1 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:08,960 Speaker 1: I Am America Alexander, and I'm Whitney Dow. Welcome to 2 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:12,480 Speaker 1: Reparations The Big Payback, a production of Color Farm Media, 3 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:16,759 Speaker 1: I Heart Radio, and The Black Effect Podcast Network. Whitney. 4 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:19,080 Speaker 1: When we started this journey, we spoke of our own 5 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:22,600 Speaker 1: origin stories and how remarkable it was that our very 6 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 1: different lives led us to arrive at the same place. 7 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 1: So I feel that we can't go any further until 8 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 1: we lay out the history of reparations. It's a big 9 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:34,280 Speaker 1: world and we can't mention everything, but we can focus 10 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 1: on a few historic examples to give people an understanding 11 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: of how long this battle has been going on. It's 12 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:43,600 Speaker 1: a really long and complicated story, and it has lots 13 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:46,520 Speaker 1: of heroes and villains, but it's also a story that's 14 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 1: populated with people that we don't know, the people that 15 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 1: were fighting for reparations and obscurity. But right now, I 16 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 1: want to talk about a few people who I think 17 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 1: are really important to the movement. I'm thinking of Calli House, 18 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 1: who was born into slave ree and then mounted a 19 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: major push for pensions for the formerly enslaved in the 20 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: eighteen hundreds. Then there's Queen Mother Moore, who is a 21 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 1: major figure in the reparations movement in the middle of 22 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 1: the twentieth century. And Robin Ruth Simmons and Alderman from Evanston, Illinois. 23 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:16,680 Speaker 1: He's making history today with the first tax fund reparations 24 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:20,679 Speaker 1: program in US history. Oh it's awesome. I'm excited. But 25 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:25,039 Speaker 1: the phrase history lesson is a snoozer. So let's make 26 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 1: this fun for ourselves. And here's where my film and 27 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 1: television background, You're welcome may be useful. Okay, how about this? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 28 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 1: Maybe we can do like an Uncle Remus sketch in 29 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 1: Song of the South, you know, only this time you 30 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 1: play Uncle Remus talking to the Blackbird explaining the history 31 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 1: of the reparations movement. Oh yeah, how's your Southern accent? 32 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 1: You want me to play the Uncle Remus of reparations? 33 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 1: Have you heard of cancel culture? Okay, all right, I 34 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: mean look, I mean, hey, I was you don't have 35 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 1: to play Uncle Remus. I was trying not to typecast. 36 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:10,520 Speaker 1: You probably can't even hummaton, but look I got it. 37 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:12,800 Speaker 1: Oh this is it. Have you ever seen Jurassic Park? 38 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:21,800 Speaker 1: The first one I have? But now I'm really confused 39 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 1: Erica about where this thing is going. Listen. Okay, this 40 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 1: is awesome. Let's use this technique that they used to 41 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: teach the visiting scientists Jeff gold Bloom, Sam Neil and 42 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 1: Laura Dern how the Jurassic Park science team rebread those 43 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:40,680 Speaker 1: big old dinosaurs from the DNA samples locked in amber fossils. 44 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:49,480 Speaker 1: So you play the part of Richard Attenborough and he's 45 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 1: very charming, so you have to you know, you'll make do. 46 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:55,080 Speaker 1: But okay, um and um, we'll get ah, I know, 47 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 1: creased summer to play the part of the know it 48 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 1: all reparations mosquito, creased summer. Okay, in that case, I'm in. 49 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 1: But God help me. Hello Whitney, or should I say 50 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 1: Professor Dow Hello reparations Mosquito, and please call me Whitney. 51 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 1: So today we're going to be learning about the history 52 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:30,640 Speaker 1: of reparations. Indeed, I'm difficult, yet worthy conversation told within 53 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:36,000 Speaker 1: the rich, painful tapestry of America's failure to acknowledge the 54 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 1: sin of slavery and the debt owed to its formerly 55 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 1: enslaved people and their descendants. Here. Wait, that was exhausting. 56 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 1: I quit. Oh no, you don't. Reparations Mosquito, no backing 57 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 1: out now. Talking about race in America can be exhausting, 58 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: But trying to get reparations, that's like shake up a 59 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 1: snow globe in Boston expecting it to bring in Cleveland. Sadly, 60 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:04,840 Speaker 1: I'm sure they had made perfect sense to you, Whitney. 