1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:03,680 Speaker 1: Wake that ass up in the morning. The Breakfast Club. 2 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:08,639 Speaker 2: Morning, everybody, It's DJ Envy Charlamagne de Guy. We are 3 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:11,840 Speaker 2: to Breakfast Club. We got a special guest in the building. Indeed, 4 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 2: we have Nicole Levont. 5 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 3: Welcome, Thank you. 6 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 2: How are you feeling this morning? 7 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:19,480 Speaker 3: I feel so happy to be in New York, honestly 8 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,239 Speaker 3: because my parents just rolled in New York and met here, 9 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:24,119 Speaker 3: and my mom grew up here. And I just feel 10 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:26,480 Speaker 3: Clarence and Jackie everywhere. 11 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:27,319 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, I do. 12 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:29,159 Speaker 3: I feel. I woke up this morning, I'm looking at 13 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 3: this city. I'm all right, Mom, all right, Dad, let's 14 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:31,720 Speaker 3: do this. 15 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 1: Did you always have that connected with New York? Yes? Okay, 16 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: why because of the story. 17 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 3: Of yeah and just being here, and you know, I 18 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:41,280 Speaker 3: was actually conceived in New York and then they moved 19 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 3: to La and yes, I'm an La girl, but I 20 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:47,239 Speaker 3: always spent time here. Oh my cousins are here, so 21 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:50,559 Speaker 3: Jamaica Queens and New Rochelle and you know, Harlow, I 22 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 3: got people all over in New Jersey, and so I 23 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 3: just love New York. 24 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 1: How do you know you was conceived it? That's not 25 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 1: a good one. That's not something mose kids. Did you 26 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 1: ask those ques. 27 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 3: I did the timeline. Okay, by the time you moved 28 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 3: to La. Okay, I was like, you were pregnant when 29 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 3: you moved Chela got you, you know. I was like, okay, 30 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 3: so I'm a New Yorker. 31 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 1: I love that. 32 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:16,679 Speaker 4: This is Nicole Avon, the daughter of the legendary Clarence Avant, 33 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 4: the legendary of the legendary daughter of Jacqueline Avon, And 34 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:21,959 Speaker 4: she wrote a book Think You'll be Happy. And you 35 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,840 Speaker 4: know how I feel about your father. I've told you 36 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:26,760 Speaker 4: that a million times. I got the opportunity to tell 37 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:30,959 Speaker 4: mister Clarence himself he's one of my top four inspirations 38 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 4: ever in this entertainment business. 39 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 1: Like he was the guy. 40 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 3: Thank you for saying that. He really was. I mean, 41 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 3: he's stealth I've never seen I mean he was ninety 42 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:46,319 Speaker 3: two when he passed, and that man going through his 43 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 3: whole life and documenting his life and looking at everything. 44 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 3: I said, you had a million opportunities to quit and 45 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 3: would have every reason to quit, and no one would 46 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 3: have ever judge you. And he looked at me like, 47 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 3: why would you. You don't quit, You don't get to quit. 48 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 3: You could pause, you could pivot, but no, like, your 49 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 3: life is your life. You don't know how long you're 50 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:11,360 Speaker 3: going to be here. And his whole thing is like, 51 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 3: you come with a number and you end with a number, 52 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 3: So what are you going to do with your dash? 53 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 3: That was it, What are you going to do with 54 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 3: your life? And it wasn't not fame for him. His 55 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 3: whole thing is, you know, greatness is very different from 56 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:31,079 Speaker 3: being famous, and a lot of people now the new 57 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 3: generations are, oh, if I'm famous, I'm famous, I'll be great. No, 58 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:37,520 Speaker 3: you're great and you're worthy and you're valuable just because 59 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:39,240 Speaker 3: you're alive. You don't have to have a title to 60 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 3: be great, you know, or worthy or important or significant, 61 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:47,959 Speaker 3: you know. So that's what I'm feeling a lot that 62 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 3: that was his whole thing. Even when he was passing away, 63 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 3: and as you know, his last days with me, he 64 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:54,519 Speaker 3: was you know, his last words basically were like, keep 65 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:59,240 Speaker 3: your mind right, girl, keep your mind right. It's okay, daddy, 66 00:02:59,280 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 3: I will. 67 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:02,240 Speaker 1: That's gonna be the name of a book, book keep. 68 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, keep your mind right. 69 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 4: Yes, and with all his okay because this book is 70 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:08,080 Speaker 4: thinking you'll be happy. 71 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 1: Let people know why that title is. 72 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 3: Yes, So I think you'll be happy moving through grief 73 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:17,959 Speaker 3: with great grays and gratitude. This I was already writing 74 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 3: a book in twenty twenty after I did The Black 75 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 3: Out Father, and I thought, you know what, I'm going 76 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:26,080 Speaker 3: to write a book maybe based on the themes of 77 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:30,239 Speaker 3: The Black Got Father, which were I picked three themes grit, grayson, gratitude. 78 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 3: And then I'm writing it and a couple of drafts 79 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 3: and they weren't right and nothing was landing. And then 80 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 3: this tragedy, you know, my mom is killed during a 81 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:42,400 Speaker 3: you know, a home invasion, and I'm like, oh God, 82 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:45,360 Speaker 3: And I thought, well, I have this book that I 83 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 3: was writing. Well, I'm not going to I'm not putting 84 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 3: this out. How are you going to put it out? 85 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 3: A book on grit, grays and gratitude after this. But 86 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 3: my father was like, mm mmm, no, you don't. You 87 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 3: don't let anyone take your life. You don't let anyone 88 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 3: stop you from doing what you're supposed to be doing. 89 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 3: So I said, yeah, but Dad, it's called grit, grace, 90 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 3: and gratitude. And then think you'll be happy. Those were 91 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 3: the last words that my mom said to me at 92 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 3: eight o'clock that night. So we were texting about a 93 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:16,719 Speaker 3: sweet potato pie, and she said, you know, because my 94 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:20,479 Speaker 3: dad typical clearance. They came for Thanksgiving the week before that. 95 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 3: He took his leftovers and we didn't even get to 96 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 3: the pie that my mom brought for me. And she 97 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:26,400 Speaker 3: was so proud that she brought me this great pie 98 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:30,359 Speaker 3: and he took it home. So every day after Thanksgiving she'said, 99 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:32,720 Speaker 3: come get your pie, Come get your pie. And I said, Mom, 100 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 3: you and this pie, it's okay. And then she texted 101 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:39,680 Speaker 3: me that night at eight o'clock and we went back 102 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 3: and forth about the sweet potato pie and I said, 103 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 3: I'll come get it tomorrow. I'll think about it, I'll 104 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 3: come get it tomorrow. She said, okay, think you'll be happy. 