TEDxTaipei
Michelle Kuo: The healing power of reading
Michelle Kuo: Nguvu inayoponya katika kusoma
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Kusoma na kuandika vinaweza kuwa vitendo vya ujasiri vinavyotuleta karibu na watu wengine na karibu na nafsi zetu pia. Mwandishi Michelle Kuo anashirikisha namna ambavyo kufundisha stadi za kusoma kwa wanafunzi wake kule Mississippi Delta kulivyofunua nguvu ya daraja la maneno yaliyoandikwa-- pamoja na mipaka ya nguvu hiyo.
Michelle Kuo - Teacher, writer, lawyer
Michelle Kuo believes in the power of reading to connect us with one another, creating a shared universe. Full bio
Michelle Kuo believes in the power of reading to connect us with one another, creating a shared universe. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
I want to talk today
about how reading can change our lives
about how reading can change our lives
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Ninataka kuzungumza namna kusoma
kunavyoweza kubadilisha maisha yetu
kunavyoweza kubadilisha maisha yetu
00:18
and about the limits of that change.
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na kuhusu mipaka ya mabadiliko hayo
00:21
I want to talk to you about how reading
can give us a shareable world
can give us a shareable world
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Ninataka kuzungumza na wewe namna kusoma
kunavyoweza kutupa ulimwengu wa ushirika
kunavyoweza kutupa ulimwengu wa ushirika
00:26
of powerful human connection.
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wa muunganiko wenye nguvu wa kibinadamu
00:29
But also about how that connection
is always partial.
is always partial.
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pia namna ambavyo muunganiko huo
ni sehemu tu mara zote
ni sehemu tu mara zote
00:33
How reading is ultimately
a lonely, idiosyncratic undertaking.
a lonely, idiosyncratic undertaking.
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Kusoma mwisho wa siku ni kitendo cha
upweke na kisicho cha kawaida.
upweke na kisicho cha kawaida.
00:39
The writer who changed my life
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Muandishi aliyebadilisha maisha yangu
00:42
was the great African American
novelist James Baldwin.
novelist James Baldwin.
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Ni mmarekani mweusi na mwandishi
wa riwaya James Baldwin
wa riwaya James Baldwin
00:46
When I was growing up
in Western Michigan in the 1980s,
in Western Michigan in the 1980s,
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Wakati ninakuwa katika eneo la
Magharibi mwa Michigan miaka ya 1980,
Magharibi mwa Michigan miaka ya 1980,
00:50
there weren't many Asian American writers
interested in social change.
interested in social change.
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hakukuwa na wamarekani wenye asili ya asia
wengi wanaoandika kuhusu mabadiliko ya kijamii
wengi wanaoandika kuhusu mabadiliko ya kijamii
00:55
And so I think I turned to James Baldwin
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Na ndio maana nilimgeukia James Baldwin
00:58
as a way to fill this void,
as a way to feel racially conscious.
as a way to feel racially conscious.
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kama namna ya kuliziba hili ombwe,
kama namna ya kuwamakini na rangi
kama namna ya kuwamakini na rangi
01:03
But perhaps because I knew
I wasn't myself African American,
I wasn't myself African American,
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lakini haswa kwa sababu nilifahamu
mimi sikuwa mmarekani mweusi,
mimi sikuwa mmarekani mweusi,
01:07
I also felt challenged
and indicted by his words.
and indicted by his words.
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Pia nilisikia kupata changamoto na
kuthibitishwa na maneno yake.
kuthibitishwa na maneno yake.
01:12
Especially these words:
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Hasusani maneno haya:
01:15
"There are liberals
who have all the proper attitudes,
who have all the proper attitudes,
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"Ni watu huria walio na mitazamo sahihi,
01:19
but no real convictions.
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lakini hawana misimamo halisi.
01:22
When the chips are down
and you somehow expect them to deliver,
and you somehow expect them to deliver,
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pale ambapo vipande vipo chini
na unawategemea kuleta matokeo,
na unawategemea kuleta matokeo,
01:26
they are somehow not there."
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na huenda hawako hapo kwa namna fulani".
01:28
They are somehow not there.
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Hawako hapo kwa namna fulani.
01:31
I took those words very literally.
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Nikayachukua hayo maneno nikitafakari.
01:33
Where should I put myself?
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Nijiweke wapi?
01:36
I went to the Mississippi Delta,
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Nilikwenda kwenye delta ya Mississippi,
01:38
one of the poorest regions
in the United States.
in the United States.
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mojawapo ya maeneo masikini sana ya
Marekani.
Marekani.
01:41
This is a place shaped
by a powerful history.
by a powerful history.
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Hii ni sehemu ambayo imejengwa
na historia yenye nguvu.
na historia yenye nguvu.
01:44
In the 1960s, African Americans
risked their lives to fight for education,
risked their lives to fight for education,
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Katika mwaka wa 1960, Wamarekani weusi
walijitoa maisha yao kupigania Elimu,
walijitoa maisha yao kupigania Elimu,
01:49
to fight for the right to vote.
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kupigania haki ya kupiga kura.
01:52
I wanted to be a part of that change,
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Nilitaka kuwa sehemu ya badiliko hilo,
01:55
to help young teenagers graduate
and go to college.
and go to college.
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kuwasaidia vijana wadogo wamalize shule
na kujiunga na vyuo.
na kujiunga na vyuo.
02:00
When I got to the Mississippi Delta,
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Nilipoenda kwenye Delta ya Mississipi,
02:03
it was a place that was still poor,
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Palikuwa ni mahali duni bado,
02:05
still segregated,
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bado pametengwa,
02:07
still dramatically in need of change.