61 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 1: Let's get started. Everyone's a critic, I know, Okay, I'm 62 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:14,120 Speaker 1: all yours. This is the cliff Notes version, right. Well, 63 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 1: we can't talk about reparations without identifying the need for 64 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:23,159 Speaker 1: it in the first place, and that all comes down 65 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:28,280 Speaker 1: to the sin of slavery. A complicated discussion that takes 66 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:32,919 Speaker 1: more time than I got, so yes, please google that, 67 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 1: but suffice it to say, the profits and progress made 68 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:40,719 Speaker 1: from the unpaid labor of slaves transformed America's economy and 69 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 1: made America the most powerful country in the world in 70 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:51,720 Speaker 1: record time. Thank gad he didn't last. Soon came emancipation 71 00:04:52,240 --> 00:05:12,360 Speaker 1: and a bloody Civil War. Long story short, they lost, 72 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:24,600 Speaker 1: we won, and a period of reconstruction began. Entered General 73 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:33,119 Speaker 1: William to come to Sherman. Sherman meets with a group 74 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 1: of freedmen who asked Sherman to create a way they 75 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 1: could benefit from their own labor. Their request land In response, 76 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 1: General Sherman issues Special Field Order Number fifteen, four hundred 77 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 1: thousand acres would be given to the freedman for settlement 78 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:55,080 Speaker 1: or to break it down for their acres and of you. 79 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 1: Hence the famous phrase was born. But that didn't last long. 80 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:05,000 Speaker 1: President Link was assassinated and the new President, Andrew Johnson 81 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:11,240 Speaker 1: vetoed the bill mean while the Southern Homestead Act of 82 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 1: eighteen sixty six was created. It gave black people six 83 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:18,160 Speaker 1: months to buy land at low rates, but no one 84 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 1: could afford the land, so the program failed. There were 85 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:31,279 Speaker 1: some bright spots. Callie House started the National ex Slave 86 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 1: Mutual Relief, Bounty and Tension Association, but the group was 87 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:38,680 Speaker 1: investigated by the Department of Justice and Cally was introduced 88 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:45,839 Speaker 1: to the newest legal form of slavery, jail. Marcus Garvey 89 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 1: believed all black people should return to their rightful homeland, Africa, 90 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:54,360 Speaker 1: so he started the United Negro Improvement Association, but the 91 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:59,039 Speaker 1: FEDS infiltrated at and he wound up in jail. Two 92 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 1: m yep. That whole lacking of black people for fighting 93 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:11,680 Speaker 1: for injustice never fill out of vogue. See also segregation, lynching, 94 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 1: Jim Crow, but Whitney a lot has happened in between, 95 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:24,679 Speaker 1: so let's fast forward to the nineteen sixties. I never 96 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 1: leave a man behind you. Good cool, Let's continue. Jim Foreman, 97 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: you know him. He made big headlines when he interrupted 98 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 1: the service at Riverside Church to demand five hundred millions 99 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 1: in reparations from predominantly white religious institutions for their role 100 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 1: in perpetuating slavery. Queen Mother Moore kept the pressure on 101 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 1: and petition the government for compensation for slavery, but reparations. 102 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:07,240 Speaker 1: After this say we need and deserve federal restitution. In 103 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 1: ninety nine, Congressman John Conyers introduced a bill just to 104 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 1: study proposals for reparations for Black Americans, and he had 105 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:18,920 Speaker 1: to reintroduce the bill each congressional term until he left 106 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 1: office in two thousand seventeen. The Bill family made a 107 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:28,520 Speaker 1: decision two years later, thanks the Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. Unfortunately, 108 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 1: it is still waiting for approval from the House Judiciary Committee. 109 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:38,840 Speaker 1: So let me begin. America is a place and welcomes 110 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:42,440 Speaker 1: the diversity of thought. We even welcome the diversity of 111 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:48,080 Speaker 1: thought among the multicolored chocolate people that are African Americans. 112 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:57,320 Speaker 1: Good luck, sister Sheila, who jee whiz Whitney. Reparations ain't easy. There, 113 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 1: I told you, wait a minute, I'm a guy. Reparations 114 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 1: has seen a huge wave of renewed interest over the years. 115 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:15,760 Speaker 1: America Civil and racial unrest, mixed with a global pandemic 116 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:19,440 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty made crystal clear the disparity, suffering, and 117 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:23,679 Speaker 1: terrorism that continue to plague all communities of color, poor people, 118 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:29,599 Speaker 1: and especially black people. And though George Floyd's murder was 119 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 1: a rallying call for action, the ugly, mostly white mob 120 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:36,439 Speaker 1: of insurrection Is swarmed America's capital in January six, twenty one. 121 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:43,640 Speaker 1: Oh sometime it seemed like we live in constant sorrow, 122 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:51,439 Speaker 1: in a world without end. A man, Oh, I forgot 123 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:54,080 Speaker 1: to tell you something, Okay, I think I know what's 124 00:09:54,080 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 1: coming here. In two thousand and ninet, four hundred years 125 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: after the first enslaved Africans arrived, something wonderful, something extraordinary 126 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 1: happened in Evanston. Against all odds, with a mostly white council, 127 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 1: Alderman Robin Ruth Simmons successfully passes America's first Referations's Bill, 128 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 1: which assesses a three percent tax on leal cannabis sales 129 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:29,760 Speaker 1: to create a fund to make cash payments to qualified 130 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:34,760 Speaker 1: black Evanstonians. That's amazing, right, I'll say. And I know 131 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:40,680 Speaker 1: this revelation