התמלול המלא של The Black Perspective: July 21, 2024

00:03:46.719 But if you notice, even right now, you have so 74 00:03:46.840 --> 00:03:49.919 many black people have decided to get off the plantation. 75 00:03:50.919 --> 00:03:53.840 When we're needed for a vote, they come and see us. 76 00:03:54.159 --> 00:03:58.120 Pastor Donald William Johnson is a delegate from Illinois. He 77 00:03:58.199 --> 00:04:00.840 could be the face on the poster for what it 78 00:04:00.960 --> 00:04:04.199 is when you're a black Republican and everyone else in 79 00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:05.879 the family is a Democrat. 80 00:04:06.319 --> 00:04:08.960 I even had family members ask me, basient that you 81 00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:09.479 get out. 82 00:04:09.319 --> 00:04:09.919 Of the family. 83 00:04:10.039 --> 00:04:14.639 He also sees it a black house divided along political lines. 84 00:04:15.159 --> 00:04:18.720 Now, the unfortunate thing is there is a division between 85 00:04:18.759 --> 00:04:20.120 black men and black women. 86 00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:25.639 Hello, my name is Amber Rose. I'm a model and entrepreneur. 87 00:04:26.199 --> 00:04:32.040 Thank you, But most importantly, I'm a mother. My whole 88 00:04:32.040 --> 00:04:35.839 world revolves around providing for my children, keeping them safe, 89 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:39.399 and giving them an opportunity for a better life. That's 90 00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:45.160 something that unites all American parents, whether we're Republicans, Democrats, conservatives, 91 00:04:45.279 --> 00:04:48.879 our liberals, we all want a better country for our children. 92 00:04:55.920 --> 00:04:58.680 But I'm here tonight to tell you, no matter your 93 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:02.000 political background, that the best chance we have to give 94 00:05:02.040 --> 00:05:05.360 our babies a better life, is to elect Donald Trump 95 00:05:05.399 --> 00:05:06.879 president of the United States. 96 00:05:08.879 --> 00:05:13.199 Anne Burrose reportedly is getting pushedback for her RNC Convention 97 00:05:13.360 --> 00:05:14.600 prime time appearance. 98 00:05:15.279 --> 00:05:17.920 The first person I knew who supported Donald Trump was 99 00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:18.399 my father. 100 00:05:19.399 --> 00:05:20.199 I was shocked. 101 00:05:20.959 --> 00:05:24.680 My entire family is racially diverse, and I. 102 00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:26.959 Believe the left wing propaganda. 103 00:05:26.399 --> 00:05:30.439 That Donald Trump was a racist. My father said, no, 104 00:05:30.560 --> 00:05:31.480 he's not amber. 105 00:05:31.600 --> 00:05:32.839 What are you talking about? 106 00:05:33.639 --> 00:05:37.480 And when I insisted, he said, prove it. So to 107 00:05:37.639 --> 00:05:41.199 prove my father wrong, I did my research and looked 108 00:05:41.240 --> 00:05:43.040 into all things Donald Trump. 109 00:05:45.199 --> 00:05:49.439 Doctor Ben Carson, formerly hud secretary under the Trump administration, 110 00:05:49.879 --> 00:05:54.720 and another respected black Republican star, told

me exclusively he 111 00:05:54.839 --> 00:05:57.040 has a message for the black community. 112 00:05:57.600 --> 00:06:00.959 The solutions to our problem in the hands of we 113 00:06:01.160 --> 00:06:04.680 the people. We can't depend on the government or anybody 114 00:06:04.759 --> 00:06:07.399 else to fix the problems. And that's the way it 115 00:06:07.480 --> 00:06:11.079 was designed by our founders. And you have to be courageous, 116 00:06:11.079 --> 00:06:12.759 and you have to be willing to stand up for 117 00:06:12.800 --> 00:06:13.519 what you believe in. 118 00:06:13.879 --> 00:06:15.879 You could say you're a Democrat, but are you really 119 00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:18.680 happy that you've been paying higher in gas prices? Are 120 00:06:18.720 --> 00:06:19.920 you happy with your energy price? 121 00:06:19.920 --> 00:06:22.959 Are you Joseph Woods is the state chairman representative for 122 00:06:23.000 --> 00:06:26.040 the Republican National Party out of Arkansas. 123 00:06:26.160 --> 00:06:29.319 They're going to be just so excited that one he's alive. 124 00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:32.759 Two they're going to be energized by the fact that 125 00:06:32.759 --> 00:06:35.439 he's on now our nominee and he's about to go 126 00:06:35.519 --> 00:06:37.959 back in and deliver what he did the first time 127 00:06:37.959 --> 00:06:40.000 he was in. And then even more so, how. 128 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:42.319 Do you do that because you know half the country 129 00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:43.199 is not with Half. 130 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:45.079 The country would end up saying no, I think he 131 00:06:45.079 --> 00:06:48.360 speaks to that group. As much as we can have disagreements, 132 00:06:49.040 --> 00:06:50.800 but we don't have to be disagreeable. We don't have 133 00:06:50.839 --> 00:06:52.560 to go ahead and shoot somebody because you don't like 134 00:06:52.600 --> 00:06:53.680 something that they say. 135 00:06:54.160 --> 00:06:57.319 Beating the bullet loomed over this convention all week long. 136 00:06:57.720 --> 00:07:01.879 The T shirts were everywhere, bloody face, fist in the air. 137 00:07:02.279 --> 00:07:05.759 And for this crowd that sent his survival to a 138 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:07.480 higher power, I don't know. 139 00:07:07.839 --> 00:07:09.920 It doesn't feel like a political eving, feels like I'm 140 00:07:09.959 --> 00:07:10.959 in the body of Christ. 141 00:07:11.160 --> 00:07:15.439 Larry Gathers of Spiritual Revolution Radio had no problem going 142 00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:17.120 right to the good book. 143 00:07:17.319 --> 00:07:20.759 God is with President Trump and that no weapon that's 144 00:07:20.759 --> 00:07:22.680 formed against in Shaw prosperg, but. 145 00:07:22.680 --> 00:07:26.600 The election will show if Trump's blessings will extend far 146 00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:31.360 enough for a win. At the RNC in Milwaukee, Vanessa 147 00:07:31.439 --> 00:07:34.240 Tyler on the Black Information Network. 148 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:37.000 Thanks Vanessa, and don't forget The Black Information Network will 149 00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:40.519 be live at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, 150 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:43.839 and so stay tuned for more details. The twenty twenty 151 00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:46.759 four National Urban League Conference kicks off later this week 152 00:07:46.759 --> 00:07:49.360 in New Orleans, and News anchor Mimi Brown caught up 153 00:07:49.360 --> 00:07:52.920 with nul's senior VP and CMO, Ronda spears Bell to 154 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:54.199 discuss this year's event. 155 00:07:54.360 --> 00:07:57.439 Today, we have the honor of welcoming Ronda Spears Bell, 156 00:07:57.879 --> 00:08:01.000 the Senior Vice President and Chief Mark Officer of the 157 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:04.680 National Urban League. With over twenty five years of pioneering 158 00:08:04.759 --> 00:08:09.639 leadership and strategic planning, brand marketing, and media production, Ronda 159 00:08:09.720 --> 00:08:14.639 continues to shape the narrative and empowerment and equality. Welcome Ronda, 160 00:08:14.680 --> 00:08:16.199 Thank you so much for joining us. 161 00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:16.720 How are you? 162 00:08:17.000 --> 00:08:19.879 I'm doing great, Nami, thank you so much for having me. 163 00:08:19.959 --> 00:08:20.639 It's a pleasure. 164 00:08:21.040 --> 00:08:24.199 Could you share with us your journey and the pivotal 165 00:08:24.240 --> 00:08:27.639 experience that have led you to become the senior Vice 166 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:31.240 president and Chief Marketing Officer at the National Urban League. 167 00:08:31.879 --> 00:08:32.679 Absolutely. 168 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:36.080 I have been at the National Urban League almost sixteen 169 00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:39.159 years now, and let me tell you, it is a 170 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:42.960 labor of love. I love the work that we do 171 00:08:43.080 --> 00:08:46.360 as a civil rights organization. I love working with our 172 00:08:46.440 --> 00:08:48.840 president and CEO, Mark H. 173 00:08:48.919 --> 00:08:49.360 Morel. 174 00:08:49.559 --> 00:08:52.039 Is actually my second term of duty with him, if 175 00:08:52.080 --> 00:08:53.919 you will, because I also work for him when he 176 00:08:53.960 --> 00:08:55.879 was the Mayor of New Orleans. But I love the 177 00:08:55.879 --> 00:08:58.159 work that we do in that of the Urban League movement, 178 00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:01.080 in that we are in ni you to affiliates or 179 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:04.080 chapters if you will, across the country. We're in over 180 00:09:04.120 --> 00:09:08.000 three hundred community and we serve over three million people 181 00:09:08.120 --> 00:09:11.080 through direct services. And I love what we do in 182 00:09:11.159 --> 00:09:13.799 terms of empowering communities and changing lives. 183 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:17.039 It worked on a number of impactful projects at the 184 00:09:17.159

--> 00:09:21.360 Urban League, including the award winning I Am Empowered campaign 185 00:09:21.799 --> 00:09:24.759 and the annual State of Black America Report. What drives 186 00:09:24.799 --> 00:09:26.799 your passion for these initiatives? 187 00:09:27.200 --> 00:09:30.279 You know, what really drives me is the message behind 188 00:09:30.320 --> 00:09:35.639 the movement. We really are grounded in trying to change 189 00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:38.039 people's lives. I like to say, even if it's just 190 00:09:38.120 --> 00:09:41.960 one person at a time, and through our local affiliates. 191 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:43.399 That's where the rubber meets through road. 192 00:09:43.840 --> 00:09:47.399 That's who we're really making impactful change across the country 193 00:09:47.440 --> 00:09:51.399 and in people's lives every day. Whether it's through education initiatives, 194 00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:56.879 whether it's through health equity, whether it's through workforce and entrepreneurship, 195 00:09:57.240 --> 00:10:02.000 whether it's through equitable justice and social initiatives, whether we're 196 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:05.360 doing this through housing initiatives. We have about five pillars 197 00:10:05.399 --> 00:10:08.440 that we really focus our work around, and what really 198 00:10:08.519 --> 00:10:12.120 drives me is the fact that we're doing impactful work. 199 00:10:12.360 --> 00:10:15.200 We're doing work that really is making a difference in 200 00:10:15.240 --> 00:10:18.240 the lives of communities of colors and people of color. 201 00:10:18.399 --> 00:10:22.080 And speaking of impactful work, the twenty twenty four National 202 00:10:22.200 --> 00:10:25.279 Urban League Conference is taking place in New Orleans from 203 00:10:25.399 --> 00:10:29.159 July twenty fourth through the twenty seventh. What can attendees 204 00:10:29.240 --> 00:10:31.679 expect this year? What are some of the key topics 205 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:33.919 that will be covered at this year's conference. 206 00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:38.159 Absolutely, listen, we are so excited about the conference returning 207 00:10:38.159 --> 00:10:40.519 to New Orleans. We were in New Orleans the last 208 00:10:40.519 --> 00:10:45.120 time in twenty twelve. This is a return to our 209 00:10:45.200 --> 00:10:47.279 president and CEO's hometown. 210 00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:50.440 As you know, he is a native New Orleanians, so This. 211 00:10:50.440 --> 00:10:53.279 Is like a homegoing for us, so it's a super 212 00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:57.399 special conference. But listen, I can tell everyone right now 213 00:10:57.840 --> 00:11:01.639 you can get ready for an extraordinary experience. We will 214 00:11:01.720 --> 00:11:05.360 be there July twenty fourth through the twenty seventh at 215 00:11:05.360 --> 00:11:09.000 the Highatt Regency New Orleans Hotel. There are a number 216 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:12.519 of activations and sessions and plenaries that we are hosting,

