1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:04,160 Speaker 1: Native Land Pod is a production of iHeartRadio in partnership 2 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:06,119 Speaker 1: with Reason Choice Media. 3 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 2: Welcome, Welcome, Welcome, Welcome, Welcome, Welcome, Hey, fam You're about 4 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:12,520 Speaker 2: to hear a replay of one of our interviews from 5 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 2: our live stream at the Democratic National Convention. If you 6 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:18,200 Speaker 2: want to listen to or watch the full stream, check 7 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:20,600 Speaker 2: out the links in the episode description. You can also 8 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:23,080 Speaker 2: find a full list of all the guests we interviewed. 9 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 2: Welcome home, y'all. 10 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 3: We are joined now by Derek Johnson, the president of NAACP, 11 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:34,519 Speaker 3: and Angela and Derek have a unique history. Angela, you 12 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 3: want to tell us about your bond. 13 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:39,159 Speaker 2: Thank you all have yues We actually and that's a 14 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 2: good teaser for our next guest. Derek and I become 15 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 2: like siblings because of the tutelage and the mentorship of 16 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 2: Benny Gordon Thompson, who of course was mentored by Fanny Louhammer. 17 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 2: And that's the sixth year anniversary that Bacari just referenced. Derek, 18 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 2: you are running the most innovative campaign in restoring the 19 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 2: brand and the legacy of NAACP. He talks to us 20 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:07,119 Speaker 2: about why this week is so important for the civil 21 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 2: rights community and what you had to say in your 22 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 2: speech in bringing people into the folk, Well. 23 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 4: It's significance because we didn't get here because we woke 24 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:15,959 Speaker 4: up this morning. 25 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 3: One second, Derek, we are well, yeah, okay, go ahead. 26 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:21,120 Speaker 5: You're on test one, is it? 27 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 6: Yes? 28 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:24,479 Speaker 7: Sure? That was angela fault for those at home. 29 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:27,760 Speaker 5: I think we didn't get here because we woke up 30 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:28,200 Speaker 5: this morning. 31 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 4: We got here because there was a lot of sacrifice, blood, 32 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,200 Speaker 4: strategy and work to bring us to this moment. And 33 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:35,839 Speaker 4: so part of what I talked about in the speech 34 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 4: was given the history of the nineteen sixty four Missippi 35 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 4: Democratic Freedom Democratic Party and all the work they did 36 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 4: leading up to nineteen seventy three in large city mayors 37 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 4: getting elected, whether it's Manager Jackson, Coleman, Young, Tom Bradley 38 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 4: turning the corner to nineteen eighty four to eighty eight 39 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 4: with Jesse Jackson, who really established what was possible would 40 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 4: keep alive, and you turn the corner, you look at 41 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 4: this moment, we would not have a convention the way 42 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:09,160 Speaker 4: we're having. And now if individuals didn't put together strategy, 43 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:12,080 Speaker 4: they understood the rules, they implemented the rules, and they 44 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:14,280 Speaker 4: didn't run to the microphone, they ran to the work, 45 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 4: and that's what's really important. 46 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 3: Derek, let me ask you because there are a lot 47 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:19,640 Speaker 3: of people you and I met in Jackson where you 48 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 3: did a lot of work, and in Jackson, the NAACP 49 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 3: is like a governing body practically has a lot of relevance. 50 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 3: There are cities where you know, when it's time for strategy, 51 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:31,359 Speaker 3: don't hear people say, oh, I just came from the 52 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 3: NAACP meeting. So for people who don't necessarily have a 53 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 3: personal connection to the organization, what today is the significance 54 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:41,799 Speaker 3: of the NAACP and why should people pen their care 55 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 3: excellent question. 