may have many black folks asking where in 132 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 1: the hell is Evanston. It's in Illinois, just in case 133 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 1: you're plotting a move. Well that's all, folks, bravo. This 134 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:00,320 Speaker 1: is absolutely the best history lesson I've ever got from 135 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:05,320 Speaker 1: a Mosquito. Thank you, You're welcome. Unfortunately, this is the 136 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:08,680 Speaker 1: worst gig I ever had. Ain't got no sempor trailer 137 00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:11,640 Speaker 1: my makeup or that's no massus. This dude that used 138 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:13,679 Speaker 1: to bring me what I need when I needed it, 139 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 1: quarantine blocking all my connects. But now you know more 140 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 1: than you did about the wonderful world of reporations. So 141 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:31,560 Speaker 1: long Whitney hugs the Erica. Yess my girl, she's such 142 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:38,520 Speaker 1: a cute pack. So long Creed, I mean, so long 143 00:11:38,559 --> 00:11:42,760 Speaker 1: reparations Mosquito. Wow, Erica. That didn't sting at all. Oh 144 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:47,760 Speaker 1: that was freaking terrific. Oh, thank you, thank you Chris 145 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:51,000 Speaker 1: Summer for lending her master voice to this piece. She's amazing. 146 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:53,520 Speaker 1: Um A little jealous you two got to play, but 147 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 1: I think it's something cool to do later. To even 148 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 1: the score. Bill Whitney, you did a good job too. 149 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:00,320 Speaker 1: I appreciate the props Erica. You know, so my first 150 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:05,960 Speaker 1: conversation with Mosquito, but hopefully my last. But now you know, 151 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 1: I love the story of Kelly House, and I love 152 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:13,240 Speaker 1: that we got a chance to talk to historian Mary 153 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 1: Francis Barry, who wrote the book on this. Amazing woman, 154 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:21,560 Speaker 1: Mary Francis Barry. She's fantastic, she's smart, beautiful, in great shape. 155 00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:24,839 Speaker 1: She's eighty two. Okay, I want to be here. Cally 156 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 1: House was a black woman who had been a slave. 157 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 1: You know, her mother had been a slave, her father 158 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:34,560 Speaker 1: had fought in the Union Army as a runaway slave. 159 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:39,320 Speaker 1: And she was at church and she heard about some 160 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 1: white guy who had asked the federal government for pensions 161 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:46,920 Speaker 1: for slaves on the brow ex slaves, he called them 162 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:49,600 Speaker 1: on the grounds that the money would go into the 163 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:52,960 Speaker 1: pockets of the white people on the plantations where they 164 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:56,000 Speaker 1: were all still working, and that this was an indirect 165 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:59,439 Speaker 1: way to help white Southerners after the Civil War, and 166 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:02,560 Speaker 1: we can struction. But when she heard about it, she said, well, 167 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 1: I don't understand why we can't do this for ourselves. 168 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:08,199 Speaker 1: Why can't we start some and ask the federal government 169 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:12,199 Speaker 1: to give us some pensions that we use for ourselves, 170 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:15,040 Speaker 1: After all, we were the ones who were slaves. And 171 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:20,240 Speaker 1: so she went around organizing herself in churches, and she 172 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 1: would get people to if they couldn't write, somebody would 173 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 1: write down their name and put what plantation they were 174 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:28,559 Speaker 1: on and so on, and they would put an x 175 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:32,200 Speaker 1: bot and sent them off to Congress. And eventually it 176 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 1: grew and grew and grew, and she started traveling all 177 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 1: of the plays, collecting petitions, listening to people's stories and 178 00:13:38,679 --> 00:13:42,559 Speaker 1: all that, and the federal government got concerned. They decided 179 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:45,959 Speaker 1: because letters were coming from white people saying, the Negroes 180 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,439 Speaker 1: are meeting in churches and they come out saying and 181 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:51,920 Speaker 1: talking about someday we're gonna get something, and we know 182 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:54,760 Speaker 1: that I don't get anything, and we're scared of them. 183 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:57,200 Speaker 1: So you need to do something about that woman who's 184 00:13:57,200 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 1: going around there stirn them up. And so they decided 185 00:13:59,920 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 1: to go after her. They said the fetes did that. 186 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:07,800 Speaker 1: She had about three hundred thousand dudes paying members the 187 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 1: dues of cents a year, and she was laughed at 188 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:18,239 Speaker 1: by middle class negroes because she was not very well educated. 189 00:14:18,559 --> 00:14:20,880 Speaker 1: She had only been like, you know, the sixth grade, 190 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:25,440 Speaker 1: and the government decided that they would get after her 191 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 1: for using the mails to defraud. Some of you may 192 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 1: remember that that's what they did to market Garment later, 193 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 1: and they said that she was using the mails to 194 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:37,400 Speaker 1: defraud because she was telling black people that she was 195 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 1: going to negros, that she was going to try to 196 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:41,840 Speaker 1: get the federal government give them some money. And she 197 00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 1: should know the federal government is never gonna give negroes 198 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 1: any money. That's the way they put it. So it 199 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:51,000 Speaker 1: was fraud to be organizing people. And they ended up 200 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:55,680 Speaker 1: prosecuting her, but all white jury in Tennessee, and they 201 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 1: put in prison for her trouble. After that, there were 202 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 1: branches who had There were black folks all the south. 