The Poet Talks of Freedom | Tish Jones | TEDxMinneapolisWomen

before I was born

before I was born there was movement paddle is pushing

there was movement paddle is pushing

there was movement paddle is pushing pent up people through oceans of pain

pent up people through oceans of pain

pent up people through oceans of pain that explains my fear of water when I

that explains my fear of water when I

that explains my fear of water when I was born there was movement still lines

was born there was movement still lines

was born there was movement still lines paths roads circles and tracks check it

paths roads circles and tracks check it

paths roads circles and tracks check it I have my first perm in elementary

I have my first perm in elementary

I have my first perm in elementary school went from coarse curly black hair

school went from coarse curly black hair

school went from coarse curly black hair to straight thin then what are you gonna

to straight thin then what are you gonna

to straight thin then what are you gonna do with this do after that I did braids

do with this do after that I did braids

do with this do after that I did braids weaves ponytails extensions this faux

weaves ponytails extensions this faux

weaves ponytails extensions this faux hawk mohawk duck tail design on the side

hawk mohawk duck tail design on the side

hawk mohawk duck tail design on the side type thing now I have locks but before

type thing now I have locks but before

type thing now I have locks but before all of that I also wore tracks then

all of that I also wore tracks then

all of that I also wore tracks then there was high school st. Paul’s central

there was high school st. Paul’s central

there was high school st. Paul’s central big grey fire floor and a basement

big grey fire floor and a basement

big grey fire floor and a basement building kind of looks like a prison

building kind of looks like a prison

building kind of looks like a prison kind of ran like one to the fifth floor

kind of ran like one to the fifth floor

kind of ran like one to the fifth floor was for the academic acronyms like AP

was for the academic acronyms like AP

was for the academic acronyms like AP and IB the fourth floor was for the

and IB the fourth floor was for the

and IB the fourth floor was for the quest learners second to the best grade

quest learners second to the best grade

quest learners second to the best grade point average earners the third while

point average earners the third while

point average earners the third while the third was whatever the second was

the third was whatever the second was

the third was whatever the second was passed in the first was us the theater

passed in the first was us the theater

passed in the first was us the theater class how we were placed in this system

class how we were placed in this system

class how we were placed in this system tracks pause my name is Tish Jones and

tracks pause my name is Tish Jones and

tracks pause my name is Tish Jones and I’ve been called here to represent

I’ve been called here to represent

I’ve been called here to represent ancestors whose blood sifted through the

ancestors whose blood sifted through the

ancestors whose blood sifted through the palms of my little brother’s hands as he