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Bado panahitaji mabadiliko ya kasi.
02:10
My school, where I was placed,
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Shule yangu, pale nilipokuwa nasoma,
02:14
had no library, no guidance counselor,
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haikuwa na maktaba, hakuna mshauri,
02:18
but it did have a police officer.
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lakini ilikuwa na afisa wa polisi.
02:21
Half the teachers were substitutes
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Nusu ya walimu walikuwa ni mbadala
02:24
and when students got into fights,
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na wanafunzi walipoingia kwenye ugomvi,
02:26
the school would send them
to the local county jail.
to the local county jail.
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Shule iliwapeleka kwenye jela ya
mahali hapo.
mahali hapo.
02:32
This is the school where I met Patrick.
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Hii ndiyo shule nilipokutana na Patrick.
02:35
He was 15 and held back twice,
he was in the eighth grade.
he was in the eighth grade.
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Alikuwa na miaka 15 na alikamatwa mara
mbili, alikuwa darasa la nane.
mbili, alikuwa darasa la nane.
02:40
He was quiet, introspective,
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Alikuwa ni mkimya na mndani,
02:42
like he was always in deep thought.
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ni kama kila wakati alikuwa mwenye mawazo.
02:45
And he hated seeing other people fight.
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Na alichukia kuona wengine wakipigana.
02:49
I saw him once jump between two girls
when they got into a fight
when they got into a fight
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Nilimuona mara moja akiruka kati ya
mabinti wawili walipokuwa wakipigana
mabinti wawili walipokuwa wakipigana
02:53
and he got himself knocked to the ground.
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Na akajikuta akidondoka na kuanguka chini.
02:57
Patrick had just one problem.
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Patrick alikuwa na tatizo moja.
02:59
He wouldn't come to school.
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Hakuwa akifika shuleni.
03:03
He said that sometimes
school was just too depressing
school was just too depressing
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Alisema kuwa shule wakati mwingine humfanya kuwa na msongo
03:05
because people were always fighting
and teachers were quitting.
and teachers were quitting.
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Sababu wanafunzi hupigana mara zote na
walimu wanaondoka.
walimu wanaondoka.
03:10
And also, his mother worked two jobs
and was just too tired to make him come.
and was just too tired to make him come.
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Lakini pia, mama yake anafanya kazi mbili
na huwa anachoka kuweza kumfanya aje shule.
na huwa anachoka kuweza kumfanya aje shule.
03:16
So I made it my job
to get him to come to school.
to get him to come to school.
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Hivyo nikafanya iwe kazi yangu
kumfanya awe anakuja shule.
kumfanya awe anakuja shule.
03:19
And because I was crazy and 22
and zealously optimistic,
and zealously optimistic,
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Na sababu nilikuwa na wazimu na miaka 22
na mwenye bidii ya matumaini
na mwenye bidii ya matumaini
03:23
my strategy was
just to show up at his house
just to show up at his house
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Njia yangu ilikuwa ni
kwenda nyumbani kwao
kwenda nyumbani kwao
03:25
and say, "Hey, why don't you
come to school?"
come to school?"
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na kusema "Eti, kwanini hauji
shuleni?"
shuleni?"
03:28
And this strategy actually worked,
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Na njia hii ilifanya kazi,
03:30
he started to come to school every day.
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akaanza kuja shuleni kila siku.
03:32
And he started to flourish in my class.
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Na akaanza kufanikiwa katika darasa langu.
03:35
He was writing poetry,
he was reading books.
he was reading books.
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Aliandika mashairi,
alisoma vitabu.
alisoma vitabu.
03:38
He was coming to school every day.
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Alikuja shuleni kila siku.
03:43
Around the same time
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takriban muda ule ule
03:44
that I had figured out
how to connect to Patrick,
how to connect to Patrick,
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Nilipogundua namna ya kushirikiana
na Patrick,
na Patrick,
03:47
I got into law school at Harvard.
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Nilikwenda shule ya sheria Harvard.
03:51
I once again faced this question,
where should I put myself,
where should I put myself,
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Nilikutana tena na swali hili,
nijiweke wapi,
nijiweke wapi,
03:54
where do I put my body?
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niuweke wapi mwili wangu?
03:57
And I thought to myself
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Na nikawaza mwenyewe
04:00
that the Mississippi Delta
was a place where people with money,
was a place where people with money,
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Kuwa Mississipi Delta
ni mahali ambapo watu wenye fedha,
ni mahali ambapo watu wenye fedha,
04:03
people with opportunity,
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watu wenye fursa,
04:05
those people leave.
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watu hao huondoka.
04:07
And the people who stay behind
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Na watu wanaobakia
04:09
are the people who don't have
the chance to leave.
the chance to leave.
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ni watu ambao hawana fursa ya kuondoka.
04:12
I didn't want to be a person who left.
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Sikutaka kuwa mtu anayeondoka.
04:15
I wanted to be a person who stayed.
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Nilitaka kuwa mtu anayebakia.
04:18
On the other hand, I was lonely and tired.
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Kwa upande mwingine, nilikuwa mpweke
na mchovu.
na mchovu.
04:21
And so I convinced myself
that I could do more change
that I could do more change
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Na hivyo nilijishawishi mwenyewe
kuwa ninaweza kufanya mabadiliko
kuwa ninaweza kufanya mabadiliko
04:26
on a larger scale if I had
a prestigious law degree.
a prestigious law degree.
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Kwa kiasi kikubwa kama ningekuwa
na shahada yenye heshima ya sheria.
na shahada yenye heshima ya sheria.