105 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 3: Never saw her again, never heard from her again. And 106 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 3: so when that happened, I thought, you know what. And 107 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:56,960 Speaker 3: then we looked at when I was showing my publisher 108 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,120 Speaker 3: my team the last text, they were like, that's the 109 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:03,479 Speaker 3: title of the book because your mom actually didn't just 110 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:06,160 Speaker 3: say I think you'll be happy about a sweet potato pie. 111 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:13,719 Speaker 3: You know, energetically and spiritually, that was your mantra to 112 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:16,479 Speaker 3: go forward in life. That was your mantra to go 113 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 3: because my mom was a big believer on your words 114 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:23,240 Speaker 3: and your actions and your thoughts will create your life. 115 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:27,280 Speaker 3: It just can't change. We see proof of that every 116 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:30,839 Speaker 3: single day. So I was like, right, I think you'll 117 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 3: be happy. Okay, okay, I'm gonna do this, like and 118 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 3: I'm going to move through my grief. 119 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 2: I was gonna ask how long did it take and 120 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 2: how difficult was it? Oh? 121 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:43,680 Speaker 3: It was? So I started writing right after she. I 122 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:48,280 Speaker 3: finished writing after she passed, so, you know, a year 123 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 3: and a half, two years all together, three years. And 124 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 3: it was difficult to write because it was reopening the wound. 125 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:58,839 Speaker 3: Kind of felt like salt going back into the wound. 126 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 3: But it was all so the most cathartic thing I 127 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 3: could have ever done, because I was able to share 128 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 3: stories and remember stories about her. That did make me happy, 129 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 3: that did make me grateful that Jacqueline Avon jackie A, 130 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 3: you know what we used to call her, Jackie A, 131 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 3: was my mother. And she really took pride in raising 132 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 3: her children and supporting her family and loving her family. 133 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:30,279 Speaker 3: And she loved history and all history, but especially my history. 134 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:33,600 Speaker 3: She's like, you need to know who you are before 135 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:35,880 Speaker 3: you leave this house every day, So She had this 136 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 3: thing and we called it the Great Wall. It was 137 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:43,920 Speaker 3: letters and anything from Booker T. Washington to id B. Wells, 138 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 3: Harriet Tubman to George Washington, Carver and Hank Earon and 139 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 3: so and so. So She's like, so politics, you know, sports, entertainment, literature, art, 140 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:56,640 Speaker 3: You're going to see the greats Josephine Baker. There was 141 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:58,520 Speaker 3: not a day where I didn't walk out of my 142 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:01,560 Speaker 3: house where I didn't look at Josephine or Ruby Bridges. 143 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:02,479 Speaker 1: You know. 144 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 3: My mom's whole point is like, so when you go 145 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 3: out in the world, you will understand who you come from, 146 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:12,880 Speaker 3: what stock do you come from? And then so no 147 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 3: matter what comes against you, you'll know the truth of 148 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 3: you owe these people all life. You know, you owe people. 149 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 3: These people could have quit and could have taken their 150 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 3: own lives, and they fought, and here you. 151 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 1: Are doing this book. 152 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 4: Also had to be tough because you're honoring your mother 153 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 4: with this book. But then the late Great Clarence Avon 154 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 4: passed away. So how you've been navigating that? 155 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 3: You know, it was the last twenty months. So when 156 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 3: my mom when we left the hospital, so my mom, 157 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 3: you know, she was shot. She was shot in the back. 158 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 3: She made it to the hospital. She did not die 159 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 3: in her house. She made it to the hospital. She 160 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 3: you know, was in surgery. You know, they did what 161 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 3: they could, but she lost way too much blood. From 162 00:07:56,560 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 3: that moment, I looked at my father right when they 163 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 3: gave us the news, I said, Okay, you're coming home 164 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:05,880 Speaker 3: with me. Let's just we were all shocked, drama, stress, 165 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 3: all that. I just said, come home with me. And 166 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 3: then for the last twenty months, I said, Okay, you're 167 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 3: gonna be my road dog. We're just gonna hang. We're 168 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:16,360 Speaker 3: gonna be together. I'm not going to leave you. You're not 169 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 3: gonna leave me, and we're gonna get through this shit 170 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 3: as best as we can. I don't even know what that. 171 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 3: I don't even know what it looks like. 172 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 1: Daddy. 173 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, I was like, I was like, but we are 174 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 3: going to We're going to get through it. And he 175 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 3: would catch me sometimes he's like, get out of that 176 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 3: quicksand get out of that quicksand because I can see 177 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:41,080 Speaker 3: you just spiraling. And he was so great because he 178 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:44,160 Speaker 3: was still Clarence and he basically was like this is 179 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:46,080 Speaker 3: I mean, some days he didn't even say killed. He 180 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:48,440 Speaker 3: never even used that word he would say when Jackie 181 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 3: disappeared the day Jackie disappeared, because it was so you 182 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 3: know what, and but to have him for twenty months 183 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:02,920 Speaker 3: living under my roof with my husband, and we just decided, Okay, 184 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:05,440 Speaker 3: our intention with him is he's going to feel safe, 185 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 3: he's going to feel loved, and he's going to feel secure. 186 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:13,760 Speaker 3: And it was the best twenty months I actually could 187 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:17,080 Speaker 3: have ever had, because yes, I grew up with him, 188 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 3: but I left home at eighteen, never really came back home, 189 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:22,640 Speaker 3: would spend time with him, but he was busy, Clarence 190 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 3: amount was doing things, and so I never really had 191 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:29,679 Speaker 3: all his energy to myself anyway. And so now as 192 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:33,280 Speaker 3: an older man and a wiser man and a calmer man, 193 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 3: I received so much more wisdom. And it was just 194 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 3: out of a tragedy that was the best thing that 195 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:43,080 Speaker 3: could have happened, was that I got to live with 196 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:43,720 Speaker 3: Clarence again. 197 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:46,440 Speaker 4: Did you kind of feel like he was transitioning soon? 198 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:48,640 Speaker 4: Because they always say when couples have been together that long. 199 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 3: I love that you asked that question. I swear to you. 200 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 3: The first three weeks I kept thinking, oh my god, 201 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:58,160 Speaker 3: we probably have three weeks with him. Wow, we probably 202 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:00,360 Speaker 3: have two months with him. Wow, because to your point, 203 00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:03,960 Speaker 3: all science shows, everybody shows like, oh, usually if its 204 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:08,320 Speaker 3: spouse dies, especially at an older age, the next one 205 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:11,400 Speaker 3: goes right after and within six months, and I thought, 206 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:13,240 Speaker 3: oh my god, how am I gonna go? How are 207 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:15,480 Speaker 3: we gonna do this? And then three months we'll go, by, 208 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 3: then another three months ago. By by the time we 209 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:20,200 Speaker 3: got to nine months, I looked at him and I said, 210 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 3: he's Clarence Abon. I don't know what to tell you. 211 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 3: I said, now I understand why I call him the Godfather. 