WEBVTT - Election 2024: TMI LIVE FROM DETROIT 0:00:00.320 --> 0:00:01.840 I'm Tamika d Mallory and it. 0:00:01.880 --> 0:00:03.400 Shit Boy my son in general. 0:00:03.520 --> 0:00:05.800 We are your host of TMI. 0:00:05.600 --> 0:00:09.160 Tamika and my Son's Information, Truth, Motivation and. 0:00:09.200 --> 0:00:16.360 Inspiration, Name New Energy. What's going on? My Son Lennon? 0:00:17.200 --> 0:00:19.160 What's going on? Tamika May How are you? 0:00:19.960 --> 0:00:22.720 I'm good. I'm good. You know, it seems like the 0:00:22.840 --> 0:00:26.280 last few weeks we've really been live and in the action. 0:00:27.080 --> 0:00:30.920 TMI has been on the road. So many things happening, 0:00:31.040 --> 0:00:34.600 you know, so many people are outside right now, folks 0:00:34.640 --> 0:00:39.080 who are either engaged in voter engagement work or people 0:00:39.080 --> 0:00:42.360 who are doing just the normal day to day work 0:00:42.560 --> 0:00:47.720 organizing and communities. There's a lot that's happening. And you know, 0:00:47.840 --> 0:00:52.400 I think, I really know that you share the sentiments 0:00:52.400 --> 0:00:56.400 that it is good to know that our audience that 0:00:56.440 --> 0:01:00.320 they're sticking with us through the transition of you know, 0:01:00.840 --> 0:01:05.920 us being more outside. You know, in this time, I 0:01:05.920 --> 0:01:10.399 guess we always are outside, but it seemed like as 0:01:10.400 --> 0:01:15.440 we dip zag across this country and meet with more people, 0:01:16.040 --> 0:01:22.280 it feels more logical, if you will, to really take 0:01:22.319 --> 0:01:26.720 the voices of the people from the community rather than 0:01:27.200 --> 0:01:31.840 having to you know, excuse me, rather than having to 0:01:32.720 --> 0:01:35.200 you know, sort of invite folks to come to us. 0:01:35.280 --> 0:01:38.640 We're going out to where our people are and bringing 0:01:38.680 --> 0:01:41.280 their voices and making it one with TMI, and so 0:01:41.800 --> 0:01:44.520 I'm excited about it. I now think I need a 0:01:44.560 --> 0:01:48.200 microphone or some type of device connected to my phone 0:01:49.040 --> 0:01:51.120 because I see other people doing that and I was 0:01:51.160 --> 0:01:54.120 thinking today I need to get some type of device 0:01:54.520 --> 0:01:58.000 so I could be like, you know, hooked up and 0:01:59.520 --> 0:02:02.800 profect to know what my outside recordings. 0:02:03.200 --> 0:02:05.720 Yeah, I agree. I think I think we actually have. 0:02:05.840 --> 0:02:08.000 They gave us those little mics. I really see a 0:02:08.080 --> 0:02:10.000 matter of fact, I have it in my house. I 0:02:10.040 --> 0:02:12.400 just never hooked it up to my phone. But I 0:02:12.440 --> 0:02:15.240 guess since we are traveling and doing a lot of 0:02:16.200 --> 0:02:19.560 improm too podcasts to where you know, we're on the 0:02:19.600 --> 0:02:23.000 moment and we're meeting with different individuals and we might 0:02:23.040 --> 0:02:25.440 need to interview like today, you know, it was one 0:02:25.520 --> 0:02:28.400 of those days where we should have just interviewed so 0:02:28.520 --> 0:02:31.640 many different people. But you know, the discussion that we 0:02:31.720 --> 0:02:34.920 had today was amazing. Shout out to everybody you know 0:02:35.280 --> 0:02:39.240 in Detroit. We're in Detroit right now and we had 0:02:39.280 --> 0:02:42.160 a dope panel. I don't want to mention everybody but 0:02:42.760 --> 0:02:46.880 I don't want to mention anybody and mention and forget anybody. 0:02:47.400 --> 0:02:50.640 So I'm just saying it was a great panel. A 0:02:50.680 --> 0:02:52.640 lot of different names. If you can think of something, 0:02:52.680 --> 0:02:54.760 I could probably feel. Most of the. 0:02:54.720 --> 0:03:07.240 Men here, Yellow Paine, Yeah, uh, Freeway Killer, Mike, push 0:03:07.320 --> 0:03:11.640 your T, push your T, Joe tak It, Edie, Joe take. 0:03:12.840 --> 0:03:18.240 Our moderators were wayno and also Britney Pacnet and Pastor 0:03:18.320 --> 0:03:21.560 McBride who's coming up right now as a guest for 0:03:22.360 --> 0:03:27.520 this evening, for this show. And uh, there was some 0:03:27.600 --> 0:03:31.000 other folk. Of course, our brother Philip Agnew. 