the complex community that I love so may 1993 my family and I my mother’s and my
1993 my family and I my mother’s and my
1993 my family and I my mother’s and my mother not mothers mother and three
mother not mothers mother and three
mother not mothers mother and three sisters we get off this airplane and we
sisters we get off this airplane and we
sisters we get off this airplane and we are greeted by strangers strangers who
are greeted by strangers strangers who
are greeted by strangers strangers who overnight become family I’ll never
overnight become family I’ll never
overnight become family I’ll never forget it it was a bright day you walk
forget it it was a bright day you walk
forget it it was a bright day you walk out the airport lights were extremely
out the airport lights were extremely
out the airport lights were extremely hot it felt like greeted by all these
hot it felt like greeted by all these
hot it felt like greeted by all these truthfully white folks we’re in Portland
truthfully white folks we’re in Portland
truthfully white folks we’re in Portland and they’ve got balloons and they’ve got
and they’ve got balloons and they’ve got
and they’ve got balloons and they’ve got flowers and they welcomed us and
flowers and they welcomed us and
flowers and they welcomed us and strangers become family and a community
strangers become family and a community
strangers become family and a community becomes home we had just gone through
becomes home we had just gone through
becomes home we had just gone through this war were originally from Liberia
this war were originally from Liberia
this war were originally from Liberia West Africa a country that was found by
West Africa a country that was found by
West Africa a country that was found by freed enslaved blacks they go back
freed enslaved blacks they go back
freed enslaved blacks they go back shortly after emancipation and they say
shortly after emancipation and they say
shortly after emancipation and they say you know let’s let’s start anew
you know let’s let’s start anew
you know let’s let’s start anew well the complicated part about it is
well the complicated part about it is
well the complicated part about it is these people end up enslaving the
these people end up enslaving the
these people end up enslaving the indigenous people right the complexity
indigenous people right the complexity
indigenous people right the complexity of that well I’m a direct descendant of
of that well I’m a direct descendant of
of that well I’m a direct descendant of one of those people who enslaved the
one of those people who enslaved the
one of those people who enslaved the indigenous people I’m also a direct
indigenous people I’m also a direct
indigenous people I’m also a direct descendant of some of the indigenous
descendant of some of the indigenous
descendant of some of the indigenous people so years later we get on this
people so years later we get on this
people so years later we get on this plane and we come to this country and
plane and we come to this country and
plane and we come to this country and this community becomes our home and this
this community becomes our home and this
this community becomes our home and this community becomes a place where we not
community becomes a place where we not
community becomes a place where we not only grow but we become something new
only grow but we become something new
only grow but we become something new and it welcomes us so we’re living at
and it welcomes us so we’re living at
and it welcomes us so we’re living at interesting times
interesting times
interesting times and so much around us is it’s
and so much around us is it’s
and so much around us is it’s essentially telling us we’re either or
essentially telling us we’re either or
essentially telling us we’re either or you know it tells guys like me I’m a
you know it tells guys like me I’m a
you know it tells guys like me I’m a black man and because I’m a black man
black man and because I’m a black man
black man and because I’m a black man there all of these things that come with
there all of these things that come with
there all of these things that come with it
it
it it tells some other folk you know your
it tells some other folk you know your
it tells some other folk you know your your lesbian or transgendered whatever
your lesbian or transgendered whatever
your lesbian or transgendered whatever you are
you are
you are and over the last couple months as I’ve
and over the last couple months as I’ve
and over the last couple months as I’ve wrestled like I’m sure most of you are
wrestled like I’m sure most of you are
wrestled like I’m sure most of you are wrestling I’ve been trying to figure out
wrestling I’ve been trying to figure out
wrestling I’ve been trying to figure out so what is what does this mean and who
so what is what does this mean and who
so what is what does this mean and who are we as a people and Who am I
are we as a people and Who am I
are we as a people and Who am I and what’s my role in all of this and
and what’s my role in all of this and
and what’s my role in all of this and I’ve come to a conclusion that it’s
I’ve come to a conclusion that it’s
I’ve come to a conclusion that it’s about intersectionality all right so I
about intersectionality all right so I
about intersectionality all right so I am a black man but I’m a father I’m a
am a black man but I’m a father I’m a
am a black man but I’m a father I’m a son I’m a husband but most importantly
son I’m a husband but most importantly
son I’m a husband but most importantly I’m a person I’m a person with
I’m a person I’m a person with
I’m a person I’m a person with complexity and nuance and what happens
complexity and nuance and what happens