04:31
So I left.
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Hivyo nikaondoka.
04:34
Three years later,
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Miaka mitatu baadaye,
04:36
when I was about
to graduate from law school,
to graduate from law school,
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Nilipokaribia kuhitimu
shule ya sheria,
shule ya sheria,
04:38
my friend called me
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rafiki yangu alinipigia simu
04:40
and told me that Patrick
had got into a fight and killed someone.
had got into a fight and killed someone.
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na kuniambia kuwa Patrick
amepigana na kuua mtu.
amepigana na kuua mtu.
04:47
I was devastated.
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Nilitaharuki.
04:49
Part of me didn't believe it,
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Sehemu ya mimi haikuamini,
04:51
but part of me also knew that it was true.
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na sehemu ya mimi pia iliamini kuwa
ni kweli.
ni kweli.
04:55
I flew down to see Patrick.
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Nilisafiri kwenda kumuona Patrick.
04:58
I visited him in jail.
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Nilimtembelea gerezani.
05:02
And he told me that it was true.
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Na aliniambia kuwa ilikuwa kweli.
05:06
That he had killed someone.
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Ya kwamba ameua mtu.
05:08
And he didn't want to talk more about it.
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Na asingependa kuzungumzia suala hilo.
05:11
I asked him what had happened with school
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Nilimuuliza nini kiliendelea kuhusu shule
05:13
and he said that he had dropped out
the year after I left.
the year after I left.
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na akasema aliacha shule mwaka mooja
baada ya mimi kuondoka.
baada ya mimi kuondoka.
05:18
And then he wanted
to tell me something else.
to tell me something else.
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Na alitaka kuniambia kuhusu kitu kingine
05:20
He looked down and he said
that he had had a baby daughter
that he had had a baby daughter
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Alitazama chini akasema
ya kwamba amepata mtoto wa kike
ya kwamba amepata mtoto wa kike
05:24
who was just born.
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ambaye ndiye kwanza amezaliwa.
05:25
And he felt like he had let her down.
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Na anahisi kuwa amemuangusha binti yake.
05:30
That was it, our conversation
was rushed and awkward.
was rushed and awkward.
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Hivyo ndivyo ilivyokuwa, mazungumzo yetu
yalikuwa ya haraka na mabaya.
yalikuwa ya haraka na mabaya.
05:35
When I stepped outside the jail,
a voice inside me said,
a voice inside me said,
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Nilipotoka nje ya gereza,
sauti ndani yangu iliniambia,
sauti ndani yangu iliniambia,
05:40
"Come back.
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"Rudi.
05:41
If you don't come back now,
you'll never come back."
you'll never come back."
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Usiporudi sasa, hutarudi kamwe".
05:48
So I graduated from law school
and I went back.
and I went back.
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Hivyo nikahitimu shule ya sheria na
nikarudi.
nikarudi.
05:52
I went back to see Patrick,
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Nikarudi kumuona Patrick,
05:54
I went back to see if I could help him
with his legal case.
with his legal case.
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Nikarudi kuona kama ninaweza kumsaidia
na kesi yake ya sheria.
na kesi yake ya sheria.
05:58
And this time,
when I saw him a second time,
when I saw him a second time,
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Muda huu,
nilipomuona kwa mara ya pili,
nilipomuona kwa mara ya pili,
06:02
I thought I had this great idea, I said,
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Nilidhani nina hili wazo zuri,
nikamwambia,
nikamwambia,
06:04
"Hey, Patrick, why don't you
write a letter to your daughter,
write a letter to your daughter,
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"Hey, Patrick, kwanini usiandike barua
kwa binti yako,
kwa binti yako,
06:08
so that you can keep her on your mind?"
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ili uweze kumuweka katika
fikra zako?"
fikra zako?"
06:12
And I handed him a pen
and a piece of paper,
and a piece of paper,
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Nikampatia kalamu na
kipande cha karatasi,
kipande cha karatasi,
06:15
and he started to write.
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na akaanza kuandika.
06:18
But when I saw the paper
that he handed back to me,
that he handed back to me,
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Lakini nilipoiona karatasi aliyonipatia,
06:21
I was shocked.
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Nilipigwa na butwaa.
06:25
I didn't recognize his handwriting,
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Sikuutambua mwandiko wake,
06:27
he had made simple spelling mistakes.
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alikuwa amefanya makosa
machache ya matamshi.
machache ya matamshi.
06:31
And I thought to myself that as a teacher,
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na nikawaza mwenyewe kama mwalimu,
06:33
I knew that a student
could dramatically improve
could dramatically improve
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Ninafahamu ya kuwa mwanafunzi
anaweza kufanya vizuri kwa kasi
anaweza kufanya vizuri kwa kasi
06:37
in a very quick amount of time,
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Kwa muda mfupi sana,
06:40
but I never thought that a student
could dramatically regress.
could dramatically regress.
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lakini sikuwahi kuwaza kuwa mwanafunzi
anaweza kurudi nyuma kwa kasi.
anaweza kurudi nyuma kwa kasi.
06:46
What even pained me more,
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kilichoniumiza zaidi,
06:48
was seeing what he had written
to his daughter.
to his daughter.
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ni kuona kile alichokiandika
kwa binti yake.
kwa binti yake.
06:51
He had written,
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aliandika,
06:52
"I'm sorry for my mistakes,
I'm sorry for not being there for you."
I'm sorry for not being there for you."
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"Ninasikitika kwa makosa yangu,
ninasikitika kutokuwa pamoja nawe."
ninasikitika kutokuwa pamoja nawe."