217 00:11:13.039 --> 00:11:15.559 and really in terms of how we're theming this and 218 00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:18.440 what this really is about for us, our call to 219 00:11:18.519 --> 00:11:22.559 action is really what we call internally D three And 220 00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:27.240 here's what I mean by that. We're talking about defending democracy, 221 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:32.519 demanding diversity, and defeating poverty, and all of our work 222 00:11:32.600 --> 00:11:36.080 really fits into one of those three areas. We'll also 223 00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:40.960 discuss and fight against this unprecedent backlash against racial justice. 224 00:11:41.159 --> 00:11:42.720 But in terms of some of the things to look 225 00:11:42.759 --> 00:11:46.200 forward to, this is the twentieth anniversary of our Women 226 00:11:46.200 --> 00:11:50.200 of Power Awards luncheon, where we honor extraordinary women and. 227 00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:52.840 Recognize them for being the game changes that they really are. 228 00:11:53.039 --> 00:11:56.600 That's hosted by Michelle Miller, who is a CBS correspondent 229 00:11:57.039 --> 00:12:00.879 and anchor of CBS Saturday. And of course we also 230 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:05.039 focus our conference and our work around a younger demographic 231 00:12:05.240 --> 00:12:06.960 eighteen to twenty one year olds. 232 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:08.200 We are the. 233 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:10.679 National Urban League and we are well over one hundred 234 00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:13.559 years old, but the work that we do is also 235 00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:18.320 pivotal and important to this younger demographic, and we call 236 00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:22.320 them the Young Professionals, and we're also celebrating their twenty 237 00:12:22.519 --> 00:12:24.639 fifth anniversary. 238 00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:26.000 At our conference this year. 239 00:12:26.360 --> 00:12:29.240 But as I mentioned, this is something for everyone because 240 00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:33.159 we have a career fair on Wednesday, July twenty fourth. 241 00:12:33.399 --> 00:12:35.360 If you're looking for a new job, if you're looking 242 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:38.480 for professional development skills, if you're looking for someone to 243 00:12:38.519 --> 00:12:42.279 review your your resume, we have that for you because 244 00:12:42.360 --> 00:12:44.919 we have career coaches and we have companies who are 245 00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:49.200 ready to serve and ready to hire and recruit. We're 246 00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:52.600 kicking off this conference with our rally and we are 247 00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:56.720 calling that the Urban League Fights for You Rally. We're 248 00:12:56.759 --> 00:13:01.440 fighting for women's rights and reproductive rights. We're rallying together 249 00:13:01.720 --> 00:13:07.360 and calling for opportunities save HBCUs. We're coming together to 250 00:13:07.480 --> 00:13:12.759 discuss diversity and affirmative action. We're coming together to reclaim 251 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:16.679 your vote because this is our Reclaim your Vote Rally, 252 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:20.879 which will be held at Xavier University in the Convocations Center. 253 00:13:21.159 --> 00:13:25.159 It is open to everyone. It is a city wide rally. 254 00:13:25.240 --> 00:13:29.159 We are showing our advocacy. We're showing what we're standing 255 00:13:29.240 --> 00:13:33.440 up for. We're coming to make noise and be disruptors 256 00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:36.720 and to say that we will not continue to allow 257 00:13:37.320 --> 00:13:41.159 our rights to be rolled back to the sixties. But 258 00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:44.120 we're standing firm and where we should be and where 259 00:13:44.120 --> 00:13:47.080 we should go forward. We have a Small Business Summit 260 00:13:47.440 --> 00:13:51.080 which takes place on Saturday for small business owners. 261 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:54.200 For those who are entrepreneurs, we want. 262 00:13:54.080 --> 00:13:56.320 To make sure that they have an opportunity to come 263 00:13:56.759 --> 00:14:01.679 and network. But also on Saturday, this is our Community 264 00:14:01.799 --> 00:14:06.600 and Family Day. Our Community Family Day is amazing because 265 00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:09.799 it will be held at the Morel Convention Center from 266 00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:13.559 ten to five on Saturday. We are giving away thousands 267 00:14:13.559 --> 00:14:16.799 of backpacks for school children filled with school supplies. 268 00:14:16.919 --> 00:14:19.320 We have a college fair that. 269 00:14:19.320 --> 00:14:22.600 Is open for high school students. We have over sixty 270 00:14:22.799 --> 00:14:28.320 universities that will be there providing information and resources around scholarships, 271 00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:32.679 financial aid. We have a legal clinic with attorneys who 272 00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:35.759 will be on site ready to talk to people about 273 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:39.600 their legal issues and providing pro bono services for them. 274 00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:44.039 We have partnered with the National Association of Real Estate 275 00:14:44.120 --> 00:14:50.600 Brokers of nay REV to have a building Black Wealth Pavilion. 276 00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:53.759 So if you're looking to purchase a home, if you'd 277 00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:56.600 like to speak with a real estate agent, if you 278 00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:59.240 are looking to become a real estate agent, or have 279 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:03.080 or develop business in real estate, come down to the 280 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:08.039 Morial Convention Center on Saturday, July twenty seventh from ten 281 00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:09.600 am to five pm. 282 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:11.080 Of course, we have entertainers. 283 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:14.480 As I mentioned, Backpack Giveaways is really a full on 284 00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:16.840 expo for the entire family. 285 00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:22.440

Absolutely, there is clearly something for everybody happening in New 286 00:15:22.519 --> 00:15:25.480 Orleans July twenty fourth through the twenty seventh. You know, 287 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:30.440 you mentioned the participation of the younger generation. How important 288 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:34.039 is the Gen Z and the younger generation in this 289 00:15:34.279 --> 00:15:35.279 upcoming election? 290 00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:40.080 Very important, and we need our young people to engage. 291 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:43.279 We hear it all the time among this demographic. Why 292 00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:45.240 do I even need to vote? I don't like any 293 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:48.360 of the candidates. It's not about whether you like the candidates. 294 00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:52.159 It's about the policy, and it's about what is going 295 00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:55.039 to serve our community and what's going to serve you 296 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:56.440 and your family best. 297 00:15:56.840 --> 00:15:57.519 And we're not. 298 00:15:57.600 --> 00:15:59.960 Here to tell you who to vote for. But we're 299 00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:02.399 also here to tell you that if you don't vote, 300 00:16:02.840 --> 00:16:05.600 not voting is a vote, and so we want to 301 00:16:05.639 --> 00:16:08.200 make sure that people understand that one your vote is 302 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:09.360 your voice. 303 00:16:09.320 --> 00:16:11.120 And not just that your vote is your voice. 304 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:13.399 But here we're going to also show you how to 305 00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:16.720 reclaim your vote, how to reclaim your voice, and why 306 00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:20.519 it's important that we lift up our voices and that 307 00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:24.519 we participate in the election process and the election cycle. 308 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:28.440 During the rally on Wednesday, we will also have people 309 00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:31.799 on site to do voter registration. We will also have 310 00:16:31.879 --> 00:16:34.159 people on site to be able to check to make 311 00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:37.080 sure that you're still on the roles, to make sure 312 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:40.320 that your name has not been deleted from the role 313 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:42.200 and that you still have. 314 00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:43.919 The availability to vote. 315 00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:46.559 So again, we want to make sure that everyone is 316 00:16:47.080 --> 00:16:52.159 educated about what set stake, why it's important. We want 317 00:16:52.200 --> 00:16:55.360 to make sure that everyone is mobilized, and we're here 318 00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:59.919 to also energize. We're already seeing the signs of the time. 319 00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:03.919 We're seeing the efforts to roll back our rights. We're 320 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:08.119 seeing the efforts already with women's reproductive rights being taken away. 321 00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:11.920 We're seeing the efforts already of affirmative action being stripped 322 00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:16.880 from us. We are seeing already what's happening, and it's 323 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:21.519 important that people understand why their vote really matters, and 324 00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:25.160 it's not just about the presidential election, but it's the 325 00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:28.680 down ballot as well. We need people to engage and 326 00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:32.200 to participate in voting in their state elections, in their 327 00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:36.079 local and municipal elections as well. It's not about just 328 00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:39.279 coming together to have a good time, but we're bringing 329 00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:42.240 all of these voices together so that we are all 330 00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:45.240 getting the information that we need, that we can carry out, 331 00:17:45.640 --> 00:17:47.599 and that we can go back and take to our 332 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:52.759 communities what needs to happen, and what our strategic priorities 333 00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:57.119 are and what our agenda will be and is as 334 00:17:57.160 --> 00:18:01.119 we move towards this election in November. It's about educating, 335 00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:05.079 it's about mobilizing, and it's about getting boots on the ground. 336 00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:08.359 Well, this is going to be such an exciting event. 337 00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:11.359 Thank you so much RNDA for joining us and just 338 00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:14.960 sharing your insights and experiences with us. It's been enlightening 339 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:17.279 to hear about your work at the National Urban League, 340 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:20.480 especially as we look forward to the upcoming conference in 341 00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:23.680 New Orleans. We appreciate your time and look forward to 342 00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:26.319 your impact and your continued leadership. 343 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:28.519 Thank you so much for having me, and I look 344 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:29.960 forward to working with you all. 345 00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:32.839 The National Urban League has set up a special website 346 00:18:32.839 --> 00:18:35.920 link registration for the twenty twenty four conference. You can 347 00:18:36.039 --> 00:18:40.359 learn more and register at conference dot iaminpowered dot com. 348 00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:45.359 That's conference dot iaminpowered dot com. Thanks Mimi Love and 349 00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:47.759 hip hop Atlanta star and known too many as the 350 00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:50.640 Queen of dance Hall as many people talking about her 351 00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:54.799 newest singles, including one controversial hit, all in anticipation of 352 00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:57.720 her next album coming on the anniversary of being in 353 00:18:57.759 --> 00:19:01.759 the business for twenty five years. Information that Works. Alexandria 354 00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:03.720 Ikimoni sits down with

