when I woke up in London on the 9th of November the morning after Donald Trump
November the morning after Donald Trump
November the morning after Donald Trump was voted into power I called my mother
was voted into power I called my mother
was voted into power I called my mother I called my auntie’s and my cousins and
I called my auntie’s and my cousins and
I called my auntie’s and my cousins and my grandmother all of whom are in the
my grandmother all of whom are in the
my grandmother all of whom are in the u.s. then I called my sister I called my
u.s. then I called my sister I called my
u.s. then I called my sister I called my best friends I called the women I loved
best friends I called the women I loved
best friends I called the women I loved I called the people who make me feel
I called the people who make me feel
I called the people who make me feel safe
safe
safe I called the people I organized with all
I called the people I organized with all
I called the people I organized with all of the people I called that morning have
of the people I called that morning have
of the people I called that morning have three things in common I would trust
three things in common I would trust
three things in common I would trust them with my life that’s the first thing
them with my life that’s the first thing
them with my life that’s the first thing the second thing is this they are all
the second thing is this they are all
the second thing is this they are all racialized as black and the third thing
racialized as black and the third thing
racialized as black and the third thing is that when we spoke it became clear
is that when we spoke it became clear
is that when we spoke it became clear very quickly that they were not
very quickly that they were not
very quickly that they were not unsurprised by Trump’s rise to power
were we angry upset yes we’re we scared
were we angry upset yes we’re we scared for good reason but surprised shocked
for good reason but surprised shocked
for good reason but surprised shocked not really the election was loud and
not really the election was loud and
not really the election was loud and clear overtly fascistic openly
clear overtly fascistic openly
clear overtly fascistic openly objectively racist a vote for Trump was
objectively racist a vote for Trump was
objectively racist a vote for Trump was a vote for white supremacy for
a vote for white supremacy for
a vote for white supremacy for patriarchy for misogyny for violence a
patriarchy for misogyny for violence a
patriarchy for misogyny for violence a vote for Trump was a vote for war and
vote for Trump was a vote for war and
vote for Trump was a vote for war and mass incarceration and mass surveillance
mass incarceration and mass surveillance
mass incarceration and mass surveillance for borders and for poverty in no
for borders and for poverty in no
for borders and for poverty in no uncertain terms on November 8th
uncertain terms on November 8th
uncertain terms on November 8th those in the US who
those in the US who
those in the US who could voted for Black Death which is
could voted for Black Death which is
could voted for Black Death which is actually the same as saying that on
actually the same as saying that on
actually the same as saying that on November 8th those in the US who could
November 8th those in the US who could
November 8th those in the US who could voted for business as usual Trump’s rise
voted for business as usual Trump’s rise
voted for business as usual Trump’s rise to power was not shocking to me because
to power was not shocking to me because
to power was not shocking to me because I understood that the current world
I understood that the current world
I understood that the current world order is white supremacists it is
order is white supremacists it is
order is white supremacists it is capitalist it is ablest and transphobic
capitalist it is ablest and transphobic
capitalist it is ablest and transphobic and homophobic and queer phobic and it
and homophobic and queer phobic and it
and homophobic and queer phobic and it produces and reproduces anti black
produces and reproduces anti black
produces and reproduces anti black racism and that is not a system you can
racism and that is not a system you can
racism and that is not a system you can vote yourself out of on November 8
vote yourself out of on November 8
vote yourself out of on November 8 freedom was not on the ballot box which
freedom was not on the ballot box which
freedom was not on the ballot box which is also to say that a vote for Hillary
is also to say that a vote for Hillary
is also to say that a vote for Hillary was also a vote for Black Death the
simple fact is this black people in
simple fact is this black people in every country in the world are in a
every country in the world are in a
every country in the world are in a state of war in a reality where anti
state of war in a reality where anti
state of war in a reality where anti black violence punctuates the daily
black violence punctuates the daily
black violence punctuates the daily experiences of black people it permeates
experiences of black people it permeates
experiences of black people it permeates our bodies permeates our minds it
our bodies permeates our minds it
