so seven years ago I arrived on the sunny shores of California with $100 to
sunny shores of California with $100 to
sunny shores of California with $100 to my name and big expectations I had come
my name and big expectations I had come
my name and big expectations I had come for the sunshine for the perfectly ripe
for the sunshine for the perfectly ripe
for the sunshine for the perfectly ripe avocados and of course the cute boys who
avocados and of course the cute boys who
avocados and of course the cute boys who would be waiting for me everywhere and
would be waiting for me everywhere and
would be waiting for me everywhere and all I have to do is point to one and say
all I have to do is point to one and say
all I have to do is point to one and say you there in the plaid we’re together
you there in the plaid we’re together
you there in the plaid we’re together now I’d also begin my quest for inner
now I’d also begin my quest for inner
now I’d also begin my quest for inner peace in California by practicing yoga
peace in California by practicing yoga
peace in California by practicing yoga and meditation with other folks who were
and meditation with other folks who were
and meditation with other folks who were interested in enlightenment together we
interested in enlightenment together we
interested in enlightenment together we would raise the vibration of the planet
would raise the vibration of the planet
would raise the vibration of the planet with our spiritual powers group hugs and
with our spiritual powers group hugs and
with our spiritual powers group hugs and intense but loving eye contact it would
intense but loving eye contact it would
intense but loving eye contact it would be beautiful and I started dreaming
be beautiful and I started dreaming
be beautiful and I started dreaming about California when I was 13 years old
about California when I was 13 years old
about California when I was 13 years old back then I was living a very different
back then I was living a very different
back then I was living a very different life in a one-bedroom apartment on the
life in a one-bedroom apartment on the
life in a one-bedroom apartment on the east side of Cleveland with my two
east side of Cleveland with my two
east side of Cleveland with my two brothers and my parents and the
brothers and my parents and the
brothers and my parents and the apartment was so rundown it was
apartment was so rundown it was
apartment was so rundown it was basically like living in an abandoned
basically like living in an abandoned
basically like living in an abandoned building that you could see the basement
building that you could see the basement
building that you could see the basement through the floorboards and it was
through the floorboards and it was
through the floorboards and it was infested with roaches and mice which
infested with roaches and mice which
infested with roaches and mice which meant that sometimes I’d wake up in the
meant that sometimes I’d wake up in the
meant that sometimes I’d wake up in the middle of the night to a roach crawling
middle of the night to a roach crawling
middle of the night to a roach crawling across my face or even worse than my ear
across my face or even worse than my ear
across my face or even worse than my ear and I still have nightmares about that
and I still have nightmares about that
and I still have nightmares about that place and when I was a kid
place and when I was a kid
place and when I was a kid my brothers and I would always ask each
my brothers and I would always ask each
my brothers and I would always ask each other questions like what you think you
other questions like what you think you
other questions like what you think you gonna be when you grow up and if you
gonna be when you grow up and if you
gonna be when you grow up and if you could live anywhere in the world where
could live anywhere in the world where
could live anywhere in the world where would you want to live because we really
would you want to live because we really
would you want to live because we really wanted to leave that apartment in that
wanted to leave that apartment in that
wanted to leave that apartment in that neighborhood and we would ask each other
neighborhood and we would ask each other
neighborhood and we would ask each other those questions with all the hope and
those questions with all the hope and
those questions with all the hope and innocence of youth we didn’t understand
innocence of youth we didn’t understand
innocence of youth we didn’t understand the depth of our circumstances that we
the depth of our circumstances that we
the depth of our circumstances that we have been born into a cycle of
have been born into a cycle of
have been born into a cycle of oppression and poverty so pervasive that
oppression and poverty so pervasive that
oppression and poverty so pervasive that in generations of my family very few had
in generations of my family very few had
in generations of my family very few had escaped our ancestors have been
escaped our ancestors have been
escaped our ancestors have been sharecroppers
sharecroppers
sharecroppers my grandfather and before that slaves my
my grandfather and before that slaves my
my grandfather and before that slaves my great-great great-grandmother and we
great-great great-grandmother and we
great-great great-grandmother and we their descendants had inherited
their descendants had inherited
their descendants had inherited circumstances that we couldn’t possibly
circumstances that we couldn’t possibly
