crazy eh I do not know maybe a hey Obama pays me a and you know
maybe a hey Obama pays me a and you know
maybe a hey Obama pays me a and you know maybe a this is a grey poupon the
maybe a this is a grey poupon the
maybe a this is a grey poupon the beyond that TED talk now unfortunately
beyond that TED talk now unfortunately
beyond that TED talk now unfortunately artists such as Kendrick Lamar are
artists such as Kendrick Lamar are
artists such as Kendrick Lamar are considered outliers in the hip-hop
considered outliers in the hip-hop
considered outliers in the hip-hop industry today
industry today
industry today now this over this overarching
now this over this overarching
now this over this overarching identification of african-americans
identification of african-americans
identification of african-americans through music has led to the
through music has led to the
through music has led to the perpetuation of stereotypes against our
perpetuation of stereotypes against our
perpetuation of stereotypes against our people a powerful powerful example of
people a powerful powerful example of
people a powerful powerful example of how hip-hop music has of how hip-hop
how hip-hop music has of how hip-hop
how hip-hop music has of how hip-hop music has affected the lives of multiple
music has affected the lives of multiple
music has affected the lives of multiple many young black men in this country is
many young black men in this country is
many young black men in this country is the United States prison system now only
the United States prison system now only
the United States prison system now only 12 to 13 percent of this in United
12 to 13 percent of this in United
12 to 13 percent of this in United States is composed of African Americans
States is composed of African Americans
States is composed of African Americans yet 37% of the 2.2 million men in the
yet 37% of the 2.2 million men in the
yet 37% of the 2.2 million men in the United States prison system is composed
United States prison system is composed
United States prison system is composed of black men according to the n-double
of black men according to the n-double
of black men according to the n-double a-c-p approximately 1/3 of the 7 million
a-c-p approximately 1/3 of the 7 million
a-c-p approximately 1/3 of the 7 million people in prison are African American
people in prison are African American
people in prison are African American and the incarceration rate for blacks in
and the incarceration rate for blacks in
and the incarceration rate for blacks in this country is nearly six times that of
this country is nearly six times that of
this country is nearly six times that of whites well well you might be thinking
whites well well you might be thinking
whites well well you might be thinking maybe African Americans commit more
maybe African Americans commit more
maybe African Americans commit more crimes maybe that’s why the imprisonment
crimes maybe that’s why the imprisonment
crimes maybe that’s why the imprisonment rate is so high well according to the
rate is so high well according to the
rate is so high well according to the new york times sentencing sentencing for
new york times sentencing sentencing for
new york times sentencing sentencing for nearly identical crimes and nearly
nearly identical crimes and nearly
nearly identical crimes and nearly identical circumstances for a black man
identical circumstances for a black man
identical circumstances for a black man and a white man is two to three times as
and a white man is two to three times as
and a white man is two to three times as long for the african-american who
long for the african-american who
long for the african-american who committed the crime than the white man
committed the crime than the white man
committed the crime than the white man under the duration under the formula for
under the duration under the formula for
under the duration under the formula for the duration of one sentence of a black
the duration of one sentence of a black
the duration of one sentence of a black man and a white man score the same
man and a white man score the same
man and a white man score the same number of points a black man is
number of points a black man is
number of points a black man is sentenced to longer jail time in 60% of
sentenced to longer jail time in 60% of
sentenced to longer jail time in 60% of felony cases 68% of first-degree crimes
felony cases 68% of first-degree crimes
felony cases 68% of first-degree crimes and 45% of burglaries now I tell all of
and 45% of burglaries now I tell all of
and 45% of burglaries now I tell all of you this why you may ask why it’s
you this why you may ask why it’s
you this why you may ask why it’s important to us how can this affect us
important to us how can this affect us
important to us how can this affect us well systemic racism is too broad of an
well systemic racism is too broad of an
well systemic racism is too broad of an answer and neglects to a neglects to
answer and neglects to a neglects to
answer and neglects to a neglects to address why it’s still so prevalent in
address why it’s still so prevalent in
address why it’s still so prevalent in the justice system today well apart from
the justice system today well apart from
the justice system today well apart from lack of representation in the courts and
lack of representation in the courts and
lack of representation in the courts and when it comes to law the answer is that
when it comes to law the answer is that
when it comes to law the answer is that the answer is that it’s created this
the answer is that it’s created this
the answer is that it’s created this overarching identification of young
overarching identification of young