palms of my little brother’s hands as he

palms of my little brother’s hands as he plays in the sand and they bless him

plays in the sand and they bless him

plays in the sand and they bless him forefathers who existed before my

forefathers who existed before my

forefathers who existed before my forefathers and raised men to raise men

forefathers and raised men to raise men

forefathers and raised men to raise men hence the Sun and the raisin and then a

hence the Sun and the raisin and then a

hence the Sun and the raisin and then a generation of beautiful black women born

generation of beautiful black women born

generation of beautiful black women born and bred to believe that beauty belongs

and bred to believe that beauty belongs

and bred to believe that beauty belongs to everyone but them so they die and

to everyone but them so they die and

to everyone but them so they die and they fry and they try to fit in in many

they fry and they try to fit in in many

they fry and they try to fit in in many ways allowing trains to leave tracks on

ways allowing trains to leave tracks on

ways allowing trains to leave tracks on their thighs because the tracks attached

their thighs because the tracks attached

their thighs because the tracks attached to the root of her naps was hanging to

to the root of her naps was hanging to

to the root of her naps was hanging to the middle of her back reduce

the middle of her back reduce

the middle of her back reduce self-respect and she is alright with

self-respect and she is alright with

self-respect and she is alright with that they call her a runner making laps

that they call her a runner making laps

that they call her a runner making laps on laps known as a track star she is on

on laps known as a track star she is on

on laps known as a track star she is on someone else’s track then there’s the

someone else’s track then there’s the

someone else’s track then there’s the little boy whose father was sent away

little boy whose father was sent away

little boy whose father was sent away yesterday yes he’s having a bad day so

yesterday yes he’s having a bad day so

yesterday yes he’s having a bad day so he answered the test questions in the

he answered the test questions in the

he answered the test questions in the wrong way he’s frustrated in the hallway

wrong way he’s frustrated in the hallway

wrong way he’s frustrated in the hallway fighting to keep his tears to himself

fighting to keep his tears to himself

fighting to keep his tears to himself and she walks by smart skinny makes

and she walks by smart skinny makes

and she walks by smart skinny makes failing a test seem hard if you don’t

failing a test seem hard if you don’t

failing a test seem hard if you don’t believe me people a report card anyway

believe me people a report card anyway

believe me people a report card anyway she and he were cool they went to the

she and he were cool they went to the

she and he were cool they went to the same school hung in the same crew did

same school hung in the same crew did

same school hung in the same crew did things that two best friends would

things that two best friends would

things that two best friends would normally do until after taking that test

normally do until after taking that test

normally do until after taking that test when she he got labeled

when she he got labeled

when she he got labeled advanced and he got labeled a fool

advanced and he got labeled a fool

advanced and he got labeled a fool dropped out of school did what he felt

dropped out of school did what he felt

dropped out of school did what he felt he had to

he had to

he had to became a star mathematician a genius in

became a star mathematician a genius in

became a star mathematician a genius in the kitchen studied how different greens

the kitchen studied how different greens

the kitchen studied how different greens and whites would help with his addition

and whites would help with his addition

and whites would help with his addition a financial adviser for women pimpin and

a financial adviser for women pimpin and

a financial adviser for women pimpin and flipping now my man fights his tears

flipping now my man fights his tears

flipping now my man fights his tears inside of a prison right next to pops

inside of a prison right next to pops

inside of a prison right next to pops pause forget it just play track black

pause forget it just play track black

pause forget it just play track black boy or football or basketball or just

boy or football or basketball or just

boy or football or basketball or just ball black boy rob steal fail get money

ball black boy rob steal fail get money

ball black boy rob steal fail get money kick girls and go to jail you do the

kick girls and go to jail you do the

kick girls and go to jail you do the same black girl read Cosmo people vibe

same black girl read Cosmo people vibe

same black girl read Cosmo people vibe and vixen try all your life to find a

and vixen try all your life to find a

and vixen try all your life to find a place that you fit into you see I

place that you fit into you see I

place that you fit into you see I represent broken history’s missing text

represent broken history’s missing text

represent broken history’s missing text from textbooks kinesthetic learners that

from textbooks kinesthetic learners that

from textbooks kinesthetic learners that don’t test good products of society 24

don’t test good products of society 24

don’t test good products of society 24 hours of good clean sobriety of language

hours of good clean sobriety of language

hours of good clean sobriety of language that I play with because mine was taken

that I play with because mine was taken

that I play with because mine was taken in a country that shuns me and I have so

in a country that shuns me and I have so

in a country that shuns me and I have so much stake in it a people who are a

much stake in it a people who are a

much stake in it a people who are a direct result of an action taken and the

direct result of an action taken and the

direct result of an action taken and the people who fear those people so they’ve

people who fear those people so they’ve

people who fear those people so they’ve created laws to evade and contain them

created laws to evade and contain them

created laws to evade and contain them inside of lines paths roads circles and

inside of lines paths roads circles and

inside of lines paths roads circles and tracks my name is Tish Jones and I have

tracks my name is Tish Jones and I have

tracks my name is Tish Jones and I have been called here to represent the

been called here to represent the

been called here to represent the missing piece thank you for listening so

missing piece thank you for listening so

missing piece thank you for listening so I’m sure you caught my name so but for

I’m sure you caught my name so but for

I’m sure you caught my name so but for the sake of repetition its Tish Jones

the sake of repetition its Tish Jones

the sake of repetition its Tish Jones and the poem that you just heard is

and the poem that you just heard is

and the poem that you just heard is called tracks we’ll talk more about the

called tracks we’ll talk more about the

called tracks we’ll talk more about the poem briefly but for right now I want to

poem briefly but for right now I want to

poem briefly but for right now I want to tell you a little bit more about me I am