Spice. 355 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:05.079 What's up, guys, He's a girl. 356 00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:10.880 Alexandria Icimoni in the studio with the Queen of dance Hall, Spice. 357 00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:12.200 Thank you for having me. 358 00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:15.039 Yes, I'm so happy you're hearing your iconic blue By 359 00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:17.720 the way, as always, Yes, tell me more about this 360 00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:19.279 outfit by the way, for the people listening. 361 00:19:19.720 --> 00:19:22.839 I mean it's just I have on my grassennoir bodysuit 362 00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:24.480 from my own personal clothing line. 363 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:24.880 I love it. 364 00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:27.200 I have my Grasenour brand and I just threw this 365 00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:29.759 jacket on. I got it from a boutique, maybe pressed 366 00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:32.960 from Atlanta, just a regular. I love it. 367 00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:33.559 I love it. 368 00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:36.359 The hat is gorgeous, the fit is popping. I'm a 369 00:19:36.440 --> 00:19:40.519 huge fan, so okay, and they're nice, They're very nice. 370 00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:40.960 We love it. 371 00:19:41.000 --> 00:19:43.279 The signature blue, it's on brand and we love to 372 00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:46.680 see it. Queen of Dance Hall from Jamaica, but here 373 00:19:46.839 --> 00:19:48.960 in Atlanta, we are excited to have you here. 374 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:51.359 You've been living here for a little bit, by the way, I've. 375 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:54.279 Been living in Jamaica, and. 376 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:56.559 Okay, j I'm not claiming Atlanta as my home. 377 00:19:56.920 --> 00:19:59.359 Get it twisted, okay, but you're here in Atlanta a 378 00:19:59.359 --> 00:20:01.680 lot though I am I here a lot. I think 379 00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:03.799 that's where people get it confused, because at the end 380 00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:06.200 of the day, you know, I work here because of 381 00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:08.480 love and hip hop Atlanta, and fortunately we film for 382 00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:10.960 like ten months sometimes so most of the times I 383 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:13.279 have to be here because I love love on hip 384 00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:13.920 hop Atlanta. 385 00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:15.240 Okay, I get it. I get it. 386 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:17.160 So we're not gonna claim you even though we want 387 00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:18.079 to claim you here. 388 00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:18.759 Okay. 389 00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:21.440 So I have to ask, while you're here in town, 390 00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:23.920 where is the best place to get Jamaican food because 391 00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:25.599 I'm Jamaican myself and I. 392 00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:27.400 Like my house Jamaica. 393 00:20:27.640 --> 00:20:30.799 Yes, I'm happy to have you here, So you let 394 00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:33.240 me know where you think the best Jamaican food is 395 00:20:33.640 --> 00:20:34.440 here in Atlanta. 396 00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:37.359 Would I definitely say restaurant like taste this spool, Okay, 397 00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:39.000 and big up to Ramona because when I go to 398 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:40.960 taste the school, my felam dad, yeahd my filami dad 399 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:44.440 jam of food well cooked, getting nice fleava because somebody 400 00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:46.960 drum around there no know where them getting seasoned from. 401 00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:51.960 It's not cooking. But I love tasty spool here in Atlanta, Okay. 402 00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:53.960 Compared to your cooking? Where do they stand? Because we 403 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:54.519 know you can. 404 00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:56.839 Cook well, separate from my cooking cause my cooking is 405 00:20:56.839 --> 00:20:58.039 the best. Okay. 406 00:21:00.279 --> 00:21:02.160 We know that you are here shooting for love and 407 00:21:02.200 --> 00:21:04.039 hip hop. We'll talk about that a little later, But 408 00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:07.319 like I said, we're talking about talking to the queen 409 00:21:07.559 --> 00:21:11.240 of dance hall making hits for so many years, So thank. 410 00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:13.559 You five years. Can you believe it? Yeah? 411 00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:15.400 How does it feel knowing that you've been in the 412 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:18.680 business for so long and stelf thriving and doing amazing things. 413 00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:22.119 I'm elated, to be honest, I'm just so gleeful over 414 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:24.079 the fact that I'm looking back at twenty five years. 415 00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:26.599 I started in nineteen ninety nine, and no I'm not old. 416 00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:28.480 I just started when I was young. So I've been 417 00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:31.400 chasing my dreams ever since i was a teenager. And 418 00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:34.559 for me, just looking back right now, I'm just so 419 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:38.480 gleeful because I'm like, wow, looking back at all the 420 00:21:38.519 --> 00:21:41.720 things that I managed to overcome as a black woman, 421 00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:44.759 coming on to jamikam making it big internationally. It's not 422 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:46.960 no smilting. It's a very big day. So let's talk 423 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:50.759 about it. And I'm just so excited because I called 424 00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:54.119 my album that I'm celebrating Mirror twenty five because right 425 00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:56.559 now I'm just kind of reflecting and looking back. So 426 00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:58.960 when I look in the mirror, I'm like, wow, twenty 427 00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:01.960 five years, Yes, I did that. Yeah, So it feels amazing. 428 00:22:02.119 --> 00:22:02.599 It does. 429 00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:05.079 And we got to give your flowers because, like you said, 430 00:22:05.119 --> 00:22:08.119 I been in the game for a very limitable Okay whatever, 431

00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:09.039 I can give. 432 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:12.680 It a whole k I give the seeds to plant more. 433 00:22:13.319 --> 00:22:16.599 But we appreciate everything you've done for our culture, honestly, 434 00:22:16.759 --> 00:22:18.640 so thank you so much for your influence in the 435 00:22:18.839 --> 00:22:22.079 business and you're talking about twenty five years married, twenty 436 00:22:22.119 --> 00:22:24.680 five Let's talk about this album really quick. What can 437 00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:28.599 we expect from this upcoming album? Any cool features or 438 00:22:28.680 --> 00:22:29.559 what's what's to come? 439 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:30.839 Well? 440 00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:34.359 I do have cool features, okay, And when I think 441 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:38.480 about features that gotta you know, definitely thank Buster Rhymes 442 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:42.839 for jumping on a future with me, the iconic legend himself, 443 00:22:42.920 --> 00:22:45.240 the boss Man, the boss of all bosses. You know 444 00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:48.119 that I'm saying. When he sent me back his verse, 445 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:51.480 I remember just running around the house, I said, and 446 00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:53.480 I must be a bland and you know my saying 447 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:59.279 the song with Buster Rhymes and I round round. I'm 448 00:22:59.319 --> 00:23:02.319 excited because I feel like he heard what I heard 449 00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:05.400 when I got the rhythm track. Shout out to the 450 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:08.559 composer Karen Young who built the beat. I'm big up 451 00:23:08.599 --> 00:23:12.160 to like red Bum Supermix who mix it an Ireland studio. 452 00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:14.839 But when I got the beat, it was so unique 453 00:23:14.880 --> 00:23:16.880 and so different, and I was like, who is going 454 00:23:16.920 --> 00:23:20.200 to bring that unique different sounded style because it's giving 455 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:22.799 me a little bit of dances, give me like a 456 00:23:22.839 --> 00:23:26.079 mad crazy vibe and I'm like, heh, it just begts 457 00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:29.160 me want to dance and Buster Rhymes was the first 458 00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:31.079 person and the only person that came to my mix 459 00:23:31.319 --> 00:23:33.880 because he's just so different, so unique, so tally like, 460 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:37.200 he's just, you know what I'm saying, iconic When I 461 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:39.759 sent it to him, you know, with my parts on it, 462 00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:43.039 and he was like, bosslet it is fun. 463 00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:44.839 It's wicked. You know. 464 00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:47.559 I don't think I have words to explain how related 465 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:51.200 like that feeling is to have a icon and a 466 00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:54.920 legend like Buster Rhymes loving something that you're doing and 467 00:23:54.960 --> 00:23:56.799 wanting to be a part of it. But

he's always 468 00:23:56.839 --> 00:23:58.559 pushing the Jamaican culture. So we have a big of 469 00:23:58.599 --> 00:24:02.720 Buster Rhymes for that because you know, the Jamaican culture 470 00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:05.079 through the world. So coming together with him now to 471 00:24:05.079 --> 00:24:07.720 push it even further, it's just an amazing feeling. So 472 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:09.279 big up the Boster Rhymes, the boss Man. 473 00:24:09.559 --> 00:24:11.960 Yes, okay, we're looking forward to the album and I 474 00:24:12.039 --> 00:24:13.039 can't wait for that to come out. 475 00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:14.279 So when is that one coming out? 476 00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:17.400 By the way, the album is coming out this summer, Okay, 477 00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:19.319 I'm looking for maybe August. 478 00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:22.960 We also spoke about, uh, you know some people on 479 00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:25.319 love and hip hop, you know. 480 00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:29.440 Calling them a little cap listen, and I listened to 481 00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:30.680 everyone and I look up the lyrics. 482 00:24:30.680 --> 00:24:33.279 That's my job. So I want to know all the details. 483 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:36.880 Who are Who's Who's cap that's it? Who's cap on 484 00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:39.599 Love and Hip Hop Atlanta? And why a lot of 485 00:24:39.640 --> 00:24:41.000 them because. 486 00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:44.319 Because they're cats, because they're fake. 487 00:24:45.440 --> 00:24:47.039 Okay, let me ask they're not real. 488 00:24:47.480 --> 00:24:50.319 Let me ask it this way. Then, filming the show, 489 00:24:50.759 --> 00:24:53.279 who are you the closest to? Do you have any 490 00:24:53.319 --> 00:24:56.000 people that you really bond with on the show? I do, Okay. 491 00:24:56.880 --> 00:25:01.960 I think I'm closer to Chicano Okay, and definitely and Rashida. 492 00:25:02.519 --> 00:25:04.039 Okay, everybody else is. 493 00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:08.200 Everybody else is not just you know what I'm saying. 494 00:25:08.200 --> 00:25:11.279 You said, Well, I'm closer to I would definitely like 495 00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:14.680 call Rashida if I have a problem or something, and 496 00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:16.920 definitely she kinda would probably be the first one that 497 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:19.200 I call. Those are the people that I'm closer to. 498 00:25:19.640 --> 00:25:22.240 But it doesn't mean that I'm not friends with like Sierra, 499 00:25:22.680 --> 00:25:24.440 And it doesn't mean that I'm not friends with like 500 00:25:26.119 --> 00:25:30.160 you know, other cast members. Rennie Rucci, I love her 501 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:33.480 to pieces. She's pregnant now by the way, congratulations, Renny. 502 00:25:33.640 --> 00:25:36.720 I love you. I the godmother, But I'm not calling 503 00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:39.920 her every single day. That's there because I know she's 504 00:25:40.359 --> 00:25:42.960 going through her you know, so I check up on her. 505 00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:45.119 You okay, how the baby? You know what I'm saying 506 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:49.519 all the day. But Chakaina is on my phone every day. 507 00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:52.079 She's calling me three am, and I'm like, why are 508 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:53.559 you calling me at three am? 509 00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:55.480 I love at least you have a good relationship with 510 00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:56.039 that person. 511 00:25:56.319 --> 00:25:56.640 Okay. 512 00:25:56.680 --> 00:25:59.319 So if somebody that you did not like called you 513 00:25:59.359 --> 00:26:01.880 at three am, who is that person and why are 514 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:04.400 you blocking them? I just want to know who who's 515 00:26:04.440 --> 00:26:06.680 on the bottom of the list, you know, because her 516 00:26:06.839 --> 00:26:09.039 favorites from the cast. I want to know about the 517 00:26:09.119 --> 00:26:13.680 cast who I'm not going to answer at three am? 518 00:26:13.880 --> 00:26:19.240 Might block them? I don't know, okay, child. 519 00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:21.000 I mean, if we had some tea in here, I'll 520 00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:22.960 get her for you, Miss twenty eighty five. 521 00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:28.960 T I don't think there's a cast that I, you know, 522 00:26:29.799 --> 00:26:31.680 well block. But I know I won't take a call 523 00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:34.279 from like a Carly at three am because I used to. 524 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:37.359 I gave her that opportunity where she could call me 525 00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:41.000 at three am. But I won't give you the opportunity again. 526 00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:43.400 So I wouldn't take a call from her at three am. 527 00:26:43.400 --> 00:26:45.920 Because child, you used to be able to call me 528 00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:47.960 at three am. You lost that opportunity. 529 00:26:48.119 --> 00:26:49.920 It wouldn't be able to reconcile at all. 530 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:52.920 Or you're just we're friends, We're cool, not friends, but 531 00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:55.240 you know we have a problem. You said, who I 532 00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:57.000 wouldn't want to take a call from at three am? 533 00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:57.720 Okay, that's fair. 534 00:26:57.839 --> 00:26:59.559 But because I used to take her calls at three 535 00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:03.920 am and listen to all the sins, this that we're 536 00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:05.440 not like that anymore, So that's. 537 00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:08.960 Fair political she's answering my questions politically correct. I just 538 00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:11.279 want to put that out there, but we'll take it, okay. 539 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:13.039 So I do have a question though, because you have 540 00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:16.400 established yourself in the music industry, queen a dancehall, we 541 00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:19.000 know this for so long, why did you decide to 542 00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:21.400 get involved with