212 00:10:27,559 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 3: Like he he he. He would always say to me, 213 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 3: I'm gonna live as long as I can, and when 214 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 3: it's time for me to go. He literally read the 215 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 3: New York Times obituary column every single day, and he'd 216 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:42,720 Speaker 3: read about other people's lives. He loved it, and he 217 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:45,600 Speaker 3: was like, I'm making sure I'm not in here. I'm 218 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 3: just making sure I'm not in here today. And then 219 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:50,680 Speaker 3: I would say no. My teas him, and I said, 220 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 3: one day I go, Daddy, when you do go, you're 221 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:55,440 Speaker 3: gonna have the whole page. He goes, Oh, Nicole, please, 222 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:56,840 Speaker 3: they probably won't put me in there. I maybe I 223 00:10:56,880 --> 00:10:58,960 Speaker 3: have a little paragraph, and when he died, the New 224 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:02,040 Speaker 3: York Times gave him the whole back age and I went, 225 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:02,559 Speaker 3: there you go. 226 00:11:03,880 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 4: Now we know grief isn't linear. And now the thing 227 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:09,680 Speaker 4: I love about your book is it feels like everything 228 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 4: your mother and father instilled and you helped you to 229 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:14,360 Speaker 4: be able to navigate this. 230 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:18,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, one hundred percent. And it's not linear. It's like 231 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:23,679 Speaker 3: a rollercoaster. Grief is just some days you're good and 232 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 3: you're like, oh, I got this, and then a song 233 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:28,320 Speaker 3: would come on the radio. I mean, my mom loved 234 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 3: the Spinners and she loved easy music. You know, she 235 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 3: loved the Commodorees and the Spinners and Al Green, any 236 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:35,600 Speaker 3: of those guys came out on the radio. I was 237 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:39,440 Speaker 3: just destroyed for those five minutes of that song. Bill 238 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 3: Withers would come on and I think of you know, 239 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 3: I think of my mom, and grief just it's waves. 240 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:53,760 Speaker 3: But it also hits every single human being on this planet. 241 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 3: No one gets to escape grief. Grief is different for everybody. 242 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:02,400 Speaker 3: But the thing that helped me be calm or calm 243 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 3: me down about it was when I got anxious, was 244 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 3: I'm not the only one who's grieving today. I'm not 245 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:11,160 Speaker 3: the only one. There are mothers who are burying their 246 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 3: children around the world. There are mothers in our children's 247 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:17,680 Speaker 3: hospital right who work in three jobs. There're a five 248 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 3: year old has leukemia, and that's grief. Your dog dies, 249 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:24,840 Speaker 3: it's grief, yea, your grandparents, whatever it is, or sometimes 250 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 3: it's not even a death. You're fired from a job 251 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:29,719 Speaker 3: that you loved and you gave so much of your 252 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:32,720 Speaker 3: efforts and you were just don't know what happened. Grief 253 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:36,679 Speaker 3: is hard, but it is you are able to move 254 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 3: through it. Now. 255 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 2: I want to talk forgiveness and faith, right, Yes, now, 256 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 2: you talk about that. You talk about that a lot 257 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:46,199 Speaker 2: in the book, and that's very difficult for most people 258 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:48,720 Speaker 2: to forgive, and especially with something like that, you kind 259 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:50,600 Speaker 2: of lose a little bit of faith at first. Oh, 260 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:54,800 Speaker 2: how did you get that faith back? If you ever 261 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 2: got it back, And let's talk about forgiveness. 262 00:12:57,160 --> 00:13:02,120 Speaker 3: Yes, good question. So my faith in that moment, It's 263 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 3: interesting when it happened, I walked back to my car, 264 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:10,640 Speaker 3: Like Ted and my father left the hospital separately, I 265 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:14,959 Speaker 3: had my own car and immediately, like my grandmother always 266 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:17,480 Speaker 3: the first scripture that came to me, I am strong 267 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:19,120 Speaker 3: in the Lord and in the power of the I 268 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:20,520 Speaker 3: am strong in the Lord and in the power of 269 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:22,679 Speaker 3: I just kept saying it over and over and over 270 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 3: again and then and then all of a sudden, I 271 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:28,320 Speaker 3: was like, wait a minute, No, actually, no, I'm not 272 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:31,360 Speaker 3: strong in the Lord? Like where where is everybody? Where 273 00:13:31,559 --> 00:13:33,839 Speaker 3: was anybody from my mom? You know? You definitely go there. 274 00:13:34,840 --> 00:13:37,080 Speaker 3: But then I snapped right back into it, like, no, 275 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:42,520 Speaker 3: you know what faith isn't about. You can't just say 276 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 3: I have faith when everything is going right. Faith isn't 277 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:47,280 Speaker 3: for when everything is going right. Faith is for when 278 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:50,680 Speaker 3: everything is going wrong. Actually, it's easy to trust God 279 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:54,320 Speaker 3: when everything's great right, It's very difficult to trust the 280 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:59,319 Speaker 3: universe and the divine when things blow up. But people 281 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:02,360 Speaker 3: have been doing this since the beginning of time. They 282 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:04,760 Speaker 3: have kept their faith. And the only reason we're all 283 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 3: sitting here today is because people kept their faith in 284 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:12,760 Speaker 3: God and planted seeds for us right to have freedom 285 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 3: to live the lives that we want to live while 286 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:19,200 Speaker 3: they weren't living in freedom. So if they can do it, 287 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:23,680 Speaker 3: and unfairness can come to them and trauma can come 288 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:28,440 Speaker 3: to them over and over, physical, emotional, spiritual trauma, then 289 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 3: I'm going to have to kind of tap into that 290 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 3: energy of other people who've also gone through this and 291 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:38,320 Speaker 3: make and I had just had to make a decision 292 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:42,320 Speaker 3: to stay in faith, even though I didn't know, even 293 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:44,400 Speaker 3: though I didn't feel like being in faith. I just 294 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 3: made a decision. I just came home and I said, Okay, God, 295 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:49,440 Speaker 3: I don't understand any of this. I don't know what 296 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:52,120 Speaker 3: to do with this. I don't know who to call. 297 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:54,000 Speaker 3: I don't know what book to pick up. And then 298 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:57,640 Speaker 3: it was, you know my scripture, you know what I say? 299 00:14:57,960 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 3: And the birds are going to wake up tomorrow, and 300 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 3: the sun is going to rise tomorrow, and the sun's 301 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:05,080 Speaker 3: going to set tomorrow. So this is a part of life. 302 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:08,360 Speaker 3: Death is a part of life. How we die, we 303 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 3: don't know. And then you know. And then in the 304 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 3: book I write TD Jakes and it's a true story. 305 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 3: I literally walked up in my room and I fell 306 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:20,200 Speaker 3: to my knees, like, God, this is not happening. And 307 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:23,800 Speaker 3: the phone rang and it's a no caller idea. I 308 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 3: don't think I'll hold on. I didn't know who it was. 309 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 3: I didn't I it was a detective or somebody, And 310 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 3: he said, is this Nicole and I said yes. He said, 311 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:35,880 Speaker 3: this is Bishop TD Jakes. I said, oh my god, 312 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:38,040 Speaker 3: well I just fell to my knees. He goes, he goes, 313 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:39,720 Speaker 3: He goes, how are you holding up? I go, I 314 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 3: just fell down to my knees. He goes, well, then good, 315 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:47,480 Speaker 3: We're going to pray. And he did his thing and 316 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:50,680 Speaker 3: then he said, tell me why you're angry, but you're 317 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:52,560 Speaker 3: angry about I go, well, obviously what I'm angry about. 