WEBVTT

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- As the commander of Pacific Air Forces,

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a senior leader in our Air
Force, and an African-American,

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many of you may be wondering
what I'm thinking about

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the current events surrounding

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the tragic death of George Floyd.

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Here's what I'm thinking about.

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I'm thinking about how
full I am with emotion,

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not just for George Floyd

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but the many African-Americans that have

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suffered the same fate as George Floyd.

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I'm thinking about protests
in my country tis of thee,

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sweet land of liberty,

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the equality expressed

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in our Declaration of Independence

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and the Constitution that I've sworn

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my adult life to support and defend.

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I'm thinking about a
history of racial issues

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and my own experiences that didn't always

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sing of liberty and equality.

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I'm thinking about living in two worlds

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each with their own perspective and views.

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I'm thinking about my sister and I being

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the only African-Americans

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in our entire elementary
school and trying to fit in.

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I'm thinking about then going

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to a high school where
roughly half the students

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were African-American
and trying to fit in.

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I'm thinking about my Air Force career

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where I was often the only
African-American in my squadron

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or, as a senior officer,

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the only African-American in the room.

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I'm thinking about wearing
the same flight suit

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with the same wings on
my chest as my peers

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and then being questioned
by another military member,

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are you a pilot?

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I'm thinking about how I
sometimes felt my comments

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were perceived to represent the
African-American perspective

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when it's just my perspective

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informed by being African-American.

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I'm thinking about some of
the insensitive comments

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made without awareness by others.

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I'm thinking about being a captain

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at the O club with my squadron

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and being told by other
after African-Americans

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that I wasn't black enough

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since I was spending more time

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with my squadron than with them.

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I'm thinking about my mentors

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and how I rarely had a
mentor that looked like me.

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I'm thinking about the sound advice

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that has led to my success

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and even so, most of my
mentors could not relate

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to my experience as an African-American.

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I'm thinking about the pressure

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I felt to perform error-free,

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especially for supervisors I perceived

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had expected less from me
as an African-American.

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I think about having to represent

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by working twice as hard

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to prove their expectations
and perceptions

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of African-Americans were invalid.

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I'm thinking about the airmen

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that have lived through similar

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experiences and feelings as mine

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or who were either consciously

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or unconsciously unfairly treated.

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Conversely, I'm thinking about the airmen

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who don't have us a life similar to mine

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and don't have to navigate
through two worlds.

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I'm thinking about how
these airmen view racism.

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Whether they don't see it as a problem

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since it doesn't happen to them,

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or whether they're empathetic.

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I'm thinking about our two sons

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and how we had to prepare
them to live in two worlds.

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I'm thinking about the frank
and emotional conversations

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my wife and I have had with
them just this past week

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as we discussed the
situations that have led

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to the protests around our country.

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Finally, I'm thinking about
my historic nomination

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to be the first African-American

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to serve as the Air Force Chief of Staff.

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I'm thinking about the African-Americans

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that went before me to make
this opportunity possible.

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I'm thinking about the
immense expectations

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that come with this historic nomination,

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particularly through the lens

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of current events plaguing our nation.

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I'm thinking about how I may
have fallen short in my career

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and will likely continue falling short

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living up to all those expectations.

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I'm thinking about how my
nomination provides some hope

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but also comes with a heavy burden.

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I can't fix centuries
of racism in our country

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nor can I fix decades of discrimination

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that may have impacted
members of our Air Force.

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I'm thinking about how
I can make improvements,

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personally, professionally,
and institutionally

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so that all airmen,
both today and tomorrow,

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appreciate the value of diversity

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and can serve in an environment

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where they can reach their full potential.

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I think I don't have all the answers

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on how to create such an environment

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whether here in PACAF
or across our Air Force.

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I'm thinking about
without clear-cut answers,

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I just want to have the
wisdom and knowledge

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to lead during difficult times like these.

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I want the wisdom and knowledge

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to lead, participate in, and listen

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to necessary conversations

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on racism, diversity, and inclusion.

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I want the wisdom and
knowledge to lead those willing

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to take committed and sustained action

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to make our Air Force better.

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That's what I'm thinking about.

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I wonder what you're thinking about.

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I want to hear what you're thinking about

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and how together we can make a difference.