Black murder is normal | Michael Smith | TEDxJacksonville

TEDx Talks

6 Jan 201519:29

EducationalLearning

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TLDRThe speaker, known as White Mike, recounts his journey from a Ministry School graduate to a social commentator, highlighting the normalization of black murder in America. He challenges the racial disparities in media representation, questioning why violence by black individuals is romanticized in music while white violence is absent from mainstream media. He discusses the systemic issues that contribute to this disparity, including the role of racism, societal inaction, and the cultural acceptance of black homicide as common and normal. White Mike calls for a societal shift away from this normalization, advocating for the recognition of black lives as valuable and the need for collective action against this deeply rooted issue.

Takeaways

🎓 The speaker, known as 'White Mike', shares his journey from a high school senior to a Ministry School graduate and ordained minister.
🏙️ He discusses the nickname 'White Mike' and its origin in a predominantly black church, highlighting the racial dynamics of identity.
🔫 The speaker raises a critical question about the portrayal of violence in the media, specifically the disparity in how black and white perpetrators are represented.
📻 He points out the prevalence of songs celebrating violence by black artists on the radio, questioning the absence of similar content by white artists.
🤔 'White Mike' ponders the societal implications of the normalization of black murder, suggesting it's a reflection of deeper societal issues rather than individual ones.
📉 The speaker presents statistics showing that homicide is the leading cause of death among young black males, far exceeding that of their white counterparts.
🏥 He emphasizes the underrepresentation and invisibility of black victims of homicide in society, despite the high numbers.
🔑 The concept of racism is dissected, with the speaker arguing that it's perpetuated not by action but by inaction and societal norms.
🏛️ 'White Mike' calls for a societal change, challenging the lies and stereotypes that have been ingrained in the cultural consciousness.
👥 He advocates for the recognition of black lives as valuable and precious, urging for a collective effort to address and change the normalization of black murder.
📣 The speaker concludes with a call to action, imploring the audience to raise their voices against the normalization of black murder and to value black lives.

Q & A

What significant event happened in the speaker's life two weeks after the picture was taken?
-The speaker dropped out of his private school in the middle of his senior year, moved to College Park, Georgia, and enrolled in Ministry School.
How did the speaker acquire the nickname 'White Mike'?
-The speaker acquired the nickname 'White Mike' because when he arrived at a church with about a thousand people, people started referring to him as 'Mike' since his last name, Smith, was too hard to pronounce, and he was the only Mike at the church.
What is the primary concern the speaker raises about the representation of violence in the media?
-The speaker is concerned about the disproportionate representation of black individuals committing violence in the media, particularly on the radio, and the lack of similar representation of white individuals in these contexts.
What does the speaker suggest is the reason for the absence of white individuals in media portrayals of violence?
-The speaker suggests that the absence of white individuals in media portrayals of violence could be due to a lack of audience interest, marketability, sponsorship issues, or societal roles and expectations.
How does the speaker describe the normalization of black murder in the United States?
-The speaker describes the normalization of black murder as a deeply ingrained societal issue that is both common and broadly accepted, to the point where it goes largely unnoticed and is even romanticized in some media.
What is the leading cause of death for black males ages 15 to 34 according to the CDC?
-According to the CDC, the leading cause of death for black males ages 15 to 34 is homicide.
What is the speaker's main argument regarding the role of inaction in perpetuating racism?
-The speaker argues that racism is perpetuated not by active discriminatory actions or hateful attitudes, but by the inaction and the acceptance of these behaviors as normal, which allows them to continue generation after generation.
What does the speaker believe is necessary for society to change its attitudes towards the normalization of black murder?
-The speaker believes that society needs to feel the pain of the issue, lift their voices, and challenge the lies and stereotypes that contribute to the normalization of black murder.
Why does the speaker mention the incident with Rick Ross and Reebok?
-The speaker mentions the incident to illustrate the hypocrisy in the marketplace, where certain behaviors and portrayals are acceptable when they align with stereotypes, but are quickly condemned and changed when they cross other societal boundaries.
What action did the speaker take to protest against the normalization of black murder in media?
-The speaker protested outside a Walmart, drawing attention to the issue and eventually prompting the company to pull their name off of commercials that were associated with songs about young black men being gunned down.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Journey of 'White Mike' from Ministry to Social Activism

This paragraph introduces the speaker, known as 'White Mike,' reflecting on his journey from being a 17-year-old high school senior in Orlando, Florida, to a graduate of Ministry School and an ordained minister. The speaker discusses his experiences in ministry, his social interactions, and his awakening to the racial disparities in the representation of violence in media and society. He questions the prevalence of black-on-black crime being romanticized in music and the absence of similar white representation, suggesting a double standard and a reflection of societal racism.

05:01

🔍 The Normalization of Black Homicide in America

The speaker delves into the uncomfortable truth of black homicide being a leading cause of death among black males aged 15 to 34 in the United States, as reported by the CDC. He contrasts this with the number one cause of death for white males, which is unintentional injuries. The speaker emphasizes the disparity and the normalization of black murder in society, pointing out that it is both common and accepted to a degree that it goes largely unnoticed. He also addresses the racial gap in homicide rates and the lack of progress toward equality in this aspect.

