WEBVTT - Rev. Dr. Bernice King Talks Racial Equity in America

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<v Speaker 1>Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio news. Well, as all of

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<v Speaker 1>you know, Monday is Martin Luther King Junior Day, a

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<v Speaker 1>federal holiday that celebrates the life and legacy of Martin

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<v Speaker 1>Luther King Junior.

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<v Speaker 2>Right, And just a reminder, of course, Martin Luther King

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<v Speaker 2>Day also happens to fall on January twentieth, which is

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<v Speaker 2>the day that President elect Donald Trump will be inaugurated.

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<v Speaker 2>This Monday, we Tim and I will be doing a

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<v Speaker 2>special edition of Bloomberg BusinessWeek that afternoon looking at the

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<v Speaker 2>new incoming administration and all the policies that may come down.

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<v Speaker 2>So we want to get into that and more with

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<v Speaker 2>our next guest, who has a certain very personal story

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<v Speaker 2>and attachment of course to Martin Luther King Day. We're

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<v Speaker 2>joined by Reverend doctor Bernice King. She's the chief executive

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<v Speaker 2>officer of the Martin Luther King Junior Center for Nonviolent

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<v Speaker 2>Social Change, which is also known as the King Center.

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<v Speaker 2>She is the daughter of Martin Luther King Junior and

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<v Speaker 2>her mom, Coretta Scott King, founder of the King Center.

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<v Speaker 2>Doctor King, So nice to have you here with us.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, Monday for many it's a holiday. Well, nice

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<v Speaker 2>to have you here for many more. It's also a

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<v Speaker 2>reminder of our difficult past around race relations and discrimination.

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<v Speaker 2>What does the day mean to you honoring your dad?

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<v Speaker 3>Well, it's an opportunity, obviously for us to not just

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<v Speaker 3>commemorate his life, but to really look further into his teachings.

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<v Speaker 4>He was not just a civil rights leader, he was

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<v Speaker 4>a teacher.

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<v Speaker 3>He left us a blueprint as to how to create

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<v Speaker 3>a just, humane, equitable, and peaceful world.

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<v Speaker 4>And every year.

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<v Speaker 3>One of the things that I encourage is that we

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<v Speaker 3>study him more because he spoke about things that we

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<v Speaker 3>as a nation and world needed to do to fight

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<v Speaker 3>against what he saw as a triple equals of poverty, racism,

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<v Speaker 3>and militarism as a threat to our humanity. And so

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<v Speaker 3>here we are once again this year, and as we

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<v Speaker 3>inaugurate a new president. Those teachings don't change, they stay

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<v Speaker 3>the same. What we have to do is to connect

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<v Speaker 3>to them and to connect to the spirit of that

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<v Speaker 3>movement so we can continue to move our nation and

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<v Speaker 3>world forward.

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<v Speaker 2>I was going to ask you just to follow up.

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<v Speaker 2>You said, you know, your dad leaving us a blueprint.

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<v Speaker 2>How would you think he's doing how we are doing

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<v Speaker 2>today with that blueprint?

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<v Speaker 4>Well, you know, he said to us, and where do

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<v Speaker 4>we go from here?

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<v Speaker 3>Chaos the community in nineteen sixty seven, the book that

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<v Speaker 3>published then that we must find a way to live

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<v Speaker 3>together as brothers, and he meant humanity as brothers and sisters,

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<v Speaker 3>or together we would be forced to perish as foods.

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<v Speaker 4>And I think we've not found the way to do that.

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<v Speaker 3>I think he further divided around different ideologies instead of

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<v Speaker 3>trying to spend time learning in spite of our differences.

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<v Speaker 4>How do we live together?

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<v Speaker 3>How do we create a coexistence where we don't co

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<v Speaker 3>annihilate one another?

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<v Speaker 4>You know?

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<v Speaker 3>How do we create a world where everyone has decent

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<v Speaker 3>and affordable housing and access to healthcare?

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<v Speaker 2>You know?

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<v Speaker 3>How do we ensure that people who may end up

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<v Speaker 3>in the homeless population, how do we ensure that that

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<v Speaker 3>is short lived and we create a pathway to people

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<v Speaker 3>to to to reclaim their lives. How do we create

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<v Speaker 3>a fair distribution of wealth in this nation? He talked

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<v Speaker 3>about having a radical redistribution of wealth. He didn't talk

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<v Speaker 3>about it in the sense that we just have to

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<v Speaker 3>remove wealth from someone else, but we have to figure

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<v Speaker 3>out how do we balance our economy so that people

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<v Speaker 3>can have enough to do well, and then of course

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<v Speaker 3>he to talk about how do we respect who we

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<v Speaker 3>are from different cultures and different backgrounds. We'll never all

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<v Speaker 3>agree on everything, and we'll never all like each other,

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<v Speaker 3>we'll never all think alike, but we certainly can spend

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<v Speaker 3>time learning.

