1 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:07,480 Speaker 1: Coming up on the A Building the lock in. 2 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:11,520 Speaker 2: The idea just came from two people, myself and another 3 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:13,240 Speaker 2: brother named Spurgeon Smith. 4 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:16,599 Speaker 1: Certainly think there's a resk in protesting day, specifically because 5 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:18,800 Speaker 1: the world is burning. The risk hasn't been this high 6 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:19,439 Speaker 1: a long time. 7 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 3: Just came out. I'm doctor Hugh h Cloff. 8 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:24,800 Speaker 2: I demanded re release, and I said, I deid man 9 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:25,959 Speaker 2: as you get back in there. 10 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 3: And so juice. He physically picked him up, turned around. 11 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 2: And pushed him back in the common room the. 12 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:51,760 Speaker 4: A Building, Episode eight, The Duty of Youth. So Hans, 13 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 4: here we are. It's the final episode. We've spoken to 14 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:57,959 Speaker 4: a long list of incredible guests, including people who were 15 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 4: in the room with Sam Jackson and other students during 16 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 4: the nineteen sixty nine lock in of the More House 17 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 4: Boarder trustees. We dug up archival documents and footage to 18 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:13,040 Speaker 4: substantiate the facts, and we captured the move in Atlanta 19 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:17,320 Speaker 4: in nineteen sixty nine. As we figure out the how 20 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,560 Speaker 4: and the why this remarkable story. 21 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 5: Perhaps more importantly, we've used this unique protest as a 22 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:27,319 Speaker 5: lens to examine the struggles of students and activists in 23 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 5: America today and to consider what may lie ahead. 24 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 4: We've been working on this project for ten months now, researching, 25 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 4: trying to get to the bottom of things, and the 26 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:40,440 Speaker 4: more we learned in our research at the AA building 27 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 4: lock in, the more we wanted details and who was 28 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 4: warning things in the room, who was there, and what 29 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:46,960 Speaker 4: exactly was said. 30 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 5: In the end, we finally got that detail, but it 31 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 5: wasn't from the person we thought it would come from. 32 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 5: Abdullah Klamante was not the originator of this idea. In fact, 33 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 5: this whole thing started from a Morehouse of lump who 34 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 5: told us things we had never heard before about the 35 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 5: lock in. Here's our interview with a man behind the Morehouse, 36 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 5: lock In Morehouse alum and civil rights activist, Thomas Brock. 37 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 4: So what would you say were some of the things 38 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:17,000 Speaker 4: that led to the lock in? 39 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 2: So the mood on Campbell's was sort of liketed in 40 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:23,680 Speaker 2: nineteen sixty eight when doctor King was assassinated. Me and 41 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,960 Speaker 2: a bunch of other students went to Memphis to march 42 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:29,959 Speaker 2: after he was assassinated. So the mood that the Campbell's 43 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:33,440 Speaker 2: moved was kind of rebellious. Trust Steve boy was having 44 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 2: a meeting that week and we wanted to know make 45 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 2: our president know and we would call the concerned students 46 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 2: and we had a lot of demand that we wanted 47 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 2: to be met. So we went into the meeting with 48 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:48,359 Speaker 2: that purpose, but they didn't want to listen to us. 49 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:51,799 Speaker 2: So the lock in was really something that was spontaneously. 50 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 2: It wasn't something that was planned. And we were going 51 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 2: to lock trustees up, me and another brother from Birmingham 52 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 2: because we were outside with a lot of stud were trying 53 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 2: to demonstrate and we were outside of the conference room 54 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:06,800 Speaker 2: and we decided, well, we're gonna let them stay in 55 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 2: there till they come to a positive decision about our demands. 56 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:15,840 Speaker 2: So on campus they had these keep off the grass 57 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 2: signs and they had these chains they ran through a 58 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:22,120 Speaker 2: pipe that ran around the grass, so you wouldn't you 59 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:25,360 Speaker 2: wouldn't step on the grass. So we went outside and 60 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 2: pulled the chains out, sent our brother down on HUNTERD 61 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:31,639 Speaker 2: Street to our locks if it got some locks, and 62 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 2: it ballooned after that. 63 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 4: Okay, so just to clarify, the board kicks you out 64 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 4: of the meeting. So after they removed you from the meeting, 65 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 4: how long did it take or how much time passed 66 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 4: before you had them locked in? 67 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 2: About thirty five minutes an hour, because we we thought 68 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 2: about how we were gonna keep them inside of the 69 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 2: conference room, and the best way to do that was 70 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 2: to lock the doors out side of the conference room 71 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 2: that led up to the conference room. So we chained 72 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 2: the doors and told them they were staying at the 73 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 2: trustee board. They had to stay in there until they 74 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 2: made a positive deceasion. 