0:03:32.200 --> 0:03:40.920 And this a mm hmm Black Sam brother. Another I 0:03:40.920 --> 0:03:43.640 forgot his cousin that was deal with him, so I 0:03:43.640 --> 0:03:51.120 forgot his name. Also, I swear Visit was there. That's 0:03:51.240 --> 0:03:53.920 my that's my guy. You know what I'm saying. It 0:03:53.960 --> 0:03:56.840 was And it was a it was a very dope conversation, 0:03:57.080 --> 0:04:02.240 just getting everybody's perspective and just hearing you know, where 0:04:02.280 --> 0:04:05.600 we are in the world right now, not just polities, 0:04:05.640 --> 0:04:09.240 but just in general. Like it was very empowering talking 0:04:09.280 --> 0:04:15.520 about financial security, talking about entrepreneurship and how we should 0:04:15.560 --> 0:04:18.960 be utilizing our resources and building with each other and 0:04:19.279 --> 0:04:23.840 creating generational wealth and community wealth together. So that was 0:04:24.920 --> 0:04:29.320 very very impactful, you know, and I think those conversations 0:04:29.320 --> 0:04:32.719 are so much needed around this country because you get 0:04:32.760 --> 0:04:35.760 to hear no, you know, we always hear that black 0:04:36.279 --> 0:04:39.680 are in a monolith, and you got to see that tonight. 0:04:40.240 --> 0:04:44.200 But it was brilliant because everyone had a way of 0:04:44.440 --> 0:04:47.840 expressing themselves that was brilliant. But it was just different 0:04:47.839 --> 0:04:49.960 perspectives and it was different point of views. There were 0:04:50.360 --> 0:04:53.800 a couple of contentious moments. You know, you were involved 0:04:53.800 --> 0:04:57.960 with one of those, but even in those moments, it 0:04:58.000 --> 0:05:00.800 was love and respect. It was just people wanted you 0:05:00.880 --> 0:05:02.760 to understand what their perspective was. 0:05:02.800 --> 0:05:05.440 So why do you want to say they want me 0:05:05.520 --> 0:05:08.720 to understand. They wanted the everybody to know. 0:05:09.320 --> 0:05:11.920 I just said, just you. I said no, I said, 0:05:11.960 --> 0:05:15.080 people wanted they wanted to be understood. It I was 0:05:15.120 --> 0:05:16.719 some about us in general. I said, there was a 0:05:16.760 --> 0:05:20.400 contentions moment that involved you because there was a pushback, 0:05:21.040 --> 0:05:24.440 and you know, but it was still in love and 0:05:24.480 --> 0:05:27.880 respect and everybody just wanted their position to be understood. 0:05:28.440 --> 0:05:31.239 Yeah. No, I mean, I think, you know, first of all, 0:05:31.839 --> 0:05:34.400 just to put this in a proper context, for those 0:05:34.400 --> 0:05:40.240 who are listening in the discussion today. The panel that 0:05:40.279 --> 0:05:42.640 we did, and not just a panel. We also did 0:05:42.640 --> 0:05:47.359 a lot of community canvass and registering voters, knocking on doors, 0:05:47.400 --> 0:05:54.200 reminding people of the upcoming election, as well as as 0:05:54.240 --> 0:05:57.080 well as just you know, being in space with our 0:05:57.160 --> 0:06:00.520 people and shout out to our brother Mark and being 0:06:01.120 --> 0:06:06.239 who organized us, being who organized us all to be together. 0:06:06.839 --> 0:06:09.239 There is a new campaign that we were a part 0:06:09.360 --> 0:06:14.400 of launching today and that is vote or Else. You 0:06:14.440 --> 0:06:20.080 know that every election season there are slogans that people 0:06:20.960 --> 0:06:25.360 organized under to help make the point that it's important 0:06:25.400 --> 0:06:29.560 for us to exercise our constitutional right to vote as 0:06:29.600 --> 0:06:35.839 well as our ability to have our voices heard. That 0:06:36.000 --> 0:06:38.800 people will know we are interested in these issues, we 0:06:38.880 --> 0:06:43.400 are paying