Who is allowed to be a victim? | Travis Alabanza | TEDxBrum

‘I’m here to talk about the violence in silence; I don’t want to call it by-standing, that sounds passive. I want to talk about the active choice in silence.’ A powerful and poetic story of survival as a black, trans, gender non conforming person. Travis Alabanza is a London-based performance artist, writer and general sh*t talker that uses poetry, words, soundscapes and performance to scream about their survival as a black, trans, gender non conforming person in the UK.
In the last three years Alabanza has cemented themselves as one of the most prominent emerging queer voices in the arts and further afield, with 2016/17 being a year they became artist in residence at Tate, performing in venues such as the V&A, RVT, Hamburg International Feminist Festival, selling out the opening of their new show 'BURGERZ', starring in Scottee's five star (Guardian) roundhouse production Putting words in Your Mouth and completing a successful US college tour.
Alabanza also released a successful debut book 'Before I step Outside [You love me]', and has had their work been noted by Dazed, ID, MOBO, Apple and Snakes, Black Girl Dangerous and The Independent.
www.travisalabanza.co.uk
@travisalabanza This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@AlicetheCamel]

I’m so glad that I took the time to watch this - thank you so much for your words. Please don’t presume that people usually or even often care about violence against women, though. In my experience, people may be willing to pay lip service to feminism, but this rarely extends to protecting women (trans or cis) in any way. I absolutely want to do everything I can to protect the trans community, but I also feel that the fight for cisgendered women’s rights is far from won. Again, though, thank you for reminding me to be compassionate and outspoken within that. You speak so beautifully. Xxx

[@oxoClareNoxo]

I have never understood why some extreme feminists get so upset by trans people but now I do. Unless you are a cis woman or pass for a cis woman you will never know what it's like to feel and be treated like a cis woman. You can't look on at one incident and think these people have it better than me as you don't know. Travis clearly has a strong belief in privilege with some having more privilege than others. Whether they wanted it or not Travis grew up with male privilege and they could choose to enjoy that privilege every now and again (in unsafe situations) by wearing male clothes and totally passing as a tall male that no one would mess with. Should you have to do that and play a character you're not out in public just to be safe? No of course not but they have that option. I can never be anything other than a very short curvy woman, whatever clothes I wear I will still be that and all that goes with that and that is something Travis doesn't seem to get. That being said I hope next time anyone witnesses any kind of attack on anyone else out in public we won't act like the people on the bridge.

[@sarlardar]

@@oxoClareNoxo Hiding yourself out of fear is incredibly damaging to everyone. I think Travis demonstrated a very good understanding of privilege and was just speaking honestly about how it feels to not be deemed worthy of help. Hiding who you are always hurts (I know that personally, as a cis woman) and what Travis's talk shows is that they'd have to do that all the time to be 'safe'. I don't think that's really an option for anyone who wants to stay sane. Anyone who challenges gender in public is challenging the same violent oppression that you and I as cis women are subject to - I think that's phenomenally brave.

[@hunkydoodle2374]

Found out about Travis by reading their book "None of the Above" and wanted even more, great talk ❤️

[@corinnacohn7389]

In Travis's story of a woman on the tube who received some sympathy after being harassed-how does Travis know that woman wasn't trans?

[@jayjaydubful]

Yeah, some serious assuming of gender going on there

[@KungFuMonkeyy]

This is so insightful, and I am here for it!

[@shanasampson3667]

Wow! This was so well done. I’m a very out trans woman and I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart!

[@VAMR-vc7xg]

YOU WILL NEVER BE A WOMAN. End of.

[@sarlardar]

@@VAMR-vc7xg And evidently you'll never be a grown human who isn't a sniveling insecure bully. END OF!

[@VAMR-vc7xg]

@@sarlardar I am a grown woman in a very happy marraige to a fully grown man. You cannot change biology and common sense.

[@sarlardar]

@@VAMR-vc7xg Sad for you that you define your grown-ness by your marriage. Is *that* why you're so insecure about what makes a woman?

[@VAMR-vc7xg]

@@sarlardar No, I am a real woman. Unlike you.

[@joshaw9565]

Very powerful. Well said.

[@WoteverWorld]

This is a spectacular talk! Thank you for your strength, words and power. this is so needed to be said and I Love that you do! Thank YOU!