love and hip hop? Because typically people 543 00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:24.039 do that to help elevate their status, but you didn't 544 00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:24.480 really need. 545 00:27:24.400 --> 00:27:26.079 To do that. You know a lot of people say 546 00:27:26.119 --> 00:27:27.759 I didn't need love and hip hop, and a lot 547 00:27:27.839 --> 00:27:30.079 even now they're like, oh, I don't understand why this 548 00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:32.519 Grammar nominated artist is on love and hip hop. You're 549 00:27:32.519 --> 00:27:34.240 bigger than the brand, or you're bigger than the show 550 00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:36.000 or you shouldn't be doing this on the show. And Okay, 551 00:27:36.039 --> 00:27:38.000 I hear all of that, and I do see the comments, 552 00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:39.680 but at the end of the day, I think people 553 00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:43.400 need to also realize that Danceaull has room for growth. 554 00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:46.240 I remember coming on Love and hip Hop and they 555 00:27:46.279 --> 00:27:48.480 never used to say Spice the Queen of Dancehall. They 556 00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:50.480 used to say Spice from Love and Hip Hop because 557 00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:52.720 that's where most people know me from here in America. 558 00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:55.119 It's the sad truth. But there's people who when I 559 00:27:55.160 --> 00:27:57.720 went on the show, they actually didn't know who I was. 560 00:27:58.279 --> 00:28:00.839 And that's just the truth. So why well, the world 561 00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:03.440 outside of Love and Hip Hop knows me as the 562 00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:05.880 Queen of dan Sel and I go on tour in Europe. 563 00:28:05.880 --> 00:28:08.720 I just came from Paris. I'm always traveling and touring. 564 00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:13.200 There's still spaces where people did not know who I 565 00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:15.000 was when I got onto Love and Hip Hop, And 566 00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:16.599 look at you now and look at me. 567 00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:20.079 Now and growing and we're here for that. So I'm 568 00:28:20.079 --> 00:28:23.599 happy that you are bringing more eyes to the culture, 569 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:25.720 to the music and doing it gracefully. 570 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:27.759 So we thank you for that one. So if you 571 00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:31.799 can give one piece of advice of business and being successful. 572 00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:35.920 What would that be If I could give you one 573 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:40.880 advice for businesses, for business and being successful, I would say, 574 00:28:41.480 --> 00:28:43.759 you cannot save your way to the top. I feel 575 00:28:43.799 --> 00:28:46.599 like that is one of the cliche that they sell 576 00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:48.839 to us, that dream that caused us to be in 577 00:28:48.880 --> 00:28:52.680 a cycle where your mom is poor, you come poor, 578 00:28:52.880 --> 00:28:54.799 your kids come poor, and you keep going in a 579 00:28:54.799 --> 00:28:57.319 circle because they teach us to get a saving pen 580 00:28:57.400 --> 00:28:59.960 and save those silvers and keep saving. But you cannot save. 581 00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:02.279 If you're way to a millionaire, you got to set 582 00:29:02.359 --> 00:29:06.000 up multiple streams of income in order to generate wealth. 583 00:29:06.680 --> 00:29:08.480 And are you going to do any more streams of 584 00:29:08.480 --> 00:29:09.960 income or do you feel like you have enough on 585 00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:11.680 your plate or what's the plan for you? 586 00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:15.680 Oh, it's never enough to have enough streams of income. 587 00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:18.839 You know, every time I make a big money I 588 00:29:18.839 --> 00:29:19.400 buy a house. 589 00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:23.240 I love that. Actually, someone in real estate support. 590 00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:26.440 You know what I'm saying. You know I believe in 591 00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:28.920 multiple streams of income. I just know that that's the 592 00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:31.880 only way to save to make it to wealth, because 593 00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:35.359 you just keep saving, saving and using that money over 594 00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:37.440 and over, and then you feel like a failure because 595 00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:38.599 you can't save your way to wealth. 596 00:29:38.839 --> 00:29:40.440 Doesn't do anything in the bank. You got to put 597 00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:40.880 it to work. 598 00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:43.880 You got to let your money make money for you. Yes, 599 00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:44.359 I love it. 600 00:29:44.400 --> 00:29:46.759 I love it. So you're doing all this. The business 601 00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:50.319 is flourishing, the music is flourishing. New album Love and 602 00:29:50.400 --> 00:29:52.799 Hip Hop? What are you going to do for yourself? 603 00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:54.640 Do you rest this summer? 604 00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:57.720 Any trips or I'm not going to rest this summer 605 00:29:57.759 --> 00:29:59.880 because my album drops the summer, so I'm going to 606 00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:03.519 this summer. I'm also going to be working throughout my 607 00:30:03.559 --> 00:30:06.119 birthday because unfortunately my birthday falls right in the middle 608 00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:08.000 of summer, which is August six, which is also my 609 00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:13.839 country's Independence Day. But after the summer, after August, I'm 610 00:30:13.880 --> 00:30:16.839 planning to have a well rested vacation. That's going to 611 00:30:16.920 --> 00:30:19.480 be my treat. Should just go somewhere and turn my 612 00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:22.359 phone off, not for long because I'm addicted to find out. 613 00:30:22.559 --> 00:30:23.559 Let me see what y'all saying. 614 00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:29.559 Not now, I'm watching a little bit, but you deserve that. 615 00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:32.000 I always plan a little me time, you know.

616 00:30:32.119 --> 00:30:32.680 As you should. 617 00:30:32.839 --> 00:30:34.319 Okay, are you coming back for Love and Hip Hop 618 00:30:34.359 --> 00:30:35.880 for another season after the season that airs? 619 00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:38.799 Actually, I am actually already filming for Love and Hip 620 00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:42.039 Hop and what I can say is that I'm the 621 00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:45.359 executive producer for the Love and Hip Hop Atlanta Cast album. 622 00:30:45.400 --> 00:30:47.640 We're doing an album for the very first time, and 623 00:30:47.680 --> 00:30:49.599 I'll be producing the album and I'm excited for that. 624 00:30:49.680 --> 00:30:50.640 Yeah, well, give me some more. 625 00:30:50.680 --> 00:30:51.519 You can just drop that. 626 00:30:52.359 --> 00:30:53.039 Watch the show. 627 00:30:54.119 --> 00:30:56.279 You gotta watch Love and Hip Hop to see who 628 00:30:56.319 --> 00:30:58.119 makes it to the album, because you know, some of 629 00:30:58.160 --> 00:31:02.799 them can't really wrap. So everybody not going to be 630 00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:05.000 on the album. But let's see who's gonna make it 631 00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:07.759 to this album, because you know, I'm very meticulous when 632 00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:10.240 it comes on to producing and putting out music, so 633 00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:11.240 it's got to be perfect. 634 00:31:11.599 --> 00:31:14.359 Okay, at least half the cast or a quarter like three. 635 00:31:14.200 --> 00:31:17.720 People can't half the cast? Really, you turn it down. 636 00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:20.400 Nothing. 637 00:31:21.960 --> 00:31:24.799 I have nothing to say at this point. You said it. 638 00:31:25.440 --> 00:31:27.599 Let me just say, Arlia, you asked who I was 639 00:31:27.640 --> 00:31:29.559 closest to, and I said, Shakaina is the one that 640 00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:32.519 I always call and she has been haunting me. I 641 00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:34.160 gotta be on the album, and I just tell her, 642 00:31:34.200 --> 00:31:35.759 you can't wrap. You're not an artist. 643 00:31:35.799 --> 00:31:40.559 We love you though you're not right, but we appreciate 644 00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:43.519 the support she's giving you, you know, because you got 645 00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:44.119 a loud mount. 646 00:31:45.480 --> 00:31:46.720 We love it well. 647 00:31:46.759 --> 00:31:49.680 Thank you so much for coming in. We appreciate having you. 648 00:31:49.759 --> 00:31:51.680 Any last words you want to leave with the people. 649 00:31:51.680 --> 00:31:53.519 Will I never do last words, but what I want 650 00:31:53.519 --> 00:31:55.640 to say to my bestI is out there, my fans, 651 00:31:55.680 --> 00:31:58.039 my supporters, just thank you so much for supporting me 652 00:31:58.079 --> 00:31:59.960 twenty five years on the business. It means a lie 653 00:32:00.400 --> 00:32:02.799 and I'm just so excited to share my album Mirror 654 00:32:02.839 --> 00:32:05.079 twenty five with you twenty eighty five t the song 655 00:32:05.160 --> 00:32:08.039 is out and round Round feature and buster Rhymes that 656 00:32:08.119 --> 00:32:10.680 song is also out, so go search for them and 657 00:32:10.839 --> 00:32:12.640 keep on streaming. I love you guys so much. 658 00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:15.000 I love and watch the videos. By the way, it's hilarious. 659 00:32:15.119 --> 00:32:18.240 I'm upset so the queen of dancehall in the building, Spice, 660 00:32:18.279 --> 00:32:20.200 thank you so much for taking the time to come 661 00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:21.240 out once again. 662 00:32:21.319 --> 00:32:23.119 Alexandrakimoni with iHeartRadio. 663 00:32:23.400 --> 00:32:27.119 Thanks Alexandra. Now let's get commentary from Moe Kelly Mo. 664 00:32:27.559 --> 00:32:30.559 I'm mo Kelly on the bin with your two minute warning, 665 00:32:30.680 --> 00:32:32.960 I tried to warn you. I point blank warned you 666 00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:36.319 about not letting your social media posts surrounding the attempted 667 00:32:36.319 --> 00:32:39.640 assassination of Donald Trump get you fired. Now look at 668 00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:43.559 you all unemployed and in the news. Congressman Benny Thompson's 669 00:32:43.559 --> 00:32:47.319 now former case manager and field director Jack Glynn Marsaw's 670 00:32:47.319 --> 00:32:50.519 Facebook page have the following quote, I don't condone violence, 671 00:32:50.519 --> 00:32:53.319 but please get you some shooting lessons so you don't 672 00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:56.799 miss next time. Oops, that wasn't me saying that close quote, 673 00:32:56.920 --> 00:33:00.480 Yes it was, and yes you're fired. Tony Bendell, now 674 00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:04.319 formerly a fire captain with the America's Hose Company, has 675 00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:08.039 resigned after his social media post regarding the assassination attempt 676 00:33:08.039 --> 00:33:11.119 went viral. He posted on x slash Twitter quote too 677 00:33:11.200 --> 00:33:13.559 bad it didn't hit him square close quote. Well, at 678 00:33:13.640 --> 00:33:16.160 least Tony can say he went viral. Hope it was 679 00:33:16.200 --> 00:33:20.559 worth it. Probably not. Then shortly later, another Pennsylvania fire officer, 680 00:33:20.680 --> 00:33:23.960 a now former fire marshal with the Prospect Borough and 681 00:33:24.079 --> 00:33:27.480 Fire Company, resigned after posting the phrase quote a little 682 00:33:27.480 --> 00:33:30.720 to the right next time, please close quote on social media. 683 00:33:30.839 --> 00:33:34.480 Oh but wait, there's more. Cassandra Olsen, a South Dakota teacher, 684 00:33:34.599 --> 00:33:37.359 was fired after posting shooting tips for the would be 685 00:33:37.480 --> 00:33:40.960 assassin on Facebook quote shoot if only he would have 686 00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:44.519 had his scope sighted incorrectly close quote, Oh not done. 687 00:33:44.559 --> 00:33:45.160 I've got more. 688 00:33:45.240 --> 00:33:47.920 A Dallas police

