1 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:14,400 Speaker 1: Good morning, peep Sen. Welcome to ogay FFF Daily with 2 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:19,240 Speaker 1: Meet your Girl Danielle Moody. Recording from the Home Bunker. Friends, 3 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:21,920 Speaker 1: I'm very excited to bring to you the second part 4 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: of my two part conversation with doctor Dina Simmons, who 5 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: is an activist, educator, ted talker, and the founder of Liberated. 6 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:35,920 Speaker 1: I'm excited for the second part of this conversation because 7 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 1: it's not often that I leave a conversation feeling more 8 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 1: inspired to do the work that I do on a 9 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:48,080 Speaker 1: regular basis, and I felt this way with doctor Simmons because, 10 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 1: you know, as a black queer woman who has dedicated 11 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 1: her life to politics, to wanting to engage those who 12 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 1: have been most marginalized and oppressed and then also educate 13 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: those who act as allies, you know, it is a 14 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 1: trying space to be in. It is one that you know, 15 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 1: oftentimes are forced to create and forge yourself. And so 16 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 1: in this conversation with doctor Simmons, you know, I felt 17 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:22,399 Speaker 1: a kinship which I'm sure that you can hear from 18 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 1: our conversation, and felt like there was, you know, an 19 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:30,479 Speaker 1: opportunity for us to be able to grow together. Right 20 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:34,040 Speaker 1: that community is something that you have to be intentional 21 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:38,280 Speaker 1: about So I enjoyed this conversation and I hope you 22 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:41,400 Speaker 1: enjoy the second part as well. But before we dig 23 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:44,400 Speaker 1: into that, I, you know, folks, I took a few 24 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 1: days to celebrate the marriage of one of my best friends, 25 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 1: and it took a few days off in order to 26 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 1: travel to her wedding, which means that I was able 27 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 1: to give my mind and my soul and my spirit 28 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 1: a rest from the time toxicity that is our news cycle, 29 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 1: from the reality that is our crumbling democracy, and from 30 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 1: being inundated with the rise in hate and violence that 31 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 1: we are seeing both on social media and in real life. 32 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 1: So when the alert would come across my phone, as 33 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 1: it did with all of you, about the violent assault 34 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 1: on Speaker Pelosi's husband, Paul Pelosi, and then to watch 35 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:33,639 Speaker 1: just for a few, you know, for a few brief moments, 36 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 1: the reaction from the Republican Party and the reaction from 37 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 1: Don Trump Junior, which has had him trending this week 38 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 1: on social media because he is just so disgusting and 39 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 1: repulsive in turning a very violent and scary and lethal, 40 00:02:55,880 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 1: potentially lethal situation into a joke. Shows you the fact 41 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 1: that there is absolutely no bottom with these people or 42 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:08,679 Speaker 1: with this party, and that there should be no excuses 43 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 1: made or the thought that I'm looking at media outlets 44 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 1: that are saying things like he may have suggested, or 45 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:21,640 Speaker 1: it may it could be, you know, intended that he 46 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 1: was making a joke about Paul Pelosi. Let me tell 47 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 1: you something. I don't know how much more fucking obvious 48 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 1: things have to be in order for people in the 49 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 1: media to not want to cover their ass and just 50 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 1: actually tell the fucking truth. Right. Don Junior puts up 51 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 1: a tweet of a disgusting Halloween what he stated was 52 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 1: a Halloween costume with a hammer and a pair of 53 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 1: men's briefs and says, oh, look, I have my Paul 54 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 1: Pelosi costume. This eighty two year old man is still 55 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 1: an intensive air. This eighty two year old man almost 56 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 1: lost his life, not for anything that he has done, 57 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 1: but because of what the Republican Party has him. Turned 58 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:21,839 Speaker 1: his wife into a caricature into the reason why. I 59 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 1: don't know, gas prices are high, the earth spins, I 60 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 1: have no fucking idea, But what I will say is 61 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: that there used to be a time when we had 62 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:43,599 Speaker 1: a bottom, when there was a limit to the rhetoric. Now, 63 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:46,160 Speaker 1: these are the same motherfuckers that will turn around after 64 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:49,359 Speaker 1: a school shooting that claims the life of children teachers 65 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 1: and say that now is not the time to talk politics. 