318 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 3: I'm angry that someone did this. I'm angry about this. 319 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:59,600 Speaker 3: I'm disappointed. And he said, okay, now are we going 320 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 3: to get this moment of five minutes gonna Are we 321 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:07,040 Speaker 3: gonna focus on your mom's eighty one years of her 322 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:10,760 Speaker 3: life and what she gave and what she did, or 323 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:13,800 Speaker 3: are we going to give this full five minutes where 324 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:16,800 Speaker 3: you're gonna go, because if you don't turn your mind quickly, 325 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:19,640 Speaker 3: this is going to be a disaster. And I said, 326 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 3: I want to focus on the eighty one years. And 327 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 3: then the forgiveness part was the hardest, because you know, 328 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 3: forgiveness is a hard word, and it's a tricky word. 329 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:32,440 Speaker 3: And I think a lot of people say I can 330 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:35,280 Speaker 3: never forgive that because I've said that too, which means 331 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 3: I could never condone that. But forgiveness isn't condonement. It's 332 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:44,960 Speaker 3: never ever ever condoning a bad behavior. Ever. I forgave 333 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 3: so that I could peace in my heart. I forgave 334 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:53,200 Speaker 3: for myself. I was like, Okay, I give up the 335 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:57,080 Speaker 3: anger and the frustration and the sadness and the disappointment. 336 00:16:57,520 --> 00:16:59,320 Speaker 3: I give it up. I give it back to God 337 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 3: because these burdens that he keeps saying, you know, give 338 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:04,560 Speaker 3: me your burdens. Okay, okay, well here in mine because 339 00:17:04,600 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 3: I'm pissed off and I'm disappointed, and I'm so just 340 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:11,040 Speaker 3: take all this and every day I had to do that. 341 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:15,000 Speaker 3: But I definitely made sure I didn't care about this person. 342 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:16,680 Speaker 3: I don't care about his name, I didn't care about 343 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:18,800 Speaker 3: his past. I didn't care about I didn't care. I 344 00:17:18,840 --> 00:17:23,159 Speaker 3: was like, I'm not giving him if any space in 345 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:26,439 Speaker 3: my brain or my heart because I don't have a 346 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:29,840 Speaker 3: bitter heart. I never had a bitter heart. But if 347 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:32,160 Speaker 3: you don't forgive, you will have a better heart. And again, 348 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:35,440 Speaker 3: to anyone who's listening, it is not about even reconciliation. 349 00:17:36,040 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 3: I've forgiven people in my past, like friends who have 350 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:40,480 Speaker 3: hurt me. I never reconciled with them. 351 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:41,560 Speaker 1: I just forgave them. 352 00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:44,480 Speaker 3: That was it. It was like, I just don't I 353 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 3: don't even want to have I don't want to carry 354 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:50,919 Speaker 3: any weight in my body or carry the poison of 355 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:56,080 Speaker 3: unforgiveness because it's not gonna bring my mom back. It's 356 00:17:56,080 --> 00:17:57,240 Speaker 3: not gonna bring Jackie back. 357 00:17:57,640 --> 00:17:59,399 Speaker 1: I don't think forgiveness is linear either, though. 358 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, oh it's not. 359 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 1: Oh no, oh no. 360 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:08,000 Speaker 3: Forgiveness is like all up, oh no. It's not like 361 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:11,040 Speaker 3: oh I forgive and it goes away. It's it's like 362 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:13,600 Speaker 3: I said it to some recently, it's if you have 363 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 3: like a pure white wash cloth and it's dipped in tar, right, 364 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:19,520 Speaker 3: and you got to go back with that wash cloth 365 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:22,200 Speaker 3: and try to clean it off. It takes a long time. 366 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:26,200 Speaker 3: That's forgiveness. Forgiveness is an everyday thing. I mean sometimes 367 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 3: I just universally, I'm like, I forgive everyone and everything. 368 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:32,680 Speaker 3: Before I go to sleep, I forgive everyone and everything. 369 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:35,520 Speaker 3: And if I've done anything to hurt anybody, I asked 370 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:39,040 Speaker 3: that I am forgiven for everything that I have done, 371 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:41,000 Speaker 3: consciously or unconsciously. 372 00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:42,760 Speaker 4: So what if you in your mind you be like 373 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:45,400 Speaker 4: I forgive them, then you like, but fuck them. 374 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, I feel like God knows your. 375 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:50,960 Speaker 3: Hot one hundred percent. I was like, I'm not. I'm 376 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:55,439 Speaker 3: not trying to create any more karma at all. So 377 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:58,800 Speaker 3: my whole thing is like, I want justice to be served. 378 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:00,679 Speaker 3: That's that was my whole thing. I'm not trying to 379 00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:02,840 Speaker 3: get back in anybody or I want this to happen 380 00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:05,000 Speaker 3: to somebody's family. I'm not even about that. I'm not. 381 00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:09,280 Speaker 3: I don't justice be served. That's that's that's the piece 382 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:11,879 Speaker 3: that I'll have for me if I get that. But 383 00:19:11,920 --> 00:19:16,159 Speaker 3: forgiveness is not linear. You're right. Forgiveness is and it's hard. 384 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:20,240 Speaker 3: Sometimes it's easier than other times, but it's but but 385 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:26,119 Speaker 3: it is throughout scripture and most scriptures throughout history because 386 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:30,080 Speaker 3: of this reason, and it's for us, it's not for 387 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:32,800 Speaker 3: the other person. And I think that's why forgiveness has 388 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:36,040 Speaker 3: talked about in all the good books so much, because 389 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:39,800 Speaker 3: it's you could be really bitter or you know, my 390 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:42,679 Speaker 3: friend's mom was a survivor of the Holocaust and she 391 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:45,760 Speaker 3: said to her, the one thing you owe me, And 392 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 3: she was a child when she was in the Holocaust, 393 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:49,960 Speaker 3: four or five, and she said, you owe me a 394 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:53,680 Speaker 3: life that's what you owe me a life, you owe 395 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:55,600 Speaker 3: you owe me a life, that's it. But you got 396 00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:58,440 Speaker 3: to give me a life because I survived so that 397 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:01,159 Speaker 3: you could be here. And that always stuck with me 398 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:04,040 Speaker 3: that you know, my grandmother was like that. My grandmother's 399 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:07,240 Speaker 3: like we were born. It's you know, slavery, all of 400 00:20:07,320 --> 00:20:07,760 Speaker 3: us like this. 401 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:09,400 Speaker 1: You always a life. 402 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:10,639 Speaker 3: Sh'd go do something. 403 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:12,960 Speaker 4: You know what I thought about in the book too, 404 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:16,600 Speaker 4: because you talk about how you know, the person who 405 00:20:17,359 --> 00:20:19,480 Speaker 4: took your mother's life with somebody that your mother would 406 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:20,240 Speaker 4: have helped. 407 00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:22,560 Speaker 1: So it made me wonder, I wonder what. 408 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:25,000 Speaker 4: Miss Jackie would have wanted for this young man in 409 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:25,919 Speaker 4: a situation like that. 410 00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:32,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think miss Jackie definitely would for sure want 411 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:37,639 Speaker 3: justice and for sure want to make sure that anybody 412 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:41,919 Speaker 3: like this right, anybody male, female, black, white, anybody with 413 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:44,639 Speaker 3: any kind of energy that could be reckless or negative 414 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 3: or whatever, just please don't be in society, because she 415 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:51,440 Speaker 3: would never want this to happen to anybody else. Surely 416 00:20:51,680 --> 00:20:54,280 Speaker 3: that that was the whole My whole thing was, I 417 00:20:54,359 --> 00:20:56,200 Speaker 3: just don't want I just want justice to be served 418 00:20:56,200 --> 00:20:58,840 Speaker 3: so that this doesn't happen to if I can prevent 419 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:02,359 Speaker 3: this to for happening to somebody else by this person. 