203 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:04,720 Speaker 1: One was in New York City. They were all out 204 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:08,320 Speaker 1: in the black towns. And then there were people like 205 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:10,880 Speaker 1: Queen Mother Bore who was in the New Orleans chapter, 206 00:15:11,320 --> 00:15:14,680 Speaker 1: all of whom became Garbagates. And so you can trace 207 00:15:14,960 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 1: the present day reparations movement within Cobra and the other 208 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 1: organizations all the way back to Callis House and her 209 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:28,080 Speaker 1: ex lay pension movement. A remarkable woman. And I think 210 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 1: the people who say had their names on there at 211 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 1: a time when they were attacked, when they were under 212 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:38,240 Speaker 1: attack and could be abused and everything else, their descendants 213 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:42,680 Speaker 1: ought to get something Malcolm X talks about. If you 214 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:44,800 Speaker 1: stick a knife in my back nine inches, pull it 215 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:46,840 Speaker 1: out six inches, that's not progress. If you pull it 216 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 1: all the way out, that's not progress. The progress comes 217 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 1: from the healing the moon that the blow made. You're 218 00:15:52,680 --> 00:15:55,640 Speaker 1: talking about the loss so many hundreds of years of 219 00:15:55,760 --> 00:15:59,640 Speaker 1: human potential. How would reparations impact of progress on issues? 220 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 1: If we quality the reparations are the most direct way 221 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 1: to target money to ease the disparities and let black 222 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:14,280 Speaker 1: people decide how to spend the money. But first the 223 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 1: country has to acknowledge the disparities, and if people refuse 224 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:21,960 Speaker 1: to then that means that they're ignot acknowledging that slavery 225 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 1: was an institution that did not benefit slaves. Once you 226 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 1: accept what happened, then in fact, demanding reparations is easy. 227 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:38,240 Speaker 1: We should go after local city councils, local mayors, local 228 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 1: government and organize the way Kelly House did, and better 229 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 1: because we have better communication now to organize and demand 230 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:56,520 Speaker 1: that local communities pass measures to do this. The Cally 231 00:16:56,560 --> 00:17:00,200 Speaker 1: Howd story is really interesting because it's both inspiring and 232 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:03,560 Speaker 1: completely depressing at the same time. You know, it's inspiring 233 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 1: what this woman managed to accomplish at the height of 234 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:09,920 Speaker 1: the white terror and post reconstruction America, but it's really 235 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:13,920 Speaker 1: depressing because she did this, build a incredible organization and 236 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:16,800 Speaker 1: trying to get reparations for the formerly enslaved, and the 237 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:19,880 Speaker 1: response of the government was to thrower in jail. Now, 238 00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:22,119 Speaker 1: I keep getting the feeling that white Americans feel that 239 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:25,199 Speaker 1: if they just open this reparations doors just a crack, 240 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:28,040 Speaker 1: they're not gonna be able to contain what comes flooding through. 241 00:17:29,359 --> 00:17:31,879 Speaker 1: So they keep barring the door, and the pressure just 242 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:35,439 Speaker 1: keeps building and building. Yeah, it's funny that to me, 243 00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 1: it's not a door, it's it already exists. They either 244 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 1: keep going and not talking about it, or they, you know, 245 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:43,600 Speaker 1: look at it and they face it, because it's kind 246 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:46,800 Speaker 1: of like an energy that's already out there. But whether 247 00:17:46,880 --> 00:17:49,240 Speaker 1: they realize it or not. You've been telling me about 248 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:52,040 Speaker 1: CALLI House for a while, and I am a new fan. Look, 249 00:17:52,080 --> 00:17:54,919 Speaker 1: I'm a believer. Dr Barry, Thank you, thank you you 250 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:57,639 Speaker 1: are river to your people. Thanks for educating us about 251 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:01,159 Speaker 1: who in what really matters, you know. But Whitney, I 252 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:03,880 Speaker 1: just realized that the pioneers were talking about today are 253 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:07,600 Speaker 1: all black women, and they all, all of them paid 254 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:09,960 Speaker 1: an emotional price for their work in the struggle. It's 255 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:12,120 Speaker 1: kind of like the same thing today right Erica. There's 256 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:14,639 Speaker 1: lots of strong black women leaders and they're taking a 257 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:18,680 Speaker 1: lot of shots right now. Look at Stacy and Georgia. Yeah, Stacy, 258 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:22,960 Speaker 1: Ayana ill han Omar, You've got Natasha Brown. I mean yeah, 259 00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:24,680 Speaker 1: I could go on and on and on. There's amazing 260 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 1: black women that have always been there doing their thing, 261 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:30,200 Speaker 1: and it's time for them to get their flowers. Speaking 262 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:32,320 Speaker 1: of which, I'm a bit competitive and I want to 263 00:18:32,359 --> 00:18:35,199 Speaker 1: do something cool like your Jurassic Park history mash up. 264 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:38,320 Speaker 1: So I'm gonna use my black wizard skills. You didn't 265 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:40,359 Speaker 1: know I had them to do something I know you 266 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 1: cannot do. I am an actor with access and so 267 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:47,760 Speaker 1: you're you. But look I'm going to um, yeah, I'm 268 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:49,640 Speaker 1: gonna do something cool. So what are we gonna get? 269 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:53,600 Speaker 1: A song? Like a morality play? Maybe some a cappella. Nope, 270 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:56,560 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go back in time. I'm going to talk 271 00:18:56,600 --> 00:19:00,840 Speaker 1: to a queen, a pioneer of reparations whose life story 272 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:02,880 Speaker 1: led her to become a force of nature in the struggle. 