Poet Clint Smith Amazes Crowd at TFA 25
Summary
TLDRIn this powerful speech, the speaker reflects on the tradition of giving up something for Lent, recounting past sacrifices and culminating in a year of silence. They realize their voice had been muted, not just for Lent, but for a lifetime, as they chose silence over speaking out against injustice. The narrative shifts to a passionate call to action, vowing to break the silence and use their voice to support others, confront ignorance, and advocate for dignity. The speech concludes with a commitment to live boldly, embracing the power of the spoken word to enact change.
Takeaways
- 🙏 The speaker grew up in a Catholic family where Lent was marked by giving up indulgences as a form of sacrifice.
- 🗣️ One year, the speaker chose to give up speaking, realizing the value of their voice and the impact of silence.
- 🤔 The speaker reflects on times they remained silent when they should have spoken up, such as when a friend was bullied or when they witnessed injustice.
- 😔 They acknowledge their past silence as a form of appeasement to ignorance and a lack of validation for those who needed it.
- 😶 The script describes silence as a manifestation of fear, a tool that can be used to suppress the voice and the truth.
- 🔊 The speaker draws parallels between silence and historical atrocities, emphasizing its destructive potential.
- 💪 The speaker resolves to break the silence, vowing to speak up for those who are marginalized and to confront ignorance.
- 👥 They commit to treating everyone with humanity, from homeless individuals to their own students, by acknowledging their worth and dignity.
- 🎤 The speaker decides to live life as if they always have a microphone, using their voice to advocate for others and to educate.
- 🌟 The message concludes with the empowerment of using one's voice as a tool for change, rather than remaining silent.
Q & A
What is the main theme of the speaker's story?
-The main theme of the speaker's story is the significance and impact of silence, particularly in the context of personal and societal issues.
Why did the speaker choose to give up speaking during Lent?
-The speaker chose to give up speaking during Lent as a form of sacrifice, believing it to be the most valuable thing they could offer, but later realized they had been silent in many important moments already.
What did the speaker realize about their own silence?
-The speaker realized that they had been silent in moments when they should have spoken up, such as when a friend was bullied, a homeless man needed acknowledgment, or when their students were disrespected.
What does the speaker associate silence with?
-The speaker associates silence with fear, ignorance, and the perpetuation of injustices like the Rwanda genocide.
Outlines
🗣️ The Power of Voice and the Cost of Silence
The speaker, raised in a Catholic family in New Orleans, discusses the tradition of giving up something during Lent as a form of sacrifice. They recount their past sacrifices, including food and even their voice. The speaker reflects on how they had been silent in moments of injustice, failing to stand up for others such as a gay friend, a homeless man, and their students. They describe the harmful effects of silence, likening it to historical tragedies and personal failures. The speaker resolves to use their voice to advocate for others, to treat people with dignity, and to challenge misconceptions. They conclude by committing to live with the courage to speak out, likening their voice to a constant microphone, emphasizing the importance of using one's voice for change.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Sacrifice
💡Silence
💡Validation
💡Ignorance
💡Dignity
💡Fear
💡Inhibition
💡Soapbox
💡Residue
💡Pain
Highlights
The speaker grew up in a Catholic family in New Orleans where Lent was a time for meaningful sacrifice.
The speaker has given up various indulgences in the past, including soda and McDonalds.
One year, the speaker chose to give up speaking as a form of sacrifice.
The realization that the speaker had been silent for a long time, not speaking their truth.
A reflection on appeasing ignorance with silence and the validation that doesn't need words.
An incident where the speaker remained silent when a friend was bullied for being gay.
The speaker's indifference towards a homeless man, choosing to ignore his need for affirmation.
A moment of silence when a woman at a fundraising gala made derogatory remarks about the speaker's students.
The importance of listening to what people don't say, as much as what they do say.
Silence is described as the residue of fear and a retreat from speaking out.
Historical examples of silence leading to catastrophic events, such as the Rwanda genocide.
Transcripts
(upbeat music)
(cheering)
- As a kid in a Catholic family in New Orleans
during Lent I was always taught
that the most meaningful thing one could do
was to give something up.
Sacrifice something you typically indulge in
to prove to God you understand his sanctity.
I've given up soda, McDonalds, french fries,
french kisses, and everything in between.
But one year, I gave up speaking.
Figured the most valuable thing that I could sacrifice
was my own voice but it was like I hadn't realized
that I had given that up a long time ago.
I've spent so much of my life telling people the things
they wanted to hear instead of the things they needed to.
Told myself I wasn't meant to be anyone's conscience
because I still had to figure out being my own so sometimes
I just wouldn't say anything.
Appeasing ignorance with my silence,
unaware that validation doesn't need words to
endorse its existence.
When Christian was beat up for being gay
I put my hands in my pocket and walk with my head down
as if I didn't even notice.
Couldn't use my locker for weeks because
the bolt on the lock reminded me of the one
I had put on my lips.
When the homeless man on the corner
looked at me with eyes up merely searching for an
affirmation that he was worth seeing.
I was more concerned with touching the
screen of my Apple than actually feeding him one.
When the woman at the fundraising gala said,
"I'm so proud of you, it must be so hard teaching
"those poor, unintelligent kids,"
I bit my lip because apparently we needed her money
more than my students needed their dignity.
We spend so much time
(applause)
listening to the things people are saying
that we rarely pay attention to the things they don't.
Silence is the residue of fear.
It is feeling your flaws,
gut-wrenched guillotine your tongue.
It is the air,
retreating from your chest because it doesn't feel safe
in your lungs.
Silence is Rwandan genocide.
Silence is Katrina, it is what you hear
when there aren't enough body bags left.
It is the sound after the noose is already tied.
It is charring, it is chains,
it is privilege, it is pain.
There is no time to pick your battles
when your battles have already picked you.
I will not let silence wrap itself around my indecision.
I will tell Christian that he is a lion.
A sanctuary of bravery and brilliance.
I will ask that homeless man what his name is,
and how his day was, because sometimes all people want to be
is human.
I will tell that woman that my students
can talk about Transcendentalism like their
last name was Thoreau,
and just because you watch one episode of The Wire
doesn't mean you know anything about my kids.
So this year,
(applause)
instead of giving something up,
I will live every day as if there were a microphone tucked
under my tongue.
A stage on the underside of my inhibition,
because who has to have a soapbox
when all you've ever needed
is your voice.
(applause)
(upbeat music)
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