420 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:03,560 Speaker 3: Then that's how. 421 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:04,879 Speaker 1: I honor my mom. 422 00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:08,160 Speaker 3: That's it, And there was nothing else. Nothing about him 423 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:11,239 Speaker 3: is nothing I don't have. I don't want to have that. 424 00:21:11,359 --> 00:21:13,000 Speaker 3: I don't want to hate. And that was my first 425 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:15,360 Speaker 3: prayer when I got down on my knees. The first 426 00:21:15,400 --> 00:21:17,880 Speaker 3: thing I said was, God, do not let me hate 427 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:22,960 Speaker 3: this person, because I can. I'm already there. I'm there, 428 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:26,680 Speaker 3: and I don't want to. I don't want to hate anyone. 429 00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:29,840 Speaker 3: And that was not Jackie. She ain't hate anyone. She 430 00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:31,920 Speaker 3: was in the inner city all the time. I'd be 431 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:33,359 Speaker 3: in the back of the car, like, why are we 432 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:37,080 Speaker 3: going to Watts again? You know, she said, because they 433 00:21:37,119 --> 00:21:40,119 Speaker 3: need us. She was around South Central all the time, 434 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:44,440 Speaker 3: and she loved doing that anywhere anywhere in the world, 435 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:49,000 Speaker 3: but especially Los Angeles. Like, you're going to share your blessings, 436 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:54,040 Speaker 3: you should be grateful for your blessings, live out your blessings, 437 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:57,879 Speaker 3: enjoy your blessings. But a lot of people missed the 438 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:01,560 Speaker 3: second part, which is then also sir, and share your 439 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:04,439 Speaker 3: blessings with other people, so then it all goes around 440 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:06,879 Speaker 3: so that it's not you're not hoarding. Oh this is 441 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:10,200 Speaker 3: mine and I earned this, and you know, you go 442 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:12,159 Speaker 3: do your own thing. My mom was like, people had 443 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:14,879 Speaker 3: to open doors for me, People open doors for your father. 444 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:17,679 Speaker 3: People open doors all the time. So she believed in 445 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:20,719 Speaker 3: a bridge and she believed, you know, we're all going 446 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:22,720 Speaker 3: to cross this bridge, and then when we get to 447 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:24,920 Speaker 3: the other side, we need to make sure that other 448 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:26,600 Speaker 3: people can cross. 449 00:22:26,600 --> 00:22:28,359 Speaker 2: Not a phrase, it is what it is. 450 00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:35,239 Speaker 3: Break that down, Clarence. So one of his isms was, 451 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:38,600 Speaker 3: it is what it is, now what are you going 452 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:43,200 Speaker 3: to do about it? And that was Clarence's ways of acceptance. 453 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:47,800 Speaker 3: So his whole thing was looking cool. I'm not trying 454 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 3: to be hard. It's not crass. It's not saying, oh, 455 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:52,960 Speaker 3: it is what it is, Oh screw you. He was saying, 456 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:56,600 Speaker 3: you have to at least own it and don't pretend 457 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:59,560 Speaker 3: this shit didn't happen. It is what it is. So 458 00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:02,440 Speaker 3: whether it's I lost my job, my wife ran out 459 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:05,040 Speaker 3: on me, I got in this car accident, whatever it is, 460 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:09,200 Speaker 3: it is what it is, and then you own it 461 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:12,399 Speaker 3: and then you can make a better decision once you 462 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:15,600 Speaker 3: take accountability. It is what it is. Now what am 463 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:17,560 Speaker 3: I going to do about it? So for him, for example, 464 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:21,480 Speaker 3: he had Sussex records. He was super successful. He started 465 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:24,520 Speaker 3: then putting his hands in everything, and he was stretched 466 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:27,920 Speaker 3: so thinly. Bill Withers hated going to the radio station. 467 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:30,280 Speaker 3: He owned a radio station, he owned, He got into 468 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:32,520 Speaker 3: the oil business, he got into publishing, he got into 469 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 3: all these things. It was too much for him, and 470 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:39,520 Speaker 3: he admitted, and I was a little arrogant. So everything crashed. 471 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:41,840 Speaker 3: Bill left. He was like, I don't want to be 472 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 3: a part of this. I'm leaving Sussex. I'm going here. 473 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:48,680 Speaker 3: This didn't happen all of a sudden, Sussex folded, radio station, 474 00:23:48,800 --> 00:23:52,000 Speaker 3: folded everything. He's in full debt, and he said, I 475 00:23:52,040 --> 00:23:55,000 Speaker 3: had to look at myself and say, it is what 476 00:23:55,080 --> 00:23:58,679 Speaker 3: it is. So I screwed up on this, this, this 477 00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:01,280 Speaker 3: and this. I'm in debt. Oh, the government, this the 478 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:04,479 Speaker 3: irs is in my office and da da da da dah. 479 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:06,359 Speaker 3: And then he said, and I looked at myself in 480 00:24:06,359 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 3: the mirror, and I said, now what am I going 481 00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:11,640 Speaker 3: to do about it? And then he slowly but surely 482 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:15,359 Speaker 3: started picking putting the pieces together. Jackie came in and 483 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:18,399 Speaker 3: he was too. He was a little proud of, you know, 484 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:21,399 Speaker 3: asking his friends for help. But my mom wasn't too proud, 485 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:24,240 Speaker 3: so she would go drive around with me in the 486 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:27,080 Speaker 3: back cars, in the back seats, sometimes going to his friends, saying, 487 00:24:27,359 --> 00:24:31,320 Speaker 3: Clarence doys everything for everybody. Where is somebody for Clarence. 488 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:34,360 Speaker 3: He's had a bad break. He's been pulling you all 489 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:38,240 Speaker 3: up this whole time. Where And Jerry Moss, who just 490 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:40,600 Speaker 3: passed away, the founder of A and M Records. He 491 00:24:40,640 --> 00:24:42,240 Speaker 3: was in the M and A and M Records. He 492 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:47,680 Speaker 3: and Herb Albert God bless them, and Joe Smith different times, 493 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:51,639 Speaker 3: but they wrote they gave my parents seed money to 494 00:24:51,760 --> 00:24:55,320 Speaker 3: start over, and that's what they did. And then Taboo 495 00:24:55,359 --> 00:24:57,760 Speaker 3: Records started, and then and then the first band was 496 00:24:57,960 --> 00:25:00,560 Speaker 3: SOS Band and it was take your Time, do it Right, 497 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:03,600 Speaker 3: And that was our comeback song in the Avon house, 498 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:05,440 Speaker 3: and you know, me and my mom played it every day. 499 00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:07,560 Speaker 3: She was like, this is what I mean. You know, 500 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:10,040 Speaker 3: if you if you own what it is and you 501 00:25:10,119 --> 00:25:13,040 Speaker 3: take accountability, you try at least have the intention to 502 00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:17,200 Speaker 3: start over. Look what happens now. We got the number 503 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:21,199 Speaker 3: one song here and then Jimmy and Terry followed that, 504 00:25:21,359 --> 00:25:23,639 Speaker 3: then La and Face followed that, and then it was 505 00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:27,560 Speaker 3: Bobby Brown, and I'll be sure all these people Wayney Houston. 506 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:31,840 Speaker 3: Everything followed that. But if my dad had not owned 507 00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:35,239 Speaker 3: it and owned his mistakes. And he said to me, 508 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:37,760 Speaker 3: I said, what happened with the radio station? You had 509 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:40,680 Speaker 3: the only black radio station on the West coast. He goes, 510 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:42,840 Speaker 3: I was just arrogant. I didn't want to listen to 511 00:25:42,880 --> 00:25:47,480 Speaker 3: anybody in radio who knew better than I did. He said. 512 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:49,840 Speaker 3: I just thought I'm clar and to say, but I'm 513 00:25:50,320 --> 00:25:52,800 Speaker 3: you know, I'm wealthy and successful. I'm living in Beverly Hills, 514 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:57,359 Speaker 3: he goes, and then boom it all just wow crash, 515 00:25:57,680 --> 00:26:00,119 Speaker 3: you know. And so he always reminded me of of 516 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:02,560 Speaker 3: you know, I'd call him if I had issues in 517 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:05,639 Speaker 3: the Bahamas and the embassy. He was like, Nicole, Nicole, 518 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:09,919 Speaker 3: you cannot make a great decision, which you need to 519 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:12,879 Speaker 3: do right now if you do not accept what it 520 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:16,080 Speaker 3: is right now. So you need to just say, okay, this, 521 00:26:16,080 --> 00:26:18,520 Speaker 3: this doesn't feel right, these people are doing this, this 522 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:21,000 Speaker 3: is this. Then go into what are you gonna do 523 00:26:21,040 --> 00:26:21,359 Speaker 3: about it? 524 00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:24,199 Speaker 1: And make a decision, explain it to people. What just 525 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:26,000 Speaker 1: choosing to swim me not going down? 526 00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:29,240 Speaker 3: Oh, not going down with that as do Jackie shit 527 00:26:30,560 --> 00:26:35,439 Speaker 3: every time. Because so my mom was big on She 528 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:38,240 Speaker 3: loved the idea of She's like, look, life is gonna 529 00:26:38,640 --> 00:26:40,840 Speaker 3: She was like, you know, she's such a philosopher. She's like, life, 530 00:26:40,880 --> 00:26:43,040 Speaker 3: it's like being in an ocean. Some days are going 531 00:26:43,080 --> 00:26:45,480 Speaker 3: to be really calm, some days are going to be 532 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:48,679 Speaker 3: rough seas. You never know what you're gonna get. We 533 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:52,000 Speaker 3: think we do, we don't. And her whole point is, 534 00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:58,239 Speaker 3: whatever wave comes at you, whatever whatever storm comes, you 535 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:02,960 Speaker 3: must make a choice. You have to choose to swim. 536 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:06,600 Speaker 3: Just don't go down with the ship. It happens to everybody. 