[Applause] tell your story
tell your story
tell your story change the conversation organized by
change the conversation organized by
change the conversation organized by students TEDx youth at shc these are not
students TEDx youth at shc these are not
students TEDx youth at shc these are not my shoes these are the shoes of Trayvon
my shoes these are the shoes of Trayvon
my shoes these are the shoes of Trayvon Martin Sandra bland Eric garner and
Martin Sandra bland Eric garner and
Martin Sandra bland Eric garner and Tamir rice I became familiar with the
Tamir rice I became familiar with the
Tamir rice I became familiar with the scenes of violence as more and more
scenes of violence as more and more
scenes of violence as more and more names added onto this list and viral
names added onto this list and viral
names added onto this list and viral videos circulated the media at a certain
videos circulated the media at a certain
videos circulated the media at a certain point violence and my devastation became
point violence and my devastation became
point violence and my devastation became a familiar factor of everyday life
a familiar factor of everyday life
a familiar factor of everyday life it was almost normal to me my life
it was almost normal to me my life
it was almost normal to me my life became more in synched with those who
became more in synched with those who
became more in synched with those who perished as the words I can’t breathe
perished as the words I can’t breathe
perished as the words I can’t breathe continually rang in my mind the familiar
continually rang in my mind the familiar
continually rang in my mind the familiar Arizona and skittles or even today as I
Arizona and skittles or even today as I
Arizona and skittles or even today as I passed Fruitvale BART station and felt
passed Fruitvale BART station and felt
passed Fruitvale BART station and felt the presence of those feet that once
the presence of those feet that once
the presence of those feet that once walked along the Earth’s surface yet
walked along the Earth’s surface yet
walked along the Earth’s surface yet that don’t touch the Earth’s surface
that don’t touch the Earth’s surface
that don’t touch the Earth’s surface anymore simply because they were just at
anymore simply because they were just at
anymore simply because they were just at the wrong place at the wrong time and
then came the protests the anger the
then came the protests the anger the rage and the resilience it felt like
rage and the resilience it felt like
rage and the resilience it felt like yelling at a wall but yet again I saw
yelling at a wall but yet again I saw
yelling at a wall but yet again I saw myself in every one of them as the tear
myself in every one of them as the tear
myself in every one of them as the tear gases have been Justus stung their eyes
gases have been Justus stung their eyes
gases have been Justus stung their eyes just as watching our angels perish was
just as watching our angels perish was
just as watching our angels perish was we were all hurting we are all hurting
we were all hurting we are all hurting
we were all hurting we are all hurting at that point I felt hopeless I was in a
at that point I felt hopeless I was in a
at that point I felt hopeless I was in a rage of confusion I began to ask myself
rage of confusion I began to ask myself
rage of confusion I began to ask myself why why us what circumstances led to
why why us what circumstances led to
why why us what circumstances led to this poison this poison that is violent
it wasn’t until I became a cabin leader
it wasn’t until I became a cabin leader at the mosaic project Outdoor School
at the mosaic project Outdoor School
at the mosaic project Outdoor School which is a non-profit focusing on
which is a non-profit focusing on
which is a non-profit focusing on bringing kids together from diverse
bringing kids together from diverse
bringing kids together from diverse backgrounds to address issues of
backgrounds to address issues of
backgrounds to address issues of prejudice discrimination and racism that
prejudice discrimination and racism that
prejudice discrimination and racism that I recognized what piece really looked
I recognized what piece really looked
I recognized what piece really looked like it was at the mosaic project where
like it was at the mosaic project where
like it was at the mosaic project where I realized this reality my reality is
I realized this reality my reality is
I realized this reality my reality is not fair it doesn’t have to be this way
not fair it doesn’t have to be this way
not fair it doesn’t have to be this way and we can work together to make a
and we can work together to make a
and we can work together to make a change as I went through the week this
change as I went through the week this
change as I went through the week this vision of what peace looks like became
vision of what peace looks like became
vision of what peace looks like became more clear as did the complexities of
more clear as did the complexities of
more clear as did the complexities of violence it was there that I saw
violence it was there that I saw
violence it was there that I saw students from tremendously different
students from tremendously different
students from tremendously different backgrounds listening to each other
backgrounds listening to each other
