What Beyonce Taught Me About Race | Brittany Barron | TEDxPasadenaWomen

In this powerful TEDx Talk, diversity advocate and Beyoncé super fan, Brittany Barron translates Beyoncé's music as a road map about race relations in the United States; demonstrating that being "colorblind" is not the goal, but diminishing our nation's "expertise" in racism is.
Brittany’s body of work addresses the ways in which race, gender, and sexuality interact with our everyday lives. Brittany has a vast amount of experience creating and facilitating interactive workshops and training, and writing on these topics through her work in higher education, non-profit organizations and currently as a Freelance Diversity Consultant.
While serving as a pastor at Fellowship Monrovia, Brittany had the privilege of writing a curriculum designed to help participants unpack and understand racism. In addition, she developed a Center for Racial Reconciliation with Fellowship Monrovia. Brittany also offers hands-on experiential learning through her Civil Rights Tours, for which she takes participants through the South to immerse them in the world of the freedom riders, advocates and everyday people. The intent is to create a deeper and more personal understanding of the history of race in America.
Brittany received a B.A. in Psychology and M.S. in Counseling and Studen
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@cookie22100]

You can't have our rythem, if you don't want our blues.

[@ezekielsprophecy3203]

cookie22100 rhythm*

[@jarrelelston7484]

Powerful

[@shantemoore6265]

@cultureis abirthright If you only enjoy music by Mozart and Chopin why did you bother watching this video? Your comment is so unfounded and uneducated which probably why no one bothered to answer before me. Now in an attempt to help your ignorance: go research the real inventors of some of the items you mentioned.

[@angelacarter8812]

Ur comment is tuff May I use it???I could not have said it better😉

[@AntiqueRose1205]

@Fanta Graham the most inventions came from germany and germany never had slaves.

[@suzeystapleton7797]

I prefer political Beyoncè. Hearing Formation helped me appreciate her music, and appreciate her as an artist.

[@GoogleUser-wy2vv]

Suzey Stapleton so did i

[@nicolesright4800]

@@GoogleUser-wy2vv Love your picture

[@GoogleUser-wy2vv]

@@nicolesright4800 Thank you!

[@EmmyV2002]

Beyonce being woke is like seeing your dad trying to be cool.

[@hillmiss1736]

@@EmmyV2002 Saying something like that while not being of worth to society proves how thick your face is. Go away.

[@sharroon7574]

No wonder we are still sorting this out. Over 300 years is a long time.

[@ertfgghhhh]

Not a long time in the history of the world. 300yrs is a breath

[@TNDCBaby]

@@ertfgghhhh It's long enough that trying to reverse the damage isn't going to happen in a small fraction of that time.

[@TheJoelef]

and yet asians are doing well

[@TNDCBaby]

@@TheJoelef Which group of Asians? They're not all doing as well and it depends on which wave you're talking about and during which time period. Imagine how much worse they'd be if they were coming from the place of not just being indentured servants and then illegal immigrants or of being foreign born and immigrating here but also being actual property to be bought and sold and having future generations bought and sold and then dropped into the same systematic racial issues plus government funded drug issues, court system targeting, etc. Oh man.

[@apriljoe444]

@@TheJoelef the same Asians that still struggle with colorism, anti-blackness, self hate, etc.......and now the violence being perpetuated against Asian Americans as a result of covid-19 starting in China......white Americans become anti-anything very quickly......just 7 months ago you a white American posted about how Asians have gracefully handled racism and yet so easily they are being victimized and protesting it

[@ladyt280]

Beyoncé needs to hear this she would be proud... wow I love the breakdown

[@lilidiaz3158]

that´s a good question. how can we forget about our races when we are reminded of who and what we are almost every day.

[@aldenezeno3003]

Love this! Wish it could've gone on for another 30 mins! Proud of you chica :)

[@marlabaldwin7685]

Great Job Brittany Barron Great Quote: We should not fall into the Lie that we don't see color.