56 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:44,519 Speaker 4: So you know one of thing I'm gonna start here 57 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 4: fam two rays Socli car mic who's to coming to 58 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:49,799 Speaker 4: two Glue College where I'm a graduate every year? And 59 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:52,679 Speaker 4: he'd say organized, organized, organized, And he said, whether it 60 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 4: was your Sunday school or this organization. I don't believe 61 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 4: in organizational supremacy. I believe in getting the work done. 62 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 4: And if the NACP is your view vehicle for voice, 63 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 4: then use it. If you go to another community, is 64 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 4: that's not your vehicle, but you have a vehicle to 65 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 4: impart of Black community, then I celebrate that. 66 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 6: So for us. 67 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 5: We got to make sure that community by community we 68 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 5: build out an. 69 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:16,640 Speaker 4: Infrastructure of black power and use the vehicles that are available. 70 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 5: In ACP. 71 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 4: We are most predominant in the Southeast region where the 72 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 4: former Confederate states, where majority of black people live, not 73 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:26,760 Speaker 4: large metropolitan areas. In fact, I met Andrew through the 74 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 4: NACP when he when he was a high school student 75 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:32,519 Speaker 4: and then went on to the family because in local communities, 76 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 4: whether you Florida, where th h Pool when you started, 77 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 4: Aaron Herrey, when I started, that's the infrastructure, the backbone 78 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 4: of the black community. We oftentimes look to major city 79 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 4: politics and we forget about majority of black folks. 80 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 5: Don't live in Detroit, Chicago, New York. They live in 81 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 5: the Southeast region. 82 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 7: Yea autaw was from Chicago. 83 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:56,559 Speaker 8: From Mississippi anyway, is nothing but the capital of Minnisoa, Mississippi. 84 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 5: I mean this is north north Mississippi. 85 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 4: And you think about you know your father, your father 86 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 4: is a part of that group who put forth a 87 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 4: strategy as students to recognize that this generational fight we 88 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 4: have us versus them, old versus young, male versus female, 89 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 4: it's a self defeating reality. Intergenerational organized have always been 90 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 4: the most effective approach. Community centric leadership is the most 91 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:22,960 Speaker 4: effective approach. When you start having ecocentric leadership is the 92 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:25,840 Speaker 4: beginning of the end because individuals will fail you, but 93 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 4: community interests will always secede. And that's how I try 94 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:31,280 Speaker 4: to lead to NACP. So if I go to the 95 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 4: community in ACP, ain't the lead? Great, plug me into 96 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:36,640 Speaker 4: what is the lead? Because i'most celebrate that too. 97 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:39,040 Speaker 8: Go ahead ahead, but what are some of the I mean, 98 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 8: we celebrate you often, but we don't necessarily know the 99 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:45,280 Speaker 8: challenges you face. 100 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 7: What are some of the challenges you face. 101 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:50,840 Speaker 8: And overcome on a daily basis as being the leader 102 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:53,040 Speaker 8: of the oldest civil rights organization? 103 00:04:53,560 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 5: That yeah, remember right? So the internal community external because internal. 104 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:01,160 Speaker 7: You want to hit a mess. 105 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 4: If anybody ever went to a tendor of the Black 106 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:09,080 Speaker 4: Baptis Church, that's the na A CP. 107 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 5: We are all of you name it, We just fo 108 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 5: come up. 109 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 3: We're being joined by Congressman Benny Thompson, who's of course 110 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:23,000 Speaker 3: ranking member on Homeland Security out of Mississippi, and he 111 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:26,159 Speaker 3: and Derek and Angela all work together in the House 112 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 3: were of Congress. 113 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 2: We look we work for this lovely gentleman he's also 114 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 2: the superstar that you all recognized from the January sixth 115 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:34,600 Speaker 2: Special Committee. 