attention, we are organized, and our communities will 0:06:43.440 --> 0:06:49.240 not be left behind or discounted and discredited and disengaged 0:06:49.600 --> 0:06:53.320 and so voter else. I think the or else part 0:06:53.440 --> 0:06:58.320 is so loaded. And I remember back in twenty fifteen, 0:06:58.400 --> 0:07:01.680 I believe when we worked on Justice or Else with 0:07:02.520 --> 0:07:08.160 the Nation of Islam and many other organizations from around 0:07:08.200 --> 0:07:14.360 the country, Quinya Nasaha and so many that gathered for 0:07:14.520 --> 0:07:20.120 the Justice or Else gathering where many people hundreds of 0:07:20.160 --> 0:07:25.080 thousands of people came out to say and declare that 0:07:25.160 --> 0:07:28.240 for us, it's justice or else. And you know, shortly 0:07:28.280 --> 0:07:32.760 after that we developed until Freedom, which I think is 0:07:32.800 --> 0:07:37.040 in line with that same ideology, that same mindset that 0:07:37.120 --> 0:07:41.840 it is until freedom, that it is justice for our communities, 0:07:41.880 --> 0:07:44.560 that it is that we vote. It's the the or 0:07:44.640 --> 0:07:49.920 else for us is too dangerous and therefore we know 0:07:50.080 --> 0:07:56.320 that the vulnerabilities of any community are preyed upon, and 0:07:56.480 --> 0:07:58.960 we are going to show that we're not of just 0:07:59.040 --> 0:08:01.600 a vulnerable people, but but we're and empowered people. And 0:08:01.640 --> 0:08:06.920 so that's what voter els Vote or else was about today. 0:08:07.000 --> 0:08:11.360 All of those incredible names, people who again come from 0:08:11.360 --> 0:08:15.160 different perspectives. Every single one of us has a different 0:08:15.240 --> 0:08:18.840 point of view. Even when we agree, we still have 0:08:18.920 --> 0:08:21.840 a different point of view or different ways that we 0:08:21.880 --> 0:08:26.440 see approaching our concerns or the issues we care about. 0:08:26.880 --> 0:08:29.520 And you know, some folks are a little bit further 0:08:29.800 --> 0:08:32.880 away from that than others. But I think it was 0:08:32.920 --> 0:08:35.040 a very very powerful conversation. 0:08:36.000 --> 0:08:40.160 Oh, it was definitely powerful, and it should be replicated 0:08:41.280 --> 0:08:44.719 around this country, you know, especially in this time when 0:08:44.720 --> 0:08:48.920 we're talking about voting and for the engagement and what 0:08:49.000 --> 0:08:51.800 the communities want, you know, I think we should replicate 0:08:51.880 --> 0:08:54.600 that all around this country. Go to different cities and states, 0:08:55.320 --> 0:08:58.400 you know, get powerful voices from different cities and states 0:08:58.720 --> 0:09:01.920 and have those conversations and let our people be able 0:09:01.960 --> 0:09:04.959 to disseminate the information because I know it's a lot 0:09:05.000 --> 0:09:07.400 of stuff that a lot of people just don't know, 0:09:07.520 --> 0:09:12.400 and and we've force fed misinformation on purpose, you know, 0:09:13.360 --> 0:09:17.439 I always hear I'm constantly hearing people from our community's 0:09:18.120 --> 0:09:22.120 parrot you know, false information, and then when you correct them, 0:09:22.160 --> 0:09:25.840 they believe what's on the internet. So you know, I 0:09:25.880 --> 0:09:29.960 think it's very informative and it's just needed at this time. 0:09:30.480 --> 0:09:32.840 So shout out to everybody who was on that panel, 0:09:33.640 --> 0:09:36.439 and hopefully we'll continue to do it. 0:09:37.280 --> 0:09:40.320 Yeah, I hope so too. I hope that you know 0:09:40.440 --> 0:09:46.400 that the resources are there and that the interest is there. 