Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) Speaks Out In Powerful Monologue

Since early August, the streets of Ferguson, Mo., a predominately black suburb of St. Louis, have been our nightly news programming. The death of a young black college student, Michael Brown, at the hand of a white police officer sparked a series of protests that have yet to cease, many of which spread to other major American cities. This week, tensions reached a fever pitch. A Missouri grand jury declined to indict Darren Wilson, the officer who killed Brown; days later, a New York grand jury did the same for the white police officer who choked Eric Garner to death on video earlier this year.

Now, Yasiin Bey--the artist formerly known as Mos Def--tries to bring some clarity. Quoting from Max Ehrmann's "Desiderata" and reminding that progress is always born from unrest, Bey delivers a powerful three-minute monologue to Stop Being Famous. You're going to want to hear this. The full transcript is below:

"From a global perspective, where are we? We're at a critical time. We're at a watershed moment for humanity. I imagine we've been here before, and I imagine that we've probably been here for longer than we realize.

"I think many of us are becoming even more aware of where we are, and the urgency to change this miserable condition on this Earth, Malcolm X said, is occurring to many of us. Reaffirming itself. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It's an opportunity for necessary change, positive change. It's not necessarily convenient or comfortable, as I'm sure it is with any period of growth.

I read somewhere that in order for the arrow to flow, the bow has to be drawn back. There's some pressure involved, and I think we're all feeling that pressure. Some of us are more aware of it than others; some are trying to drown in out. But we all feel it in one way or another, in indelible ways, in these times and days.

"'Go placidly amid the noise and the haste and remember what peace there may be in silence.' That's the beginning of 'Desiderata.' 'As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others--even the dull and the ignorant. They too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may became vain or bitter. As always, there will be persons greater or lesser than yourself.'"

Filed Under: Eric Garner, Ferguson, MIchael Brown, Mos Def, Yasiin Bey

Categories: News