273 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:06,240 Speaker 1: I'm gonna talk to Queen Mother Moore. How are you 274 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:07,840 Speaker 1: going to do that? I use a little bit of 275 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:10,280 Speaker 1: magic to do it, and I believe if I listen, well, 276 00:19:10,359 --> 00:19:13,080 Speaker 1: I'll come back forever changed. So here, let's do this. 277 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:23,000 Speaker 1: Let's adjust the volume a little bit, Mr Pop Okay, 278 00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:25,080 Speaker 1: I just know I needed to get on the right 279 00:19:25,119 --> 00:19:30,880 Speaker 1: frequency and always works in the movies. Oh gosh, you're here. 280 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:34,919 Speaker 1: It worked. Oh you don't know how I but I 281 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:38,480 Speaker 1: got to go through to kid here own. Okay, chill Erica, 282 00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 1: you know she ain't got time for that. Welcome Queen Mother. 283 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 1: I'm glad that you're here. Thank you so much, and 284 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 1: thank you for blessing us with your story. Yes, no, 285 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:50,440 Speaker 1: thank you, ma'am. You know where I come from, this 286 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:54,480 Speaker 1: homeless of people to call themselves queen Charlemagne, the god Queen, Queen, Queen. 287 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:56,960 Speaker 1: He calls me queen. But you know what, how did 288 00:19:57,000 --> 00:20:01,840 Speaker 1: you become the queen? Mother? Mea was restored upon me 289 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:06,720 Speaker 1: by the African students. First of all, as a result 290 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:11,359 Speaker 1: of my years of activities in this country. African students, well, 291 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:14,960 Speaker 1: they gave it to me. And when I went to 292 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:19,639 Speaker 1: Africa to dr and crew mass funeral, they chief heard 293 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:22,919 Speaker 1: about me and he sent for me to come to 294 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:26,919 Speaker 1: him and I went and he said, I'm going to 295 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:31,480 Speaker 1: make you a fishery queen mother, queen mother of the Ashanti, 296 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:36,119 Speaker 1: and he initiated me the queen mother. But I was 297 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:43,040 Speaker 1: queen mother before I went to Africa. We know you 298 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:46,960 Speaker 1: did amazing things in Harlem, but you're actually from the 299 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:51,919 Speaker 1: South right. But yes, I was born in New Iberia, Louisiana, 300 00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 1: seven ninety. I grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana. My 301 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:03,480 Speaker 1: parents came from New all into Louisiana. My grandparents came 302 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:08,720 Speaker 1: from New Iberia, Louisiana. My father worked for herself. My 303 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:13,080 Speaker 1: mother was a housewife. I had two brothers and five sisters. 304 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:17,119 Speaker 1: I was the sixth one in the family, Queen of 305 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:20,120 Speaker 1: the more Where would you say that your story starts? 306 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:24,359 Speaker 1: What was life like growing up for you? My mother 307 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:29,960 Speaker 1: died when I was five years old, and after Papa died, 308 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 1: my brother sold the house that papa had left. And 309 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:38,440 Speaker 1: mind your papa had told him that told me that 310 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 1: brother Henry would take care of us. Well. He took 311 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:43,560 Speaker 1: care of us all right. The moment he came from 312 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:46,280 Speaker 1: the funeral, he said we had to move, and I 313 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:49,679 Speaker 1: had my little sisters. So I took a few of 314 00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:54,240 Speaker 1: Papa's moves to the auction and sold them and readed 315 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 1: an apartment. I left New Orleans during the war. I 316 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:05,160 Speaker 1: left and went to Muscle Shoals m Muscial Souls well 317 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:09,480 Speaker 1: Wreatha did a lot of recording there. Yes, really difficult 318 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:11,800 Speaker 1: to listen to you tell your story, but you made 319 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:14,240 Speaker 1: it through. Yes, So how did you get started with 320 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:17,480 Speaker 1: your work? We talked a lot about origin stories. What 321 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:22,200 Speaker 1: was the origin of your work? Within that cause? My 322 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:28,040 Speaker 1: face encounter with the real struggle was with the Red Cross, 323 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:32,879 Speaker 1: who discriminated against the black recruits. They gave the white 324 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:37,320 Speaker 1: recruits coffee and doughnuts while they were mobilizing them, and 325 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:40,240 Speaker 1: they didn't give anything to the black recruits. And I 326 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:44,439 Speaker 1: mobilized the people around to make what we used to 327 00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:48,439 Speaker 1: call hook cakes and coffee and gave it to the 328 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:53,040 Speaker 1: blacks who were congregated waiting to be shipped off. And 329 00:22:53,200 --> 00:22:57,440 Speaker 1: my sister and I we found a place where the 330 00:22:57,560 --> 00:23:00,119 Speaker 1: soldiers could come and we got an old phonic have 331 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:04,399 