75 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 4: So who set up the Concerned Students or how did 76 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 4: that particular organization starts? 77 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:21,839 Speaker 2: Well, they started at a meeting one night that we 78 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 2: had it in Sale Hall. Brother named Furgion Smith from Birmingham, Alabama. 79 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 2: Or brother named Lafield Banks. He is from Birmingham, Alabama. Also, 80 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 2: you product had James Ardy, did that? Brother named Frank 81 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:38,479 Speaker 2: McBee from Greenville, South Carolina. 82 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 4: So was Sam Jackson one of the concerned students? 83 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:47,480 Speaker 2: No, not really, but he became one through you can 84 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:51,480 Speaker 2: say migration. I mean he was at he was up 85 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:52,680 Speaker 2: there with us, you know. 86 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:57,840 Speaker 5: So so you you had a group of students demonstrating 87 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 5: outside of the a building and then a group the 88 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 5: concern students kind of went in to talk about their 89 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:12,600 Speaker 5: concerns and then from there, when the Board of trustees 90 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:15,600 Speaker 5: sort of rejected your concerns. That's when you guys decided 91 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:16,920 Speaker 5: to spontaneously lock them in. 92 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 3: Yes, that's great. 93 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:21,839 Speaker 2: The idea just came from the lock in just came 94 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 2: from two people, myself and another brother named Spurgeon Smith 95 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:29,040 Speaker 2: from Birmingham, Alabama. 96 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:31,839 Speaker 3: We got to change. We locked them up. 97 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 2: I got two guys, there were two interests to the 98 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 2: conference room. I put one guy on one door and 99 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:41,920 Speaker 2: one guy on another door and said, nobody leaves. 100 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 6: Nobody, welcome back to the A building. 101 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 1: Here's more. 102 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 5: House alum and civil rights activist Thomas Brock. How did 103 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:02,559 Speaker 5: you get word to others students who started to join 104 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 5: the lock in or join whatever was happening. 105 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 2: Well, it was, it was. It was a lot of 106 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 2: people that were up there on the second floor that 107 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 2: was sitting around wondering what was going on. So I 108 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 2: told them what we were going to do, gonna lock 109 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:22,280 Speaker 2: them in, so you're gonna be either een out. A 110 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 2: lot of them left because a lot of them were 111 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,040 Speaker 2: scared of it, you know, scared of what's gonna happen 112 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 2: to them. So when we changed the doors, the students 113 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 2: that were gonna stay stayed and the rest of them 114 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:34,600 Speaker 2: went outside. 115 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 5: So that's essentially, how how the word got out that 116 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:42,479 Speaker 5: something was happening inside the building because correct, correct, you 117 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:44,799 Speaker 5: kind of gave him a warning and then those students 118 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 5: went outside and said, this is what's happening. 119 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 2: Right, and it's a funny thing. Though, when they told 120 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 2: the other student body what was happening, a large body 121 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:58,160 Speaker 2: of students got around in front of the administration building 122 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 2: and wanted us to come out. I guess cause they 123 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 2: didn't understand what was going on made it They were 124 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:06,279 Speaker 2: misinformed on what was happening. So that was one of 125 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 2: the reasons that they were demonstrating against some of the 126 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 2: suits were demonstrating against us. 127 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 4: There are a couple of names that have come up 128 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 4: in our research. Do you or did you know personally 129 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 4: Abdul a Colamant and his involvement in the lock in. 130 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:26,760 Speaker 4: I believe his name may have been George McCord at 131 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 4: the time he was a professor at Spelman. 132 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:32,720 Speaker 2: His involvement may have been the negotiator and a brother 133 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 2: named Aby Spellman. 134 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 4: Aby Spellman because we've heard that name and it was 135 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 4: ab Spellman also in the negotiator type of role. Or 136 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 4: yes you were and did you know Sam Jackson personally? 137 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 3: Knowing personally to this day. 138 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 4: What kind of guy was he back in the day. 139 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 2: Well, Sam was so like get on the band, whacking 140 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 2: type dude. You know, he didn't really get involved during 141 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 2: that Black Power era. Sam was any building, but he 142 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 2: wasn't really an organizer. 143 00:07:58,280 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 3: He was just going along for the riots. 144 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:03,040 Speaker 5: What was the thing that made you say, we have 145 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 5: to get these demands to the board. 