116 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:43,279 Speaker 6: Welcome Boss, thank you so much. 117 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 7: I'm happy to be We're happy to have you. 118 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 9: You arrived just in time, Congressman, because Derek was about 119 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 9: to tell us what is the biggest challenge he faces 120 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:52,599 Speaker 9: at the NUA A c P and needs all of. 121 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:55,600 Speaker 5: Our help and try to address. 122 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:02,839 Speaker 4: His money is people with common sense and courage. Yeah, 123 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:06,800 Speaker 4: you get the money, common sense and courage. You know 124 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 4: the confent and I it was been fourteen years ago. 125 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:12,239 Speaker 4: I was in DC for something and we were trying 126 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:15,160 Speaker 4: to get someone to activate because we was doing inside 127 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 4: outside strategy. 128 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 5: And he looked, he says, you know, I'm getting older. 129 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 5: You can't do this by yourself. 130 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 4: We need to build something so we can replenish the 131 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:25,919 Speaker 4: progressive black community in Mississippi. 132 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 5: You are fourteen years later. 133 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 4: We have a whole system where we train people over 134 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:33,600 Speaker 4: nine months, twenty five folks and we put them that 135 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 4: we have I mean, you have actually US attorney nominees, 136 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 4: district attorney, sheriffs, beautentions, barbers. Because the leadership don't come 137 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 4: with titles or degrees, becomes with courage and common sense. 138 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:46,360 Speaker 7: And that's how we see this. 139 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 3: Congressman, I want to bring you in the conversation because 140 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:00,720 Speaker 3: Derek was just explaining to our list centers or something. 141 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:03,480 Speaker 3: We all know that a lot of times in the 142 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 3: mainstream media when we talk about rural politics, the face 143 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:10,559 Speaker 3: of that politic is the body politic is a white person. 144 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 3: When we know a lot of our community lives below 145 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:16,760 Speaker 3: the Bible Belt in rural communities, we too are rural America. 146 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 3: You have championed legislation the lack of hospitalization in the South. 147 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 3: That was a piece of legislation that you introduced in 148 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 3: the House to make health care more accessible. What would 149 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 3: you say to the people who feel forgotten about in 150 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:34,360 Speaker 3: those Bible belts, like, how can they too seeing America 151 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:37,640 Speaker 3: and be acknowledged that they too are a part of 152 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 3: a country that sometimes so often forgets about. 153 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 6: Well, thank you so much for having me. The notion is, 154 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 6: in this democracy, you have to participate. 155 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 10: What we have to do is to organize those communities 156 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:51,840 Speaker 10: just like we organize urban areas. 157 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 6: They're no different. 158 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 10: They've just been overlooked and once you get there you 159 00:07:57,560 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 10: find out, Gee, they're just like people in the big city. 160 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 10: And so what we have to do is have a 161 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:10,520 Speaker 10: joint strategy urban rule to make sure that no one 162 00:08:10,880 --> 00:08:15,880 Speaker 10: is overlooked. Our problem in America is that we somehow, 163 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:19,480 Speaker 10: even in urban areas, overlook the black community. 164 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 6: In the rural areas, they're forgotten. 165 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:25,920 Speaker 10: And so, uh, we just resolved a lot of black 166 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 10: farmer issues in this country US. 167 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 6: But this is the fourth time that we had to 168 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:35,720 Speaker 6: do a pavement. You know, we did the pickfoot case 169 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 6: and two. 170 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:41,200 Speaker 10: That's right, and so all of a sudden, Uh, people say, oh, 171 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 10: we isn't that wonderful now, but we're still behind because 172 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 10: there are a lot of people who still owe debt. 173 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 10: Uh that got the money, but they owe more money 174 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 10: in debt than they had. 175 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 6: That's right. 