[@wambuiw.4032]

On fleek ending...."we can no longer be bootylicious if we don't understand our formation "...:-)

[@victoriajessie3794]

Powerful! I’m sharing this enlightening speech. Thank you.

[@poetessaamiinah8273]

I am so proud of you young lady for this Ted's Talk

[@p.w.7493]

Very informative, yet troubling. You've reawakened our conciousness to things that we've 'burried' in an effort to forget.

[@wendibaldwin6564]

WOW! Any compliment I give this video is an understatement. Thank you!!!!! ❤️

[@BD401K]

Very well said and excellent points made. This should be one of the templates for how to move forward. Great job Britt!

[@valdiviakibunja4572]

Wow...this is the smartest conversation on race I have ever heard

[@deborahfelicien1977]

Powerful! This is the best explanation I have ever heard, I am 3 years late but I will look for more from you.

[@ayishagisel1252]

Awesome job correlating the timeframe to develop expertise

[@SupermaninJapan]

Wow...I expected more hate in the comment section. Big improvement:)

[@fumikoadullaha449]

Tiger in Japan 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾💯Yes

[@Roonasaur]

HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE

[@skinhitters]

😂😂😂😂😂😂 wow, that’s pretty bad when you expected it, but i know what ya mean.

[@TL-kt2ye]

@@Roonasaur CRYINGGGGG. IM DEAD.☠🤣😂

[@Potencylogic]

Whats the love about? 😆..people worship their idols over ancestry worship

[@kingdomwatchmanministries2230]

Very smart woman! True leader with powerful communication skills!

[@SarinaSchmid-jb3hz]

powerful message. thank you for speaking up

[@thanosmisanthropy9374]

YES!! THANK YOU FOR SAYING IT, I HAVE FELT THIS WAY FOR A LONG TIME.

[@soneil]

This is such an insightful speech. Explains why we are where we are.....

[@tijeraslack3]

Writings on the Wall was so dope! I remember that album. I was still in high school.

[@eddierocksteady5740]

Great speech and your presence made it Bigger.

[@keithkeith657]

Presence?

[@detectivefiction3701]

I'm white and a classical music/Broadway/classic pop and Motown fan (so I don't know much about Beyoncé), but this was a very interesting and enjoyable talk. Yes, we should always try to look beyond stereotypes and not put others into boxes based on race. I always like it when social issues are discussed by way of the arts.

[@steadyb3557]

She nailed it in less than 10 mins. Wow!!!

[@whitedress8747]

Girl, your eyes are so beautiful!

[@diamondsr4marie]

Well said!!! Thank you for articulating racism and the need to deliberately unlearn it. I hope something is done with this piece of information...

[@victorycounselingcenters323]

This is amazing! What a powerful way to explain this horrific dynamic in our lives.

[@nicoleyorkey3460]

Isaac well done! You definitely have a gift! Bravo!

[@anthonyile6840]

Your a good speaker- the contrast from the period 1619-1954, the presentation, sources and relationship, simple but perfect.

[@learninggeekspeak384]

That was very well said!! Thank you for this!

[@MrJeaton07]

Such a great message!!!! I love this!!!!

[@YellowSynth]

what was the message

[@marlishamarsh1573]

Excellent quality of speech!

[@lilly4386]

Beautiful explanation.

[@gearsmore4762]

very powerful speach!!

[@janiceriley2444]

I didn’t really care for Beyoncé’s catalog until she did formation lemonade I am in the captive audience love her!!!!!

[@janiceriley2444]

Formation & Lemonade Especially the clip where she picks that baseball bat up look up look out

[@melaninspeakzout3639]

This is an awesome video that NEEDS to go viral!!! “You can no longer have our Bootylicious, if you can’t respect our Formation” (Brittany Barron)!!!

[@heywardsanders1680]

Wow, you put it into the best terms, anyone can understand. Thanks

[@conniegrant939]

This is very well spoken young lady, may you continue to speak of the history and the subjugation of our people; be continually blessed.