our bodies permeates our minds it characterizes our fear and our anger but
characterizes our fear and our anger but
characterizes our fear and our anger but also our joy and our love when anti
also our joy and our love when anti
also our joy and our love when anti blackness disenfranchises us and chokes
blackness disenfranchises us and chokes
blackness disenfranchises us and chokes us when it incites fear and murders us
us when it incites fear and murders us
us when it incites fear and murders us when it poisons our water when it
when it poisons our water when it
when it poisons our water when it contaminates our air Trump’s election
contaminates our air Trump’s election
contaminates our air Trump’s election comes not as a surprise but as
comes not as a surprise but as
comes not as a surprise but as confirmation that the current world
confirmation that the current world
confirmation that the current world order sanctifies and rewards the very
order sanctifies and rewards the very
order sanctifies and rewards the very systems that kill us
in June of this year the UK voted for
in June of this year the UK voted for business as usual as well the brexit
business as usual as well the brexit
business as usual as well the brexit campaign like the republican campaign
campaign like the republican campaign
campaign like the republican campaign was a campaign fueled by
was a campaign fueled by
was a campaign fueled by anti-immigration rhetoric held up by
anti-immigration rhetoric held up by
anti-immigration rhetoric held up by fascist tabloids and outright lies about
fascist tabloids and outright lies about
fascist tabloids and outright lies about to leave the EU was a vote for a United
to leave the EU was a vote for a United
to leave the EU was a vote for a United Kingdom that does not see black humanity
but let’s be rigorous to remain or to
but let’s be rigorous to remain or to leave business as usual for the British
leave business as usual for the British
leave business as usual for the British state is the continuation of sustained
state is the continuation of sustained
state is the continuation of sustained colonial violence in every non-white
colonial violence in every non-white
colonial violence in every non-white community across the globe since the
community across the globe since the
community across the globe since the dawn of its existence a week before the
dawn of its existence a week before the
dawn of its existence a week before the EU referendum a white politician pushing
EU referendum a white politician pushing
EU referendum a white politician pushing for us to remain in the EU by the name
for us to remain in the EU by the name
for us to remain in the EU by the name of Joe Cox was murdered in broad
of Joe Cox was murdered in broad
of Joe Cox was murdered in broad daylight by a fascist on the street let
daylight by a fascist on the street let
daylight by a fascist on the street let me reiterate fascism has been coming for
me reiterate fascism has been coming for
me reiterate fascism has been coming for black people since dawn before Joe’s
black people since dawn before Joe’s
black people since dawn before Joe’s children lost their mother a Muslim
children lost their mother a Muslim
children lost their mother a Muslim grandfather was murdered by another
grandfather was murdered by another
grandfather was murdered by another fascist on the way home from the mosque
fascist on the way home from the mosque
fascist on the way home from the mosque before those children lost their mother
before those children lost their mother
before those children lost their mother in broad daylight black mothers have
in broad daylight black mothers have
in broad daylight black mothers have been losing their babies in the street
the nation does not mourn those deaths
the nation does not mourn those deaths but we mourned for Joe and I was
but we mourned for Joe and I was
but we mourned for Joe and I was disturbed by how it was reported in the
disturbed by how it was reported in the
disturbed by how it was reported in the news the murder of Joe Cox was labeled
news the murder of Joe Cox was labeled
news the murder of Joe Cox was labeled as an attack on free speech as an attack
as an attack on free speech as an attack
as an attack on free speech as an attack on democracy it was said that a well of
on democracy it was said that a well of
on democracy it was said that a well of hatred killed Joe but listened this well
hatred killed Joe but listened this well
hatred killed Joe but listened this well has been fed this well is full this well
has been fed this well is full this well
has been fed this well is full this well is draped
is draped
is draped in the British flag screaming Britain
in the British flag screaming Britain
in the British flag screaming Britain first as well as anti-immigration this
first as well as anti-immigration this
first as well as anti-immigration this well is anti black Islamophobic
well is anti black Islamophobic
well is anti black Islamophobic homophobic transphobic ablest as well is
homophobic transphobic ablest as well is
homophobic transphobic ablest as well is sexist this well was built by fascism
sexist this well was built by fascism
