WEBVTT 00:00:05.311 --> 00:00:07.057 What do I think about racism? 00:00:07.294 --> 00:00:11.218 Well, everywhere I turn, there seems like there's something being said about it. 00:00:11.800 --> 00:00:14.662 There's even a sign at the pizza shop by my place. 00:00:14.689 --> 00:00:16.111 A pizza shop! 00:00:16.624 --> 00:00:17.752 What's that about? 00:00:17.823 --> 00:00:21.050 Of course, Black lives matter. All lives matter. But... 00:00:21.285 --> 00:00:22.676 this a bit much. 00:00:22.918 --> 00:00:23.829 It's like... 00:00:24.061 --> 00:00:29.834 I'm being blamed for the actions of a few ignorant people. 00:00:29.968 --> 00:00:31.078 Come on now... 00:00:31.347 --> 00:00:32.545 I mean, I'm not a racist. 00:00:32.572 --> 00:00:34.255 I can totally relate to what you're saying... 00:00:34.386 --> 00:00:37.441 there's more being said about racism than I ever heard. 00:00:37.511 --> 00:00:40.210 Why is everyone bringing up all this stuff from the past. 00:00:40.323 --> 00:00:44.799 Everyone just needs to relax and not get so easily offended! 00:00:45.155 --> 00:00:49.087 I mean, look at me... I'm a peaceful guy. I just want everyone to get along. 00:00:49.210 --> 00:00:51.579 I mean, there's only one race and that's the human race. 00:00:51.615 --> 00:00:53.446 I really wish it was that simple... 00:00:53.534 --> 00:00:55.199 I think it is simple... 00:00:55.599 --> 00:00:57.091 just don't be a racist. 00:00:57.474 --> 00:00:58.547 Hi Francisco? 00:00:58.600 --> 00:01:01.107 Yes, I'm calling about your application. 00:01:01.164 --> 00:01:03.031 We need a little bit more information. 00:01:03.521 --> 00:01:03.833 Ah... 00:01:03.844 --> 00:01:06.008 You checked that you are a U.S. citizen, 00:01:06.019 --> 00:01:09.559 but your address and work history are in Puerto Rico. 00:01:10.168 --> 00:01:10.992 Uh huh... 00:01:11.478 --> 00:01:12.281 Yeah... 00:01:12.746 --> 00:01:13.640 Yeah... sure... 00:01:15.868 --> 00:01:19.912 So... you're saying that Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens? 00:01:21.197 --> 00:01:22.091 Huh. 00:01:22.609 --> 00:01:24.883 Ok, let me check on that. 00:01:24.961 --> 00:01:27.279 By the way, your English is excellent. 00:01:27.584 --> 00:01:28.382 Uh...huh... 00:01:29.850 --> 00:01:32.227 Oh, they teach that in the schools there, too. 00:01:33.183 --> 00:01:34.034 Huh! 00:01:34.823 --> 00:01:38.640 Well... OK... adios, and we'll get back to you in a few days. 00:01:38.771 --> 00:01:43.549 Ooh vaun a sa rah sa von... 00:01:43.585 --> 00:01:45.163 Oh... that is a mouthful. 00:01:45.511 --> 00:01:47.845 What if I just call you Vaughn... That sounds pretty close... 00:01:47.930 --> 00:01:48.687 Ok? 00:01:48.841 --> 00:01:52.139 Whoa! When I said "we aren't asking you to pick cotton" 00:01:52.149 --> 00:01:54.075 I wasn't saying you’re a slave. 00:01:54.370 --> 00:01:55.120 I... 00:01:55.462 --> 00:01:56.229 I just... 00:01:57.382 --> 00:01:58.688 I just meant 00:01:58.699 --> 00:02:02.431 that this order shouldn't be that tough to get completed and fulfilled on time. 00:02:07.535 --> 00:02:09.768 I've got a question for you, Chief... 00:02:21.400 --> 00:02:22.898 You're Asian, right? 00:02:23.141 --> 00:02:24.321 Oh, you're Vietnamese. 00:02:24.737 --> 00:02:26.452 Yah... well... my daughter, she's 6, 00:02:26.472 --> 00:02:29.379 she said the funniest thing the other day. 00:02:29.432 --> 00:02:31.645 She asked me if I knew any nieces. 00:02:32.244 --> 00:02:34.079 Yah... yah... At first, I didn't know what she meant. 00:02:34.097 --> 00:02:38.098 Then, she said, you know, like Chinese or Japanese. 00:02:38.168 --> 00:02:39.644 (laughing) 00:02:39.713 --> 00:02:41.241 Oh, now I can tell her about you! 00:02:44.757 --> 00:02:48.162 Sometimes people don't recognize when and how racial bias 00:02:48.173 --> 00:02:50.011 is expressed in our society 00:02:50.022 --> 00:02:51.897 and in day-to-day interactions. 