Jesse Williams Declares He Is Not Scared Of White People

Instagram/@fatjoe

During a conversation much talked about by Joe and Jada, an actor and activist, Jesse Williams, struck a powerful blow about racial fear and dreams of authenticity. This reflected on his notoriously famous 2016 BET Awards speech with Williams going bluntly on record that he was not scared of white men. Williams repeatedly explained how his upbringing trained his psyche to speak truth to power without compromising himself into a different person for the camera.

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Shared on the immensely popular Instagram account, Joe & Jada, the talk features the offspring remembering the landmark BET Awards acceptance speech for the Humanitarian Award that Williams had delivered eight years earlier. In the clip, Williams speaks about the backlash he faced after speaking out for racial injustice in a mostly white Western film industry. Williams furiously cries, almost quoting himself at the steamy peak of the speech, “The burden of the brutalized is not to comfort the bystander…That’s not our job.”

Williams was saying, essentially, that activists should not muzzle themselves. These comments mainly came from “people who do not have any record at all in the fight for equal rights for black people,” Williams maintained. “If you have no interest in equal rights for black people,” he said, “then do not make suggestions to those who do. Sit down.”

Williams stressed that being an actor never changed any of the stuff he ever felt deep in his heart. He simply had a microphone for a while, so he became famous; he didn’t change who he was because you put a camera on me.”

The comment section broke down with praise for Williams and his uncompromising stance. One user summed up the other comments: “That speech was epic. I’ve never forgotten it.” Several recounted watching the speech annually and how it “still gives me chills” after all these years.

More comments continued to pour in. Somebody began listing historical comparisons: “He has the spirit of Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier!!!” That comparison sparked a conversation on Belafonte’s mentorship of Williams and both their long histories as activists. The one who made the comparison went on to assert that Williams’ consciousness and dedication to the community make him “so much more fine,” a sentiment many echoing throughout the comments.

There were also testimonials of particular moments from the speech that resonated deeply with the commenters. One particularly detailed comment read: “That grunt from Jadakiss after he said he wasn’t scared of white people… that was a sound of the ancestors!!!!!!!!! Indeed Jada! Indeed!” Acknowledgment of Jadakiss’ visceral reaction to Williams’ proclamation opened the floodgates for responses affirming the moment’s significance.

“I didn’t change who I was cause you put a camera on me” echoed through the comments, many directly quoting the line in fierce support of Williams. One user responded, simply, “a WORD.” Another replied with praying hands and fist emojis, showing support for Williams’ realness.

Some commenters followed up with the history of Williams’ activism; one said people were writing think pieces about how William didn’t have the ‘right’ to speak on the issues because he’s half white when William gave the speech initially. That statement triggered discussions about colorism and how racial purity tests have been used against activists throughout history.

Another user made an interesting comment in regard to biracial advocacy: “It’s always the half white men that stand up for the black community and black women the most. I’m talking in the mainstream, Bob Marley, Barack Obama, Jessie Williams, Colin Kaepernick, J. Cole.” This sparked a heated debate, with some arguing this is because they have a perspective from “both sides,” whereas others tried to divert attention to dark-skinned activists who have contributed throughout history.

The history of activism for Williams stretches back farther than Hollywood fame, for he cited himself as being ‘on the news a lot, popping that shit’ in Ferguson, Florida protests, and other places where Black people were killed by the police. That widely known history lends credence to his statement that the camera did not change him; it only amplified the work he was already doing.

The union between Williams and Joe & Jada offers a forceful reminder about how his 2016 speech remains relevant and stands out as a call to action for a loud voice to keep advocating. In an industry that often tries to soften the message from Black artists, Williams’ sporadic pledges—then and now—to never compromise can be equated to him turning into an icon cherished by his supporters. The stirring declaration of not fearing white people comes at a cultural crossroads where genuinely called allyship and advocacy are set to be quietly redefined.

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Putting it beautifully, one commenter said, “Jesse’s receipts are LONG okay?” From the streets of Ferguson to the BET stage to modern-day dialogue, the proof of Williams’ long-standing commitment toward racial justice tells that indeed some people do not change when the cameras turn on. Either way, they use the cameras to clarify what really matters to them.