when I was in high school I was in love with this guy named Steven he was tall
with this guy named Steven he was tall
with this guy named Steven he was tall dark handsome he looked like Wesley
dark handsome he looked like Wesley
dark handsome he looked like Wesley Snipes had a baby with the chocolate
Snipes had a baby with the chocolate
Snipes had a baby with the chocolate cake now he asked me to homecoming in my
cake now he asked me to homecoming in my
cake now he asked me to homecoming in my computer science class and at that point
computer science class and at that point
computer science class and at that point in my life if you said bless you I was
in my life if you said bless you I was
in my life if you said bless you I was ready to pick out bridesmaids and a
ready to pick out bridesmaids and a
ready to pick out bridesmaids and a wedding registry
wedding registry
wedding registry now I fell head over heels for him but I
now I fell head over heels for him but I
now I fell head over heels for him but I don’t think he felt the same about me
don’t think he felt the same about me
don’t think he felt the same about me especially when he ditched me at
especially when he ditched me at
especially when he ditched me at homecoming and started making out with a
homecoming and started making out with a
homecoming and started making out with a random girl but he he said he liked me
random girl but he he said he liked me
random girl but he he said he liked me you know he would buy me snacks at lunch
you know he would buy me snacks at lunch
you know he would buy me snacks at lunch and take me home from school and he
and take me home from school and he
and take me home from school and he always said hided me in the hallway
always said hided me in the hallway
always said hided me in the hallway that’s what love is isn’t it well it was
that’s what love is isn’t it well it was
that’s what love is isn’t it well it was Valentine’s Day and I am spoken to him
Valentine’s Day and I am spoken to him
Valentine’s Day and I am spoken to him in three days so I started to separate
in three days so I started to separate
in three days so I started to separate myself from Steve junior in our house in
myself from Steve junior in our house in
myself from Steve junior in our house in the country but then there he was he
the country but then there he was he
the country but then there he was he walked into the middle of my chemistry
walked into the middle of my chemistry
walked into the middle of my chemistry class with a box of chocolates and a
class with a box of chocolates and a
class with a box of chocolates and a little teddy bear holding my heart that
little teddy bear holding my heart that
little teddy bear holding my heart that said I love you and immediately everyone
said I love you and immediately everyone
said I love you and immediately everyone once said oh my gosh he’s so romantic
once said oh my gosh he’s so romantic
once said oh my gosh he’s so romantic that’s so sweet and I was like I know
that’s so sweet and I was like I know
that’s so sweet and I was like I know we’re so happy we’re so in love at least
we’re so happy we’re so in love at least
we’re so happy we’re so in love at least I thought I go to third period and I see
I thought I go to third period and I see
I thought I go to third period and I see three girls with identical chocolate
three girls with identical chocolate
three girls with identical chocolate boxes and teddy bears holding little
boxes and teddy bears holding little
boxes and teddy bears holding little hearts that say I love you and a friend
hearts that say I love you and a friend
hearts that say I love you and a friend pulled me aside and said Steve got you a
pulled me aside and said Steve got you a
pulled me aside and said Steve got you a gift to see what I had perceived as a
gift to see what I had perceived as a
gift to see what I had perceived as a declaration of love was really just a
declaration of love was really just a
declaration of love was really just a guy being nice to me and three other
guy being nice to me and three other
guy being nice to me and three other girls in my grade see I was wrong about
girls in my grade see I was wrong about
girls in my grade see I was wrong about Steve but that wasn’t the first time or
Steve but that wasn’t the first time or
Steve but that wasn’t the first time or the last time I’ve kind of become
the last time I’ve kind of become
the last time I’ve kind of become acquainted with being wrong
acquainted with being wrong
acquainted with being wrong I’m a reporter for the Plano Starr
I’m a reporter for the Plano Starr
I’m a reporter for the Plano Starr courier so I cover everything from
courier so I cover everything from
courier so I cover everything from breaking news city council scoreboard
breaking news city council scoreboard
breaking news city council scoreboard anything in the community and my job is