176 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:56,600 Speaker 10: So what we have to do now is to somehow 177 00:08:56,720 --> 00:09:00,719 Speaker 10: come up with that strategy that encompasses it all. And 178 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 10: so that's why at a convention like this, we need 179 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:06,960 Speaker 10: to make sure that a lot of those policies after 180 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:11,240 Speaker 10: we celebrate are talked about. Yes, and that policy is 181 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 10: absolutely how. 182 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 6: We put it together. 183 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:14,600 Speaker 5: Boston. 184 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 2: That's one of my favorite things about having worked for you, 185 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 2: and I think still work for you. I learned from 186 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:24,199 Speaker 2: him all the time, and you will always say we 187 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:26,839 Speaker 2: can celebrate this, but we got work to do, so 188 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:28,079 Speaker 2: we can't celebrate too long. 189 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:29,680 Speaker 5: What are some of the things that you think it. 190 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 2: Is imperative in addition to taking care of our rural 191 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:34,679 Speaker 2: communities that have to be addressed this week. We know 192 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:36,560 Speaker 2: there are protests happening simultaneous. 193 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 10: Yeah, but you know, to be honest with you, the 194 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 10: protests that are going on when you talk to people 195 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 10: in my district, it's probably number twenty out of fifteen 196 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:54,600 Speaker 10: in terms of priorities because everybody is in a survival mode, right. 197 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 10: They want to make sure that kids get education, they 198 00:09:57,080 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 10: want healthcare. Now, you can talk foreign policy, but you 199 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 10: know it's about what I'm getting right here at home. 200 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 10: And if the policies don't impact me at home, it's 201 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 10: tough for me to look overseas at a policy. The 202 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:16,200 Speaker 10: other situation we have to do is to make sure 203 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:20,839 Speaker 10: that the policy make us don't overlook people. That paternalistic 204 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:25,599 Speaker 10: approach to politics is crazy. That means that, oh, you 205 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 10: just elect me and I know what's good for you. 206 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:34,240 Speaker 10: That's absolutely ludicrous. You know, unless you've walked in my shoes, 207 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 10: you don't know anything about me other than what you 208 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:40,760 Speaker 10: might have read and so our challenge in this country 209 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 10: is to put those concerns on the front. 210 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:47,319 Speaker 6: Bunner. You know, too many times we've been told, oh, 211 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:49,559 Speaker 6: we're gonna get to it. Yeah, you know, I got 212 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:50,319 Speaker 6: to get elected. 213 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:55,040 Speaker 10: And you know, look, every major entity in this country 214 00:10:55,400 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 10: has leveraged, but somehow the black community has always been told, well, 215 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:03,959 Speaker 10: you know it'll come, you know it'll and it never comes. 216 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:09,320 Speaker 9: Congressman, can you speak to as our nominee Kamala Harrison 217 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:12,240 Speaker 9: continues to make her rounds around the country a lot 218 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 9: of time, and in really important flip states. But I 219 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:17,839 Speaker 9: wonder to the point that you just made for the 220 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:20,480 Speaker 9: community that sits at home and says, we're always the 221 00:11:20,559 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 9: backbone of this party, but we rarely rarely get to 222 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:26,760 Speaker 9: toil in the largest of it. What advice might you 223 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:29,959 Speaker 9: have for her, as she, of course rightly focuses on 224 00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 9: some of these swing states to ensure that a message 225 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:37,280 Speaker 9: is delivered are at home community that she's going to 226 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:38,160 Speaker 9: be their president too. 227 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 10: Well, that's why the speech I'm looking for Thursday night 228 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 10: has to be encomfliencing of all the Democratic constituents. And 229 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:54,559 Speaker 10: I think she is that person properly positioned to make 230 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:57,320 Speaker 10: those arguments on behalf not just. 231 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:00,439 Speaker 6: Of people of color, but people who have been let out. 232 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:04,600 Speaker 10: And so it's it's look, the people on the other 233 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:09,440 Speaker 10: side are gonna demogogue her anyway, So you might as 234 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:13,000 Speaker 10: well come with those issues that are important, and once 235 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 10: you come with them, then you go with it. But 236 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:19,840 Speaker 10: you come with sound policies, those policies around healthcare, those 237 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:24,520 Speaker 10: policies around education, those about income insecurity, all. 238 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:25,200 Speaker 6: Those kinds of things. 