146 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:09,200 Speaker 2: The board usually just come just once a year. They 147 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 2: walked around the campus and look at this and look 148 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 2: at that. But this was the year sixty nine, and 149 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 2: we thought that maybe we could get in there and 150 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 2: let them hear our demands and then I'll see how 151 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:24,000 Speaker 2: they were taking We really wasn't invited to the meeting. 152 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 2: We saw like bars in or can you say, we 153 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 2: know that where the meeting was held, and we just 154 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 2: sort of. 155 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 3: Went to the meeting. 156 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 5: What were the demands that they initially rejected. 157 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:35,880 Speaker 3: Well, he read they rejected all of them. 158 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 4: Do you remember anything that doctor May said during the meeting. 159 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:41,439 Speaker 4: What was his reaction? 160 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 2: Well, doctor Mays was sort of in between. He was 161 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:49,560 Speaker 2: kind of like spellbound. But he was not the president 162 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 2: at the time. He was a president of marriage. The 163 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 2: president at the time was doctor uh globster, And he 164 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:58,440 Speaker 2: tried to leave the conference room, but one of the 165 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:01,080 Speaker 2: guys that was on the door picked him up, turned 166 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:02,560 Speaker 2: him around, and put him. 167 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 3: Back in the cottage. 168 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 1: And how did he take that? 169 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 3: He didn't take it too well because he came out, 170 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 3: I'm doctor Hugh h. 171 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:14,960 Speaker 1: Coloff. 172 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:18,079 Speaker 2: I demanded to be released, and I said, I said, man, 173 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 2: as you get back in there, and so. 174 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 3: You she was on the football team, he from Chicago. 175 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:26,559 Speaker 2: He physically picked him up, turned her around, and pushed 176 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:27,199 Speaker 2: him back in. 177 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:27,800 Speaker 3: The common room. 178 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 4: Do you recall anything that Daddy King said when you 179 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 4: guys came into the room, they. 180 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 3: Might let it. 181 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:35,440 Speaker 2: Have to let Daddy King out of that because of 182 00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 2: his uh, some physical problems that he had. And we 183 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:42,559 Speaker 2: we let another lady out, the older lady that was 184 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 2: on the trust seat board. We let her out too, 185 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 2: because she was having any some physical problem. And I 186 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:50,360 Speaker 2: didn't want something to happen to them during that time 187 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 2: that we were there. Yeah, but the FBI and all 188 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:56,120 Speaker 2: those people were outside, but they were scared to come 189 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:58,000 Speaker 2: in because they didn't know if we had any kind 190 00:09:58,000 --> 00:09:58,600 Speaker 2: of weapons. 191 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 5: Oh, I see, I didn't realize that there were other 192 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:03,679 Speaker 5: authorities outside the building waiting to. 193 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 3: Get in the police and the FBI. 194 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:08,080 Speaker 5: Wow, do you know who called them? 195 00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:08,439 Speaker 1: No? 196 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 3: I don't. 197 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:11,440 Speaker 5: And the reason they never came in the building was 198 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:12,560 Speaker 5: because they were afraid. 199 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 2: They were afraid that we were gonna harm the trustees 200 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:16,839 Speaker 2: or that we had weapons. 201 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 3: And I did. 202 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:20,599 Speaker 2: One of the students from New York who was to 203 00:10:20,679 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 2: sing you with me, he did bring. 204 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:23,560 Speaker 3: Me a whapon. 205 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 5: Do you mind telling us what the weapon was? 206 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 1: If you're okay with that? 207 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 3: A thirty eight caliber pistol. 208 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:31,360 Speaker 5: Did you show that pistol to anybody in the boardroom 209 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:31,679 Speaker 5: at all? 210 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 4: No? 211 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:32,679 Speaker 3: I did, so. 212 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:34,760 Speaker 5: It was just kind of a little something on the 213 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:37,320 Speaker 5: side that he gave you just in case it went 214 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:38,120 Speaker 5: the wrong direction. 215 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:39,200 Speaker 3: That's correct. 216 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:40,440 Speaker 5: That's a fascinating thing. 217 00:10:40,480 --> 00:10:46,559 Speaker 2: That's But the next day they made our demands. 218 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 3: Well, judge judge told. 219 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 2: Azacer remember his name, said the demands were invalid because 220 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 2: they were under duish. He used the word duriss. So 221 00:10:56,920 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 2: after that letters were sent to our parents. They found 222 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:02,720 Speaker 2: out somebody had told them who was in the building, 223 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:05,560 Speaker 2: and they had a trial for us as a school 224 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:07,800 Speaker 2: was out and we all came back to school for 225 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 2: what they called I would call a mock trial before 226 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:12,960 Speaker 2: the Student Advisor. 