Speaker 1: and a lot of scratch records. Well, it was a 332 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:07,840 Speaker 1: place where the men could come in and play cards 333 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:12,760 Speaker 1: or checkers or something. So we consider ourselves having to 334 00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:17,720 Speaker 1: face USO among black Oh wow, so you've been organizing 335 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:20,520 Speaker 1: around the black community for a while, But how did 336 00:23:20,560 --> 00:23:23,280 Speaker 1: you get to the liberation movement like your work with 337 00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:27,679 Speaker 1: the great Marcus Garvey. Well, I was face brought in 338 00:23:27,840 --> 00:23:31,439 Speaker 1: turned Marcus Carvey movement by the fact that he I 339 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:34,080 Speaker 1: understood that he was to come and speak to us 340 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:38,600 Speaker 1: in Louisiana. And we went to the meeting and low 341 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:42,919 Speaker 1: and behold, he didn't come, and we had the mayor 342 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:45,840 Speaker 1: refused to allow him to come. So we were very 343 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:51,640 Speaker 1: incensed about it and got a delegation to go see why. 344 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 1: Then it was guaranteed that Marcus Carvey would come. The 345 00:23:55,720 --> 00:24:00,960 Speaker 1: next night, the hall was packed with people. Everybody went 346 00:24:01,119 --> 00:24:06,879 Speaker 1: with ammunition, had guns. Everybody had guns, Black people with guns. 347 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:14,240 Speaker 1: Blue Steve Smith and Western's German lugers. Really and uh, 348 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:18,520 Speaker 1: I had two guns with me. Y'all showed up and 349 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:23,320 Speaker 1: showed out, that's what's up. Amazing and ammunition, a bag 350 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:28,159 Speaker 1: of ammunition. Everybody had what you call a suitcase today 351 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:31,000 Speaker 1: because we was afraid the police would stop him from 352 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:35,800 Speaker 1: coming again and we wanted to protect him. Wow, in 353 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:39,679 Speaker 1: the night that he did come, what happened, thirty people 354 00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:45,000 Speaker 1: was in that hall. So when God came, reapplauded very much, 355 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:48,560 Speaker 1: and he said, my friends, I wanted to apologize for 356 00:24:48,720 --> 00:24:52,320 Speaker 1: not speaking to you last night. But the reason I 357 00:24:52,359 --> 00:24:55,919 Speaker 1: didn't speak to you because the mayor permitted himself to 358 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:59,119 Speaker 1: be used as a stooge by the police department to 359 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:02,400 Speaker 1: prevent me for speaking to you. And when he said that, 360 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:04,680 Speaker 1: the police jumped up and said, I'll run you in. 361 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:08,840 Speaker 1: And when the police did that, everybody jumped up on 362 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:12,560 Speaker 1: the benches we had benches then and took out their 363 00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:15,560 Speaker 1: guns straight up. The guns were straight up in the air. 364 00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:21,159 Speaker 1: Speak Gorvy set and Gorvy said, And as I was saying, 365 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:25,359 Speaker 1: and he went and repeated itself, and the police filed 366 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:28,960 Speaker 1: out of their like little puppy dolls. Every police been 367 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:31,480 Speaker 1: filed out of the hall. And I can't forget that 368 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:35,600 Speaker 1: speak Garvey speak. Oh I wish I was there. And 369 00:25:35,640 --> 00:25:40,440 Speaker 1: that was your first experience with Marcus Garvey. Amazing. Oh yes, 370 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:43,879 Speaker 1: I'm still a life member the Garvey movements, like to 371 00:25:43,960 --> 00:25:50,080 Speaker 1: join the Garvey movement after that, How did this impact 372 00:25:50,119 --> 00:25:53,840 Speaker 1: your path as an activist? Well, after must have shown. 373 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:56,200 Speaker 1: I went back to New Orleans and stayed there a 374 00:25:56,240 --> 00:26:01,159 Speaker 1: while until Marcus Garvey came on the sea in so 375 00:26:01,280 --> 00:26:05,200 Speaker 1: then we came to HALLM. Well, anyhow, HALLM was waste 376 00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:08,560 Speaker 1: than anything we had seen. They had for white only 377 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:12,679 Speaker 1: signs and only apartment houses in Hallm for white only, 378 00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:16,639 Speaker 1: big signs outside, and we had to go upstairs in 379 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:20,320 Speaker 1: the lowest theater like we did in the South. Same thing, 380 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:23,480 Speaker 1: the white people sitting the bottom downstairs and we had 381 00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:28,040 Speaker 1: to go upstairs, and that kind of thing. So nobody 382 00:26:28,080 --> 00:26:31,520 Speaker 1: could work in HALLM. No black place. And while you 383 00:26:31,560 --> 00:26:34,520 Speaker 1: were in Harlem, you began working with Garvey's Universal Negro 384 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:38,880 Speaker 1: Improvements Association and uh the African Communities League. Oh yes, 385 00:26:39,080 --> 00:26:42,639 Speaker 1: I had gone to his meetings and had was his 386 00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:46,520 Speaker 1: guest divino on the Black store line. He bought some 387 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:51,760 Speaker 1: ships and they were very unsuccessful because they were sabotaged. 388 00:26:51,960 --> 00:26:54,800 Speaker 1: You know. What was his plan for the ships to 389 00:26:54,920 --> 00:26:59,560 Speaker 1: do export import from Africa, trade and so on. So 390 00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:03,560 Speaker 1: I was very impressed with that. So was Marcus Garvey 391 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:08,680 Speaker 1: who helped push you to look towards Africa with your work. Yes, well, 392 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:11,960 Speaker 1: it was to teach our people self esteem for one thing, 393 00:27:13,080 --> 00:27:20,119 Speaker 1: and our history and pride in our nation. And the 394 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:25,520 Speaker 1: other thing was self sufficiency going into business and so on, 395 00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:29,600 Speaker 1: and to think in terms of the development of Africa, 396 00:27:29,760 --> 00:27:35,199 Speaker 1: to help free Africa from colonialism, that kind of thing. Okay, 397 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:38,879 Speaker 1: So is that how you got into your reparations petition. Yes, 398 00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:44,080 Speaker 1: the petition called for us to go back to Africa. 