239 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:29,440 Speaker 10: One thing she's talking about with the housing issue, well, 240 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 10: you know, when you put that twenty five thousand dollars 241 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:37,160 Speaker 10: down on a home ownership thing, guess guess who does 242 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 10: the financing. 243 00:12:38,760 --> 00:12:40,760 Speaker 6: Guess who owns the lumber company? 244 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 9: You know. 245 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:45,319 Speaker 10: I mean, so it's a it's good for the economy. 246 00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:48,719 Speaker 10: Don't look at that family that gets a home for 247 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 10: the first time. Right, I'm still putting water systems together 248 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 10: in my district. When the system comes and say, well, 249 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:01,360 Speaker 10: why are you always helping them? I said, I'm glad 250 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:04,760 Speaker 10: you asked. Do you know who owned the pipe company 251 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 10: that sells all these pipes for this rule water system? 252 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:13,760 Speaker 10: You know who sells a meter, who's supplying the pipes? Yeah, 253 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:17,640 Speaker 10: so all we get is the water, we get none 254 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:21,959 Speaker 10: of the economics. Now, if we are really radical, we 255 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:24,199 Speaker 10: would say to that pipe company, you have to have 256 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:30,120 Speaker 10: a conversity, equity inclusion program so that when that community 257 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 10: gets water, they also get some of the economics that 258 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:36,880 Speaker 10: go with it. Right now, some said that's radical, but 259 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:40,680 Speaker 10: that's paying community back, putting people in office. 260 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 8: Let me just ask a question of both of you guys, 261 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 8: while you're here and before y'all traverse and meet all 262 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 8: these people, good folks out here, what I've been admiring 263 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:52,600 Speaker 8: is nineteen eighty four was Jesse, two thousand and eight 264 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:54,320 Speaker 8: was Barack Obama. 265 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 7: Twenty sixteen was also Hillary. 266 00:13:57,679 --> 00:14:00,440 Speaker 8: With the little history, they all stand on the shoulders 267 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:02,319 Speaker 8: of Fanny Lou and they stand on the shoulders of 268 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 8: Shirley Chisholm. But what are you seeing in this convention 269 00:14:05,320 --> 00:14:08,040 Speaker 8: that makes Kamala Harris a little bit different? And what 270 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:10,760 Speaker 8: do you hope we learned from all of those heroes 271 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:13,480 Speaker 8: and heroines that have come before. Well, and that's for 272 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 8: both of that one, both of you guys. 273 00:14:14,679 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 10: Yes, yeah, Well I knew Fanny Lou oh very personally. 274 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 10: She became my role model. The first real campaign I 275 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 10: worked in was her campaign for Congress, of which I 276 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 10: now represent that district. So you know, history has a 277 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:35,040 Speaker 10: way of repeating itself, so that legacy we can't let 278 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:39,840 Speaker 10: become forgotten. So for sixty years she came and said 279 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 10: to Democrats, you know you got to do better. You know, 280 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 10: you can't patronize us and then enjoy all the spoils 281 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 10: of victory. 282 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 6: You have to be inclusive. 283 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:55,200 Speaker 10: And that's that's what we have to do as a people, 284 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:59,040 Speaker 10: is not let our friends forget us. That's right, not 285 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 10: let our friends take us for granted. And so for 286 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:07,760 Speaker 10: Fanny Luke celebration sixty years, we're still in training. 287 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:10,640 Speaker 6: Yes, because we haven't filled. 