[@mosellafelder2171]

This was awesome, great job! I was enlightened!

[@clarlaabmayr]

O love her deep explanation. Thank you

[@ivorycelt]

Brittany, very very good, i like your 70% and yes yes intentional re programming of subconscious very much required - which also means that the Beyonce 'flip' did a whole bunch more than the little you suggested. Ps - Respect and congratulations for doing whatever you have done to have obviously arrived at a place free from anger. Bless you!

[@nittamimi8842]

They're NOT READY FOR THAT 🐝! Boy I WAS PROUD TO SEE IT! 🖤

[@iamdelequa]

Amazing! This video MUST go viral!!

[@svc6550]

This is excellent analysis. It’s so hard to explain to someone who doesn’t want to understand and this finds logic for something so sensitive.

[@rogeriomaria2496]

Damn! Sis ✊🏾😝power to the ppl.

[@spiritualistabeautique]

Yaaaaaaaasssss to this!! Beautiful!!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@kofi3720]

Brilliant explanation of the subconscious racism of society !

[@Dirty_Squirrell]

Your victimization mentality is not serving you well.

[@bryantksteward6312]

wow.. that was amazing.. beautiful and poetic..

[@melissavilla-nicholas61]

I love this video! I'm excited to incorporate it into my courses around race and racism in the US.

[@jessica2575]

Yes! Brittany nailed it!! 🤗

[@jamesj2912]

Bravo! Well said 👏🏾 ✊🏽

[@wokemanishboi5003]

Great job!!

[@balelxzavian5202]

That was a superb perspective on racism. What an excellent presentation. Most impressive.

[@KevinJohnson-sd3vv]

GREAT practical and intelligent truthful breakdown of racism! Well done Brittany !!

[@peaceamadi9090]

Wow. So good.

[@BrianTerada]

Brit Barron you ANGEL, wisdom giving ANGEL

[@AshleyManning1]

This is brilliant

[@ericajokay42]

I need this transcript periodt.

[@katferguson]

Totally agree. People want to put you in a box. I tell people if you try to figure me out you'll get tired really fast.

[@malindadowns6690]

I just had to watch the video over again ✊🏿

[@riiraa881]

I love how she says 'Africans were brought' and not 'slaves were brought.' A lot of people forget that Africans were people living in Africa before they were brought to the west.

[@sashanoel8766]

I loved this!!!! 🖤🖤🖤

[@carlatoppins8567]

Madd Deep & and very Well Spoken. 👍:)

[@CheezInspector]

Brilliant insight. We're an extention of our segregated past, and we've rehearsed our inherited roles to the point of knowing no alternative.

[@bart7001]

Generalisations don't show the diversity. The lie is that al blacks or al whites are the same. Blaming and shaming a race and even maybe ancestors ? Every body can find out how"their" people " are behaving nowadays. crime statistics for example but there is no collective guild otherwise you should compensate the known victims of these crimes should you not ? You are free and onley responsible for you own behaviour. A baby has no social concept. This concept changes with aging and the circumstances and is individuel.

[@CheezInspector]

bart Generalizations reflect very real cultural/ethnic patterns of behavior, based on historical indoctrination left unexamined.

[@bart7001]

Generalizations never shows the differences in a group. The variation can be very extreem. If the idea is that al people are equal so comparing groups of people should show this a problem arrises . The outcome isn't. Trying to explane this isn't easy or simple . (the pan-africane doctrini is simpel) Unexamined historical indoctrination ( also part of the pan-african doctrine ) has the problem of to many variables and we don't know the outcome because it is unexamined. ( If you believe in witches you will find them and burn them the same with appeaing idea's.) You can try to see what choices the "winners" made don't think that this will be ; party , addiction, crime, fXXk around. The outcome of this behaviour you can predict

[@bart7001]

Generalizations never shows the variation of behaviour in a cultural/ethnic group. Historical and regional circumstances ,constantly changing ,will have great infuence on those patterns. Doctrini's can change fast because of the opportunistic nature of mankind.

