good afternoon everyone last year around this time actually I
last year around this time actually I
last year around this time actually I was in the Philippines for about a week
was in the Philippines for about a week
was in the Philippines for about a week on a school that community service trip
on a school that community service trip
on a school that community service trip and I remember on the long bus ride from
and I remember on the long bus ride from
and I remember on the long bus ride from the airport I watched a movie now I
the airport I watched a movie now I
the airport I watched a movie now I couldn’t actually hear anything that was
couldn’t actually hear anything that was
couldn’t actually hear anything that was being said because the volume had been
being said because the volume had been
being said because the volume had been turned all the way down but the images
turned all the way down but the images
turned all the way down but the images spoke loudly enough there was an early
spoke loudly enough there was an early
spoke loudly enough there was an early 2000s movie Hollywood and it featured an
2000s movie Hollywood and it featured an
2000s movie Hollywood and it featured an african-american male just and be the
african-american male just and be the
african-american male just and be the actual embodiment of so many stereotypes
actual embodiment of so many stereotypes
actual embodiment of so many stereotypes about african-american men so he was
about african-american men so he was
about african-american men so he was dancing across the street and playing
dancing across the street and playing
dancing across the street and playing basketball and at some point in time he
basketball and at some point in time he
basketball and at some point in time he went to prison and then broke out of
went to prison and then broke out of
went to prison and then broke out of prison
prison
prison etc and I remember thinking to myself at
etc and I remember thinking to myself at
etc and I remember thinking to myself at the time what a typical man what a
the time what a typical man what a
the time what a typical man what a typical black man and as I heard myself
typical black man and as I heard myself
typical black man and as I heard myself think those thoughts a we were shocked
think those thoughts a we were shocked
think those thoughts a we were shocked came over me stereotyping generalizing
came over me stereotyping generalizing
came over me stereotyping generalizing these are things that I am actually so
these are things that I am actually so
these are things that I am actually so personally passionately against and yet
personally passionately against and yet
personally passionately against and yet there I was stereotyping and
there I was stereotyping and
there I was stereotyping and generalizing but more so that was a
generalizing but more so that was a
generalizing but more so that was a Eureka moment for me because it was what
Eureka moment for me because it was what
Eureka moment for me because it was what inspired me to write a compendium of
inspired me to write a compendium of
inspired me to write a compendium of poems that I’ll be presenting to the
poems that I’ll be presenting to the
poems that I’ll be presenting to the school community in April on the subject
school community in April on the subject
school community in April on the subject matter of stereotyping generalizing in
matter of stereotyping generalizing in
matter of stereotyping generalizing in the negative effects thereof and in the
the negative effects thereof and in the
the negative effects thereof and in the words of Nigerian author Chimamanda
words of Nigerian author Chimamanda
words of Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie the danger of the single
Ngozi Adichie the danger of the single
Ngozi Adichie the danger of the single story um it’s also why I’m here talking
story um it’s also why I’m here talking
story um it’s also why I’m here talking to you today
to you today
to you today in that moment I asked myself that if
in that moment I asked myself that if
in that moment I asked myself that if that simple negative image is what I had
that simple negative image is what I had
that simple negative image is what I had to find within myself as the typical
to find within myself as the typical
to find within myself as the typical black man then how did that affect how I
black man then how did that affect how I
black man then how did that affect how I saw my brother’s what did that mean
saw my brother’s what did that mean
saw my brother’s what did that mean about how
about how
about how so my uncle’s my cousin’s my friends my
so my uncle’s my cousin’s my friends my
so my uncle’s my cousin’s my friends my people myself
ladies and gentlemen that’s what I’m
ladies and gentlemen that’s what I’m here to discuss today
here to discuss today
here to discuss today you see negative stereotypes as
you see negative stereotypes as
you see negative stereotypes as constructed perpetuated by the media
constructed perpetuated by the media
constructed perpetuated by the media they don’t just affect the way the
they don’t just affect the way the
they don’t just affect the way the masses view marginalized groups within
masses view marginalized groups within
masses view marginalized groups within society they affect the ways that we
society they affect the ways that we
