[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:01.11,0:00:05.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, my journey began\Nin the Bronx, New York,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.10,0:00:07.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in a one-bedroom apartment,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:07.89,0:00:10.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with my two sisters and immigrant mother.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.71,0:00:14.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I loved our neighborhood.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.38,0:00:16.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was lively.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.91,0:00:19.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was all this merengue blasting,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.38,0:00:21.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,neighbors socializing on building stoops
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.80,0:00:25.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and animated conversations\Nover domino playing.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.33,0:00:27.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was home,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.85,0:00:30.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it was sweet.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.37,0:00:32.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it wasn't simple.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.64,0:00:37.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, everyone at school\Nknew the block where we lived,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.28,0:00:41.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it was where people came\Nto buy weed and other drugs.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.95,0:00:44.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And with drug-dealing comes conflict,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.54,0:00:48.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so we often went to sleep\Nto the sound of gunshots.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.84,0:00:52.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I spent much of my childhood worried,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.12,0:00:55.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,worried about our safety.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.80,0:00:58.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so did our mother.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.28,0:01:03.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She worried that the violence we witnessed\Nwould overtake our lives;
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.34,0:01:06.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that our poverty meant
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.09,0:01:08.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the neighbors with whom\Nwe lived and shared space
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.79,0:01:10.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,would harm us.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.85,0:01:13.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Our entire life was in the Bronx,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:14.57,0:01:17.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but my mother's anxiety\Nspurred her into action,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:17.59,0:01:22.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and soon we were driving\Nso fast to Connecticut --
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.38,0:01:23.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.48,0:01:27.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,To boarding school campuses,\Nwith full scholarships in tow.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.86,0:01:33.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Man, don't underestimate\Nthe power of a mother
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.62,0:01:36.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,determined to keep her children safe.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.01,0:01:38.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Cheers)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.32,0:01:40.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.55,0:01:45.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At boarding school,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.66,0:01:48.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for the first time,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.87,0:01:52.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was able to sleep without worry.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.39,0:01:55.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I could leave my dorm room unlocked,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.97,0:01:57.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,walk barefoot in the grass,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.29,0:02:02.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and look up to see\Na night sky full of stars.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.06,0:02:05.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Happy novelties.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.17,0:02:09.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But there were other novelties as well.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.30,0:02:13.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Very quickly, I felt like I didn't belong.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.47,0:02:17.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I learned that I didn't speak\Nthe right way,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.38,0:02:20.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to demonstrate\Nthe proper ways of speaking,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.23,0:02:25.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,my teachers gave me\Nfrequent lessons, in public,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.76,0:02:29.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on the appropriate way\Nto enunciate certain words.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.07,0:02:33.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A teacher once instructed me\Nin the hallway:
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.04,0:02:37.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Aaaaaas-king."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.54,0:02:41.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She said this loudly.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.02,0:02:46.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Dena, it's not 'axing,'\Nlike you're running around with an axe.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.81,0:02:49.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's silly."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.08,0:02:55.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now at this point, you can imagine\Nthe snickers of my classmates,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.26,0:02:57.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but she continued:
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.25,0:03:04.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Think about breaking the word\Ninto 'ass' and 'king, '
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.67,0:03:07.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then put the two together\Nto say it correctly --
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.72,0:03:10.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,'Asking.'"
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.92,0:03:15.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There were some other moments\Nthat reminded me that I didn't belong.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.19,0:03:19.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Once, I walked into\Na classmate's dorm room,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.03,0:03:23.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I watched her watch\Nher valuables around me.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.35,0:03:27.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Like, why would she do that?\NI thought to myself.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.38,0:03:30.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then there was the time
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.85,0:03:34.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when another classmate\Nwalked into my dorm room,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.31,0:03:38.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and yelled, "Ew!" as I was applying\Nhair grease to my scalp.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.07,0:03:46.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is emotional damage done\Nwhen young people can't be themselves,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.50,0:03:51.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when they are forced to edit who they are\Nin order to be acceptable.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.63,0:03:54.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a kind of violence.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.94,0:04:00.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ultimately, I'm a quintessential\Nsuccess story.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.99,0:04:05.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I attended boarding school\Nand college in New England,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.22,0:04:07.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,studied abroad in Chile
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.33,0:04:10.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and returned to the Bronx\Nto be a middle school teacher.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.03,0:04:13.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I received a Truman Scholarship,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.45,0:04:16.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a Fulbright and a Soros Fellowship.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.69,0:04:18.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I could list more.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.60,0:04:19.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.12,0:04:21.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I won't.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.34,0:04:22.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.91,0:04:27.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I earned my doctorate\Nat Columbia University.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.79,0:04:28.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Cheers)
