There’s A Vacancy In Leadership & We Need To Take It Back ….!
As we continue to watch the uproar in #Ferguson, there is much talk and debate on the ‘truths’ behind the execution of eighteen year old, Michael Brown. Actor, Jesse Williams who plays on ABC ‘s Grey’s Anatomy shared his concerns on the inequalities of of civil liberties as society during a panel talk discusision earlier this week and he points some ugly truths. Take a read below:
” I think We Need To Start The Story At The Narrative, Not The Middle, and making sure that we’re talking about the beginning….. and not in the middle. “
” This is about finding JUSTICE for a kid that was shot, an eighteen-year that was shot PERIOD. And this idea that because he stole a handful of cigars from a convenient store .. what’s that five bucks.”
” I lived in the white suburbs of this country for a long time. I know plenty of white kids that steal stuff from a convenient store. This idea that every time a black person does something, they automatically become a thug worthy of their own death. We don’t own drug crimes, we’re not the only ones that sell and do drugs all the time.”
” We’re not the only ones that steal and talk CRAZY to COPS. There’s a complete double standard,…an a different experience that a certain element of this country gets the privilege of where some of get treated like human beings and the rest of us are NOT treated like human beings. “
” You don’t know 5 black men that have not been threatened or harassed by a police officer. “
Just five months prior, Jesse talked about the challenges facing people of color during his appearance on the Arsenio Hall Show. Williams explains his new initiative in the state of California that is geared towards helping young men of color rise above their impoverished communities. The initiative has captured the attention of the White House and will mirror Obama’s “I am My Brother’s Keeper” national campaign.
The former teacher turned actor is on a mission to save our young men of color and has issued a call to action for ALL of us. Read below as Jessie explains the meaning behind the Black Rose Pin.
“ The Black Rose Pin is for our “Sons and Brothers”. There’s fifty percent Americans under the age of 25 that are people of color, seventy percent are in California. The California endowment has decided to step forward with this new initiative with 50 million dollars towards improving the living conditions and future for our young men of color in California.
That’s working around the school to prison pipeline, kids that are getting pushed out of schools, we call it drop outs but our young people kids are getting pushed out of schools, …. we have 5-6 years old getting put in handcuffs because they’re misbehaving in schools and they’re being pushed in the criminal justice system…..
America as a whole need to do make some changes but at least we can do our best in our communities as influencers and STEP forward, and take that leadership role back. I think entertainers back in the day had more of leadership role in their communities, not only speaking but listening, not ignoring it and NOT just selling products. “