like a lot of you I keep watching the news every day keep watching these
news every day keep watching these
news every day keep watching these horrific videos of unarmed black people
horrific videos of unarmed black people
horrific videos of unarmed black people being shot by the police by rising waves
being shot by the police by rising waves
being shot by the police by rising waves of bigotry against refugees and
of bigotry against refugees and
of bigotry against refugees and immigrants and poverty in levels that we
immigrants and poverty in levels that we
immigrants and poverty in levels that we haven’t seen before it’s hard to not
haven’t seen before it’s hard to not
haven’t seen before it’s hard to not feel like the very fabric of our social
feel like the very fabric of our social
feel like the very fabric of our social experiment is coming undone we have just
experiment is coming undone we have just
experiment is coming undone we have just wrapped up a nasty election year with
wrapped up a nasty election year with
wrapped up a nasty election year with the victory of Donald Trump running on
the victory of Donald Trump running on
the victory of Donald Trump running on the theme that he’s going to make
the theme that he’s going to make
the theme that he’s going to make America great again when I take a good
America great again when I take a good
America great again when I take a good and long hard look at us it doesn’t feel
and long hard look at us it doesn’t feel
and long hard look at us it doesn’t feel like we’re doing so great I want us to
like we’re doing so great I want us to
like we’re doing so great I want us to have this difficult conversation about
have this difficult conversation about
have this difficult conversation about the greatness of America by keeping
the greatness of America by keeping
the greatness of America by keeping track of two communities who today find
track of two communities who today find
track of two communities who today find themselves under assault and vulnerable
themselves under assault and vulnerable
themselves under assault and vulnerable black Americans and Muslim Americans
black Americans and Muslim Americans
black Americans and Muslim Americans this conversation is not abstract it’s
this conversation is not abstract it’s
this conversation is not abstract it’s not theoretical it’s deeply personal for
not theoretical it’s deeply personal for
not theoretical it’s deeply personal for me it’s about my babies and your babies
me it’s about my babies and your babies
me it’s about my babies and your babies it is about yes or Roseanne andia three
it is about yes or Roseanne andia three
it is about yes or Roseanne andia three beautiful committed American citizens of
beautiful committed American citizens of
beautiful committed American citizens of Muslim background who did everything
Muslim background who did everything
Muslim background who did everything right they worked for social justice in
right they worked for social justice in
right they worked for social justice in our inner cities they connected that
our inner cities they connected that
our inner cities they connected that struggle to the suffering of people
struggle to the suffering of people
struggle to the suffering of people halfway around the world and yet they
halfway around the world and yet they
halfway around the world and yet they were shot and killed in cold blood in
were shot and killed in cold blood in
were shot and killed in cold blood in the safety of their own
the safety of their own
the safety of their own apartment less than 24 hours after they
apartment less than 24 hours after they
apartment less than 24 hours after they were killed our University asked me to
were killed our University asked me to
were killed our University asked me to stand in front of 10,000 students and
stand in front of 10,000 students and
stand in front of 10,000 students and somehow comfort them by telling them
somehow comfort them by telling them
somehow comfort them by telling them that this is still their home what are
that this is still their home what are
that this is still their home what are we supposed to do when you’re not safe
we supposed to do when you’re not safe
we supposed to do when you’re not safe in your own home what does it mean to
in your own home what does it mean to
in your own home what does it mean to speak about the greatness of America
speak about the greatness of America
speak about the greatness of America when for so many of us this country
when for so many of us this country
when for so many of us this country doesn’t feel safe I want to take us back
doesn’t feel safe I want to take us back
doesn’t feel safe I want to take us back a little bit to the funeral that we
a little bit to the funeral that we
a little bit to the funeral that we recently celebrated of the great
recently celebrated of the great
recently celebrated of the great Muhammad Ali not just great the greatest
Muhammad Ali not just great the greatest
Muhammad Ali not just great the greatest of all time
of all time
of all time Muhammad Ali who was the heavyweight
Muhammad Ali who was the heavyweight