tell you a little bit more about me I am

tell you a little bit more about me I am a poet

so I’ve always been a poet I primarily

so I’ve always been a poet I primarily practice spoken word poetry which we

practice spoken word poetry which we

practice spoken word poetry which we define at true art speaks as poetry that

define at true art speaks as poetry that

define at true art speaks as poetry that is written with the intent to be

is written with the intent to be

is written with the intent to be performed

performed

performed I don’t do this work because I like to

I don’t do this work because I like to

I don’t do this work because I like to be the center of attention although I do

be the center of attention although I do

be the center of attention although I do like to be the center of attention I do

like to be the center of attention I do

like to be the center of attention I do it’s true but it’s because spoken word

it’s true but it’s because spoken word

it’s true but it’s because spoken word is so dynamic the writing process is

is so dynamic the writing process is

is so dynamic the writing process is deeply deeply deeply introspective

deeply deeply deeply introspective

deeply deeply deeply introspective critical and informative it allows the

critical and informative it allows the

critical and informative it allows the writer to learn more about themselves to

writer to learn more about themselves to

writer to learn more about themselves to play and imagine while simultaneously

play and imagine while simultaneously

play and imagine while simultaneously giving us a safe space to question

giving us a safe space to question

giving us a safe space to question critique and challenge the world around

critique and challenge the world around

critique and challenge the world around us through a creative process the

us through a creative process the

us through a creative process the performance aspect of it just allows me

performance aspect of it just allows me

performance aspect of it just allows me or at the performer to connect with

or at the performer to connect with

or at the performer to connect with folks we may have never otherwise

folks we may have never otherwise

folks we may have never otherwise encountered yeah it is a powerful

encountered yeah it is a powerful

encountered yeah it is a powerful practice of meaning making knowledge and

practice of meaning making knowledge and

practice of meaning making knowledge and coming to know oneself Paulo Freire a

coming to know oneself Paulo Freire a

coming to know oneself Paulo Freire a great educator author of pedagogy of the

great educator author of pedagogy of the

great educator author of pedagogy of the oppressed once said that there was no

oppressed once said that there was no

oppressed once said that there was no such thing as a neutral educational

such thing as a neutral educational

such thing as a neutral educational process he said that education either

process he said that education either

process he said that education either functions as a tool to integrate the

functions as a tool to integrate the

functions as a tool to integrate the younger generation into the present

younger generation into the present

younger generation into the present logic of the education system and bring

logic of the education system and bring

logic of the education system and bring about conformity to it or it becomes a

about conformity to it or it becomes a

about conformity to it or it becomes a practice of freedom the means by which

practice of freedom the means by which

practice of freedom the means by which men and women deal with creatively and

men and women deal with creatively and

men and women deal with creatively and critically their reality and discover

critically their reality and discover

critically their reality and discover the tools necessary to reimagine and

the tools necessary to reimagine and

the tools necessary to reimagine and transform their world spoken word then

transform their world spoken word then

transform their world spoken word then is a practice of freedom and tonight

is a practice of freedom and tonight

is a practice of freedom and tonight good people we are here to talk about

good people we are here to talk about

good people we are here to talk about freedom

freedom

freedom yell with that but before we do we have

yell with that but before we do we have

yell with that but before we do we have to break the rules really quick we have

to break the rules really quick we have

to break the rules really quick we have to do something about the fourth wall

to do something about the fourth wall

to do something about the fourth wall the fourth wall is a theater term that

the fourth wall is a theater term that

the fourth wall is a theater term that refers to this imaginary line between

refers to this imaginary line between

refers to this imaginary line between the performer and the audience meaning I

the performer and the audience meaning I

the performer and the audience meaning I need to hear from you my style is to

need to hear from you my style is to

need to hear from you my style is to hip-hop to talk at you all night so

hip-hop to talk at you all night so

hip-hop to talk at you all night so we’re gonna do this thing hip-hop style

we’re gonna do this thing hip-hop style

we’re gonna do this thing hip-hop style call them response very true to TEDx but

call them response very true to TEDx but

call them response very true to TEDx but also I need to know that you’re rockin

also I need to know that you’re rockin

also I need to know that you’re rockin with me in the contemporary sense of

with me in the contemporary sense of

with me in the contemporary sense of performance poetry we have folks snap

performance poetry we have folks snap

performance poetry we have folks snap their fingers when things resonate with

their fingers when things resonate with

their fingers when things resonate with them so if you hear anything at any

them so if you hear anything at any

them so if you hear anything at any point tonight and you’re like I feel it

point tonight and you’re like I feel it

point tonight and you’re like I feel it just snap your fingers so I know that

just snap your fingers so I know that

just snap your fingers so I know that we’re good good good sounds like rain I

we’re good good good sounds like rain I

we’re good good good sounds like rain I love it cool so let’s go back to the

love it cool so let’s go back to the

love it cool so let’s go back to the poem really quick tracks was one of my

poem really quick tracks was one of my

poem really quick tracks was one of my first practices at freedom it was

first practices at freedom it was