backgrounds listening to each other emphasizing and quite honestly it felt
emphasizing and quite honestly it felt
emphasizing and quite honestly it felt like magic so one night we didn’t
like magic so one night we didn’t
like magic so one night we didn’t exercise what the kids wear each cabin
exercise what the kids wear each cabin
exercise what the kids wear each cabin represented the lower middle and upper
represented the lower middle and upper
represented the lower middle and upper class and the students were expected to
class and the students were expected to
class and the students were expected to basically just figure it out my cabin
basically just figure it out my cabin
basically just figure it out my cabin was upper-class and initially they’ve
was upper-class and initially they’ve
was upper-class and initially they’ve asked in their wealth until they slowly
asked in their wealth until they slowly
asked in their wealth until they slowly began to realize the disparity and
began to realize the disparity and
began to realize the disparity and unfairness of what the lower-class
unfairness of what the lower-class
unfairness of what the lower-class individual’s work afforded compared to
individual’s work afforded compared to
individual’s work afforded compared to them compared to the plethora of
them compared to the plethora of
them compared to the plethora of resources they had I watched as the
resources they had I watched as the
resources they had I watched as the girls began crying because they realized
girls began crying because they realized
girls began crying because they realized the other groups had much less than them
the other groups had much less than them
the other groups had much less than them so they began devising plans and ways
so they began devising plans and ways
so they began devising plans and ways they could make the situation more equal
they could make the situation more equal
they could make the situation more equal slowly but surely the groups began
slowly but surely the groups began
slowly but surely the groups began demanding for resources and assembled
demanding for resources and assembled
demanding for resources and assembled what could be characterized as a protest
what could be characterized as a protest
what could be characterized as a protest the scene was chaotic essentially though
the scene was chaotic essentially though
the scene was chaotic essentially though in the end individuals who my group
in the end individuals who my group
in the end individuals who my group talked with individuals that represented
talked with individuals that represented
talked with individuals that represented the lower class and they devised a plan
the lower class and they devised a plan
the lower class and they devised a plan yet because of protests and impatience
yet because of protests and impatience
yet because of protests and impatience for justice to be served the plan wasn’t
for justice to be served the plan wasn’t
for justice to be served the plan wasn’t followed through
followed through
followed through the exercise ended with a couple of kids
the exercise ended with a couple of kids
the exercise ended with a couple of kids from each class level coming together
from each class level coming together
from each class level coming together and joining in song slowly but surely
and joining in song slowly but surely
and joining in song slowly but surely the thick tension in the air simmered
the thick tension in the air simmered
the thick tension in the air simmered down and everyone came together for the
down and everyone came together for the
down and everyone came together for the common purpose of joining in solidarity
common purpose of joining in solidarity
common purpose of joining in solidarity and unity to sing the m50 song so here
and unity to sing the m50 song so here
and unity to sing the m50 song so here it is I’m gonna show you guys a little
it is I’m gonna show you guys a little
it is I’m gonna show you guys a little glimpse and if you know the words please
glimpse and if you know the words please
glimpse and if you know the words please feel free to sing along
[Music]
[Music] I don’t know what it’s like to be you
I don’t know what it’s like to be you
I don’t know what it’s like to be you and I don’t know what you have to go
and I don’t know what you have to go
and I don’t know what you have to go through but I can try to see the world
through but I can try to see the world
through but I can try to see the world through your eyes put myself in your
through your eyes put myself in your
through your eyes put myself in your shoes and empathize thank you thank you
so this to me was absolutely beautiful I
so this to me was absolutely beautiful I mean although they didn’t necessarily
mean although they didn’t necessarily
mean although they didn’t necessarily solve all the problems everyone joined
solve all the problems everyone joined
solve all the problems everyone joined together for the common purpose and they
together for the common purpose and they
together for the common purpose and they just sang rather than just bask in their
just sang rather than just bask in their
just sang rather than just bask in their privilege they recognized the disparity
privilege they recognized the disparity
privilege they recognized the disparity and felt for each other they took the