537 00:27:06,640 --> 00:27:09,680 Speaker 3: You gotta choose to just swim. It's dark, it's cold, 538 00:27:10,359 --> 00:27:12,080 Speaker 3: you don't know how you're going to get there, she goes, 539 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:14,080 Speaker 3: And maybe you don't make it, but at least choose 540 00:27:14,119 --> 00:27:17,160 Speaker 3: to try to swim. Don't go down with the ship. 541 00:27:17,200 --> 00:27:20,800 Speaker 3: Which is why that was the mantra in my head 542 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:23,240 Speaker 3: of every time I wanted to go down with the ship. 543 00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:26,199 Speaker 3: After this, I wanted to go down a lot, and 544 00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:29,200 Speaker 3: I was going down a lot, and I would hear 545 00:27:29,240 --> 00:27:31,840 Speaker 3: my mom like, you know, take a nap, take a 546 00:27:31,920 --> 00:27:34,280 Speaker 3: nap and rest, but you got to get out there, 547 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:37,520 Speaker 3: and you have to swim for me, you know, swim 548 00:27:37,520 --> 00:27:41,040 Speaker 3: for me, swim so that people remember me. Right, Like 549 00:27:41,119 --> 00:27:43,159 Speaker 3: my dad would say, you know, righte about Jackie, Like 550 00:27:43,280 --> 00:27:45,000 Speaker 3: I don't know what to write, he goes right about Jackie, 551 00:27:45,080 --> 00:27:47,639 Speaker 3: right about are a lot right about this? Like it 552 00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:49,800 Speaker 3: should be. He believed in legacy, you know, That's why 553 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:52,560 Speaker 3: he did everything. What he did was he was trying 554 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:57,719 Speaker 3: to create legacy, whether it was Hank Aaron or you know, 555 00:27:57,800 --> 00:28:00,919 Speaker 3: Bill Withers or anybody like we're this is legacy to 556 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:04,200 Speaker 3: be passed on to the next generations, like we all 557 00:28:04,240 --> 00:28:08,520 Speaker 3: survive and thrive on other people's legacy. 558 00:28:09,560 --> 00:28:11,600 Speaker 4: It's not because you said you never saw your mom 559 00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:13,840 Speaker 4: after the text, but in the book you speak about 560 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:14,280 Speaker 4: seeing her. 561 00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:21,040 Speaker 3: Yes, crazy and beautiful. And I'm telling you it was. 562 00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:25,119 Speaker 3: And it was on Christmas Eve, and it was early morning, 563 00:28:26,320 --> 00:28:28,320 Speaker 3: and I had gotten up and I was like, oh god, 564 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:30,760 Speaker 3: oh my god. And I thought, this is how are 565 00:28:30,760 --> 00:28:32,679 Speaker 3: we going to do Christmas? How are we going to 566 00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:37,240 Speaker 3: do Christmas? And I walked downstairs and I was I 567 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:40,080 Speaker 3: found some ornaments that she had and I was putting 568 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:42,840 Speaker 3: them on the tree and everything. And then I swear 569 00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:47,240 Speaker 3: to you, I felt this energy which made me turn around. 570 00:28:47,280 --> 00:28:50,120 Speaker 3: I go, mom, and she was like she was standing 571 00:28:50,160 --> 00:28:53,200 Speaker 3: right there, and then and then it was she was gone, 572 00:28:53,240 --> 00:28:55,840 Speaker 3: but she was with me, and I felt her, and 573 00:28:55,880 --> 00:28:58,800 Speaker 3: I felt her in the room, and then I was 574 00:28:59,200 --> 00:29:01,400 Speaker 3: and then all of a sudden, it was probably the 575 00:29:01,440 --> 00:29:03,520 Speaker 3: first time I really smiled in a couple of weeks, 576 00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:06,840 Speaker 3: like I felt a smile. I felt myself smile, and 577 00:29:06,880 --> 00:29:09,520 Speaker 3: then I knew for sure because she'd always say the 578 00:29:09,560 --> 00:29:13,520 Speaker 3: spirit is everlasting. She always told me that energy is 579 00:29:13,560 --> 00:29:19,000 Speaker 3: real and the spirit is everlasting, and I knew in 580 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:22,280 Speaker 3: that moment. I said, oh, Mommy, okay, you're here and 581 00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:26,440 Speaker 3: you are everlasting. Okay, okay. And I remember looking at 582 00:29:26,440 --> 00:29:28,440 Speaker 3: a spider that I was. I would have usually killed 583 00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:30,680 Speaker 3: the spider. It was a big ass reader. My mom 584 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:34,240 Speaker 3: always would take the paper, get the tissue, like talk 585 00:29:34,320 --> 00:29:36,360 Speaker 3: to the insect, and that it was Christmas Eve. I 586 00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:38,360 Speaker 3: go and in honor of you, I'm not gonna kill 587 00:29:38,360 --> 00:29:43,920 Speaker 3: this spider. But I felt her and I knew she 588 00:29:44,040 --> 00:29:47,360 Speaker 3: was there, and it was perfect that it was Christmas Eve. 589 00:29:47,640 --> 00:29:51,040 Speaker 3: And we had the best dinner that night with Clarence. 590 00:29:51,480 --> 00:29:54,800 Speaker 3: We poured him his wine, we played him his music 591 00:29:54,800 --> 00:29:57,320 Speaker 3: because you had to have Duke on. You had Duke Ellington, 592 00:29:57,720 --> 00:30:02,760 Speaker 3: Frank Sinatra, count Base, see Quincy Jones, and he remembered, 593 00:30:02,800 --> 00:30:04,520 Speaker 3: He's like, I used to go to Birdland and I 594 00:30:04,560 --> 00:30:06,680 Speaker 3: was here with Jackie. And then that's when we realized 595 00:30:06,720 --> 00:30:10,240 Speaker 3: how the healing was going to start for Clarence was, Oh, 596 00:30:10,280 --> 00:30:13,240 Speaker 3: we're going to play all this music from the sixties, 597 00:30:13,720 --> 00:30:16,959 Speaker 3: the seventies, the eighties, but mostly the sixties. When he 598 00:30:17,040 --> 00:30:19,560 Speaker 3: met my mom, when he was in New York, when 599 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:22,040 Speaker 3: he was running and he was learning from Joe and 600 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:25,800 Speaker 3: he was just becoming Clarence. It was all that music 601 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:30,920 Speaker 3: because as we all know, with music, it ignites, it 602 00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:33,920 Speaker 3: just reignites every memory. I mean, I could listen to 603 00:30:33,960 --> 00:30:35,640 Speaker 3: his song from the eighties. I could tell you what 604 00:30:35,680 --> 00:30:38,120 Speaker 3: I was wearing, what perfumer I was wearing, who I 605 00:30:38,160 --> 00:30:40,840 Speaker 3: had a crush on in high school, what car I 606 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:42,680 Speaker 3: was in. I went to this football game when this 607 00:30:42,800 --> 00:30:45,360 Speaker 3: song was playing. I danced with this at the prom. Mean, 608 00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:49,120 Speaker 3: that's what music does. So I used music. That was 609 00:30:49,160 --> 00:30:53,680 Speaker 3: my tool to play it for Clarence every single day. 610 00:30:53,760 --> 00:30:57,240 Speaker 3: So breakfast we played Frank Sinatra, dinner, we were Duke Ellington, 611 00:30:57,640 --> 00:30:59,760 Speaker 3: you know. Then it was count Basie and Quincy Jones, 612 00:30:59,760 --> 00:31:03,720 Speaker 3: and it was just music transformed him. 613 00:31:03,760 --> 00:31:04,160 Speaker 1: That's right. 614 00:31:04,360 --> 00:31:06,840 Speaker 2: Was this book like a closure for you to get 615 00:31:06,880 --> 00:31:08,880 Speaker 2: your feelings out, to get everything out? 616 00:31:09,480 --> 00:31:13,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was. It was a lot of crying and 617 00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:16,080 Speaker 3: a lot of joy at the same time, because I 618 00:31:16,120 --> 00:31:21,640 Speaker 3: really did feel, Okay, I do believe that I do 619 00:31:21,720 --> 00:31:24,720 Speaker 3: believe that things are in divine I always pray for 620 00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:27,880 Speaker 3: divine order always, and I was like, I don't know 621 00:31:28,400 --> 00:31:30,880 Speaker 3: how this is divine, whatever it is, So this is 622 00:31:30,880 --> 00:31:33,920 Speaker 3: what I'm doing if this is how I'm honoring Jackie 623 00:31:34,080 --> 00:31:37,600 Speaker 3: in a book. First, and then I wanted to become 624 00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:39,520 Speaker 3: more like her. So I started doing the things that 625 00:31:39,600 --> 00:31:42,040 Speaker 3: she did, you know. I started reaching out to the 626 00:31:42,040 --> 00:31:44,680 Speaker 3: community more. I didn't just you know, write a check. 627 00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:46,040 Speaker 3: I was like, let me come down and see these 628 00:31:46,080 --> 00:31:48,720 Speaker 3: kids today. Let me go and deliver these books myself. 629 00:31:49,160 --> 00:31:52,080 Speaker 3: Let me go to this museum and see this exhibition. 630 00:31:52,560 --> 00:31:55,000 Speaker 3: What Jackie would have wanted. And then she started to 631 00:31:55,120 --> 00:32:00,239 Speaker 3: live within me in a different way, you know. And 632 00:32:00,320 --> 00:32:02,840 Speaker 3: so and now kind of with my dad, it's the same. 633 00:32:03,920 --> 00:32:06,640 Speaker 3: It's the same thing. I get now what he was 634 00:32:06,680 --> 00:32:09,360 Speaker 3: doing for Ali and everybody was like, we got to 635 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:13,520 Speaker 3: put these people on maps so that nobody forgets. We 636 00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:16,080 Speaker 3: have to create our own legacy like everybody else does. 637 00:32:16,960 --> 00:32:18,720 Speaker 4: When you talk about legacy, and you know the way 638 00:32:18,760 --> 00:32:21,000 Speaker 4: you speak of the house you grew up like. 639 00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:23,040 Speaker 1: I can't remember what the encounter was. Was the encounter 640 00:32:23,040 --> 00:32:23,520 Speaker 1: in your house? 641 00:32:23,640 --> 00:32:23,760 Speaker 3: Yes? 642 00:32:23,840 --> 00:32:26,360 Speaker 1: I was at their house or in their house? 