06:58
And this was all he felt
he had to say to her.
he had to say to her.
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Na hiki ndicho alichojisikia
anataka kusema naye.
anataka kusema naye.
07:02
And I asked myself how can I convince him
that he has more to say,
that he has more to say,
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Nikajiuliza ni namna gani ninaweza
kumshawishi kuwa anaweza kumwambia zaidi,
kumshawishi kuwa anaweza kumwambia zaidi,
07:06
parts of himself that
he doesn't need to apologize for.
he doesn't need to apologize for.
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ile sehemu yake ambayo
hahitaji kuomba radhi kwayo.
hahitaji kuomba radhi kwayo.
07:10
I wanted him to feel
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Nilitaka yeye ajisikie
07:12
that he had something worthwhile
to share with his daughter.
to share with his daughter.
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kuwa anakitu cha thamani
kumshirikisha binti yake.
kumshirikisha binti yake.
07:17
For every day the next seven months,
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Kwa kila siku kwa miezi saba iliyofuatia,
07:21
I visited him and brought books.
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Nilimtembelea na kumpelekea vitabu.
07:23
My tote bag became a little library.
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Mkoba wangu uligeuka kuwa maktaba ndogo.
07:27
I brought James Baldwin,
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Nilimpelekea James Baldwin,
07:29
I brought Walt Whitman, C.S. Lewis.
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Nilipeleka Walt Whitman, C.S.Lewis.
07:34
I brought guidebooks to trees, to birds,
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Nilileta vitabu vya mwongozo wa miti,
wa ndege,
wa ndege,
07:39
and what would become
his favorite book, the dictionary.
his favorite book, the dictionary.
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na kitabu alichotokea kukipenda zaidi,
kamusi.
kamusi.
07:43
On some days,
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Kwa baadhi ya siku,
07:45
we would sit for hours in silence,
both of us reading.
both of us reading.
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tulikaa kimya kwa masaa,
wote wawili tukisoma.
wote wawili tukisoma.
07:50
And on other days,
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Na siku nyingine,
07:51
we would read together,
we would read poetry.
we would read poetry.
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tulisoma pamoja,
tulisoma mashairi.
tulisoma mashairi.
07:55
We started by reading haikus,
hundreds of haikus,
hundreds of haikus,
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tulianza kwa kusoma haikus,
mamia ya haikus,
mamia ya haikus,
07:59
a deceptively simple masterpiece.
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ni kito rahisi na danganyifu.
08:02
And I would ask him,
"Share with me your favorite haikus."
"Share with me your favorite haikus."
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Na ningemuuliza,
"Nishirikishe haiku zako unazozipenda".
"Nishirikishe haiku zako unazozipenda".
08:05
And some of them are quite funny.
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Na baadhi yake ni za kufurahisha sana.
08:08
So there's this by Issa:
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Kuna hii ya Issa:
08:10
"Don't worry, spiders,
I keep house casually."
I keep house casually."
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"Usijali, buibui,
ninaweka nyumba kikawaida."
ninaweka nyumba kikawaida."
08:14
And this: "Napped half the day,
no one punished me!"
no one punished me!"
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Na hii: "Nimelala nusu ya siku,
na hakuna aliyeniadhibu!"
na hakuna aliyeniadhibu!"
08:20
And this gorgeous one, which is
about the first day of snow falling,
about the first day of snow falling,
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Na hii nyingine ya kuvutia, inayohusu
siku ya kwanza barafu ilipodondoka,
siku ya kwanza barafu ilipodondoka,
08:25
"Deer licking first frost
from each other's coats."
from each other's coats."
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"Kulungu wakilamba baridi ya kwanza
kutoka kwenye koti la kila mmoja wao."
kutoka kwenye koti la kila mmoja wao."
08:31
There's something mysterious and gorgeous
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Kuna kitu cha ajabu na cha kuvutia
08:34
just about the way a poem looks.
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kuhusu namna shairi linavyoonekana.
08:36
The empty space is as important
as the words themselves.
as the words themselves.
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Nafasi ya shairi ni muhimu
kama maneno yenyewe.
kama maneno yenyewe.
08:43
We read this poem by W.S. Merwin,
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Tunasoma shairi hili lililoandikwa na
W.S.Merwin,
W.S.Merwin,
08:45
which he wrote after he saw
his wife working in the garden
his wife working in the garden
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ambalo aliliandika baada ya kumuona
mkewe akifanya kazi kwenye bustani
mkewe akifanya kazi kwenye bustani
08:50
and realized that they would spend
the rest of their lives together.
the rest of their lives together.
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na akakumbuka kuwa wataishi maisha
yao yote yaliyobaki wakiwa pamoja.
yao yote yaliyobaki wakiwa pamoja.
08:55
"Let me imagine that we will come again
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"Wacha nifikiri kuwa tutakuja tena
08:57
when we want to and it will be spring
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tutakapotaka na itakuwa wakati wa masika
09:00
We will be no older than we ever were
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hatutakuwa na umri mkubwa
kuliko tulivyowahi kuwa
kuliko tulivyowahi kuwa
09:04
The worn griefs will have eased
like the early cloud
like the early cloud
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na majonzi yatakuwa mepesi kama
mawingu ya mapema
mawingu ya mapema
09:08
through which morning
slowly comes to itself"
slowly comes to itself"
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ambayo kwayo asubuhi
huja yenyewe taratibu"
huja yenyewe taratibu"
09:11
I asked Patrick what his favorite
line was, and he said,
line was, and he said,
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Nikamuuliza Patrick mstari alioupenda
zaidi ni upi, na akasema
zaidi ni upi, na akasema
09:15
"We will be no older than we ever were."