227 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 3: Committee and what happened at your trial? 228 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 2: Well, it really did go well for the trial because 229 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 2: a lot of the people rejected it and they called 230 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:22,720 Speaker 2: us in there alphabetically one by one. 231 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:25,400 Speaker 3: But uh, the meeting was kind. 232 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 2: Of disrupted because Donald Ross's brother arthor t bo Or 233 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 2: Ross came in and raised hell and all kind of health. 234 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 2: So the meeting really didn't Your trial didn't go the 235 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 2: way they didn't wanted to go, so they let us 236 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 2: all go. 237 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:42,120 Speaker 5: Did you have any repercussions yourself? Did you? Did you 238 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 5: get expelled? 239 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:43,440 Speaker 3: Yes? 240 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:45,640 Speaker 5: I was expelled for a year, so that would have 241 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:46,560 Speaker 5: been your senior year. 242 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:46,679 Speaker 7: No. 243 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 5: Yes, so when you got expelled you had to come 244 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:51,520 Speaker 5: back to finish yes? And were you able to come 245 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:54,079 Speaker 5: back to finish yes. You know, if you had a grandson, 246 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:57,199 Speaker 5: what would be your advice if they, you know, if 247 00:11:57,200 --> 00:11:59,000 Speaker 5: they felt like jumping into activism. 248 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:01,240 Speaker 2: The young people are the one could be the activists. 249 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:04,480 Speaker 2: Activism is upont of what young people ought to do. 250 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 5: That seems to be all our questions, sir, Thank you 251 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:08,839 Speaker 5: so much. 252 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 4: Welcome back to the A building. As a way to 253 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:20,200 Speaker 4: round out our story, wanted to look at protests as 254 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:23,200 Speaker 4: a means for change today and in the future. 255 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:27,679 Speaker 5: We spoke with a friend and colleague, the CNN host, writer, documentarian, 256 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:31,439 Speaker 5: and comedian w Comal Bell. So, come out. I really 257 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:33,599 Speaker 5: appreciate you doing this podcast. 258 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:36,160 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, there's a handful of people in 259 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:39,960 Speaker 1: this business who have had my back and also have 260 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:43,319 Speaker 1: made my work to look great and be great. You're 261 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:45,719 Speaker 1: one of those people. So I try to make sure 262 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 1: I do right by those people. So thank you, Hans. 263 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 1: I appreciate that so much. 264 00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 5: Do you think there's a risk, like, is there a 265 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 5: risk to protesting today? And do you think we're like 266 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 5: sort of witnessing the demise of protests in the United 267 00:12:57,640 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 5: States as a viable tool. 268 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:01,439 Speaker 1: I think, first of all, I certainly think there's a 269 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:04,440 Speaker 1: risk to protesting day, specifically because the world is burning. 270 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:07,080 Speaker 1: Like I think there's a the risk is probably not 271 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 1: never been higher, but hasn't been this high in a 272 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:12,880 Speaker 1: long time, because they will literally just take you if 273 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:14,960 Speaker 1: you did nothing, and you'll look up and be an 274 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 1: l Salvador, or they will just detain you downtown and 275 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:20,480 Speaker 1: then a sudden you have to become a news story. 276 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:23,440 Speaker 1: And like there's some veteran who just got wasn't people 277 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 1: are getting scooped and part even protesting right now. We 278 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:28,480 Speaker 1: have a whole bunch of people here who shut down 279 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:31,120 Speaker 1: the Bay Bridge during a protest not that long ago, 280 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 1: and they're being prosecuted to the fullest extent of the 281 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:37,160 Speaker 1: law and oh thousands of dollars and like fees and 282 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 1: it's legal fees, and they're like not legal fees, but 283 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:41,840 Speaker 1: they're being sued for all this money. And it's like, 284 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 1: these are just people who are like just young people 285 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 1: who went out to protest. So I think that that 286 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 1: in some sense, it's like I said, it's in fact, 287 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:53,200 Speaker 1: they've never been higher. Let's not be hyperbolic. There's also 288 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 1: different type of protests we can go to war wards, 289 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:57,080 Speaker 1: Like there's a protest to day in the park, let's 290 00:13:57,120 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 1: all go bring your signs, blah blah blah. But then 291 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 1: there's a kind of protest that that people do where 292 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:04,320 Speaker 1: it's like, let's shut the bridge down. And I think 293 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:07,079 Speaker 1: those kind of protests are more dangerous down than have 294 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 1: been in years. 