66 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 1: We should be sending hopes and prayers. But while Paul 67 00:04:56,600 --> 00:05:00,160 Speaker 1: Pelosi is recovering an intensive care surrounding by his family 68 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 1: and friends because of a political assault that he barre 69 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:08,119 Speaker 1: the brunt of because thankfully his wife was not home. 70 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:12,040 Speaker 1: But what we know and report since with the investigation 71 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:19,279 Speaker 1: is that this quanon hyped up Fox News Guslin piece 72 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:23,800 Speaker 1: of shit was looking to send a message to other 73 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 1: Democrats by breaking the kneecaps of Nancy Pelosi. And I'm 74 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:31,600 Speaker 1: probably sure going further than that, remind you that this 75 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:35,239 Speaker 1: comes off of, you know, the heels of a guilty 76 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:40,480 Speaker 1: verdict in the case that would have been the disrupted 77 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 1: kidnapping of Governor Whitmer right, which the far right also 78 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 1: made a joke about that. And I don't even call 79 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 1: them the far right, They're just the right. Their violence, 80 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 1: their rhetoric, their disgust, and their disdain for anything other 81 00:05:56,720 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 1: than white, straight Christian and I use Christian with the 82 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:08,560 Speaker 1: fucking air quotes, people, isn't just left to the political arena. 83 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:11,560 Speaker 1: They are egging these people on. When you have Marjorie 84 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:15,039 Speaker 1: Taylor Green getting up on stages and saying that Democrats 85 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:16,919 Speaker 1: are trying to kill us, What the fuck do you 86 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:21,359 Speaker 1: think is going to happen? But they absolutely know what 87 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:24,280 Speaker 1: is going to happen. They are hopeful for it, they 88 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 1: are giddy about it. Other things that I saw while 89 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 1: I was supposed to be on vacation celebrating, you know, 90 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:38,880 Speaker 1: love and marriage, we're white supremacist in tactical gear standing 91 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 1: in front of polling stations so that they could intimidate 92 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 1: people the same way that the KKK did during Jim Crow. 93 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:49,359 Speaker 1: What do I want folks to remember too, is that 94 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 1: you know Jim Crow, y'all wasn't that long ago. Like 95 00:06:55,920 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 1: there are grandparents who are still alive, your parents possibly 96 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 1: who were born on the heels right of major court 97 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 1: decisions like Brown versus the Board of Education that would 98 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 1: try and create a more equitable United States of America. 99 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 1: So right now, as we are watching this country regress, 100 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 1: and we're wondering how how could it possibly be? Oh, 101 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 1: because we don't give a shit about teaching anything that 102 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 1: has to do with history or civics or your responsibility 103 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 1: as a citizen. And we love to couch everything in 104 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:40,239 Speaker 1: the idea that you know, all of these bad things 105 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 1: that happen were just done by a handful of people, 106 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 1: and it was like centuries ago. It wasn't you know. 107 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 1: Somebody told me the other day that the last living 108 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 1: child of enslaved people died just recently in this country. 109 00:07:58,160 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: Do you know how old they were? They were in 110 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 1: their ninety So that just lets you know that America's 111 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 1: attention span is real short, and their understanding of history 112 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:16,680 Speaker 1: even shorter. Things are repeating themselves because we refuse to 113 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:21,559 Speaker 1: teach them. It is just, folks, a handful of days 114 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 1: until midterm elections. As I've been clocking back into the news, 115 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 1: twenty two million Americans as of the time of this 116 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:34,800 Speaker 1: recording have already voted. That bodes well, usually for Democrats. 