[@ddddddddd98]

Dear Travis, thank you for this. It breaks my heart on the regular one. I see people not speaking up for those being oppressed or having burgers thrown at them on a random day. Please know that I am one of those people who speak up all the time for those in need. But I must admit I am rare and I feel lonely. I cannot comprehend how little people care for one another, but I promise if I had been there, I would have said something and something and then gone and comforted you, in each of the situations you mentioned

[@theultimatejuicebox]

Incredible talk. Thank you, Travis.

[@jayjaydubful]

Anyone who found this talk anything other than inane, nonsensical and cringe inducing needs to have their head examined

[@alvaro_valdecantos]

I heard and felt every single word, thanks for this talk Travis. Sending you love and light. Thank you very, very much for your words.

[@_j_0_n_6_16]

Absolutely beautiful. Such an incredible human.

[@gingertomm__]

this comments section disgusts me

[@igorknown8608]

thank you, this is wonderful ❤️ ✊🏼

[@Lolly4twDasOrginal]

the only way to stop a bad guy with a burger is love and education

[@averagerunner_]

Incredible and valuable, thank you travis!

[@saint_mau]

Such an important message. Thank you for this 💖

[@manjinghennessy3231]

Love this omg ♥

[@zaraLevina97]

This deserves so many more views... I'm glad I watched the whole video: you are amazing.

[@themolluscdimension]

Hugely inspired/enraged/moved. Thank you Travis Alabanza!

[@ednafernandesyi]

So well said....thank you for the insight it is deeply sad how many of us have and still allow ourselves to think and believe that violence is acceptable let alone violence against someone's gender or even choice of clothing...in this way aren't we being like the taliban in a different version? It is deeply distressing that even in public places like McDonald's this would happen....

[@MissUnderstoodasAlways]

Love you right back 🥺❤️

[@lolatu4402]

Lol I've been attacked with knives, shot at, beaten with a steel bar stool by off duty cops, much more, but yeah that burger sounds pretty rough. I mean it wasn't even a beef burger! I've got home and thrown out torn clothes soaked in my own blood and this person is crying about mayonnaise? This is not violence. It's not ok but it's not violence.

[@adrianking8985]

In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends - MLK The way you broke it all down, magnificent!

[@EeviPope]

this!!!

[@VAMR-vc7xg]

Did Travis actually think about the women he humilated?. Do they still have their jobs?

[@vsstart5945]

Why do ppl read poems like this? Everyone sounds the same

[@blacksquirrelcollective8711]

nice talk but shameless book plugging

[@bokvonsaffer8910]

An evening out with the the dog in doggerel

[@shenmeowzo]

Warriors dont whinge about wanting to be let into the girls changing rooms, dude.

[@Slechy_Lesh]

Did you listen to the full talk? I assume not, since 'girls changing rooms' weren't mentioned. But since you seem to be alluding to the bathroom issue, it's one of those things that needs to be changed because that's important for trans people. And how do you change a given thing in society? Talk about it. Call it whining if you have to. Do listen to the whole talk.

[@shenmeowzo]

Lesj Conj no I said changing rooms not bathroom. This dude complained to top shop that he wanted to be able to use the female changing rooms and as far as im aware they capitulated. Dude in fruity clothes =/= a woman.

[@Slechy_Lesh]

Trans people have existed all over the world since the Assyrians. It's only comparitively recent narrowing attitudes that insist on attacking them.

[@VAMR-vc7xg]

Lesj Conj - because they're attacking us.

[@samanthapatrick4345]

@@VAMR-vc7xg I'm a Trans female and I nor any other Trans men or women are not attacking anyone the only thing I want to do each day is through to tomorrow and the day after that and so on and so on and I imagine that would be the same for everyone else

[@marcwareham9351]

In life no ones allowed to be a victim. Not even this weirdo!

[@marcwareham9351]

I’m a lion! I was never asked what animal I wanted to be. I was made a human but that’s not what I am. I’m a lion!

[@MFYouTube683]

This is no warrior. 😂 Omg stop letting people like him on stage

[@VAMR-vc7xg]

From a fully grown man crying and moaning that he was not allowed into the ladies changing rooms. What's more to say?

[@VAMR-vc7xg]

Still hasnt' explained why he thinks it perfectly OK to go into the ladies changing room at TopShop. He is so effeminate he needs to grow a pair.

[@9876bbb]

Batty boy fam

[@batvanv]

Boy..come on