295 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:10,640 Speaker 5: What do you think is a sort of prescription when 296 00:14:10,679 --> 00:14:13,560 Speaker 5: you look at you know, young people are increasingly just 297 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:18,440 Speaker 5: satisfied with just the entire political system, What do you 298 00:14:18,520 --> 00:14:21,640 Speaker 5: think is effective for them? Like, based on your observations 299 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 5: of doing your show and your stand up and seeing 300 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 5: so many different parts of the country and your knowledge 301 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 5: of history, what do you think is prescriptive for them 302 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 5: that's effective. 303 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 1: I mean, the thing that I tell you all the 304 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 1: time is that we all need to be engaged in 305 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:39,000 Speaker 1: pushing back against against fascism that exists in this country. 306 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 1: Now it's not like it's not creepy, it is crept 307 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:46,080 Speaker 1: And if you can't do anything, start locally, like figure 308 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:50,320 Speaker 1: out some cause in your community. And so for some 309 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 1: people that's maybe shutting down the bridge, but for most 310 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:54,680 Speaker 1: of that it's like I'm gonna go volunt you at 311 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:56,880 Speaker 1: the Indian's Rights Organization and stuff envelopes for an hour. 312 00:14:57,160 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 1: But you gotta do something because if you do nothing, 313 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:02,040 Speaker 1: you're going to get exactly what you deserve. So I 314 00:15:02,040 --> 00:15:05,480 Speaker 1: would say young people are I think more involved now 315 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:07,520 Speaker 1: than they probably have been before because they're more connected 316 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 1: through social media. But I think the prescription is so 317 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 1: like just it. Everybody doesn't have to be running at 318 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 1: the gates, running at the gates with a maltiv cocktail. 319 00:15:17,120 --> 00:15:20,520 Speaker 1: Some people have to be like Hey, my neighbor who's 320 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 1: afraid to go outside? Can I make you a cast role? 321 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:24,480 Speaker 1: And so I think we have to understand that there's 322 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 1: multiple ways to do this. And also whatever you do 323 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:30,000 Speaker 1: this year, you need to do a little more next year. 324 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 1: There's no different than like working out. You got to 325 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:34,920 Speaker 1: keep raising your standard or of what is of what 326 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 1: you can do to stand up to this because because 327 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:41,360 Speaker 1: because they're not they're like the New England Patriots, they're 328 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:44,640 Speaker 1: not taking any days off, no grind. 329 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:47,720 Speaker 5: Based on sort of kind of what you just said, 330 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 5: looking back at the sixty nine takeover the building, like 331 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:54,480 Speaker 5: what's your conclusion about how it ended for them? Like 332 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 5: what's your how would you describe that? 333 00:15:56,560 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 1: I mean, it's it's hard to like it. It's hard 334 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 1: for us now to look back that time and go, 335 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 1: here's what I would have done. I mean, it's I 336 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:04,640 Speaker 1: think it's foolish because I think there's a way in 337 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:06,800 Speaker 1: which we might be approaching to that again where some 338 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 1: people just start to explode and go I gotta do something. 339 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:12,760 Speaker 1: So I think the idea that you put yourself on 340 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 1: the line to shake up the status quo, especially in 341 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 1: place like Morehouse where it's like we can all just 342 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 1: be fine here? You know, I think that's a big deal. 343 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:25,040 Speaker 1: I think sometimes we want to know for those people, 344 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:26,600 Speaker 1: but what was your plan after that? And a lot 345 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:28,760 Speaker 1: of times they're like, we didn't get that far. Next 346 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:31,440 Speaker 1: to our list was destroy the system, you know. So 347 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:34,800 Speaker 1: I think sometimes we can look back on history and 348 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:36,680 Speaker 1: be like, why I would have done it differently? And 349 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:38,360 Speaker 1: I think the important thing is like, then do it 350 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 1: differently now. Like I think I really understand and really 351 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:44,800 Speaker 1: respect when young people are like, I've had enough, but 352 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 1: I haven't actually built out the nineteen point plan yet. 353 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:50,000 Speaker 1: It's a Kaepernick thing. I don't. I don't. People are 354 00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:52,360 Speaker 1: as like, well what do you like? You know, people 355 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:54,160 Speaker 1: like this happens all the time. You go to the 356 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:59,200 Speaker 1: no Kings protest, Well, what does it do? Doesn't do anything? Yeah? Yeah, 357 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:02,480 Speaker 1: But for some people that's their million protests and they're 358 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:04,119 Speaker 1: not and it's not gonna do anything. But for some 359 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:06,439 Speaker 1: people say first protests and they go, oh, I'm going 360 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:09,439 Speaker 1: to engage in acivism now, so stop expecting everything to 361 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 1: solve every problem. I think a lot of times we gaslight, 362 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:16,400 Speaker 1: we gaslight things like that to go would it accomplish? Well? Yeah, 