Actor Jesse Williams’ speech at BET Awards ignites firestorm … listen

Jesse Williams

For those who closely follow social justice activists involved in the continuing fight for black equality in the United states, actor Jesse Williams is no stranger.

Jesse Williams was recipient of the 2016 BET Humanitarian Award during last night’s ceremony.

The 34 year-old Grey’s Anatomy star has consistently spoken out on issues affecting African Americans in the media, in rallies and community events where he actively participates alongside the people:

“Now, this award, this is not for me. This is for the real organizers all over the country. The activists, the civil rights attorneys, the struggling parents, the families, the teachers, the students that are realizing that a system built to divide and impoverish and destroy us cannot stand if we do. All right? It’s kind of basic mathematics. The more we learn about who we are and how we got here, the more we will mobilize.”

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Here’s Mr Williams’ full acceptance speech:

“Before we get into it, I just want to say I brought my parents out tonight — I just want to thank them for being here and teaching me to focus on comprehension over career. They made sure I learned what the schools were afraid to teach us.”

Jesse Williams is born of an African American father and a Swedish mother. He was born in Chicago, Illinois.
Jesse Williams parents

“…And also, thank you to my amazing wife for changing my life.”

Jesse Williams has been married to Aryn Drake-Lee since 2012.
Jesse Williams's wife

Jesse Williams speech

“We’ve been floating this country on credit for centuries, and we’re done watching and waiting while this invention called whiteness uses and abuses us, burying black people out of sight and out of mind while extracting our culture, our dollars, our entertainment, like oil, black gold, ghettoizing and demeaning our creations, then stealing them, gentrifying our genius, and then trying us on like costumes before discarding our bodies like rinds of strange fruit. The thing is, though, just because we’re magic doesn’t mean we’re not real. Thank you.”

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