circumstances that we couldn’t possibly understand or process we thought that
understand or process we thought that
understand or process we thought that the violence and the drug use that we
the violence and the drug use that we
the violence and the drug use that we saw from our parents and the other
saw from our parents and the other
saw from our parents and the other adults around us was normal that it was
adults around us was normal that it was
adults around us was normal that it was normal to see somebody being beaten or
normal to see somebody being beaten or
normal to see somebody being beaten or stabbed or so addicted to crack that
stabbed or so addicted to crack that
stabbed or so addicted to crack that they crawl around on the floor for hours
they crawl around on the floor for hours
they crawl around on the floor for hours chasing the white ghost which is a slang
chasing the white ghost which is a slang
chasing the white ghost which is a slang term that means looking for crack rocks
term that means looking for crack rocks
term that means looking for crack rocks that might have fallen on the floor and
that might have fallen on the floor and
that might have fallen on the floor and so when my brothers would ask me those
so when my brothers would ask me those
so when my brothers would ask me those questions I would always say the same
questions I would always say the same
questions I would always say the same thing I’m moving to California or it’s
thing I’m moving to California or it’s
thing I’m moving to California or it’s warm all year round and you can wear
warm all year round and you can wear
warm all year round and you can wear sandals and flip-flops all year just
sandals and flip-flops all year just
sandals and flip-flops all year just like they do in full house and it was
like they do in full house and it was
like they do in full house and it was full house that first introduced me to
full house that first introduced me to
full house that first introduced me to the paradise of California and Uncle
the paradise of California and Uncle
the paradise of California and Uncle Jesse and I know I know that I am NOT
Jesse and I know I know that I am NOT
Jesse and I know I know that I am NOT alone in my crush on Uncle Jesse I know
alone in my crush on Uncle Jesse I know
alone in my crush on Uncle Jesse I know that there are many of you out there in
that there are many of you out there in
that there are many of you out there in this room who would melt every single
this room who would melt every single
this room who would melt every single time he’d have those heartfelt
time he’d have those heartfelt
time he’d have those heartfelt conversations with DJ or Stephanie and
conversations with DJ or Stephanie and
conversations with DJ or Stephanie and he put his arm around them and he’d say
he put his arm around them and he’d say
he put his arm around them and he’d say something like you know DJ in life
something like you know DJ in life
something like you know DJ in life there’s gonna be disappointments but
there’s gonna be disappointments but
there’s gonna be disappointments but you’ll always have your family I know
you’ll always have your family I know
you’ll always have your family I know you two would melt and if California was
you two would melt and if California was
you two would melt and if California was Uncle Jesse from me
Uncle Jesse from me
Uncle Jesse from me it was also Tupac Shakur I thought Tupac
it was also Tupac Shakur I thought Tupac
it was also Tupac Shakur I thought Tupac was so beautiful I loved his music
was so beautiful I loved his music
was so beautiful I loved his music videos which showed black people dancing
videos which showed black people dancing
videos which showed black people dancing and having fun in California but also
and having fun in California but also
and having fun in California but also detailed the struggles of black America
detailed the struggles of black America
detailed the struggles of black America I could sing all of his songs when my
I could sing all of his songs when my
I could sing all of his songs when my favorite song was keep your head up
favorite song was keep your head up
favorite song was keep your head up because I really needed somebody to tell
because I really needed somebody to tell
because I really needed somebody to tell me to keep my head up given my
me to keep my head up given my
me to keep my head up given my circumstances so you see it was
circumstances so you see it was
circumstances so you see it was beautiful men and nice weather that
beautiful men and nice weather that
beautiful men and nice weather that initially drew me to California
initially drew me to California
initially drew me to California but it would take me 12 more years to
but it would take me 12 more years to
but it would take me 12 more years to get here and by the time I got here
get here and by the time I got here
get here and by the time I got here Tupac would be dead and Uncle Jesse
Tupac would be dead and Uncle Jesse
Tupac would be dead and Uncle Jesse would be on an entirely new TV show with
would be on an entirely new TV show with
would be on an entirely new TV show with far less charm and shorter hair and my
far less charm and shorter hair and my
far less charm and shorter hair and my path to California would be crooked
path to California would be crooked
path to California would be crooked there will be many stops along the way
there will be many stops along the way
there will be many stops along the way first stop Dartmouth College even though
