Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.
In a time of mourning and anger over the ongoing violence inflicted on Black communities by police in the US and the lack of accountability from national leadership, what is the path forward? Sharing urgent insights into this historic moment, Dr. Phillip Atiba Goff, Rashad Robinson, Dr. Bernice King and Anthony D. Romero discuss dismantling the systems of oppression and racism responsible for tragedies like the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and far too many others — and explore how the US can start to live up to its ideals. (This discussion, hosted by head of TED Chris Anderson and current affairs curator Whitney Pennington Rodgers, was recorded on June 3, 2020.)
The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. You’re welcome to link to or embed these videos, forward them to others and share these ideas with people you know. For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), submit a Media Request here:
aristochat3
June 10, 2020 at 7:09 pm
MLK’s daughter wants to take it away from the 1%, 40% of which are Jews. This is naked anti-Semiticism!
Sothis
June 10, 2020 at 8:17 pm
/tips fedora
JDizzlePowah
June 10, 2020 at 7:35 pm
In response to the first gentleman invited to speak, he mentions a great debt is owed to black people, on the opposite end of that argument you have people like shelby steele who has said previously that the problem with black America is white guilt and the fact that we feel the need to now over compensate for what we have done in the past, welfare, affirmative action and so on. Thus creating a need to rely on whites again as opposed to going out and pursuing education and careers etc.
I’d be interested to hear his thoughts on shelby’s statement.
Not my words I’d like to point out, I am a keen observer on the topic and consider all points of view.
NPC .000000beta
June 10, 2020 at 7:36 pm
“Justice” aka just us. -BLM🤮
Jeanet Repman
June 10, 2020 at 7:50 pm
I am with Sister King
Big Mo
June 10, 2020 at 7:50 pm
At what point do the efforts to stem a problem becomes the energy that sustains a self perpetuating system?
JMH
June 10, 2020 at 7:51 pm
Humans are the worst
Kerns Noel
June 10, 2020 at 7:53 pm
my first answer would be.. ya know ‘Not laying down acts of racism against others, while accusing them of things that just can never be proven even exist or even that the people you accuse are even apart of it if it does exist.’
Though, on the back of a murdered black person.. 2 dozen more have died under the name of BLM protests & riots, absurd amounts of money have been lost by private small businesses and countless businesses destroyed after already being strained by a pandemic restriction set of rules.
The problem is that officers are people, and personal bias against one group of people (literal self made group & not color based) isn’t racism, nor is personal bias against one person, but it is given the racist name w/o any context of a officers illegal action or reasonings or past dealings with the person that he abused.
— saying the cop was wrong & murdered someone, but because of their personal history with said person and not because said person was black & the cop white.
The cop was wrong to murder that black man, but flat out… BLM is wrong for protests & riots that not only have ended in the deaths of nearly 2 dozen people, but left widows morning, communities shattered, people homeless, & opened up the door for gangs to take advantage of the additional strain on police and do things without restraint.
Yep, good. we can defund the police.. and suddenly without a police force let criminals run rampent, so the poor & middle class get revenged.. as the rich will always have security companies at their payroll.
Mac Ton
June 10, 2020 at 7:54 pm
A professor was recently suspended because he refused to grant black students extra points because they might be traumatized over the death of George floyd. This is insanity. Blm and social justice is a cult.
smoothy kpop
June 10, 2020 at 7:55 pm
#ALLLivesMatter
omit five
June 10, 2020 at 7:59 pm
Looks like somebody linked this to stormfront, so many salty white babies in the comments
C B
June 10, 2020 at 8:07 pm
Sadly most black people are largely like children, with no naturally mature control, that is conducive to societal harmony. I am suggesting that we set up a new branch of psychiatry, specialising in black psychology and behaviour. Then we can try to learn, understand, and cater for their unique and special needs.
Erin
June 10, 2020 at 8:15 pm
They call it the American Dream because you have to be asleep to see it
S F
June 10, 2020 at 9:42 pm
Erin lol
John D
June 10, 2020 at 8:27 pm
Thank you for the video! I find the messages and perspective reflected in the video to be helpful.
Karol Bulanda
June 10, 2020 at 8:42 pm
What the f**k ? Systemic racism in TED ? Please, I want to wake up before 1984…
Zachary Harper
June 10, 2020 at 8:43 pm
So build a tower and end all forms of terrorism however possibly lol..