Muhammad Ali who was the heavyweight champion of the world back when boxing
champion of the world back when boxing
champion of the world back when boxing was king Muhammad Ali who was the most
was king Muhammad Ali who was the most
was king Muhammad Ali who was the most famous person on the planet Muhammad Ali
famous person on the planet Muhammad Ali
famous person on the planet Muhammad Ali who was big and brash and poetic and oh
who was big and brash and poetic and oh
who was big and brash and poetic and oh my god so beautiful and he would be the
my god so beautiful and he would be the
my god so beautiful and he would be the first to tell you just how Purdy he was
first to tell you just how Purdy he was
first to tell you just how Purdy he was Muhammad Ali who was hip-hop before the
Muhammad Ali who was hip-hop before the
Muhammad Ali who was hip-hop before the word existed and Muhammad Ali who made
word existed and Muhammad Ali who made
word existed and Muhammad Ali who made the same connection that I’m asking us
the same connection that I’m asking us
the same connection that I’m asking us to make here today of the connection
to make here today of the connection
to make here today of the connection between the struggle against racism here
between the struggle against racism here
between the struggle against racism here at home – the struggle against
at home – the struggle against
at home – the struggle against militarism abroad we celebrate Muhammad
militarism abroad we celebrate Muhammad
militarism abroad we celebrate Muhammad Ali today he was not celebrated in his
Ali today he was not celebrated in his
Ali today he was not celebrated in his own lifetime our government took away
own lifetime our government took away
own lifetime our government took away the heavyweight championship belt from
the heavyweight championship belt from
the heavyweight championship belt from him for three and a half years why
him for three and a half years why
him for three and a half years why because he refused to go fight in a war
because he refused to go fight in a war
because he refused to go fight in a war that he considered unjust he said and
that he considered unjust he said and
that he considered unjust he said and famously why should they ask me to put
famously why should they ask me to put
famously why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from
on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from
on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home
home
home and drop bombs and bullets on brown
and drop bombs and bullets on brown
and drop bombs and bullets on brown people while so-called Negro people in
people while so-called Negro people in
people while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs this is
Louisville are treated like dogs this is
Louisville are treated like dogs this is the context that I want us to have a
the context that I want us to have a
the context that I want us to have a conversation about our greatness a
conversation about our greatness a
conversation about our greatness a greatness that perhaps has to be built
greatness that perhaps has to be built
greatness that perhaps has to be built in our future and not to look to in our
in our future and not to look to in our
in our future and not to look to in our past I’m gonna start with my own
past I’m gonna start with my own
past I’m gonna start with my own community
community
community Muslims virtually everything that is
Muslims virtually everything that is
Muslims virtually everything that is said about Muslims is framed in the
said about Muslims is framed in the
said about Muslims is framed in the context of Isis and let us not mince
context of Isis and let us not mince
context of Isis and let us not mince words Isis is a savage barbaric and
words Isis is a savage barbaric and
words Isis is a savage barbaric and brutal force of destruction the dogs of
brutal force of destruction the dogs of
brutal force of destruction the dogs of hell we call them we should know because
hell we call them we should know because
hell we call them we should know because we as Muslims are the primary victims of
we as Muslims are the primary victims of
we as Muslims are the primary victims of Isis
Isis
Isis whether it is in Iraq in Syria in
whether it is in Iraq in Syria in
whether it is in Iraq in Syria in Bangladesh in Istanbul in Medina and
Bangladesh in Istanbul in Medina and
Bangladesh in Istanbul in Medina and also in Brussels and Paris we see the
also in Brussels and Paris we see the
also in Brussels and Paris we see the brutality of Isis everywhere the
brutality of Isis everywhere the
brutality of Isis everywhere the question that I want to ask is a
question that I want to ask is a
question that I want to ask is a reminder from the late and great Rabbi
reminder from the late and great Rabbi
reminder from the late and great Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel who tells us you
Abraham Joshua Heschel who tells us you
Abraham Joshua Heschel who tells us you are guilty all are responsible what is
are guilty all are responsible what is
are guilty all are responsible what is our responsibility about Isis yes we
our responsibility about Isis yes we
