Darrius

Darrius was my very first interview and he was very candid with me about his reasonings for being there. Along with protesting for the black LGBT community, he wanted to show up for his students. Interview below.

Darius Interview Transcript

Tyree: I guess my first question would be, besides the obvious what brings you out here today?

D: Well, I’m an educator, um I teach middle school and I’m a behavior therapist for every kid up until eighteen. So for me, it’s making sure that I am here just as a presence so that people can know that I’m here and that I’m that type of teacher. I can’t protest and march, but I can give out water. Um, but yeah, that’s why I’m here.

T: So how do you think your students would feel about you being here?

D: I think my students would love me, even more than they already do. Um, you know I’ve always been a teacher to talk about stuff: advocacy and political rights and all that stuff. My first class ever was ninety eight percent Latinx kids. Um so, teaching Latinx kids, brown kids, kids of color period um that you know your voice matters. And I think me being out here and actually doing that work will emphasize and highlight why I do that in class.

T: That’s amazing! So I see that your mask says “Black Trans Lives Matter”, can you tell me what that means to you?

D: So I’m also a black queer man. I identify as a non-gender conforming queer man – black man. And there has not been any media coverage for the black trans women and men that have died in the last three months.

T: That’s so true.

D: There’s no media coverage, no one’s talking about it. I feel like even this protest is very male based and we’re not thinking about the women and we’re definitely not thinking about our trans family. So I feel that me being queer um, that’s my role is to advocate for those who can’t.

T: That’s awesome, so I guess my last question would be – and it’s a little *~~* you know – but how do you feel about the representation of black people or non blacks that we have here. Do you think it’s a positive thing or do you think it’s something that could become a little harmful at times?

D: So, I think what it – I don’t know – I don’t really know how I feel about that. I know a lot of people are out here with the white savior complex and a savior complex in general. And I know that they’re operated in empathy and love, but it’s really rooted in [their] own guilt. I think it’s a matter of if you are out here, it doesn’t stop here. This is only your first step. I say that to black people, white people, brown people like this is only the – this is only one thing you can do. The work comes after this. So um, yeah I don’t know. Especially in Colorado I feel like it’s weird. A lot of white people just have that thing. They want to protest and be liberal and all that shit.

T: That’s kind of how I feel about it too. So I get what you’re saying.

D: Um, but yeah you know. I’m hoping that will cause some change. A lot of people are at home right now to think about what’s happening and I hope it does something.

T: Awesome. Well thank you so much!