0:09:46.440 --> 0:09:48.600 I think the interest is there, but you need resources, 0:09:48.600 --> 0:09:51.679 and people be like, well, what do you need resources for? 0:09:52.040 --> 0:09:55.640 Why can't you just go out and show up of it? 0:09:55.679 --> 0:09:57.319 But how do you get there? How do you get 0:09:57.360 --> 0:09:59.839 to Detroit from New York? It costs, it's a plane 0:09:59.880 --> 0:10:03.200 to where do you sleep? You need a hotel? There 0:10:03.240 --> 0:10:07.320 are other people who among those who were named, they 0:10:07.400 --> 0:10:11.920 need a place, you know, to stay and to be 0:10:12.559 --> 0:10:15.360 transported to get to a different city. I mean, this 0:10:15.520 --> 0:10:19.040 is it's a process. People need at least one meal 0:10:19.360 --> 0:10:22.960 while they're in another city. There the venues have to 0:10:22.960 --> 0:10:26.200 be paid for. We were in a Union house today, 0:10:26.240 --> 0:10:30.959 which is a convention center. It is very, very difficult 0:10:31.280 --> 0:10:37.720 to cover all of the expenses in a union operated facility. 0:10:38.240 --> 0:10:43.319 I support unions and I certainly support us being in 0:10:43.320 --> 0:10:47.200 those spaces, but it costs money, and the union every 0:10:47.360 --> 0:10:52.000 minute over the time, it costs more money. And so 0:10:52.960 --> 0:10:57.559 you know, we are absolutely you know, in a place 0:10:57.600 --> 0:10:59.960 where we need to be able to have the resource. 0:11:00.040 --> 0:11:02.480 It's necessary. And it's funny because so many people are like, oh, 0:11:02.679 --> 0:11:05.560 you know, y'all are being paid. You paid by the 0:11:05.600 --> 0:11:08.160 Democratic Party, you paid by this. I would love to 0:11:08.200 --> 0:11:10.520 know where the money is because I haven't. I haven't 0:11:10.559 --> 0:11:12.120 seen it. I don't know. 0:11:12.160 --> 0:11:15.400 Also, man, listen, they tell me that all the time, 0:11:15.440 --> 0:11:17.200 and I said, I wish because if they could pay 0:11:17.240 --> 0:11:20.080 me just for telling the truth, that's free money for me. 0:11:20.760 --> 0:11:22.800 So you know, I don't know where it is that 0:11:23.559 --> 0:11:25.959 you know, I've been accused of it for years and 0:11:26.080 --> 0:11:28.960 still haven't got a dime to do it. But listen, 0:11:29.600 --> 0:11:31.520 if somebody was to pay me to tell the truth, 0:11:31.600 --> 0:11:35.640 please contact me. Let me know how I get to 0:11:35.679 --> 0:11:37.720 do it. Easy job I ever. 0:11:37.600 --> 0:11:42.560 Had, oh one of the organizers for the voter Else 0:11:44.120 --> 0:11:47.720 day of activation that happened today. Again, it wasn't just 0:11:47.760 --> 0:11:50.480 a panel. The panel was the culmination. It was sort 0:11:50.480 --> 0:11:54.600 of the end of a full day beginning at ten 0:11:54.640 --> 0:11:56.880 o'clock in the morning on the street to Detroit from 0:11:56.960 --> 0:12:01.200 the East Side and the West Side. Group of individuals, 0:12:01.240 --> 0:12:06.360 all those that we named earlier. We're out knocking on doors, 0:12:06.559 --> 0:12:11.480 talking to community, registering voters, engaging people, and going again 0:12:11.920 --> 0:12:15.480 to where the people are, not expecting them to show 0:12:15.600 --> 0:12:20.520 up at a convention center or a event space, but 0:12:20.880 --> 0:12:23.520 really going out and taking the message that we have 0:12:24.200 --> 0:12:27.640 out into the community. And I think it's important that 0:12:27.760 --> 0:12:31.480 people are able to see that. They know they watch 0:12:31.600 --> 0:12:36.120 us online and they see how we you know, they state, 0:12:36.200 --> 0:12:40.600 they understand the positions that we take on a variety 0:12:40.679 --> 0:12:44.120 of issues. They know that we don't all agree and 0:12:44.160 --> 0:12:47.000 we don't all support the same things. I think it's 0:12:47.040 --> 0:12:51.040 pretty powerful for them to see us walking through communities 0:12:51.080 --> 0:12:55.240 together today knocking on doors and saying that listen, we 0:12:55.360 --> 0:12:59.439 may not agree, but our communities are stronger together. And 0:12:59.760 --> 0:13:02.000 you know, one thing that we know for sure is 0:13:02.040 --> 0:13:03.960 that we have to be empowered and make sure that 0:13:04.040 --> 0:13:09.040 our votes are counted. And so one of those who 0:13:09.120 --> 0:13:13.520 was involved in the initial organizing, along with Marvin Ban 0:13:14.200 --> 0:13:19.640 of today's efforts is our brother, dear friend and and 0:13:19.760 --> 0:13:23.559 really our mentor in many ways past to Mike McBride 0:13:23.960 --> 0:13:26.319 of so many he has so many titles. 