[Applause] climate change and racism have a lot in
climate change and racism have a lot in
climate change and racism have a lot in common
common
common most notably what people do not believe
most notably what people do not believe
most notably what people do not believe about them people do not believe that
about them people do not believe that
about them people do not believe that they’re real problems they don’t believe
they’re real problems they don’t believe
they’re real problems they don’t believe that humans created them and it’s not
that humans created them and it’s not
that humans created them and it’s not just the way things are people don’t
just the way things are people don’t
just the way things are people don’t believe that it impacts all of us and
believe that it impacts all of us and
believe that it impacts all of us and not just some of us and people do not
not just some of us and people do not
not just some of us and people do not believe that all of us perpetuate them
it’s interesting because climate change
it’s interesting because climate change and racism are also very interconnected
the reality is that although climate
the reality is that although climate change will impact all of us make no
change will impact all of us make no
change will impact all of us make no mistakes about it people of color and
mistakes about it people of color and
mistakes about it people of color and other marginalized groups will
other marginalized groups will
other marginalized groups will disproportionately bear the effects of
disproportionately bear the effects of
disproportionately bear the effects of climate change and we’re already seeing
climate change and we’re already seeing
climate change and we’re already seeing that now what we’ve learned from
that now what we’ve learned from
that now what we’ve learned from disasters is that we can pretty much
disasters is that we can pretty much
disasters is that we can pretty much predict the outcomes if we understand
predict the outcomes if we understand
predict the outcomes if we understand what the infrastructure what the
what the infrastructure what the
what the infrastructure what the environmental social and economic
environmental social and economic
environmental social and economic challenges are that are tearing out our
challenges are that are tearing out our
challenges are that are tearing out our communities right now every day and have
communities right now every day and have
communities right now every day and have been on the other side of that though is
been on the other side of that though is
been on the other side of that though is that when we look at the opportunities
that when we look at the opportunities
that when we look at the opportunities to address issues of climate change and
to address issues of climate change and
to address issues of climate change and to prepare ourselves for what that means
to prepare ourselves for what that means
to prepare ourselves for what that means we also see the way that people of color
we also see the way that people of color
we also see the way that people of color are left out of those opportunities when
are left out of those opportunities when
are left out of those opportunities when we think about what happens with the
we think about what happens with the
we think about what happens with the environmental justice movement
environmental justice movement
environmental justice movement what’s happening with the climate
what’s happening with the climate
what’s happening with the climate justice movements that they’re very
justice movements that they’re very
justice movements that they’re very segregated racially and therefore lose
segregated racially and therefore lose
segregated racially and therefore lose the power of what it means when we can
the power of what it means when we can
the power of what it means when we can come together to work on these issues
the other way that climate change and
the other way that climate change and racism are interconnected and
racism are interconnected and
racism are interconnected and opportunity is when we think about the
opportunity is when we think about the
opportunity is when we think about the economic opportunities of the green
economic opportunities of the green
economic opportunities of the green economy people of color being left out
economy people of color being left out
economy people of color being left out of those opportunities as well so we
of those opportunities as well so we
of those opportunities as well so we recognize that racism is a real thing
recognize that racism is a real thing
recognize that racism is a real thing and we recognize how it’s impacting all
and we recognize how it’s impacting all
and we recognize how it’s impacting all of us but what is racism what is it
of us but what is racism what is it
of us but what is racism what is it many of us have seen what’s happening in
many of us have seen what’s happening in
many of us have seen what’s happening in our public discourse right now when you
our public discourse right now when you
our public discourse right now when you turn on a TV that we have these
turn on a TV that we have these
turn on a TV that we have these oversimplified conversations that pit
oversimplified conversations that pit
oversimplified conversations that pit the racist against the non racist people
the racist against the non racist people
the racist against the non racist people of color against white people we created
of color against white people we created
of color against white people we created we’ve created this understanding of it
we’ve created this understanding of it
we’ve created this understanding of it that has divided us in a way where we’re
that has divided us in a way where we’re
that has divided us in a way where we’re missing the point
which is an intended consequence of
which is an intended consequence of racism that we missed the point of how
racism that we missed the point of how
racism that we missed the point of how we’re connected to each other so how
we’re connected to each other so how
we’re connected to each other so how does it start
does it start
does it start when was that moment where we learned
when was that moment where we learned
when was that moment where we learned all of the ideas of who people are and
all of the ideas of who people are and