288 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:16,520 Speaker 10: That notion that somehow, as Fan lu said, we're sick 289 00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 10: and tired of being sick and tired. And a lot 290 00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 10: of us are sick and tired of being sick and 291 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:24,000 Speaker 10: tired of telling our friends what they need to do. 292 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 7: Yes, yes, saying for the people in the back boss. 293 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 6: Yeah, you know. 294 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 4: The lesson and all of this is none of us 295 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 4: can do it by ourselves. And if we think we 296 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:39,760 Speaker 4: are the super person that's gonna do by ourself, we're 297 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:42,240 Speaker 4: gonna fail every time time, and we're going to. 298 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:46,720 Speaker 5: Disrupt progress of people. You know, I grew up in Detroit. 299 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:50,560 Speaker 4: I come to Mississippi, I went to Tugaloo, and instantly 300 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 4: I was surrounded by you know a large number of 301 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 4: folks who were ciper rights veterans, whether they's sneak or 302 00:15:57,840 --> 00:16:02,520 Speaker 4: whatever else. And I felt that why because the lessons 303 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:05,520 Speaker 4: that were there for me not to make old mistakes. 304 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:07,600 Speaker 4: We'd got to stop making old mistakes. There as new 305 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:11,000 Speaker 4: ones to make. Secondly, you have people who were committed 306 00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 4: to improve the qualit of life of our communities and 307 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 4: they had been doing it for generations. Thirdly, I have 308 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 4: a responsibility to both listen to the wisdom and train 309 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:24,320 Speaker 4: the youth, because if we don't do that, we would 310 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:27,600 Speaker 4: lose the progress that's made. We wouldn't sit we be, 311 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:29,800 Speaker 4: We wouldn't be sitting here. We would have never had 312 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:32,960 Speaker 4: a Barack Obama. If it wasn't for your father, if 313 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:35,320 Speaker 4: it wasn't for a feed new hammer, if it wasn't 314 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:38,080 Speaker 4: for you can name another a lot of people, including 315 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:43,080 Speaker 4: conference maker Ella Baker, you know, because they sacrificed and 316 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:46,560 Speaker 4: they would not you know, celebrities. Then we celebrate them 317 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 4: more now, but now that they're dead than when they 318 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:51,040 Speaker 4: was alive, and so we need more people who are 319 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:53,920 Speaker 4: willing to sacrifice to improve the quality of life of 320 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:56,320 Speaker 4: all black folks and not just for themselves. 321 00:16:56,560 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, can I ask so, Congressman, I want to tell 322 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:01,880 Speaker 3: you that. And I told us the story one time 323 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:06,160 Speaker 3: about when she was your staffer and she was exhausted 324 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:09,440 Speaker 3: with something and she made the mistake of saying she 325 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:13,320 Speaker 3: was tired, and you said you tired, stressed out, stressed out, 326 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:17,160 Speaker 3: stressed out, and you stressed out. We heard you gave 327 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:20,840 Speaker 3: her quite the tongue lashing that day for being stressed out. 328 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 10: Well, you know, when I was a young child, uh, 329 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:30,560 Speaker 10: who loved me the most, Yes, gave me the worst 330 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:33,280 Speaker 10: whooping of my life, and that was my mama. 331 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:37,400 Speaker 6: Yeah. And look, and after Mama disciplined me, she said, 332 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 6: I did that because I loved you. Yeah, all worse. 333 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:42,720 Speaker 10: She said, you know that hurt me more when it 334 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:48,000 Speaker 10: hurts you. So I take Angela in that perspective because 335 00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:52,000 Speaker 10: I see the talent. The other thing she didn't tell 336 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:55,439 Speaker 10: you she might have is I told her that her 337 00:17:55,600 --> 00:18:00,360 Speaker 10: job was to help me make some black folks rich 338 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:04,560 Speaker 10: in the government space. She looked at me and said, 339 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:07,439 Speaker 10: I said, look, I don't care what you do if 340 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:11,359 Speaker 10: we need to bring booring Lockheed Martin the CEOs here 341 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 10: and asked them about diversity, asked them about and so 342 00:18:17,359 --> 00:18:21,639 Speaker 10: twice a month we brought those folks in and we asked, 343 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:23,639 Speaker 10: you know, do y'all have black people? 344 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:26,359 Speaker 6: I love that, you know, I mean, you know, I mean, 345 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:27,720 Speaker 6: it's it's what you do. 346 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:30,199 Speaker 3: How many people on your board, your corporate board? How 347 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:33,280 Speaker 3: many in the c suite the executive rings? Absolutely right, 348 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:34,159 Speaker 3: We appreciate you. 349 00:18:34,840 --> 00:18:38,760 Speaker 10: But now that the problem with that is those companies 350 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:41,640 Speaker 10: will go around my back to somebody. 