and felt for each other they took the
and felt for each other they took the initiative to make it fair it was then
initiative to make it fair it was then
initiative to make it fair it was then that I realized only when we can connect
that I realized only when we can connect
that I realized only when we can connect respect and empathize with each other
respect and empathize with each other
respect and empathize with each other that we reach ultimate justice and peace
that we reach ultimate justice and peace
that we reach ultimate justice and peace when people are separate from each other
when people are separate from each other
when people are separate from each other they’re unable to connect the verdict
they’re unable to connect the verdict
they’re unable to connect the verdict for Brown versus Board of Education to
for Brown versus Board of Education to
for Brown versus Board of Education to integrate schools was decided over fifty
integrate schools was decided over fifty
integrate schools was decided over fifty years ago and there was resistance as we
years ago and there was resistance as we
years ago and there was resistance as we all know groups like the Little Rock
all know groups like the Little Rock
all know groups like the Little Rock Nine had to be escorted by the National
Nine had to be escorted by the National
Nine had to be escorted by the National Guard into schools just to get an
Guard into schools just to get an
Guard into schools just to get an education so at my school San Lorenzo
education so at my school San Lorenzo
education so at my school San Lorenzo High School the population is primarily
High School the population is primarily
High School the population is primarily latina and Latino while a school just 15
latina and Latino while a school just 15
latina and Latino while a school just 15 minutes away is primarily white this is
minutes away is primarily white this is
minutes away is primarily white this is an example for the foundation for
an example for the foundation for
an example for the foundation for violent separation these two schools are
violent separation these two schools are
violent separation these two schools are pretty much right around the corner from
pretty much right around the corner from
pretty much right around the corner from each other yet they are worlds away
each other yet they are worlds away
each other yet they are worlds away these two communities aren’t able to
these two communities aren’t able to
these two communities aren’t able to interact so they have little to no idea
interact so they have little to no idea
interact so they have little to no idea of each other’s experiences which can
of each other’s experiences which can
of each other’s experiences which can then lead to fear while the Little Rock
then lead to fear while the Little Rock
then lead to fear while the Little Rock Nine were escorted they faced intense
Nine were escorted they faced intense
Nine were escorted they faced intense persecution from their white
persecution from their white
persecution from their white counterparts having to be escorted by
counterparts having to be escorted by
counterparts having to be escorted by the Arkansas National Guard to school
the Arkansas National Guard to school
the Arkansas National Guard to school every day as people who’ve never even
every day as people who’ve never even
every day as people who’ve never even met them burned effigies of their same
met them burned effigies of their same
met them burned effigies of their same black skin yelling
black skin yelling
black skin yelling spitting at them this is fear so
spitting at them this is fear so
spitting at them this is fear so research and contact theory suggests
research and contact theory suggests
research and contact theory suggests that when we bring people together from
that when we bring people together from
that when we bring people together from diverse backgrounds into a collaborative
diverse backgrounds into a collaborative
diverse backgrounds into a collaborative positive and non competitive environment
positive and non competitive environment
positive and non competitive environment to address issues of prejudice
to address issues of prejudice
to address issues of prejudice discrimination racism head-on we begin
discrimination racism head-on we begin
discrimination racism head-on we begin to dismantle these aspects that lead up
to dismantle these aspects that lead up
to dismantle these aspects that lead up to violence and war now I’m going to
to violence and war now I’m going to
to violence and war now I’m going to show you all something up on the screen
show you all something up on the screen
show you all something up on the screen and I want you to try your best to read
and I want you to try your best to read
and I want you to try your best to read it as fast as possible if you’re able so
it as fast as possible if you’re able so
it as fast as possible if you’re able so raise of hands how many of you guys read
raise of hands how many of you guys read
raise of hands how many of you guys read Monday is the first day of the week
Monday is the first day of the week
Monday is the first day of the week all right most of you so raise the hands
all right most of you so raise the hands