overarching identification of young black men as criminals and society
black men as criminals and society
black men as criminals and society that’s that’s society society’s
that’s that’s society society’s
that’s that’s society society’s perception of us which takes away from
perception of us which takes away from
perception of us which takes away from our opportunities and our abilities to
our opportunities and our abilities to
our opportunities and our abilities to be successful in this we are in
be successful in this we are in
be successful in this we are in proportion that we are
proportion that we are
proportion that we are disproportionately imprisoned and
disproportionately imprisoned and
disproportionately imprisoned and wrongly robbed of our lives which
wrongly robbed of our lives which
wrongly robbed of our lives which doesn’t make any sense because we’re not
doesn’t make any sense because we’re not
doesn’t make any sense because we’re not able to show what we’re capable of in
able to show what we’re capable of in
able to show what we’re capable of in this world which everyone should have an
this world which everyone should have an
this world which everyone should have an opportunity to do another common
opportunity to do another common
opportunity to do another common misconception about young African
misconception about young African
misconception about young African Americans is what we can and can’t do
Americans is what we can and can’t do
Americans is what we can and can’t do when they go into the world who already
when they go into the world who already
when they go into the world who already knows what they want to do when they
knows what they want to do when they
knows what they want to do when they grow up you what do you want to do when
grow up you what do you want to do when
grow up you what do you want to do when you grow up be a surgeon that’s
you grow up be a surgeon that’s
you grow up be a surgeon that’s wonderful when you ask someone when you
wonderful when you ask someone when you
wonderful when you ask someone when you ask someone in of African American
ask someone in of African American
ask someone in of African American descent what they want to be many people
descent what they want to be many people
descent what they want to be many people will expect them to say an athlete or an
will expect them to say an athlete or an
will expect them to say an athlete or an actor and actress but few people expect
actor and actress but few people expect
actor and actress but few people expect us to as a people to pursue something
us to as a people to pursue something
us to as a people to pursue something intellectual or something that uses your
intellectual or something that uses your
intellectual or something that uses your brain so I’m very glad that you said
brain so I’m very glad that you said
brain so I’m very glad that you said surgeon I am a junior in high school and
surgeon I am a junior in high school and
surgeon I am a junior in high school and a Miss Tudor leadership in school in
a Miss Tudor leadership in school in
a Miss Tudor leadership in school in church and multiple nonprofit
church and multiple nonprofit
church and multiple nonprofit organizations I aspire to pursue a
organizations I aspire to pursue a
organizations I aspire to pursue a profession in international business
profession in international business
profession in international business following graduate school who is the
following graduate school who is the
following graduate school who is the world to tell me that I cannot achieve
world to tell me that I cannot achieve
world to tell me that I cannot achieve that simply because of the color of my
that simply because of the color of my
that simply because of the color of my skin in the world today we see so many
skin in the world today we see so many
skin in the world today we see so many images of powerful black men and women
images of powerful black men and women
images of powerful black men and women on television and in social media and
on television and in social media and
on television and in social media and they depict us but we always seem to
they depict us but we always seem to
they depict us but we always seem to follow a certain path in nearly all
follow a certain path in nearly all
follow a certain path in nearly all situations we are actors we are
situations we are actors we are
situations we are actors we are actresses but we’re athletes but where
actresses but we’re athletes but where
actresses but we’re athletes but where is our representation in the world of
is our representation in the world of
is our representation in the world of academia and knowledge there are so many
academia and knowledge there are so many
academia and knowledge there are so many bright young black people in this
bright young black people in this
bright young black people in this country and likely in this room who
country and likely in this room who
country and likely in this room who would refuse to embrace their
would refuse to embrace their
would refuse to embrace their intellectual curiosity rather to pursue
intellectual curiosity rather to pursue
intellectual curiosity rather to pursue a more glorified path which is success
a more glorified path which is success
a more glorified path which is success on the big screen or some athletic
on the big screen or some athletic
on the big screen or some athletic endeavor I instead I instead encourage
endeavor I instead I instead encourage
endeavor I instead I instead encourage you all to I instead encourage you all
you all to I instead encourage you all
you all to I instead encourage you all to pursue your dreams no matter what you