society they affect the ways that we members of these marginalized groups
members of these marginalized groups
members of these marginalized groups grow to view ourselves the liberties the
grow to view ourselves the liberties the
grow to view ourselves the liberties the limitations that we give ourselves and
limitations that we give ourselves and
limitations that we give ourselves and to address this matter I think I should
to address this matter I think I should
to address this matter I think I should tell you a bit about my context so my
tell you a bit about my context so my
tell you a bit about my context so my name is eluate emilio or any cagey
name is eluate emilio or any cagey
name is eluate emilio or any cagey midoriko or to me my very calm for short
midoriko or to me my very calm for short
midoriko or to me my very calm for short I was born in England as already said
I was born in England as already said
I was born in England as already said and I lived there until I was four and I
and I lived there until I was four and I
and I lived there until I was four and I moved back with my family to my home
moved back with my family to my home
moved back with my family to my home country Nigeria and moving back here
country Nigeria and moving back here
country Nigeria and moving back here with a number of challenges on a more
with a number of challenges on a more
with a number of challenges on a more personal level I remember that myself my
personal level I remember that myself my
personal level I remember that myself my brothers we were teased by a number of
brothers we were teased by a number of
brothers we were teased by a number of our peers at school because of our
our peers at school because of our
our peers at school because of our distinctly British accents I still have
distinctly British accents I still have
distinctly British accents I still have a bit of a trace of it not as much now
a bit of a trace of it not as much now
a bit of a trace of it not as much now as before and it’s interesting how at
as before and it’s interesting how at
as before and it’s interesting how at that age I was so teased but teachers
that age I was so teased but teachers
that age I was so teased but teachers adults people in places of authority
adults people in places of authority
adults people in places of authority would just smile when I spoke when my
would just smile when I spoke when my
would just smile when I spoke when my brothers smoked it was so endearing you
brothers smoked it was so endearing you
brothers smoked it was so endearing you know and what I found surprising was how
know and what I found surprising was how
know and what I found surprising was how much my accent to them made me more
much my accent to them made me more
much my accent to them made me more privileged and made me see more delicate
privileged and made me see more delicate
privileged and made me see more delicate more sophisticated the notion that they
more sophisticated the notion that they
more sophisticated the notion that they had that I hate the most was that my
had that I hate the most was that my
had that I hate the most was that my accent made me seem somewhat more
accent made me seem somewhat more
accent made me seem somewhat more intelligent and so how does this affect
intelligent and so how does this affect
intelligent and so how does this affect little Nigerian children you might ask
little Nigerian children you might ask
little Nigerian children you might ask why is this such an issue is because for
why is this such an issue is because for
why is this such an issue is because for example when two children have gone home
example when two children have gone home
example when two children have gone home and memory
and memory
and memory and practiced a poem just as much as one
and practiced a poem just as much as one
and practiced a poem just as much as one of another as one another and then they
of another as one another and then they
of another as one another and then they come back and present that to the class
come back and present that to the class
come back and present that to the class in the hopes that they can both be
in the hopes that they can both be
in the hopes that they can both be entered into the school poetry
entered into the school poetry
entered into the school poetry competition and yet one of them is
competition and yet one of them is
competition and yet one of them is turned down because the girl with a
turned down because the girl with a
turned down because the girl with a British accent quote unquote is a
British accent quote unquote is a
British accent quote unquote is a teacher actually said this sounds more
teacher actually said this sounds more
teacher actually said this sounds more intelligent that instills within them
intelligent that instills within them
intelligent that instills within them the mentality both of those children the
the mentality both of those children the
the mentality both of those children the mentality that what is of the West is
mentality that what is of the West is
mentality that what is of the West is what is best that a Nigerian accent or
what is best that a Nigerian accent or
what is best that a Nigerian accent or Nigerian manner Nigerian practices
Nigerian manner Nigerian practices
Nigerian manner Nigerian practices Nigerian context will never be
Nigerian context will never be
