Kudzai’s talk will focus on learning how to look at black people as individuals as opposed to a statistic, stereotype, or demographic. By speaking from her heart, Kudzai hopes to allow others the opportunity to see “who or what” a black person really is. As she says herself, “I feel like many people have forgotten that black is just a skin color and not a definition of character.” When asked to describe herself and her passions, Kudzai Kupurura’s first statement was that she is a very “a pro-black black person.” Kudzai, a junior from South Salem High School, has a passion for using her individual voice to leave a mark on the world. A dedicated musician, Kudzai spends her free time playing the guitar and the piano, sometimes even making her own music. She recently started her own YouTube channel where she shares her music and powerful spoken word poetry. Kudzai’s poetry and music remain close to her heart as she says they allow her to feel like an active part of society. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.

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