# Sankofa and the American Evolution: Going Back to Move Forward | Tulaine Montgomery | TEDxBoston

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aomR9BpTJ_Q
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/aomR9BpTJ_Q
Generated: 2026-01-08T20:01:39.961+00:00

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## Quick Overview

Tulaine Montgomery argues that re-committing to the core ideals of American democracy requires deep, radical imagination and rigorous self-examination, especially concerning the nation's history built on exploitation, urging the audience to actively shape the future rather than passively accept the status quo described by figures like Toni Morrison.

**Key Points:**
- Montgomery emphasizes that returning to what was left behind (Sankofa) is necessary to inform a better, wiser future for America.
- She cites Toni Morrison's quote: "Dream the world as it ought to be. Don't let anybody, anybody convince you this is the way the world is and therefore must be. It must be the way it ought to be."
- The speaker identifies the need to interrogate the historical contradictions and the current systems, structures, and hierarchies based on race and value that have been embedded since America's founding.
- Montgomery suggests that the current age of demographic diversity (age diversity being the most diverse ever) presents a rich opportunity for transformation.
- She challenges the audience to reject 'lazy proxies' like identity politics and instead engage in rigorous inquiry about their communities, systems, and relationships.
- The required action involves accelerating trust and partnership, and actively seeking solutions and perspectives not immediately visible in public discourse or news feeds.
- The ultimate goal is to commit to an American evolution where the nation's inherent genius and diverse capabilities are fully realized, rather than settling for the current, deeply broken state.

![Screenshot at 00:03: The title slide appears, displaying the speaker's name, "TULANE MONTGOMERY," against a warm orange background, introducing the speaker before she begins her address.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/aomR9BpTJ_Q/00-00-03.jpg)

**Context:** This TEDxBoston talk, delivered by Tulaine Montgomery, centers on the concept of "Sankofa"—a Ghanaian proverb meaning it is not taboo to fetch what is at risk of being left behind—as a framework for understanding and improving the American evolution. Montgomery frames the discussion around reflecting on inherited history, acknowledging the nation's fundamental contradictions (brilliance alongside brutality), and actively re-committing to build a better future.

## Detailed Analysis

Tulaine Montgomery begins by introducing the Ghanaian concept of Sankofa, which means looking back at the past to move forward, asserting that this reflection is essential for creating a better future for America, especially given its 250th birthday approaching. She highlights that America's history is a tapestry of both brilliance and brutality, filled with painful contradictions rooted in its founding on stolen land and labor. Montgomery quotes Toni Morrison, urging the audience to dream the world as it ought to be and resist believing the current state is the only possible reality. She argues that the current age, featuring unprecedented age diversity, offers a ripe moment for transformation. The speaker calls for re-committing to this evolution by examining ingrained systems, hierarchies of value based on race, and habits that perpetuate harm. She criticizes relying on "lazy proxies" like identity politics and encourages rigorous self-examination of one's own community and relationships. The required tools for this evolution are accelerating trust, fostering deep partnerships, and actively seeking solutions that might not be obvious in mainstream media. Montgomery concludes by stressing that this moment of transformation is filled with difficulty but is rich with possibility, urging the audience to actively participate in shaping the future they desire.

### Introduction and Sankofa

- It is not sentimental to go back for what you left behind; this proverb from the Akan people of Ghana means learning from the past to inform a better future
- This principle applies to the American democratic premise, which is at stake
- The speaker invites the audience to reflect on their past to shape a wiser future.

### The American Contradiction

- America has always held multitudes, making its history both brilliant and brutal, founded on stolen land and labor
- The nation has never fully met the promise of its bold aspirations, leading to painful contradictions that must be interrogated.

### Recommitting

- What's Required of Us: Calls for re-committing to American evolution now, which requires examining systems, mindsets, and relationships
- Urges moving beyond lazy proxies and binary thinking, which reduces human complexity to caricatures.

### Tools for Evolution

- The speaker suggests two tools: 1) Accelerate trust, especially when it is hardest, and 2) Engage in radical imagination to envision the world as it ought to be, seeking solutions that may not be immediately visible.

### Conclusion and Call to Action

- The speaker emphasizes that many in the room (leaders, entrepreneurs, organizers) are part of the ecosystem working toward positive change
- She concludes with Toni Morrison's quote, reinforcing the need to actively dream and work toward the world that ought to be.

![Screenshot at 00:06: The speaker, Tulaine Montgomery, gestures while presenting in front of a large screen displaying the title slide for her talk.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/aomR9BpTJ_Q/00-00-06.jpg)
![Screenshot at 00:35: A slide appears with the title "Reflecting on Our History: What we've inherited" in white text on a deep magenta background.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/aomR9BpTJ_Q/00-00-35.jpg)
![Screenshot at 01:14: The audience is visible, with at least one person raising their hand in response to a question posed by the speaker.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/aomR9BpTJ_Q/00-01-14.jpg)
![Screenshot at 03:57: A slide appears with the title "Reimagining Our Future: Where we're heading" in white text on a deep magenta background.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/aomR9BpTJ_Q/00-03-57.jpg)
![Screenshot at 12:25: A slide displays a quote from Toni Morrison: "Dream the world as it ought to be. Don't let anybody, anybody convince you this is the way the world is and therefore must be. It must be the way it ought to be."](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/aomR9BpTJ_Q/00-12-25.jpg)