Nigerian context will never be comparable to in English and in a
comparable to in English and in a
comparable to in English and in a country where English is the official
country where English is the official
country where English is the official language therefore that someone
language therefore that someone
language therefore that someone insinuates than a Nigerian expressing
insinuates than a Nigerian expressing
insinuates than a Nigerian expressing themselves as a Nigerian accent may
themselves as a Nigerian accent may
themselves as a Nigerian accent may never be viewed as someone with this
never be viewed as someone with this
never be viewed as someone with this highest status or with as much to offer
highest status or with as much to offer
highest status or with as much to offer as one who speaks as an English accent
as one who speaks as an English accent
as one who speaks as an English accent see this post colonial mentality is one
see this post colonial mentality is one
see this post colonial mentality is one that manifests itself in so many ways
that manifests itself in so many ways
that manifests itself in so many ways that is just one of the examples and
that is just one of the examples and
that is just one of the examples and while we are no longer Nigeria that is a
while we are no longer Nigeria that is a
while we are no longer Nigeria that is a physical colony of Britain many
physical colony of Britain many
physical colony of Britain many Nigerians many Africans are having their
Nigerians many Africans are having their
Nigerians many Africans are having their minds in my opinion colonized by the
minds in my opinion colonized by the
minds in my opinion colonized by the media today now of course I can’t
media today now of course I can’t
media today now of course I can’t directly say that without taking into
directly say that without taking into
directly say that without taking into account the fact that colonization is
account the fact that colonization is
account the fact that colonization is not something that one can just throw
not something that one can just throw
not something that one can just throw out there’s being recreated because of a
out there’s being recreated because of a
out there’s being recreated because of a few media biases and assumptions of
few media biases and assumptions of
few media biases and assumptions of course not the effects of colonization
course not the effects of colonization
course not the effects of colonization are too great to quantify and I won’t
are too great to quantify and I won’t
are too great to quantify and I won’t simplify them as such also people can
simplify them as such also people can
simplify them as such also people can argue that what is happening today with
argue that what is happening today with
argue that what is happening today with the media and portrayals that are as an
the media and portrayals that are as an
the media and portrayals that are as an effect of the hierarchy of the racial
effect of the hierarchy of the racial
effect of the hierarchy of the racial hierarchy that has been embedded within
hierarchy that has been embedded within
hierarchy that has been embedded within so many post-colonial nation societies
so many post-colonial nation societies
so many post-colonial nation societies as an effect of colonization but what
as an effect of colonization but what
as an effect of colonization but what I’m here to discuss on negative images
I’m here to discuss on negative images
I’m here to discuss on negative images and their effects on members of
and their effects on members of
and their effects on members of like myself more often than not blacks
like myself more often than not blacks
like myself more often than not blacks are portrayed as dangerous or servile
are portrayed as dangerous or servile
are portrayed as dangerous or servile uneducated or unattractive in a lot of
uneducated or unattractive in a lot of
uneducated or unattractive in a lot of Western media and the thing is be it
Western media and the thing is be it
Western media and the thing is be it that doesn’t just affect the way we are
that doesn’t just affect the way we are
that doesn’t just affect the way we are portrayed in other countries because if
portrayed in other countries because if
portrayed in other countries because if you take Nigeria for example where I
you take Nigeria for example where I
you take Nigeria for example where I come from on the radio on the television
come from on the radio on the television
come from on the radio on the television on the internet these are the images
on the internet these are the images
on the internet these are the images that we see these are the shows that we
that we see these are the shows that we
that we see these are the shows that we watch the movies that we watch Hollywood
watch the movies that we watch Hollywood
watch the movies that we watch Hollywood is not something that is lost or trapped
is not something that is lost or trapped
is not something that is lost or trapped or boxed in to the United States for
or boxed in to the United States for
or boxed in to the United States for example it’s something that transcends
example it’s something that transcends
example it’s something that transcends borders of countries look at the images
borders of countries look at the images
borders of countries look at the images that we have of Africa in the media I’ve