399 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:47,920 Speaker 1: So those who wanted to go back, and for those 400 00:27:47,960 --> 00:27:51,000 Speaker 1: who wanted to stay here, they had to be certain 401 00:27:51,080 --> 00:27:56,080 Speaker 1: indemnity given for the people who wanted to stay the 402 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:59,840 Speaker 1: people who wanted to go. I was asking for two 403 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:04,720 Speaker 1: hundred billion dollars for the injury that we have received 404 00:28:05,359 --> 00:28:09,880 Speaker 1: as a result of our enslaveman. Okay, two under billionaire. 405 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:12,400 Speaker 1: That was a lot of money. Then in now, would 406 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:16,280 Speaker 1: you say the petition was successful? I got very good response, 407 00:28:16,520 --> 00:28:20,520 Speaker 1: and he told me that we needed a member nation 408 00:28:20,760 --> 00:28:25,800 Speaker 1: to introduce the resolution since we were not officially remembers 409 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:30,840 Speaker 1: of the You and I'm sorry, Queen mother more, I'm 410 00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:34,199 Speaker 1: having trouble here. I think we're losing our connection free 411 00:28:34,280 --> 00:28:37,840 Speaker 1: Mother More. Hello, you were talking about the members that 412 00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:42,560 Speaker 1: you needed someone to introduce the resolution. Oh, just one 413 00:28:42,640 --> 00:28:46,480 Speaker 1: that was getting good? I think, Oh I lost her. 414 00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:52,400 Speaker 1: M hm, that was amazing. Wow, what was it like 415 00:28:52,520 --> 00:28:54,520 Speaker 1: to talk to a legend? No, you know, I ain't 416 00:28:54,720 --> 00:28:57,000 Speaker 1: got the words. I mean, Queen Mother More. She's a 417 00:28:57,080 --> 00:29:00,320 Speaker 1: queen and you saw. I mean she suffered for her 418 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:03,720 Speaker 1: struggle work, as she put it, but she was unstoppable. 419 00:29:03,760 --> 00:29:07,120 Speaker 1: She never quit and we have to celebrate her life. 420 00:29:07,120 --> 00:29:09,719 Speaker 1: And when I think about all the soft handed complainers 421 00:29:09,720 --> 00:29:12,640 Speaker 1: that we got, now me included, you know, battling racism 422 00:29:12,720 --> 00:29:17,680 Speaker 1: one well written witty post at the time. But look, 423 00:29:17,680 --> 00:29:19,640 Speaker 1: I just want to say this. I love black people. 424 00:29:19,720 --> 00:29:23,080 Speaker 1: I love you. We are unique on this planet. Why 425 00:29:23,080 --> 00:29:26,200 Speaker 1: did the universe choose of US African Americans to tell 426 00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:30,320 Speaker 1: this epic story? I mean to bear this poisonous thorny crown. 427 00:29:30,960 --> 00:29:34,560 Speaker 1: I'm inspired by Queen Mother Moore and I salute her, 428 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:37,480 Speaker 1: and I will work harder and I think twice. I 429 00:29:37,520 --> 00:29:40,600 Speaker 1: will think twice before complaining about the lack of gluten 430 00:29:40,640 --> 00:29:44,240 Speaker 1: free treats at the craft service table. I'm changed, So Erica, 431 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:47,080 Speaker 1: this history is amazing. You know, we've been talking about 432 00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:50,960 Speaker 1: Cally House now Queen Mother Moore. But it also pulls 433 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:53,040 Speaker 1: up these other things for me as well, that there's 434 00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:54,880 Speaker 1: another side of the story, and that's the white side 435 00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:57,440 Speaker 1: of the story. The pressers in the story that we're 436 00:29:57,440 --> 00:29:59,880 Speaker 1: hearing the people that opposed Cally House, people and lock 437 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:03,320 Speaker 1: are up the people that opposed Queen Mother Moore. It's 438 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:06,680 Speaker 1: complicated when you think about your legacy and how you're 439 00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:09,200 Speaker 1: connected to these things. You know, I want to celebrate 440 00:30:09,320 --> 00:30:12,480 Speaker 1: people like Calli and Queen Mother more, but at the 441 00:30:12,520 --> 00:30:14,400 Speaker 1: same time, I have to figure out how do I 442 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:18,920 Speaker 1: take ownership of the other side of the story. When 443 00:30:18,920 --> 00:30:21,640 Speaker 1: you think about history, there's history being made right now 444 00:30:21,840 --> 00:30:26,040 Speaker 1: in Ebste Illinois. Alderman Robin Ruth Simmons from the Fifth 445 00:30:26,040 --> 00:30:30,440 Speaker 1: Ward has just passed the first tax funded reparations bill 446 00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:33,920 Speaker 1: in US history. I live in a city that has 447 00:30:34,080 --> 00:30:39,320 Speaker 1: acknowledged our collective wrongdoing and we have acknowledged that we 448 00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:42,560 Speaker 1: want to do something radically different in passing it. So 449 00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:48,040 Speaker 1: that makes me hopeful. And the beauty of this reparation 450 00:30:48,160 --> 00:30:52,040 Speaker 1: goal is it's in line with my highest priorities in 451 00:30:52,160 --> 00:30:56,160 Speaker 1: my role as Alderman, I've known as reparation Robin and 452 00:30:56,360 --> 00:31:01,480 Speaker 1: rolls of parks. Now, so that's different. I feel incredibly 453 00:31:01,760 --> 00:31:07,360 Speaker 1: proud to lead in a community that allowed such radical 454 00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:13,120 Speaker 1: policy and uncomfortable conversation. People have been extremely nasty to me, 455 00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:17,479 Speaker 1: and I really, you know, feel bad for them that 456 00:31:17,640 --> 00:31:21,080 Speaker 1: whatever is happening in their life that is so miserable, 457 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:23,960 Speaker 1: that they are in so much pain that they want 458 00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:26,640 Speaker 1: to share it and pass it all around. So I 459 00:31:26,680 --> 00:31:31,320 Speaker 1: feel sad for them, and I forgive them and hope 460 00:31:31,360 --> 00:31:34,280 Speaker 1: that they find some peace. So when that happens, even 461 00:31:34,720 --> 00:31:37,680 Speaker 1: you know, it's my faith that allows me to work 462 00:31:37,760 --> 00:31:42,040 Speaker 1: past the pain that I received and take that pain 463 00:31:42,280 --> 00:31:44,920 Speaker 1: and figure out how to turn it into some purpose. 464 00:31:45,840 --> 00:31:49,480 Speaker 1: I would love for more people to take ownership of 465 00:31:49,600 --> 00:31:51,400 Speaker 1: it and do the work. It's important. It's going to 466 00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:56,280 Speaker 1: have to happen. We have officially started our public subcommittee meetings. 