officer is now on leave and under 689 00:33:47.920 --> 00:33:52.319 investigation for posting quote aim better close quote on social media. 690 00:33:52.400 --> 00:33:54.680 How he thought that was going to end well for him? 691 00:33:54.759 --> 00:33:56.480 I have no idea. How about one more? 692 00:33:56.599 --> 00:33:56.799 Yeah? 693 00:33:56.799 --> 00:34:00.359 I got one more. North Carolina detective Brandon Richardson was 694 00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:03.440 also placed on leave for posting the following on Facebook, 695 00:34:03.559 --> 00:34:06.880 quote damn only about an inch away from making America 696 00:34:06.960 --> 00:34:07.440 great again? 697 00:34:07.519 --> 00:34:08.280 Close quote. 698 00:34:08.360 --> 00:34:11.719 I try to warn y'all. I'm mo Kelly at mister 699 00:34:11.760 --> 00:34:14.400 mo kelly on social media, and that's your two minute 700 00:34:14.400 --> 00:34:17.159 warning on the Black Information Network. 701 00:34:17.320 --> 00:34:20.079 Be sure to catch Roland Martin, James T. Harrison mo 702 00:34:20.280 --> 00:34:24.199 Kelly for exclusive daily commentary on the Black Information Network. 703 00:34:24.480 --> 00:34:27.119 And now let's check in with Gracie Award winning news 704 00:34:27.239 --> 00:34:30.639 journalist Esther Dillard for this week's edition of The Color 705 00:34:30.800 --> 00:34:33.880 Between the Lines. 706 00:34:37.119 --> 00:34:40.320 I'm Ester Dillard on the Black Information Network, chatting with 707 00:34:40.360 --> 00:34:44.400 writers and authors who offer an added perspective for our listeners. 708 00:34:44.639 --> 00:34:52.679 This is the color between the Lines. 709 00:34:53.320 --> 00:34:55.400 In this edition of The Color Between the Lines, we're 710 00:34:55.440 --> 00:34:59.920 talking about public schools and how they have affected blackha 711 00:35:00.079 --> 00:35:03.000 children in the last few years and how it continues 712 00:35:03.039 --> 00:35:06.199 to raise concerns. It's the focus of a book called 713 00:35:06.360 --> 00:35:12.079 Being Black in America's Schools, A student Educator's educator Reformers 714 00:35:12.119 --> 00:35:16.440 Called for Change, by Brian Rashad Fuller. Mister Fuller is 715 00:35:16.719 --> 00:35:21.880 a graduate of Emory University and Associate Provost for Strategy 716 00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:24.760 and Operations at the New School in New York City. 717 00:35:25.159 --> 00:35:27.320 Thank you, mister Fuller for joining us on the bin. 718 00:35:28.159 --> 00:35:30.960 Thank you so much for having me esther well. 719 00:35:32.039 --> 00:35:35.320 I want to say, first off, congratulations on your insightful book. 720 00:35:35.480 --> 00:35:39.480 It was I was pleasantly surprised and shocked to read 721 00:35:39.519 --> 00:35:43.159 the forward of your book is by Abdul p Tubman, 722 00:35:43.280 --> 00:35:46.800 who wrote that Harriet Tubman was their fourth grade aunt. 723 00:35:47.320 --> 00:35:49.800 How in the world did you pull that off? That 724 00:35:49.960 --> 00:35:52.320 is awesome and it's just mind blowing. 725 00:35:54.159 --> 00:35:57.760 Yeah, So Abdul didn't write the fourd of the book 726 00:35:57.840 --> 00:36:04.880 and almost happened singing like serendipitously, because so I've been 727 00:36:04.920 --> 00:36:08.239 on this writing journey with this particular book for about 728 00:36:08.320 --> 00:36:11.920 four years now, and so it started during the pandemic. 729 00:36:12.320 --> 00:36:15.599 And while I was writing, I also was just doing 730 00:36:15.679 --> 00:36:16.719 speaking engagements. 731 00:36:16.960 --> 00:36:17.960 And at the time, during. 732 00:36:17.840 --> 00:36:20.480 The pandemic, I was doing a lot of virtual speaking engagements, 733 00:36:20.840 --> 00:36:24.199 and Abdell happened to be in the virtual audience of 734 00:36:24.239 --> 00:36:28.320 one of my speaking engagements, and afterward he reached out 735 00:36:28.880 --> 00:36:32.320 and emailed me, and then from there we just started 736 00:36:32.960 --> 00:36:38.400 conversing and build a relationship. And then we were talking 737 00:36:38.440 --> 00:36:40.679 and I was like, Abdull, would you be interested in 738 00:36:40.760 --> 00:36:43.039 potentially contributing to the book. 739 00:36:42.920 --> 00:36:43.599 Writing the part? 740 00:36:43.639 --> 00:36:45.440 And he said, oh, I would love to, And so 741 00:36:45.599 --> 00:36:47.280 that is that's how that happened. 742 00:36:47.880 --> 00:36:48.320 Wow. 743 00:36:48.519 --> 00:36:50.920 Wow, that's a big that's a big get. And I'm 744 00:36:50.960 --> 00:36:55.320 sure that you were. You were excited that he was 745 00:36:55.360 --> 00:36:56.239 willing to do that. 746 00:36:56.880 --> 00:36:58.639 Yeah, so thankful, so thankful. 747 00:36:58.840 --> 00:37:01.280 It just was honored to think that, you know, because 748 00:37:01.280 --> 00:37:04.880 this book is about the liberation of black children, and 749 00:37:04.920 --> 00:37:08.960 to think of someone who is a relative of Harriet Tubman, 750 00:37:09.079 --> 00:37:10.679 you know, how amazing is that. 751 00:37:10.760 --> 00:37:14.119 So I'm very honored that he agreed to do it. 752 00:37:15.239 --> 00:37:19.280 Why, in your opinion does the school system in place 753 00:37:19.480 --> 00:37:22.119 cause psychological damage for children of color? 754 00:37:23.719 --> 00:37:28.920 I think one of the main reasons, and I try 755 00:37:28.960 --> 00:37:34.199 to outline this in the book, is, I think personally, 756 00:37:34.239 --> 00:37:37.760 from the onset of compulsory education in the United States, 757 00:37:37.960 --> 00:37:39.760 it has always inherently been. 758 00:37:41.599 --> 00:37:44.400 A way to perpetuate our. 759 00:37:44.639 --> 00:37:47.840 Cast system in the United States, and so many people 760 00:37:47.840 --> 00:37:49.960 call that our white supremacist system. 761 00:37:50.440 --> 00:37:52.280 And so what that means is. 762 00:37:52.280 -->

00:37:54.400 If you're not at the center of that, right, if 763 00:37:54.400 --> 00:37:59.239 you're not representative or upholding the white supremacist ideas and 764 00:37:59.320 --> 00:38:03.239 culture and who you represented as a person, then you're 765 00:38:03.239 --> 00:38:06.360 on the margins. And I think what happens is in 766 00:38:06.400 --> 00:38:09.079 our schools and how we teach history and how it's 767 00:38:09.119 --> 00:38:12.199 structured and how it's designed. If you're not in that 768 00:38:12.400 --> 00:38:15.840 core nucleus center of that white supremacist center, then you 769 00:38:15.880 --> 00:38:20.119 are at the margins, and therefore you are dismissed and 770 00:38:20.159 --> 00:38:23.119 dehumanized in many ways, right. And it could be in 771 00:38:23.239 --> 00:38:26.280 how teachers are interacting with you. It could be in 772 00:38:26.320 --> 00:38:29.000 the structures and the policies that are causing you to 773 00:38:29.000 --> 00:38:33.199 be disciplined at a harsher rate than your white counterparts. 774 00:38:33.519 --> 00:38:36.679 It could be in what is being taught in the lessons, right, 775 00:38:36.800 --> 00:38:39.159 Like you're not seeing yourself in the history, you're not 776 00:38:39.199 --> 00:38:41.599 seeing the positive contributions that you made to. 777 00:38:41.559 --> 00:38:45.639 The country that you live in. And so in so many, very, 778 00:38:45.840 --> 00:38:46.519 so many. 779 00:38:46.280 --> 00:38:51.440 Ways, I think that our school systems are damaging and 780 00:38:51.480 --> 00:38:54.280 I think it has become so inherent in the design 781 00:38:54.320 --> 00:38:57.639 and in the function that is almost like subconscious in 782 00:38:57.679 --> 00:39:00.920 a sense. And so we all are actors in this process. 783 00:39:00.960 --> 00:39:03.599 And I talk about even myself when I was a teacher, 784 00:39:04.079 --> 00:39:05.880 I was an actor in it as well, right as 785 00:39:05.920 --> 00:39:08.159 a black man who isn't in the center of that, 786 00:39:08.159 --> 00:39:13.079 who's not that nucleus, and who's not the ideal person 787 00:39:13.159 --> 00:39:17.159 in that white supremacist ideal, But still I was an 788 00:39:17.199 --> 00:39:21.000 actor and upon in perpetuating that's that harm to black 789 00:39:21.039 --> 00:39:22.280 and brown students. 790 00:39:23.679 --> 00:39:27.360 And it's very disheartening to know that you would want 791 00:39:27.440 --> 00:39:29.719 to change things and then still be a part of 792 00:39:29.760 --> 00:39:32.559 that whole system that kind of does the same thing 793 00:39:32.599 --> 00:39:35.239 that you were a victim of. And I'm sure that 794 00:39:35.239 --> 00:39:40.280 that's something that really crossed your mind. You address important 795 00:39:40.320 --> 00:39:44.960 topics in this book about the American school system, institutional racism, 796 00:39:45.599 --> 00:39:48.079 and one of the stories that you share is about 797 00:39:48.079 --> 00:39:52.960 your father being incarcerated and how that impacted you early 798 00:39:53.039 --> 00:39:54.039 on in your life. 799 00:39:54.159 --> 00:39:59.039 And you mentioned that other kids are dealing with similar circumstances. 800 00:40:00.000 --> 00:40:03.920 What does that experience to what's happened to what's happening 801 00:40:04.000 --> 00:40:07.920 personally like that affect what's happening in our schools and 802 00:40:08.159 --> 00:40:09.360 the changes that need to be there. 803 00:40:10.119 --> 00:40:11.800 Yeah, I think that's a great question. 804 00:40:12.119 --> 00:40:15.880 And so I start the book in the first chapter 805 00:40:16.039 --> 00:40:18.920 with recalling one of. 806 00:40:18.840 --> 00:40:20.159 My earliest memories that I have. 807 00:40:20.320 --> 00:40:22.000 I was three years old, and I was visiting my 808 00:40:22.079 --> 00:40:25.400 father in a county jail. And so I saw him 809 00:40:25.440 --> 00:40:30.280 behind the glass partition. And then when I noticed not 810 00:40:30.400 --> 00:40:32.280 only my father, but then all the other men who 811 00:40:32.280 --> 00:40:34.840 were and the other glass partitions, they all look like me. 812 00:40:34.880 --> 00:40:35.760 They're all black men. 813 00:40:36.400 --> 00:40:39.320 And and the reason I wanted to start the book 814 00:40:39.440 --> 00:40:42.840 like that is because I think, you know, and there's 815 00:40:42.880 --> 00:40:45.320 a lot of conversation, especially in recent years, about the 816 00:40:45.320 --> 00:40:48.199 school to prison pipeline or the school to prison nexus, 817 00:40:48.679 --> 00:40:54.079 and I think that the mass incarceration is, in my opinion, 818 00:40:54.119 --> 00:40:55.480 a direct reflection of. 819 00:40:56.960 --> 00:40:58.159 How how we do. 820 00:40:58.159 --> 00:41:02.280 Schooling and and and the ways in which we uh 821 00:41:03.079 --> 00:41:08.039 uh dishonor black and brown people and children in this country, 822 00:41:08.599 --> 00:41:12.239 and and especially around the ways that we are have 823 00:41:12.320 --> 00:41:15.920 a criminality or criminal mindset of black and brown children. 824 00:41:16.000 --> 00:41:20.119 And and so for me, I wanted to share that 825 00:41:20.159 --> 00:41:24.039 story because it impacted me because what I saw then 826 00:41:24.320 --> 00:41:26.679 was that, oh, what it meant to be a black boy, 827 00:41:26.760 --> 00:41:28.360 a black male, it meant. 828 00:41:28.599 --> 00:41:31.039 Wrong or bad or you're you're you're, you're. 829 00:41:30.880 --> 00:41:33.239 In trouble and so and you know, and every kid 830 00:41:33.280 --> 00:41:35.440 is different. And so how I took that is, oh, 831 00:41:35.440 --> 00:41:37.800 when I'm in school, I can't talk or do anything. 832 00:41:37.840 --> 00:41:40.920 I have to be as perfect as possible because if not, 833 00:41:41.239 --> 00:41:42.679 then I'm gonna end up in jail. 834 00:41:42.840 --> 00:41:43.000