that we have of Africa in the media I’ve
that we have of Africa in the media I’ve always had a hard time associating the
always had a hard time associating the
always had a hard time associating the images of abject poverty of violence at
images of abject poverty of violence at
images of abject poverty of violence at the media cells of Africa with my home
the media cells of Africa with my home
the media cells of Africa with my home in Nigeria and that’s what course can be
in Nigeria and that’s what course can be
in Nigeria and that’s what course can be attributed to the fact that I won’t lie
attributed to the fact that I won’t lie
attributed to the fact that I won’t lie I am privileged not just as a Nigerian
I am privileged not just as a Nigerian
I am privileged not just as a Nigerian not just as a black person or an African
not just as a black person or an African
not just as a black person or an African but as a human being I’m grateful to God
but as a human being I’m grateful to God
but as a human being I’m grateful to God for all of the things that I have and
for all of the things that I have and
for all of the things that I have and the fact that I haven’t been exposed to
the fact that I haven’t been exposed to
the fact that I haven’t been exposed to war to poverty to famine a lot of the
war to poverty to famine a lot of the
war to poverty to famine a lot of the things that unfortunately many people
things that unfortunately many people
things that unfortunately many people had to deal with many people suffer
had to deal with many people suffer
had to deal with many people suffer today tomorrow yesterday but my problem
today tomorrow yesterday but my problem
today tomorrow yesterday but my problem with the way the media portrays Africa
with the way the media portrays Africa
with the way the media portrays Africa it’s not misrepresentation I have a
it’s not misrepresentation I have a
it’s not misrepresentation I have a problem with under-representation Africa
problem with under-representation Africa
problem with under-representation Africa is a big continent there are more than
is a big continent there are more than
is a big continent there are more than 50 countries but it is so often
50 countries but it is so often
50 countries but it is so often generalized but you have even figures
generalized but you have even figures
generalized but you have even figures within politics such as Joe Biden refer
within politics such as Joe Biden refer
within politics such as Joe Biden refer to the whole of Africa as one country
to the whole of Africa as one country
to the whole of Africa as one country look at in the 1980s song by the band
look at in the 1980s song by the band
look at in the 1980s song by the band band aid it was titled do they know it’s
band aid it was titled do they know it’s
band aid it was titled do they know it’s Christmas and it was written or
Christmas and it was written or
Christmas and it was written or performed in response to famine in
performed in response to famine in
performed in response to famine in Ethiopia and yet the whole song is
Ethiopia and yet the whole song is
Ethiopia and yet the whole song is addressed to the whole continent of
addressed to the whole continent of
addressed to the whole continent of Africa with degrading lines such as
Africa with degrading lines such as
Africa with degrading lines such as nothing ever grown
nothing ever grown
nothing ever grown it never snows the only water that ever
it never snows the only water that ever
it never snows the only water that ever flows are their tears in Africa do they
flows are their tears in Africa do they
flows are their tears in Africa do they know it’s Christmas time at all how does
know it’s Christmas time at all how does
know it’s Christmas time at all how does that make me feel I mean first of all
that make me feel I mean first of all
that make me feel I mean first of all these are straight-up fallacies it’s
these are straight-up fallacies it’s
these are straight-up fallacies it’s just wrong
just wrong
just wrong Africa is a concept that has so many
Africa is a concept that has so many
Africa is a concept that has so many different climatic regions you have
different climatic regions you have
different climatic regions you have tropical climates such as that which
tropical climates such as that which
tropical climates such as that which exist within Nigeria you have the desert
exist within Nigeria you have the desert
exist within Nigeria you have the desert you have the savanna so generalizing and
you have the savanna so generalizing and
you have the savanna so generalizing and just giving straight up incorrect facts
just giving straight up incorrect facts
just giving straight up incorrect facts or assertions it’s just plain unfair and
or assertions it’s just plain unfair and
or assertions it’s just plain unfair and that’s just one way in which Africa is
that’s just one way in which Africa is
that’s just one way in which Africa is underrepresented and misrepresented
underrepresented and misrepresented
underrepresented and misrepresented another is that a lot of Western
another is that a lot of Western
another is that a lot of Western television shows and Hollywood movies
television shows and Hollywood movies
television shows and Hollywood movies don’t in my opinion often enough feature
don’t in my opinion often enough feature