all right most of you so raise the hands if you read Monday is the first day of
if you read Monday is the first day of
if you read Monday is the first day of the week okay whew so I’m gonna show you
the week okay whew so I’m gonna show you
the week okay whew so I’m gonna show you it again but this time take your time to
it again but this time take your time to
it again but this time take your time to read it slowly
so it’s a pretty cool function of the
so it’s a pretty cool function of the human brain that we have which allows us
human brain that we have which allows us
human brain that we have which allows us to make split-second judgments in order
to make split-second judgments in order
to make split-second judgments in order to survive many people read Monday is
to survive many people read Monday is
to survive many people read Monday is the first day of the week because our
the first day of the week because our
the first day of the week because our mind jumbles up all the words to in
mind jumbles up all the words to in
mind jumbles up all the words to in order that we expect which makes sense
order that we expect which makes sense
order that we expect which makes sense because we feel like we already know
because we feel like we already know
because we feel like we already know what we’re about to see but the problem
what we’re about to see but the problem
what we’re about to see but the problem is we often use this on people when we
is we often use this on people when we
is we often use this on people when we make assumptions of what they’ll be like
make assumptions of what they’ll be like
make assumptions of what they’ll be like based on what we already know when we
based on what we already know when we
based on what we already know when we feel ourselves prejudging others it’s
feel ourselves prejudging others it’s
feel ourselves prejudging others it’s important to have respect SPECT meaning
important to have respect SPECT meaning
important to have respect SPECT meaning look and read meaning again look again
look and read meaning again look again
look and read meaning again look again instead of allowing these preconceived
instead of allowing these preconceived
instead of allowing these preconceived ideas and misconceptions guide how we
ideas and misconceptions guide how we
ideas and misconceptions guide how we see each other take the time to look
see each other take the time to look
see each other take the time to look again deeper and see the person for who
again deeper and see the person for who
again deeper and see the person for who they really are just as you looked again
they really are just as you looked again
they really are just as you looked again at the words Monday is the first day of
at the words Monday is the first day of
at the words Monday is the first day of the week just as you looked again of the
the week just as you looked again of the
the week just as you looked again of the words Monday is the first day of the
words Monday is the first day of the
words Monday is the first day of the week look again at the person who you
week look again at the person who you
week look again at the person who you may have prejudged and tried to see them
may have prejudged and tried to see them
may have prejudged and tried to see them as an individual and not the stereotype
as an individual and not the stereotype
as an individual and not the stereotype associated with the color of their skin
associated with the color of their skin
associated with the color of their skin look again for Trayvon for falando for
look again for Trayvon for falando for
look again for Trayvon for falando for Tamir and for Erik because no one
Tamir and for Erik because no one
Tamir and for Erik because no one deserves to die because of the color of
deserves to die because of the color of
deserves to die because of the color of their skin stereotyping is literally
their skin stereotyping is literally
their skin stereotyping is literally like putting a box over someone’s head
like putting a box over someone’s head
like putting a box over someone’s head and slapping a label on to it when our
and slapping a label on to it when our
and slapping a label on to it when our perception is clouded by what we expect
perception is clouded by what we expect
perception is clouded by what we expect to see of a person that is all we see a
to see of a person that is all we see a
to see of a person that is all we see a label when we cannot connect when we
label when we cannot connect when we
label when we cannot connect when we cannot see someone for who they are we
cannot see someone for who they are we
cannot see someone for who they are we are unable to empathize with them
empathy is just like Atticus Finch once
empathy is just like Atticus Finch once said never really understand the person
said never really understand the person
said never really understand the person until you consider things from their
until you consider things from their
until you consider things from their point of view until you climb into their
point of view until you climb into their
point of view until you climb into their skin and walk around in it but make no
skin and walk around in it but make no
skin and walk around in it but make no mistake peace is not some far-off
mistake peace is not some far-off
mistake peace is not some far-off alternate universe