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.91,0:04:30.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.74,0:04:33.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then I landed a job at Yale.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.10,0:04:34.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.36,0:04:39.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am proud of everything\Nthat I've been able to accomplish
Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.04,0:04:41.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on my journey thus far.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.88,0:04:47.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have eternal imposter syndrome.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:49.15,0:04:52.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Either I've been invited\Nbecause I'm a token,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:52.08,0:04:54.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which really isn't about me,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.31,0:04:57.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but rather, about a box\Nsomeone needed to check off.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.39,0:05:00.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or, I am exceptional,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.67,0:05:05.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which means I've had to leave\Nthe people I love behind.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:07.53,0:05:13.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's the price that I and so many others\Npay for learning while black.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.60,0:05:18.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.69,0:05:26.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I police myself all the time.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.01,0:05:29.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Are my pants too tight?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.77,0:05:33.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Should I wear my hair up or in a fro?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:34.73,0:05:37.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Should I speak up for myself,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.20,0:05:41.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or will the power of my words\Nbe reduced to "She's angry"?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:44.11,0:05:46.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why did I have to leave the Bronx
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.75,0:05:49.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to gain access to a better education?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.43,0:05:55.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And why, in the process\Nof getting that better education,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.92,0:06:01.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,did I have to endure the trauma\Nof erasing what made me me --
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.45,0:06:07.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a black girl from the Bronx,\Nraised by an Antiguan mother?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:09.86,0:06:14.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So when I think about our current\Neducation reform initiatives,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:15.39,0:06:17.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I can't help asking:
Dialogue: 0,0:06:18.18,0:06:21.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What are our students of color\Nlearning about themselves?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:23.83,0:06:27.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Three -- three decades of research reveal
Dialogue: 0,0:06:27.14,0:06:30.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that students of color\Nare suspended and expelled
Dialogue: 0,0:06:30.43,0:06:33.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at a rate three times greater\Nthan white students,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.17,0:06:39.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and are punished in harsher ways\Nfor the same infractions.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.14,0:06:44.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They also learn this through the absence\Nof their lives and narratives
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.66,0:06:45.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the curricula.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:47.43,0:06:52.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The Cooperative Children's Book Center\Ndid a review of nearly 4,000 books,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:52.85,0:06:56.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and found that only three percent\Nwere about African-Americans.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.69,0:07:00.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they further learn this
Dialogue: 0,0:07:00.07,0:07:02.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through the lack of teachers\Nthat look like them.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.55,0:07:06.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,An analysis of data
Dialogue: 0,0:07:07.01,0:07:10.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from the National Center\Nfor Education Statistics
Dialogue: 0,0:07:10.75,0:07:15.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,found that 45 percent of our nation's\Npre-K to high school students
Dialogue: 0,0:07:15.93,0:07:17.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were people of color,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:18.30,0:07:22.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while only 17 percent of our teachers are.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:24.88,0:07:27.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Our youth of color pay a profound price
Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.74,0:07:29.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when their schooling\Nsends them the message
Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.88,0:07:32.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they must be controlled,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:32.48,0:07:34.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they must leave\Ntheir identities at home
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.89,0:07:36.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in order to be successful.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:39.03,0:07:42.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Every child deserves an education
Dialogue: 0,0:07:42.34,0:07:45.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that guarantees the safety to learn
Dialogue: 0,0:07:45.88,0:07:50.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the comfort of one's own skin.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:51.48,0:07:55.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:59.55,0:08:04.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is possible to create emotionally\Nand physically safe classrooms
Dialogue: 0,0:08:04.82,0:08:07.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where students also thrive academically.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:08.51,0:08:11.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know, because I did it in my classroom
Dialogue: 0,0:08:11.92,0:08:14.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when I returned to teach in the Bronx.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:15.68,0:08:17.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what did that look like?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:19.04,0:08:21.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I centered my instruction
Dialogue: 0,0:08:21.10,0:08:25.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on the lives, histories\Nand identities of my students.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:26.62,0:08:29.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I did all of this\Nbecause I wanted my students to know
Dialogue: 0,0:08:29.64,0:08:33.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that everyone around them\Nwas supporting them
Dialogue: 0,0:08:33.35,0:08:35.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to be their best self.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:37.05,0:08:42.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So while I could not control\Nthe instability of their homes,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.32,0:08:44.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the uncertainty of their next meal,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.47,0:08:47.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or the loud neighbors\Nthat kept them from sleep,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:48.64,0:08:52.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I provided them with a loving classroom
Dialogue: 0,0:08:52.03,0:08:54.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that made them feel proud of who they are,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:55.31,0:08:58.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that made them know that they mattered.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:59.62,0:09:00.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:02.52,0:09:08.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,every time I hear\Nor say the word "asking,"
Dialogue: 0,0:09:10.98,0:09:12.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am in high school again.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:14.14,0:09:18.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am thinking about "ass" and "king,"
Dialogue: 0,0:09:20.12,0:09:24.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and putting the two together\Nso that I speak in a way
Dialogue: 0,0:09:24.21,0:09:27.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where someone in power\Nwill want to listen.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.12,0:09:31.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is a better way,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:32.36,0:09:35.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one that doesn't force kids of color\Ninto a double bind;
Dialogue: 0,0:09:36.80,0:09:39.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a way for them to preserve their ties
Dialogue: 0,0:09:39.18,0:09:41.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to their families, homes, and communities;
Dialogue: 0,0:09:42.94,0:09:47.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a way that teaches them\Nto trust their instincts
Dialogue: 0,0:09:48.56,0:09:54.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to have faith\Nin their own creative genius.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.14,0:09:56.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:56.35,0:09:59.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)