first practices at freedom it was written just shy of 21 new to college

written just shy of 21 new to college

written just shy of 21 new to college queer black woman from the historic

queer black woman from the historic

queer black woman from the historic Rondo neighborhood which is in Saint

Rondo neighborhood which is in Saint

Rondo neighborhood which is in Saint Paul yeah a historically black

Paul yeah a historically black

Paul yeah a historically black neighborhood that suffered from like

neighborhood that suffered from like

neighborhood that suffered from like many other black indigenous and POC

many other black indigenous and POC

many other black indigenous and POC communities throughout the United States

communities throughout the United States

communities throughout the United States it suffered from targeted systemic

it suffered from targeted systemic

it suffered from targeted systemic institutionalized racism yeah this is

institutionalized racism yeah this is

institutionalized racism yeah this is important to my process because when I

important to my process because when I

important to my process because when I was writing this poem I had literally

was writing this poem I had literally

was writing this poem I had literally just hit my stride yeah I mean like I

just hit my stride yeah I mean like I

just hit my stride yeah I mean like I just got into being a poet so I was

just got into being a poet so I was

just got into being a poet so I was thinking about these things

thinking about these things

thinking about these things I was thinking deeply about the ways

I was thinking deeply about the ways

I was thinking deeply about the ways that my history and those different sort

that my history and those different sort

that my history and those different sort of intersecting identities would affect

of intersecting identities would affect

of intersecting identities would affect my life my future my social circumstance

my life my future my social circumstance

my life my future my social circumstance the process of writing the poem help me

the process of writing the poem help me

the process of writing the poem help me dig into that a bit deeper let me

dig into that a bit deeper let me

dig into that a bit deeper let me explain tracks has three core sections

explain tracks has three core sections

explain tracks has three core sections the first is about identity right it

the first is about identity right it

the first is about identity right it opens with a nod to my aunt’s

opens with a nod to my aunt’s

opens with a nod to my aunt’s lineage as a descendant of enslaved

lineage as a descendant of enslaved

lineage as a descendant of enslaved Africans in North America it then moves

Africans in North America it then moves

Africans in North America it then moves into a discussion of my struggle with

into a discussion of my struggle with

into a discussion of my struggle with beauty standards highlighting different

beauty standards highlighting different

beauty standards highlighting different hairstyles that I wore through my

hairstyles that I wore through my

hairstyles that I wore through my teenage years pause I heard some of

teenage years pause I heard some of

teenage years pause I heard some of y’all laugh at that part of the thing

y’all laugh at that part of the thing

y’all laugh at that part of the thing thing which is cool that’s actually

thing which is cool that’s actually

thing which is cool that’s actually really good

really good

really good you’re laughing lets me know that spoken

you’re laughing lets me know that spoken

you’re laughing lets me know that spoken word is working you can relate to what I

word is working you can relate to what I

word is working you can relate to what I was saying I’m sure some of y’all have

was saying I’m sure some of y’all have

was saying I’m sure some of y’all have had some updos and haircuts and like

had some updos and haircuts and like

had some updos and haircuts and like different dye jobs that you try to tuck

different dye jobs that you try to tuck

different dye jobs that you try to tuck in the back of the photo album hoping

in the back of the photo album hoping

in the back of the photo album hoping that they never resurface again I

thought so I’m gonna call anybody out I

thought so I’m gonna call anybody out I know some people fine I’ll call you out

but what that says to me is that spoken

but what that says to me is that spoken word is effective it essentially can

word is effective it essentially can

word is effective it essentially can build a bridge across an assumed see of

build a bridge across an assumed see of

build a bridge across an assumed see of difference so when I talk about braids

difference so when I talk about braids

difference so when I talk about braids weaves ponytails extensions this boho

weaves ponytails extensions this boho

weaves ponytails extensions this boho mohawk ducktail design on the side type

mohawk ducktail design on the side type

mohawk ducktail design on the side type thing it allows you to dig back into

thing it allows you to dig back into

thing it allows you to dig back into your catalogue of you know hairstyles

your catalogue of you know hairstyles

your catalogue of you know hairstyles that we never want to mention again and

that we never want to mention again and

that we never want to mention again and it affords us an opportunity to connect

it affords us an opportunity to connect

it affords us an opportunity to connect with one another yeah me the performer

with one another yeah me the performer

with one another yeah me the performer you the listener and more specifically

you the listener and more specifically

you the listener and more specifically in the context of my liberation and the

in the context of my liberation and the

in the context of my liberation and the liberation of my people other black

liberation of my people other black

liberation of my people other black women who may resonate with this

women who may resonate with this

women who may resonate with this struggle to attain the unattainable west

struggle to attain the unattainable west

struggle to attain the unattainable west eccentric idea and standard of beauty

there is a freedom in that connection a

there is a freedom in that connection a freedom from isolation a freedom from

freedom from isolation a freedom from

freedom from isolation a freedom from thinking you’re the only one that’s

thinking you’re the only one that’s

thinking you’re the only one that’s dealt with it you’re the only one that’s

dealt with it you’re the only one that’s

dealt with it you’re the only one that’s thinking about it there’s also a freedom