first stop Dartmouth College even though
first stop Dartmouth College even though I had grown up in one of the most
I had grown up in one of the most
I had grown up in one of the most poverty stricken cities in the country I
poverty stricken cities in the country I
poverty stricken cities in the country I excelled at school and just to paint you
excelled at school and just to paint you
excelled at school and just to paint you a picture of the academic landscape that
a picture of the academic landscape that
a picture of the academic landscape that I grew up in my freshman year of high
I grew up in my freshman year of high
I grew up in my freshman year of high school we started with 900 students but
school we started with 900 students but
school we started with 900 students but we graduated 122 so for me school was
we graduated 122 so for me school was
we graduated 122 so for me school was literally all that I had I studied all
literally all that I had I studied all
literally all that I had I studied all the time I didn’t have any friends I
the time I didn’t have any friends I
the time I didn’t have any friends I didn’t go to parties I just studied and
didn’t go to parties I just studied and
didn’t go to parties I just studied and that discipline earned me a spot in all
that discipline earned me a spot in all
that discipline earned me a spot in all 14 colleges that I applied to yeah you
14 colleges that I applied to yeah you
14 colleges that I applied to yeah you can class now and out of all the schools
can class now and out of all the schools
can class now and out of all the schools that I applied to it was Dartmouth that
that I applied to it was Dartmouth that
that I applied to it was Dartmouth that enticed me the most since neither of my
enticed me the most since neither of my
enticed me the most since neither of my parents had gone to college the way that
parents had gone to college the way that
parents had gone to college the way that I chose colleges was to look at the
I chose colleges was to look at the
I chose colleges was to look at the brochure and decide how happy the
brochure and decide how happy the
brochure and decide how happy the students looked and let me tell you
students looked and let me tell you
students looked and let me tell you Dartmouth brochure top-notch the smiling
Dartmouth brochure top-notch the smiling
Dartmouth brochure top-notch the smiling happy well-placed minority students well
happy well-placed minority students well
happy well-placed minority students well placed the white marble buildings the
placed the white marble buildings the
placed the white marble buildings the beautiful fall foliage even the snow
beautiful fall foliage even the snow
beautiful fall foliage even the snow looked majestic in that brochure and I
looked majestic in that brochure and I
looked majestic in that brochure and I had high hopes for what Dartmouth would
had high hopes for what Dartmouth would
had high hopes for what Dartmouth would be for me but I had even higher hopes
be for me but I had even higher hopes
be for me but I had even higher hopes for what I would be at Dartmouth I
for what I would be at Dartmouth I
for what I would be at Dartmouth I imagine walking proudly across campus
imagine walking proudly across campus
imagine walking proudly across campus debating contemporary political and
debating contemporary political and
debating contemporary political and social issues with my peers and reading
social issues with my peers and reading
social issues with my peers and reading books like Marcus Aurelius is
books like Marcus Aurelius is
books like Marcus Aurelius is meditations and Malcolm X’s
meditations and Malcolm X’s
meditations and Malcolm X’s autobiography I imagine sunbathing in
autobiography I imagine sunbathing in
autobiography I imagine sunbathing in the middle of the campus just like the
the middle of the campus just like the
the middle of the campus just like the white girls in the movies
white girls in the movies
white girls in the movies and I would lose my virginity one night
and I would lose my virginity one night
and I would lose my virginity one night to a sweet but troubled young man who
to a sweet but troubled young man who
to a sweet but troubled young man who definitely needed me to save him with my
definitely needed me to save him with my
definitely needed me to save him with my love it would be perfect it would be the
love it would be perfect it would be the
love it would be perfect it would be the birth of my becoming and everything that
birth of my becoming and everything that
birth of my becoming and everything that I had dealt with and experienced in
I had dealt with and experienced in
I had dealt with and experienced in Cleveland would be a thing of the past
Cleveland would be a thing of the past
Cleveland would be a thing of the past Dartmouth and all her beauty and glory
Dartmouth and all her beauty and glory
Dartmouth and all her beauty and glory and prestige would be the promised land
and prestige would be the promised land
and prestige would be the promised land I have been waiting for all my life so
I have been waiting for all my life so
I have been waiting for all my life so imagine my surprise when I heard the
imagine my surprise when I heard the
imagine my surprise when I heard the word nigger ring out from a speeding
word nigger ring out from a speeding
word nigger ring out from a speeding pickup truck past campus one day and I
pickup truck past campus one day and I
pickup truck past campus one day and I want you to know that they weren’t
