The Sweet, Introverted Spirit of Elijah McClain #gonetoosoon: | TIS Ep. 17
Episode Summary:
Police violence against Black people and the trait of introversion come to a bizarre, painful, and tragic confluence in the case of Elijah McClain. The sisters, like all BIPOC, were shocked and devastated to learn about this gentle introvert’s murder at the hands of police. Join them as they unpack what happened, and discuss why, no matter how non-threatening you attempt to appear, every Black person is always at risk of losing their life to the police at any time. Plus: From fireworks to lynchings, it seems as though there is an outright war on Black and brown people in the U.S. Listen in as we discuss it all.
3 Big Takeaways:
- Let us live.: “In our world as introverts and Black people, we just want to be left alone to live our lives.”
- Stop weaponizing whiteness.: “Why are people weaponizing whiteness? (I’m talking to you, the Karens of the world.)”
- Stay woke, and do your research: “Were it not for George Floyd, would we even have heard about Elijah McClain? Because clearly his case had been buried.”
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5 Key Quotes:
- “I can’t breathe. I have my ID right here. My name is Elijah McClain. That’s my house. I was just going home. I’m an introvert. Please respect the boundaries that I am speaking. I’m just different. That’s all. I’m so sorry. I have no gun.”—Elijah McClain
- “What is it going to take for existing while Black not to be a crime?”
- “When you call the police on a Black person, you know what you are doing. You know it could end in their death.”
- “Every Black person spends a lot of time thinking about how to come across as not just palatable, but “safe” and non-threatenting.”
- “Being Black is like walking a tightrope.”
By The Numbers:
- 0:40 – “Introverts Unite Separately” segment: Introversion and Black issues and anti-racism are at the heart of what the sisters do and discuss. They catch up on how they are committed to doing the work, and mention some of the recent articles that Sharon has written on racism.
- 2:25 – “In Our World” segment: Sharon and Lisa discuss the tragic death of Elijah McClain, who was murdered by police in late 2019.
- 5:58 – The disparity between how BIPOC and white suspects are treated by police.
- 18:33 – Traveling while Black vs. traveling while white.
- 20:20 – The nightly fireworks and the recent wave of lynchings.
Resources:
- Sharon’s articles on race and racism.
- Background on the Elijah McClain case.
- Beyond the Black Square: What’s Next After #blackouttuesday