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<v Speaker 4>How to live together.

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<v Speaker 3>So that takes a lot of listening, curiosity, It takes

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<v Speaker 3>a lot of courage, It takes a lot of humility,

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<v Speaker 3>it takes compassion. These are all the things that he

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<v Speaker 3>taught us through the spirit and the heart of nonviolence

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<v Speaker 3>that he led that movement in.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, it's that last point that I want to talk about,

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<v Speaker 1>doctor King, because we've been talking about over the last

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<v Speaker 1>few months the dismantling of DEI programs at many companies.

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<v Speaker 1>If I just look at the stories that are one

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<v Speaker 1>of our reporters, Jeff Green has written in recent months,

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<v Speaker 1>here's some headlines. Walmart under fire from investors for cutting

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<v Speaker 1>DEI programs, Meta retreats from diversity and inclusion, appeasing Trump.

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<v Speaker 1>Amazon is halting some of its diversity and inclusion program.

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<v Speaker 1>McDonald's walks back DEI goals in latest corporate retreat. Other

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<v Speaker 1>companies including Deer and more, and we.

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<v Speaker 2>Talked about Corporate America, you know, did hire more black

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<v Speaker 2>workers for a while and then it stopped.

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<v Speaker 1>How do you like, how do you in an environment

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<v Speaker 1>such as this where seeing things seem to not necessarily

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<v Speaker 1>be going in that direction, how do you have optimism?

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<v Speaker 3>Well, always have optimism because there are always people, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>like Target and Costco and others, who who choose to

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<v Speaker 3>follow the pathway that we all know is for the

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<v Speaker 3>best of our nation and our world. But if we

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<v Speaker 3>don't have an inclusive economy as a nation, then we're not.

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<v Speaker 4>Going to survive in the global economy.

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<v Speaker 3>And so I think there are going to be some

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<v Speaker 3>hard realities we're going to be faced with in a

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<v Speaker 3>few years. If what those who have sought to remove

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<v Speaker 3>DEI have done, you know, it's going to show certain results.

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<v Speaker 3>I think it's up to certain courageous leaders to combine forces.

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<v Speaker 4>And stand against this.

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<v Speaker 3>It really, at the end of the day, is really

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<v Speaker 3>not about the language anyway, you know, It's about who

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<v Speaker 3>we are as a people. Do we have a love

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<v Speaker 3>centered way of leading our cultures? In Corporate America, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>in our educational institutions, when we look a lot around

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<v Speaker 3>at our different cultures, do we have everyone that's needed

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<v Speaker 3>in terms of representation at the table. You know, whether

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<v Speaker 3>you call it DEI, you call it representation, or you

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<v Speaker 3>call it a belonging culture or for us, the beloved community.

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<v Speaker 3>How do we create beloved community cultures? Because at the

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<v Speaker 3>end of the day, it's about the outcomes. So if

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<v Speaker 3>they remove the names, they remove what they call DEEI,

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<v Speaker 3>but then they are still committed to getting to certain outcomes,

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<v Speaker 3>then maybe there's no problem. But if removing it also

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<v Speaker 3>means that we're not going to ensure that we have

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<v Speaker 3>cultures that reflects who we are as a nation and

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<v Speaker 3>even as a world, then it just means those of

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<v Speaker 3>us who practice non violence are gonna have to organize

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<v Speaker 3>and stradle our chives and come up with plans to

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<v Speaker 3>put pressure where is needed.

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<v Speaker 2>Doctor King, what do you think white Americans still don't

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<v Speaker 2>understand about Black America today and what do you believe

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<v Speaker 2>it will take to achieve true racial equality.

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<v Speaker 3>Well, the first thing is Black America is not trying

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<v Speaker 3>to take anything from anybody.

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<v Speaker 4>I think that's the first thing people need to understand.

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<v Speaker 3>There's this threat, like you know, if Black America were

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<v Speaker 3>in charge, they will remove us and nothing can be

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<v Speaker 3>further from the truth. If you study the history of

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<v Speaker 3>our race, we've always been holistically. It doesn't mean there

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<v Speaker 3>are exceptions in every racial grouping.

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<v Speaker 4>But if you.

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<v Speaker 3>Study as a whole, we're very forgiving people. We are

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<v Speaker 3>very inclusive culture. We tend to stand, you know, with

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<v Speaker 3>what is right and what is fair and what is just.

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<v Speaker 3>And I think there's a misnomer that if we are

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<v Speaker 3>in these roles we may do what others do.

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<v Speaker 4>I think there's a.

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<v Speaker 3>Misnomer as to who we are that you know, we

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<v Speaker 3>just get jobs or we get opportunities just because we're black.

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<v Speaker 4>No, we're very qualified.

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<v Speaker 3>If you spend any time on social media, you see

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<v Speaker 3>the number of young children out of the black community

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<v Speaker 3>who are finishing college and getting PhD degrees when they're.