117 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 1: But we won't know because, just like I tell you 118 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 1: every single day on this show, do not believe poles 119 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 1: because polls don't mean a fucking thing. They are not science, 120 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 1: and you can get them to say whatever it is 121 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:49,559 Speaker 1: that you want, depending on how you ask the question 122 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 1: and to who you ask the question. So the polls 123 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:57,079 Speaker 1: would have us believe that all is lost, right, that 124 00:08:57,160 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 1: we need to pack up our bags and we need 125 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:02,360 Speaker 1: to go away because the far right is coming. Well, 126 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:07,600 Speaker 1: if the recent election in Brazil doesn't give you some comfort, 127 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:12,480 Speaker 1: it should now. While the winning right by the left 128 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 1: in that country was razor thin, meaning the decision to 129 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 1: oust the far right Brazilian Trump Bulsonato was a decision 130 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 1: made by two million voters. Two million. So for those 131 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 1: people that think that midterms is a time for them 132 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:37,960 Speaker 1: to sit out, you'll get another bite at this apple. 133 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 1: I'm telling you you won't. So for family and friends 134 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:44,440 Speaker 1: and colleagues that you have that are telling you that 135 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 1: all is lost, all is hopeless, and there are days, 136 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:51,080 Speaker 1: absolutely there are days when I feel that way. But 137 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:53,360 Speaker 1: there's also a reason why I get up every morning 138 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:56,800 Speaker 1: and why I continue to record this show, why I 139 00:09:56,840 --> 00:09:59,440 Speaker 1: continue to write, why I continue to tweet and speak 140 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:03,000 Speaker 1: out because it matters, Because our voices, at the end 141 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:06,079 Speaker 1: of the day matter, Because if we don't lift them up, 142 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:09,600 Speaker 1: if we don't scream from the rooftops, if we allow 143 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:12,920 Speaker 1: the Musks and the Trumps of the world to take 144 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:16,000 Speaker 1: over and we just go quietly off into the good night, 145 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:18,079 Speaker 1: what the fuck do we think is going to happen? 146 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 1: I tell you that I would rather stay and fight 147 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:28,200 Speaker 1: then go live peacefully or somewhat peacefully on my knees 148 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 1: someplace else. So, folks, with the few days that we 149 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:37,200 Speaker 1: have left, if you have not voted already, please do 150 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:39,200 Speaker 1: make sure that you have a plan for voting, and 151 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:41,080 Speaker 1: that you have a plan to bring other people to 152 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:44,520 Speaker 1: the poles with you. Know that if you are in 153 00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:48,440 Speaker 1: certain states, you will need chairs to sit down, you 154 00:10:48,480 --> 00:10:50,800 Speaker 1: will need water to drink, you will need snacks, you 155 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:54,559 Speaker 1: will need a phone charger. Right, you may need people 156 00:10:54,559 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 1: to be on tap for you so that you can 157 00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 1: tap them into line so that you can take a 158 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:01,360 Speaker 1: break and then tap others. And this is why mail 159 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:04,040 Speaker 1: in voting is so important. But we know that some 160 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 1: states have disallowed that, you know, because of the five 161 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:12,319 Speaker 1: people that happen to accidentally illegally vote every year. They've 162 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:15,920 Speaker 1: created all of these parameters, but nothing for the motherfuckers 163 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:20,760 Speaker 1: that are committing mass murder every day by ar fifteens. Nonetheless, 164 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 1: I hope that the second part of my conversation with 165 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:27,960 Speaker 1: doctor Dina Simmons inspires you as much as it did me, 166 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:32,120 Speaker 1: and I hope that it inspires you all to remember 167 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:37,640 Speaker 1: your power and your purpose as citizens of this country. 168 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:41,480 Speaker 1: Coming up next the last part, the final part of 169 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 1: my conversation with doctor Dina Simmons. It's no secret that 170 00:11:47,559 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 1: the news is horsepill hard to swallow. Thankfully, there's The 171 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 1: Bituation Room podcast hosted by comedian and commentator Francesca free 172 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 1: Erantini for a lighter take on the heavy staff. Each week, 173 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 1: the Bituation Room brings you progressive comedians, experts, and activists 174 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:04,880 Speaker 1: to break down the issues in a way that won't 175 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:07,480 Speaker 1: just leave you crying under a weighted blanket. Get The 176 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:11,600 Speaker 1: Bituation Room on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and streaming on 177 00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:24,920 Speaker 1: YouTube and Twitch. The Damage Report with John Idarola is 178 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:27,640 Speaker 1: one of the most popular shows on the TYT network 179 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 1: that serves as your daily breakdown of the genuine threats 180 00:12:30,360 --> 00:12:33,800 Speaker 1: and challenges facing our country and world. These days, we're 181 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 1: confronted with an overwhelming sea of shocking, confounding, and devastating 182 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:40,959 Speaker 1: news stories. The Damage Report is your life raft, helping 183 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 1: you navigate the day's news and understand the damage caused 184 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:47,840 Speaker 1: by the corrupt establishment, politicians, corporations, and everything in between. 