Right. 835 00:41:43.039 --> 00:41:45.400 And then I was seeing it also play out in 836 00:41:45.440 --> 00:41:47.920 my classroom and I and I bring up examples of 837 00:41:48.199 --> 00:41:51.079 how I saw other boys who looked like me, other 838 00:41:51.119 --> 00:41:56.360 little black boys being punished very harshly for things that 839 00:41:56.519 --> 00:41:58.840 we as an adult would say, oh, that's just kids 840 00:41:58.880 --> 00:42:03.639 being kids. But at the same time, the punishment was 841 00:42:03.800 --> 00:42:06.800 there was a disparity in in the ways that black 842 00:42:06.880 --> 00:42:10.199 students were being treated. And it happens still today in 843 00:42:10.239 --> 00:42:13.760 our in our in our schools. And so, uh, you 844 00:42:13.760 --> 00:42:18.280 know that year that I witnessed my father in jail, uh, 845 00:42:18.360 --> 00:42:20.079 And I mentioned this in the book, it was a 846 00:42:20.079 --> 00:42:23.719 little under a million black children who also had a 847 00:42:23.760 --> 00:42:26.840 parent who are incarcerated. And then fast forward to now 848 00:42:27.079 --> 00:42:30.239 that number is roughly around two point five some say 849 00:42:30.280 --> 00:42:33.400 even three million, right, And so just to think about, 850 00:42:33.800 --> 00:42:37.079 you know, over the past few decades. How that has 851 00:42:37.239 --> 00:42:41.440 how mass incarceration has just been affecting so many millions 852 00:42:41.440 --> 00:42:44.639 of our kids, uh, black and brown kids who are 853 00:42:44.679 --> 00:42:48.719 in our public school systems. And UH for us not 854 00:42:48.840 --> 00:42:50.840 to acknowledge that and not to address it in our 855 00:42:50.880 --> 00:42:54.239 school systems, I think is we're doing such a disservice to. 856 00:42:54.199 --> 00:42:55.400 Our to our students. 857 00:42:56.159 --> 00:42:57.840 For those of you who are just joining us, I'm 858 00:42:57.920 --> 00:43:01.320 Esther Dillard and I'm speaking with Brian Sean Fuller is 859 00:43:01.320 --> 00:43:05.119 the author of Being Black in America's Schools, A student educator. 860 00:43:05.480 --> 00:43:12.519 Reformers call for change. Many educational advocates are calling on 861 00:43:12.679 --> 00:43:18.000 FOM more resources for mental health and mental health supports 862 00:43:18.039 --> 00:43:21.920 in schools to help kids navigate because you mentioned how 863 00:43:22.039 --> 00:43:25.639 that the experience that you have with your father in jail, 864 00:43:25.920 --> 00:43:31.599 your uncle being killed at one point, and you and 865 00:43:31.760 --> 00:43:35.599 that not having that in place often does a disservice 866 00:43:35.639 --> 00:43:40.280 to the student who is trying to excel scholastically. But 867 00:43:40.400 --> 00:43:43.000 a lot of the advocates say that, you know, the 868 00:43:43.039 --> 00:43:45.760 money isn't there. What do you see as the solution. 869 00:43:48.559 --> 00:43:54.199 It's interesting people, I feel like money and of course 870 00:43:54.239 --> 00:43:56.880 resources is always a topic when you talk about education 871 00:43:57.400 --> 00:44:01.920 and the lack of resources, and especially in these high 872 00:44:01.960 --> 00:44:07.199 needs areas, right and high needs schools. And I think 873 00:44:07.199 --> 00:44:11.079 it's a conversation about what do you prioritize? And I 874 00:44:11.440 --> 00:44:14.960 talk a lot about this in the book, especially as 875 00:44:15.000 --> 00:44:17.800 I move to me being an educator and me being 876 00:44:17.800 --> 00:44:20.639 a teacher. And I think right now in our society 877 00:44:20.639 --> 00:44:24.199 there's such a especially as it relates to education and 878 00:44:24.239 --> 00:44:27.440 how we educate black and brown kids. It's such a 879 00:44:27.639 --> 00:44:31.239 hyper focus on standardized testing and putting all of our 880 00:44:31.280 --> 00:44:34.000 resources in that, right and so it's almost like we 881 00:44:34.039 --> 00:44:36.960 want kids to achieve, which is which is great. You know, 882 00:44:37.000 --> 00:44:40.960 no one's saying we don't want achievement, but we're limiting 883 00:44:41.000 --> 00:44:43.880 and narrowing achievement to the be this one thing, right 884 00:44:43.960 --> 00:44:46.400 like making a score on a test, and then that 885 00:44:46.559 --> 00:44:49.079 is gonna then and then we tire funding to that, 886 00:44:49.239 --> 00:44:51.639 right like. And so if you the higher you're achieving, 887 00:44:52.000 --> 00:44:54.400 the higher your school is achieving, the more funding that 888 00:44:54.440 --> 00:44:59.360 you're able to receive. And I think that is one 889 00:44:59.440 --> 00:45:02.599 of the main issues, right like, because I personally think 890 00:45:02.639 --> 00:45:08.159 that when you and research shows right like that our kids, 891 00:45:08.199 --> 00:45:10.119 black and brown kids are suffering right now as it 892 00:45:10.159 --> 00:45:14.519 relates to mental health, Black kids or twice as likely 893 00:45:14.559 --> 00:45:17.920 to commit suicide than their white counterparts at this time. 894 00:45:18.280 --> 00:45:23.639 Over the past three decades, the black black demographic has 895 00:45:23.679 --> 00:45:27.360 been the largest, the fastest growing demographic in terms. 896 00:45:27.199 --> 00:45:28.199 Of suicide rates. 897 00:45:28.320 --> 00:45:33.079 Right, So it is actually a crisis. And I think 898 00:45:33.639 --> 00:45:36.360 to say that there are no resources and there's no 899 00:45:36.480 --> 00:45:39.360 funding to support mental health in our schools when we 900 00:45:39.480 --> 00:45:42.360 know that this is a major crisis and it was 901 00:45:42.400 --> 00:45:45.519 only exacerbated by the pandemic, right, and it has gotten 902 00:45:45.559 --> 00:45:49.400 worse since then, I think is doing a major disservice. 903 00:45:49.440 --> 00:45:51.599 And I think we have to rethink what it

