Actor Jesse Williams' Speaks Out About Michael Brown, Ferguson Chaos
Jesse Williams Was Criticized For Wearing A Hoodie On CNN And A Fan Turned It Into An Incredible Teachable Moment
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Jesse Williams is one of few entertainers lending their voice to speak about Michael Brown’s shooting by police and the aftermath of the teen’s brutal killing, in Ferguson, Missouri. But the “Grey’s Anatomy” star has been using his Hollywood platform — and seven year’s experience as a public school educator before ever hitting your TV screen — to school America, as he’s done in the past. The actor wore a hoodie for an appearance appeared on CNN to discuss Michael Brown’s death and the events in Ferguson, but after all the amazing things he said, some could only focus on his attire. When the actor addressed one critic who said the hoodie made it hard to take him seriously, one Twitter follower stepped in and taught the most amazing lesson!
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It all started with Williams’ on-air appearance where he made powerful statements about media coverage and criticisms of Brown, who was brutally shot six times by Ferguson Police officer Darren Wilson:
“We need journalism to kick in and start reporting the story from the beginning,” Williams said on the Sunday broadcast. “This is about finding justice for a kid that was shot. An 18-year-old that was shot. Period. And this idea that because he stole a handful of cheap cigars, that were what, five bucks from a convenient store? I lived in the white suburbs of this country for a long time, I know plenty of white kids that steal stuff from the convenient store.
This idea that every time a Black person does something, they automatically become a ‘thug worthy of their own death?’ We don’t own drug crimes. We’re not the only ones that ‘sell and do drugs all the time,’ we’re not the only ones who steal, we’re not the only ones who talk crazy to cops. There’s a complete double standard and a complete different experience that a certain element of this country has the privilege of being treated as human beings. And the rest of us are not being treated like human beings. Period. And that needs to be discussed, that is the story…we’re not making this up.”
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Now even though the fine actor and former teacher had already given America this much-needed “mic-drop” moment on national TV, he continued the discussion on his personal Twitter handle where Tweeter “Lost In Paradise,” slid into his mentions without raising his hand:
@iJesseWilliams A hoodie on the news makes it challenging to take you seriously. Like the viewpoint, but not the hoodie #JustSaying — Lost in Paradise (@Aroww333) August 17, 2014
Of course, the focus on the hoodie missed the entire point. Though Williams’ statement — even with the clothing choice — did not go unnoticed by many who watched him speak. The actor himself quickly brushed off the criticism before returning to the discussion at hand:
.@Aroww333 You’re not even wearing a shirt, which makes this exchange challenging. — jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) August 17, 2014
Williams’ response got nearly 400 retweets and the critics’ Twitter mentions were quickly in shambles as some onlookers labeled him “racist.” The ordeal left the Tweeter stunned:
Hoodie = Thug?! How about hoodie on the national news = unprofessional #NotEveryoneIsARacist #GetOverYourself — Lost in Paradise (@Aroww333) August 17, 2014
By this time the actor had moved on to Tweet to nearly 700,000 of his actual followers who were focused on the his insightful commentary, but one of his followers wasn’t going to let the hoodie diss go so easily…
Keep clicking to see the powerful exchange that resulted in the actor’s critic learning a huge lesson!
Hoodie = Thug?! How about hoodie on the national news = unprofessional #NotEveryoneIsARacist #GetOverYourself
— Lost in Paradise (@Aroww333) August 17, 2014
@unSENSEcered I did totally miss that. Kinda surprised that this all devolved into attacks about race though. #SoManyAngryPeopleOutThere — Lost in Paradise (@Aroww333) August 17, 2014
People are so angry. And so quick to take observations out on context. Worries me about the ability for many of us to talk about big issues
— Lost in Paradise (@Aroww333) August 17, 2014
@Aroww333 people of color are upset right now, and so they are attacking anybody who doesn’t understand our struggle. It’s misplaced anger. — Raisá Cachét™© (@unSENSEcered) August 17, 2014
@Aroww333 the same can be said about White people that can’t relate to the Black Experience, so they label it as nonsense. You have to see…
— Raisá Cachét™© (@unSENSEcered) August 17, 2014
@Aroww333 that we are so used to being attacked for just existing, that now we automatically attack back. It’s sad, but it’s not surprising.