185 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 1: Join the Damage Reports notorious fan club the Dragon Squad, 186 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:55,000 Speaker 1: where you become part of the fantastic community of progressives, 187 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 1: create a fun dragon nickname that fits your personality, collaborate 188 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:02,520 Speaker 1: and participate in activities like voting for the Garbage Person 189 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 1: of the Week, and much more. Listen to The Damage 190 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:09,040 Speaker 1: Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. 191 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 1: If you like what you here, be sure to subscribe 192 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:19,199 Speaker 1: so you never miss an episode. You know, I am 193 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:25,880 Speaker 1: a former educator. I taught first and second grade general 194 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:30,400 Speaker 1: education and special education. Then I went into education policy, 195 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 1: all for the reasons that you just stated, all for 196 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:39,200 Speaker 1: the desire, because I have always believed that education is 197 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 1: key into being able to understand yourself, understand the world 198 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 1: around you, but more so understand the value that your ancestors, 199 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:55,520 Speaker 1: your people brought to this world. Right. And it is 200 00:13:55,600 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 1: amazing to me, but not really that you will see 201 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:04,400 Speaker 1: now these forces of evil to try and gut curriculum, 202 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:09,200 Speaker 1: to try and gut the very presence of queer people 203 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 1: like I am, of black, people, of Latin X people, 204 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:19,040 Speaker 1: of just anyone who is not white, ciss, straight, and 205 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 1: supposedly Christian, right, And I'm wondering you know because you 206 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 1: said earlier about what allows you to wake up every day? Right? 207 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:35,040 Speaker 1: But I gotta tell you, Dina, that what is keeping 208 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 1: me up every night is the fact that the erasure 209 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 1: that is happening right now is rapid and it is real. 210 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:49,240 Speaker 1: And I don't know if we are all, all of us, 211 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:53,640 Speaker 1: including our white accomplices, embodying the revolutionary spirit that is 212 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 1: going to be necessary to push back against these forces 213 00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:01,160 Speaker 1: that are unrelenting. And so I want to, you know, 214 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:07,760 Speaker 1: ask you what do you truly believe will wake people 215 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:10,440 Speaker 1: up to the reality that we are facing and that 216 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 1: we are currently living in. Because you know, the title 217 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:16,640 Speaker 1: of my show is Woke as Fuck, because I wanted 218 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 1: to be an alarm clock, the raising of consciousness for 219 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:25,160 Speaker 1: people who have been forced into or have decided to 220 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:29,440 Speaker 1: rest in slumber. Put there, bury their heads, as I say, 221 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 1: and be political ostriches in the sand. Right, So you know, 222 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:39,600 Speaker 1: what do you think will or can wake people up 223 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:44,800 Speaker 1: to the revolutionary spirit and warrior spirit that our ancestors 224 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 1: had to even get us here? What do we what 225 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 1: do we need? So several things. First of all, the 226 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 1: folks who bury their head in the sand, I always say, 227 00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:00,320 Speaker 1: what a privilege that you get to look away. I 228 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 1: got to wake up every single day and live my 229 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:08,680 Speaker 1: life in this country as a black woman, and and 230 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:11,080 Speaker 1: you know, with a sister who's chronically ill, because I 231 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 1: want to also be inclusive of what it means to 232 00:16:13,280 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 1: be chronically ill in this country. I am also newly 233 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 1: chronically ill. And I cannot tell you how much time 234 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:23,120 Speaker 1: it takes out of my day to go to doctors appointments, 235 