363 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:18,240 Speaker 1: but if you feel like it accomplished nothing, then you 364 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 1: can stay home. All we can do is be inspired 365 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:24,080 Speaker 1: by the things by these actions that have been done 366 00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 1: in the past like that, and also learn from whatever 367 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:29,560 Speaker 1: mistakes we see and then do it differently now instead 368 00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:33,160 Speaker 1: of criticizing them back then, like instead of like, you know, well, 369 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:39,760 Speaker 1: if I've been Harry Tubman, okay, first of all, I 370 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:42,399 Speaker 1: would have had a car. Okay, I'd have had a 371 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 1: big truck I could Okay, you. 372 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:48,879 Speaker 4: Know, do you think we have an appropriate context of 373 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:51,160 Speaker 4: the legacy of Doctor King like night now in twenty 374 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 4: twenty five. 375 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:53,919 Speaker 1: It's funny because I I'm doing a thing in my 376 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:57,040 Speaker 1: standing back right now where I where I real list 377 00:17:57,080 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 1: of things early in the show that I'm like, look, 378 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:00,280 Speaker 1: I don't have jokes for everything, but I just want 379 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:02,679 Speaker 1: to make sure you take some lessons with you and 380 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:05,719 Speaker 1: and take some homework assignments with you, and you know, 381 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:07,320 Speaker 1: so I don't have it so and it's like about 382 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:09,120 Speaker 1: two or three minutes long, and I just read these 383 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:12,840 Speaker 1: things I wrote down, and some of them are definitely 384 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 1: meant to be funny, some of them are serious and 385 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:15,960 Speaker 1: also have to be funny. Some of them are just 386 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:18,240 Speaker 1: serious but one of the things I say because I 387 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:19,720 Speaker 1: you know, I was on CNN for a year, so 388 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 1: I have a lot of white people in my crown, 389 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:24,080 Speaker 1: and so I say this, I go next, Martin Luther 390 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 1: King Junior day only share the Martin Luther King Junior 391 00:18:27,359 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 1: quotes about American imperialism and the failure of the white moderate. 392 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:35,880 Speaker 4: Oh try that, yeah, like. 393 00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:38,720 Speaker 1: Do And it gets like some of the people you know, yeah, 394 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:40,800 Speaker 1: because I go, we all know that I have a 395 00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:42,919 Speaker 1: dream speech. It was his hit single, we got It, 396 00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:45,399 Speaker 1: We got It. We don't need to hear that right now. 397 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:48,280 Speaker 1: And it also challenges the white people to go, what's 398 00:18:48,320 --> 00:18:50,440 Speaker 1: the what is the white moderate because most of a 399 00:18:50,440 --> 00:18:52,119 Speaker 1: lot of them don't know it. The failure of the 400 00:18:52,119 --> 00:18:54,399 Speaker 1: white moderate being like, that's the biggest problem for the 401 00:18:54,400 --> 00:18:57,240 Speaker 1: black community is white moderate. Its ability. White moderate's basically 402 00:18:57,240 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 1: the ability to compromise on their on on operation because 403 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:03,240 Speaker 1: they're comfortable and so. And also the thing is like, 404 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:05,880 Speaker 1: right before he died, King was talking about American imperialism 405 00:19:05,920 --> 00:19:08,639 Speaker 1: because of the Vietnam War. So I'm sort of like, 406 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:10,720 Speaker 1: so I think that's why I feel like my job 407 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:13,120 Speaker 1: to go stop looking at that one thing and look 408 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:15,280 Speaker 1: at the rest of this man's work, because he was 409 00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:18,119 Speaker 1: definitely whenever who knows. At some point him and Malcolm 410 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:19,720 Speaker 1: Xican to meet each other and be like, yeah, you 411 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:23,719 Speaker 1: were right, you too, you know what my bad? Yeah 412 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:26,160 Speaker 1: exactly got a little bit like a like a rap 413 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:28,040 Speaker 1: battle thing. Yeah, we were going at each other. 414 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:32,680 Speaker 4: But you know, and I think that that is at 415 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:36,040 Speaker 4: the core of it, where it's just like he was 416 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:42,360 Speaker 4: truly a radical, a radical that was murdered in cold Yeah. 417 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:46,760 Speaker 1: People act like he died of old age, Like it's 418 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:48,520 Speaker 1: so funny to me, Like you realize he was thirty 419 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:51,679 Speaker 1: nine right now, we don't even really consider that an adult. 420 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 7: His ideas were so dangerous to society they felt that 421 00:19:56,600 --> 00:20:00,200 Speaker 7: he should be murdered for it. And and I know 422 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:02,679 Speaker 7: west Coin is phrase like they you call it the 423 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:06,680 Speaker 7: the Santa Clausification of doctor Yeah, right, that just kind 424 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:09,679 Speaker 7: of if we can kind of sterilize the message it somehow, 425 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:13,199 Speaker 7: and in so many ways, ironically, it is designed to 426 00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:18,000 Speaker 7: appease the white moderates, where it's like, look, I like 427 00:20:18,119 --> 00:20:19,920 Speaker 7: Doctor King, you know, I like some of the things 428 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:21,800 Speaker 7: he said in the speeches, and you know, I go 429 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:25,080 Speaker 7: to a sofu place on MLK weekend, and I'm doing 430 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:26,239 Speaker 7: everything I'm supposed to do. 431 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:29,680 Speaker 1: They don't. They ordered door, door dash, they don't. 432 00:20:30,040 --> 00:20:32,440 Speaker 4: That's the wrong part of town, right, they don't go there. 