Just Because We Are Magic Does Not Mean We Are Not Real! - Jessie Williams

Just Because We Are Magic Does Not Mean We Are Not Real! - Jessie Williams
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Watch his BET Awards speech here
Every morning I wake up in search for inspiration, and I normally search for it from people like me, black voices that spread messages of hope and that inspire us to think differently about the black condition in America and worldwide. Jessie Williams delivered a powerful acceptance speech when he accepted his Humanitarian award at the BET awards last night. He talked about how a system designed to divide, impoverish and destroy cannot stand if black people stand up against it. He dedicated his award not only to all the black activists who are mobilizing against brutality on black people in America but also to all the black women who put everyone's needs before themselves every single day.

And being black and African, I felt like he was speaking to me when I watched his speech this morning and all my African sisters who toil in the fields with babies on their backs in the midday sun, who are the mules that carry the heavy buckets of water and firewood on their heads for their families. And the women who are the last to eat the leftovers of their prepared meals; I have to say thank you Jessie Williams for remembering us.

He reminded black artists and musicians that it was time for each and everyone one of them to use the platforms they had accesses to wisely. He prompted black performers to use their black voices wisely to spread the messages that would stop violence against black people in America. He also reiterated that black artists not allow companies that want to expose their big brands through their celebrity status to generate a profit for themselves but for the black communities affected by violence as well. He powerfully reminded the audience that branding goes right back to the days of slavery and that modern day branding although glamorous and paid is still the same unless black celebrities harness their power to bring about change for the black condition in America.

Jessie talked about the conditional freedom that exists in America, where certain behaviors by one racial group are not allowed for another; the simple freedom for young black children to play safely in a playground without being shot by the police. And how freedom is always coming in the hereafter, a song and mantra that has been song for centuries but that now needs to be realized in the present day.

Jessie Williams finished his speech by saying,

"We are done waiting and watching while this invention called "Whiteness" uses and abuses us, burying black people out of sight and out of mind, while extracting our culture, our dollars, our entertainment, like oil, black gold. Ghettoizing and demeaning our creations then stealing them, gentrifying our genius and then trying us on like costumes before discarding our bodies like rinds of strained fruit! ......... the thing is though.......the thing is .......just because we are magic doesn't mean that we are not real!"

For more information about Jessie Williams click HERE
To watch more 2016 BET AWARDS click HERE
For more information about Getrude Matshe, CLICK HERE
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