want you to know that they weren’t
want you to know that they weren’t students they probably weren’t
students they probably weren’t
students they probably weren’t affiliated with Dartmouth in any way but
affiliated with Dartmouth in any way but
affiliated with Dartmouth in any way but it was enough to shatter me to take my
it was enough to shatter me to take my
it was enough to shatter me to take my newly burgeoning hopes of what Dartmouth
newly burgeoning hopes of what Dartmouth
newly burgeoning hopes of what Dartmouth would be for me and to remind me that in
would be for me and to remind me that in
would be for me and to remind me that in America no matter where you go or who
America no matter where you go or who
America no matter where you go or who you become if you’re black you will
you become if you’re black you will
you become if you’re black you will always just be a nigger to some people
and I couldn’t handle somebody trying to
and I couldn’t handle somebody trying to take my promised land for me I need a
take my promised land for me I need a
take my promised land for me I need a Dartmouth to be everything that it
Dartmouth to be everything that it
Dartmouth to be everything that it promised me it was I needed to feel safe
promised me it was I needed to feel safe
promised me it was I needed to feel safe and supported there so I pushed that
and supported there so I pushed that
and supported there so I pushed that incident out of my mind entirely told
incident out of my mind entirely told
incident out of my mind entirely told myself I had imagined it and kept going
myself I had imagined it and kept going
myself I had imagined it and kept going but Dartmouth would keep revealing her
but Dartmouth would keep revealing her
but Dartmouth would keep revealing her flaws to me her broken promises her
flaws to me her broken promises her
flaws to me her broken promises her inability to protect and support someone
inability to protect and support someone
inability to protect and support someone like me who had risen from an industrial
like me who had risen from an industrial
like me who had risen from an industrial wasteland in the heart of America and
wasteland in the heart of America and
wasteland in the heart of America and though Dartmouth exposed me to some of
though Dartmouth exposed me to some of
though Dartmouth exposed me to some of the most brilliant minds in the country
the most brilliant minds in the country
the most brilliant minds in the country and introduced me to the higher echelon
and introduced me to the higher echelon
and introduced me to the higher echelon of society I have learned a critical
of society I have learned a critical
of society I have learned a critical lesson that there are no promised lands
lesson that there are no promised lands
lesson that there are no promised lands in this world for marginalized people
in this world for marginalized people
in this world for marginalized people those of us that fall outside the
those of us that fall outside the
those of us that fall outside the categories of normal those of us that
categories of normal those of us that
categories of normal those of us that are too black or too poor or too foreign
are too black or too poor or too foreign
are too black or too poor or too foreign or too queer to belong but I couldn’t
or too queer to belong but I couldn’t
or too queer to belong but I couldn’t bring myself to accept that just yet I
bring myself to accept that just yet I
bring myself to accept that just yet I was still hopeful and I kept searching
was still hopeful and I kept searching
was still hopeful and I kept searching and my search took me all the way to New
and my search took me all the way to New
and my search took me all the way to New York City where I did what all new
York City where I did what all new
York City where I did what all new college graduates do try to save the
college graduates do try to save the
college graduates do try to save the world and even though New York was never
world and even though New York was never
world and even though New York was never my perfect place or a promised land
my perfect place or a promised land
my perfect place or a promised land there’s too much concrete therefore that
there’s too much concrete therefore that
there’s too much concrete therefore that I had big plans from our workfare our
I had big plans from our workfare our
I had big plans from our workfare our first job out of college was
first job out of college was
first job out of college was investigating allegations of misconduct
investigating allegations of misconduct
investigating allegations of misconduct against the New York City Police
against the New York City Police
against the New York City Police Department I conducted hundreds of
Department I conducted hundreds of
Department I conducted hundreds of investigations and discovered just how
investigations and discovered just how
investigations and discovered just how difficult it was to prove police
difficult it was to prove police
difficult it was to prove police misconduct even with a ton of evidence
misconduct even with a ton of evidence
misconduct even with a ton of evidence it was a brutal introduction to the way
it was a brutal introduction to the way
it was a brutal introduction to the way that the world really worked and I felt
that the world really worked and I felt
that the world really worked and I felt like I didn’t understand anything about
like I didn’t understand anything about