means 904 00:45:51.639 --> 00:45:55.400 to have a successful student, what it means to successfully 905 00:45:55.440 --> 00:45:58.239 move through school and not have this hyper focus. And 906 00:45:58.280 --> 00:46:00.679 I think this is on all levels as I'm saying this, right, like, so, 907 00:46:00.760 --> 00:46:03.559 this is coming from legislation, this is coming from our government, 908 00:46:03.559 --> 00:46:06.920 this is coming from our local school districts. What what 909 00:46:06.960 --> 00:46:09.199 are our priorities and what are we really trying to 910 00:46:09.639 --> 00:46:13.280 accomplish when with with our students in school, and we're trying, 911 00:46:13.400 --> 00:46:15.320 in my opinion, we need to We're trying to create 912 00:46:15.519 --> 00:46:17.800 a whole a whole person, right, We're trying to create 913 00:46:17.840 --> 00:46:24.119 a thigh, a thriving, loving, civically engaged adult. And and 914 00:46:24.559 --> 00:46:28.519 that doesn't necessarily mean that you uh did a meets 915 00:46:28.599 --> 00:46:32.559 or exceeds on a state exam, right, that means have 916 00:46:33.480 --> 00:46:36.039 you you have the support you have you, you have 917 00:46:36.079 --> 00:46:39.039 a sense of well being, you you you have a 918 00:46:39.079 --> 00:46:42.199 sense of self you uh you know, and you have 919 00:46:42.280 --> 00:46:45.840 the supports in place to help you go through the 920 00:46:45.920 --> 00:46:51.280 various traumas that are realities of our current world. And 921 00:46:51.440 --> 00:46:54.079 many of our students, especially are black and brown students 922 00:46:54.119 --> 00:46:57.840 who are more likely impoverished, more likely in high needs 923 00:46:57.880 --> 00:47:01.320 situations go through. And so I think it's about to 924 00:47:01.800 --> 00:47:05.159 specific specifically answer your question. It's about the prioritization and 925 00:47:05.199 --> 00:47:08.280 what are we What are we saying is the most 926 00:47:08.280 --> 00:47:10.440 important priority? And right now I think we have it 927 00:47:11.519 --> 00:47:12.280 backwards a bit. 928 00:47:13.639 --> 00:47:15.679 You write about a lot of tough moments in this book, 929 00:47:16.159 --> 00:47:19.360 one of which you talked about suicide you I believe, 930 00:47:19.440 --> 00:47:22.639 I recall there was a suicide attempt or somewhat of 931 00:47:22.679 --> 00:47:26.760 an attempt at suicide in your book as well. What 932 00:47:26.840 --> 00:47:29.239 was I guess the most difficult part to write about this? 933 00:47:29.360 --> 00:47:31.920 You know, because usually when as a writer who writes, 934 00:47:32.679 --> 00:47:35.880 you are a lot of times bearing your soul and 935 00:47:36.039 --> 00:47:40.960 rehashing a lot of very tender moments and difficult moments. 936 00:47:41.000 --> 00:47:44.599 What was I guess the most difficult moment that was 937 00:47:44.639 --> 00:47:47.800 hard to write about in bringing out this. 938 00:47:48.840 --> 00:47:54.079 I would say that moment right there, because I never 939 00:47:54.440 --> 00:47:59.639 told uh, I never really told anyone in detail about 940 00:47:59.679 --> 00:48:02.320 that moment, right, and I outlined it in the book. 941 00:48:02.360 --> 00:48:05.679 And I'm in the bathroom alone and I'm crying and 942 00:48:05.719 --> 00:48:06.960 praying to God to kill me. 943 00:48:07.639 --> 00:48:13.840 And so that was very very tough, right, and very. 944 00:48:13.800 --> 00:48:16.840 Vulnerable to rehash that in my mind, but then also 945 00:48:17.039 --> 00:48:20.440 to write it, and then to think that now the 946 00:48:20.480 --> 00:48:21.679 world is going to read it. 947 00:48:21.599 --> 00:48:25.760 And even more for me, my family is going. 948 00:48:25.599 --> 00:48:30.239 To read it, and my you know, my parents and 949 00:48:30.280 --> 00:48:34.239 my you know, those my caretakers. And actually I had 950 00:48:34.280 --> 00:48:39.039 to recently as the book, as I've been doing converce, 951 00:48:39.119 --> 00:48:41.840 having interviews and conversations, I had to. 952 00:48:42.639 --> 00:48:45.239 I gave an early copy to my mom to read. 953 00:48:45.320 --> 00:48:46.280 And I was like, read. 954 00:48:46.159 --> 00:48:48.440 Chapter three because that's the chapter that it's in. And 955 00:48:48.440 --> 00:48:50.599 I was like, and we can talk about it. And 956 00:48:50.639 --> 00:48:53.000 then after she called me and she was like upset, 957 00:48:53.039 --> 00:48:56.159 and she was like, this was really hard for me 958 00:48:56.199 --> 00:48:58.320 to read but I think it's so powerful that you 959 00:48:58.360 --> 00:49:00.599 wrote it, and it's going to help a lot of 960 00:49:00.639 --> 00:49:02.840 a lot of kids and a lot of people and 961 00:49:02.840 --> 00:49:07.039 a lot of parents. But but that was very vulnerable 962 00:49:07.039 --> 00:49:09.360 for me to write and even still thinking about it 963 00:49:09.440 --> 00:49:13.559 as my book is, you know, going to be published 964 00:49:13.559 --> 00:49:15.800 in three weeks, and to know that that and I 965 00:49:15.880 --> 00:49:18.519 know and how you have brought it up in this interview, 966 00:49:18.679 --> 00:49:20.000 and I know it'll come up. 967 00:49:19.960 --> 00:49:20.559 A lot more. 968 00:49:21.119 --> 00:49:24.960 Just I it's always that bearing myself a little bit 969 00:49:25.360 --> 00:49:28.639 each time, and so but but I the reason I 970 00:49:28.639 --> 00:49:30.840 wanted to put it in is because I think it 971 00:49:30.880 --> 00:49:34.679 is so important and especially now with just the mental 972 00:49:34.679 --> 00:49:37.480 health crisis that is happening with our with our kids, 973 00:49:37.639 --> 00:49:39.960 and I think that we need to start having the conversation. 974 00:49:40.079 --> 00:49:42.400 And so if I could share a little bit. 975 00:49:42.320 --> 00:49:45.239 About my story that can help start having that

conversation, 976 00:49:45.559 --> 00:49:46.559 I was like, I'm going to do it. 977 00:49:46.800 --> 00:49:48.360 We're going to have to leave it right there, because 978 00:49:48.400 --> 00:49:50.679 there is so much that we could cover in this book. 979 00:49:50.800 --> 00:49:53.079 But I want to say thank you Brian Rachette Fuller 980 00:49:53.159 --> 00:49:54.280 for joining us on the bi. 981 00:49:54.280 --> 00:49:56.840 N Yeah, thank you so much for having me. 982 00:49:57.480 --> 00:49:59.400 Well that's it for this edition of the color between 983 00:49:59.400 --> 00:49:59.880 the lines. 984 00:50:00.079 --> 00:50:04.159 The book is being black at America's schools, a student educator, reformers, 985 00:50:04.280 --> 00:50:05.719 call for change. 986 00:50:06.039 --> 00:50:08.039 If you're an author who has a book who would 987 00:50:08.039 --> 00:50:09.079 be interested. 988 00:50:08.719 --> 00:50:12.800 In selecting our audience at the Black Information Network, you 989 00:50:12.880 --> 00:50:16.519 can drop me an email at Esther Dillard at iHeartMedia 990 00:50:16.679 --> 00:50:20.559 dot com. I'm Esther Dillard on the Black Information Network. 991 00:50:30.480 --> 00:50:34.119 Thanks Esther and author Brian Rashad Fuller and news anchor 992 00:50:34.159 --> 00:50:38.280 Doug Davis was at the NAACP National Convention in Las Vegas. 993 00:50:38.519 --> 00:50:42.000 President Biden spoke as the nation's first civil rights organization 994 00:50:42.119 --> 00:50:45.880 tailored their theme around protecting our freedoms. This year's theme 995 00:50:46.159 --> 00:50:49.000 is all in. Doug Davis has more Doug. 996 00:50:49.159 --> 00:50:49.679 Thanks Mike. 997 00:50:49.760 --> 00:50:53.159 This is Doug Davis and this past NAACP National Convention 998 00:50:53.360 --> 00:50:56.280 was one to remember as the theme all in continues 999 00:50:56.320 --> 00:50:59.519 to resonate as the organization is going all in to 1000 00:50:59.599 --> 00:51:04.159 assure democracy remains intact after the presidential election. I have 1001 00:51:04.280 --> 00:51:06.679 the honor of meeting the President of the Georgia Chapter 1002 00:51:06.760 --> 00:51:10.599 of the NAACP, Jerald Griggs. Georgia is the epicenter of 1003 00:51:10.679 --> 00:51:13.440 everything black here in America. I have the opportunity to 1004 00:51:13.480 --> 00:51:16.639 ask President Griggs a series of questions, one in particular 1005 00:51:16.679 --> 00:51:19.559 about some bills and measures the chapter is currently working on. 1006 00:51:19.920 --> 00:51:21.039 Here's what he had to say. 1007 00:51:21.199 --> 00:51:23.280 Well, one of the things we've focused on, we just 1008 00:51:23.360 --> 00:51:26.159 rolled out a partnership with the United Healthcare of Georgia 1009 00:51:26.199 --> 00:51:29.800 to provide healthcare to all our citizens in Georgia because 1010 00:51:29.840 --> 00:51:33.400 of the closing of hospitals, both in rural and urban areas. 1011 00:51:33.599 --> 00:51:37.480 But specifically, we have partnered with the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, 1012 00:51:37.480 --> 00:51:40.480 which is the largest state caucus in the nation, and 1013 00:51:40.559 --> 00:51:43.719 we're going to be introducing bills to stem the tide 1014 00:51:43.760 --> 00:51:47.760 of what's already happening. We've prepared and introduced a bill 1015 00:51:47.880 --> 00:51:50.880 on reparations in the state of Georgia, which is huge 1016 00:51:51.480 --> 00:51:54.639 for the descendants of chattel slavery in Georgia. So those 1017 00:51:54.639 --> 00:51:57.400 are a few things. As far as on the education side, 1018 00:51:57.440 --> 00:52:00.639 we are partnering with local boards of education to make 1019 00:52:00.679 --> 00:52:04.800 sure they continue to teach accurate African American history at 1020 00:52:04.840 --> 00:52:07.559 the local level, and then on the branch level, we 1021 00:52:07.599 --> 00:52:11.960 have opened our own book stores in the units to 1022 00:52:12.000 --> 00:52:15.480 provide accurate teaching of African American history. So we are 1023 00:52:15.519 --> 00:52:18.920 being proactive instead of reactive to make sure we protect Hey. 1024 00:52:18.800 --> 00:52:21.119 Man, let's go back to the reparations piece. I know 1025 00:52:21.719 --> 00:52:27.320 Carl Gilliard, President Legislative Black Caucus, had his organization was 1026 00:52:27.400 --> 00:52:31.239 obviously in support of that bill to get Georgia to 1027 00:52:31.760 --> 00:52:34.360 look at a task force, and that didn't even pass. 1028 00:52:34.480 --> 00:52:35.159 Is that how it went? 1029 00:52:35.239 --> 00:52:38.639 Absolutely well? Two things we did. One, the NAACP had 1030 00:52:38.760 --> 00:52:41.400 n DOUAACP day at the Capitol, and then we circle 1031 00:52:41.480 --> 00:52:45.000 back in partnership with the Legislative Black Caucus to have 1032 00:52:45.119 --> 00:52:49.239 Reparations Day at the Capitol. And so any bill goes 1033 00:52:49.280 --> 00:52:52.000 through two legislative cycles. So it did not get a 1034 00:52:52.079 --> 00:52:55.199 hearing committee on the first legislative cycle, but it is 1035 00:52:55.239 --> 00:52:58.880 still a live piece of legislation for the next one. 1036 00:52:58.960 --> 00:53:01.039 So in January we will make sure it gets a 1037 00:53:01.039 --> 00:53:04.920 committee hearing and then ultimately hopefully gets its passage onto 1038 00:53:04.960 --> 00:53:07.800 the floor and past both houses so that the governor 1039 00:53:07.840 --> 00:53:10.800 can institute that task force so it's not dead. What 1040 00:53:10.920 --> 00:53:14.880 we're also doing throughout the counties. Fulton County has a 1041 00:53:14.960 --> 00:53:18.440 reparations task force that is moving forward and we do 1042 00:53:18.519 --> 00:53:22.400 believe will be successful in both receiving funding and then 1043 00:53:22.519 --> 00:53:26.880 ultimately getting those payments to the descendants in Fulton County.