our responsibility about Isis yes we will denounce Isis with our last breath
will denounce Isis with our last breath
will denounce Isis with our last breath when as Americans are we going to have a
when as Americans are we going to have a
when as Americans are we going to have a discussion about our collective role in
discussion about our collective role in
discussion about our collective role in having created the political instability
having created the political instability
having created the political instability in Iraq through illegally invading that
in Iraq through illegally invading that
in Iraq through illegally invading that country in 2003 until we invaded Iraq
country in 2003 until we invaded Iraq
country in 2003 until we invaded Iraq there was no al-qaeda in Iraq and of
there was no al-qaeda in Iraq and of
there was no al-qaeda in Iraq and of course there was no Isis President Obama
course there was no Isis President Obama
course there was no Isis President Obama has asked us and rightly so
has asked us and rightly so
has asked us and rightly so particularly for Muslim communities to
particularly for Muslim communities to
particularly for Muslim communities to denounce Isis what does it mean when
denounce Isis what does it mean when
denounce Isis what does it mean when every single significant scholar and
every single significant scholar and
every single significant scholar and institution and
institution and
institution and community from Muslim societies
community from Muslim societies
community from Muslim societies continues to denounce Isis but the rest
continues to denounce Isis but the rest
continues to denounce Isis but the rest of us sometimes act like we’re stuck in
of us sometimes act like we’re stuck in
of us sometimes act like we’re stuck in some bad cell phone commercials can you
some bad cell phone commercials can you
some bad cell phone commercials can you hear us now is it that Muslims are not
hear us now is it that Muslims are not
hear us now is it that Muslims are not speaking or is it that we are not
speaking or is it that we are not
speaking or is it that we are not listening what does it mean when our
listening what does it mean when our
listening what does it mean when our great scholars unanimously denounce Isis
great scholars unanimously denounce Isis
great scholars unanimously denounce Isis even the great Hamza Yusuf arguably the
even the great Hamza Yusuf arguably the
even the great Hamza Yusuf arguably the most credible of American Muslims and we
most credible of American Muslims and we
most credible of American Muslims and we can’t get a single mainstream corporate
can’t get a single mainstream corporate
can’t get a single mainstream corporate media source to come and cover this but
media source to come and cover this but
media source to come and cover this but on the other hand on those rare
on the other hand on those rare
on the other hand on those rare occasions like San bernandino and the
occasions like San bernandino and the
occasions like San bernandino and the assault on the LGBT Club in Orlando when
assault on the LGBT Club in Orlando when
assault on the LGBT Club in Orlando when a Muslim commits an acts of violence
a Muslim commits an acts of violence
a Muslim commits an acts of violence we have wall-to-wall coverage Isis comes
we have wall-to-wall coverage Isis comes
we have wall-to-wall coverage Isis comes to America what is it about Islam that
to America what is it about Islam that
to America what is it about Islam that produces violence like this well we have
produces violence like this well we have
produces violence like this well we have daily mass shootings in America someone
daily mass shootings in America someone
daily mass shootings in America someone like a Dylan roof walks into the
like a Dylan roof walks into the
like a Dylan roof walks into the historic Amy Church in Charleston shoots
historic Amy Church in Charleston shoots
historic Amy Church in Charleston shoots and kills nine unarmed black worshippers
and kills nine unarmed black worshippers
and kills nine unarmed black worshippers after having put up a manifesto online I
after having put up a manifesto online I
after having put up a manifesto online I hate black people yet there is no
hate black people yet there is no
hate black people yet there is no collective conversation that we have in
collective conversation that we have in
collective conversation that we have in which we ask the question what is it
which we ask the question what is it
which we ask the question what is it about the culture of white supremacy
about the culture of white supremacy
about the culture of white supremacy that produces mass shooters like this on
that produces mass shooters like this on
that produces mass shooters like this on a daily level let’s come back to the
a daily level let’s come back to the
a daily level let’s come back to the presidential cycle that we find
presidential cycle that we find
presidential cycle that we find ourselves this thing
whatever this is it’s like watching the
whatever this is it’s like watching the comments section of YouTube come to life
