How to deconstruct racism, one headline at a time | Baratunde Thurston

Summary

Baratunde Thurston shares a humorous yet profound reflection on his unique name, upbringing, and experiences navigating race in America. He recounts his mother’s influence, his time at elite schools, and a nerve-wracking encounter with police. Thurston humorously critiques everyday racism through stories of 'living while Black' and creates a game to illustrate the absurdity and harm of racial bias. He calls for changing the structures of white supremacy and encourages the audience to rewrite these narratives, emphasizing the power of choice and collective action to create a more just society.

Takeaways

• 😂 Baratunde jokes about his unique name, which reflects his mother's desire to give him the 'blackest' name possible, blending Yoruba, Arabic, and British influences.
• 🧑‍💻 His mother, Arnita Lorraine Thurston, was a trailblazer, a computer programmer, activist, and artist, who instilled in him lessons on Black history, urban farming, and martial arts.
• 📚 Baratunde's experience attending the prestigious Sidwell Friends School taught him the complexities of navigating predominantly white spaces while maintaining his Black identity.
• 🚓 A tense moment during a 2018 police stop with his white fiancée highlights the constant fear Black people face, even during everyday activities like driving, due to systemic racism.
• 🎮 Baratunde shares his reflections on the shift from extrajudicial police killings to incidents of 'living while Black,' humorously turning these traumatic experiences into a satirical game.
• 👮‍♂️ He criticizes the overuse of police force in situations involving Black people performing normal activities, noting how often white discomfort leads to dangerous overreactions.
• ⚖️ Baratunde defines white supremacy as a system of structural advantage that benefits white people, rooted in a historical narrative that justified slavery and continues to perpetuate inequality.
• 📝 He outlines how these situations often follow a similar pattern: a white person takes an action (like calling the police) against a Black person simply living their life.
• 💡 Baratunde encourages people to rethink their actions, offering alternatives to calling the police, such as simply thanking or ignoring others, to prevent unnecessary escalation.
• 🌍 He concludes by emphasizing the power of changing individual actions to rewrite collective stories and systems, creating a more just and inclusive society for all.

Q & A

Who is the speaker and what is significant about his name?

The speaker is Baratunde Rafiq Thurston. His name is significant because it reflects diverse cultural influences: 'Baratunde' is based on a Yoruba name from Nigeria, 'Rafiq' is an Arabic name, and 'Thurston' is a British name. This multicultural name represents his mother's desire to give him a unique identity.

What did Baratunde's mother do to prepare him for the world?

Baratunde's mother, Arnita Lorraine Thurston, prepared him for the world by teaching him black history, martial arts, and urban farming. She also sent him to the private Sidwell Friends School for his education.

What was Baratunde's experience at Sidwell Friends School, and how did it prepare him for the future?

At Sidwell Friends School, Baratunde learned the arts and sciences and the art of living amongst whiteness. This experience prepared him for life at Harvard, corporate consulting, and his jobs at 'The Daily Show' and 'The Onion.'

How does Baratunde describe the challenges he faced with his name and identity?

Baratunde describes his name as a challenge because it is unusual and multicultural, leading to difficulties such as boarding planes in the 21st century. He also humorously notes that it made for a great Starbucks name.

What incident does Baratunde recount from December 2018, and what does it illustrate?

Baratunde recounts being pulled over by the police while driving his fiancée's parents' car in the suburbs of Wisconsin. This incident illustrates his fear of police encounters and the precautions he takes to ensure his safety, highlighting the systemic issues of racial profiling and police violence.

What pattern does Baratunde identify in the headlines about racial incidents, and what does he do in response?

Baratunde identifies a pattern in headlines where a subject (often white) takes an action against a target (often black) engaged in some activity. In response, he creates a game to transform this traumatic exposure into a healing experience and builds a database of such stories at baratunde.com/livingwhileblack.

What does Baratunde mean by 'white supremacy' and how does he define it?

Baratunde defines 'white supremacy' as a system of structural advantage that favors white people over others in social, economic, and political arenas. He emphasizes that it is not limited to overt racism but includes systemic and institutional biases.

What are the different levels of the game Baratunde describes, and what is the objective of each level?

The game has multiple levels: Level one involves reversing the roles in racial incidents. Level two increases the believability of the reversal by adding context. Level three changes the action to find non-police solutions to conflicts. The bonus level focuses on inclusion and choosing better actions to create a fairer system.

How does Baratunde relate historical lynchings to modern police encounters?

Baratunde relates historical lynchings to modern police encounters by highlighting the continuity of racial terror. He draws parallels between past lynchings documented in headlines and present-day police violence and 911 calls against black people, illustrating the ongoing structural racism.

What is Baratunde's overall message and call to action in his talk?

Baratunde's overall message is that systems of power and oppression, such as white supremacy and misogyny, have structural components that can be understood and changed. He calls for using power to choose better actions, changing the stories that sustain these systems, and creating a fairer reality for everyone.