don’t in my opinion often enough feature distinctly African characters and cast
distinctly African characters and cast
distinctly African characters and cast members a lot of the time the closest
members a lot of the time the closest
members a lot of the time the closest that we black Africans get to having
that we black Africans get to having
that we black Africans get to having Africans in these movies and TV shows is
Africans in these movies and TV shows is
Africans in these movies and TV shows is African American actors or Afro British
African American actors or Afro British
African American actors or Afro British actors and actresses and so how does
actors and actresses and so how does
actors and actresses and so how does that affect us well as a youth I can
that affect us well as a youth I can
that affect us well as a youth I can tell you for free that growing up
tell you for free that growing up
tell you for free that growing up watching television shows what listening
watching television shows what listening
watching television shows what listening to music we so often see characters that
to music we so often see characters that
to music we so often see characters that we have a lot in common with as those
we have a lot in common with as those
we have a lot in common with as those that we can emulate more than others so
that we can emulate more than others so
that we can emulate more than others so things like age ethnicity the people
things like age ethnicity the people
things like age ethnicity the people that we see the images of people that we
that we see the images of people that we
that we see the images of people that we see that we feel we have something in
see that we feel we have something in
see that we feel we have something in common with become our role models I
common with become our role models I
common with become our role models I remember for example that I loved Hannah
remember for example that I loved Hannah
remember for example that I loved Hannah Montana but I always found Raven from
Montana but I always found Raven from
Montana but I always found Raven from that serene but somewhat more relatable
that serene but somewhat more relatable
that serene but somewhat more relatable for me I find that so many of my peers
for me I find that so many of my peers
for me I find that so many of my peers back home in Nigeria especially the boys
back home in Nigeria especially the boys
back home in Nigeria especially the boys enjoy adopting aspects of African
enjoy adopting aspects of African
enjoy adopting aspects of African American hip-hop culture especially as
American hip-hop culture especially as
American hip-hop culture especially as portrayed by the media
portrayed by the media
portrayed by the media I want to some of the negative effects
I want to some of the negative effects
I want to some of the negative effects of this the fact that a lot of the time
of this the fact that a lot of the time
of this the fact that a lot of the time these images that are associated with
these images that are associated with
these images that are associated with aspects of that culture are very
aspects of that culture are very
aspects of that culture are very negative you see young black men on
negative you see young black men on
negative you see young black men on television
television
television being abusive aggressive images of
being abusive aggressive images of
being abusive aggressive images of aggression men committing acts such as
aggression men committing acts such as
aggression men committing acts such as suspect criminals at what is shown on
suspect criminals at what is shown on
suspect criminals at what is shown on television you had men beating women
television you had men beating women
television you had men beating women black men I’m referring to what does
black men I’m referring to what does
black men I’m referring to what does that make young men view as acceptable
that make young men view as acceptable
that make young men view as acceptable as worthy of emulation what do they
as worthy of emulation what do they
as worthy of emulation what do they therefore aspire to become or look at
therefore aspire to become or look at
therefore aspire to become or look at the images that we have of young black
the images that we have of young black
the images that we have of young black women you see I come from as I said
women you see I come from as I said
women you see I come from as I said Nigeria most of us are black many of us
Nigeria most of us are black many of us
Nigeria most of us are black many of us are like my skintone but of course
are like my skintone but of course
are like my skintone but of course there’s a wide range she had people
there’s a wide range she had people
there’s a wide range she had people significantly lighter than me people
significantly lighter than me people
significantly lighter than me people rather darker than me and so when I
rather darker than me and so when I
rather darker than me and so when I watch television shows or when I see
watch television shows or when I see
watch television shows or when I see music videos and the women who are
music videos and the women who are
music videos and the women who are deemed as beautiful are significantly
deemed as beautiful are significantly
deemed as beautiful are significantly lighter than me then maybe if I didn’t
lighter than me then maybe if I didn’t