thinking about it there’s also a freedom

thinking about it there’s also a freedom and letting go of the notion that you

and letting go of the notion that you

and letting go of the notion that you can’t connect with someone that doesn’t

can’t connect with someone that doesn’t

can’t connect with someone that doesn’t look like you a freedom to connect yeah

look like you a freedom to connect yeah

look like you a freedom to connect yeah cool so uh the same of the

cool so uh the same of the

cool so uh the same of the home talks about the outward facing

home talks about the outward facing

home talks about the outward facing theme I should say is the school to

theme I should say is the school to

theme I should say is the school to Prison Pipeline

Prison Pipeline

Prison Pipeline but the real juice is highlighting the

but the real juice is highlighting the

but the real juice is highlighting the absent narrative yeah what you hear in

absent narrative yeah what you hear in

absent narrative yeah what you hear in that poem is the students perspective

that poem is the students perspective

that poem is the students perspective about their high school experience from

about their high school experience from

about their high school experience from the voice of the student the fifth forms

the voice of the student the fifth forms

the voice of the student the fifth forms for the academic acronyms like AP and IB

for the academic acronyms like AP and IB

for the academic acronyms like AP and IB the 4th floor was for the quest learners

the 4th floor was for the quest learners

the 4th floor was for the quest learners second to the best grade point average

second to the best grade point average

second to the best grade point average earners the third well the third was

earners the third well the third was

earners the third well the third was whatever the second was passed and the

whatever the second was passed and the

whatever the second was passed and the first was us the theater class how we

first was us the theater class how we

first was us the theater class how we were placed in this system tracks this

were placed in this system tracks this

were placed in this system tracks this is nothing short of a social political

is nothing short of a social political

is nothing short of a social political analysis of the education system a vivid

analysis of the education system a vivid

analysis of the education system a vivid depiction of an area high school

depiction of an area high school

depiction of an area high school perpetuating social class hierarchies

perpetuating social class hierarchies

perpetuating social class hierarchies yeah

the thing that makes this so exciting

the thing that makes this so exciting for me is that it comes from the voice

for me is that it comes from the voice

for me is that it comes from the voice of the student there’s this thing that

of the student there’s this thing that

of the student there’s this thing that happens with marginalized communities

happens with marginalized communities

happens with marginalized communities where we don’t often get to tell our

where we don’t often get to tell our

where we don’t often get to tell our stories ourselves we’re studied like Lab

stories ourselves we’re studied like Lab

stories ourselves we’re studied like Lab Rats jay-z once said you want to know

Rats jay-z once said you want to know

Rats jay-z once said you want to know what I call the projects of projects

what I call the projects of projects

what I call the projects of projects because it’s a project an experiment

because it’s a project an experiment

because it’s a project an experiment we’re in it merely as objects students

we’re in it merely as objects students

we’re in it merely as objects students scholars reporters researchers

scholars reporters researchers

scholars reporters researchers missionaries they come into our

missionaries they come into our

missionaries they come into our communities and tell us about us what

communities and tell us about us what

communities and tell us about us what this poem does what spoken-word does is

this poem does what spoken-word does is

this poem does what spoken-word does is it allows us to provide a first-person

it allows us to provide a first-person

it allows us to provide a first-person narrative to talk about the authentic

narrative to talk about the authentic

narrative to talk about the authentic experience that we live yeah

experience that we live yeah

experience that we live yeah furthermore it pushes back against an

furthermore it pushes back against an

furthermore it pushes back against an age-old practice of omission and erasure

age-old practice of omission and erasure

age-old practice of omission and erasure we get to keep and write our history the