all of the ideas of who people are and how they’re supposed to be many of us
how they’re supposed to be many of us
how they’re supposed to be many of us have heard the definition prejudice plus
have heard the definition prejudice plus
have heard the definition prejudice plus power right it’s a little more
power right it’s a little more
power right it’s a little more sophisticated than the common discourse
sophisticated than the common discourse
sophisticated than the common discourse we’re seeing on TV right now but it
we’re seeing on TV right now but it
we’re seeing on TV right now but it still is lacking in some context that
still is lacking in some context that
still is lacking in some context that helps us understand what racism is how
helps us understand what racism is how
helps us understand what racism is how it works and how it impacts all of us
that context is we’re all humans and
that context is we’re all humans and we’re flawed congratulations welcome to
we’re flawed congratulations welcome to
we’re flawed congratulations welcome to the human family the other part of that
the human family the other part of that
the human family the other part of that though is we all prejudge people it is
though is we all prejudge people it is
though is we all prejudge people it is the way we are
the way we are
the way we are wired it is the way we are designed from
wired it is the way we are designed from
wired it is the way we are designed from the moment we were born we’ve been
the moment we were born we’ve been
the moment we were born we’ve been conditioned to believe certain things
conditioned to believe certain things
conditioned to believe certain things about who people of color are how
about who people of color are how
about who people of color are how they’re supposed to be what
they’re supposed to be what
they’re supposed to be what opportunities they should have access to
opportunities they should have access to
opportunities they should have access to or not whose humanity gets respected or
or not whose humanity gets respected or
or not whose humanity gets respected or not and so if we think about what that
not and so if we think about what that
not and so if we think about what that means for us personally who we are and
means for us personally who we are and
means for us personally who we are and how we’re contributing that means our
how we’re contributing that means our
how we’re contributing that means our understanding of racism is about us as
understanding of racism is about us as
understanding of racism is about us as part of a system then the pre on the
part of a system then the pre on the
part of a system then the pre on the prejudging people side we also don’t get
prejudging people side we also don’t get
prejudging people side we also don’t get the full understanding of the fact that
the full understanding of the fact that
the full understanding of the fact that those ideas about who people are in how
those ideas about who people are in how
those ideas about who people are in how they aren’t just harmful and hurtful to
they aren’t just harmful and hurtful to
they aren’t just harmful and hurtful to our psychology and to our emotions but
our psychology and to our emotions but
our psychology and to our emotions but we walk through the doors of
we walk through the doors of
we walk through the doors of institutions with these thoughts and
institutions with these thoughts and
institutions with these thoughts and we’re setting up policies programs we’re
we’re setting up policies programs we’re
we’re setting up policies programs we’re deciding who gets hired or not hired so
deciding who gets hired or not hired so
deciding who gets hired or not hired so when we’re in institutions and we think
when we’re in institutions and we think
when we’re in institutions and we think about institutional racism it’s not just
about institutional racism it’s not just
about institutional racism it’s not just a building when we think about the
a building when we think about the
a building when we think about the system of racism it’s not just some
system of racism it’s not just some
system of racism it’s not just some thing that’s hiding behind a curtain
thing that’s hiding behind a curtain
thing that’s hiding behind a curtain pulling on strings
pulling on strings
pulling on strings there’s no Oz back there it’s us all of
there’s no Oz back there it’s us all of
there’s no Oz back there it’s us all of us that are part of that system that are
us that are part of that system that are
us that are part of that system that are walking through doors of institutions
walking through doors of institutions
walking through doors of institutions perpetuating these issues and so if we
perpetuating these issues and so if we
perpetuating these issues and so if we understand that part that all of us are
understand that part that all of us are
understand that part that all of us are part of that system then what do we do
part of that system then what do we do
part of that system then what do we do about it what are we supposed to do
about it what are we supposed to do
about it what are we supposed to do about it
about it
about it well the other half of that definition I
well the other half of that definition I
well the other half of that definition I mentioned earlier was plus power which
mentioned earlier was plus power which
mentioned earlier was plus power which we never talked about and there’s
we never talked about and there’s
we never talked about and there’s multiple types of power that are
multiple types of power that are
multiple types of power that are interrelated interconnected to one
interrelated interconnected to one
interrelated interconnected to one another
another
another so first there’s decision-making power
so first there’s decision-making power
so first there’s decision-making power who’s at the table making decisions
who’s at the table making decisions
who’s at the table making decisions about all of these different aspects of
about all of these different aspects of
about all of these different aspects of our lives and who’s not at the table
our lives and who’s not at the table
our lives and who’s not at the table there’s resources so those people at the
there’s resources so those people at the
there’s resources so those people at the table making decisions also determine