sexist this well was built by fascism and lies we have to name these deaths
and lies we have to name these deaths
and lies we have to name these deaths for what they are and that is
for what they are and that is
for what they are and that is legitimized that is state sanctioned
right after the referendum there was a
right after the referendum there was a 41 percent rise in reported hate crimes
41 percent rise in reported hate crimes
41 percent rise in reported hate crimes in Britain and many people were shocked
in Britain and many people were shocked
in Britain and many people were shocked and saddened by this they wanted to help
and saddened by this they wanted to help
and saddened by this they wanted to help and many white people wore safety pins
and many white people wore safety pins
and many white people wore safety pins as a symbolic gesture on the outside of
as a symbolic gesture on the outside of
as a symbolic gesture on the outside of their clothing to show people of color
their clothing to show people of color
their clothing to show people of color that they need not be afraid of being
that they need not be afraid of being
that they need not be afraid of being attacked by them it was a symbolic
attacked by them it was a symbolic
attacked by them it was a symbolic gesture and symbols are important
gesture and symbols are important
gesture and symbols are important because what is the safety pin symbolize
because what is the safety pin symbolize
because what is the safety pin symbolize the safety pin is a temporary fixture
the safety pin is a temporary fixture
the safety pin is a temporary fixture but black people need more than
but black people need more than
but black people need more than temporary measures we actually need
temporary measures we actually need
temporary measures we actually need transformative change to ensure our
transformative change to ensure our
transformative change to ensure our safety we need white people to do more
safety we need white people to do more
safety we need white people to do more than to wear safety pins we are fighting
than to wear safety pins we are fighting
than to wear safety pins we are fighting for our freedom and our vision is
for our freedom and our vision is
for our freedom and our vision is decolonial we are fighting for our
decolonial we are fighting for our
decolonial we are fighting for our freedom and our vision is abolitionists
freedom and our vision is abolitionists
freedom and our vision is abolitionists we are fighting for our freedom and our
we are fighting for our freedom and our
we are fighting for our freedom and our vision is radically inclusive because we
vision is radically inclusive because we
vision is radically inclusive because we intend to win together let me give you a
intend to win together let me give you a
intend to win together let me give you a scenario by a guy called Alan Johnson a
scenario by a guy called Alan Johnson a
scenario by a guy called Alan Johnson a scene in which a gang of white men are
scene in which a gang of white men are
scene in which a gang of white men are beating a black woman in broad daylight
beating a black woman in broad daylight
beating a black woman in broad daylight on the city street in this scenario
on the city street in this scenario
on the city street in this scenario there are some onlookers present and
there are some onlookers present and
there are some onlookers present and they are white
they are white
they are white they film no ill-will towards the women
they film no ill-will towards the women
they film no ill-will towards the women being beaten and they’re also not
being beaten and they’re also not
being beaten and they’re also not cheering on the attackers they’re just
cheering on the attackers they’re just
cheering on the attackers they’re just minding their own business and then one
minding their own business and then one
minding their own business and then one of the attackers looks over to the
of the attackers looks over to the
of the attackers looks over to the onlookers looks him in the eyes and says
onlookers looks him in the eyes and says
onlookers looks him in the eyes and says we appreciate your support we could not
we appreciate your support we could not
we appreciate your support we could not do this without you and with this
do this without you and with this
do this without you and with this scenario Johnson makes the claim that
scenario Johnson makes the claim that
scenario Johnson makes the claim that this is how racism and other forms of
this is how racism and other forms of
this is how racism and other forms of privilege really work day in and day out
privilege really work day in and day out
privilege really work day in and day out he says it results from a sort of
he says it results from a sort of
he says it results from a sort of passive oppression which he defines as
passive oppression which he defines as
passive oppression which he defines as making it possible for oppression to
making it possible for oppression to
making it possible for oppression to happen simply by not doing anything to
happen simply by not doing anything to
happen simply by not doing anything to stop it
stop it
stop it I see two main problems with this
I see two main problems with this