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"Hatutakuwa na umri mkubwa
kuliko tulivyokuwa."
kuliko tulivyokuwa."
09:20
He said it reminded him
of a place where time just stops,
of a place where time just stops,
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Alisema inamkumbusha
mahali ambapo muda husimama,
mahali ambapo muda husimama,
09:24
where time doesn't matter anymore.
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pale ambapo muda haumaanishi
kitu chochote.
kitu chochote.
09:27
And I asked him
if he had a place like that,
if he had a place like that,
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Na nikamuuliza kama amewahi kuwa
na mahali pa jinsi hiyo.
na mahali pa jinsi hiyo.
09:29
where time lasts forever.
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pale ambapo muda hudumu milele.
09:32
And he said, "My mother."
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Na akasema, "Mama yangu".
09:35
When you read a poem
alongside someone else,
alongside someone else,
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Na pale unaposoma shairi
pamoja na mtu mwingine,
pamoja na mtu mwingine,
09:40
the poem changes in meaning.
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shairi hubadilika katika maana.
09:43
Because it becomes personal
to that person, becomes personal to you.
to that person, becomes personal to you.
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Kwa sababu huwa la kibinafsi kwa mtu huyo,
huwa la kibinafsi kwako.
huwa la kibinafsi kwako.
09:49
We then read books, we read so many books,
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Halafu tulisoma vitabu,
tulisoma vitabu vingi sana,
tulisoma vitabu vingi sana,
09:52
we read the memoir of Frederick Douglass,
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tulisoma kumbukumbu za Frederick Douglass,
09:55
an American slave who taught
himself to read and write
himself to read and write
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Mtumwa wa Marekani aliyejifunza mwenyewe
kusoma na kuandika
kusoma na kuandika
09:59
and who escaped to freedom
because of his literacy.
because of his literacy.
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na aliyetoroka na kuwa huru
sababu ya kuelimika kwake.
sababu ya kuelimika kwake.
10:03
I had grown up thinking
of Frederick Douglass as a hero
of Frederick Douglass as a hero
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Nimekua nikimfikiria Frederick Douglass
kama shujaa
kama shujaa
10:06
and I thought of this story
as one of uplift and hope.
as one of uplift and hope.
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na niliiona hii simulizi kama
iliyojaa matumaini na yenye kuinua
iliyojaa matumaini na yenye kuinua
10:10
But this book put Patrick
in a kind of panic.
in a kind of panic.
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Lakini kitabu hiki kilimuweka Patrick
katika hofu.
katika hofu.
10:14
He fixated on a story Douglass told
of how, over Christmas,
of how, over Christmas,
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Alibakia katika simulizi aliyoielezea
Douglass jinsi ambavyo, katika Christmas,
Douglass jinsi ambavyo, katika Christmas,
10:19
masters give slaves gin
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Mabwana waliwapa watumwa jini(pombe kali)
10:23
as a way to prove to them
that they can't handle freedom.
that they can't handle freedom.
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kama namna ya kuwaaminisha kuwa
hawawezi kuumudu uhuru.
hawawezi kuumudu uhuru.
10:26
Because slaves would be
stumbling on the fields.
stumbling on the fields.
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Kwa sababu watumwa waliweweseka
katika mashamba.
katika mashamba.
10:31
Patrick said he related to this.
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Patrick alisema anajifananisha na hili.
10:34
He said that there are people in jail
who, like slaves,
who, like slaves,
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Alisema kuwa kuna watu gerezani ambao,
kama watumwa,
kama watumwa,
10:37
don't want to think about their condition,
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hawataki kuwaza juu ya hali zao,
10:40
because it's too painful.
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kwa sababu inawaumiza sana.
10:41
Too painful to think about the past,
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Inaumiza sana kuwaza mambo ya nyuma,
10:44
too painful to think
about how far we have to go.
about how far we have to go.
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inaumiza sana kuwaza
kuhusu umbali gani tunapaswa kwenda.
kuhusu umbali gani tunapaswa kwenda.
10:48
His favorite line was this line:
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Mstari alioupenda sana ulikuwa huu:
10:51
"Anything, no matter what,
to get rid of thinking!
to get rid of thinking!
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"Chochote kile, bila kujali chochote,
kujiondoa katika kuwaza!
kujiondoa katika kuwaza!
10:55
It was this everlasting thinking
of my condition that tormented me."
of my condition that tormented me."
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Ilikuwa ni huku kuwaza kusiko koma kuhusu
hali yangu ndiko kunako kipa mateso."
hali yangu ndiko kunako kipa mateso."
11:01
Patrick said that Douglass was brave
to write, to keep thinking.
to write, to keep thinking.
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Patrick alisema Douglass alikuwa jasiri
kuandika, ili aendelee kuwaza.
kuandika, ili aendelee kuwaza.
11:07
But Patrick would never know
how much he seemed like Douglass to me.
how much he seemed like Douglass to me.
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Lakini Patrick hakufahamu kuwa alionekana
kufanana sana na Douglass kwangu.
kufanana sana na Douglass kwangu.
11:12
How he kept reading,
even though it put him in a panic.
even though it put him in a panic.
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Namna alivyoendelea kusoma,
ijapokuwa ilimuweka katika hofu.
ijapokuwa ilimuweka katika hofu.
11:17
He finished the book before I did,
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Alimaliza kitabu kabla yangu,
11:20
reading it in a concrete
stairway with no light.
stairway with no light.
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akisoma katika ngazi za
zege zisizo na taa.
zege zisizo na taa.