anything in the community and my job is
anything in the community and my job is to get it right names dates people’s
to get it right names dates people’s
to get it right names dates people’s faces people’s quotes and my work is
faces people’s quotes and my work is
faces people’s quotes and my work is more important than ever because what I
more important than ever because what I
more important than ever because what I write helps shape people’s perspective
write helps shape people’s perspective
write helps shape people’s perspective of their community with a single
of their community with a single
of their community with a single headline I can make or break a residents
headline I can make or break a residents
headline I can make or break a residents belief in their city council their
belief in their city council their
belief in their city council their school board their neighborhood or the
school board their neighborhood or the
school board their neighborhood or the fundamental reason they moved to a
fundamental reason they moved to a
fundamental reason they moved to a community now we’re living in a time
community now we’re living in a time
community now we’re living in a time with a lot of mistrust in the media
with a lot of mistrust in the media
with a lot of mistrust in the media alternative facts and fake news are
alternative facts and fake news are
alternative facts and fake news are casually thrown around and we saw a ton
casually thrown around and we saw a ton
casually thrown around and we saw a ton of it during the recent election cycle
of it during the recent election cycle
of it during the recent election cycle so much so that Stanford and NYU did a
so much so that Stanford and NYU did a
so much so that Stanford and NYU did a study on social media and fake news in
study on social media and fake news in
study on social media and fake news in the 2016 election now we saw headlines
the 2016 election now we saw headlines
the 2016 election now we saw headlines like Trump says if black lives don’t
like Trump says if black lives don’t
like Trump says if black lives don’t matter here go back to Africa or even
matter here go back to Africa or even
matter here go back to Africa or even tens of thousands of fraudulent Clinton
tens of thousands of fraudulent Clinton
tens of thousands of fraudulent Clinton votes found in Ohio warehouse which just
votes found in Ohio warehouse which just
votes found in Ohio warehouse which just between us like these are terrible
between us like these are terrible
between us like these are terrible headlines like their trash trash
headlines like their trash trash
headlines like their trash trash headlines and all people still believed
headlines and all people still believed
headlines and all people still believed them and shared them millions of times
them and shared them millions of times
them and shared them millions of times particularly on Facebook now officials
particularly on Facebook now officials
particularly on Facebook now officials came out and said there are no votes
came out and said there are no votes
came out and said there are no votes found this is absolutely incorrect you
found this is absolutely incorrect you
found this is absolutely incorrect you know different representatives from each
know different representatives from each
know different representatives from each camp said none of this that he said or
camp said none of this that he said or
camp said none of this that he said or she said was true
she said was true
she said was true but from the study they found that
but from the study they found that
but from the study they found that people saw and remembered 92% of Pro
people saw and remembered 92% of Pro
people saw and remembered 92% of Pro Trump stories and 23% of Pro Clinton
Trump stories and 23% of Pro Clinton
Trump stories and 23% of Pro Clinton stories so what does that tell us mainly
stories so what does that tell us mainly
stories so what does that tell us mainly that people may have doubted the truth
that people may have doubted the truth
that people may have doubted the truth in these stories but they still believed
in these stories but they still believed
in these stories but they still believed they were possible so yeah maybe Trump
they were possible so yeah maybe Trump
they were possible so yeah maybe Trump didn’t say those exact words but he’s
didn’t say those exact words but he’s
didn’t say those exact words but he’s still a bigot or no Clinton probably
still a bigot or no Clinton probably
still a bigot or no Clinton probably didn’t have those votes but she’s still
didn’t have those votes but she’s still
didn’t have those votes but she’s still untrustworthy and that’s the thing we’re
untrustworthy and that’s the thing we’re
untrustworthy and that’s the thing we’re creating perspectives based on nothing
creating perspectives based on nothing
creating perspectives based on nothing but lies
but lies