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 1: to do everything I need to do just to be 236 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 1: well enough in this capitalist society so that I could 237 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 1: perform or achieve or produce right, because that's what that's 238 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:37,520 Speaker 1: what the society expects of us. Nonetheless, what we've learned 239 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:44,520 Speaker 1: from you know, twenty twenty one is that when white folks, 240 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:48,840 Speaker 1: some white folks discovered racism after George Floyd, because I 241 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:51,280 Speaker 1: say discovered, because folks act like we weren't saying the 242 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 1: same stuff before. Folks discovered racism, or institutions discovered racism 243 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:59,160 Speaker 1: because they had no choice but to watch a black 244 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:06,080 Speaker 1: man for nearly eight minutes or nine minutes get killed 245 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:11,320 Speaker 1: with a knee to his neck. We saw a bunch 246 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:16,880 Speaker 1: of movement around, let's go get training, let's go buy 247 00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 1: these books, let's go March, and today in twenty twenty, 248 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:24,200 Speaker 1: we don't see that same energy. And all I want, 249 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:27,879 Speaker 1: folks is to keep that same energy because that was 250 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:33,159 Speaker 1: one instance of many instances of black death, and black 251 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:36,679 Speaker 1: death does not always end is not always end in 252 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:39,720 Speaker 1: like actual death. There are many black deaths that black 253 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 1: people experience and come back alive every single day. It's 254 00:17:44,840 --> 00:17:48,000 Speaker 1: true for every young people. So I would always say 255 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 1: to folks, is control what you can control. If you're 256 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:53,560 Speaker 1: a teacher in the classroom and you're a white person, 257 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:57,400 Speaker 1: how are you putting yourself on the line for to 258 00:17:57,520 --> 00:18:01,679 Speaker 1: ensure that that black child could be who they are 259 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 1: without repercussion, who who they're not being, and contribute, not 260 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:09,320 Speaker 1: contributing to the prison you know, to the school to 261 00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:14,200 Speaker 1: prison nexus, that you are standing up for that black child, 262 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 1: that lay an X child, that queer trial and all 263 00:18:16,240 --> 00:18:20,120 Speaker 1: those intersections and that chronically ill child, Asian child, whomever 264 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:22,560 Speaker 1: you are doing that work, and that you know your 265 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:24,680 Speaker 1: values and that you're living your values. And I think 266 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:27,439 Speaker 1: that is something that everyone can do. At the end 267 00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 1: of the day, folks need to give up something for everyone. Happened, 268 00:18:35,160 --> 00:18:37,080 Speaker 1: and I will ask folks us to really reflect on 269 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:39,879 Speaker 1: what you're willing to give up in order for someone 270 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:44,040 Speaker 1: else to have something. And um, and that's something too 271 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:46,959 Speaker 1: that I have to reflect on now new lead middle class. 272 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:51,080 Speaker 1: Grew up you know, and you know in poverty, but 273 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:55,879 Speaker 1: now in the middle class. And so that's also the tension, right. 274 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:57,920 Speaker 1: It was education that got me to where I am. 275 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:01,440 Speaker 1: But it's like, so I critique the education system, is like, 276 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:05,120 Speaker 1: I'm also broken. I am healing and I'm in therapy 277 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 1: because of those years I had to distance myself from 278 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:12,280 Speaker 1: myself in my community and my home. But well, how 279 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:15,480 Speaker 1: us can folks wake up? I've also noticed too that 280 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:22,560 Speaker 1: after Trump was elected, we saw a lot more people 281 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:28,480 Speaker 1: getting involved in activism, and that was because it impacted them. 282 00:19:28,760 --> 00:19:31,920 Speaker 1: So it says a lot about how self centered people are, Like, Oh, 283 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:34,600 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, this is importanting me. Let me 284 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:37,200 Speaker 1: go put myself on the line because now it's a 285 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:39,920 Speaker 1: personal and I think that's you know, fine, that's a 286 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:43,200 Speaker 1: motivated But I think we need to be motivated also 287 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:46,879 Speaker 1: by the saying that there is no liberation. I like, 288 00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:50,080 Speaker 1: if if we all don't have liberation, that our liberation 289 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:54,400 Speaker 1: and our healing and our all of that freedom is connect, 290 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:58,399 Speaker 1: is interconnected, and it's connected. So as long as you 291 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:00,959 Speaker 1: have your big picket ends