11:25
And then we went on
to read one of my favorite books,
to read one of my favorite books,
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Halafu tukaendelea kusoma mojawapo
ya vitabu ninavyovipenda,
ya vitabu ninavyovipenda,
11:28
Marilynne Robinson's "Gilead,"
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Cha Marilynne Robinson's "Gilead,"
11:30
which is an extended letter
from a father to his son.
from a father to his son.
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ambayo ni barua endelevu kutoka
kwa baba kwenda kwa mwanae.
kwa baba kwenda kwa mwanae.
11:34
He loved this line:
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Alipenda mstari huu:
11:37
"I'm writing this in part to tell you
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"Ninaandika hii kwa sehemu kukuambia
11:39
that if you ever wonder
what you've done in your life ...
what you've done in your life ...
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ya kwamba kama umewahi kujiuliza
kile umekifanya katika maisha yako...
kile umekifanya katika maisha yako...
11:42
you have been God's grace to me,
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umekuwa neema ya Mungu kwangu,
11:44
a miracle, something more than a miracle."
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muujiza, kitu ambacho ni zaidi
ya muujiza."
ya muujiza."
11:49
Something about this language,
its love, its longing, its voice,
its love, its longing, its voice,
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Kitu kimoja kuhusu hii lugha,
upendo wake, subira yake, sauti yake,
upendo wake, subira yake, sauti yake,
11:55
rekindled Patrick's desire to write.
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iliamsha shauku ya Patrick katika kuandika.
11:58
And he would fill notebooks upon notebooks
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Na alijaza daftari kwa daftari
12:01
with letters to his daughter.
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na barua kwenda kwa binti yake.
12:04
In these beautiful, intricate letters,
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katika barua hizi nzuri na imara,
12:07
he would imagine him and his daughter
going canoeing down the Mississippi river.
going canoeing down the Mississippi river.
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alijiwazia yeye na binti yake
wakipanda mtumbwi katika mto Mississipi
wakipanda mtumbwi katika mto Mississipi
12:13
He would imagine them
finding a mountain stream
finding a mountain stream
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Alijiwazia yeye na binti yake
wakipata vijito vya milimani
wakipata vijito vya milimani
12:16
with perfectly clear water.
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vikiwa na maji masafi bila kasoro.
12:20
As I watched Patrick write,
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Nilipomtazama Patrick akiandika,
12:23
I thought to myself,
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Nilijiwazia mwenyewe,
12:25
and I now ask all of you,
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na sasa ninawaulizeni nyote,
12:27
how many of you have written a letter
to somebody you feel you have let down?
to somebody you feel you have let down?
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ni wangapi wenu mmewahi kuandika barua
kwa mtu unayehisi umemwangusha?
kwa mtu unayehisi umemwangusha?
12:34
It is just much easier
to put those people out of your mind.
to put those people out of your mind.
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Ni rahisi sana
kuwaweka hao watu nje ya fikra zako.
kuwaweka hao watu nje ya fikra zako.
12:40
But Patrick showed up every day,
facing his daughter,
facing his daughter,
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Lakini Patrick alijitokeza kila siku,
akimkabili binti yake,
akimkabili binti yake,
12:44
holding himself accountable to her,
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akijiwajibisha kwake,
12:47
word by word with intense concentration.
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neno kwa neno kwa umakini wa hali ya juu.
12:54
I wanted in my own life
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Ningependa katika maisha yangu binafsi
12:58
to put myself at risk in that way.
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kujiweka katika hatari kwa namna hiyo.
13:01
Because that risk reveals
the strength of one's heart.
the strength of one's heart.
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Kwa sababu hatari hiyo inadhihirisha
nguvu za moyo wa mtu.
nguvu za moyo wa mtu.
13:08
Let me take a step back
and just ask an uncomfortable question.
and just ask an uncomfortable question.
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Ngoja nirudi hatua moja nyuma na niulize
swali ambalo linaleta wasiwasi.
swali ambalo linaleta wasiwasi.
13:12
Who am I to tell this story,
as in this Patrick story?
as in this Patrick story?
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Mimi ni nani kusimulia simulizi hii,
hii simulizi ya Patrick?
hii simulizi ya Patrick?
13:18
Patrick's the one who lived with this pain
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Patrick ndiye aliyeishi kwenye
maumivu haya
maumivu haya
13:21
and I have never been hungry
a day in my life.
a day in my life.
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na mimi sijawahi kukaa na njaa hata
kwa siku moja kwenye maisha yangu
kwa siku moja kwenye maisha yangu
13:27
I thought about this question a lot,
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Ninawaza sana kuhusu swali hili,
13:29
but what I want to say is that this story
is not just about Patrick.
is not just about Patrick.
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lakini ninachotaka kusema ni kuwa hii
simulizi sio tu kuhusu Patrick.
simulizi sio tu kuhusu Patrick.
13:32
It's about us,
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Inatuhusu sisi,
13:34
it's about the inequality between us.
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ni kuhusu tofauti kati yetu.
13:37
The world of plenty
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Ulimwengu wa vingi
13:40
that Patrick and his parents
and his grandparents
and his grandparents
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ambao Patrick na wazazi wake
na mababu zake
na mababu zake
13:44
have been shut out of.
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hawajawahi kuuona.
13:45
In this story, I represent
that world of plenty.
that world of plenty.
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Katika simulizi hii, mimi ninawakilisha
huo ulimwengu wa vingi.
huo ulimwengu wa vingi.
13:49
And in telling this story,
I didn't want to hide myself.
I didn't want to hide myself.
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Na katika kueleza simulizi hii
sikutaka kujificha mwenyewe.
sikutaka kujificha mwenyewe.