351 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:42,600 Speaker 6: Who looked like me. 352 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 10: And every time and try to, you know, say oh, well, 353 00:18:48,119 --> 00:18:51,199 Speaker 10: you know, we can't talk to Benny, but we can 354 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:53,040 Speaker 10: we can talk to Robert. 355 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 3: The people Harriet was have left behind. 356 00:18:55,880 --> 00:19:00,240 Speaker 4: You let me ask you, oh sorry, when you for 357 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 4: the cont man about second day, he said, okay, let 358 00:19:03,119 --> 00:19:04,840 Speaker 4: me tell you what you do your jobs have black folks. 359 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:07,560 Speaker 4: You may you're gonna make a mistake. That's okay. As 360 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:09,439 Speaker 4: long as you having black folks. If you make them 361 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:11,160 Speaker 4: say ain't having black folks, and we got a problem. 362 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:13,240 Speaker 4: But as long as you having black folks, yeah, and 363 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:16,000 Speaker 4: you fast forward, you talk to our college. Our college 364 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:20,440 Speaker 4: will say tell you that his consultancy government relationships. 365 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:22,320 Speaker 5: Firm would not exist but for the contry. That's right, 366 00:19:22,359 --> 00:19:23,680 Speaker 5: because folks came to his office. 367 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 7: One of me. 368 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 5: He said, y'all come back when y'all got somebody that 369 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:28,520 Speaker 5: can talk to Well, you. 370 00:19:28,520 --> 00:19:31,200 Speaker 4: Said you got a recommendation, He said, yeah, it's. 371 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:31,600 Speaker 5: Fell over here. 372 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:34,560 Speaker 2: Next thing, you know, Art starts the group and he 373 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:36,360 Speaker 2: did it all ethically and above board. 374 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:37,359 Speaker 5: That's most important thing. 375 00:19:37,880 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 10: Yes, absolutely, because you know they would tell me say, 376 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:48,080 Speaker 10: you know, if I could find somebody, the funniest. 377 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:49,240 Speaker 7: Thing right there, if I could find some if I 378 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:52,480 Speaker 7: could find some talent right today. 379 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:56,440 Speaker 2: Sometimes it made us put together a book for hearing witnesses, 380 00:19:56,800 --> 00:20:00,880 Speaker 2: for appointees in the administration, for staffers. He absolutely had 381 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:03,080 Speaker 2: to do that. So you talked right to his heart. 382 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 3: Yes, well, we tried to do on mainstream media as well, 383 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 3: because it's like, there are black people who can talk 384 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:10,520 Speaker 3: about Middle East politics, there are black people you can 385 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 3: talk about domestic policy. 386 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:12,919 Speaker 5: But the example of. 387 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:15,880 Speaker 9: The congressman, what I love about it and Derek, I'm 388 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:17,720 Speaker 9: going to sell you something about you and this but 389 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:22,119 Speaker 9: it is it is transferable any if you are an 390 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:24,760 Speaker 9: elected official, you're a policymaker, You are a person out 391 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 9: there who runs owns a business, and you are operating 392 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:30,879 Speaker 9: right now, and you're not asking the sensible questions about 393 00:20:31,240 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 9: why doesn't this reflect the community that we have? 394 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:37,200 Speaker 1: Why doesn't this room reflect the community that we have? 395 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:39,960 Speaker 9: When I lost the race for governor and twenty eighteen, 396 00:20:40,040 --> 00:20:42,400 Speaker 9: one of the first calls I got in late twenty 397 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:46,159 Speaker 9: eighteen was from that brother over there, Derek Johnson, asking me. 398 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:48,399 Speaker 7: Are you set up? Are you okay? 399 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:51,600 Speaker 9: He knew that in addition to me having come out 400 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:53,840 Speaker 9: of that race that way, that I was also no 401 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:57,119 Speaker 9: longer mayor, and he didn't know what my economic situation was. 402 00:20:57,160 --> 00:21:00,080 Speaker 9: But he came and I had kids, and he's that 403 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:02,520 Speaker 9: he wanted me to be okay. And I use these 404 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:06,760 Speaker 9: two examples. One, they're excellent examples of of of of humans. 