now before you start to tune us out or
form an opinion on this talk before we
even have the chance to start I ask that
you take a second what if I said blue
lives matter or even all lives matter
what’s the difference does one resonate
with you more do you think that saying
black lives is offensive exclusive or
even violent because if so then your
opinion is a product of a lack of
conversation black lives matter is only
offensive because it tends to threaten
white privilege now we are not here
today to propose an attack on white
people or present a condescending
statement but we’re trying to start a
fundamental point of a discussion
between races and let us be clear in no
way are we trying to say that you’re
stupid for having a different opinion
than us or having some sort of reaction
to this talk see ignorance is simply the
lack of conversation or the lack of
knowledge or understanding of a subject
while stupidity is behavior that shows a
lack of good sense or judgment and while
we’ve all heard that ignorant is bliss
and for the most part we can all agree
we often don’t realize that blissful
majority get to be white people because
to put it simply there’s just certain
things that we don’t have to worry about
if we don’t want to because it doesn’t
directly affect us that’s privileged and
not all privilege is blatant in fact for
the most part there are small
inconveniences that represent a larger
oppressive norm that contribute to our
overall general way of thinking because
I cannot be ignorant to the fact that
when I go to drug stores I will not find
things in my shade of nude when I want
to buy things like bras band-aids and
makeup they will not be in my nude they
will be much lighter that when I want to
buy simple things like shampoos and
conditioners I have to go through an
online source pay for shipping and
handling because my immediate
environment does not cater to my
standard of beauty because I am not
allowed to be ignorant to the immediate
danger posed to people of color and what
is to white people a routine police stop
my father and I have two key
our licenses in plain sight at all times
in order to avoid reaching for anything
should we be pulled over because people
of color have to change their body
language in order to appear less
aggressive in the pigmentation of our
skin so if you don’t identify with these
common struggles on a very personal
level then you have fundamental access
to privilege but let me be clear
pointing out your privilege does not
mean that you are the problem or even
that you’re at a lack of privilege in
other areas of your life yourself
because the presence of privilege does
not equate to the absence of struggle I
work at a restaurant I was told by my
boss that I either need to straighten my
hair or cover it up because my
appearance may put off customers but
then on the other hand white celebrities
go out and wear hairstyles that people
of color have been wearing for
generations and they are praised by the
so while people of color are shamed
objectified and labeled unprofessional
for simply existing with these
characteristics that are simply part of
their identity
white people are praised celebrated and
photographed first sporting these now
labeled new and trendy styles that are
somehow more attractive simply because
they are displayed on a more acceptable
canvas
so while cultural appropriation can
certainly be classified as an aggression
there are much more subtle ways that one
can undermine cultures and races and
this is through something called a
microaggression
for example while I might think it’s
flattering to compliment Lana’s hair by
reaching over and touching it in
amazement all this really translates to
is an invasion of privacy and the
objectification of one single feature
that is disrespectful for the same
reason as if one of some if somebody
were to come up to me after this talk
and say wow black Alexis I was so
impressed by your talk today you were so
well-spoken and articulate but aren’t
you mixed which parents the black parent
I want to take a moment today to talk
about something called cultural
appropriation you may hear why it’s
offensive to buy an afro as part of your
70s Halloween costume or why it’s not
okay to dress up as a Native American
for Halloween but you may not listen to
me twice offensive and demeaning to
people of my race when you choose to
dress like that I wear my hair as it
naturally is in an afro and I’m
ridiculed by people as wretched
unprofessional and ghetto while you have
the privilege of going out for a
Halloween costume
choosing to buy something that I wear
every day and wearing it as a costume
and a joke amongst your friends this is
the hair I was born with it is not a
costume for you to wear on Lana doesn’t
get to take her afro off before she goes
to bed at night you see everyone is
susceptible to ridicule about their
identity even I a white girl who has
been fortunate enough to be treated as
such in our society still get looks when
exposing my last name due to its Mexican
affiliation I usually get questions like
Oh your last name is Chavez will you
speak Spanish to me or where are you
from you’re so exotic and when I respond
with a simple Ohio usually it’s met with
but where you actually
from and while you may not mean to
offend me or any number of people by
saying this this doesn’t excuse the fact
that this is now how it is received
because the most important thing to
remember is that intent and impact are
not the same thing so a black woman a
white woman and a mixed women are all
standing here before you today to
emphasize that white privilege isn’t
just a white issue
or a black issue this is a human issue I
don’t want to have to grow up and give
my children the talk that people of
color have been familiar with for so
long all lives do matter but we need to
take the time to focus on the ones that
have been abused neglected and
misunderstood for so long thank you [Applause]