lighter than me then maybe if I didn’t have a mother who affirms me constantly
have a mother who affirms me constantly
have a mother who affirms me constantly that I am beautiful then I’m supposed to
that I am beautiful then I’m supposed to
that I am beautiful then I’m supposed to be proud of Who I am because of what I
be proud of Who I am because of what I
be proud of Who I am because of what I have to offer it not because of the
have to offer it not because of the
have to offer it not because of the color of my skin then maybe I would have
color of my skin then maybe I would have
color of my skin then maybe I would have been many of the women buying bleaching
been many of the women buying bleaching
been many of the women buying bleaching creams today because they feel as if
creams today because they feel as if
creams today because they feel as if they are not beautiful enough as black
they are not beautiful enough as black
they are not beautiful enough as black women as dark women dark women and
women as dark women dark women and
women as dark women dark women and television shows a lot of the time in
television shows a lot of the time in
television shows a lot of the time in Western media especially shows from the
Western media especially shows from the
Western media especially shows from the United States even though specifically
United States even though specifically
United States even though specifically meant to empower African Americans
meant to empower African Americans
meant to empower African Americans feature dark-skinned women as less
feature dark-skinned women as less
feature dark-skinned women as less attractive less desirable aggressive
attractive less desirable aggressive
attractive less desirable aggressive angry they’ve been dealt a bad hand of
angry they’ve been dealt a bad hand of
angry they’ve been dealt a bad hand of society so I’ve told you about the
society so I’ve told you about the
society so I’ve told you about the effects on one who looks at these and
effects on one who looks at these and
effects on one who looks at these and looks at the media for images that they
looks at the media for images that they
looks at the media for images that they feel they can relate to and some
feel they can relate to and some
feel they can relate to and some characters that perhaps they can emulate
characters that perhaps they can emulate
characters that perhaps they can emulate but what happens when one doesn’t adhere
but what happens when one doesn’t adhere
but what happens when one doesn’t adhere to certain stereotypes and by speaking
to certain stereotypes and by speaking
to certain stereotypes and by speaking with the accent that I do and dressing
with the accent that I do and dressing
with the accent that I do and dressing the way that I do by being able to
the way that I do by being able to
the way that I do by being able to relate to ask
relate to ask
relate to ask that said more than one culture in the
that said more than one culture in the
that said more than one culture in the way that I have I’ve been nothing but
way that I have I’ve been nothing but
way that I have I’ve been nothing but myself for my whole life but to too many
myself for my whole life but to too many
myself for my whole life but to too many people I’ve always been different I’ve
people I’ve always been different I’ve
people I’ve always been different I’ve been an exception to the norm it’s
been an exception to the norm it’s
been an exception to the norm it’s incredibly unfortunate the number of
incredibly unfortunate the number of
incredibly unfortunate the number of times that someone has walked up to me
times that someone has walked up to me
times that someone has walked up to me and said you’re not black enough and
and said you’re not black enough and
and said you’re not black enough and what does that mean well I’ll tell you
what does that mean well I’ll tell you
what does that mean well I’ll tell you when it strongly suggests it suggests
when it strongly suggests it suggests
when it strongly suggests it suggests that I’m not angry enough all the time
that I’m not angry enough all the time
that I’m not angry enough all the time not poor enough it suggests that maybe
not poor enough it suggests that maybe
not poor enough it suggests that maybe I’m too confident or I’m not enough of a
I’m too confident or I’m not enough of a
I’m too confident or I’m not enough of a replica of a dark-skinned
replica of a dark-skinned
replica of a dark-skinned african-american female as negatively
african-american female as negatively
african-american female as negatively portrayed in way too many Tyler Perry
portrayed in way too many Tyler Perry
portrayed in way too many Tyler Perry movies you don’t sound black enough you
movies you don’t sound black enough you
movies you don’t sound black enough you don’t sound African enough you are an
don’t sound African enough you are an
don’t sound African enough you are an Oreo you’re not really African and all
Oreo you’re not really African and all
Oreo you’re not really African and all of these translate to you aren’t cookie
of these translate to you aren’t cookie
of these translate to you aren’t cookie from Empire nor are you Eddie Murphy
from Empire nor are you Eddie Murphy
from Empire nor are you Eddie Murphy from coming to America or maybe even
from coming to America or maybe even