I see two main problems with this scenario though and I need you to
scenario though and I need you to
scenario though and I need you to remember them because they apply to you
remember them because they apply to you
remember them because they apply to you the first is that I believe that all
the first is that I believe that all
the first is that I believe that all oppression is active our complicity in
oppression is active our complicity in
oppression is active our complicity in oppression is a choice that we make
oppression is a choice that we make
oppression is a choice that we make every single day because ultimately the
every single day because ultimately the
every single day because ultimately the attackers in the Johnson scenario were
attackers in the Johnson scenario were
attackers in the Johnson scenario were not wrong when they said we could not do
not wrong when they said we could not do
not wrong when they said we could not do this without you minding your own
this without you minding your own
this without you minding your own business is not passive oppression it’s
business is not passive oppression it’s
business is not passive oppression it’s just oppression and all oppression is a
just oppression and all oppression is a
just oppression and all oppression is a choice the second is to do with the
choice the second is to do with the
choice the second is to do with the framing of the scenario in this scenario
framing of the scenario in this scenario
framing of the scenario in this scenario it is implied that the mob of white men
it is implied that the mob of white men
it is implied that the mob of white men who are being so violent will stop when
who are being so violent will stop when
who are being so violent will stop when the onlookers just do something but that
the onlookers just do something but that
the onlookers just do something but that also doesn’t reflect reality
also doesn’t reflect reality
also doesn’t reflect reality and it sets us up for what has been
and it sets us up for what has been
and it sets us up for what has been called the savior complex
called the savior complex
called the savior complex but I’m not asking to be saved
and neither was the Aboriginal elder
and neither was the Aboriginal elder activist and educator Lila Watson when
activist and educator Lila Watson when
activist and educator Lila Watson when she said that if you have come here to
she said that if you have come here to
she said that if you have come here to help me you are wasting your time but if
help me you are wasting your time but if
help me you are wasting your time but if you have come here
you have come here
you have come here because your liberation is bound up with
because your liberation is bound up with
because your liberation is bound up with mine then let us work together you see
mine then let us work together you see
mine then let us work together you see the Johnson scenario is missing a
the Johnson scenario is missing a
the Johnson scenario is missing a fundamental element because the black
fundamental element because the black
fundamental element because the black woman who is being beaten is given no
woman who is being beaten is given no
woman who is being beaten is given no voice no agency no power she has given
voice no agency no power she has given
voice no agency no power she has given no room to determine the outcome of her
no room to determine the outcome of her
no room to determine the outcome of her struggle but I know that my voice and my
struggle but I know that my voice and my
struggle but I know that my voice and my power and my agency are actually
power and my agency are actually
power and my agency are actually fundamental tools to get me free to get
fundamental tools to get me free to get
fundamental tools to get me free to get us free Zora Neale Hurston said it she
us free Zora Neale Hurston said it she
us free Zora Neale Hurston said it she warned us she said if you are silent
warned us she said if you are silent
warned us she said if you are silent about your pain they’ll kill you and say
about your pain they’ll kill you and say
about your pain they’ll kill you and say you enjoyed it black lives matter
you enjoyed it black lives matter
you enjoyed it black lives matter three words written by a queer black
three words written by a queer black
three words written by a queer black woman by the name of Alisha Gaza
woman by the name of Alisha Gaza
woman by the name of Alisha Gaza sanctified by her co-creators patrisse
sanctified by her co-creators patrisse
sanctified by her co-creators patrisse cullors and opal tometi who’s organizing
cullors and opal tometi who’s organizing
cullors and opal tometi who’s organizing has mobilized us into a new movement
has mobilized us into a new movement
has mobilized us into a new movement moment led by black women led by black
moment led by black women led by black
moment led by black women led by black gay women led by black queer people led
gay women led by black queer people led
gay women led by black queer people led by our black trans family to be clear as
by our black trans family to be clear as
by our black trans family to be clear as to why I’m standing here talking to you
to why I’m standing here talking to you
