Let's get to the root of racial injustice | Megan Ming Francis | TEDxRainier

Summary

In this powerful talk, the speaker recounts a personal experience of racial profiling involving her brother, highlighting the pervasive issue of racial violence against black individuals in the United States. She critiques the common misconception that education alone can solve racial injustices and argues for a broader understanding of civil rights that includes freedom from racist violence. Drawing on historical examples, particularly the NAACP's early campaigns, she calls for collective action to confront and dismantle systemic racism.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker, a first-year teacher, felt proud after a successful lecture but was quickly confronted with the harsh reality of racial profiling when her brother Kenny called.
• 👮‍♂️ Kenny, a student at Temple University, was unjustly stopped, handcuffed, and interrogated by police in North Philly under the false suspicion of carrying drugs.
• 🚔 The police's aggressive behavior towards Kenny was indicative of a systemic issue where black individuals are perceived as criminals based on their race.
• 📉 The speaker suggests that focusing solely on education as a solution to racial injustice is misguided, as it fails to address the root causes of racial violence.
• 🌳 The problem is likened to an infected apple tree, indicating that the issue of racial violence is widespread and deeply ingrained, not just a few 'bad apples'.
• 🔍 The speaker shares her own experiences of racial profiling, including an incident with a TSA agent who accused her of carrying a weapon, highlighting the everyday nature of such encounters.
• 📈 Statistics are cited to show that black individuals are three times more likely to be shot and killed by police than whites, emphasizing the scale of the issue.
• 👀 The speaker argues that society at large, not just the police, contributes to the perception of black individuals as threats, through actions and silence.
• 📖 Historical context is provided, showing how the NAACP initially focused on combating racial violence, not just education, to effect change.
• 🔊 The importance of activism and collective action is emphasized as a means to challenge the status quo and address racial injustice.
• 🌟 The speaker concludes by commending the activism of her students and the Black Lives Matter movement, suggesting that their actions have the potential to create meaningful change.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial reaction after teaching a successful lecture?

The speaker was feeling good about themselves and was confident after delivering a slamming lecture to a group of undergraduates.

Why was the speaker's brother, Kenny, upset when he called her?

Kenny was upset because he and three others were unjustly stopped, handcuffed, and aggressively questioned by the police about having drugs, despite being innocent.

How did the police officers react when Kenny told them he was a student at Temple University?

The police officers initially did not believe Kenny and continued to be aggressive. It was only after they found his college ID that they realized he was indeed a student without drugs and let him go.

What was the speaker's initial suggestion to Kenny after hearing about his encounter with the police?

The speaker suggested that Kenny should focus on his school work to take his mind off the incident, implying that education could be a way to avoid such encounters.

Why did Kenny reject the speaker's suggestion to focus on school work?

Kenny rejected the suggestion because he felt that focusing on school work would not protect him from racial profiling and police violence, as he experienced.

What does the speaker believe is the root cause of racial violence against black people in the United States?

The speaker believes that the root cause is a long history of racial terror that has treated blackness as a proxy for criminality, leading to a presumption of dangerousness tied to race.

How does the speaker describe the current approach to solving racial injustices in the United States?

The speaker describes the current approach as misdiagnosing the problem and relying too heavily on education as a cure-all solution, which she believes is not effective in addressing the root causes of racial violence.

What historical example does the speaker use to illustrate a successful campaign against racial violence?

The speaker uses the example of the NAACP's early 20th-century campaign against lynching and mob violence, which included mass demonstrations, lobbying for anti-lynching legislation, and litigation, leading to a significant decrease in such violence.

What does the speaker suggest as an alternative to education as the primary solution to racial injustices?

The speaker suggests placing freedom from racist violence at the center of civil rights discussions, expanding the understanding of civil rights to include the battle against racist violence.

How does the speaker view the role of activism in addressing racial injustices today?

The speaker views activism, as exemplified by the Black Lives Matter movement and her students' participation in walkouts, as a powerful and potentially effective way to challenge the status quo and confront racial injustices.