Identity Video

During the video Brian Stevenson discussed identity and the strive everyone should have for it. Brian Stevenson is lawyer in California and also a informational/motivational speaker, he usually speaks in low income/poverty stricken neighborhoods and prisons but he changed his audience in the TED video. He notes that TED is known world wide and the things that are usually on the videos are listened to more just because of the label. Throughout the video Stevenson incorporates his own memories and battles with struggling for identity. Stevenson's grandmother was the first person who made him establish a sense of identity, although she secretly did it with all her grandkids, Stevenson took it to heart and grew from the roots she planted. The speaker discussed criminals at length during the video and how the US is one of the few countries with the death penalty. Stevenson turned on a light bulb in my head when he talked about his conference in Germany and how a lady said they could never have the death penalty because of their history (Hitler & the nazi regimn) but how in the USA the very place years ago that African Americans were being lynched they are now being sentenced to the death penalty. I never thought of it this way, it's eerie. Stevenson continues to be the voice for African Americans throughout the world and he should. Just like the older black man in the court house who hugged Stevenson and was thankful for Stevenson continuing to give him a voice more people should stand up for everyone's rights no matter the color of their skin. The United States needs to come together and "keep their eyes on the prize and hold on".