and you're a big gate 292 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:03,520 Speaker 1: in your community, there will always be someone trying to 293 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:06,000 Speaker 1: take something from you because they need it. You know 294 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 1: what I'm saying. I'm saying, as long as you have 295 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:11,000 Speaker 1: that picket fence because it's needed, and as long as 296 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:13,479 Speaker 1: you have that picket fence and you are where you are, 297 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:15,200 Speaker 1: this always going to be. You are always going to 298 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:17,639 Speaker 1: have to fear that someone wants to take something from you. 299 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:20,960 Speaker 1: If we all had enough come on, that would be okay, 300 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:23,320 Speaker 1: that would be okay. And so we work in the 301 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:26,159 Speaker 1: spirit of scars here city instead of abundance. And so 302 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:28,639 Speaker 1: what I would say is, what are you willing to 303 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:32,480 Speaker 1: give up? I'm not asking people to like sacrifice their lives. 304 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:37,760 Speaker 1: I'm asking people to maybe sacrifice some comfort, sacrifice your job, 305 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 1: sacrifice your inheritance because anyway, that money ain't yours. That 306 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:46,400 Speaker 1: money is some body's black ancestors money. Let's be real 307 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:51,400 Speaker 1: think about we also have to have the conversation about reparations. 308 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:55,240 Speaker 1: Right where are the reparations? And I don't think we're 309 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:58,560 Speaker 1: ready for that conversation because folks think we are not 310 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:01,720 Speaker 1: ready for that conversation. Well, because you and I are like, so, 311 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:04,200 Speaker 1: folks are gonna because we complicate it, right, We're like 312 00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:09,040 Speaker 1: Dina and Danielle. Technically, y'all ain't gonna get any reparations 313 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:12,879 Speaker 1: because y'all from the Caribbean, y'all, I'm not American descendants 314 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:15,480 Speaker 1: of See for y'all and get your money, but go 315 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:17,560 Speaker 1: back and try and get your money from the English 316 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:22,119 Speaker 1: whatever they do in Antigua and Jamaican. Right, So, I 317 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:28,639 Speaker 1: think I think we over complicate the reparations conversation. But 318 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:31,120 Speaker 1: we do need to have the conversation about reparations because 319 00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:34,200 Speaker 1: black people are owed what was stolen from us, and 320 00:21:34,359 --> 00:21:37,760 Speaker 1: that we're starting to see little things Nigeria received back 321 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:42,440 Speaker 1: some um, some of their you know, their jewels, or 322 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 1: it wasn't their jewels, but it was some sort of 323 00:21:44,359 --> 00:21:51,560 Speaker 1: ancestral sort of um important artifact. And so so I 324 00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:53,480 Speaker 1: don't know, I don't know the answers. What I would 325 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:57,480 Speaker 1: say is live every day, fighting for a better tomorrow. 326 00:21:58,040 --> 00:22:01,320 Speaker 1: Live every day enough for yourself for the collective. And 327 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:04,960 Speaker 1: that's hard to do. Live every day and make it 328 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:09,760 Speaker 1: count because every single thing we do has a repercussion. 329 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:13,680 Speaker 1: There's a story that I like to use um it's 330 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:17,200 Speaker 1: it's it's about Ursula when I believe it was her name, 331 00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:21,000 Speaker 1: and it's it's about this this town, this utopic town. 332 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:23,800 Speaker 1: In order for that utopia, that utopia to happen, there's 333 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:28,359 Speaker 1: a child in a basement that is suffering, and everyone 334 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:30,400 Speaker 1: knows it in that town and they're just like, well, 335 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:32,320 Speaker 1: that's just how it is, and that is actually how 336 00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:34,760 Speaker 1: we live our life. We know that in other countries 337 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:38,400 Speaker 1: in India in like when we were having COVID, even 338 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:42,679 Speaker 1: our COVID behavior, like even our or how wasteful we are, 339 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:46,919 Speaker 1: impacts people who are dealing with global warming right now. 340 00:22:47,119 --> 00:22:50,720 Speaker 1: Literally things are burning in other parts of the world. 