to why I’m standing here talking to you I’m not asking to be saved I’m not
I’m not asking to be saved I’m not
I’m not asking to be saved I’m not asking for help
asking for help
asking for help history shows us very clearly and in
history shows us very clearly and in
history shows us very clearly and in various context that people of color
various context that people of color
various context that people of color cannot wait around for white empathy to
cannot wait around for white empathy to
cannot wait around for white empathy to transform into meaningful action our
transform into meaningful action our
transform into meaningful action our lives actually matter too much to wait
lives actually matter too much to wait
lives actually matter too much to wait for white people to see our humanity
what I am doing is trying to illuminate
what I am doing is trying to illuminate for you because I don’t think people
for you because I don’t think people
for you because I don’t think people fully understand it when black people
fully understand it when black people
fully understand it when black people get free we all get free alliances can
get free we all get free alliances can
get free we all get free alliances can emerge when people who are not black
emerge when people who are not black
emerge when people who are not black recognized that business as usual is a
recognized that business as usual is a
recognized that business as usual is a vote for death in the same way that we
vote for death in the same way that we
vote for death in the same way that we have already realized that our death is
have already realized that our death is
have already realized that our death is intolerable I want you to understand the
intolerable I want you to understand the
intolerable I want you to understand the extent to which this is unsustainable
extent to which this is unsustainable
extent to which this is unsustainable for all of us whether or not you have
for all of us whether or not you have
for all of us whether or not you have been forced to realize it yet all lives
been forced to realize it yet all lives
been forced to realize it yet all lives will matter when black lives do in this
will matter when black lives do in this
will matter when black lives do in this weighted political moment our mandate
weighted political moment our mandate
weighted political moment our mandate goes unchanged organized against white
goes unchanged organized against white
goes unchanged organized against white supremacy and state sanctioned violence
supremacy and state sanctioned violence
supremacy and state sanctioned violence until all black lives matter because our
until all black lives matter because our
until all black lives matter because our narratives are the product of multiple
narratives are the product of multiple
narratives are the product of multiple interlocking oppressions that manifest
interlocking oppressions that manifest
interlocking oppressions that manifest as a synthesized experience one that we
as a synthesized experience one that we
as a synthesized experience one that we are best placed to explain it is with
are best placed to explain it is with
are best placed to explain it is with the same kind of openness and fluidity
the same kind of openness and fluidity
the same kind of openness and fluidity and willingness to interrogate power
and willingness to interrogate power
and willingness to interrogate power that we as feminists expect from men an
that we as feminists expect from men an
that we as feminists expect from men an alliance that women of color should
alliance that women of color should
alliance that women of color should expect from white women and that our
expect from white women and that our
expect from white women and that our trans family must expect from people who
trans family must expect from people who
trans family must expect from people who are not trans our incarcerated family
are not trans our incarcerated family
are not trans our incarcerated family and undocumented family can also expect
and undocumented family can also expect
and undocumented family can also expect it from us who do not have to call
it from us who do not have to call
it from us who do not have to call prisons and detention centers our home
we must all hold as expectations of
we must all hold as expectations of ourselves a commitment to be
ourselves a commitment to be
ourselves a commitment to be consistently attentive to all aspects of
consistently attentive to all aspects of
consistently attentive to all aspects of power that we ourselves do not
power that we ourselves do not
power that we ourselves do not experience so that we can all bring our
experience so that we can all bring our
experience so that we can all bring our full selves to the movement always begin
full selves to the movement always begin
full selves to the movement always begin by listening but remember too that we
by listening but remember too that we
by listening but remember too that we have been organizing and speaking out
have been organizing and speaking out
have been organizing and speaking out about the condition of our lives in
about the condition of our lives in
about the condition of our lives in order to dick to get free for a while