to pursue your dreams no matter what you
to pursue your dreams no matter what you look like no matter no matter what
look like no matter no matter what
look like no matter no matter what gender you are
gender you are
gender you are matter what race you are no matter what
matter what race you are no matter what
matter what race you are no matter what category you may fall into because
category you may fall into because
category you may fall into because success is not success is not contained
success is not success is not contained
success is not success is not contained to a certain category of people if the
to a certain category of people if the
to a certain category of people if the young african-american man says he wants
young african-american man says he wants
young african-american man says he wants to be an engineer or a lawyer or
to be an engineer or a lawyer or
to be an engineer or a lawyer or anything that uses his mind and caught
anything that uses his mind and caught
anything that uses his mind and caught contrary to what society expects him to
contrary to what society expects him to
contrary to what society expects him to pursue who are we to say that he cannot
pursue who are we to say that he cannot
pursue who are we to say that he cannot achieve this it is our goal as society
achieve this it is our goal as society
achieve this it is our goal as society to encourage him through determination
to encourage him through determination
to encourage him through determination and perseverance to be able to achieve
and perseverance to be able to achieve
and perseverance to be able to achieve anything that he wants to I’m sure that
anything that he wants to I’m sure that
anything that he wants to I’m sure that you all have experienced misconceptions
you all have experienced misconceptions
you all have experienced misconceptions about who you are and stereotypes about
about who you are and stereotypes about
about who you are and stereotypes about who you are and I’m sure that not all of
who you are and I’m sure that not all of
who you are and I’m sure that not all of them have been bad and you might have
them have been bad and you might have
them have been bad and you might have experienced good ones as well but I am a
experienced good ones as well but I am a
experienced good ones as well but I am a young african-american man and I am
young african-american man and I am
young african-american man and I am constantly being monitored and watched I
constantly being monitored and watched I
constantly being monitored and watched I am being watched to see if I trip up if
am being watched to see if I trip up if
am being watched to see if I trip up if I make a mistake I’m watched to see if I
I make a mistake I’m watched to see if I
I make a mistake I’m watched to see if I will fail because that’s what I am
will fail because that’s what I am
will fail because that’s what I am expected to do but I will continue to
expected to do but I will continue to
expected to do but I will continue to pursue my goals and nothing can deter me
pursue my goals and nothing can deter me
pursue my goals and nothing can deter me from the task at hand I have I have so
from the task at hand I have I have so
from the task at hand I have I have so many dreams and so many aspirations and
many dreams and so many aspirations and
many dreams and so many aspirations and I refuse to let the color of my skin
I refuse to let the color of my skin
I refuse to let the color of my skin impede my success stereotypes are away
impede my success stereotypes are away
impede my success stereotypes are away stereotypes are away that society
stereotypes are away that society
stereotypes are away that society creates opinions about who we are rather
creates opinions about who we are rather
creates opinions about who we are rather than you getting the opportunity to
than you getting the opportunity to
than you getting the opportunity to understand who people are themselves if
understand who people are themselves if
understand who people are themselves if you have this bias within your mind you
you have this bias within your mind you
you have this bias within your mind you couldn’t possibly understand how many
couldn’t possibly understand how many
couldn’t possibly understand how many amazing people there are in the world
amazing people there are in the world
amazing people there are in the world and the amazing opportunities for
and the amazing opportunities for
and the amazing opportunities for relationships that you can build and so
relationships that you can build and so
relationships that you can build and so I challenge you all to follow your dream
I challenge you all to follow your dream
I challenge you all to follow your dream no matter what the circumstance is and I
no matter what the circumstance is and I
no matter what the circumstance is and I challenge you to go out into the world
challenge you to go out into the world
challenge you to go out into the world with a lack of bias and an open heart
with a lack of bias and an open heart
with a lack of bias and an open heart and an open mind because you can develop
and an open mind because you can develop
and an open mind because you can develop relationships no matter where you go and
relationships no matter where you go and
relationships no matter where you go and who you talk to because the situation of
who you talk to because the situation of
who you talk to because the situation of who someone is is never truly as simple
who someone is is never truly as simple
who someone is is never truly as simple as black or white thank you
as black or white thank you
as black or white thank you [Applause]
”
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