0:13:26.920 --> 0:13:30.199 I'm a Jamaican man. I'm a Jamaican man all the 0:13:30.240 --> 0:13:32.640 way from the Bay Area. I got fired down. But 0:13:32.679 --> 0:13:36.280 what's happening to y'all? Live free? 0:13:36.320 --> 0:13:39.800 The Black Church pack. You know, you're involved in so 0:13:39.880 --> 0:13:42.520 many different things, and I think Voter Else. My son 0:13:42.600 --> 0:13:46.360 and I were speaking before you got on about how 0:13:46.640 --> 0:13:51.000 powerful today was. You know, all of the information that 0:13:51.040 --> 0:13:54.079 we took in, I learned things, and I also, you know, 0:13:54.240 --> 0:13:58.520 hope that my contributions or our contributions were helpful as well. 0:13:58.559 --> 0:14:00.400 And so those are the spaces we on to Bill 0:14:00.520 --> 0:14:03.520 wa why don't he tell us pastor Mike, uh, you know, 0:14:04.640 --> 0:14:09.440 how how did this come about? The voter else idea? 0:14:10.040 --> 0:14:12.360 And all the concept and how did it, you know, 0:14:13.040 --> 0:14:14.960 move to Detroit specifically. 0:14:15.520 --> 0:14:18.120 Well, first of all, thank y'all for rocking with us 0:14:18.160 --> 0:14:20.240 out on this. Couldn't have did it without you all, 0:14:20.360 --> 0:14:26.640 and obviously my son Jamika, Angelo, Linda, the antil Freedom 0:14:26.680 --> 0:14:29.640 family and our family for life. And so when we 0:14:29.760 --> 0:14:33.280 all rise rise together. We ain't following yet, but it's 0:14:33.600 --> 0:14:36.880 it's getting getting tough out here. But let me just say, 0:14:36.920 --> 0:14:41.800 you know, voter Else was a wonderful collaboration between my 0:14:41.880 --> 0:14:45.200 guy and Marvin Bing. I've known Marvin for non it's 0:14:45.200 --> 0:14:47.920 going on over ten years. We met in Ferguson, actually 0:14:48.200 --> 0:14:50.960 both us getting tear gas done on the sideline. He 0:14:51.080 --> 0:14:55.120 worked for MS Internationals. We both started pulling grandmothers in 0:14:55.600 --> 0:14:58.560 freet people out of the street and we've been rocking 0:14:58.560 --> 0:15:02.280 with each other ever since. We just said, I know, 0:15:02.320 --> 0:15:05.480 we just started talking a little bit about several months 0:15:05.520 --> 0:15:09.720 ago about the gaps that we had seen in the 0:15:09.880 --> 0:15:15.120 electoral conversation, in the electoral engagement, in all the ways 0:15:15.160 --> 0:15:20.320 in which particularly black men, a culture, street organizations, people 0:15:20.400 --> 0:15:24.320 in the hood at the neighborhood weren't involved, weren't really 0:15:24.440 --> 0:15:28.440 kind of animated or what they were asking for nobody 0:15:28.560 --> 0:15:31.520 was really creative in space for them to have that conversation, 0:15:32.000 --> 0:15:34.920 and so Margaret said, man, let's call out my guy 0:15:35.000 --> 0:15:37.960 way On. You put Wayna on the thing, and literally 0:15:38.200 --> 0:15:42.360 or Else was Wayno's idea. Wayna was like, what would 0:15:42.400 --> 0:15:45.200 it look like if we help people to understand that 0:15:45.240 --> 0:15:47.920 what's at stake in this election is the or Else? 0:15:48.280 --> 0:15:49.680 And he was like, man, I would be hot. I 0:15:49.720 --> 0:15:52.040 don't we just call this the or Else project? And 0:15:52.080 --> 0:15:54.440 we put voter front of it to be clear, and 0:15:54.520 --> 0:15:57.280 it just kind of started to really emerge from there. 