but lies and that’s kind of how we’re starting
and that’s kind of how we’re starting
and that’s kind of how we’re starting to use news we’re using media to
to use news we’re using media to
to use news we’re using media to reinforce our personal biases instead of
reinforce our personal biases instead of
reinforce our personal biases instead of adjusting our beliefs to fit the
adjusting our beliefs to fit the
adjusting our beliefs to fit the evidence in front of us so what is our
evidence in front of us so what is our
evidence in front of us so what is our Savior
Savior
Savior how do we stop the spread of fake news
how do we stop the spread of fake news
how do we stop the spread of fake news how do we stay grounded in reality
how do we stay grounded in reality
how do we stay grounded in reality instead of a world that we make up in
instead of a world that we make up in
instead of a world that we make up in our heads I think the first step is
our heads I think the first step is
our heads I think the first step is self-reflection it’s everyone taking a
self-reflection it’s everyone taking a
self-reflection it’s everyone taking a step back and asking themselves what if
step back and asking themselves what if
step back and asking themselves what if I am the problem what if I am out of
I am the problem what if I am out of
I am the problem what if I am out of line what if I am wrong now the way that
line what if I am wrong now the way that
line what if I am wrong now the way that we share news is incredibly rapid pace
we share news is incredibly rapid pace
we share news is incredibly rapid pace there is no gatekeeper so essentially
there is no gatekeeper so essentially
there is no gatekeeper so essentially everyone is their own gatekeeper and
everyone is their own gatekeeper and
everyone is their own gatekeeper and especially when there’s mistrust in the
especially when there’s mistrust in the
especially when there’s mistrust in the media it’s very common for people to
media it’s very common for people to
media it’s very common for people to turn inwards and to start to only rely
turn inwards and to start to only rely
turn inwards and to start to only rely on sources they’ve always trusted so
on sources they’ve always trusted so
on sources they’ve always trusted so those new stations they’ve always
those new stations they’ve always
those new stations they’ve always believed friends relatives people they
believed friends relatives people they
believed friends relatives people they know love and trust with similar
know love and trust with similar
know love and trust with similar backgrounds and similar beliefs and it
backgrounds and similar beliefs and it
backgrounds and similar beliefs and it goes far beyond media how many of us
goes far beyond media how many of us
goes far beyond media how many of us don’t even go to a restaurant unless it
don’t even go to a restaurant unless it
don’t even go to a restaurant unless it has at least four stars on Yelp or we
has at least four stars on Yelp or we
has at least four stars on Yelp or we don’t read a book or watch a movie or
don’t read a book or watch a movie or
don’t read a book or watch a movie or even been just show on Netflix unless
even been just show on Netflix unless
even been just show on Netflix unless someone says you’ve just got to watch
someone says you’ve just got to watch
someone says you’ve just got to watch this it’s so easy for us to share news
this it’s so easy for us to share news
this it’s so easy for us to share news with a simple click of a button we can
with a simple click of a button we can
with a simple click of a button we can share good news bad news
share good news bad news
share good news bad news messy news and when we were kids we were
messy news and when we were kids we were
messy news and when we were kids we were always told sharing is caring but how
always told sharing is caring but how
always told sharing is caring but how much care do we put behind the things
much care do we put behind the things
much care do we put behind the things that we share growing up my parents were
that we share growing up my parents were
that we share growing up my parents were a bit of over sharers they were always
a bit of over sharers they were always
a bit of over sharers they were always talking to us about the real I remember
talking to us about the real I remember
talking to us about the real I remember being sat down as a child and my parents
being sat down as a child and my parents
being sat down as a child and my parents telling me Kelsey you will always have
telling me Kelsey you will always have
telling me Kelsey you will always have to work twice as hard to be considered
to work twice as hard to be considered
to work twice as hard to be considered just as good no I didn’t believe them
just as good no I didn’t believe them
just as good no I didn’t believe them I’m like we live in the suburbs we have