comments section of YouTube come to life
comments section of YouTube come to life and run for the highest office on the
and run for the highest office on the
and run for the highest office on the planet now speaks about now we shouldn’t
planet now speaks about now we shouldn’t
planet now speaks about now we shouldn’t really be clapping we should be weeping
really be clapping we should be weeping
really be clapping we should be weeping and mourning what has happened to our
and mourning what has happened to our
and mourning what has happened to our democracy he talks about shutting down
democracy he talks about shutting down
democracy he talks about shutting down mosques shutting down Muslim immigration
mosques shutting down Muslim immigration
mosques shutting down Muslim immigration to America speaks about Islam hates us
to America speaks about Islam hates us
to America speaks about Islam hates us as if Islam is this thing this person
as if Islam is this thing this person
as if Islam is this thing this person that wakes up in the morning brushes his
that wakes up in the morning brushes his
that wakes up in the morning brushes his teeth and goes about hating Americans
teeth and goes about hating Americans
teeth and goes about hating Americans and of course one thing that we know the
and of course one thing that we know the
and of course one thing that we know the minute that a person closes their hearts
minute that a person closes their hearts
minute that a person closes their hearts to one block of humanity they rarely
to one block of humanity they rarely
to one block of humanity they rarely stop at one hate is contagious
stop at one hate is contagious
stop at one hate is contagious so now we see him speaking in the same
so now we see him speaking in the same
so now we see him speaking in the same way about Mexicans as being rapists
way about Mexicans as being rapists
way about Mexicans as being rapists about physically disabled people women’s
about physically disabled people women’s
about physically disabled people women’s rights groups poor people and so on and
rights groups poor people and so on and
rights groups poor people and so on and here’s where I really want us to grapple
here’s where I really want us to grapple
here’s where I really want us to grapple with this question are we great we are
with this question are we great we are
with this question are we great we are left with this corrupt sold-out
left with this corrupt sold-out
left with this corrupt sold-out two-party system where one person is
two-party system where one person is
two-party system where one person is telling us that he’s gonna make America
telling us that he’s gonna make America
telling us that he’s gonna make America great again and the counterpart responds
great again and the counterpart responds
great again and the counterpart responds by saying no we’re not gonna make
by saying no we’re not gonna make
by saying no we’re not gonna make America great again America has always
America great again America has always
America great again America has always been great will we have the decency and
been great will we have the decency and
been great will we have the decency and the moral courage to stand up and say
the moral courage to stand up and say
the moral courage to stand up and say when we committed genocide against
when we committed genocide against
when we committed genocide against Native American people we were not great
Native American people we were not great
Native American people we were not great when slavery was legal in this country
when slavery was legal in this country
when slavery was legal in this country for 245 years we were not great when we
for 245 years we were not great when we
for 245 years we were not great when we had Jim Crow and Jane crow we were not
had Jim Crow and Jane crow we were not
had Jim Crow and Jane crow we were not great the way that we treated Irish and
great the way that we treated Irish and
great the way that we treated Irish and Jews and Hispanics and women in this
Jews and Hispanics and women in this
Jews and Hispanics and women in this country was not great and
country was not great and
country was not great and we have daily police shooting of black
we have daily police shooting of black
we have daily police shooting of black and brown people in this country we are
and brown people in this country we are
and brown people in this country we are not great a country that sees 20% of its
not great a country that sees 20% of its
not great a country that sees 20% of its children living in poverty is not great
children living in poverty is not great
children living in poverty is not great I love this country I ache for what we
I love this country I ache for what we
I love this country I ache for what we have become I so desperately want us to
have become I so desperately want us to
have become I so desperately want us to become great but we are not great what
become great but we are not great what
become great but we are not great what do we have to say at a time when
do we have to say at a time when
do we have to say at a time when President Donald Trump chooses as his
President Donald Trump chooses as his
