How Does DeRay Mckesson Approach Activism on Race, Gender and Sexual Identity? | Talks at Google

TL;DR

DeRay Mckesson argues that activism means telling the truth in public and turning conversations about race, justice and identity into demonstrable change. He recounts driving nine hours toward St. Louis on August 16th, 2014, after seeing conflicting accounts of Ferguson, then committing himself to ending police and state violence. Read on for his definition of protest and why every person has a role.

Transcript

SPEAKER: Thank you all so much for being here today. This year, to celebrate Pride, we wanted to create spaces to have some really meaningful dialogue about our identities. And we're so excited that BGN, Black Googlers Network and Gayglers partnered up to bring DeRay Mckesson for you today. AUDIENCE: Whoo! SPEAKER: I'm going to read DeRay's bio. De... Read More

Key Insights

• 👨‍⚖️ The movement for social justice requires meaningful conversations about identity, race, and justice.
• 🖐️ Intersectionality is crucial, and individuals should recognize their multiple identities and the role they play in the movement.
• 🤗 Open dialogue and storytelling are vital tools in promoting understanding and driving change.
• 💍 Individuals must not only talk about the issues but also engage in tangible actions that bring about real change.
• 👾 It is essential to challenge hidden biases within marginalized communities and create safe spaces for growth and learning.
• 💨 Utilizing skills, talents, and privileges to promote change is an effective way to contribute to the movement.

Questions & Answers

Q: What does DeRay Mckesson say protest means?

Mckesson defines protest at its root as telling the truth in public. Standing in streets, disrupting board meetings and challenging commissions are different ways people can publicly demand that power benefit Black people and other marginalized people.

Q: Why did DeRay Mckesson travel to Ferguson?

On August 16th, 2014, Mckesson saw that Twitter and television were presenting different stories about Ferguson. He drove nine hours toward St. Louis because he wanted to see the situation himself and bear witness.

Q: What experience changed DeRay Mckesson's work?

His second day in St. Louis was the first day of the curfew and the first night he was tear-gassed. In that moment, he decided to do whatever he could to prevent others from having to experience such a world.

Q: What work did DeRay Mckesson do before becoming known as a protester?

Mckesson says his work had focused on children. He was a teacher, opened after-school programs, and worked in human capital leadership for Baltimore City Public Schools and Minneapolis Public Schools.

Q: Does activism require protesting in the streets?

No. Mckesson says people are not absolved from their commitment to social justice simply because they have not stood in streets, since there are many ways to tell the truth publicly and everyone has a role.

Q: Why does DeRay Mckesson say changing the conversation is not enough?

He says the nationwide conversation about race, justice and identity is powerful and difficult to create. However, the movement must become more than a moment by producing demonstrable changes in the world.

Q: How did social media influence DeRay Mckesson's response to Ferguson?

Mckesson used Twitter to follow events in Ferguson while also watching television. The conflicting stories prompted him to travel to St. Louis and observe what was happening firsthand.

Q: What role does DeRay Mckesson believe individuals have in social justice work?

He believes everyone has a role in telling the truth and advancing social justice. People can use different forms of protest and should help turn public conversations into demonstrable change.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Definition: Protest, at its root, is telling the truth in public.

• When: On August 16th, 2014, Mckesson left Minneapolis to see events in Ferguson for himself.

• Number: He drove nine hours toward St. Louis without knowing anyone in Missouri.

• Tool: Twitter and television showed Mckesson different stories about what was happening in Ferguson.

• When: His second day in St. Louis was the first day of the curfew and his first night being tear-gassed.

• Who: Before Ferguson, Mckesson was a teacher and a human capital leader focused on children and schools.

• Compare: Protest can include standing in streets, disrupting meetings and challenging commissions, not only putting bodies on the line in streets.

• Definition: Social justice work belongs to everyone, including people who have not participated in street protests.

• Number: Over the last 20 months, people helped make race, justice and identity a nationwide conversation.

• Number: Mckesson says protesters were in the street for 300 plus days.

• Step 1: Change public conversations by telling the truth about race, justice and identity.

• Step 2: Turn those conversations into demonstrable changes rather than allowing the movement to remain only a moment.