complexity and nuance and what happens oftentimes and what whiteness and sort
oftentimes and what whiteness and sort
oftentimes and what whiteness and sort of this country has done to us is it
of this country has done to us is it
of this country has done to us is it minimizes the complexity of that so one
minimizes the complexity of that so one
minimizes the complexity of that so one of my favorite authors is James Baldwin
of my favorite authors is James Baldwin
of my favorite authors is James Baldwin and Baldwin famously says that we live
and Baldwin famously says that we live
and Baldwin famously says that we live in a complex nation that often tries to
in a complex nation that often tries to
in a complex nation that often tries to simplify itself that often tries to make
simplify itself that often tries to make
simplify itself that often tries to make us the other and as a black man I’m
us the other and as a black man I’m
us the other and as a black man I’m often made the other I’m often tried
often made the other I’m often tried
often made the other I’m often tried they try to but I don’t fall into this
they try to but I don’t fall into this
they try to but I don’t fall into this trap anymore they try to make me become
trap anymore they try to make me become
trap anymore they try to make me become something they try to label me right
something they try to label me right
something they try to label me right they they over-sexualize they talk about
they they over-sexualize they talk about
they they over-sexualize they talk about things there there are these innuendos
things there there are these innuendos
things there there are these innuendos right because we live in a Portland you
right because we live in a Portland you
right because we live in a Portland you know a nice community but I’ve reached
know a nice community but I’ve reached
know a nice community but I’ve reached this point where when I embrace
this point where when I embrace
this point where when I embrace intersectionality I realize something I
intersectionality I realize something I
intersectionality I realize something I realized that being good as a person has
realized that being good as a person has
realized that being good as a person has less to do with the forces around me but
less to do with the forces around me but
less to do with the forces around me but it has more to do with the spirits of
it has more to do with the spirits of
it has more to do with the spirits of those who have come before me about a
those who have come before me about a
those who have come before me about a year ago I lost someone who was really
year ago I lost someone who was really
year ago I lost someone who was really important to me my grandmother and my
important to me my grandmother and my
important to me my grandmother and my grandmother taught me something that’s
grandmother taught me something that’s
grandmother taught me something that’s absolutely profound and that is she
absolutely profound and that is she
absolutely profound and that is she taught me to believe in people
taught me to believe in people
taught me to believe in people she taught me hope you know I’ll never
she taught me hope you know I’ll never
she taught me hope you know I’ll never forget we’re going through the war in
forget we’re going through the war in
forget we’re going through the war in Liberia and once we were at her house
Liberia and once we were at her house
Liberia and once we were at her house and what would happen is the rebels
and what would happen is the rebels
and what would happen is the rebels would go to houses and they would take
would go to houses and they would take
would go to houses and they would take you out and they would go in and either
you out and they would go in and either
you out and they would go in and either rape folks or they’d kill you and so
rape folks or they’d kill you and so
rape folks or they’d kill you and so this come
this come
this come Oshin this interplay occurs where my
Oshin this interplay occurs where my
Oshin this interplay occurs where my mother and my grandmother’s so they’re
mother and my grandmother’s so they’re
mother and my grandmother’s so they’re banging at the door we’re in the house
banging at the door we’re in the house
banging at the door we’re in the house and her house is a square and we’re in
and her house is a square and we’re in
and her house is a square and we’re in the middle of this square and they’re
the middle of this square and they’re
the middle of this square and they’re banging at the door and they’re saying
banging at the door and they’re saying
banging at the door and they’re saying come out and they’re using profanity and
come out and they’re using profanity and
come out and they’re using profanity and my mother says we’ve got to go out
my mother says we’ve got to go out
my mother says we’ve got to go out because what would happen is if you
because what would happen is if you
because what would happen is if you don’t go out they’ve set the house on
don’t go out they’ve set the house on
don’t go out they’ve set the house on fire and my grandmother says no we
fire and my grandmother says no we
fire and my grandmother says no we should stay in so finally my mother
should stay in so finally my mother
should stay in so finally my mother grabs us by the hand and and as we’re
grabs us by the hand and and as we’re
grabs us by the hand and and as we’re walking a bullet is shot and what’s
walking a bullet is shot and what’s
walking a bullet is shot and what’s crazy is so I went back a year ago and I
crazy is so I went back a year ago and I
crazy is so I went back a year ago and I looked and the bullet hole was still
looked and the bullet hole was still