alternate universe
alternate universe because as Gandhi once said there is no
because as Gandhi once said there is no
because as Gandhi once said there is no path to peace peace is the path and when
path to peace peace is the path and when
path to peace peace is the path and when we practice connecting respecting and
we practice connecting respecting and
we practice connecting respecting and empathizing people different than us we
empathizing people different than us we
empathizing people different than us we are being peace teaching peace and
are being peace teaching peace and
are being peace teaching peace and living peace it’s all building blocks
living peace it’s all building blocks
living peace it’s all building blocks you see when we connect with people
you see when we connect with people
you see when we connect with people different than us that we begin to
different than us that we begin to
different than us that we begin to dismantle these fears and prejudices we
dismantle these fears and prejudices we
dismantle these fears and prejudices we have by respecting by looking again when
have by respecting by looking again when
have by respecting by looking again when we respect and can see people for who
we respect and can see people for who
we respect and can see people for who they are that is when we can put
they are that is when we can put
they are that is when we can put ourselves in their shoes and reach
ourselves in their shoes and reach
ourselves in their shoes and reach ultimate peace now bear with me for this
ultimate peace now bear with me for this
ultimate peace now bear with me for this next one so everyone take a look at it
next one so everyone take a look at it
next one so everyone take a look at it one of your fingers any finger now look
one of your fingers any finger now look
one of your fingers any finger now look at the tip of your nail if I think on
at the tip of your nail if I think on
at the tip of your nail if I think on how long has it been since you clicked
how long has it been since you clicked
how long has it been since you clicked your nails the seed of a redwood tree is
your nails the seed of a redwood tree is
your nails the seed of a redwood tree is roughly the same size as the tip of your
roughly the same size as the tip of your
roughly the same size as the tip of your nail super tiny right that redwood seed
nail super tiny right that redwood seed
nail super tiny right that redwood seed is you this idea is the wind the Sun and
is you this idea is the wind the Sun and
is you this idea is the wind the Sun and the water that helps us grow and when we
the water that helps us grow and when we
the water that helps us grow and when we and when some of the trees have a
and when some of the trees have a
and when some of the trees have a disease all the other redwood
disease all the other redwood
disease all the other redwood surrounding it help it heal when one
surrounding it help it heal when one
surrounding it help it heal when one passes on a circle of Redwood sprout up
passes on a circle of Redwood sprout up
passes on a circle of Redwood sprout up we can’t see it but underneath the
we can’t see it but underneath the
we can’t see it but underneath the surface all the roots are connected and
surface all the roots are connected and
surface all the roots are connected and they all sustain each other their
they all sustain each other their
they all sustain each other their interconnect interconnected and their
interconnect interconnected and their
interconnect interconnected and their survival depends upon each other these
survival depends upon each other these
survival depends upon each other these redwood seeds are us when one tree
redwood seeds are us when one tree
redwood seeds are us when one tree catches fire so does the whole forest
catches fire so does the whole forest
catches fire so does the whole forest that is the poison the violence that
that is the poison the violence that
that is the poison the violence that spreads and is invasive this wind the
spreads and is invasive this wind the
spreads and is invasive this wind the Sun and the water is the idea that helps
Sun and the water is the idea that helps
Sun and the water is the idea that helps each of us grow yet we cannot grow on
each of us grow yet we cannot grow on
each of us grow yet we cannot grow on our own we are interconnected and our
our own we are interconnected and our
our own we are interconnected and our collective growth is dependent upon each
collective growth is dependent upon each
collective growth is dependent upon each and every one of us so I ask each and
and every one of us so I ask each and
and every one of us so I ask each and every one of you to take what you’ve
every one of you to take what you’ve
every one of you to take what you’ve learned and allow yourself to grow and
learned and allow yourself to grow and
learned and allow yourself to grow and for us take this idea let it
for us take this idea let it
for us take this idea let it you let it help you grow and when you’ve
you let it help you grow and when you’ve
you let it help you grow and when you’ve manifested it help others grow and heal
manifested it help others grow and heal
manifested it help others grow and heal from the diseases of the past thank you
”
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