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<v Speaker 4>Not even fifteen yet. They're not even fourteen yet.

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<v Speaker 3>So we have a very intelligent, very skilled community. And

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<v Speaker 3>it doesn't take anything away from anybody else's community who

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<v Speaker 3>has intelligent and skilled individuals. And so the biggest thing

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<v Speaker 3>Daddy says a little very powerful. He said, people hate

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<v Speaker 3>each other because they don't know each other. They don't

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<v Speaker 3>know each other because they don't communicate with each other.

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<v Speaker 3>They don't communicate with each other because they're separated from

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<v Speaker 3>each other. And so as long as we keep division

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<v Speaker 3>and separation, then the myths can continue to be the truth.

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<v Speaker 3>So we have to find a way, as I said,

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<v Speaker 3>to learn to live together and across some of these

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<v Speaker 3>boundaries and not allow whatever every other commentary may say about,

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<v Speaker 3>you know, any community to rule the day. I need

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<v Speaker 3>to come and connect with you. I need to learn

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<v Speaker 3>more about it. I need to spend time with you.

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<v Speaker 3>I need to experience your culture. It doesn't mean I

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<v Speaker 3>may embrace all of it, but I have a greater

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<v Speaker 3>understanding of it. And I think that's what a love

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<v Speaker 3>centered person, a compassionate person, a curious person, Right, we're

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<v Speaker 3>doing a person more importantly who wants to see a

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<v Speaker 3>better world.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, you know, we we think about it. We've only

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<v Speaker 2>got about a couple of minutes left here, but we

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<v Speaker 2>are thinking about Martin Luther King Day on inauguration Day,

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<v Speaker 2>incoming President Donald Trump and what his administration might bring

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<v Speaker 2>in terms of policies and what it means for Black

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<v Speaker 2>Americans in equality in the United States. You know, we

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<v Speaker 2>kind of get the sense that your dad, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>tried to engage power to influence change. He seemed very

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<v Speaker 2>pragmatic and yet took those risks. Do you think your

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<v Speaker 2>father would try to engage with the right, the conservative right,

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<v Speaker 2>to get them to better understand the implications of their

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<v Speaker 2>positions or is that not even possible? And again only

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<v Speaker 2>about a minute and a half here.

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<v Speaker 4>Oh, it's always possible. Non violence believes in the impossibility.

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<v Speaker 3>Non violence actually can help overcome what seems to be impossible.

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<v Speaker 4>So through strategy and plan.

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<v Speaker 3>When he went to see Johnson, and Johnson said, look,

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<v Speaker 3>I've done as much as I come the civil rights right.

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<v Speaker 3>Now I can't get the votes on voting rights. Daddy

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<v Speaker 3>went back and said, well, we're gonna have to get

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<v Speaker 3>him some power. We're gonna have to help him figure

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<v Speaker 3>that out. So in this administration, we got to figure

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<v Speaker 3>out where are the connection points. You know, who are

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<v Speaker 3>the people in the administration we might be able to

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<v Speaker 3>have access to who may understand that can then translate

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<v Speaker 3>the message.

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<v Speaker 4>It's about strategy and nonviolence helps you with that.

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<v Speaker 2>Do you have faith in the Trump administration helping out

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<v Speaker 2>the black community.

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<v Speaker 3>I have faith in God, and I believe in the

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<v Speaker 3>power of a collective conscience that is committed to freedom,

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<v Speaker 3>justice and quality. And I believe it is possible. That's

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<v Speaker 3>why is you know, mission possible. Protecting freedom, justice and equality.

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<v Speaker 3>Excuse freedom, justice and democracy through the spirit of non

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<v Speaker 3>violence three sixty five, which is Kingya. Non violence is

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<v Speaker 3>taught and demonstrated by my father.

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<v Speaker 4>That's what I have faith in, Doctor King.

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<v Speaker 2>Just twenty five seconds left here. What do you hope

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<v Speaker 2>every American kind of thinks about when it comes to

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<v Speaker 2>our country here?

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<v Speaker 3>I want them to remember that as a humanity, we

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<v Speaker 3>have been to these places before. Maybe not literally us,

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<v Speaker 3>but human beings have been in difficult, challenging times. We

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<v Speaker 3>come from those individuals, and we too have the capacity

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<v Speaker 3>to rise to the occasion and meet the challenges and

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<v Speaker 3>move our nation and worw forth.

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<v Speaker 2>Thank you so much for finding time for us. Our

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<v Speaker 2>thoughts with you, certainly as we prepare for the holiday

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<v Speaker 2>and to mark his memory and his legacy on Monday.

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<v Speaker 2>That is Reverend Doctor Bernice King, chief executive Officer of

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<v Speaker 2>the King Center, joining us from Atlanta. This is Bloomberg,

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<v Speaker 2>you know,