Terrence Coco
June 10, 2020 at 8:48 pm
40:03
02:37
34:33
oh no its wynne
June 10, 2020 at 9:24 pm
my 2 cents is that a potential way to end racism is by finding the root of it and cutting it off completely so that future generations grow up without a racist mentality.
racism is something that is taught. everyone is born with a blank state, but as they grow up, learn to either think its okay or unacceptable depending on their influences growing up. it is the job of parents and schools alike to educate children about racial equality, to tell them that race does not make you any more or less of a human than others. if children aren’t being taught this at home, schools should be the one stepping in to educate children. schools country-wide should start teaching students more about racism than just “we used to have slavery but now we dont.” history and english should teach us what we did wrong in the past and what we can do instead to avoid repeating history. science should provide the facts to prove that race does not correlate with personality or how people behave, and to clear up other common racist misconceptions. unfortunately racial equality isn’t something schools today teach or really talk about but i believe that if schools start teaching children, it could be very effective.
also on another note, childrens TV shows should also teach kids about racial equality.
it may be very difficult, if not impossible, to almost completely change the beliefs of the living generations, but we can still take action to raise the future generations of children to treat others equally.
FTWIHA
June 10, 2020 at 10:22 pm
Well, yesn’t.
Noone is Born Blank, 1/3 of your Personality is Genetically Predestined.
The other 2/3’s come from your Closer Circle and the other Cicumstances you grow Up with, especially between 1-6 and 12-18 Years of Age.
(Those are where most People have their “Minting Phases”.
Racism isn’t completely taught, it’s just accelerated if the right Conditions are given.
Every Animal, including Humans, initially Fears difference.
It’s about
“history and english should teach us what we did wrong in the past and what we can do instead to avoid repeating history.”
Slavery is already taught in History, but why should it be in English too?
Also everyone has a Right to Form their Opinion, saying that “Slavery is Bad” is the only Answer is a no-go.
Generally. Slavery is seen as Horrible.
For most People that makes it “Bad”.
Forcing the ones who don’t think like that to say the Same can lead to Hate.
And we don’t want that.
Forcing an Opinion on the Population Technically is Slavery.
(Reading through my Text, it might seem like i’m Advocating for Slavery, i don’t. Just to be Sure)
PRINCE AMORYAH & The 144,000
June 10, 2020 at 9:36 pm
The USA FLAG represents SATAN…The STAR on the FLAG is SATAN
JJPHILLYLG
June 10, 2020 at 9:46 pm
And the victimhood award goes to…
Michael Lombardi-Nash
June 10, 2020 at 9:50 pm
Glad I tuned in. I like the idea of “the bill is coming due” and definitely defunding the paramilitarized police force. Now, that gives me hope of seeing change.
James W.
June 10, 2020 at 9:54 pm
there is NO systematic racism in the US.
Shuying Sha
June 10, 2020 at 10:16 pm
I researched the definition of systemic or structural discrimination, but I can’t connect it with this. No speaker here gave an example of nowdays systematic racism although they use it all the time
Lane Romel
June 10, 2020 at 10:25 pm
You can’t fix stupid.
John Buffalo I am 97
June 10, 2020 at 11:05 pm
Give the land back to the Native Americans
Semper Fortis
June 11, 2020 at 12:42 am
George Floyd was not killed out of racism, but a personal quarrel with Chauvin from when the did security together.
Plus…. Floyd was a meth head who held a gun to a pregnant woman’s stomach during a home invasion.
Stop virtue signaling.
He was a POS.
Emmanuel Marshall
June 11, 2020 at 1:03 am
I am sorry but Dr. Bernice King was really, really poor. Brought very little to the discussion. Only seemed to communicate in slow kind of double speak that when though about actually didn’t mean much. This not to take away from the overall fantastic discussion by the rest of the panel.
Nick Carpet Cleaning
June 11, 2020 at 4:43 am
The guy is a recover debts
Stephen Lenz
June 11, 2020 at 4:43 am
If so when a black person does something wrong.we should make their whole family pay for it. Fair is Fair
Mingyuan Huang
June 11, 2020 at 4:57 am
it is system problem. Us need communism to protect poor people, but it is no way for your guys, FBI will never let any one protect poor people, they will kill them all no matter they are good or bad.
you people can do everything, but nothing can change that.