643 00:32:26,440 --> 00:32:30,400 Speaker 3: Yeah? Oh my oh I'm sorry my mom, yeah, my house. 644 00:32:30,560 --> 00:32:30,840 Speaker 1: Okay. 645 00:32:30,920 --> 00:32:32,920 Speaker 4: So with the house you grew up in, how do 646 00:32:33,040 --> 00:32:37,080 Speaker 4: you get rid of that? Do you keep it? I 647 00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:37,800 Speaker 4: can't sell it? 648 00:32:37,840 --> 00:32:42,560 Speaker 3: Like I know, I know, it's so funny. I in 649 00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:45,560 Speaker 3: the beginning of that house, I was like, hold on, 650 00:32:45,680 --> 00:32:48,520 Speaker 3: let me just hold on. And I went through a 651 00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:50,440 Speaker 3: lot of things with my dad, And of course my 652 00:32:50,520 --> 00:32:53,479 Speaker 3: dad was like, get this to this museum, get this 653 00:32:53,560 --> 00:32:56,200 Speaker 3: to this Smithsonian, get this to the African American Museum. 654 00:32:56,240 --> 00:32:59,440 Speaker 3: I mean he was you know. Clarence was like, we didn't. 655 00:32:59,640 --> 00:33:01,880 Speaker 3: We didn't collect all this, you know. He said to me, 656 00:33:01,920 --> 00:33:04,440 Speaker 3: he goes, see, like I told you you don't take 657 00:33:04,480 --> 00:33:08,560 Speaker 3: shit with you. Look at all this. She's gone. Everything's here. 658 00:33:09,160 --> 00:33:13,560 Speaker 3: I'm gonna be gone. Everything's here. So we went through 659 00:33:13,560 --> 00:33:15,560 Speaker 3: his wishes, went through my mom's wishes. Thank god, they 660 00:33:15,560 --> 00:33:18,040 Speaker 3: wrote everything down. They were ordered like that. And then 661 00:33:18,080 --> 00:33:20,440 Speaker 3: I was like, okay, And then he's so funny you 662 00:33:20,480 --> 00:33:21,800 Speaker 3: say that. And then he looked at me and goes, 663 00:33:21,880 --> 00:33:23,960 Speaker 3: I go, Dad, so there's some people want to buy 664 00:33:24,040 --> 00:33:27,320 Speaker 3: the house. Don't sell this house, at least not while 665 00:33:27,360 --> 00:33:29,800 Speaker 3: I'm alive. Don't sell this house. He goes, this is 666 00:33:29,840 --> 00:33:32,920 Speaker 3: my house. He ain't taking my house. I ain't letting 667 00:33:32,920 --> 00:33:35,200 Speaker 3: nobody take my house. I pay for this house. This 668 00:33:35,280 --> 00:33:37,360 Speaker 3: is my house. I've been in Beverly Hills for over 669 00:33:37,440 --> 00:33:41,520 Speaker 3: fifty years in the same house. And what has come 670 00:33:41,600 --> 00:33:44,520 Speaker 3: through this house And then now when I look at it, 671 00:33:44,600 --> 00:33:47,240 Speaker 3: I'm like, every time I go there to talk about selling, 672 00:33:47,280 --> 00:33:51,000 Speaker 3: and I'm like, m I don't think so. I don't 673 00:33:51,040 --> 00:33:53,360 Speaker 3: think so I might use it as something else, like 674 00:33:53,400 --> 00:33:56,400 Speaker 3: it's still a Meca of greatness. And I'm telling you, 675 00:33:56,480 --> 00:33:59,480 Speaker 3: I'm not just saying this. I'm not being delusional when 676 00:33:59,480 --> 00:34:02,240 Speaker 3: I tell you. And the energy there is so positive. 677 00:34:02,880 --> 00:34:06,479 Speaker 3: It is the most powerful it's ever been. It's almost 678 00:34:06,520 --> 00:34:08,640 Speaker 3: like she was struck by lighting and that was it. 679 00:34:09,280 --> 00:34:12,880 Speaker 3: And now the energy there, the hummingbirds are everywhere. The energy, 680 00:34:12,920 --> 00:34:16,839 Speaker 3: the vibration is high, and there are when I look 681 00:34:16,880 --> 00:34:20,280 Speaker 3: at it, and I look at like every specific piece 682 00:34:20,360 --> 00:34:23,560 Speaker 3: of art, this black artist and Jacob Lawrence when Jacob 683 00:34:23,680 --> 00:34:27,320 Speaker 3: was just starting, and my parents are like an Ernie Barnes. 684 00:34:27,360 --> 00:34:30,000 Speaker 3: Everybody but my parents like, we gotta support these black 685 00:34:30,080 --> 00:34:32,759 Speaker 3: artists and we gotta you know, and finding letters of 686 00:34:32,800 --> 00:34:35,480 Speaker 3: like James Baldwin and all these things. It's just I 687 00:34:35,520 --> 00:34:36,520 Speaker 3: don't know what I'm gonna do with that. 688 00:34:36,560 --> 00:34:36,640 Speaker 4: Hou. 689 00:34:36,640 --> 00:34:38,160 Speaker 3: It's so funny that you said that maybe that was 690 00:34:38,200 --> 00:34:40,520 Speaker 3: my dad giving you a signe. I'm not gonna sell it, 691 00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:43,440 Speaker 3: I know, I know, yeah, I know. 692 00:34:43,320 --> 00:34:44,919 Speaker 1: They gotta get the book. We can't give the too much, 693 00:34:45,120 --> 00:34:46,960 Speaker 1: but I do. Got a couple more questions though. 694 00:34:47,040 --> 00:34:50,800 Speaker 4: Did you ever feel imposta syndrome in any way because 695 00:34:50,800 --> 00:34:53,560 Speaker 4: you were Clarence and Jackie's daughter, like you were getting 696 00:34:53,560 --> 00:34:55,640 Speaker 4: opportunities because of them and that you. 697 00:34:58,520 --> 00:35:04,120 Speaker 3: I know, actually I didn't, only because this goes back 698 00:35:04,160 --> 00:35:07,560 Speaker 3: to being Jackie. My mom made sure that I worked 699 00:35:07,760 --> 00:35:10,920 Speaker 3: jobs since I was thirteen. Like ten, I was answering phones, 700 00:35:10,960 --> 00:35:13,280 Speaker 3: I mean all the time, but I was thirteen, fourteen, 701 00:35:13,400 --> 00:35:15,400 Speaker 3: I was you know, she had to back then, you 702 00:35:15,400 --> 00:35:17,080 Speaker 3: had to sign the paper to allow your child to 703 00:35:17,120 --> 00:35:20,200 Speaker 3: work at fourteen you know under California or whatever. I 704 00:35:20,280 --> 00:35:22,880 Speaker 3: was a hostess, I was a waitress. I sold shoes. 705 00:35:22,960 --> 00:35:25,640 Speaker 3: I worked at Bullocks. I was terrible at selling shoes 706 00:35:25,640 --> 00:35:28,040 Speaker 3: because I couldn't put the boots back in the box properly. 707 00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:32,120 Speaker 3: It's a very hard job. It's really it's particular. But 708 00:35:32,160 --> 00:35:36,480 Speaker 3: my mom's point was, you need to learn how to 709 00:35:36,560 --> 00:35:40,040 Speaker 3: work on your own and not in a fancy situation. So, yes, 710 00:35:40,120 --> 00:35:43,640 Speaker 3: you will have internships later in life, but you're gonna work, 711 00:35:44,280 --> 00:35:46,479 Speaker 3: and you're gonna meet people that you will you would 712 00:35:46,520 --> 00:35:51,640 Speaker 3: have never met otherwise. And you're gonna understand how paycheck 713 00:35:51,680 --> 00:35:55,440 Speaker 3: to paycheck. You don't have to you. Yeah, you're collecting 714 00:35:55,480 --> 00:35:57,160 Speaker 3: and you get to put it in a savings account. 715 00:35:57,680 --> 00:36:00,799 Speaker 3: They don't this, and I need you to see this. 716 00:36:01,600 --> 00:36:06,319 Speaker 3: And she helped me with not having imposter syndrome also 717 00:36:06,480 --> 00:36:10,680 Speaker 3: because she would say to me, and Alex, you do 718 00:36:10,880 --> 00:36:14,919 Speaker 3: you Your spirit came to do whatever it's here to do. 719 00:36:15,400 --> 00:36:17,520 Speaker 3: My spirit, my soul is here to do what it's 720 00:36:17,520 --> 00:36:20,400 Speaker 3: supposed to do. If you want to be a teacher, great, 721 00:36:20,440 --> 00:36:22,680 Speaker 3: If you want to be a psychologist, great. If you 722 00:36:22,760 --> 00:36:25,560 Speaker 3: want to be a journalist, which I wanted to do, great, 723 00:36:25,880 --> 00:36:28,880 Speaker 3: I'll help you go to school. But she never felt 724 00:36:29,320 --> 00:36:32,279 Speaker 3: they never said you must do what we did and 725 00:36:32,320 --> 00:36:35,120 Speaker 3: you must stand in our shoes. They were really great 726 00:36:35,200 --> 00:36:38,759 Speaker 3: at please go create your own life, please, like we 727 00:36:39,160 --> 00:36:42,120 Speaker 3: gave you life, so we don't know what your life is. 728 00:36:42,640 --> 00:36:46,560 Speaker 3: And sometimes doors would open, and then sometimes they wouldn't, 729 00:36:46,600 --> 00:36:49,520 Speaker 3: which was great also because then I would you know, 730 00:36:49,920 --> 00:36:51,880 Speaker 3: at eighteen nineteen, I'm like, oh, yeah, I'll get this 731 00:36:51,960 --> 00:36:55,080 Speaker 3: job for sure, and then I didn't, and I'm thinking, well, 732 00:36:55,120 --> 00:36:57,120 Speaker 3: wait a minute, wait a minute. Well I'm Clarence ave 733 00:36:57,160 --> 00:36:59,839 Speaker 3: moon staughter, I'm Jackie evemonstaughter. And then my mom said 734 00:36:59,880 --> 00:37:03,399 Speaker 3: you no, no, nicol people get to say no. I mean, 735 00:37:03,680 --> 00:37:05,279 Speaker 3: I've always told the story I got fired from a 736 00:37:05,360 --> 00:37:07,440 Speaker 3: job once and I said, can you believe they fired me? 737 00:37:07,760 --> 00:37:09,640 Speaker 3: Could you believe they fired me? She said, did they 738 00:37:09,640 --> 00:37:12,840 Speaker 3: fire you? Did you fire yourself? Did you fire yourself? 739 00:37:12,840 --> 00:37:14,719 Speaker 3: Because she knew, She says, you would call me all 740 00:37:14,760 --> 00:37:16,839 Speaker 3: the time on the big cell phones. You're the ones 741 00:37:16,840 --> 00:37:18,680 Speaker 3: that were this big, so you would call me like, 742 00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:21,280 Speaker 3: oh ten minutes, say to work, I hate this job. 743 00:37:21,800 --> 00:37:23,640 Speaker 3: My boss wus know me and she goes, And then 744 00:37:23,680 --> 00:37:25,880 Speaker 3: you were the first one out. You were the last 745 00:37:25,880 --> 00:37:29,759 Speaker 3: one to get there, so you fired yourself and you 746 00:37:29,800 --> 00:37:34,800 Speaker 3: know so she helped me with finding my own passion 747 00:37:35,160 --> 00:37:38,400 Speaker 3: and reminded me and Alex that you guys can do 748 00:37:38,520 --> 00:37:40,960 Speaker 3: really whatever you want to do. You do not have 749 00:37:41,000 --> 00:37:46,680 Speaker 3: any pressure from us to feel it, to feel that 750 00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:48,560 Speaker 3: you have to fill our shoes. And my dad's like, 751 00:37:48,560 --> 00:37:53,560 Speaker 3: my shoes are filled, my feeter in them. He goesn't 752 00:37:53,600 --> 00:37:55,400 Speaker 3: get in your own shake because don't follow my shadow. 753 00:37:55,800 --> 00:37:58,480 Speaker 3: He's like, go make your own shadow. Stop standing behind me. 754 00:37:58,840 --> 00:38:00,439 Speaker 1: What do you think the greatest lesson is you learned 755 00:38:00,440 --> 00:38:02,120 Speaker 1: from your mother? The ultimate one? 756 00:38:02,200 --> 00:38:07,120 Speaker 3: And oh there's so many that it's really simple. Jackie 757 00:38:07,239 --> 00:38:12,719 Speaker 3: Avont really believed in She loved history and the importance 758 00:38:12,760 --> 00:38:15,879 Speaker 3: of history and culture, different cultures, you know, learning about 759 00:38:15,880 --> 00:38:19,640 Speaker 3: different cultures. She hated cultural appropriation. She was like, it's 760 00:38:19,640 --> 00:38:22,360 Speaker 3: cultural appreciation. What is happening with people? You know what 761 00:38:22,400 --> 00:38:24,799 Speaker 3: I mean? Like, she loved that. But she gave me 762 00:38:24,880 --> 00:38:29,680 Speaker 3: this sense of a zest for life. She loved being alive. 763 00:38:30,320 --> 00:38:33,759 Speaker 3: She believed in hope, She believed in compassion, and she 764 00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:38,120 Speaker 3: lived a compassionate life. She lived a life of service, 765 00:38:38,680 --> 00:38:42,040 Speaker 3: and she lived a life of giving and kindness, And 766 00:38:42,120 --> 00:38:46,520 Speaker 3: the greatest lesson I got from her was use your 767 00:38:46,560 --> 00:38:52,520 Speaker 3: freedom wisely, use your thoughts, wisely, use your words wisely. 