00:02:52.126 --> 00:02:56.752 Most of us have seen or experienced racial bias in the form of micro-aggressions, 00:02:56.763 --> 00:03:00.766 which are subtle, sometimes indirect, and often unintentional behaviors 00:03:00.777 --> 00:03:05.768 that communicate hostile, derogatory or negative racial messages or assumptions 00:03:05.821 --> 00:03:08.865 Although these things may not be intended as racist, 00:03:08.875 --> 00:03:10.716 they can come across that way. 00:03:11.428 --> 00:03:13.155 You know, I was a lot like Zach. 00:03:13.763 --> 00:03:15.763 I thought, I'm not a racist... 00:03:15.773 --> 00:03:17.322 I'm a decent guy. 00:03:18.677 --> 00:03:20.196 And if anybody would have told me I was racist, 00:03:20.207 --> 00:03:22.331 I would have thought they were totally out of line. 00:03:23.903 --> 00:03:25.795 I used to feel the way you do... 00:03:26.317 --> 00:03:29.797 until I nearly lost a friend of more than 20 years. 00:03:30.232 --> 00:03:31.325 What happened? 00:03:33.955 --> 00:03:35.301 I asked him... 00:03:38.157 --> 00:03:42.803 I asked him if his daughter got into college the regular way 00:03:43.040 --> 00:03:46.614 or through a special program for minorities. 00:03:48.628 --> 00:03:50.414 Oh, he got very upset... 00:03:50.546 --> 00:03:53.825 and it put a big strain on our relationship. 00:03:53.869 --> 00:03:55.101 That must have been tough… 00:03:55.163 --> 00:03:56.411 It taught me 00:03:56.422 --> 00:04:00.153 that I needed to know a lot more than I did about expressions of racism. 00:04:00.266 --> 00:04:03.048 What I learned was I... I made an assumption that 00:04:03.058 --> 00:04:06.967 his daughter needed something special to get into that school. 00:04:07.706 --> 00:04:09.431 I was implying she wasn't good enough, 00:04:09.442 --> 00:04:11.244 when in reality... 00:04:11.255 --> 00:04:12.312 she was qualified. 00:04:12.369 --> 00:04:13.340 But... how could you have known? 00:04:13.365 --> 00:04:14.488 No... 00:04:14.499 --> 00:04:16.476 not knowing or understanding 00:04:16.487 --> 00:04:18.591 is no longer an option... or even an excuse. 00:04:18.691 --> 00:04:20.237 Okay... but... 00:04:20.295 --> 00:04:21.191 Al... Alright. 00:04:21.206 --> 00:04:21.991 Just like you... 00:04:22.032 --> 00:04:25.486 Look, that this was nothing that I had ever thought much about. 00:04:25.824 --> 00:04:27.410 Nobody taught us this in school. 00:04:27.494 --> 00:04:28.554 Yah, no kidding. 00:04:28.620 --> 00:04:29.910 So, my point is... 00:04:29.961 --> 00:04:33.348 declaring yourself free from prejudice and bias 00:04:33.373 --> 00:04:36.615 without paying attention to the responses that you get from others... 00:04:36.681 --> 00:04:39.319 It's... it's a conversation you're having with yourself... 00:04:39.330 --> 00:04:40.730 about yourself. 00:04:41.094 --> 00:04:43.403 You're not learning anything new. 00:04:43.889 --> 00:04:45.068 Okay... 00:04:45.833 --> 00:04:46.820 you got my attention. 00:04:46.846 --> 00:04:48.325 Well that's the first step. 00:04:48.622 --> 00:04:50.397 Be aware of what you don't know. 00:04:50.826 --> 00:04:54.099 Listen. There's a lot of free information out there these days. 00:04:54.947 --> 00:04:57.553 I've also learned to check my assumptions. 00:04:57.802 --> 00:05:00.898 What I say does not always land the way I intend. 00:05:02.034 --> 00:05:03.252 Finally, 00:05:03.795 --> 00:05:05.954 it's okay to not know; 00:05:05.965 --> 00:05:07.965 these are learning situations. 00:05:08.937 --> 00:05:12.239 Just make sure that you do learn and then make changes. 00:05:16.145 --> 00:05:18.731 Our good intentions are not enough. 00:05:18.872 --> 00:05:22.317 We must actively hold ourselves and others accountable. 00:05:22.795 --> 00:05:25.827 This means sometimes stepping out of our comfort zones 00:05:25.838 --> 00:05:28.421 and getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. 00:05:28.488 --> 00:05:30.806 Remember, we are all in this together... 00:05:30.923 --> 00:05:32.399 to beat racism.