Matthew McConaughey is questioning how he can do better as a white man to help tackle racial injustice amid the Black Lives Matter protests happening across the world. The Oscar-winning actor joined broadcaster Emmanuel Acho on his Instagram talk show, Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, following the senseless killing of George Floyd. The 46-year-old died on 25 May in Minneapolis after police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck, even after he pleaded that he couldn't breathe, while three other officers stood by and did nothing.
Matthew McConaughey speaks about racial injustice with Emmanuel Acho
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Speaking with Emmanuel, Matthew said his objective was "to learn, to share and listen - to discuss some common grounds between us, but also expose differences between us". He continued: "I'm here to have a conversation, hopefully promote more conversation and with the end goal being that we take the time we are now in to constructively turn the page in history through some righteous and justifiable change."
Matthew added: "How does someone like me; how can I do better as a human? How can I do better as a man? How can I do better as a white man?" Emmanuel responded: "You have to acknowledge there's a problem so that you can take more ownership for the problem. The first step to acknowledging is sitting in this chair right here across from a black man and saying, 'ok, I may not be talking about you Emmanuel Acho, but I may be talking about people who look like you.'
Watch Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man above
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"You have to acknowledge implicit bias; you have to acknowledge that you'll see a black man and for whatever reason, you would view them as more of a threat than the white man - probably because society told them to."
The 50-year-old – who has three children with wife Camila Alves, Levi, Livingston and Vida – also asked Emmanuel what he believed equality meant, to which the broadcaster said he didn't think it existed in the US in the wake of slavery, pointing to issues such as voter suppression, systemic injustice and inferior school systems.
Matthew admitted that his conversation with Emmanuel "exposed ways of looking at things in a way that maybe I didn't see" before. Adding: "I'm diving deeper into how I'm looking at things and how I'm looking at myself."
Emmanuel Acho has launched his show on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook
The episode was highly praised by a number of viewers, with one commenting: "This is so powerful! God is all in this. Well done!" Another said: "Perfection!!!!! Great job Acho. This is what we need. God bless. Keep going." While a third added: "Man. This is just outstanding bro. Outstanding. Needed. Convicting. Educational. Easy to listen to. Digestible. Thank you. Blaze your own path."
The #BlackLivesMatter protests are not only in response to George's death, but also Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery and so many others who have died in recent months due to racism and police brutality. Alongside America, there have also been protests taking place in London and Berlin, with people banding together to raise awareness and demand justice for the lives lost.
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