I’m like we live in the suburbs we have
I’m like we live in the suburbs we have a two-story house I just figured that
a two-story house I just figured that
a two-story house I just figured that was something old black people told
was something old black people told
was something old black people told their kids
their kids
their kids and my parents never shied away from
and my parents never shied away from
and my parents never shied away from telling us the truth American history in
telling us the truth American history in
telling us the truth American history in black history even outside of February
black history even outside of February
black history even outside of February we learned about slavery and lynchings
we learned about slavery and lynchings
we learned about slavery and lynchings and Selma and the march on Washington
and Selma and the march on Washington
and Selma and the march on Washington and yet a part of me still felt like
and yet a part of me still felt like
and yet a part of me still felt like racism couldn’t really touch me
racism couldn’t really touch me
racism couldn’t really touch me so flash-forward I’m a sophomore in
so flash-forward I’m a sophomore in
so flash-forward I’m a sophomore in college and we’re discussing the latest
college and we’re discussing the latest
college and we’re discussing the latest news story out of Florida a little boy
news story out of Florida a little boy
news story out of Florida a little boy has been killed by a neighborhood
has been killed by a neighborhood
has been killed by a neighborhood watchman it’s the first time I’ve ever
watchman it’s the first time I’ve ever
watchman it’s the first time I’ve ever heard Trayvon Martin’s name or anything
heard Trayvon Martin’s name or anything
heard Trayvon Martin’s name or anything about a stand-your-ground law and as
about a stand-your-ground law and as
about a stand-your-ground law and as we’re discussing the incident in the
we’re discussing the incident in the
we’re discussing the incident in the context surrounding the case I
context surrounding the case I
context surrounding the case I immediately think this doesn’t feel
immediately think this doesn’t feel
immediately think this doesn’t feel right
right
right something is wrong this cannot be real
something is wrong this cannot be real
something is wrong this cannot be real and as soon as class is over I do what
and as soon as class is over I do what
and as soon as class is over I do what everyone else does I hop on social media
everyone else does I hop on social media
everyone else does I hop on social media to see who else is talking about this
to see who else is talking about this
to see who else is talking about this and there is nothing on my facebook
and there is nothing on my facebook
and there is nothing on my facebook nothing on my Twitter not even my
nothing on my Twitter not even my
nothing on my Twitter not even my favorite youtubers are talking about
favorite youtubers are talking about
favorite youtubers are talking about this and I’m heated because I’m like
this and I’m heated because I’m like
this and I’m heated because I’m like this is a huge story this is such a
this is a huge story this is such a
this is a huge story this is such a tragedy why is no one discussing this
tragedy why is no one discussing this
tragedy why is no one discussing this but then it dawned on me I had created a
but then it dawned on me I had created a
but then it dawned on me I had created a social media experience where racism and
social media experience where racism and
social media experience where racism and injustice didn’t exist I’d cherry-picked
injustice didn’t exist I’d cherry-picked
injustice didn’t exist I’d cherry-picked the friends I followed the conversations
the friends I followed the conversations
the friends I followed the conversations on my timeline to exclude anything
on my timeline to exclude anything
on my timeline to exclude anything negative or real and when I was
negative or real and when I was
negative or real and when I was confronted with the reality that we
confronted with the reality that we
confronted with the reality that we didn’t live in a post-racial society and
didn’t live in a post-racial society and
didn’t live in a post-racial society and that racism was still alive and well and
that racism was still alive and well and
that racism was still alive and well and that the world was not okay because
that the world was not okay because
that the world was not okay because Berio was president I felt like I was
Berio was president I felt like I was
Berio was president I felt like I was living a lie but even worse
living a lie but even worse
living a lie but even worse I just wish someone would have told me
I just wish someone would have told me
I just wish someone would have told me someone would have pulled me to the side
someone would have pulled me to the side
someone would have pulled me to the side and said Kelsey what you’re thinking is