Mingyuan Huang
June 11, 2020 at 5:08 am
why it happened in us? because us allow people use gun out of the weapons company benefit. so we can only give police unlimited right to stop violence because of the gun.
rich people earn weapon money from poor people’s death, that is the truth, poor people need communism to stop all those rich murderer
Eric Zong
June 11, 2020 at 5:29 am
With over 70% white people and only 13% African Americans in the US, you still got Obama elected as the first black president, and you are calling it a ”systemic racism”??? Even a Chinese like me can tell right from wrong, but your extremists and Democrats keep escalating the chaos and taking advantage of it. Wake up. Face your ignorance. Respect the truth and the rule of law. – An advice from China.
Moe Juarez
June 11, 2020 at 7:44 am
Culture.
Anthonyleegmc
June 11, 2020 at 8:09 am
Who watches this video because of wanting to learn something new during this COVID 19 😂?
Ahakuytra
June 11, 2020 at 8:41 am
There is no vaccine for Racism
LarkAscending
June 11, 2020 at 12:13 pm
To all those in the comments who think reparations are still relevant you need to go and check the millions of dollars and UK pounds that have been spent on building black economic community and cultural initiatives since the 70’s- they need to take more personel responsibility for their behaviour and damn well stop expecting reverse racism to solve their own social disfunction in a western urban context.
If they cant or dont intend to do that then dont expect it to go well when they blame other people who’ve given so much- where did all that financial support for their communities come from?-
Wen Lei
June 11, 2020 at 12:43 pm
I have to say as a yellow person, I feel that some black people now are seeking privilege rather than justice. and media, leaders often do or say sth politically correct rather than truth. western countries are going to the left too far
Mileo Major
June 11, 2020 at 9:27 pm
“systemic racism” is a politically correct term. They are not going to say what the problem really is. It’s not in anybody on tv’s best interest to honestly critique the black community.
Dan Lewis
June 11, 2020 at 12:47 pm
We have white women tearing down ‘Black Live Matter’ posters.
That is a strong indicator that we MUST do a LOT more than talk to union leaders.
A lot of time was wasted rehashing what has taken place.
Worrying that people will march with but not support, is a waste of time and energy.
Analysis Of Atheism Etc
June 11, 2020 at 1:02 pm
Racism would never end if
MiloNutcandyTheMoocher Cannings
June 11, 2020 at 2:31 pm
Gererations count towards my musical vocation. I can feel now because they knew how. Without a goal you will never want to need heroes.
Bella Andrade
June 11, 2020 at 4:16 pm
Oye vieja. Keep talking about repentance. Keeping talking about working hard. There are 3 kinds of people. Let’s talk. God bless you all.
Bella Andrade
June 11, 2020 at 4:29 pm
What’s the acceptance rate of ethnic peoples in the police?
Core Puncher
June 12, 2020 at 10:09 am
I’m guessing actually HIGHER then the proportion in the general population.
Bella Andrade
June 11, 2020 at 4:39 pm
Civil servants how to: ask and do “can I spearhead a social program that will pay into Minority Owned Businesses “MBO”?” Civil servants have the power. Figure it out. There are 3 kinds of people. Let’s talk. God bless you all.
J J
June 11, 2020 at 5:25 pm
All they are arguing about the systematic oppression is actually not provable or individual or group racism in the organization if at all. Please let’s not be brainwashed with this political movement, rather trying to root out and ameliorate the individual or collective racism.
8 ball181 Hand
June 11, 2020 at 7:28 pm
Remember when TED used to be about logic and science?
Devin Heaps
June 11, 2020 at 8:50 pm
Since Systemic Racism isn’t real, the way to get rid of it is to treat the delusional belief as a psychological disorder.
J B
June 11, 2020 at 8:50 pm
Mileo Major
June 11, 2020 at 9:22 pm
We can’t fight “systemic racism” because we have a dysfunctional culture. Our people don’t understand cultural values, they don’t know they were ruling rather recently and have been brainwashed to believe otherwise, so they don’t have the proper outlook on life from childhood, male or female. This country wasn’t designed to benefit black people.
Mileo Major
June 11, 2020 at 9:30 pm
Anybody who has the balls to keep it real about the black community is going to get assassinated if they can change the culture in mass. Everybody’s living off of us. We are the number 1 asset globally. Trust me, they would stand to lose a lot of revenue if black people truly woke up.
The Top Gaming
June 11, 2020 at 11:23 pm
Bro racism has to stop #BlackLivesMatter
Kram Ikasawak
June 12, 2020 at 12:21 am
I bet if the aliens came out the sky blazing the world with laser beams we’d forget what any race is besides the human race.