13:53
Hide the power that I do have.
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Kuficha nguvu ambazo ninazo.
13:57
In telling this story,
I wanted to expose that power
I wanted to expose that power
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Katika kueleza simulizi hii,
ninataka kuifichua nguvu hiyo
ninataka kuifichua nguvu hiyo
14:00
and then to ask,
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halafu kuuliza,
14:03
how do we diminish
the distance between us?
the distance between us?
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tunawezaje kuipunguza
umbali kati yetu?
umbali kati yetu?
14:08
Reading is one way to close that distance.
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Kusoma ni njia mojawapo ya kuipunguza
hiyo nafasi.
hiyo nafasi.
14:11
It gives us a quiet universe
that we can share together,
that we can share together,
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Kunatuma ulimwengu wa ukimya
ambao tunaweza kuushiriki pamoja,
ambao tunaweza kuushiriki pamoja,
14:16
that we can share in equally.
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ambao tunaweza kuushiriki kwa usawa.
14:20
You're probably wondering now
what happened to Patrick.
what happened to Patrick.
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Inawezekana unajiuliza sasa kuwa
ni nini kilitokea kwa Patrick.
ni nini kilitokea kwa Patrick.
14:23
Did reading save his life?
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Je kusoma kuliokoa maisha yake?
14:26
It did and it didn't.
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Kuliyaokoa na hakukuyaokoa.
14:29
When Patrick got out of prison,
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Patrick alipotoka gerezani,
14:32
his journey was excruciating.
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safari yake ilikuwa ya maumivu.
14:36
Employers turned him away
because of his record,
because of his record,
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Waajiri hawakumkubali kwa sababu
ya historia yake,
ya historia yake,
14:39
his best friend, his mother,
died at age 43
died at age 43
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rafiki yake mpenzi, mama yake,
alifariki katika umri wa miaka 43
alifariki katika umri wa miaka 43
14:42
from heart disease and diabetes.
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kwa ugonjwa wa moyo na kisukari.
14:45
He's been homeless, he's been hungry.
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Alikuwa hana pa kuishi,
amekuwa hana chakula.
amekuwa hana chakula.
14:50
So people say a lot of things
about reading that feel exaggerated to me.
about reading that feel exaggerated to me.
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Kwa hiyo watu wanasema mengi kuhusu kusoma
ambayo kwangu ninahisi wanazidisha chumvi.
ambayo kwangu ninahisi wanazidisha chumvi.
14:55
Being literate didn't stop him
form being discriminated against.
form being discriminated against.
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Uwezo wa kusoma haukumzuia yeye
asitengwe na jamii.
asitengwe na jamii.
14:59
It didn't stop his mother from dying.
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Hakukumzuia mama yake asifariki.
15:03
So what can reading do?
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Kwa hiyo kusoma kunaweza kufanya nini?
15:07
I have a few answers to end with today.
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Nina majibu machache ninapomalizia leo.
15:12
Reading charged his inner life
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Kusoma kulibadili utu wake wa ndani
15:17
with mystery, with imagination,
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kwa mambo yaliyofichika na uwezo wa
kuwaza kwa picha.
kuwaza kwa picha.
15:20
with beauty.
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kwa uzuri.
15:22
Reading gave him images that gave him joy:
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Kusoma kulimpa taswira zilizompa furaha:
15:27
mountain, ocean, deer, frost.
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milima, bahari, kulungu, theluji.
15:33
Words that taste of a free, natural world.
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Maneno yenye ladha ya ulimwengu huru
na halisi.
na halisi.
15:39
Reading gave him a language
for what he had lost.
for what he had lost.
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Kusoma kulimpa lugha kwa yale aliyopoteza.
15:43
How precious are these lines
from the poet Derek Walcott?
from the poet Derek Walcott?
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Ni jinsi gani yalivyo mazuri haya maneno
kutoka kwa mshairi Derek Walcott?
kutoka kwa mshairi Derek Walcott?
15:47
Patrick memorized this poem.
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Patrick alilikariri hili shairi.
15:50
"Days that I have held,
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"Siku ambazo nilizishikilia,
15:52
days that I have lost,
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siku ambazo nilizipoteza,
15:54
days that outgrow, like daughters,
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siku ambazo zinakuwa kupitiliza,
kama mabinti,
kama mabinti,
15:57
my harboring arms."
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mikono yangu inayoshikilia."
16:00
Reading taught him his own courage.
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Kusoma kulimfundisha ujasiri wake
mwenyewe.
mwenyewe.
16:03
Remember that he kept reading
Frederick Douglass,
Frederick Douglass,
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Kumbuka kwamba aliendelea kusoma
Frederick Douglass,
Frederick Douglass,
16:07
even though it was painful.
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ijapokuwa ilikuwa ya kuumiza.
16:09
He kept being conscious,
even though being conscious hurts.
even though being conscious hurts.
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Aliendelea kuwa makini,
ijapokuwa kuwa makini kunauma.
ijapokuwa kuwa makini kunauma.
16:14
Reading is a form of thinking,
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Kusoma ni aina ya kutafakari,
16:16
that's why it's difficult to read
because we have to think.
because we have to think.
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ndio maana ni vigumu sana kusoma
kwa sababu tunataka kutafakari.
kwa sababu tunataka kutafakari.
16:20
And Patrick chose to think,
rather than to not think.
rather than to not think.
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Na Patrick alichagua kutafakari,
badala ya kutokutafakari.
badala ya kutokutafakari.
16:28
And last, reading gave him a language
to speak to his daughter.
to speak to his daughter.