looked and the bullet hole was still there so we finally would get out and
there so we finally would get out and
there so we finally would get out and we’re lined up and they’re gonna kill us
we’re lined up and they’re gonna kill us
we’re lined up and they’re gonna kill us and my mother looks at us and she says
and my mother looks at us and she says
and my mother looks at us and she says pray and we begin to pray and the gun
pray and we begin to pray and the gun
pray and we begin to pray and the gun that was jit that was shot moments ago
that was jit that was shot moments ago
that was jit that was shot moments ago he it and he pulls the trigger and
he it and he pulls the trigger and
he it and he pulls the trigger and that gun was jammed hope so that person
that gun was jammed hope so that person
that gun was jammed hope so that person who went through that experience is now
who went through that experience is now
who went through that experience is now in this community that person who is now
in this community that person who is now
in this community that person who is now 32 years old a father of two a husband
32 years old a father of two a husband
32 years old a father of two a husband runs an organization doing amazing
runs an organization doing amazing
runs an organization doing amazing things in the world is a dreamer a
things in the world is a dreamer a
things in the world is a dreamer a dreamer who believes in this community’s
dreamer who believes in this community’s
dreamer who believes in this community’s potential to be great a dreamer who
potential to be great a dreamer who
potential to be great a dreamer who believes in this community’s potential
believes in this community’s potential
believes in this community’s potential to rise to this moment and say something
to rise to this moment and say something
to rise to this moment and say something new so why do I believe in this so we
new so why do I believe in this so we
new so why do I believe in this so we come to this country and were embraced
come to this country and were embraced
come to this country and were embraced we’re embraced by a church community
we’re embraced by a church community
we’re embraced by a church community that helped ground me and faith but
that helped ground me and faith but
that helped ground me and faith but we’re also embraced in a school
we’re also embraced in a school
we’re also embraced in a school community so I went to Whitaker middle
community so I went to Whitaker middle
community so I went to Whitaker middle school when Whitaker existed before you
school when Whitaker existed before you
school when Whitaker existed before you know displacements happened and we were
know displacements happened and we were
know displacements happened and we were promised a new building we never got the
promised a new building we never got the
promised a new building we never got the building Louis I’m still upset about it
building Louis I’m still upset about it
building Louis I’m still upset about it we can’t tell
we can’t tell
we can’t tell but at Whitaker I learned something at
but at Whitaker I learned something at
but at Whitaker I learned something at Whitaker I learned community
Whitaker I learned community
Whitaker I learned community I learned community at Whitaker I was
I learned community at Whitaker I was
I learned community at Whitaker I was introduced to people who didn’t have the
introduced to people who didn’t have the
introduced to people who didn’t have the family dynamics that I had but yet they
family dynamics that I had but yet they
family dynamics that I had but yet they cared for me and to this day there’s
cared for me and to this day there’s
cared for me and to this day there’s still some of my closest friends at
still some of my closest friends at
still some of my closest friends at Whitaker I learned not only in the flaws
Whitaker I learned not only in the flaws
Whitaker I learned not only in the flaws of our public policy but I also learned
of our public policy but I also learned
of our public policy but I also learned about the dimensions of human human of
about the dimensions of human human of
about the dimensions of human human of humanity and how people with nothing can
humanity and how people with nothing can
humanity and how people with nothing can make something and they can dream anew I
make something and they can dream anew I
make something and they can dream anew I learned about the complexity of this
learned about the complexity of this
learned about the complexity of this community but also learned about hope so
community but also learned about hope so
community but also learned about hope so we’re living in weird times and it seems
we’re living in weird times and it seems
we’re living in weird times and it seems like so much around us is moving like
like so much around us is moving like
like so much around us is moving like literally sometimes and it feels like in
literally sometimes and it feels like in
literally sometimes and it feels like in these times were being questioned to be
these times were being questioned to be
these times were being questioned to be different or be new sometimes truthfully
different or be new sometimes truthfully
different or be new sometimes truthfully it feels like we’re going back but
it feels like we’re going back but
it feels like we’re going back but there’s hope so if you know anything
there’s hope so if you know anything
there’s hope so if you know anything about me you know there was a time of my
about me you know there was a time of my
about me you know there was a time of my life what I wanted to go into the
life what I wanted to go into the
life what I wanted to go into the ministry that was that was short-lived
there’s an old song that says my hope