and said Kelsey what you’re thinking is
and said Kelsey what you’re thinking is wrong and you need to get right that’s
wrong and you need to get right that’s
wrong and you need to get right that’s not the way this is the way but I had to
not the way this is the way but I had to
not the way this is the way but I had to realize
realize
realize someone did try to help me my parents
someone did try to help me my parents
someone did try to help me my parents who talked to me about slavery and
who talked to me about slavery and
who talked to me about slavery and lynchings and Selma and the march on
lynchings and Selma and the march on
lynchings and Selma and the march on Washington see my problem was that I
Washington see my problem was that I
Washington see my problem was that I didn’t think I had anything else to
didn’t think I had anything else to
didn’t think I had anything else to learn American history I passed that
learn American history I passed that
learn American history I passed that class with an A and I thought I was done
class with an A and I thought I was done
class with an A and I thought I was done learning about the world around me and
learning about the world around me and
learning about the world around me and that’s just not true see today I can
that’s just not true see today I can
that’s just not true see today I can fight a lot of those urges because as a
fight a lot of those urges because as a
fight a lot of those urges because as a reporter I get a ton of practice I’m
reporter I get a ton of practice I’m
reporter I get a ton of practice I’m constantly asking myself what if you’re
constantly asking myself what if you’re
constantly asking myself what if you’re wrong it keeps me grounded
wrong it keeps me grounded
wrong it keeps me grounded it keeps me looking for every
it keeps me looking for every
it keeps me looking for every perspective to a story every perspective
perspective to a story every perspective
perspective to a story every perspective to the truth not just the ones that suit
to the truth not just the ones that suit
to the truth not just the ones that suit my fancy so what can we do what can we
my fancy so what can we do what can we
my fancy so what can we do what can we do to stay truthful and stay real I
do to stay truthful and stay real I
do to stay truthful and stay real I think it starts with self reflection I
think it starts with self reflection I
think it starts with self reflection I think it starts with everyone taking an
think it starts with everyone taking an
think it starts with everyone taking an introspective look at their beliefs
introspective look at their beliefs
introspective look at their beliefs questioning and asking themselves are my
questioning and asking themselves are my
questioning and asking themselves are my beliefs a reflection of the reality in
beliefs a reflection of the reality in
beliefs a reflection of the reality in front of me or are they just stale
front of me or are they just stale
front of me or are they just stale memories from middle school now maybe
memories from middle school now maybe
memories from middle school now maybe being wrong doesn’t have to be something
being wrong doesn’t have to be something
being wrong doesn’t have to be something dramatic like it was for me it could be
dramatic like it was for me it could be
dramatic like it was for me it could be something simple like there has to be
something simple like there has to be
something simple like there has to be different perspectives to this situation
different perspectives to this situation
different perspectives to this situation or even just admitting the situation
or even just admitting the situation
or even just admitting the situation isn’t as simple as I think it is it
isn’t as simple as I think it is it
isn’t as simple as I think it is it helps us make sure that our beliefs are
helps us make sure that our beliefs are
helps us make sure that our beliefs are a true reflection of the reality that
a true reflection of the reality that
a true reflection of the reality that we’re living in and it’s worth it it’s
we’re living in and it’s worth it it’s
we’re living in and it’s worth it it’s worth it to switch up where we get our
worth it to switch up where we get our
worth it to switch up where we get our news you know and be more discerning
news you know and be more discerning
news you know and be more discerning with the news that we absorb so like if
with the news that we absorb so like if
with the news that we absorb so like if you get that story from real hip-hop
you get that story from real hip-hop
you get that story from real hip-hop news calm like google it real quick
news calm like google it real quick
news calm like google it real quick before you share it like read the
before you share it like read the
before you share it like read the headline and the lead and the rest of it