President Donald Trump chooses as his main advisor a person Steve Bannon who
main advisor a person Steve Bannon who
main advisor a person Steve Bannon who had overseen a platform Breitbart which
had overseen a platform Breitbart which
had overseen a platform Breitbart which is dedicated to a white supremacist
is dedicated to a white supremacist
is dedicated to a white supremacist ideology and whose choice was applauded
ideology and whose choice was applauded
ideology and whose choice was applauded by the KKK and American Nazi Party are
by the KKK and American Nazi Party are
by the KKK and American Nazi Party are we a great nation when President Trump
we a great nation when President Trump
we a great nation when President Trump and his first appointees advocate and
and his first appointees advocate and
and his first appointees advocate and national registry for Muslims mass
national registry for Muslims mass
national registry for Muslims mass deportation of Hispanics
deportation of Hispanics
deportation of Hispanics undoing Affordable Health Care Act
undoing Affordable Health Care Act
undoing Affordable Health Care Act dismantling what is left of our public
dismantling what is left of our public
dismantling what is left of our public education and increasing militarism
education and increasing militarism
education and increasing militarism abroad is this how a great nation
abroad is this how a great nation
abroad is this how a great nation behaves towards the weak and vulnerable
behaves towards the weak and vulnerable
behaves towards the weak and vulnerable in her own borders and abroad let’s
in her own borders and abroad let’s
in her own borders and abroad let’s shift the focus away from the individual
shift the focus away from the individual
shift the focus away from the individual politicians in a sense all that they
politicians in a sense all that they
politicians in a sense all that they have done is to mirror and amplify the
have done is to mirror and amplify the
have done is to mirror and amplify the racism and the xenophobia that’s been
racism and the xenophobia that’s been
racism and the xenophobia that’s been part of our legacy as other people have
part of our legacy as other people have
part of our legacy as other people have said it before let us remember that in
said it before let us remember that in
said it before let us remember that in America the lynching of black people is
America the lynching of black people is
America the lynching of black people is legacy is tradition oftentimes the
legacy is tradition oftentimes the
legacy is tradition oftentimes the people that we see who are targeted are
people that we see who are targeted are
people that we see who are targeted are the people who stand out as being
the people who stand out as being
the people who stand out as being visibly other Muslim women wearing head
visibly other Muslim women wearing head
visibly other Muslim women wearing head covering our Sikh brothers wearing a
covering our Sikh brothers wearing a
covering our Sikh brothers wearing a turban and perhaps no place in no time
turban and perhaps no place in no time
turban and perhaps no place in no time do we see the discrepancy
do we see the discrepancy
do we see the discrepancy of this demon of white supremacy that
of this demon of white supremacy that
of this demon of white supremacy that keeps us from being great more vividly
keeps us from being great more vividly
keeps us from being great more vividly than the juxtaposition the daily assault
than the juxtaposition the daily assault
than the juxtaposition the daily assault on black bodies in our cities you know
on black bodies in our cities you know
on black bodies in our cities you know their names Michael Brown
their names Michael Brown
their names Michael Brown tammer rice Trayvon Martin Sandra bland
tammer rice Trayvon Martin Sandra bland
tammer rice Trayvon Martin Sandra bland Freddie gray and just recently Elton
Freddie gray and just recently Elton
Freddie gray and just recently Elton sterling falando Castile black people
sterling falando Castile black people
sterling falando Castile black people being killed by the very police force
being killed by the very police force
being killed by the very police force sworn to honor serve and protect them
sworn to honor serve and protect them
sworn to honor serve and protect them and on the other hand you’ve got white
and on the other hand you’ve got white
and on the other hand you’ve got white militias showing up with semi-automatic
militias showing up with semi-automatic
militias showing up with semi-automatic weapons white militias that oftentimes
weapons white militias that oftentimes
weapons white militias that oftentimes have a KKK or white separatists leaning
have a KKK or white separatists leaning
have a KKK or white separatists leaning demonstrating in front of mosques and
demonstrating in front of mosques and
demonstrating in front of mosques and Islamic centers or taking over federal
Islamic centers or taking over federal
Islamic centers or taking over federal buildings and the police response not by
buildings and the police response not by