0:15:57.560 --> 0:16:00.360 The first idea was to do a record. It's some 0:16:00.600 --> 0:16:03.160 artists and we know and all they're new. I signed 0:16:03.160 --> 0:16:05.280 a whole bunch of people who you know, got the 0:16:05.400 --> 0:16:11.040 name in the hip hop industry being Single, Dango, Smoke, 0:16:11.120 --> 0:16:14.280 There's all these different people, and started to put an 0:16:14.280 --> 0:16:18.479 EP together and then from there it evolved to a 0:16:19.160 --> 0:16:21.760 kind of town hall great debate format. Part of what 0:16:21.800 --> 0:16:24.400 we said is because they had already been in Detroit 0:16:24.480 --> 0:16:27.440 working with Hill Harper, let's just take that energy from 0:16:27.480 --> 0:16:29.920 the Hill Harper campaign and build on it. And that's 0:16:29.960 --> 0:16:32.880 what culminated today. It was a wonderful day of just 0:16:32.960 --> 0:16:36.600 conversation of activation, of showing up in the neighborhood where 0:16:36.640 --> 0:16:40.240 nobody else shows up. And it was amazing first and 0:16:40.280 --> 0:16:42.720 hopefully of many efforts to activate the people who were 0:16:42.760 --> 0:16:44.560 getting left behind and out of the conversation. 0:16:45.760 --> 0:16:48.440 Yeah, it definitely wasn't amazing, you know, just being in 0:16:48.440 --> 0:16:51.520 the room with a lot of my favorite artists, you know, 0:16:51.680 --> 0:16:54.920 artists that I've looked up to, artists I've been friends 0:16:54.920 --> 0:16:58.000 with for years, and some that I just met, you know, 0:16:58.040 --> 0:17:01.720 and just and just hearing different perspectives. You know, also 0:17:01.840 --> 0:17:04.960 talk about the fact that it's a whole music project, right, 0:17:05.480 --> 0:17:09.080 the whole music project where it's going to be talking about, 0:17:09.200 --> 0:17:11.960 you know, the things that come from our community, the 0:17:12.000 --> 0:17:15.719 topics that are important in our community. So I'm definitely 0:17:15.720 --> 0:17:19.280 looking forward to that. But I also want to ask you, 0:17:19.280 --> 0:17:24.600 you know, as you go throughout these different states and 0:17:24.640 --> 0:17:28.960 you're having conversations, you know, what do you think is 0:17:29.640 --> 0:17:33.320 one of the most important things to black men in 0:17:33.400 --> 0:17:35.680 this time when we're talking about election, because we're talking 0:17:35.680 --> 0:17:39.200 about voter ass that isn't really being focused on by 0:17:39.440 --> 0:17:40.280 either campaign. 0:17:41.200 --> 0:17:44.960 Well, I think that too often the conversation about what 0:17:45.040 --> 0:17:48.879 black people need, particularly black men need, is approach from 0:17:48.960 --> 0:17:53.880 a solely definitive framework, or at least a defensive framework. 0:17:54.119 --> 0:17:57.040 We need to stop shooting one another, we need to 0:17:57.080 --> 0:17:59.920 stop getting killed by the police, we need to stop masking, 0:18:00.760 --> 0:18:03.200 and we definitely need all those things. But part of 0:18:03.240 --> 0:18:06.680 what I think came out tonight is this idea that 0:18:06.800 --> 0:18:11.439 we have aspirations as well. We are not and should 0:18:11.480 --> 0:18:16.280 not be defined, both inter personally, personally by our communities 0:18:17.200 --> 0:18:20.640 or even by our political conditions, by the worst thing 0:18:20.720 --> 0:18:24.439 that's happened to us, that's happening to us, or the 0:18:24.480 --> 0:18:27.359 worst thing we've done. And so part of what I 0:18:27.400 --> 0:18:30.560 think we are hearing from a lot of black men 0:18:31.640 --> 0:18:35.680 is an economic message. They want to understand, how can 0:18:36.640 --> 0:18:41.600 this administration to come, how can they help prepare an 0:18:41.640 --> 0:18:47.119 economic roadmap into not just the middle class, but into 0:18:47.600 --> 0:18:52.919 a multi generational sustainability, prosperity and self determination. And so 0:18:53.000 --> 0:18:56.960 I think that both political parties are all political parties 0:18:57.000 --> 0:19:02.200 for that matter, whether you're the mayor the dogcatcher, prosecutors, governors, 0:19:02.600 --> 0:19:06.440 presidential candidates, senatorial candidates, I think people are asking more 0:19:06.440 --> 0:19:10.960 about an economic message because keep it real, it sucks 0:19:11.000 --> 0:19:14.600 being broke. You know, it is not a good feeling. 