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Na mwishoni, kusoma kulimpa lugha
ya kuongea na binti yake.
ya kuongea na binti yake.
16:33
Reading inspired him to want to write.
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Kusoma kulimpa shauku ya kutaka kuandika.
16:36
The link between reading
and writing is so powerful.
and writing is so powerful.
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Muunganiko kati ya kusoma na
kuandika ni wenye nguvu sana.
kuandika ni wenye nguvu sana.
16:40
When we begin to read,
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Tunapoanza kusoma,
16:42
we begin to find the words.
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tunaanza kupata maneno.
16:45
And he found the words
to imagine the two of them together.
to imagine the two of them together.
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Na alipata maneno ya kutafakari
wao wawili wakiwa pamoja.
wao wawili wakiwa pamoja.
16:50
He found the words
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Alipata maneno
16:53
to tell her how much he loved her.
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ya kumwelezea ni namna gani anampenda.
16:58
Reading also changed
our relationship with each other.
our relationship with each other.
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Kusoma pia kulibadilisha
mahusiano baina yetu.
mahusiano baina yetu.
17:02
It gave us an occasion for intimacy,
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Kunatupa nyakati za kuwa karibu,
17:04
to see beyond our points of view.
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kuweza kuona zaidi ya mitazamo yetu.
17:07
And reading took an unequal relationship
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Na kusoma kulichukua mahusiano ya
kutokuwa sawa
kutokuwa sawa
17:09
and gave us a momentary equality.
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na kulitupa usawa wa muda mfupi.
17:14
When you meet somebody as a reader,
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Ukikutana na mtu kama msomaji,
17:17
you meet him for the first time,
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unakutana naye kwa mara ya kwanza,
17:19
newly, freshly.
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kwa upya kabisa.
17:21
There is no way you can know
what his favorite line will be.
what his favorite line will be.
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Hakuna namna unaweza kufahamu mstari
anaoupenda sana ni upi.
anaoupenda sana ni upi.
17:26
What memories and private griefs he has.
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Ni kumbukumbu zipi na huzuni zipi za
siri alizonazo.
siri alizonazo.
17:30
And you face the ultimate privacy
of his inner life.
of his inner life.
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Na unakutana na sitara ya hali ya juu
ya utu wake wa ndani.
ya utu wake wa ndani.
17:35
And then you start to wonder,
"Well, what is my inner life made of?
"Well, what is my inner life made of?
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Na halafu unaanza kushangaa,
"Eti,utu wangu wa ndani umejengwa na nini?
"Eti,utu wangu wa ndani umejengwa na nini?
17:39
What do I have that's worthwhile
to share with another?"
to share with another?"
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Ni kitu gani nilichonacho cha thamani
cha kumshirikisha mwingine?"
cha kumshirikisha mwingine?"
17:45
I want to close
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Ninataka kufunga
17:48
on some of my favorite lines
from Patrick's letters to his daughter.
from Patrick's letters to his daughter.
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kwa mistari yangu ninayoipenda
kutoka kwa barua za Patrick kwa bintiye.
kutoka kwa barua za Patrick kwa bintiye.
17:53
"The river is shadowy in some places
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"Mto una kivuli kwenye baadhi ya maeneo
17:56
but the light shines
through the cracks of trees ...
through the cracks of trees ...
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lakini mwanga unaangaza
kupitia mianya ya miti...
kupitia mianya ya miti...
17:59
On some branches
hang plenty of mulberries.
hang plenty of mulberries.
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Kwenye baadhi ya matawi
muliberi nyingi zimening'inia.
muliberi nyingi zimening'inia.
18:03
You stretch your arm
straight out to grab some."
straight out to grab some."
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Unanyoosha mkono wako
ili uweze kuyachukua baadhi".
ili uweze kuyachukua baadhi".
18:08
And this lovely letter, where he writes,
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Na barua hii ya upendo, anapoandika,
18:10
"Close your eyes and listen
to the sounds of the words.
to the sounds of the words.
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"Fumba macho yako na usikilize
sauti ya maneno.
sauti ya maneno.
18:14
I know this poem by heart
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Ninafahamu shairi hili kwa moyo
18:17
and I would like you to know it, too."
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na ningependa pia wewe ulifahamu."
18:21
Thank you so much everyone.
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Ninawashukuruni nyote.
18:23
(Applause)
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(Makofi)
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Michelle Kuo - Teacher, writer, lawyerMichelle Kuo believes in the power of reading to connect us with one another, creating a shared universe.
Why you should listen
Michelle Kuo is a teacher, lawyer, writer and passionate advocate of prison education. She has taught English at an alternative school for kids who were expelled from other schools in rural Arkansas, located in the Mississippi Delta. While at Harvard Law School, she received the National Clinical Association's award for her advocacy of children with special needs. Later, as a lawyer for undocumented immigrants in Oakland, Kuo helped tenants facing evictions, workers stiffed out of their wages and families facing deportation. She has also volunteered at a detention center in south Texas, helping families apply for asylum, and taught courses at San Quentin Prison. Currently, she teaches in the History, Law, and Society program at the American University of Paris, where she works to inspire students on issues of migrant justice and criminal justice. This fall, she is helping to start a prison education program in France.
In 2017, Kuo released Reading with Patrick, a memoir of teaching reading in a rural county jail in Arkansas. A runner-up for the Goddard Riverside Social Justice Prize and Dayton Literary Peace Prize, the book explores questions of what it is we owe each other and how starkly economic and racial inequality determine our life outcomes.
(Photo: Jasmine Cowen)
Michelle Kuo | Speaker | TED.com