Actor Jesse Williams is best known for his role as Dr. Jackson Avery on ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy.” However, he also serves on the board of directors of the civil rights think tank The Advancement Project and began his career teaching American, African and African-American History in low-income Philadelphia public charter schools.
It was likely the teacher in Williams that led him Tuesday to deliver a “Human Decency Twitterganza” on the shooting death of Michael Brown and more general concepts of whiteness and blackness. Buckle in for this one.
Human Decency (AKA Social Justice) Twitterganza coming in hot, in 5, 4, 3, 2…
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
After blasting a teen to death in front of 6+ eyewitnesses, it doesn't appear that #DarrenWilson will even have to get off his couch.
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
Very rarely are there over 6 eyewitnesses to a murder. That alone, never mind the immutable facts, warrants a trial. #WeHaveASystemForThat
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
If an entire police dept doesn't trust the [legal] system they are sworn to support. How can those under it's boot & gun be expected to?
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
"Wait for the facts" while simultaneously manipulating completely unsubstantiated gossip engineered specifically to justify brutalization.
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
Let's entertain the intellectual laziness of the actual conspiracy theorists for a second…
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
Let's say #MikeBrown did fight w/ #DarrenWilson– let's say it was worse, HE SHOT UP A THEATER. No weapon + significant distance = Can't Kill
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
Of course #MikeBrown's blood is in the car- the cop shot him. Giving him every reason to run. None of #DarrenWilson's blood in the car tho.
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
The new marketplace of anonymous messageboard tough guys, twitter trolls & cowardly lions will continue to rejoice. #CulturalWeakness
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
With the swell of black death at the hands of cops & vigilantes, I have some genuine questions for this specific segment of the population:
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
You loud few, relishing in blustery opinion over fact. Lurking in anonymity, unable to survive outside the lazy comfort of
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
of conclusions drawn long ago, unencumbered by the inconvenient realities of actual information.
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
When "men" violently assault women, your reaction is never "Well, girls hit girls all the time." That would be repugnant. Consider why.
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
Is that a subtweet directed toward TPM’s Josh Marshall?
Why do so many of you reflexively defend, identify w/, and antagonize on behalf of whiteness whenever blackness is involved?
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
You don't feel compelled to justify every thing done by everyone who happens to be straight or male or right-handed. So why whiteness?
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
What about black pain is so fun to you? From where is that joy derived?
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
When #Halloween comes around, how exactly does dressing as Trayvon and other illustrations of black pain, make you feel? Please be specific.
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
We don't reflexively celebrate random or routine white death, make memes of your bleeding corpses, etc. Tell us about this unique obsession.
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
Millions of you smile in awe of our music, comedy, inventions, athletics, fashion, etc. but when we're not entertaining you, you hate us?
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
How does that work exactly?
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
Wait a second now — when precisely did we jump from “you loud few” to “millions of you”?
How is the fact that police are killing 400 people a year not worthy of investigation and remedy?
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
From 2006-2012 a white police officer killed a black PERSON at least twice a week in this country. By saying so, I have not attacked you.
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
By asking that laws protect citizens from publicly sanctioned carnage, you still, have not been attacked. You choose what role you take on.
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
How is it possible that for so many, their first & only concern is whiteness and the power to keep killing with impunity?
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
There is no American epidemic of white people being killed, by anyone. Why would there need to be? #KeepGraspingForFalseEquivalenciesThough
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
Wearing an Irish or Italian Pride tee shirt would never offend you. But Black folks expressing general esteem or citizenship does? Why?
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
White people have played a crucial role in nearly every social justice movement in this country. Indifference is not your duty or heritage.
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
You need not carry the heavy, hollow burden of racism any longer. Leave it behind. Be for something, and not because it's easy.
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
What do Williams’ followers think?
@iJesseWilliams FUCKING PREACH!!!!!!!
— Neka (@MyVelvetRope) October 28, 2014
I am L I V I N G for allll of @iJesseWilliams tweets. I have said preach at least 30 times
— rh⁷ (@hoshyempires) October 28, 2014
https://twitter.com/chelseaMelc/status/527199031655559168
https://twitter.com/puregr8nesss/status/527197512101539840
@iJesseWilliams on a roll man #PREACH
— stressed & highly flavored (@the_originalmdj) October 28, 2014
@iJesseWilliams is reading some people the riot act right now. Preach!
— Alisson Becker is my king (@bluekd07) October 28, 2014
https://twitter.com/Bigro94/status/527211080763076608
Activist bae @iJesseWilliams slays again….Preach it and teach it Mr Williams.
— MrsBellerin (@DoubleDeka) October 28, 2014
https://twitter.com/Ashmoooeee/status/527196571914358784
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