there’s an old song that says my hope was built on nothing less than Jesus
was built on nothing less than Jesus
was built on nothing less than Jesus Christ and righteousness my hope I won’t
Christ and righteousness my hope I won’t
Christ and righteousness my hope I won’t sing my hope is built on nothing less
sing my hope is built on nothing less
sing my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ and righteousness so
than Jesus Christ and righteousness so
than Jesus Christ and righteousness so in this moment we’re in this time and
in this moment we’re in this time and
in this moment we’re in this time and we’re all searching we’re all looking so
we’re all searching we’re all looking so
we’re all searching we’re all looking so here’s my three things embrace
here’s my three things embrace
here’s my three things embrace complexity don’t allow the world to
complexity don’t allow the world to
complexity don’t allow the world to minimize you to a caricature or an a
minimize you to a caricature or an a
minimize you to a caricature or an a singular being embrace your wholeness be
singular being embrace your wholeness be
singular being embrace your wholeness be dynamic recognize intersectionality
dynamic recognize intersectionality
dynamic recognize intersectionality so a couple of nights ago my wife and I
so a couple of nights ago my wife and I
so a couple of nights ago my wife and I are sitting there and we’re talking
are sitting there and we’re talking
are sitting there and we’re talking about how do you end racism right like
about how do you end racism right like
about how do you end racism right like these are things that I talk about late
these are things that I talk about late
these are things that I talk about late at night and so I don’t get invited back
at night and so I don’t get invited back
at night and so I don’t get invited back to a lot of parties you know and she
to a lot of parties you know and she
to a lot of parties you know and she says something extremely profound that
says something extremely profound that
says something extremely profound that has stuck with me she says if you want
has stuck with me she says if you want
has stuck with me she says if you want to end racism figure out how to change
to end racism figure out how to change
to end racism figure out how to change white women never thought about that so
white women never thought about that so
white women never thought about that so I asked her why she says well think
I asked her why she says well think
I asked her why she says well think about it who raised his children
about it who raised his children
about it who raised his children overwhelmingly mothers think about the
overwhelmingly mothers think about the
overwhelmingly mothers think about the feminism movement when women in this
feminism movement when women in this
feminism movement when women in this country particularly white women said
country particularly white women said
country particularly white women said they were going to get their rights they
they were going to get their rights they
they were going to get their rights they talked to the husband’s talk to their
talked to the husband’s talk to their
talked to the husband’s talk to their fathers and what happened eventually
fathers and what happened eventually
fathers and what happened eventually they got a lot now we got to do that
they got a lot now we got to do that
they got a lot now we got to do that we’ve learned from yesterday that the
we’ve learned from yesterday that the
we’ve learned from yesterday that the fights not over but something did happen
fights not over but something did happen
fights not over but something did happen and the third and the last thing let’s
and the third and the last thing let’s
and the third and the last thing let’s always remember that we’ve seen darker
always remember that we’ve seen darker
always remember that we’ve seen darker days and moments don’t define us we
days and moments don’t define us we
days and moments don’t define us we define moments one of my favorite quotes
define moments one of my favorite quotes
define moments one of my favorite quotes is by a guy by them of Benjamin Elijah
is by a guy by them of Benjamin Elijah
is by a guy by them of Benjamin Elijah Mays dr. Mays was the president of
Mays dr. Mays was the president of
Mays dr. Mays was the president of Morehouse College and he once said I
Morehouse College and he once said I
Morehouse College and he once said I have just a minute
have just a minute
have just a minute only 60 seconds in it forced upon me
only 60 seconds in it forced upon me
only 60 seconds in it forced upon me can’t refuse it didn’t seek it didn’t
can’t refuse it didn’t seek it didn’t
can’t refuse it didn’t seek it didn’t choose it but it’s up to me to use it I
choose it but it’s up to me to use it I
choose it but it’s up to me to use it I must suffer if I lose it give an account
must suffer if I lose it give an account
must suffer if I lose it give an account if I abuse it just a tiny minute but an
if I abuse it just a tiny minute but an
if I abuse it just a tiny minute but an eternity is in it we’re in these times
eternity is in it we’re in these times
eternity is in it we’re in these times for a reason the fights not over but
for a reason the fights not over but
for a reason the fights not over but here’s what we have to do we have to
here’s what we have to do we have to
here’s what we have to do we have to fight here’s the more important part we
fight here’s the more important part we
fight here’s the more important part we have to fight together thank you
have to fight together thank you
have to fight together thank you you
”
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