like I didn’t understand anything about this world and New York would break me
this world and New York would break me
this world and New York would break me in ways that I couldn’t have predicted I
in ways that I couldn’t have predicted I
in ways that I couldn’t have predicted I felt so small and invisible in this sea
felt so small and invisible in this sea
felt so small and invisible in this sea of intense ambitious people and I
of intense ambitious people and I
of intense ambitious people and I couldn’t keep up with the pace but what
couldn’t keep up with the pace but what
couldn’t keep up with the pace but what finally pushed me over the edge was a
finally pushed me over the edge was a
finally pushed me over the edge was a devastating apartment fire that happened
devastating apartment fire that happened
devastating apartment fire that happened to me two days after Christmas and I
to me two days after Christmas and I
to me two days after Christmas and I became so lost in the world that suicide
became so lost in the world that suicide
became so lost in the world that suicide seemed like the only answer and the only
seemed like the only answer and the only
seemed like the only answer and the only reason I didn’t do it is because I
reason I didn’t do it is because I
reason I didn’t do it is because I couldn’t do that to my mother I knew how
couldn’t do that to my mother I knew how
couldn’t do that to my mother I knew how it would devastate her so I tried to
it would devastate her so I tried to
it would devastate her so I tried to reverse myself through yoga and
reverse myself through yoga and
reverse myself through yoga and meditation and Tantra and prostrations I
meditation and Tantra and prostrations I
meditation and Tantra and prostrations I would throw myself upon the good earth
would throw myself upon the good earth
would throw myself upon the good earth day after day begging for mercy asking
day after day begging for mercy asking
day after day begging for mercy asking for understanding of what my purpose is
for understanding of what my purpose is
for understanding of what my purpose is here and the questions themselves would
here and the questions themselves would
here and the questions themselves would reorient me would point me in different
reorient me would point me in different
reorient me would point me in different directions and eventually bring me full
directions and eventually bring me full
directions and eventually bring me full circle back to my 13 year old self who
circle back to my 13 year old self who
circle back to my 13 year old self who dreamed of California that I might find
dreamed of California that I might find
dreamed of California that I might find salvation here
salvation here
salvation here and when I had rebuilt myself when I was
and when I had rebuilt myself when I was
and when I had rebuilt myself when I was securely in the in-between place of not
securely in the in-between place of not
securely in the in-between place of not wanting to die was still not entirely
wanting to die was still not entirely
wanting to die was still not entirely sure of what I should live for I moved
sure of what I should live for I moved
sure of what I should live for I moved to California with $100 and a renewed
to California with $100 and a renewed
to California with $100 and a renewed sense of hope and I still remember when
sense of hope and I still remember when
sense of hope and I still remember when my friend picked me up from the airport
my friend picked me up from the airport
my friend picked me up from the airport and drove me to her apartment in Oakland
and drove me to her apartment in Oakland
and drove me to her apartment in Oakland I was blown away by the beauty of the
I was blown away by the beauty of the
I was blown away by the beauty of the landscape and I thought to myself how
landscape and I thought to myself how
landscape and I thought to myself how dr. King had gotten it all wrong
dr. King had gotten it all wrong
dr. King had gotten it all wrong the prodigious mountains were not in New
the prodigious mountains were not in New
the prodigious mountains were not in New Hampshire they were in California and I
Hampshire they were in California and I
Hampshire they were in California and I immediately sought refuge in her
immediately sought refuge in her
immediately sought refuge in her inhabitants I began looking for my tribe
inhabitants I began looking for my tribe
inhabitants I began looking for my tribe I went to meetups and parties I did
I went to meetups and parties I did
I went to meetups and parties I did ecstatic dance and lost myself so
ecstatic dance and lost myself so
ecstatic dance and lost myself so totally in the music people would ask me
totally in the music people would ask me
totally in the music people would ask me if I was on drugs I did yoga on Sunday
if I was on drugs I did yoga on Sunday
if I was on drugs I did yoga on Sunday mornings at sunrise and bought organic
mornings at sunrise and bought organic
mornings at sunrise and bought organic fruit from the farmers market for
fruit from the farmers market for
fruit from the farmers market for breakfast I went for long hikes in the
breakfast I went for long hikes in the
breakfast I went for long hikes in the redwoods and listened to the wisdom of
redwoods and listened to the wisdom of
redwoods and listened to the wisdom of the trees California seduced me so
the trees California seduced me so
the trees California seduced me so convincingly that I became that annoying
convincingly that I became that annoying