10:02

🚫 The Cultural Hypocrisy Surrounding Black Murder

In this paragraph, the speaker explores the cultural hypocrisy that allows for the celebration of black murder in music and media while other forms of violence are not tolerated. He criticizes the marketplace for supporting content that perpetuates harmful stereotypes and the double standards applied to black entertainers. The speaker recounts his own efforts to raise awareness about the issue, leading to a major retailer pulling its advertising from a controversial song. He calls for a change in societal attitudes and a recognition of the value of black lives.

15:03

📢 The Urgency to Challenge the Normalization of Black Homicide

The speaker concludes by expressing his determination to challenge the normalization of black homicide. He shares his personal commitment to speaking out against this issue in various forums and emphasizes the importance of recognizing the humanity of black victims of violence. The speaker calls for collective action to change the cultural narrative and to treat black lives with the same value and respect as others, ending his speech with a powerful call for change and a standing ovation from the audience.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Ministry School

Ministry School refers to an educational institution that trains individuals for religious service or ministry. In the video, the speaker mentions enrolling in Ministry School after dropping out of his private school, which is a pivotal moment in his life's journey, indicating a significant shift towards religious and community service.

💡White Mike

White Mike is a nickname given to the speaker when he moved to College Park, Georgia, and became part of a church community. The nickname is significant as it highlights the speaker's identity and the racial dynamics within the community he joined. It is used throughout the script to refer to the speaker's experiences and observations.

💡Ordination

Ordination in a religious context is the process of being made a minister, priest, or pastor. The speaker mentions being ordained into Ministry, which signifies his formal acceptance into a religious leadership role within his community, a key part of his personal and professional identity.

💡Racism

Racism is the belief in the inherent superiority of one race over another, which often results in discrimination and prejudice. The script deeply explores the theme of racism, particularly focusing on how it is perpetuated through cultural norms, media, and societal inaction, using examples such as the disparity in media representation of violence among different racial groups.

💡Hyper-criminalization

Hyper-criminalization refers to the exaggerated portrayal of a group, particularly racial or ethnic, as being more prone to criminal behavior. The speaker discusses this concept in relation to the media's role in perpetuating stereotypes of black individuals as criminals, which is a form of racism deeply rooted in societal norms.

💡Homicide

Homicide is the act of one person killing another. The video script frequently mentions homicide, especially in the context of its prevalence in black communities, and how it is both common and often normalized in American society. The speaker uses statistics and personal anecdotes to highlight this issue.

💡Cultural Hypocrisy

Cultural hypocrisy refers to the discrepancy between the values or ideals that a culture professes and the behaviors it actually tolerates or promotes. The speaker argues that American society is hypocritical in its acceptance and even celebration of violence in certain forms of media, particularly when it involves black individuals, while simultaneously condemning similar behavior in other contexts.

💡Black Murder

The term 'black murder' is used in the script to describe the phenomenon of homicide involving black individuals, which the speaker argues is both common and accepted in American society. The speaker uses this term to challenge the normalization of such violence and to provoke thought about the underlying racial biases that allow it to persist.

💡Unsolved Homicides

Unsolved homicides refer to cases where the perpetrator of a murder has not been identified or brought to justice. The speaker mentions being present at an event for families of unsolved homicide victims, emphasizing the impact of these unsolved cases on communities and the perceived value of the lives lost.

💡Stereotypes

Stereotypes are widely held but fixed and oversimplified ideas or images about particular types of people. The script discusses how stereotypes, particularly racial ones, are perpetuated in media and entertainment, contributing to the normalization of harmful narratives about black individuals and their involvement in crime.

💡Marketplace

In the context of the video, the marketplace refers to the broader cultural and economic systems that influence what is considered acceptable or profitable in society. The speaker uses the term to critique how certain harmful narratives and behaviors are perpetuated because they are seen as marketable or profitable, despite their negative societal impact.

💡Prejudice and Discrimination

Prejudice is a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or experience, while discrimination is the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people. The speaker differentiates between these concepts and racism, arguing that while prejudice and discrimination are active behaviors, racism is often perpetuated through inaction and the normalization of certain harmful narratives.

Highlights

The speaker, known as White Mike, reflects on his life's journey starting from his high school days in Orlando, Florida, and the significant changes that followed.

White Mike's nickname origin story from his time in Ministry School, highlighting the racial dynamics within the church community.

The speaker's ordination into Ministry and his experiences in youth ministry, illustrating his deep involvement in religious work.

A critique of the media's portrayal of violence, specifically questioning why only black voices are heard glamorizing violence on the radio.

White Mike challenges the absence of white voices in mainstream media discussing violent acts, pointing out a double standard.

The speaker discusses the normalization of black murder in American society and its implications on perception and reality.

White Mike presents statistics from the CDC to emphasize the disparity in homicide rates between black and white populations.

An examination of the cultural acceptance of violence within certain demographics and the societal indifference towards it.

The speaker explores the concept of racism as an ingrained part of society, likening it to nicotine stains on walls after smokers have left.

A call to action for society to confront and change the normalization of black murder, challenging the audience's comfort with the status quo.

White Mike's personal commitment to raising awareness and changing the narrative around the value of black lives.

The speaker recounts his efforts to engage with corporations like Walmart to change their advertising practices related to violent content.

A discussion on the role of the marketplace and corporate responsibility in perpetuating or challenging harmful stereotypes.

White Mike's confrontation with the hypocrisy of the entertainment industry, where certain violent themes are acceptable based on race.

The speaker's perspective on the need for collective societal change, rather than relying solely on individual efforts.

A conclusion that emphasizes the importance of recognizing the humanity in all lives and the urgency to address the normalization of black murder.

Transcripts

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