— Raisá Cachét™© (@unSENSEcered) August 17, 2014
@Aroww333 the said reality is that when we talk, the results are minimal. What u see is the manifestation of cries gone unanswered too long. — Raisá Cachét™© (@unSENSEcered) August 17, 2014
@Aroww333 false. Ur experiences are an advantage because the juxtaposition of them against ours could be ur platform. If you had delivered.. — Raisá Cachét™© (@unSENSEcered) August 17, 2014
@Aroww333 the same message that Jessie did IN a hoodie, that is a powerful statement. We don’t need you to relate to us or understand us.
— Raisá Cachét™© (@unSENSEcered) August 17, 2014
@unSENSEcered wow, that’s very profound!! #Kudos — Lost in Paradise (@Aroww333) August 17, 2014
@Aroww333 this problem doesn’t have a clear cut solution. But there’s power in knowledge, & u can reach ppl with ur platform that I cannot.
— Raisá Cachét™© (@unSENSEcered) August 17, 2014
@unSENSEcered that’s very interesting and empowering! I’ve never really thought about it that way — Lost in Paradise (@Aroww333) August 17, 2014
@Aroww333 that’s rather common. A lot of ppl haven’t had the opportunity to think like that because conversations like this are rare. — Raisá Cachét™© (@unSENSEcered) August 17, 2014
@unSENSEcered they should somehow become more common. Or more people should see/hear them. I like to hope that many ppl are more open+ — Lost in Paradise (@Aroww333) August 17, 2014
@unSENSEcered than they’re given credit. It’s all about opportunity. Heck, I’m still being called a racist every other minute and its like+ — Lost in Paradise (@Aroww333) August 17, 2014
@unSENSEcered a gay guy makes a comment about fashion and somehow he’s a racist?! 😂😂 — Lost in Paradise (@Aroww333) August 17, 2014
@Aroww333 ignore the anger. If I came into an emergency room with a gunshot, what would you pay attention to? Me yelling not to touch me… — Raisá Cachét™© (@unSENSEcered) August 17, 2014
@Aroww333 or my life threatening injuries? If your genuinely trying to help, ignore all the noise and treat the injuries. Hurt ppl hurt ppl. — Raisá Cachét™© (@unSENSEcered) August 17, 2014
@unSENSEcered We’re all human beings, and we all have a steak in this society. We all have a chance to make it better or worse. — Lost in Paradise (@Aroww333) August 17, 2014
@Aroww333 and an important thing to understand is that ppl will find reasons to attack you regardless. As a gay Man I know u understand how… — Raisá Cachét™© (@unSENSEcered) August 17, 2014
@Aroww333 no matter what u do in some cases, ppl that don’t believe in ur right to exist will have an issue with you and attack you for it.
— Raisá Cachét™© (@unSENSEcered) August 17, 2014
@Aroww333 no matter what u do in some cases, ppl that don’t believe in ur right to exist will have an issue with you and attack you for it.
— Raisá Cachét™© (@unSENSEcered) August 17, 2014
@Aroww333 if anyone can relate to the black struggle it’s someone who is gay. They hate u just because, not because of anything you’ve done.
— Raisá Cachét™© (@unSENSEcered) August 17, 2014
@Aroww333 lol. Ur welcome my friend. If there’s anything I want u to take away it’s that there’s strength in communication and differences. — Raisá Cachét™© (@unSENSEcered) August 17, 2014
@unSENSEcered After my tweet this morning I thought: I wish I could take that back. This conversation is enough to be grateful that I can’t! — Lost in Paradise (@Aroww333) August 17, 2014
Each one teach one.
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Jesse Williams Was Criticized For Wearing A Hoodie On CNN And A Fan Turned It Into An Incredible Teachable Moment was originally published on hellobeautiful.com