405 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:11,320 Speaker 9: But their their clarity around the way in which they 406 00:21:11,359 --> 00:21:14,240 Speaker 9: are to impact the world is clear. But it doesn't 407 00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:17,880 Speaker 9: belong to them. It's transferable. All of us can learn 408 00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 9: from it and we can repeat it. And gentlemen, we 409 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:20,960 Speaker 9: thank you for that Examtly. 410 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:22,399 Speaker 8: You know what, I think I messed up because I 411 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 8: asked him should I start a gofund me. 412 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:27,400 Speaker 7: Yeah, but he didn't take it. He didn't take mine. 413 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:40,840 Speaker 7: Coming from the heart, we can't help Bari Congress. 414 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:43,080 Speaker 3: Before you leave the set, I do want to ask 415 00:21:43,119 --> 00:21:47,280 Speaker 3: you have two former staffers here. Which of the two 416 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:49,440 Speaker 3: former staffers. 417 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:51,160 Speaker 2: The most. 418 00:21:56,480 --> 00:21:56,840 Speaker 5: I don't know. 419 00:21:56,960 --> 00:21:59,960 Speaker 2: He just look. 420 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:00,400 Speaker 6: Look. 421 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:07,720 Speaker 10: Uh, my job is to train another hundred people. And 422 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:12,920 Speaker 10: look when somebody comes and complain to me about how 423 00:22:13,119 --> 00:22:17,200 Speaker 10: hard Angela is on them, I know Angela is doing 424 00:22:17,280 --> 00:22:20,760 Speaker 10: her job. When they say to Derek that, you know, 425 00:22:21,119 --> 00:22:23,120 Speaker 10: I don't understand. I can't talk to Derek. 426 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:27,520 Speaker 6: He did. Derek's doing his job. So I judge them by. 427 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:32,600 Speaker 10: The people who come to me complaining about that. If 428 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:34,320 Speaker 10: nobody is complaining. 429 00:22:34,760 --> 00:22:37,720 Speaker 6: Doing that's that's right. And we have a lot to do. 430 00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:42,400 Speaker 6: But our charge for this audience. 431 00:22:43,560 --> 00:22:46,719 Speaker 10: We now have people in positions who can help us 432 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:51,399 Speaker 10: make a difference, and somehow they take the coloration and 433 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:56,880 Speaker 10: character of the enemy, and so we now find ourselves 434 00:22:57,560 --> 00:23:01,120 Speaker 10: button the heads with people who look like us, trying 435 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:04,520 Speaker 10: to convince them that it's all right to do business 436 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:07,720 Speaker 10: with people who look like you. Now we would never 437 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:12,080 Speaker 10: say do business with someone that's not qualified, but the. 438 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:14,320 Speaker 6: Most of the people you're doing business with you don't 439 00:23:14,359 --> 00:23:14,720 Speaker 6: even know. 440 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:18,919 Speaker 10: One of the things I'm doing now is mentoring people 441 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:23,760 Speaker 10: who are new mayors in cities. I was a mayor 442 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:27,640 Speaker 10: in the seventies, and I said, especially when those mayors 443 00:23:27,720 --> 00:23:30,000 Speaker 10: have either been congress people or something like that. 444 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:32,080 Speaker 6: I said, Now, when you win that. 445 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:37,440 Speaker 10: Office and this consultant comes up, who've been representing that 446 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:41,200 Speaker 10: city that you've been the congress person, and you never 447 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:46,080 Speaker 10: met them, problem, run them off. Run them off if 448 00:23:46,119 --> 00:23:48,440 Speaker 10: they didn't see the value of you when you were 449 00:23:48,920 --> 00:23:52,919 Speaker 10: in this other position. When you hear now, yeah, if 450 00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 10: you want to watch out, they'll go and bring somebody 451 00:23:55,880 --> 00:23:59,120 Speaker 10: who looks like you that you don't even know. They're 452 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:02,359 Speaker 10: not going They're not going to even give you the 453 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:05,840 Speaker 10: respect of saying, look, I'm looking for somebody. 454 00:24:06,119 --> 00:24:08,880 Speaker 6: Send me some people you might know. They'll go pick 455 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:12,680 Speaker 6: Joe blow off the street. Yes, put put a suit 456 00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:13,080 Speaker 6: on him. 457 00:24:14,040 --> 00:24:19,320 Speaker 7: Uh huh, yes, exactly. Yeah. 458 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:22,040 Speaker 3: Congressman, we know, we know you and Derek are both 459 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:24,240 Speaker 3: super busy. We want to thank you guys so much 460 00:24:24,359 --> 00:24:29,680 Speaker 3: for joining us. We appreciate you being here. Thanks for 461 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:30,200 Speaker 3: listening to you. 462 00:24:30,280 --> 00:24:30,520 Speaker 5: Guys. 463 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:33,960 Speaker 3: Please please please remember to rate, review, subscribe, and tune 464 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:36,960 Speaker 3: into our regular episode on Thursday. Welcome Home, y'all. 465 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:52,679 Speaker 1: Native Land Pod is a production of iHeartRadio and partnership 466 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:56,920 Speaker 1: with Reason Choice Media. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit 467 00:24:57,000 --> 00:25:01,199 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your 468 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:01,959 Speaker 1: favorite shows.