order to dick to get free for a while
order to dick to get free for a while now it’s time to transform
now it’s time to transform
now it’s time to transform your silence into action so let’s go
your silence into action so let’s go
your silence into action so let’s go back to the Johnson scenario because the
back to the Johnson scenario because the
back to the Johnson scenario because the onlookers have a choice to make and if
onlookers have a choice to make and if
onlookers have a choice to make and if you are white I am directing this at you
you can continue to take refuge in the
you can continue to take refuge in the face of the death you have
face of the death you have
face of the death you have overwhelmingly voted for you can make
overwhelmingly voted for you can make
overwhelmingly voted for you can make the choice to support the attacks on
the choice to support the attacks on
the choice to support the attacks on black indigenous Muslim queer trans
black indigenous Muslim queer trans
black indigenous Muslim queer trans disabled migrant undocumented poor
disabled migrant undocumented poor
disabled migrant undocumented poor people on women and non-binary folks on
people on women and non-binary folks on
people on women and non-binary folks on those with mental illness you can
those with mental illness you can
those with mental illness you can continue to sanctify whiteness to cling
continue to sanctify whiteness to cling
continue to sanctify whiteness to cling to the illusion of ownership of the
to the illusion of ownership of the
to the illusion of ownership of the earth forever and ever
earth forever and ever
earth forever and ever or you can use your relative safety and
or you can use your relative safety and
or you can use your relative safety and the access to resources that white
the access to resources that white
the access to resources that white supremacy hands to you to enact
supremacy hands to you to enact
supremacy hands to you to enact something different you can do the hard
something different you can do the hard
something different you can do the hard work of confronting your whiteness your
work of confronting your whiteness your
work of confronting your whiteness your privilege your complicity in oppression
privilege your complicity in oppression
privilege your complicity in oppression you can begin to construct an identity
you can begin to construct an identity
you can begin to construct an identity that is not built on a foundation of
that is not built on a foundation of
that is not built on a foundation of supremacist violence divest in the
supremacist violence divest in the
supremacist violence divest in the systems that oppress us and invest in
systems that oppress us and invest in
systems that oppress us and invest in the work we are already doing to get
the work we are already doing to get
the work we are already doing to get free invest your time in getting free
free invest your time in getting free
free invest your time in getting free like really really free all of us free
if you’re white and you’re wondering
if you’re white and you’re wondering what to do please leave your safety pins
what to do please leave your safety pins
what to do please leave your safety pins at home put everything you think you
at home put everything you think you
at home put everything you think you know on the back burner and commit
know on the back burner and commit
know on the back burner and commit yourself to revolution or ban yourself
yourself to revolution or ban yourself
yourself to revolution or ban yourself out fighting for an oil painting on an
out fighting for an oil painting on an
out fighting for an oil painting on an oversized white canvas sealed with the
oversized white canvas sealed with the
oversized white canvas sealed with the flesh of your indecision I’m going to
flesh of your indecision I’m going to
flesh of your indecision I’m going to call my mother and my grandmother and my
call my mother and my grandmother and my
call my mother and my grandmother and my cousins and my auntie’s and my uncles
cousins and my auntie’s and my uncles
cousins and my auntie’s and my uncles and then I’m gonna call my sister and my
and then I’m gonna call my sister and my
and then I’m gonna call my sister and my best friends and the women I love I’m
best friends and the women I love I’m
best friends and the women I love I’m going to call the people who make me
going to call the people who make me
going to call the people who make me feel safe and share with them my deepest
feel safe and share with them my deepest
feel safe and share with them my deepest fears and I’m gonna call the people I
fears and I’m gonna call the people I
fears and I’m gonna call the people I organize with because there is a new
organize with because there is a new
organize with because there is a new world order coming and we’ll need to
world order coming and we’ll need to
world order coming and we’ll need to make sure that all black lives matter
make sure that all black lives matter
make sure that all black lives matter when it gets here thank you
when it gets here thank you
when it gets here thank you [Applause]
”
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