0:19:14.640 --> 0:19:18.280 When you don't feel like you can sustain yourself, provide 0:19:18.280 --> 0:19:22.119 for your family, desperation sets in, frustration sets in, and 0:19:22.480 --> 0:19:28.080 the real talk there's nothing the society hates more than 0:19:29.280 --> 0:19:32.920 a poor black man that they feel like they have to. 0:19:32.880 --> 0:19:33.399 Take care of. 0:19:33.600 --> 0:19:36.879 They'd rather kill us or put us in jail to 0:19:37.000 --> 0:19:40.040 move us out of society. And I think brothers are 0:19:40.040 --> 0:19:42.280 starting to say to themselves, you know what I'm saying, 0:19:42.840 --> 0:19:44.760 I'm not just going to keep allowing my life to 0:19:44.760 --> 0:19:48.000 be defined by my worst condition. I want a president 0:19:48.040 --> 0:19:52.960 who has some aspirational offerings to put out in the universe, 0:19:53.240 --> 0:19:55.160 and then we will do what we need to do 0:19:55.400 --> 0:19:58.640 to go and achieve that and organize to secure that. 0:19:58.800 --> 0:20:02.080 I think that's what we're hearing. Definitely, brothers don't want 0:20:02.080 --> 0:20:04.440 to be shot dead in the street. The brothers also 0:20:04.480 --> 0:20:07.160 want to be able to kind of make a life 0:20:07.200 --> 0:20:10.399 of dignity and prosperity. And I think that's the message 0:20:10.400 --> 0:20:12.439 we're hearing all across the country as we move around. 0:20:13.480 --> 0:20:16.879 Well, let me just say that I as a black woman, 0:20:17.480 --> 0:20:22.359 would love for us for our black men to be 0:20:22.480 --> 0:20:25.480 in the position to be able to take care of us. 0:20:25.560 --> 0:20:32.040 I know the ministers who are listening tonight understand what 0:20:32.200 --> 0:20:37.480 I'm talking about. Are you with me? SISIs listen. We 0:20:37.520 --> 0:20:41.760 want the brothers to be focused on the bag, the economics. 0:20:41.720 --> 0:20:45.320 It's nothing wrong with that. As you said, it's not 0:20:45.520 --> 0:20:48.919 just that. I mean, obviously we know black men don't 0:20:48.960 --> 0:20:54.080 want to be shot and killed, abused, degraded, and all 0:20:54.119 --> 0:20:57.800 the other things that happen to our men and to 0:20:57.960 --> 0:21:01.720 our communities in general. I think that it is important 0:21:02.560 --> 0:21:07.040 to note that, you know, the more economically stable we are, 0:21:07.920 --> 0:21:10.359 the more we can continue to build, the more we 0:21:10.359 --> 0:21:13.480 can look at police in our own communities or community 0:21:13.600 --> 0:21:17.000 safety and what that looks like rather than just policing. 0:21:18.320 --> 0:21:22.240 You know, we can look at funding our own organizations 0:21:22.240 --> 0:21:25.760 that do grassroots work. We can look at mental health 0:21:25.960 --> 0:21:30.200 support for our loved ones who are in need, taking 0:21:30.240 --> 0:21:33.879 care of our elders, being able to look at models 0:21:33.960 --> 0:21:36.720 like you know, one that the Black Panthers started some 0:21:36.760 --> 0:21:40.600 time ago and that it's still happening even today, which 0:21:40.680 --> 0:21:43.920 is to feed our people, to have services where people 0:21:43.960 --> 0:21:46.639 can pick up groceries or a hot meal in the morning. 0:21:46.920 --> 0:21:49.760 I mean, these are things that we want to see 0:21:49.800 --> 0:21:53.840 happen in our community. So economic development. And why I 0:21:53.880 --> 0:21:57.200 am so excited that so many black men are paying 0:21:57.240 --> 0:22:01.199 attention to that issue passing my and my son is 0:22:01.320 --> 0:22:06.240 because I understand that there are benefits that stretch beyond 0:22:06.400 --> 0:22:10.560 just having having money in your pocket or having nice things. 