[@bart7001]

Those people onley able to think in generalisations and stereotypes used in movies, fairy-tales, books, advertisments, television. They have to life in an imaginairy world not able to see reality for what it is. The activist are inspired by Marxisme; dividing the world in oppressors and the oppressed . They think that they are moral superior because they want liberation/equality (especially for their own people), by eliminating the "oppressor" .If neccesary with violence.

[@jenniferharris219]

Absolutely perfect....

[@freespirit7878]

Very smart woman I love this

[@anniastewart991]

Key is to be intentional in being something different!!!

[@honeypunch8927]

Incredible, thank you

[@erinadams2298]

She did that excellently, can’t believe I’m just now seeing this lol. That’s so true, we need to spend thousands of hours fixing what we got our brains to become experts in for so long. But people don’t realize that at all.

[@MaxMafikengBoy]

They were exactly like that with Obama, "he should be president and NOT talk about racial injustice"

[@bertramdavis7120]

Thank you beautiful lady!

[@eugenebrewster8227]

Notice you've NEVER, EVER heard an Brotha or Sista( African American) say they " don't see color"

[@ajoaayebo6752]

We dont say that here in Ghana either.

[@08CARIB]

Great perspective, Beyonce brought me here :)

[@Naruto-gu8ug]

LOVED THIS!!!!!

[@shulzmlobela3784]

Im so happy she gave the timeline that proved the point I've been trying to reiterate to the people around me

[@cathylewis3967]

Excellent presentation.

[@elizahurst1327]

Morgan Freeman says that to move beyond race is to stop talking about it! Energy flows where our attention goes. If we continue to focus on slavery, we are keeping alive the suffering, pain and injustice it caused!! Lets move beyond! Lets band together! Generations have passed, and we cannot rewrite history. Lets write it now by uniting in mutual and unconditional love!! Human to human.

[@user-mw4qq5ko7y]

No one asked

[@francisindinibotwey840]

Honestly I love Morgan but I don’t agree with him on this . Why don’t we talk about apartheid?because they talked about it and was done with it

[@danaeroache8674]

Amen and amen to that last line

[@Tonay1999]

Excellent! Beyonce was the attention getter and clincher. The message was made.

[@keyanawinston1318]

Yaaas!! Don't ever get it twisted, she's one of us!!

[@alminaaksucu379]

LOVE IT!

[@Mona-ue5uk]

Excellent speech!

[@illizcit1]

I love the way she broke this down.

[@Bri-go7mc]

That break down! Wow!

[@combatveteran240]

Awesome analogy with the 10000 hrs

[@JoseyTurn17]

Excellent for all, especially the unwilling.

[@disuyetty501]

Thank you for this

[@wildonez3076]

That was great!! Good job!!!

[@theresajohnson2016]

Good stuff..the thought processes from both sides need to change. The mentality will only change through dialogue. Ignorance is NOT bliss.

[@fegrace_1]

I hate hate! I hate when people try to say that you are being sensitive or pulling the race card just because they don’t realize that their micro aggressions are just a problematic and systematic as blatant racism! I’m going to continue to put in my 10,000 hrs towards my personal healing and the healing or others... And even thought new wounds may feel like I’m starting all over again, I know I’m not because the stings don’t last as long anymore! What I learned from Beyonce: Don’t apologize for other people’s ignorance!

[@ryanc6878]

Someone needs to Talk to Ted...

[@luciavilla2375]

Incredible speech!! Sooo wisely said! This should be used in schools across America

[@briannajohnson8995]

YAS girl!!!!!!!

[@erictatum5116]

Well spoken!

[@neemael]

So true!!!!

[@serenarobak3640]

Very insightful

[@khem127]

Brilliant!!!!!

[@dsp7631]

Preach!

[@patriciananyonjo5154]

This is very informative