Wanda Sykes wants to see more white people unite with the Black Lives Matter movement.
The 56-year-old actress joined Jimmy Kimmel on Thursday to discuss the recent protests and where she feels people could do more.
Her appearance on the show comes days after she posted a nearly 14 minute video to Instagram where she explained how white people can ‘step up’ with actions rather than just offer words of support.
Speaking out: Wanda Sykes joined Jimmy Kimmel on Thursday to discuss the recent protests and where she feels white people could do more to help the Black Lives Matter movement
‘I was already just so frustrated and angry,’ Wanda said of what prompted to her long video post.
She expressed that for those in the black community the recent string of protests may feel as a cycle of facing in justice and fighting for rights.
‘We’re just tired of this, man,’ she said. ‘It’s like we just keep going back and it’s the same thing over and over again. And I think this one, it just, it was it. It was like, “Enough.”‘
She continued to explain her feelings that all people, especially white people should join the movement, against police brutality and for racial justice, and fight together.
Step up: Her appearance on the show comes days after she posted a nearly 14 minute video to Instagram where she explained how white people can ‘step up’ with actions rather than just offer words of support
Cycle: ‘We’re just tired of this, man,’ she said. ‘It’s like we just keep going back and it’s the same thing over and over again. And I think this one, it just, it was it. It was like, “Enough”‘
‘I just had to do something. It’s like, we can’t do it alone,’ Wanda said. ‘We’re out there marching and asking for change.’
Adding: ‘You know, we need white people to do it. We need white people to tell white people to stop being racist because when we do it, obviously it’s not working.’
Though the stand-up comedian seemed hopeful as she has seen white people join the movement.
After the late night host mentioned a protest in Manhattan Beach, a beachside suburb of Los Angeles, that was predominantly white people protesting for Black Lives Matter.
Can’t do it alone: ‘I just had to do something. It’s like, we can’t do it alone,’ Wanda said. ‘We’re out there marching and asking for change’
Change is in the air: ‘This is different. You can feel it. You can feel this is different,’ she said. ‘You see white people out there’
‘This is different. You can feel it. You can feel this is different,’ she said. ‘You see white people out there.’
‘I guess we just had to tell y’all, “Hey, it’s okay. You can march. Just because it’s Black Lives Matter doesn’t mean we don’t want you involved. We need you involved,”‘ the actress said.
Speaking of the protests with people of different races she said ‘[It is] beautiful to see…I think we are going to see some movement.’
Her interview came just days after she used some liquid courage to eloquently speak on the current state, after over a week of protests erupted around the country after the death of George Floyd in police custody.
Live: Her interview came just days after she used some liquid courage to eloquently speak on the current state, after over a week of protests erupted around the country after the death of George Floyd in police custody
Floyd was videotaped while an ex-Minnesota police offer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes until he lost consciousness and ultimately died on Memorial Day.
Derek Chauvin, the office who was recorded kneeling on Floyd’s neck, as well as three other officers involved in the incident were charged with second-degree murder and aiding second-degree murder.
In the video Wanda said ‘I’m tired. I’m exhausted. ‘
She went on to explain white friends had reached out with words of support, but that she wanted to see them take action.
Empty words: ‘I appreciate them, but I’m tired of getting texts from my white friends saying “thinking of you, I hear you, I love you,”‘ she said. ‘That’s great and I appreciate it, …I’m not discounting them at all but …it’s kinda empty’
‘I appreciate them, but I’m tired of getting texts from my white friends saying “thinking of you, I hear you, I love you,”‘ she said. ‘That’s great and I appreciate it, …I’m not discounting them at all but …it’s kinda empty.’
She continued: ‘You don’t get to just drop that off and then go on about your life and feel good about yourself.’
‘There was slavery, the Civil War, the north won the Civil War, and this is your part too,’ she said of white allies as she wanted to see more from those outside of the black community.
‘To me, …we’ve done it, we’ve marched, I’m gonna tell you right now, I ain’t marching. I’m not marching I’m not doing it,’ she said. ‘You can’t ask us to fix something where we’re the victims. …It’s not our problem. …I’m the victim, you are the problem.’
Take up the call: Calling on white people to reflect on privilege and take action to support black people who have been fighting for justice for hundreds of years in America
Stop: She had been vocal on social media recently, using her platform to bring awareness to gun violence with #wearorange
Calling on white people to reflect on privilege and take action to support black people who have been fighting for justice for hundreds of years in America.
‘I can’t see my… proud, black, beautiful, young people out there, putting their lives on the line and getting tased and getting pepper sprayed,’ she said. ‘No, you gotta fix your problem, you’re the abuser.’
‘The only way racism will stop is when white people tell white people to stop being racist,’ she concluded. ‘I need y’all out on the front lines.’
She also used her social media in recent days to bring awareness to gun violence and to honor Floyd and Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old black woman who was shot by police while sleeping in her bed, though no charges or arrests have been made in her case.
For George: She also posted in honor of George Floyd, who’s death in police custody, caught on video while an officer kneeled on his neck until he lost consciousness, prompted protests around the country
For Breonna: Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old black woman who was shot by police while sleeping in her bed, though no charges or arrests have been made in her case