headline and the lead and the rest of it
headline and the lead and the rest of it before you talk about it I’m sure if the
before you talk about it I’m sure if the
before you talk about it I’m sure if the story has only uh sources it’s probably
story has only uh sources it’s probably
story has only uh sources it’s probably not real news and you guys don’t have to
not real news and you guys don’t have to
not real news and you guys don’t have to share that messy story that you see
share that messy story that you see
share that messy story that you see online the buck can stop with you we are
online the buck can stop with you we are
online the buck can stop with you we are our loved ones gate
our loved ones gate
our loved ones gate first we shouldn’t lead them astray it’s
first we shouldn’t lead them astray it’s
first we shouldn’t lead them astray it’s also worth it to diversify where we get
also worth it to diversify where we get
also worth it to diversify where we get our news so if you guys always watch fox
our news so if you guys always watch fox
our news so if you guys always watch fox news try MSNBC or try both try lots of
news try MSNBC or try both try lots of
news try MSNBC or try both try lots of perspectives to a story before you
perspectives to a story before you
perspectives to a story before you create an opinion
create an opinion
create an opinion it’s also worth it to try and get your
it’s also worth it to try and get your
it’s also worth it to try and get your news from someone who doesn’t look like
news from someone who doesn’t look like
news from someone who doesn’t look like you I haven’t always had the privilege
you I haven’t always had the privilege
you I haven’t always had the privilege to absorb news from someone who looks
to absorb news from someone who looks
to absorb news from someone who looks like me but I can tell you it adds a
like me but I can tell you it adds a
like me but I can tell you it adds a completely different perspective to a
completely different perspective to a
completely different perspective to a lot of stories we consistently see it
lot of stories we consistently see it
lot of stories we consistently see it helps broaden the base of your
helps broaden the base of your
helps broaden the base of your understanding there are tons of
understanding there are tons of
understanding there are tons of reporters of color who are doing
reporters of color who are doing
reporters of color who are doing incredible work and you should check
incredible work and you should check
incredible work and you should check them out there’s people like Van Newkirk
them out there’s people like Van Newkirk
them out there’s people like Van Newkirk the second at the Atlantic or Franchesca
the second at the Atlantic or Franchesca
the second at the Atlantic or Franchesca Ramsey on MTV decoded
Ramsey on MTV decoded
Ramsey on MTV decoded there’s podcasts like another round with
there’s podcasts like another round with
there’s podcasts like another round with heaven and Tracy even YouTube channels
heaven and Tracy even YouTube channels
heaven and Tracy even YouTube channels like flama or wongfuproductions by
like flama or wongfuproductions by
like flama or wongfuproductions by diversifying my new space I am more than
diversifying my new space I am more than
diversifying my new space I am more than confident that my beliefs are reflection
confident that my beliefs are reflection
confident that my beliefs are reflection of the reality that I’m living in I have
of the reality that I’m living in I have
of the reality that I’m living in I have been challenged and stretched and forced
been challenged and stretched and forced
been challenged and stretched and forced to bend and I am better for it when I
to bend and I am better for it when I
to bend and I am better for it when I was younger in church brother Reed our
was younger in church brother Reed our
was younger in church brother Reed our youth director he would always tell us
youth director he would always tell us
youth director he would always tell us you don’t change the Bible to fit your
you don’t change the Bible to fit your
you don’t change the Bible to fit your life you change your life to fit the
life you change your life to fit the
life you change your life to fit the Bible and I think the same can be said
Bible and I think the same can be said
Bible and I think the same can be said for the truth and it’s not easy work if
for the truth and it’s not easy work if
for the truth and it’s not easy work if it was easy everyone would do it but
it was easy everyone would do it but
it was easy everyone would do it but it’s worthwhile work and it starts with
it’s worthwhile work and it starts with
it’s worthwhile work and it starts with you it starts with me it starts with us
you it starts with me it starts with us
you it starts with me it starts with us thank you
”
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