768 00:38:53,040 --> 00:38:55,880 Speaker 3: You can take you could. Really, we're the only creatures 769 00:38:55,880 --> 00:38:59,279 Speaker 3: on earth that we can release our past. Right, we 770 00:38:59,320 --> 00:39:00,960 Speaker 3: don't have to carry if we don't want to. You 771 00:39:01,000 --> 00:39:04,200 Speaker 3: could really try to release it, manage it something. But 772 00:39:04,239 --> 00:39:06,480 Speaker 3: we're the only creatures on the earth that actually have 773 00:39:06,560 --> 00:39:10,319 Speaker 3: an imagination that allows us to create the future that 774 00:39:10,360 --> 00:39:13,600 Speaker 3: we want. That was her greatest lesson, Like, do not 775 00:39:13,840 --> 00:39:18,360 Speaker 3: forget that the power within you is the same power 776 00:39:18,440 --> 00:39:23,080 Speaker 3: that creates worlds and stars and you know what I mean, 777 00:39:23,120 --> 00:39:27,360 Speaker 3: you're connected to the same thing. So that's what she 778 00:39:27,480 --> 00:39:33,160 Speaker 3: gave me. This understanding of life and understanding of living 779 00:39:33,200 --> 00:39:36,800 Speaker 3: a worthy life, that you know, live a significant life. 780 00:39:37,120 --> 00:39:38,440 Speaker 2: Is that what you want people to get out of 781 00:39:38,440 --> 00:39:39,720 Speaker 2: his book by reading his book? 782 00:39:39,880 --> 00:39:43,560 Speaker 3: The main thing, Yeah, it's I want people to really 783 00:39:43,600 --> 00:39:46,680 Speaker 3: get that. You know, life can be hard, and all 784 00:39:46,719 --> 00:39:51,960 Speaker 3: of us go through trials and tribulations, but we always 785 00:39:51,960 --> 00:39:54,440 Speaker 3: have a choice on how we're going to deal with 786 00:39:54,480 --> 00:39:58,360 Speaker 3: those trials and tribulations. And my hope that when people 787 00:39:58,360 --> 00:40:00,160 Speaker 3: read the book, because it doesn't necessarily have to be 788 00:40:00,239 --> 00:40:02,560 Speaker 3: about grief. You know, the title is Think You'll Be Happy, 789 00:40:02,600 --> 00:40:04,399 Speaker 3: So it is a positive book. But I hope they're 790 00:40:04,440 --> 00:40:11,000 Speaker 3: inspired and motivated and courage to live the best life 791 00:40:11,040 --> 00:40:14,120 Speaker 3: that they can and understand while they're doing that that 792 00:40:14,160 --> 00:40:17,719 Speaker 3: they are still they are significant and important and valuable, 793 00:40:18,239 --> 00:40:21,279 Speaker 3: regardless of what their title is. Regardless like, you could 794 00:40:21,280 --> 00:40:25,080 Speaker 3: still have a meaningful life and that life is really 795 00:40:25,160 --> 00:40:26,440 Speaker 3: worth living. 796 00:40:27,239 --> 00:40:29,480 Speaker 4: I just got through more questions. Yeah, what does Climax 797 00:40:29,600 --> 00:40:30,680 Speaker 4: North Carolina mean to you? 798 00:40:33,120 --> 00:40:35,919 Speaker 3: Yes? And you know that you know what that means 799 00:40:36,000 --> 00:40:38,080 Speaker 3: to me that if you can come out of climax, 800 00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:41,799 Speaker 3: you could do anything. I mean, if you come out 801 00:40:41,800 --> 00:40:45,640 Speaker 3: of Climax North Carolina, you can do anything in the world. 802 00:40:45,880 --> 00:40:48,240 Speaker 3: If you if your mind is open and you're prepared. 803 00:40:48,960 --> 00:40:51,000 Speaker 3: You have no idea what's going to happen, but you 804 00:40:51,040 --> 00:40:51,920 Speaker 3: can do anything. 805 00:40:53,280 --> 00:40:55,239 Speaker 4: Who in this industry do you think is close to 806 00:40:55,320 --> 00:40:57,839 Speaker 4: being the Black Godfather. 807 00:41:00,160 --> 00:41:06,360 Speaker 3: One? There's a few, you know, it's interesting. Reggie Hudlin 808 00:41:06,400 --> 00:41:08,440 Speaker 3: we did the celebration of life from my parents just 809 00:41:08,680 --> 00:41:11,960 Speaker 3: last Wednesday in LA and Reggie Hudn was great. He 810 00:41:12,000 --> 00:41:14,799 Speaker 3: got up and he said, what Clarence Avon has taught 811 00:41:14,880 --> 00:41:18,160 Speaker 3: us the question that we should ask ourselves is what 812 00:41:18,480 --> 00:41:25,640 Speaker 3: is your assignment? Clarence Avon understood his assignment, and I 813 00:41:25,680 --> 00:41:32,359 Speaker 3: think it's anybody who understands their assignment and anybody who 814 00:41:33,200 --> 00:41:37,400 Speaker 3: opens doors for people or makes connections for people, and 815 00:41:37,440 --> 00:41:40,000 Speaker 3: who is excited to see the magic that happens as 816 00:41:40,000 --> 00:41:41,719 Speaker 3: opposed to what am I going to get out of this? 817 00:41:42,600 --> 00:41:46,800 Speaker 3: That's the next Clarence Avant. Yeah, yeah, no, go ahead. 818 00:41:46,920 --> 00:41:48,840 Speaker 1: Is there's somebody in front of the camera, behind the scenes. 819 00:41:49,239 --> 00:41:50,759 Speaker 1: It's two that come to my mind. 820 00:41:51,280 --> 00:41:52,280 Speaker 3: Who comes to your mind? 821 00:41:52,920 --> 00:41:53,479 Speaker 1: Tyler Ferry. 822 00:41:53,680 --> 00:41:56,080 Speaker 3: Absolutely, I was just gonna say, Tyler, I was I'm 823 00:41:56,080 --> 00:41:57,759 Speaker 3: just gonna seeing them on Thursday. I was gonna say, 824 00:41:57,760 --> 00:42:00,239 Speaker 3: Tyler is probably the most the closest to my out 825 00:42:00,280 --> 00:42:05,080 Speaker 3: in his actions. Yes, because Tyler and look at his life. Yeah, 826 00:42:05,360 --> 00:42:09,000 Speaker 3: I mean, come on, if somebody had every right to quit, 827 00:42:09,920 --> 00:42:13,359 Speaker 3: Tyler Perry had every single right to quit life. He 828 00:42:13,400 --> 00:42:15,239 Speaker 3: had right, we would all understand how. I get why 829 00:42:15,280 --> 00:42:17,279 Speaker 3: he quit. I get why he just threw in the towel. 830 00:42:18,719 --> 00:42:22,360 Speaker 3: Tyler not only became one of the most successful black 831 00:42:22,400 --> 00:42:26,120 Speaker 3: man in America, one of them, not just that he 832 00:42:26,160 --> 00:42:30,680 Speaker 3: has is so focused and so on purpose about turning 833 00:42:30,719 --> 00:42:34,200 Speaker 3: around and going into every community and was like, if 834 00:42:34,239 --> 00:42:36,560 Speaker 3: you have the will, I have the way, come on 835 00:42:37,280 --> 00:42:39,000 Speaker 3: and I'm going to bring you and I'm going to 836 00:42:39,040 --> 00:42:43,440 Speaker 3: teach you. And he's disciplined Tyler, and he has disciples 837 00:42:43,440 --> 00:42:46,360 Speaker 3: around him, right, and he's teaching always. But the thing 838 00:42:46,440 --> 00:42:50,759 Speaker 3: I love about Tyler Perry is that he wants to 839 00:42:50,800 --> 00:42:54,279 Speaker 3: see people succeed. He knows the law that there's enough 840 00:42:54,320 --> 00:42:57,279 Speaker 3: for there's more than enough for everybody, and that no 841 00:42:57,280 --> 00:43:00,480 Speaker 3: one can take from Tyler Perry or take from you, 842 00:43:00,920 --> 00:43:03,359 Speaker 3: or take from you or you or you anything that's 843 00:43:03,400 --> 00:43:07,240 Speaker 3: meant for you, no one can take it anyway. So Tyler, 844 00:43:07,320 --> 00:43:10,680 Speaker 3: I think embodies the most of Clarence Saba because he 845 00:43:10,760 --> 00:43:16,320 Speaker 3: doesn't expect anything in return. He does it with this 846 00:43:16,320 --> 00:43:18,160 Speaker 3: this love. You know. Oprah's the same way, Like they 847 00:43:18,360 --> 00:43:22,759 Speaker 3: put it out there and then it's like, you know, 848 00:43:22,800 --> 00:43:24,040 Speaker 3: it's for grabs. 849 00:43:23,760 --> 00:43:28,360 Speaker 4: But Tyler Foreshore absolute, it'd be Tyler jay Z and 850 00:43:28,400 --> 00:43:29,319 Speaker 4: probably Oprah for me. 851 00:43:29,600 --> 00:43:34,359 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, they're they're doing it. And by the way, 852 00:43:34,480 --> 00:43:37,439 Speaker 3: look at all their Look where they all come from, 853 00:43:38,600 --> 00:43:43,680 Speaker 3: the best examples of it doesn't proof, doesn't matter where 854 00:43:43,719 --> 00:43:47,080 Speaker 3: you start, It matters where you finish doesn't matter. And 855 00:43:47,120 --> 00:43:49,279 Speaker 3: it is a journey, and all journeys are hard. By 856 00:43:49,280 --> 00:43:52,200 Speaker 3: the way, you've had hard time. We've all who who. 857 00:43:52,320 --> 00:43:55,440 Speaker 3: I don't know anyone on earth who hasn't had a 858 00:43:55,440 --> 00:43:58,239 Speaker 3: bump in the road or a hard journey. Some are 859 00:43:58,239 --> 00:44:02,480 Speaker 3: harder than others. I know that, but I think you 860 00:44:02,520 --> 00:44:04,920 Speaker 3: know having role models like that. And I'm working with 861 00:44:04,960 --> 00:44:07,680 Speaker 3: Tyler now. We're working on a film together called The 862 00:44:07,719 --> 00:44:09,440 Speaker 3: Six Triple Eight. It's gonna be out next year. I 863 00:44:09,440 --> 00:44:11,080 Speaker 3: wasn't supposed to be a plug, but I'm gonna plug it. 864 00:44:12,120 --> 00:44:14,400 Speaker 3: And I think Kerry Washington, she might have talked about it. 865 00:44:14,440 --> 00:44:17,200 Speaker 3: She was here, and it's great. But Tyler and I 866 00:44:17,239 --> 00:44:19,920 Speaker 3: wanted to keep legacy going. And this is a great 867 00:44:20,000 --> 00:44:23,240 Speaker 3: American story that just happens to be about all female, 868 00:44:23,360 --> 00:44:26,359 Speaker 3: all black battalion in the arm and what they did 869 00:44:26,800 --> 00:44:29,360 Speaker 3: and how they helped us win World War Two. I 870 00:44:29,400 --> 00:44:31,560 Speaker 3: was like, well, this is an important story, and I 871 00:44:31,600 --> 00:44:34,400 Speaker 3: call Tyler. I was like, you should do it, because 872 00:44:34,440 --> 00:44:40,439 Speaker 3: Tyler gets it. Tyler understands the responsibility that we have. 873 00:44:40,520 --> 00:44:43,000 Speaker 3: It's not about just telling stories and being rich and 874 00:44:43,080 --> 00:44:46,279 Speaker 3: a fancy card, a big house. Tyler understands on a 875 00:44:46,400 --> 00:44:51,200 Speaker 3: very deep, soulful level, that these are ripple effects when 876 00:44:51,280 --> 00:44:54,040 Speaker 3: I'm gone, when all of us in this room are gone, 877 00:44:54,360 --> 00:44:58,400 Speaker 3: that whatever we put out there, it's gonna live, like 878 00:44:58,480 --> 00:45:00,520 Speaker 3: this book is gonna live. 879 00:45:00,719 --> 00:45:02,680 Speaker 1: Absolutely. My last question. 880 00:45:02,800 --> 00:45:06,920 Speaker 4: They always say, don't cry because it's over, Smile because 881 00:45:06,920 --> 00:45:07,480 Speaker 4: it happened. 882 00:45:07,560 --> 00:45:09,919 Speaker 1: What have you done more of Oh? 883 00:45:09,960 --> 00:45:13,839 Speaker 3: I love that I laughed. I try to laugh a lot. 884 00:45:13,960 --> 00:45:16,200 Speaker 3: I watch a lot of comedy. The Comedians saved me. 885 00:45:16,640 --> 00:45:19,600 Speaker 3: I was watching Chappelle for the last twenty months. I've 886 00:45:19,600 --> 00:45:25,000 Speaker 3: never watched so many Netflix comedy specials, Sebastian Chappelle, Chris Rock, everybody. 887 00:45:25,040 --> 00:45:28,799 Speaker 3: The laughter really is the healing bomb. It really does 888 00:45:28,840 --> 00:45:33,080 Speaker 3: shift your energy. My heart would break open in different ways, 889 00:45:33,480 --> 00:45:37,200 Speaker 3: and I would go to sleep every night during my 890 00:45:37,320 --> 00:45:41,120 Speaker 3: trauma and my stress, I would watch comedy before I 891 00:45:41,120 --> 00:45:43,959 Speaker 3: went to sleep. I needed to laugh before I laid 892 00:45:43,960 --> 00:45:47,000 Speaker 3: my head down on the pillow. Yeah wow, yeah. 893 00:45:46,840 --> 00:45:49,680 Speaker 1: Well the book. Pick it up. Think you'll be happy, 894 00:45:50,800 --> 00:45:54,920 Speaker 1: grief and gratitude. That's right. Thank you so much. I 895 00:45:54,920 --> 00:45:55,799 Speaker 1: appreciate it so much. 896 00:45:55,840 --> 00:45:57,600 Speaker 3: Happy to be here. Thank you. 897 00:45:58,960 --> 00:46:02,080 Speaker 1: Good morning. Wake that ass up Earth in the morning 898 00:46:02,080 --> 00:46:03,200 Speaker 1: at Breakfast Club 899 00:46:07,160 --> 00:46:07,480 Speaker 3: MHM