convincingly that I became that annoying person on Facebook that post things like
person on Facebook that post things like
person on Facebook that post things like oh nothing just another beautiful day in
oh nothing just another beautiful day in
oh nothing just another beautiful day in the land of milk and honey
hashtag bliss yes I was having a
hashtag bliss yes I was having a storybook love affair with California I
storybook love affair with California I
storybook love affair with California I truly believed that I had arrived in the
truly believed that I had arrived in the
truly believed that I had arrived in the promised land until I started noticing
promised land until I started noticing
promised land until I started noticing how people seem to be excluding me and
how people seem to be excluding me and
how people seem to be excluding me and subtle but unmistakable ways like being
subtle but unmistakable ways like being
subtle but unmistakable ways like being at a party and noticing how few people
at a party and noticing how few people
at a party and noticing how few people would engage me in conversation and when
would engage me in conversation and when
would engage me in conversation and when they did still feeling invisible because
they did still feeling invisible because
they did still feeling invisible because they wouldn’t make eye contact or
they wouldn’t make eye contact or
they wouldn’t make eye contact or quickly moved on to the next person or
quickly moved on to the next person or
quickly moved on to the next person or how many people cross the street as I
how many people cross the street as I
how many people cross the street as I approached them in my neighborhood but
approached them in my neighborhood but
approached them in my neighborhood but the most painful exclusion that happened
the most painful exclusion that happened
the most painful exclusion that happened was from the dating arena I came to the
was from the dating arena I came to the
was from the dating arena I came to the painful realization that as a
painful realization that as a
painful realization that as a dark-skinned black woman in the bay area
dark-skinned black woman in the bay area
dark-skinned black woman in the bay area my chances of finding someone that would
my chances of finding someone that would
my chances of finding someone that would love me were slim to none yet part of me
love me were slim to none yet part of me
love me were slim to none yet part of me thought it must just be me this must be
thought it must just be me this must be
thought it must just be me this must be me again projecting my trauma and my low
me again projecting my trauma and my low
me again projecting my trauma and my low self-esteem out into the world so I
self-esteem out into the world so I
self-esteem out into the world so I tried to be better more positive more
tried to be better more positive more
tried to be better more positive more peaceful more Zen but I kept having the
peaceful more Zen but I kept having the
peaceful more Zen but I kept having the same experiences and it was only after I
same experiences and it was only after I
same experiences and it was only after I wrote and performed a one-woman show
wrote and performed a one-woman show
wrote and performed a one-woman show called black virgins are not for
called black virgins are not for
called black virgins are not for hipsters
where I talked about my dating
where I talked about my dating experiences that I realized how
experiences that I realized how
experiences that I realized how pervasive my experiences were amongst
pervasive my experiences were amongst
pervasive my experiences were amongst black women they would come up to me
black women they would come up to me
black women they would come up to me after the show to tell me how they were
after the show to tell me how they were
after the show to tell me how they were having similar experiences here in the
having similar experiences here in the
having similar experiences here in the promised land and I came to understand
promised land and I came to understand
promised land and I came to understand the destructiveness of colorblind
the destructiveness of colorblind
the destructiveness of colorblind liberalism it meant that some were
liberalism it meant that some were
liberalism it meant that some were willing to erase the reality of my lived
willing to erase the reality of my lived
willing to erase the reality of my lived experience as a black person in America
experience as a black person in America
experience as a black person in America for their own comfort
for their own comfort
for their own comfort I grew bitter at the constant attempts
I grew bitter at the constant attempts
I grew bitter at the constant attempts to erase me and it wasn’t just
to erase me and it wasn’t just
to erase me and it wasn’t just colorblind liberalism I also grew
colorblind liberalism I also grew
colorblind liberalism I also grew contemptuous of surface spirituality the
contemptuous of surface spirituality the
contemptuous of surface spirituality the dead prayers for unity the hollow
dead prayers for unity the hollow
dead prayers for unity the hollow platitudes of all you need is love and
platitudes of all you need is love and
platitudes of all you need is love and we’re all one that seemed to reamed out
we’re all one that seemed to reamed out
we’re all one that seemed to reamed out from all the yoga and meditation studios
from all the yoga and meditation studios
from all the yoga and meditation studios seem to ring out in a landscape rife