we get to keep and write our history the

we get to keep and write our history the people’s version are y’all with me type

people’s version are y’all with me type

people’s version are y’all with me type so the third and most important section

so the third and most important section

so the third and most important section to me is the section about purpose all

to me is the section about purpose all

to me is the section about purpose all poems have a purpose

poems have a purpose

poems have a purpose they illuminate the poet’s purpose maybe

they illuminate the poet’s purpose maybe

they illuminate the poet’s purpose maybe even the narrator’s purpose but there’s

even the narrator’s purpose but there’s

even the narrator’s purpose but there’s always a piece about purpose

always a piece about purpose

always a piece about purpose I represent broken history’s missing

I represent broken history’s missing

I represent broken history’s missing text from textbooks kinesthetic learners

text from textbooks kinesthetic learners

text from textbooks kinesthetic learners that don’t test good products of society

that don’t test good products of society

that don’t test good products of society 24 hours of good cleaning sobriety of

24 hours of good cleaning sobriety of

24 hours of good cleaning sobriety of languages that I play with because mine

languages that I play with because mine

languages that I play with because mine was taken in a country that shuns me and

was taken in a country that shuns me and

was taken in a country that shuns me and I have so much stake in it of people who

I have so much stake in it of people who

I have so much stake in it of people who are direct result of an accident taken

are direct result of an accident taken

are direct result of an accident taken and a people who fear those people so

and a people who fear those people so

and a people who fear those people so they’ve created laws to evade and

they’ve created laws to evade and

they’ve created laws to evade and contain them spoken word is a radical

contain them spoken word is a radical

contain them spoken word is a radical tool in our collective liberation it

tool in our collective liberation it

tool in our collective liberation it makes way for the voiceless to reclaim

makes way for the voiceless to reclaim

makes way for the voiceless to reclaim language to reclaim words to reshape the

language to reclaim words to reshape the

language to reclaim words to reshape the world now the approach and the

world now the approach and the

world now the approach and the methodology may be different from poet

methodology may be different from poet

methodology may be different from poet to poet for Shore but one thing you can

to poet for Shore but one thing you can

to poet for Shore but one thing you can count on with the spoken word poem is

count on with the spoken word poem is

count on with the spoken word poem is that we are going to come through with

that we are going to come through with

that we are going to come through with our history be a personal collective

our history be a personal collective

our history be a personal collective whatever we’re gonna talk about our

whatever we’re gonna talk about our

whatever we’re gonna talk about our identity yeah and we’re gonna be

identity yeah and we’re gonna be

identity yeah and we’re gonna be creative that’s one thing that’s

creative that’s one thing that’s

creative that’s one thing that’s consistent and across the board with a

consistent and across the board with a

consistent and across the board with a spoken word poem when a poet gets on

spoken word poem when a poet gets on

spoken word poem when a poet gets on stage they are sharing themselves their

stage they are sharing themselves their

stage they are sharing themselves their history their lineage their hopes their

history their lineage their hopes their

history their lineage their hopes their dreams their fears and their wildest

dreams their fears and their wildest

dreams their fears and their wildest dreams for the future yeah they are a

dreams for the future yeah they are a

dreams for the future yeah they are a bridge beckoning connection we all have

bridge beckoning connection we all have

bridge beckoning connection we all have been inducted into this idea of

been inducted into this idea of

been inducted into this idea of difference for so long spoken word is

difference for so long spoken word is

difference for so long spoken word is challenging us to let go of this

challenging us to let go of this

challenging us to let go of this practice of other and really see one

practice of other and really see one

practice of other and really see one another to build tribe that’s my mission

another to build tribe that’s my mission

another to build tribe that’s my mission my mission is to build tribe so this

my mission is to build tribe so this

my mission is to build tribe so this isn’t a call to you all to pick up a pen

isn’t a call to you all to pick up a pen

isn’t a call to you all to pick up a pen and write a poem or a book that’s my job

and write a poem or a book that’s my job

and write a poem or a book that’s my job but it is a call to open your hearts to

but it is a call to open your hearts to

but it is a call to open your hearts to support the arts to go to a show to

support the arts to go to a show to

support the arts to go to a show to practice freedom through deep listening

practice freedom through deep listening

practice freedom through deep listening and recognize the significance of

and recognize the significance of

and recognize the significance of bearing witness to another’s story and

bearing witness to another’s story and

bearing witness to another’s story and carrying that truth with you every day

carrying that truth with you every day

carrying that truth with you every day for the rest of your life to paraphrase

for the rest of your life to paraphrase

for the rest of your life to paraphrase Lila Watson my liberation is intricately

Lila Watson my liberation is intricately

Lila Watson my liberation is intricately connected to yours and yours to mine and

connected to yours and yours to mine and

connected to yours and yours to mine and it is time to get free thank you

[Applause]

[Applause] you