Tyler Perry Says Black Community Needs Non-Black Allies: There’s Power In Talking To The Other Side!

Tyler Perry

Tyler Perry Says Black Community Needs Non-Black Allies: There’s Power In Talking To The Other Side!

Television and filmmaker Tyler Perry is using his influence to invoke change by having conversations with high-level individuals who he says have the ability to effect change with “the stroke of a pen.”

Tyler Perry took to social media to express his heartbreak and anger over the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, as well as the actions he plans to take in order to ensure no more black lives will be killed at the hands of the police.

“ I spent the past few days with an extremely heavy heart, having very high-level conversations with people who don’t look like me, people who may not believe what I believe, people who don’t know what it’s like to be black in America but were willing to listen…white people who are Republicans and Democrats, with different opinions, different views, and different ideas and strategies on how to stop this! White people with the power to have this go either way.”

George Floyd

Tyler Perry stressed since merely 12-14% of the U.S. population is African American, it is vital for all black people to not only work together but to have allies who are not black.

“IT TAKES ALL OF US AS BLACK PEOPLE TO DO OUR PART!! Think about this, please. We’re only 12 to 14 percent of the US population. With a number like that, we need allies that don’t look like us. Allies who are not in the 12 to 14 percent but want to be in the number that help us.”

The director repeatedly pressed that there is power in talking to the other side.

“I must say that it’s a gift to be able to pick up the phone and actually talk to people who can help effect change. THERE IS POWER IN TALKING TO THE OTHER SIDE! THERE IS POWER IN BEING HEARD! That’s where change lives! Change lives in the galvanization of all races, not in the division of us. During the civil rights movement, we were not only marching, but there were those of us who were doing exactly what I’m saying here.”

He added,

“ Please remember this my loving black brothers and sisters, if we judge all white people and all police officers as the same, then that is the blanket judgment that we are accusing them of!!”

Perry mentioned other African Americans in high positions have also been behind the scenes making calls for change as well.

“And you gotta know that I wasn’t the only one doing this. There are a lot of high profile black people, Oprah, Jay-Z, Diddy, athletes, politicians business leaders, preachers, community leaders, and on and on who are doing the same thing I was doing to help us all!! There were a lot of white people that are famous that I was talking to who wanted to know how they can help.”

He also said he spoke to George Floyd’s family.

“I also spoke to George Floyd’s immediate family and tried to speak comfort in this moment. I have to tell you – they are adamant in their call for peaceful protest.”

Perry previously spoke out Saturday, along with other celebrities, after people became violent and began looting in Atlanta.

Protests across the country have grown in the days following George Floyd’s death. Floyd died shortly after being detained by police officers on Memorial Day. A video surfaced last week showing George Floyd being handcuffed and pinned to the ground for more than 8 minutes with Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s knee pressed on his neck.

Chauvin has been charged with manslaughter and third-degree murder of George Floyd.

Perry ended his post expressing that he was hopeful in spite of everything after seeing a Good Morning America segment that highlighted police unifying with protestors.

What are your thoughts on Tyler Perry’s statements? Let us know in the comments.