433 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:34,280 Speaker 1: But I think the other thing is that, yeah, that 434 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 1: we I mean, you know, for me, if you sort 435 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:40,000 Speaker 1: of only have a march on Washington MLK in your head, 436 00:20:40,600 --> 00:20:43,360 Speaker 1: just watch that speech he gives the night before he's assassinated, 437 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:46,640 Speaker 1: where he's like, tomorrow, I'm gonna be assassinated everybody. Look 438 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:50,680 Speaker 1: you basically not the same guy. Yeah, it's over for me, everybody. 439 00:20:50,880 --> 00:20:54,000 Speaker 1: I'm I'm gonna be killed tomorrow. But anyway, you all, 440 00:20:54,040 --> 00:20:55,399 Speaker 1: here's whatever, here's what I want you to do. 441 00:20:55,880 --> 00:21:00,040 Speaker 8: It is no longer to charge between violum saying no 442 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:04,440 Speaker 8: unbalance in this world is nonvioleance on non existence. 443 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:06,040 Speaker 1: That is where we are today. 444 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:18,600 Speaker 8: Also in the human rights revolution, is something getting done 445 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:22,680 Speaker 8: and done in a hurry to bring the colored peoples 446 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:25,800 Speaker 8: of the world out of their long years of poverty, 447 00:21:26,359 --> 00:21:28,840 Speaker 8: their long years of curd and neglect. 448 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 1: The whole world is doomed. All those evidence shows that 449 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:42,280 Speaker 1: he was not popular when he died. When he was assassinated, 450 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:44,119 Speaker 1: he was not a popular American figure. 451 00:21:44,280 --> 00:21:49,680 Speaker 4: But again, the the I guess this unwillingness to revisit 452 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:52,000 Speaker 4: or I mean, I guess so much of America right 453 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:56,159 Speaker 4: now is ahistorical, and people say things that are just 454 00:21:56,359 --> 00:22:01,280 Speaker 4: categorically untrue that could be debunked with a tenth grade 455 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:02,600 Speaker 4: level of education. 456 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:04,800 Speaker 1: You know what I mean, can be debunked in a 457 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:07,960 Speaker 1: TikTok Just watch this fifteen second TikTok video, so you 458 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 1: can stop signing and dumb. 459 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:15,080 Speaker 4: But the compounding of that and and so much of 460 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:18,520 Speaker 4: the chaos of the Trump administration where this kind of 461 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:21,720 Speaker 4: like we're just going to keep saying shit, keep doing shit, 462 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:25,240 Speaker 4: keep this mantling shit, make it impossible to have real 463 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:28,960 Speaker 4: discourse with so much of the democracy is founded on. 464 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:30,320 Speaker 4: So if you can kind of. 465 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:36,040 Speaker 7: Flood the streets with nonsense, it kind of it desensitizes 466 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:39,240 Speaker 7: people to what, okay, is there actually anything we can 467 00:22:39,280 --> 00:22:40,600 Speaker 7: do to stop this? 468 00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:44,080 Speaker 1: And also if you dismantled the social safety that you 469 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:48,840 Speaker 1: can actually just let the streets flood with water because 470 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:50,919 Speaker 1: there's nobody there to stop the floods and there's no 471 00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:53,359 Speaker 1: warning system to let people know that the bloods are coming. 472 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:56,399 Speaker 5: Just this fascinating the time period that we're in and 473 00:22:57,200 --> 00:22:58,720 Speaker 5: how we should think about it. And I feel like 474 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:01,640 Speaker 5: you're such an interesting figure to discuss this with because 475 00:23:01,640 --> 00:23:04,600 Speaker 5: I feel like, unlike so many of us, like you, 476 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:07,240 Speaker 5: you go when you talk to people regardless of who 477 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:10,680 Speaker 5: they are, and you meet them where they are. So 478 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:14,800 Speaker 5: it's it's I'm curious as to how you see this 479 00:23:15,119 --> 00:23:18,960 Speaker 5: current where we are in, this sort of fascist neo 480 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:22,000 Speaker 5: fascist state in America that that we're in. Are are 481 00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:24,479 Speaker 5: we are we going to escape the gravity of this 482 00:23:24,520 --> 00:23:28,080 Speaker 5: black hole known as this administration? Or are we are 483 00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:30,920 Speaker 5: we doomed for it to slowly rip us apart? 484 00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:32,800 Speaker 1: I mean, so it's funny. I just put up the 485 00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:35,560 Speaker 1: next leg of my stand up tour and the date 486 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:43,119 Speaker 1: for like Tulsa, Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Louisville, Kentucky. I was like, damn, 487 00:23:43,119 --> 00:23:45,680 Speaker 1: there's not Atlanta here. There's not a there's not a 488 00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:48,080 Speaker 1: you know, there's not a New York on here. So 489 00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:50,359 Speaker 1: it's it's funny. I think sometimes I get too much 490 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:51,840 Speaker 1: credit for talking with people. I was like, oh no, 491 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:54,359 Speaker 1: this time, I'm actually gone to the places. Now these 492 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:57,000 Speaker 1: are gonna be more blue spots in red states, but 493 00:23:57,000 --> 00:23:59,280 Speaker 1: they're still in red state. It's still I'm still not playing. 