table making decisions also determine
table making decisions also determine who gets access to which resources and
who gets access to which resources and
who gets access to which resources and then we also have who gets to determine
then we also have who gets to determine
then we also have who gets to determine what reality is the framing of reality
what reality is the framing of reality
what reality is the framing of reality both today and how we think about what’s
both today and how we think about what’s
both today and how we think about what’s happening in our society who is at the
happening in our society who is at the
happening in our society who is at the root of the problems that we’ve
root of the problems that we’ve
root of the problems that we’ve identified who’s not who’s who are the
identified who’s not who’s who are the
identified who’s not who’s who are the saviors it also reflects our history and
saviors it also reflects our history and
saviors it also reflects our history and who gets the frame the reality of our
who gets the frame the reality of our
who gets the frame the reality of our history in our understanding of history
history in our understanding of history
history in our understanding of history because we’re not learning it in school
because we’re not learning it in school
because we’re not learning it in school and if we’re not seeking it out then
and if we’re not seeking it out then
and if we’re not seeking it out then we’re disconnected from it and we don’t
we’re disconnected from it and we don’t
we’re disconnected from it and we don’t understand how we got to the inequities
understand how we got to the inequities
understand how we got to the inequities that we see today and not just racism
that we see today and not just racism
that we see today and not just racism all of them the other form of power
all of them the other form of power
all of them the other form of power that’s relevant to this discussion is
that’s relevant to this discussion is
that’s relevant to this discussion is this whole piece around who gets to set
this whole piece around who gets to set
this whole piece around who gets to set up the norms and standards of what’s
up the norms and standards of what’s
up the norms and standards of what’s acceptable in terms of behavior
acceptable in terms of behavior
acceptable in terms of behavior appearance who has a monopoly on success
then there’s also this whole idea that
then there’s also this whole idea that we’ve probably never talked about which
we’ve probably never talked about which
we’ve probably never talked about which is time the power of time you see
is time the power of time you see
is time the power of time you see wouldn’t you are a person of color at
wouldn’t you are a person of color at
wouldn’t you are a person of color at the intersection of poverty and being
the intersection of poverty and being
the intersection of poverty and being working poor you have less time than
working poor you have less time than
working poor you have less time than everybody else because you’re spending
everybody else because you’re spending
everybody else because you’re spending your time trying to make that extra
your time trying to make that extra
your time trying to make that extra money you’re spending your time on
money you’re spending your time on
money you’re spending your time on longer bus and train rides because
longer bus and train rides because
longer bus and train rides because you’re living in communities that are
you’re living in communities that are
you’re living in communities that are isolated from the rest of everybody else
isolated from the rest of everybody else
isolated from the rest of everybody else it takes longer for you to go grocery
it takes longer for you to go grocery
it takes longer for you to go grocery shopping because it’s you have a higher
shopping because it’s you have a higher
shopping because it’s you have a higher likelihood of living in a food desert
is a form of power because that means
is a form of power because that means you can’t participate in the same ways
you can’t participate in the same ways
you can’t participate in the same ways in the traditional forms of climate just
in the traditional forms of climate just
in the traditional forms of climate just in a climate justice and environmental
in a climate justice and environmental
in a climate justice and environmental justice movements we like to set up
justice movements we like to set up
justice movements we like to set up these meetings and that’s where we
these meetings and that’s where we
these meetings and that’s where we expect everyone to show up to work
expect everyone to show up to work
expect everyone to show up to work together on these issues but the reality
together on these issues but the reality
together on these issues but the reality is some of us don’t have the privilege
is some of us don’t have the privilege
is some of us don’t have the privilege to do that because time is a form of
to do that because time is a form of
to do that because time is a form of power and privilege and last but
power and privilege and last but
power and privilege and last but certainly not least is the power of
certainly not least is the power of
certainly not least is the power of relationships because it’s the
relationships because it’s the
relationships because it’s the relationships that help us navigate the
relationships that help us navigate the
relationships that help us navigate the dysfunction of the system
dysfunction of the system
dysfunction of the system you see institutions in a way they’re
you see institutions in a way they’re
you see institutions in a way they’re run and the systems that we keep talking
run and the systems that we keep talking
run and the systems that we keep talking about they’re the things that are broken
about they’re the things that are broken
about they’re the things that are broken not the people it’s up some of us have
not the people it’s up some of us have
not the people it’s up some of us have relationships that allow us to navigate
relationships that allow us to navigate
relationships that allow us to navigate the dysfunction to get what we need from
the dysfunction to get what we need from
the dysfunction to get what we need from that system some of us have
that system some of us have