buildings and the police response not by shooting them but by saying we must
shooting them but by saying we must
shooting them but by saying we must exercise caution and discretion I don’t
exercise caution and discretion I don’t
exercise caution and discretion I don’t want our white brothers and sisters to
want our white brothers and sisters to
want our white brothers and sisters to be killed and shot but I have to ask the
be killed and shot but I have to ask the
be killed and shot but I have to ask the question what does a white militia have
question what does a white militia have
question what does a white militia have to do to be treated the way that our
to do to be treated the way that our
to do to be treated the way that our black and brown brothers and sisters are
black and brown brothers and sisters are
black and brown brothers and sisters are treated every day on our streets that
treated every day on our streets that
treated every day on our streets that discrepancy has a name and that name is
discrepancy has a name and that name is
discrepancy has a name and that name is white supremacy and that is what keeping
white supremacy and that is what keeping
white supremacy and that is what keeping us from being the great nation that we
us from being the great nation that we
us from being the great nation that we think we are if you don’t want to take
think we are if you don’t want to take
think we are if you don’t want to take my word for it go to the Southern
my word for it go to the Southern
my word for it go to the Southern Poverty Law Center which maps out hate
Poverty Law Center which maps out hate
Poverty Law Center which maps out hate groups across the country 892 neo-nazi
groups across the country 892 neo-nazi
groups across the country 892 neo-nazi KKK neo Orion groups spreading like
KKK neo Orion groups spreading like
KKK neo Orion groups spreading like measles across the country this is the
measles across the country this is the
measles across the country this is the reality of who we are let’s connect as
reality of who we are let’s connect as
reality of who we are let’s connect as Ali connected the racism at home to the
Ali connected the racism at home to the
Ali connected the racism at home to the military
military
military abroad we spend more on our military
abroad we spend more on our military
abroad we spend more on our military than the next 12 countries combined we
than the next 12 countries combined we
than the next 12 countries combined we are spending hundreds of billions of
are spending hundreds of billions of
are spending hundreds of billions of dollars to build this Empire this
dollars to build this Empire this
dollars to build this Empire this military industrial complex which is
military industrial complex which is
military industrial complex which is killing and subjugating brown bodies
killing and subjugating brown bodies
killing and subjugating brown bodies primarily Muslim bodies overseas and now
primarily Muslim bodies overseas and now
primarily Muslim bodies overseas and now that same war grade machinery is being
that same war grade machinery is being
that same war grade machinery is being recycled back into our inner cities to
recycled back into our inner cities to
recycled back into our inner cities to police and subjugate primarily black and
police and subjugate primarily black and
police and subjugate primarily black and brown bodies this is Ferguson and this
brown bodies this is Ferguson and this
brown bodies this is Ferguson and this war grade machinery is what’s patrolling
war grade machinery is what’s patrolling
war grade machinery is what’s patrolling our inner cities this is the context in
our inner cities this is the context in
our inner cities this is the context in which we have an emergence of a black
which we have an emergence of a black
which we have an emergence of a black lives matter movement with a simple
lives matter movement with a simple
lives matter movement with a simple demand stop killing black people this is
demand stop killing black people this is
demand stop killing black people this is where our people of color find
where our people of color find
where our people of color find themselves confronting a militarized
themselves confronting a militarized
themselves confronting a militarized police force over there is now over here
police force over there is now over here
police force over there is now over here and that’s why sometimes you have to
and that’s why sometimes you have to
and that’s why sometimes you have to look long and hard to figure out which
look long and hard to figure out which
look long and hard to figure out which scene is Ferguson and which scene is a
scene is Ferguson and which scene is a
scene is Ferguson and which scene is a Gaza in Palestine the same tear gas is
Gaza in Palestine the same tear gas is
Gaza in Palestine the same tear gas is used on both communities but I’m not
used on both communities but I’m not
used on both communities but I’m not going to leave us in an abyss of despair
going to leave us in an abyss of despair
going to leave us in an abyss of despair and hopelessness if I rebel against what
