My deadly birthmark
[Applause]
my birth mark could kill me one day
that might sound strange considering
what we know about birthmarks
birthmarks are common and usually
harmless
they could be vascular or pigmented
some type of birthmarks can be removed
through medication
lasers or surgery
my birthmark is different
it is hereditary and can’t be removed
it’s not a disease and it’s not always
lethal
it limits mobility it contributes
to depression i
have a higher risk of dying young
than people without this birthmark
it has also gotten me in trouble with
the police
that’s because i have the same birthmark
as george floyd
brianna taylor
ahmad aubry
elijah mcclain
and jacob blake and 13
of the u.s population
i understand the sudden urge
to resist arrest
to escape to feel guilty
even when i haven’t done anything wrong
to know that if i were killed
it would mean much less than if a white
man were killed
i’m not an activist i just can’t stay
silent any longer
sometimes it’s easier for people to hear
song lyrics so that’s one way i’ve
learned to use my voice
going forward i’ll use my words even
more effectively
i want my brothers and sisters of color
to learn how to stay calm in moments of
conflict
and give themselves time
to think through the issue
don’t be afraid to say no to unlawful
demands
get educated on your rights and exercise
them
i want white people to know that if i
look evil
then you have something inside you
that needs to be addressed
i’m a father a son
a brother a hard worker
and an artist who was just spiritually
mentally and emotionally
exhausted
someone who just wants to go for a jog
someone who just wants to be the
protagonist sometimes
someone who just wants to go home at
night
and give everything i have to my family
so they could have the things i’ve never
had
our lives mattering should not
be a trending topic
mattering is the minimum
i’m glad i’m here and i’m educating
myself
so i could use my platform in my voice
i hope these steps
make my son’s generation feel empowered
and fearless and loved
so that someday not long from now
they’ll be walking
and running and even jogging
in their own neighborhood safely thank
you
one two three
four
[Music]
i’ll go by the name of c valente
[Music]
i’ve been trying to find peace another
man down that’s the reason why this
piece is in my hand now
identify the killer is it that clown
staring back
at me wearing that smile i bet it is
said he loved you than his knife winning
your rib
teddy died for you but praying you don’t
live steady ain’t it to build but build
his own ship
now he’s selling the waters you dread on
another honest mistake you dead wrong
i’m placing all of the blame you did
wrong you know that feeling you feel
like when you can’t move
taking nails even though you can’t
afford to lose thinking if only you
could afford new shoes
but trust me it’s the soul that’s what
gets you through
that’s what gets you
that’s what gets you cool
i have evan taylor on the trumpet
zach novak on the base
michael collins on the drums
dave cress balls on the guitar
[Music]
and i go by the name of si valente
america
don’t you love me
say hello
america don’t you love me
uh
[Music]
america don’t you love me
say it loud i can’t hear you over the
crowd
say it loud they can’t hear you over the
sound of
our children women and men shot down cuz
they black or brown tears from the
innocent tend to drown you out
are you feeling ambivalent to what we
need now
are you witnessing do you see it now
are you listening america
don’t you love me
say it loud i can’t hear you over the
crowd
[Music]
say it loud i can’t hear you over the
sound of
[Music]
baby screaming cause they daddy got
surrounded
by white supremacists with a badge
that’s mounted
shouting shot him down to the ground
with
seven at his back like he was kaepernick
now we can’t take any pull through jacob
please
america
what don’t you see are you blinded
like lady liberty have you cried yet
alone in agony i have
actually
america don’t you love me
say it loud i can’t hear you over the
crowd
say it loud i can’t hear you over the
sound of
america
america do you love me
say it loud
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
america don’t you love me
say it loud can’t hear you over
[Music]
are you witnessing what you see now are
you listening
america
do you like me
[Music]
i can’t hear you
[Music]
america don’t you love me
[Music]
say it loud i can’t hear you over the
crowd
say it louder can’t hear you over the
sound of
america
you