467 00:31:56,400 --> 00:32:00,960 Speaker 1: You've established the timeline, and we have prioritized the initialmity 468 00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:04,440 Speaker 1: and we're gonna start with housing, you know, keeping our 469 00:32:04,600 --> 00:32:08,800 Speaker 1: black community. We have a declining population as serving a 470 00:32:08,920 --> 00:32:13,680 Speaker 1: very diverse community. Right of the population is black and 471 00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:16,040 Speaker 1: the rest of the community is not black, and they 472 00:32:16,120 --> 00:32:18,960 Speaker 1: don't understand as much. So at the same time as 473 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:23,680 Speaker 1: I'm working on the policy, building relationships, finding resources, I 474 00:32:23,760 --> 00:32:27,120 Speaker 1: still have a huge piece of education. In the process 475 00:32:27,160 --> 00:32:31,640 Speaker 1: of this. I have been supporting the City of Chicago 476 00:32:31,720 --> 00:32:34,640 Speaker 1: and the State of Illinois on their initiatives, just being 477 00:32:34,680 --> 00:32:38,480 Speaker 1: an advocate, showing up to speak, sharing what was possible 478 00:32:38,520 --> 00:32:42,720 Speaker 1: in Evanston, and hopefully giving some inspiration to the leaders 479 00:32:42,760 --> 00:32:45,680 Speaker 1: at the state level and the city level. I'm also 480 00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:50,080 Speaker 1: in full support of HR forty and supporting anyone that 481 00:32:50,400 --> 00:32:53,520 Speaker 1: is looking to get that passed. The amount of support 482 00:32:53,560 --> 00:32:57,760 Speaker 1: that I have received from leaders and experts has really 483 00:32:58,240 --> 00:33:01,520 Speaker 1: given me confidence to tenue the second leg of the work. 484 00:33:02,080 --> 00:33:04,600 Speaker 1: We are likely to be the you know, not only 485 00:33:04,640 --> 00:33:08,600 Speaker 1: the first city, but also in the first state in bordering, 486 00:33:08,640 --> 00:33:14,160 Speaker 1: the first major city to have a local reparative policy, 487 00:33:14,280 --> 00:33:19,040 Speaker 1: a local reparation They're going to be more actions that require, 488 00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:21,880 Speaker 1: you know, a majority vote. But right now, in terms 489 00:33:21,920 --> 00:33:26,680 Speaker 1: of the direction, the thought, leadership, the intentions, I have 490 00:33:26,800 --> 00:33:31,280 Speaker 1: said it, and I will continue nurturing it, and I 491 00:33:31,320 --> 00:33:34,520 Speaker 1: will see it through. You Know, every time I hear 492 00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:36,800 Speaker 1: Robin I start, I think about something that's always kind 493 00:33:36,800 --> 00:33:38,880 Speaker 1: of in the back of my mind as a white person, 494 00:33:39,560 --> 00:33:43,360 Speaker 1: is that I look at this community, Evanston, Illinois, and 495 00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:47,480 Speaker 1: who's committed to give reparations to their black residents. But 496 00:33:47,600 --> 00:33:51,920 Speaker 1: the effort was really driven by this black woman who 497 00:33:51,920 --> 00:33:53,960 Speaker 1: put this whole program together and drove it to the 498 00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:57,760 Speaker 1: mostly white city council. And so I always wonder, if 499 00:33:57,840 --> 00:34:01,040 Speaker 1: we owe this, why aren't we take king the lead 500 00:34:01,080 --> 00:34:05,320 Speaker 1: on it more? But I think what's really interesting about Evanston, 501 00:34:05,680 --> 00:34:08,560 Speaker 1: and something that you and Iraq I've talked a lot about, 502 00:34:08,640 --> 00:34:12,480 Speaker 1: is that what does a world that has had reparations 503 00:34:12,480 --> 00:34:16,840 Speaker 1: pay it look like? And in Evsn, Illinois, in a 504 00:34:16,880 --> 00:34:26,239 Speaker 1: few months, we're going to start to see three black 505 00:34:26,239 --> 00:34:32,040 Speaker 1: women we never met locked together in their destinies. It's 506 00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:35,400 Speaker 1: one long epic put on like the Odyssey or the Mahabarata, 507 00:34:35,480 --> 00:34:37,200 Speaker 1: which I was in and did world tour the public 508 00:34:37,239 --> 00:34:41,080 Speaker 1: theater long ago. But I digress. Anyway, Whitney, let's think 509 00:34:41,080 --> 00:34:44,200 Speaker 1: about that world. But we need to give our history 510 00:34:44,280 --> 00:34:48,040 Speaker 1: lesson the rock and heroes finale it deserves because of 511 00:34:48,120 --> 00:34:53,239 Speaker 1: their work and others. One day we may finally get reparations, 512 00:34:54,200 --> 00:35:02,319 Speaker 1: and what would that be like? The narrative would get 513 00:35:02,360 --> 00:35:09,920 Speaker 1: flipped in a world where reparations exist in America for 514 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:15,279 Speaker 1: the descendants of African slaves. The human potential lost in 515 00:35:15,360 --> 00:35:19,920 Speaker 1: the white capped, stormy seas, mixed with the blood and 516 00:35:20,120 --> 00:35:25,719 Speaker 1: pain of centuries, is slowly regained and reanimated in the 517 00:35:25,880 --> 00:35:30,600 Speaker 1: multi colored chocolate children who reclaim their destinies and God 518 00:35:30,719 --> 00:35:38,319 Speaker 1: given potential, and ironically, American democracy is saved and finally realized, 519 00:35:38,920 --> 00:35:42,720 Speaker 1: not by a caped, crusading billionaire bat or a greasy 520 00:35:42,800 --> 00:35:45,360 Speaker 1: haired alien with a red s s on his chest, 521 00:35:46,080 --> 00:35:51,160 Speaker 1: but by real life heroes of all colors, previously locked 522 00:35:51,160 --> 00:35:55,240 Speaker 1: into the villain roll, newly free to be the gods 523 00:35:55,239 --> 00:36:00,839 Speaker 1: and earths they were always meant to be. During Alexander 524 00:36:01,160 --> 00:36:05,759 Speaker 1: and Whitney dow as they battle for the soul of 525 00:36:05,800 --> 00:36:13,600 Speaker 1: America in the new action adventure Buckbuster Reparations, The Big 526 00:36:13,800 --> 00:36:24,279 Speaker 1: Payback next time on Reparations, the big payback, to paraphrase W. B. 527 00:36:24,360 --> 00:36:27,839 Speaker 1: Du Boise on the subject of the history of slavery, 528 00:36:27,880 --> 00:36:32,040 Speaker 1: of the exploitation and violence against African Americans in US history, 529 00:36:32,280 --> 00:36:36,839 Speaker 1: American people have been, as he put it, spoiled by sweets. Right, 530 00:36:36,920 --> 00:36:41,520 Speaker 1: so we have too often got a nice nationalist dessert 531 00:36:41,840 --> 00:36:45,319 Speaker 1: with a big old helping of American exceptionalism on top 532 00:36:45,880 --> 00:36:50,000 Speaker 1: and to a large extent, it's not true, and we're 533 00:36:50,040 --> 00:36:52,400 Speaker 1: not going to be able to face the future effectively, 534 00:36:52,440 --> 00:36:56,080 Speaker 1: I think, if we continue to insist that the history 535 00:36:56,120 --> 00:37:00,800 Speaker 1: of slavery and the history of land from Indigenous people 536 00:37:01,440 --> 00:37:05,600 Speaker 1: are not the central realities of the first quarter millennium 537 00:37:05,880 --> 00:37:12,560 Speaker 1: of our history. This podcast is produced by Eric Alexander, 538 00:37:12,760 --> 00:37:16,319 Speaker 1: Ben ar Noon and Whitney Dow. The executive producers are 539 00:37:16,400 --> 00:37:20,080 Speaker 1: Charlemagne the God and Dolly S. Bishop. The Supervising producer 540 00:37:20,120 --> 00:37:23,800 Speaker 1: is Nicole Childers, and the lead producer is Devin Mavock Robbins. 541 00:37:24,239 --> 00:37:27,440 Speaker 1: The producer writer is Sires Castle, and the Associate producer 542 00:37:27,560 --> 00:37:30,640 Speaker 1: is Kevin fan With additional research and writing support provided 543 00:37:30,680 --> 00:37:34,080 Speaker 1: by Nile Blast. Original music by d J D t 544 00:37:34,320 --> 00:37:38,040 Speaker 1: P The Queen Mothermore audio was courtesy of the Tammament 545 00:37:38,200 --> 00:37:48,200 Speaker 1: Library at New York University Reparations The Big Payback as 546 00:37:48,239 --> 00:37:51,120 Speaker 1: a production of Color Farm Media, I Heart Radio and 547 00:37:51,160 --> 00:37:55,320 Speaker 1: The Black Effect Podcast Network in association with Best Case Studios. 548 00:37:55,840 --> 00:37:58,440 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from I Heart Radio, visit the I 549 00:37:58,560 --> 00:38:01,880 Speaker 1: heart Radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you listen to 550 00:38:01,920 --> 00:38:02,760 Speaker 1: your favorite shows.