that system some of us have relationships that allow us to navigate
relationships that allow us to navigate
relationships that allow us to navigate institutions to get that job get that
institutions to get that job get that
institutions to get that job get that opportunity that will get you the
opportunity that will get you the
opportunity that will get you the promotion so what do we do about all of
promotion so what do we do about all of
promotion so what do we do about all of this this prejudice plus power this
this this prejudice plus power this
this this prejudice plus power this racism I propose that we hum date and
racism I propose that we hum date and
racism I propose that we hum date and diet our way through it hang in there
diet our way through it hang in there
diet our way through it hang in there with me first we have to hum we have to
with me first we have to hum we have to
with me first we have to hum we have to hold a mirror up to ourselves and see
hold a mirror up to ourselves and see
hold a mirror up to ourselves and see ourselves as actors in the system see
ourselves as actors in the system see
ourselves as actors in the system see ourselves as being able to grow and
ourselves as being able to grow and
ourselves as being able to grow and learn and expand in ways that the world
learn and expand in ways that the world
learn and expand in ways that the world tells us that we’re not supposed to be
tells us that we’re not supposed to be
tells us that we’re not supposed to be able to old dogs can learn new tricks it
able to old dogs can learn new tricks it
able to old dogs can learn new tricks it happens all the time
the other reason holding up a mirror to
the other reason holding up a mirror to ourselves is so important it’s not just
ourselves is so important it’s not just
ourselves is so important it’s not just who we are individually in terms of who
who we are individually in terms of who
who we are individually in terms of who we are how we are why we are but it’s
we are how we are why we are but it’s
we are how we are why we are but it’s also organizations
also organizations
also organizations all the institutions also have to hold
all the institutions also have to hold
all the institutions also have to hold the mirror up to themselves so that we
the mirror up to themselves so that we
the mirror up to themselves so that we can be more aware of the bias within us
can be more aware of the bias within us
can be more aware of the bias within us if we do not manage our bias it will
if we do not manage our bias it will
if we do not manage our bias it will manage us so we’ve hummed to ourselves
manage us so we’ve hummed to ourselves
manage us so we’ve hummed to ourselves we have some consciousness now but it’s
we have some consciousness now but it’s
we have some consciousness now but it’s not enough see what usually happens as
not enough see what usually happens as
not enough see what usually happens as we need then to take a date
we need then to take a date
we need then to take a date take a developmental approach to
take a developmental approach to
take a developmental approach to everything because let me tell you once
everything because let me tell you once
everything because let me tell you once you start humming to yourself it gets
you start humming to yourself it gets
you start humming to yourself it gets uncomfortable when we see what’s in the
uncomfortable when we see what’s in the
uncomfortable when we see what’s in the mirror sometimes and we have to give
mirror sometimes and we have to give
mirror sometimes and we have to give ourselves the space to be okay with the
ourselves the space to be okay with the
ourselves the space to be okay with the fact that we’re gonna trip up we’re
fact that we’re gonna trip up we’re
fact that we’re gonna trip up we’re gonna mess up we have to be patient with
gonna mess up we have to be patient with
gonna mess up we have to be patient with ourselves and respect our own humanity
ourselves and respect our own humanity
ourselves and respect our own humanity as we do that but also and respect other
as we do that but also and respect other
as we do that but also and respect other people’s humanity who are also
people’s humanity who are also
people’s humanity who are also struggling with these issues and trying
struggling with these issues and trying
struggling with these issues and trying to make their way through what it means
to make their way through what it means
to make their way through what it means to confront and address issues of racism
to confront and address issues of racism
to confront and address issues of racism and advance racial equity consciously
and advance racial equity consciously
and advance racial equity consciously deciding to close those gaps that we’ve
deciding to close those gaps that we’ve
deciding to close those gaps that we’ve seen and now that we’ve hum to ourselves
seen and now that we’ve hum to ourselves
seen and now that we’ve hum to ourselves we’re taking a developmental approach to
we’re taking a developmental approach to
we’re taking a developmental approach to everything so we took that date and now
everything so we took that date and now
everything so we took that date and now we’re going to go on a diet we’re going
we’re going to go on a diet we’re going
we’re going to go on a diet we’re going to go on a diversity inclusion and
to go on a diversity inclusion and
to go on a diversity inclusion and equity transformation starting with
equity transformation starting with
equity transformation starting with expanding our personal and professional
expanding our personal and professional
expanding our personal and professional networks white networks and when I say
networks white networks and when I say
networks white networks and when I say networks I mean social networks I mean
networks I mean social networks I mean
networks I mean social networks I mean the real people in our lives that we
the real people in our lives that we
the real people in our lives that we have over for dinner folks we coordinate
have over for dinner folks we coordinate
have over for dinner folks we coordinate playdates with those real people in our
playdates with those real people in our
playdates with those real people in our lives that for white networks they are
lives that for white networks they are