and hopelessness if I rebel against what
and hopelessness if I rebel against what we have become it is because deep in my
we have become it is because deep in my
we have become it is because deep in my heart I do believe that greatness is an
heart I do believe that greatness is an
heart I do believe that greatness is an option for us as a people the answer
option for us as a people the answer
option for us as a people the answer begins with solidarity it shows up when
begins with solidarity it shows up when
begins with solidarity it shows up when we are willing to link together our
we are willing to link together our
we are willing to link together our resistance and our struggle by saying I
resistance and our struggle by saying I
resistance and our struggle by saying I cannot be who I want to be until you be
cannot be who I want to be until you be
cannot be who I want to be until you be everything that you ought to be it
everything that you ought to be it
everything that you ought to be it happens when you see Muslim sisters
happens when you see Muslim sisters
happens when you see Muslim sisters showing up in Ferguson marching arm in
showing up in Ferguson marching arm in
showing up in Ferguson marching arm in arm with our african-american sisters
arm with our african-american sisters
arm with our african-american sisters and brothers
and brothers
and brothers the answer is love but love not as this
the answer is love but love not as this
the answer is love but love not as this hokey commercialized commodified
hokey commercialized commodified
hokey commercialized commodified signified emotion for Valentine’s Day
signified emotion for Valentine’s Day
signified emotion for Valentine’s Day Hallmark cards love as that redemptive
Hallmark cards love as that redemptive
Hallmark cards love as that redemptive divine force that disrupts transforms
divine force that disrupts transforms
divine force that disrupts transforms and uplifts I will stand with you
and uplifts I will stand with you
and uplifts I will stand with you because I love you we saw this love on
because I love you we saw this love on
because I love you we saw this love on display in Muhammad Ali’s funeral as a
display in Muhammad Ali’s funeral as a
display in Muhammad Ali’s funeral as a person of color as a Muslim who has felt
person of color as a Muslim who has felt
person of color as a Muslim who has felt like America doesn’t feel like my home
like America doesn’t feel like my home
like America doesn’t feel like my home in the last 15 years in Ali’s funeral I
in the last 15 years in Ali’s funeral I
in the last 15 years in Ali’s funeral I saw in America that I want to belong to
saw in America that I want to belong to
saw in America that I want to belong to and I know that that America that Great
and I know that that America that Great
and I know that that America that Great America is not in our past that America
America is not in our past that America
America is not in our past that America is not our present if we want to live in
is not our present if we want to live in
is not our present if we want to live in that Great America we have to build it
that Great America we have to build it
that Great America we have to build it it’s an America that we have to become
it’s an America that we have to become
it’s an America that we have to become and we have echoes of this in our
and we have echoes of this in our
and we have echoes of this in our founding documents We the People in
founding documents We the People in
founding documents We the People in order to form a more perfect union
order to form a more perfect union
order to form a more perfect union establish justice thank God it doesn’t
establish justice thank God it doesn’t
establish justice thank God it doesn’t say that we are a perfect Union we
say that we are a perfect Union we
say that we are a perfect Union we weren’t perfect during slavery we
weren’t perfect during slavery we
weren’t perfect during slavery we weren’t perfect during Jim Crow
weren’t perfect during Jim Crow
weren’t perfect during Jim Crow we’re not perfect today but if we can
we’re not perfect today but if we can
we’re not perfect today but if we can reach out
reach out
reach out hold hands resist and struggle together
hold hands resist and struggle together
hold hands resist and struggle together we can build this more perfect America
we can build this more perfect America
we can build this more perfect America I’m gonna give the last word to the
I’m gonna give the last word to the
I’m gonna give the last word to the great bard of Harlem Langston Hughes and
great bard of Harlem Langston Hughes and
great bard of Harlem Langston Hughes and his beautiful majestic poem oh yes I say
his beautiful majestic poem oh yes I say
his beautiful majestic poem oh yes I say it plain America never was America to me
it plain America never was America to me
it plain America never was America to me and yet I swear this oath
and yet I swear this oath
and yet I swear this oath America will be thank you and God bless
America will be thank you and God bless
America will be thank you and God bless [Applause]
”
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