from coming to America or maybe even Lupita Nyong’o from 12 years a slave you
Lupita Nyong’o from 12 years a slave you
Lupita Nyong’o from 12 years a slave you see a lot of the images that the media
see a lot of the images that the media
see a lot of the images that the media sells as I have tried to illustrate are
sells as I have tried to illustrate are
sells as I have tried to illustrate are negative overly simplified generalizing
negative overly simplified generalizing
negative overly simplified generalizing an education of course is what enables
an education of course is what enables
an education of course is what enables us to see through these constructions
us to see through these constructions
us to see through these constructions and protests allowing them to remain the
and protests allowing them to remain the
and protests allowing them to remain the status quo but my sadness lies in the
status quo but my sadness lies in the
status quo but my sadness lies in the fact that the media is also a mirror and
fact that the media is also a mirror and
fact that the media is also a mirror and that it reflects what society actually
that it reflects what society actually
that it reflects what society actually believes what people think the notions
believes what people think the notions
believes what people think the notions that they have and what that means to me
that they have and what that means to me
that they have and what that means to me is that we are very far from achieving
is that we are very far from achieving
is that we are very far from achieving equality and open-mindedness and that is
equality and open-mindedness and that is
equality and open-mindedness and that is why people like me
why people like me
why people like me Africans blacks dark-skinned women are
Africans blacks dark-skinned women are
Africans blacks dark-skinned women are portrayed in the ways that we so often
portrayed in the ways that we so often
portrayed in the ways that we so often up so members of society I look to you
up so members of society I look to you
up so members of society I look to you today and I have a few questions why do
today and I have a few questions why do
today and I have a few questions why do we always feel the need to put labels on
we always feel the need to put labels on
we always feel the need to put labels on everything and everyone
everything and everyone
everything and everyone do we not realize that when we do such
do we not realize that when we do such
do we not realize that when we do such so simplistically we ignore the
so simplistically we ignore the
so simplistically we ignore the individuality originality complexities
individuality originality complexities
individuality originality complexities and even contradictions that lie within
and even contradictions that lie within
and even contradictions that lie within ourselves as unique human beings my talk
ourselves as unique human beings my talk
ourselves as unique human beings my talk today is a call for all of us to not
today is a call for all of us to not
today is a call for all of us to not allow our minds to be soiled fertile for
allow our minds to be soiled fertile for
allow our minds to be soiled fertile for seeds of under-representation
seeds of under-representation
seeds of under-representation misrepresentation and the effects there
misrepresentation and the effects there
misrepresentation and the effects there are to be sold by the media because
are to be sold by the media because
are to be sold by the media because these seeds germinate into negative
these seeds germinate into negative
these seeds germinate into negative preconceived notions and therefore
preconceived notions and therefore
preconceived notions and therefore impose limitations on our own ability to
impose limitations on our own ability to
impose limitations on our own ability to reason independently so please let us
reason independently so please let us
reason independently so please let us make blank pages of our minds today
make blank pages of our minds today
make blank pages of our minds today because that is the only way that we can
because that is the only way that we can
because that is the only way that we can truly see ourselves in the ways that in
truly see ourselves in the ways that in
truly see ourselves in the ways that in in the ways that we actually are and not
in the ways that we actually are and not
in the ways that we actually are and not with the 2-dimensional character traits
with the 2-dimensional character traits
with the 2-dimensional character traits that the media has assigned us on the
that the media has assigned us on the
that the media has assigned us on the basis of our skin tone or our gender our
basis of our skin tone or our gender our
basis of our skin tone or our gender our socioeconomic status our belief systems
socioeconomic status our belief systems
socioeconomic status our belief systems etc because only then will we truly be
etc because only then will we truly be
etc because only then will we truly be in charge of our present and our
in charge of our present and our
in charge of our present and our identities but also our future and our
identities but also our future and our
identities but also our future and our destinies thank you very much
destinies thank you very much
destinies thank you very much [Applause]
”
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