Marlon Peterson: Am I not human? A call for criminal justice reform
말론 피터슨 (Marlon Peterson): 저는 사람이 아닌가요? 형사 사법 개혁을 향한 외침
Marlon Peterson is a writer, youth development expert and human justice advocate. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
I will tell everyone
있었다고 말할 거예요."
way to open a talk
going through your head about that.
such a thing about himself?
그런 얘기를 하는 걸까?
when he sees himself as garbage?
누군가는 그를 영웅이라고 생각하지?
더욱 많이 배운다고 믿습니다.
than we do from answers.
some sort of new information,
that makes us feel uncomfortable.
무지와 씨름하고 있는 것이죠.
하더라도 말입니다.
토바고 출신입니다.
to the only acoustic instrument
발명된 유일한 음향 기기의 고향입니다.
of one of the ghettos in Trinidad,
천재로부터 발전했습니다.
of the American military ...
military bases set up in Trinidad,
트리니다드에 부대를 주둔시켰습니다.
with empty oil drums --
버려둔 채 섬을 떠났습니다.
repurposed the old drums left behind
오래된 기름통을 개조해서
to Bob Marley to 50 Cent,
사람들은 말그대로
music out of garbage.
in a violent robbery attempt
강도 미수로 체포됐습니다.
in a coffee shop,
of Trinidad and Tobago.
토바고의 산물이었습니다.
"나쁜 이민자들"이었습니다.
and millions of Americans easily malign.
쉽게 비판하는 "앵커 베이비"죠.
and seven days of a prison sentence.
복역했습니다.
in a correctional institution.
선고받았습니다.
that a series of letters redeemed me,
일련의 편지들이 저를 구원했습니다.
the darkness and the guilt
죄책감과 암흑을 이겨내도록 해줬습니다.
moment of my young life.
느낌을 줬습니다.
생각한다고 적었습니다.
when I read those words.
a mentoring correspondence program
선생님으로 있는 친구와 제가
at a middle school in Brooklyn,
편지 중 하나였습니다.
프로그램이라고 불렀습니다.
shared their stories with me,
자신의 이야기와 고민을
of their favorite cartoon character
만화 캐릭터를 그려서
on my letters or my words of advice,
제 조언을 기다린다고 말한 모든 순간
I could contribute to this planet.
살 수 있을지에 대한 감각을 줬습니다
and what they shared with me,
저와 나눠준 것
to admit to myself
존재했음을 인정할 수 있는
for that fateful day in October of 1999;
with living in a community
지역에서 사는 것과 관련된 트라우마가
to get than sneakers;
raped at gunpoint at the age of 14;
강간을 당했던 트라우마가
mattered so much to me,
너무나 중요했기 때문에
with those folks
with some friends of mine
친구들과 나누기로 했습니다.
with the young people as well,
나누었습니다.
of relevancy in return.
and youth program innovators
청소년 프로그램 혁신자이고
return of investment.
결과라고 부릅니다.
taught me was that when we sow,
배운 것은, 우리가 심으면
of people no matter where they're at,
사람들의 인류애에 투자하면
있다는 것입니다.
of criminal justice reform,
of nonviolent drug offenses
지닌다고 믿는지를 묻곤 합니다.
that amplify the relevancy of people
브루클린의 일부 지역, 혹은
자원에 투자하면
the communities that we want.
공동체를 형성할 수 있습니다.
in law enforcement as a resource,
말고도 더 잘할 수 있습니다.
a sense of relevancy
삶의 의의를 주지 못하기 때문입니다.
do so many harmful things
의미를 찾기 위해 너무나 많은
display of a lot of underlying traumas.
표면적 표출일 뿐입니다.
value of relevancy,
가치에 투자한다면
personal responsibility and healing.
모두를 이룰 수 있습니다.
to do the hard work,
undeserved kindness
무시하고 버려버리는 사람들을 향한
while walking home.
드라이브스루에서 당했고
while eating breakfast,
휴가를 가 있는 동안
the redemptive value of relevancy
적합한 속죄 가치를 볼 수 있기를
of seeing the value in me.
our own capacity
easily choose not to see,
to be recognized,
인정받기를 기다리고 있고
기다리고 있기 때문입니다.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Marlon Peterson - Human justice advocateMarlon Peterson is a writer, youth development expert and human justice advocate.
Why you should listen
Marlon Peterson is the host of the podcast, Decarcerated, which highlights the journeys of resilience, redemption and success of formerly incarcerated people.
Since his release from prison in 2009, after serving 10 years, Peterson has spearheaded the creation of two youth development programs in New York City, How Our Lives Link Altogether (H.O.L.L.A!) and Youth Organizing to Save Our Streets (YO SOS). With a focus on gun violence prevention and youth advocacy, both programs have provided programming for hundreds of young people.
In 2015 Peterson left his full-time work in the nonprofit sector to create The Precedential Group, a social justice consultancy that works to address the trauma revolving around the intersections of race, gender, violence, police violence and community violence. His work through the Precedential Group has allowed him to provide support for organizations throughout the United States and Trinidad & Tobago, W.I.
As a writer, advocate, program developer and public speaker Peterson has been recognized as a Soros Justice Fellow, Aspen Ideas Festival Scholar, Ebony Magazine Power 100 Honoree and TED Resident. His writings have appeared and been cited in The Nation, Gawker, The Atlantic, Huff Post, Black Press USA, Ebony and the Trinidad & Tobago Guardian. He has contributed to Kiese Laymon's aaward-winning novel, How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America and Love Lives Here, Too by former New York Times columnist, Sheila Rule.
Peterson is Brooklyn born and bred with a Trinidadian heart. He is a graduate of New York University and is currently working on his first Pulitzer, a memoir.
Marlon Peterson | Speaker | TED.com