0:22:10.640 --> 0:22:15.199 That there's also a community empowerment that we're looking to 0:22:15.760 --> 0:22:19.919 establish as a result of being able to uh, you know, 0:22:20.520 --> 0:22:24.680 succeed and to have economic freedom. So I'm all about it. 0:22:24.760 --> 0:22:29.400 And I also like to be showered with nice gifts 0:22:29.520 --> 0:22:32.480 and taking out to nice dinners. So I need all 0:22:32.520 --> 0:22:35.879 the black men around me and all my relationships to 0:22:35.960 --> 0:22:38.760 have have the money they need. But anyway, that's meaning 0:22:38.920 --> 0:22:39.520 out there. 0:22:41.040 --> 0:22:43.560 I hope you know, we we take it around from 0:22:43.600 --> 0:22:53.240 time to time. Yeah, yeah, I. 0:22:53.160 --> 0:22:55.720 Do mean that I want when I want to and 0:22:55.800 --> 0:22:58.680 my son, he tries to to make sure his mama 0:22:58.760 --> 0:23:01.280 is good, but when I go to visit with him, 0:23:01.359 --> 0:23:03.600 I want to be taken care of. I want my 0:23:03.720 --> 0:23:06.119 father to continue to slip that little one hundred and 0:23:06.119 --> 0:23:08.600 fifty dollars in my hand that I didn't ask for. 0:23:09.480 --> 0:23:13.200 I want all those things because you know, I feel 0:23:13.240 --> 0:23:16.679 that you know, I deserve it. I think that you know, 0:23:16.880 --> 0:23:19.439 our communities are stronger when our men are stronger. I 0:23:19.440 --> 0:23:24.399 think that, you know, there is an unfortunate narrative that 0:23:24.480 --> 0:23:27.600 has developed somewhere along the way that we don't need 0:23:27.680 --> 0:23:30.919 our men, and that has to be dispelled. It is 0:23:31.000 --> 0:23:35.080 not true. I believe that our men, when our men 0:23:35.119 --> 0:23:40.000 are strong, our communities are healthy and support. I certainly 0:23:40.040 --> 0:23:44.040 support that. I certainly support the aspirations of black men 0:23:44.400 --> 0:23:48.800 because I believe that for almost every black man that 0:23:49.000 --> 0:23:53.160 I am in relationship with, again, family members, friends, they 0:23:53.240 --> 0:23:58.439 are somewhere somehow taking care of supporting, standing next to 0:23:58.680 --> 0:24:02.560 behind in front of a black woman and their black 0:24:02.640 --> 0:24:06.720 children and other black community members. And so I know, 0:24:06.880 --> 0:24:09.160 I believe that every black man that I know wants 0:24:09.200 --> 0:24:13.600 to see me healthy, and you know, my family and 0:24:13.640 --> 0:24:16.840 their own offspring and people around them, the extended family. 0:24:16.920 --> 0:24:19.440 So I'm all about it. But here's what I want 0:24:19.520 --> 0:24:22.920 to talk about on the panel. I also, I think 0:24:22.960 --> 0:24:27.160 Brittney Pagnett asked, you know, what do I think about 0:24:27.160 --> 0:24:31.959 this election as it relates to this whole idea of 0:24:32.040 --> 0:24:35.200 economic empowerment? And I was talking about pastor mic and 0:24:35.280 --> 0:24:37.880 love for you to speak to this how you know 0:24:38.200 --> 0:24:41.400 there are many and I didn't get into it today. 0:24:41.440 --> 0:24:46.360 But I have had, unfortunately some conflict with some of 0:24:46.440 --> 0:24:50.720 our brothers who will say to me, you know, y'all 0:24:50.760 --> 0:24:54.000 are talking about voting, and you know you're looking at 0:24:54.600 --> 0:24:58.159 who's running for office, but we need to be focused 0:24:58.240 --> 0:25:03.280 more on economic empowerment, investing and what have you. And 0:25:03.320 --> 0:25:06.359 they say that politics is sort of a waste of time. 0:25:06.400 --> 0:25:08.320 It's just the trick, it's just the game. It's a 0:25:08.320 --> 0:25:11.879 waste of time. I've been saying though, that when you 0:25:12.119 --> 0:25:15.680 listen to the key points coming out of the two 0:25:15.720 --> 0:25:21.800 individuals running for president, you hear them literally talking about 0:25:22.560 --> 0:25:28.160 things that will impact your ability to have successful businesses. 0:25:28.680 --> 0:25:31.840 So when they start talking about tax cuts or just. 0:25:31.800 --> 0:25:35.760