seem to ring out in a landscape rife
seem to ring out in a landscape rife with homelessness and racial tensions
with homelessness and racial tensions
with homelessness and racial tensions and a booming prison population what was
and a booming prison population what was
and a booming prison population what was the purpose of all our yoga and
the purpose of all our yoga and
the purpose of all our yoga and meditating if it didn’t make us agents
meditating if it didn’t make us agents
meditating if it didn’t make us agents of change and absent that changed
of change and absent that changed
of change and absent that changed weren’t we just stroking our own egos so
weren’t we just stroking our own egos so
weren’t we just stroking our own egos so I complained and I scolded and i
I complained and I scolded and i
I complained and I scolded and i critiqued I wanted all of you to be
critiqued I wanted all of you to be
critiqued I wanted all of you to be different to be better to be the people
different to be better to be the people
different to be better to be the people that I had imagined in my promised land
that I had imagined in my promised land
that I had imagined in my promised land until I realized California New York
until I realized California New York
until I realized California New York Dartmouth Cleveland I can’t change you I
Dartmouth Cleveland I can’t change you I
Dartmouth Cleveland I can’t change you I can’t make you see things like how I see
can’t make you see things like how I see
can’t make you see things like how I see it and I gave up on the whole idea of a
it and I gave up on the whole idea of a
it and I gave up on the whole idea of a promised land because what I came to
promised land because what I came to
promised land because what I came to understand is that the promised land is
understand is that the promised land is
understand is that the promised land is not an actual place that exists on the
not an actual place that exists on the
not an actual place that exists on the earth rather it’s the pulse of
earth rather it’s the pulse of
earth rather it’s the pulse of possibility for what could be it’s the
possibility for what could be it’s the
possibility for what could be it’s the living vision inside each of us it’s the
living vision inside each of us it’s the
living vision inside each of us it’s the dream of Martin and the determination of
dream of Martin and the determination of
dream of Martin and the determination of Malcolm
Malcolm
Malcolm it is abolitionist digging underground
it is abolitionist digging underground
it is abolitionist digging underground railroads to freedom and civil right
railroads to freedom and civil right
railroads to freedom and civil right activists on a bridge in Selma it is the
activists on a bridge in Selma it is the
activists on a bridge in Selma it is the Diary of Anne Frank and Nelson Mandela’s
Diary of Anne Frank and Nelson Mandela’s
Diary of Anne Frank and Nelson Mandela’s raised fists it is mr. Gorbachev tear
raised fists it is mr. Gorbachev tear
raised fists it is mr. Gorbachev tear down that wall and give me liberty or
down that wall and give me liberty or
down that wall and give me liberty or give me death
give me death
give me death it is Hotel Rwanda and the Arab Spring
it is Hotel Rwanda and the Arab Spring
it is Hotel Rwanda and the Arab Spring it is African refugees swimming across
it is African refugees swimming across
it is African refugees swimming across the Mediterranean for a new life and
the Mediterranean for a new life and
the Mediterranean for a new life and white helmets pulling survivors from the
white helmets pulling survivors from the
white helmets pulling survivors from the wreckage and the paradox of the promised
wreckage and the paradox of the promised
wreckage and the paradox of the promised land is that we never get to live in it
land is that we never get to live in it
land is that we never get to live in it like all of those that came before us
like all of those that came before us
like all of those that came before us our sacrifice and our toil is for a
our sacrifice and our toil is for a
our sacrifice and our toil is for a world that we will never see and we know
world that we will never see and we know
world that we will never see and we know she’s coming we can hear her breathing
she’s coming we can hear her breathing
she’s coming we can hear her breathing but we will never cradle her in our arms
but we will never cradle her in our arms
but we will never cradle her in our arms and how bittersweet to sacrifice so
and how bittersweet to sacrifice so
and how bittersweet to sacrifice so profoundly for a world that you will
profoundly for a world that you will
profoundly for a world that you will never live in and yet that is what is
never live in and yet that is what is
never live in and yet that is what is being asked of each of us at every
being asked of each of us at every
being asked of each of us at every moment of our lives so I hope you answer
moment of our lives so I hope you answer
moment of our lives so I hope you answer the call I hope you become an ancestor
the call I hope you become an ancestor
the call I hope you become an ancestor worthy of the highest praise and the
worthy of the highest praise and the
worthy of the highest praise and the highest reverence
highest reverence
highest reverence I sure intend to be thank you
I sure intend to be thank you
I sure intend to be thank you [Applause]
”
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