Jesse Williams is a talented actor and outspoken activist.
On Sunday, the "Grey's Anatomy" star received the Humanitarian Award at the 16th Annual BET Awards and delivered a riveting acceptance speech that highlighted racial inequalities in America.
Williams, who also helped to produce a documentary on Black Lives Matter, frequently uses his celebrity status as a platform to spread awareness about racial issues and to critique the portrayal of black lives by the media.
Here are 34 powerful quotes that show the wisdom Williams has amassed over the years:
#GenuineQuestion: How exactly is Ebola funny? If the 4,000 dead were American or blond, would that be a joke?
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 11, 2014
When #Halloween comes around, how exactly does dressing as Trayvon and other illustrations of black pain, make you feel? Please be specific.
— jesseWilliams. (@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?
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
Blackness has never been a threat to whiteness. Whiteness has always actively threatened blackness. This is not a matter of opinion.
— jesseWilliams. (@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.
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
Why do so many of you reflexively defend, identify w/, and antagonize on behalf of whiteness whenever blackness is involved?
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
If you don't actually care about Black people having equal protection under the law, why are you making suggestions to those who do?
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
What are the critical elements that constitute a "riot" and when do riots offend you?
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
You've watched hulking bullies w/ badges, robes & money brutalize, kill & cage human beings every yr of your entire lives & said nothing.
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
Whites rioted throughout the early 1900s, slaughtering, burning & looting entire thriving black townships, just because of the adjective.
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
Where are all the think pieces & coverage of the pathology of white culture every time white frustration vents violence & destruction?
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
Police & policies have been rioting on our bodies; destroying people & property every single day of your lives. But here you come...
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
The reaction to oppression has always been spun & marketed as validation for the status quo.
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
Now would be a good time for ALL of our good police and lawmakers to stand up, speak out, and lead on clear policy change. We're ready.
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) July 29, 2015
If we view rioting as a mass temper tantrum expressed through violence & property damage, white sports fans do that monthly. #Tradition
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
8 A select segment of Americans are granted the privilege of being able to resist said tyranny, scream at it, punch, shove or elude it.
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) July 22, 2015
10 Every time the story involves a black citizen, doing far less, presumed guilt BEGINS as their's to shed. But one cannot shed blackness.
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) July 22, 2015
12 As we well know, police are not THE law. They swear to UPHOLD & ENFORCE the law in a professional, courteous manner, whenever possible.
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) July 22, 2015
17 WE DO NOT BEGIN AS POLICE PROPERTY, to be freed or detained based on some guy's mood or feeling. We are not theirs.
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) July 22, 2015
18 Police weapons & cuffs do not dissolve if we don't like their attitude. Our rights should remain intact if they're displeased w/ ours.
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) July 22, 2015
19 #SandraBland's treatment while attempting to travel freely on HER public roadways has been acknowledged as unlawful. She is already dead.
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) July 22, 2015
20 Blackness is born to be w/ 2.9 strikes. A life that can & will be snatched by it's nation at any time, any place. Any age, any gender.
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) July 22, 2015
Blackness is like the big screen, it adds 10-100lbs, a gun and a carefully crafted script seen only through the eyes of the white hero.
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) November 26, 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?
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) October 28, 2014
Police are so likely to be violent criminals, that it remains glaringly necessary to video record their every move. Think about that.
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) July 29, 2015
But an indictment & swift justice is not to be heralded or confused w/ progress. The occasional drip of Americana is not a cup, or country.
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) July 29, 2015
What do you really know about ANY of the cops who admittedly killed an unarmed Black person? What system benefits from this arrangement?
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) July 26, 2015
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story stated incorrectly that Jesse Williams turned 33. He is 34.
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