lives that for white networks they are over 90 percent exclusively white
for african-american networks it’s over
for african-american networks it’s over 80% exclusively african-american and for
80% exclusively african-american and for
80% exclusively african-american and for Hispanic or Latin X communities it’s
Hispanic or Latin X communities it’s
Hispanic or Latin X communities it’s over 60% so we have work to do we have
over 60% so we have work to do we have
over 60% so we have work to do we have to take a lot of extra steps in order to
to take a lot of extra steps in order to
to take a lot of extra steps in order to make those connections because the
make those connections because the
make those connections because the reality of our world is so segregated
then we have to take all that we’ve
then we have to take all that we’ve experienced through humming to ourselves
experienced through humming to ourselves
experienced through humming to ourselves and taking a developmental approach to
and taking a developmental approach to
and taking a developmental approach to everything going on that date and learn
everything going on that date and learn
everything going on that date and learn and grow with the people in our worlds
and grow with the people in our worlds
and grow with the people in our worlds in our spheres of influence because now
in our spheres of influence because now
in our spheres of influence because now we have a little bit more language we
we have a little bit more language we
we have a little bit more language we can engage other people that’s how we
can engage other people that’s how we
can engage other people that’s how we spread the wealth we also have to look
spread the wealth we also have to look
spread the wealth we also have to look at all of our institutions and
at all of our institutions and
at all of our institutions and organizations have to look at the
organizations have to look at the
organizations have to look at the policies the practices and the culture
we cannot be afraid to look at data or
we cannot be afraid to look at data or information by race but not just that we
information by race but not just that we
information by race but not just that we also have to be able to look at the
also have to be able to look at the
also have to be able to look at the levels of an institution or an
levels of an institution or an
levels of an institution or an organization to understand where do we
organization to understand where do we
organization to understand where do we see the distribution of different races
see the distribution of different races
see the distribution of different races because even in the most diverse
because even in the most diverse
because even in the most diverse organizations we see that people of
organizations we see that people of
organizations we see that people of color on the lower levels of those
color on the lower levels of those
color on the lower levels of those organizations right we also have to look
organizations right we also have to look
organizations right we also have to look at the policies and the culture how do
at the policies and the culture how do
at the policies and the culture how do we set up processes that make sure that
we set up processes that make sure that
we set up processes that make sure that we’re checking and managing our bias
we’re checking and managing our bias
we’re checking and managing our bias within institutions how do we make sure
within institutions how do we make sure
within institutions how do we make sure that we are managing our bias in terms
that we are managing our bias in terms
that we are managing our bias in terms of how we show what the culture
of how we show what the culture
of how we show what the culture of our organizations our what do people
of our organizations our what do people
of our organizations our what do people feel when they walk through the doors of
feel when they walk through the doors of
feel when they walk through the doors of our institutions and last but certainly
our institutions and last but certainly
our institutions and last but certainly not least we have to remain committed
not least we have to remain committed
not least we have to remain committed and vigilant
and vigilant
and vigilant every time we forget the progress that
every time we forget the progress that
every time we forget the progress that we’ve made we start to celebrate the
we’ve made we start to celebrate the
we’ve made we start to celebrate the success of the past and we move on and
success of the past and we move on and
success of the past and we move on and we end up harming ourselves because we
we end up harming ourselves because we
we end up harming ourselves because we have forgotten how much extra effort it
have forgotten how much extra effort it
have forgotten how much extra effort it takes to keep this work going in as soon
takes to keep this work going in as soon
takes to keep this work going in as soon as we stop paying attention we start
as we stop paying attention we start
as we stop paying attention we start sliding backwards and we’ve seen it over
sliding backwards and we’ve seen it over
sliding backwards and we’ve seen it over and over again generation after
and over again generation after
and over again generation after generation in this country most people
generation in this country most people
generation in this country most people do not recognize opportunity because it
do not recognize opportunity because it
do not recognize opportunity because it comes disguised as hard work we cannot
comes disguised as hard work we cannot
comes disguised as hard work we cannot allow our racial and ethnic group
allow our racial and ethnic group
allow our racial and ethnic group identities to prevent us from
identities to prevent us from
identities to prevent us from recognizing and respecting our common
recognizing and respecting our common
recognizing and respecting our common humanity our common struggles and our
humanity our common struggles and our
humanity our common struggles and our common hopes if we do not take care of
common hopes if we do not take care of
common hopes if we do not take care of each other and the planet we will all be
each other and the planet we will all be
each other and the planet we will all be equally extinct thank you
”
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