1980Punk
June 12, 2020 at 12:23 am
Systematic Racism exists in all countries, but some of your BLM pals are racist themselves – I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Some of them were throwing rocks at myself and my wife when we came out to support them. I’ve seen signs that say “All Lives can’t matter until Black Lives Matter.” Which means they are more important than everyone else, including you. Which is inherently racist as well. We should be working together, not hating or blaming – that goes nowhere.
John Doe
June 12, 2020 at 2:18 am
Systematic racism or sytematic scapegoating of all your problems on racism? I think we all know the true answer.
Warfare Chief
June 12, 2020 at 2:23 am
Let see here…76.5% White, 13.4% Black, 1.4% Native American, 5.9% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian, 18.3% Hispanic. We elected a black President who did noting about systemic racism twice. I am just saying, looks weird. Census.gov
Morning Gold
June 12, 2020 at 3:51 am
The issue is how 1 dimensional the establishment take of thing is, it impacts how the people choose to see things. There’s a difference between being a cultural blender in the homeland US and in another place like the middle east. The Americans, sadly, do not study much into other’s culture, there seem some pride they do not need to, first class, innovation, look no where, only in the US, it’s the root problem, look and respect other’s culture, understand commonality, tolerate differences, and maybe the people begin to see how they can work together progressively.
General Zap
June 12, 2020 at 5:46 am
So systematically racist that we had President Obama…
Artimis Fowl
June 14, 2020 at 1:04 am
Systemic racism is a statistical thing. You wouldn’t say the lottery is a good purchase just because one person wins.
Ro Lee
June 14, 2020 at 1:38 pm
Idiot
AircraftOfSomeType
June 12, 2020 at 6:34 am
Systemic racism against nonwhites does not exist. Prove me wrong.
Artimis Fowl
June 14, 2020 at 1:02 am
Systemic racism is defined as discrimination across an industry, such as banking. We’ve got LOTS of data on banks offering worse loans for people they suspect of being nonwhite, this isn’t hard to find.
But I’m guessing this isn’t your point?
Raffaele Filosofi
June 12, 2020 at 9:58 am
WHAT ABOUT ENDING SYSTEMIC PROPAGANDA BASED ON FAKE NUMBERS ON THE MEDIA?
Todd Crandall
June 12, 2020 at 2:12 pm
this stuff that the black person lives through in these times of ignorance or hatred (George Floyd) is no doubt very wrong . but when i watch this video and keep hearing about “OUR DEBT” I realize that the whole problem is not going to get better, it won’t. when one race is demanding that another owes a debt, when one race calls the other a “privilege” then one race is separating themselves from the other. they are not joining, they are separating. they are feeding prejudice’s. they are feeding racism. because i personally do not agree of what happened to George Floyd , and i wouldn’t have done that to ANY COLOR. But i refuse to take privilege, and I personally do not owe a debt. Quit separating ourselves based on color, it’s foolish and very ignorant. why dont we correspond to our fellow humanity by attitude, respect, common sense. who cares what color they are. and if you still are looking at color then you are still making separation among us. FIX IT, it’s been a problem for too long and that is ignorant.
Malala Lalala
June 15, 2020 at 1:26 am
You don’t choose to take privilege. You are born with it
Br. William
June 12, 2020 at 2:16 pm
The term “systemic racism” is purposely broad. Please tell me who or what legislation is racist and let’s change it…Real racist country when everyone knows the name of a drug addicted felon killed by a dumbass cop. Every major corporation has come out in support and he’s being reveled as a messiah. If an Alien came to earth they’d think we had just lost the greatest leader this world ever had. Now does anyone know the name of the white women shot dead by the black mpls cop with zero provocation? Didn’t think so…if people looked at actual factual statistics we wouldn’t even have a discussion. Except maybe some white people complaining about discrimination…
Dan
June 12, 2020 at 7:23 pm
Good points and downright southern democrat M.O..
Derek Markle
June 12, 2020 at 9:09 pm
Basing my opinion on the evidence of each individual case, I still don’t see the recent incident as being racially motivated. It’s unfortunate that a human being died and that he died at the hands of someone who is supposed to protect the public, but I see an individual who broke the law, many times, and an individual who used excessive force in which he should rot in prison for… Both had prior issues, one with the law and one with discipline (no racially motivated discipline that I could find) People have to start taking responsibility of their own actions.