1044 00:53:26.960 --> 00:53:31.199 So in Georgia, we're taking a multifaceted approach to achieving that. 1045 00:53:31.280 --> 00:53:33.599 In hey, man, man, let's really hope it happens, because 1046 00:53:33.679 --> 00:53:36.000 if it can happen in Georgia, it can literally happen anywhere. 1047 00:53:36.039 --> 00:53:38.920 I had a chance to speak with Camilla Moore of 1048 00:53:38.960 --> 00:53:42.440 the California Reparation Task Force for a few years while 1049 00:53:42.440 --> 00:53:44.760 they're going through their issues, and I do believe that 1050 00:53:44.800 --> 00:53:48.400 cash payment will eventually happen in California. In your opinion, 1051 00:53:48.480 --> 00:53:52.559 what are some some ways that Georgia could fund reparations 1052 00:53:52.559 --> 00:53:53.559 for black Georgians. 1053 00:53:53.599 --> 00:53:56.599 Well, I think there's been a big conversation in Georgia 1054 00:53:56.639 --> 00:54:00.480 about legalization of gambling and having casinos there, sort of 1055 00:54:00.519 --> 00:54:04.239 like the lottery, but more actual legalized sports betting, and 1056 00:54:04.239 --> 00:54:07.000 that could be one vehicle similar to what the lottery 1057 00:54:07.039 --> 00:54:09.719 does for education. But I think that you know, a 1058 00:54:09.880 --> 00:54:13.760 special purpose tax to pay that, or a splash or 1059 00:54:13.800 --> 00:54:17.119 something like that. It's a lot of novel ideas, and 1060 00:54:17.239 --> 00:54:19.800 you know, we can talk about more investment in our 1061 00:54:19.880 --> 00:54:23.639 hpcus through our education departments. So it's a lot of 1062 00:54:23.679 --> 00:54:26.320 things that they could do in Georgia for that repair. 1063 00:54:26.639 --> 00:54:29.119 I know many people want cash payments, and we want 1064 00:54:29.159 --> 00:54:32.239 to support cash payments, but there are also other range 1065 00:54:32.280 --> 00:54:35.719 of host of issues that could be used to pay. 1066 00:54:35.800 --> 00:54:40.000 Okay, let's talk Evanston, Illinois. Their reparation program is being 1067 00:54:40.079 --> 00:54:43.800 challenged by far right group claiming discrimination. What are you 1068 00:54:43.960 --> 00:54:46.840 doing to assure that if Georgia ever gets a reparation 1069 00:54:47.000 --> 00:54:50.239 bill or bills passed, that the state won't face the 1070 00:54:50.280 --> 00:54:51.400 same kind of challenge. 1071 00:54:51.519 --> 00:54:54.960 Our constitution in the State of Georgia, if it's passed 1072 00:54:55.639 --> 00:54:59.599 through both houses of legislature and innsigned by the governor, 1073 00:54:59.679 --> 00:55:03.719 will detect us. You know, you get the federal constitution 1074 00:55:03.920 --> 00:55:05.840 is the floor, but you can get more rights through 1075 00:55:05.840 --> 00:55:09.079 the state constitution. So I think there will be litigation, 1076 00:55:09.760 --> 00:55:12.360 But again in Georgia, I think in our state courts 1077 00:55:12.840 --> 00:55:17.679 there's a more favorable appetite for making sure that these 1078 00:55:17.719 --> 00:55:20.719 type of things that are going to a protected class 1079 00:55:20.960 --> 00:55:22.679 will actually reach that protected class. 1080 00:55:22.840 --> 00:55:27.559 Final question cannabis. Will it ever be legal from a 1081 00:55:27.719 --> 00:55:30.519 recreational standpoint in the State of Georgia and that could 1082 00:55:30.519 --> 00:55:32.119 be a way to fund reparations as well. 1083 00:55:32.159 --> 00:55:34.280 Absolutely, I think that it will be I think that 1084 00:55:34.360 --> 00:55:38.039 we see movement. There was conversation about it last session. 1085 00:55:38.719 --> 00:55:42.400 The conversation didn't go anywhere, but we now have dispensaries 1086 00:55:42.400 --> 00:55:45.320 that have been legalized, of course, just for medical marijuana. 1087 00:55:45.320 --> 00:55:48.719 We have the medical medical marijuana cards now. So I 1088 00:55:48.760 --> 00:55:51.760 think there is a push towards it in Georgia. But 1089 00:55:51.800 --> 00:55:55.199 we have to make sure that if we legalize cannabis 1090 00:55:55.199 --> 00:55:58.519 in Georgia, we make sure we expunge all of those 1091 00:55:58.559 --> 00:56:02.639 convictions for violation of the george Control Substance Act for marijuana. 1092 00:56:02.760 --> 00:56:05.480 So we want to similarly do what they've done in 1093 00:56:05.519 --> 00:56:08.320 Maryland with my good friend and fret brother, Wes Moore, 1094 00:56:08.559 --> 00:56:09.880 to make sure we can do that in Georgia. 1095 00:56:09.960 --> 00:56:10.159 Yeah. 1096 00:56:10.159 --> 00:56:13.079 Absolutely, and of course the social equity component too. 1097 00:56:13.519 --> 00:56:16.599 Absolutely. You know, we need to make sure that the 1098 00:56:16.639 --> 00:56:19.440 communities that have been most affected by the war on 1099 00:56:19.559 --> 00:56:23.559 drugs and particularly the criminalization of cannabis will benefit from 1100 00:56:23.639 --> 00:56:28.000 the new industry. So we need more vouchers for them 1101 00:56:28.000 --> 00:56:32.039 to start dispensaries and the ability once they legalize it, 1102 00:56:32.079 --> 00:56:33.679 to be able to sell it in the storefronts. 1103 00:56:34.199 --> 00:56:38.280 The importance of the NAACP today for African Americans. For 1104 00:56:38.519 --> 00:56:42.320 some who may believe that you guys are just social climbers. 1105 00:56:42.519 --> 00:56:46.400 You know what convincing words would you give the average 1106 00:56:46.440 --> 00:56:50.719 African American about why the NAACP is so important today? 1107 00:56:51.920 --> 00:56:54.159 Not comparing anything from the past, but this is a 1108 00:56:54.239 --> 00:56:56.760 very critical moment in history. Who we're at right. 1109 00:56:56.679 --> 00:57:01.840 Now twenty eighteen, twenty twenty one, twenty twenty two. Who 1110 00:57:01.880 --> 00:57:03.679 do you think turned out to vote in Georgia?

That 1111 00:57:03.760 --> 00:57:06.440 was a Georgia State conference of the NAACP and all 1112 00:57:06.480 --> 00:57:09.599 of her units in partnership with all of our partners 1113 00:57:09.639 --> 00:57:11.480 on the ground who were pushing to vote. So we 1114 00:57:11.599 --> 00:57:13.800 changed the course of American history. We changed the course 1115 00:57:13.800 --> 00:57:16.400 of Georgia history. But there's also one other name that 1116 00:57:17.039 --> 00:57:20.039 a lot of people know. They know this name of 1117 00:57:20.079 --> 00:57:23.320 an unarmed jogger who was running in Sintilla Shaw's. His 1118 00:57:23.440 --> 00:57:26.400 name was a mart Aubrey. That was the NAACP's case 1119 00:57:26.480 --> 00:57:30.320 through the Brunswick NAACP and John Perry in partnership with 1120 00:57:30.400 --> 00:57:32.880 Lee Merrit, in partnership with Ben Crump, in partnership with 1121 00:57:32.880 --> 00:57:35.280 the mart Aubrey's family. So when people say what is 1122 00:57:35.280 --> 00:57:38.719 the importance of the Georgia NAACP, we can point to 1123 00:57:38.800 --> 00:57:41.880 recent history as well as the past. You know, we 1124 00:57:41.920 --> 00:57:45.599 gave you Julian Bond, we gave you Walter White. Of course. W. E. B. 1125 00:57:45.719 --> 00:57:49.519 Dubois worked down at Clark Atlanta University, John Dale Johnson 1126 00:57:49.559 --> 00:57:52.679 and John Lewis and doctor King both senior and junior. 1127 00:57:53.000 --> 00:57:55.880 All were raised in the Georgia State Conference of the NAACP. 1128 00:57:56.320 --> 00:57:59.440 So when people say we're not relevant, I say, cut 1129 00:57:59.480 --> 00:58:01.880 on your local news and you see what's happening in Georgia. 1130 00:58:02.440 --> 00:58:04.840 More than likely, so Georgia NAACP doing it. 1131 00:58:04.920 --> 00:58:07.679 And that's Gerald Gregg's president of the Georgia Chapter of 1132 00:58:07.679 --> 00:58:10.199 the NAACP. We'll hope to have them back on the 1133 00:58:10.239 --> 00:58:13.440 show very very soon. Doug Davis, you're listening to the 1134 00:58:13.440 --> 00:58:14.960 Black Perspective on the BI. 1135 00:58:15.440 --> 00:58:18.559 Thanks Doug, and that's our program for this week. For 1136 00:58:18.679 --> 00:58:21.519 more on these stories, listen to the Black Information Network 1137 00:58:21.519 --> 00:58:25.440 on the free iHeartRadio app or log onto binnews dot 1138 00:58:25.480 --> 00:58:28.800 com for all of the latest news impacting the black community. 1139 00:58:29.159 --> 00:58:31.599 Also be sure to follow us on social media at 1140 00:58:31.599 --> 00:58:35.159 Black Information Network and on x at Black Info Net. 1141 00:58:35.519 --> 00:58:38.199 I'm Mike Island. Wishing everyone a great Sunday and be 1142 00:58:38.239 --> 00:58:40.559 sure to tune in next week at this time for 1143 00:58:40.679 --> 00:58:43.760 another edition of The Black Perspective right here on the 1144 00:58:43.800 --> 00:58:45.320 Black Information Network. 1145 00:58:45.480 --> 00:58:48.880 I'm Tony Coles, President of the Black Information Network. Through 1146 00:58:48.920 --> 00:58:52.320 lock In and Store It, BI aims to raise awareness 1147 00:58:52.400 --> 00:58:56.559 about the importance of gun safety in preventing unintentional shootings, 1148 00:58:56.599 --> 00:58:59.280 which claim the lives of dozens of black. 1149 00:58:59.159 --> 00:59:00.000 Children each year. 1150 00:59:00.239 --> 00:59:02.679 Lock In and Store It he encourages gun owners to 1151 00:59:02.880 --> 00:59:06.760 always lock and securely store their weapons so young children 1152 00:59:06.840 --> 00:59:10.880 don't mistake them for toys and unintentionally enter themselves or 1153 00:59:10.960 --> 00:59:14.719 someone else. BI will air special reports and news features 1154 00:59:14.760 --> 00:59:18.159 explaining the role we all could play in protecting our 1155 00:59:18.280 --> 00:59:22.440 children from these preventable tragedies. Share your thoughts and concerns 1156 00:59:22.480 --> 00:59:26.039 about gun safety on the BI Talkback Live portal on 1157 00:59:26.119 --> 00:59:29.719 the iHeartRadio app, and join us in spreading the word. 1158 00:59:29.880 --> 00:59:32.840 If you know a gun owner, encourage them to always 1159 00:59:32.960 --> 00:59:37.280 lock and store their firearms. Doing so could save a life. 1160 00:59:37.400 --> 00:59:41.119 BI is dedicated to helping keep all members of our 1161 00:59:41.159 --> 00:59:45.000 community safe. Learn more at binews dot com.