341 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:54,080 Speaker 1: But as long as we focus only on ourselves, we're 342 00:22:54,080 --> 00:22:55,919 Speaker 1: not going to get anywhere. And I think we need 343 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:58,159 Speaker 1: to think about the collective a little bit more. We 344 00:22:58,200 --> 00:23:00,760 Speaker 1: need to think about how our acts to trickle down 345 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:02,800 Speaker 1: to other people. And so those are just those are 346 00:23:02,800 --> 00:23:05,280 Speaker 1: things that I think people can do individually. Where are 347 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:07,520 Speaker 1: you buying from, how are you buying, are you supporting 348 00:23:07,560 --> 00:23:11,040 Speaker 1: black businesses? How is what you do contribute to X 349 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:13,760 Speaker 1: y Z suffering? Those are all things that we need 350 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:15,840 Speaker 1: to think about. And those are questions I ask myself 351 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:18,000 Speaker 1: because I'm always at tension every time I buy something, 352 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:22,880 Speaker 1: I'm like, who had to work cheap labor? Now need 353 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:26,119 Speaker 1: to get this sale, you know? And so that's a 354 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:28,560 Speaker 1: tension that I'm always dealing. Well, I'm not perfect. I 355 00:23:28,680 --> 00:23:31,960 Speaker 1: fail because I'm trying to save money, but I'm always 356 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:35,280 Speaker 1: I have to be like no, Dina, like who's expense? 357 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:37,000 Speaker 1: And that's a question that I think many of us 358 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:41,440 Speaker 1: should ask ourselves at who's expense? And then if we're 359 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 1: in a room, we have to ask who's not in 360 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:44,639 Speaker 1: the room? And how do I make space? And how 361 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:47,040 Speaker 1: do I break down this table so that we build 362 00:23:47,040 --> 00:23:48,760 Speaker 1: a new one where other folks can fit at it? 363 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:51,520 Speaker 1: Or are we just to get rid of the table 364 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:54,040 Speaker 1: all together and just knock down the wall and have 365 00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:58,119 Speaker 1: a whole have a more like welcoming space. And so 366 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:01,159 Speaker 1: I want to focus on the individual could because of 367 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:05,720 Speaker 1: obviously there could be systemic changes, like folks, go vote, 368 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:08,920 Speaker 1: go register to vote. If you ain't voting, go vote, 369 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:11,800 Speaker 1: because there's one way to exercise your voice. And so 370 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:15,280 Speaker 1: I will say, go vote if you can. And then 371 00:24:15,560 --> 00:24:18,640 Speaker 1: when when you vote and you know, vote to those 372 00:24:18,760 --> 00:24:21,879 Speaker 1: meetings and those council meetings and those committees meetings, and 373 00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:25,840 Speaker 1: advocate for what you care about. Organize and you know, 374 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 1: do community organizing to get what you need in your community. 375 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:31,600 Speaker 1: If you live in a building, tenant, organizing whatever you 376 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:33,639 Speaker 1: need to do. Because there is power in the people. 377 00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:35,639 Speaker 1: And I think you forget that they're more of us 378 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 1: than there are of them. Whoever that them is the powerful, 379 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:44,320 Speaker 1: the supremacist, the white supremacist. There's more. There were more 380 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:48,280 Speaker 1: enslaved people than there were enslavers. And I think part 381 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:51,320 Speaker 1: of it is liberating our mind to know our work. Yes, 382 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:54,280 Speaker 1: that is at the end of the day. Liberate your 383 00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:56,600 Speaker 1: minds that you know your powers, you could ask for 384 00:24:56,720 --> 00:24:58,520 Speaker 1: what you want. You can know your worth and you 385 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:05,720 Speaker 1: can fight for what we deserve. Doctor Dina Simmons, you 386 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:09,520 Speaker 1: must come back to Woke f Daily. Well, her book 387 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:14,840 Speaker 1: comes out, it's very now as White Rules for Black People. 388 00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:16,520 Speaker 1: But I also know my worth and so I left 389 00:25:16,560 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 1: my publisher and it's back on the marketing. Okay, okay, 390 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:22,760 Speaker 1: so we could we could We definitely be down to 391 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:24,600 Speaker 1: talk to you because we have actually have so much 392 00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:27,480 Speaker 1: in common. I looked you up, I was like, we're 393 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:30,639 Speaker 1: gonna have to be a friend. I love that. I 394 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:36,520 Speaker 1: love that very much. Yes, yes, I am open for dope, 395 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 1: powerful black women friends. The door is open. So doctor Simmons, 396 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:44,680 Speaker 1: thank you so much for making the time for Woke 397 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:49,400 Speaker 1: f for this very in depth, you know, inspiring conversation. 398 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:52,680 Speaker 1: We I don't often get to leave people with inspiration, 399 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:56,119 Speaker 1: I leave them with rage, and so this this was, 400 00:25:56,400 --> 00:25:59,919 Speaker 1: this was really beautiful and needed and I'm very grateful 401 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:02,919 Speaker 1: for it. So thank you, Thank you so much, Samiel. 402 00:26:03,080 --> 00:26:05,160 Speaker 1: I look forward to being in touch and be friends. 403 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:14,280 Speaker 1: Thank you. That is it for me today, Dear friends 404 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:17,760 Speaker 1: on woke app as always power to the people and 405 00:26:17,920 --> 00:26:21,960 Speaker 1: to all the people. Power, get woke and stay woke 406 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:22,440 Speaker 1: as fuck.