I try to view everything with a neutral mind. I’ve seen many groups utilize their power for an agenda, which I try not to group myself in…
Walker Lot
June 12, 2020 at 10:42 pm
Can I just be an individual please?
Jim Timmins
June 13, 2020 at 12:49 am
Its really a clash of cultures. You dont see fans of a mutual sports fighting each other. Most baseball fans get along. Most people in luxury get along. Most people in a factory or office get along within their subset regarless of colour.
Jonathan
June 13, 2020 at 7:19 am
i wish people would learn to mute their mic when not talking kinda not cool
K B
June 13, 2020 at 8:00 am
Wait a minute…………. Is he saying we are in debt because of the color of our skin? Because he said at 9:25 “The unpaid debts, that are owed to black America, the bill is coming due.” Is that racist? I dislike this from that alone.
Dennis Selzer
June 13, 2020 at 7:43 pm
01:05:04
57:52
29:29
Jeremy Wilson
June 13, 2020 at 8:46 pm
STSTEMIC RACISM IS A MYTH STOP PLAYING VICTIM CARDS POLICE KILL WAYYYY MORE WHITES THAN BLACK
athena
June 13, 2020 at 10:55 pm
Look at the proportions.
Fred Weker
June 14, 2020 at 12:24 am
Systemic racism is a lie by the media to divide people. Don’t fall for it.
Reinkarmic Keleidoskunk
June 14, 2020 at 2:01 am
They cry systemic and institutional racism. But most institutions, ie big cities govt, media, academia, entertainment, pedowood, are all full of and run by leftists. Ergo, leftists are racists?
lawrence sahanna
June 14, 2020 at 3:36 am
Not necessarily, most are neo-liberal
Jerry Hall, enjoyPB
June 14, 2020 at 2:24 am
Very helpful conversation! Thank you.
Brendan Guymer
June 14, 2020 at 4:18 am
Racism is a cancer. There is no cure. Just give up.
Brilliant
June 14, 2020 at 8:20 am
Reparations and Separation
michael brown
June 14, 2020 at 1:37 pm
There is no racism the black man is not being held down if you feel opressed you are just pathetic and weak and all these wealthy black people that are crying they got it so bad are pathetic grow some nuts there are plenty of black people who aren’t feeling sorry for there self
Sven Bodali
June 14, 2020 at 6:31 pm
Exclusionary rhetoric is no way to end prejudice
Sven Bodali
June 14, 2020 at 6:38 pm
Let’s all protest unfair policing by commiting crimes in our communities. Who needs cops anyway. Guess we’ll have to wait and see how this turns out in November.
MCK
June 14, 2020 at 10:19 pm
This will be interesting
Ratoo Ayad
June 15, 2020 at 4:03 am
ترجملي بالعربي بليييز🥺💔
The Auditor
June 15, 2020 at 10:00 am
“Systemic Racism” (as opposed to individual racism) is a hoax, like Climate Change and Global Warming. How can “systemic racism” still exist in decades-long Dem cities? How is that possible? Time to leave the Dem party? White Leftists spouting “systemic racism” are avoiding admitting to their INDIVIDUAL racism? Money has already been given. Throwing more will not fix the problem. So what is the problem? Look deeper and at all variables of the equation.
Lynn Roberts
June 15, 2020 at 6:25 pm
even the headline is propaganda. it pre-supposes systemic racism. which has never been proven. oh dear, the “death of george floyd” , do you mean there’s people who believe it’s real or true? what a brainwash here.
Joseph M
June 15, 2020 at 7:17 pm
“a debt owed to black people” Help me understand this, by virtue of skin color how does every single black person become entitled to some sort of “payment” because of a wrong to another individual who happened to be black? How is this not in effect robbing the actual individual wronged by laying claim to some sort of payment to the wrong done by them? And further how is this not based on the very racism one seems interested in eradicated? Demanding a payment or “due” because of the only “virtue”, that is one happens to have the same skin color of the one who was wronged? I’ll forego the point that skin color, ironically is nothing more than a sociological category and it would become ever more difficult to even “define” “black” without ending up including a bunch of presumed white people or excluding a bunch of presumed “black” people.
Talon Marshall
June 15, 2020 at 8:45 pm
Victimization is now a major global market and that isn’t going to go away. Those flames are always going to be stoked and the mainstream media will always selectively cover what they want to incite race or gender wars.