494 00:23:59,359 --> 00:24:02,919 Speaker 1: It's not all Burt, and so therefore you just hear 495 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:06,000 Speaker 1: different conversations because you're in those spots. So what I 496 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:07,760 Speaker 1: would say is this, I hear a lot of people 497 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:10,280 Speaker 1: say things like we'll fix this in the midterms, and 498 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:12,760 Speaker 1: I'm like, I don't think you're understanding how fast and 499 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:16,240 Speaker 1: moving if you're assuming there's gonna be a midterm election. Yeah, 500 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:18,200 Speaker 1: the one of the things I say on my list, 501 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:20,520 Speaker 1: And again this one is like not really meant to 502 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:22,240 Speaker 1: be funny, but it's just like again I sort of 503 00:24:22,240 --> 00:24:25,399 Speaker 1: mix things up. I'm like, it's just stop acting like 504 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:28,320 Speaker 1: things are going to be okay. Like I'm not saying 505 00:24:28,359 --> 00:24:31,520 Speaker 1: you can't have plans with midterms, but also you need 506 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:33,600 Speaker 1: to have a go bag, and you need to update 507 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:35,879 Speaker 1: your passport, and you need to check on your neighbor 508 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:38,560 Speaker 1: and you need to make sure that you have that 509 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:40,560 Speaker 1: you download that app that lets you know ices in 510 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:42,960 Speaker 1: your community that you have neighbors you want to help. 511 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:44,840 Speaker 9: And you need to check on the local public schools 512 00:24:44,840 --> 00:24:46,760 Speaker 9: to find out if there's anything they need to Oh you, 513 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:49,200 Speaker 9: I can donate this to you or system my garage, 514 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:51,520 Speaker 9: And you need to look into mutual a to find 515 00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:54,120 Speaker 9: out if there's people around you who need who need 516 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:55,879 Speaker 9: a blanket and you have a blanket, and you know 517 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:58,520 Speaker 9: what I mean, like you have to actually be working 518 00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:01,760 Speaker 9: today and also hoping that tomorrow will get here, because 519 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:03,800 Speaker 9: it's just they're they're moving that fast. And I think 520 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:05,800 Speaker 9: anybody who's like I see a lot of people are like, well, 521 00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:06,959 Speaker 9: fix it in the midterms. 522 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:07,840 Speaker 1: Oh man, you. 523 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:10,560 Speaker 5: Really that's what they're willing to have a midterms? 524 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:13,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, because that's why they probably thought it in World 525 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:14,399 Speaker 1: War two Germany too. 526 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:18,120 Speaker 5: Fix It's a really good point. And then in Miami, 527 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:21,200 Speaker 5: the city council, the mayor gave themselves an extra year. 528 00:25:21,520 --> 00:25:23,080 Speaker 5: They just canceled the election. 529 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:26,679 Speaker 1: Exactly exactly, and that and that's a good There's so 530 00:25:26,840 --> 00:25:30,240 Speaker 1: much news that I remember that, and I forgot about it, 531 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:32,639 Speaker 1: And yet that's a big deal. 532 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:35,119 Speaker 5: The reason you forgot about it is because it's because 533 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:38,119 Speaker 5: nobody in Miami flooded the streets and protests and said 534 00:25:38,160 --> 00:25:40,800 Speaker 5: you're not going to do this, Like that's because what 535 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:42,359 Speaker 5: are you supposed to do where you're living? 536 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:43,600 Speaker 1: Like you know what I'm saying, there's nothing you could 537 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:46,040 Speaker 1: do for people in Miami. I'll be like, yeah, yeah, 538 00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:50,879 Speaker 1: you could cancel elections, but you're not going to be mayor. Yeah, like, 539 00:25:50,920 --> 00:25:52,840 Speaker 1: we'll just we'll stop showing up to work. Guess what, 540 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:55,280 Speaker 1: We're not gonna shot up to work now. Yeah, you know, 541 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:57,560 Speaker 1: work that. And then and then I went to one 542 00:25:57,560 --> 00:26:00,240 Speaker 1: of the episodes of United Ja. We went to Durra Dura, 543 00:26:00,440 --> 00:26:03,119 Speaker 1: which is right outside of Miami, and we did that 544 00:26:03,480 --> 00:26:07,280 Speaker 1: about Venezuelan Americans, in Venezuelans living in America, who many 545 00:26:07,359 --> 00:26:10,480 Speaker 1: are living illegally, and just about how Venezuela used to 546 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:13,080 Speaker 1: be like a like a rich country with lots of 547 00:26:13,240 --> 00:26:16,160 Speaker 1: natural resources, and the wrong people took over, and then 548 00:26:16,200 --> 00:26:18,479 Speaker 1: people ended up using the money for napkins, like the 549 00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:21,280 Speaker 1: currency for napkins, and people were fighting in the streets 550 00:26:21,320 --> 00:26:24,840 Speaker 1: for water, like stealing water from people's homes, like getting 551 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:28,280 Speaker 1: bucket like and and a lot of those Venezuelans, the 552 00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:29,879 Speaker 1: first of all, the first people moved to America in 553 00:26:29,960 --> 00:26:32,560 Speaker 1: Venezuela started to fall with the rich Venezuelans and they 554 00:26:32,600 --> 00:26:35,119 Speaker 1: moved to Miami area because it's a heavily Latino America 555 00:26:35,440 --> 00:26:38,400 Speaker 1: Latino community and those are some of the and those 556 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:42,240 Speaker 1: the most trumpy Trump fan you'd ever meet. I met 557 00:26:42,320 --> 00:26:47,600 Speaker 1: in Durel, outside of Miami. They and I went to 558 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:50,800 Speaker 1: a Venezuelans for Trump meeting and then and I was like, 559 00:26:50,840 --> 00:26:52,800 Speaker 1: but why do you like him so much? And they said, 560 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:56,560 Speaker 1: because he said he's gonna help Venezuelan. And those literally 561 00:26:56,600 --> 00:26:58,840 Speaker 1: some of those same people I interviewed were on news 562 00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:03,000 Speaker 1: recently going like President Trump, you're you're you're disupporting me, 563 00:27:03,080 --> 00:27:06,520 Speaker 1: You're kidnapping our people. Yeah, what is it about? This 564 00:27:06,560 --> 00:27:09,800 Speaker 1: is my last question? What is it about the cause. 565 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:11,639 Speaker 5: I don't want to say the American psyche, but what 566 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:14,879 Speaker 5: is it about people living in America, whether or not 567 00:27:14,960 --> 00:27:18,399 Speaker 5: they identify as American citizens or whatever? What is it 568 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:22,879 Speaker 5: about them that that makes them so susceptible to the 569 00:27:23,040 --> 00:27:26,160 Speaker 5: obvious deceptions of our politicians. 570 00:27:26,359 --> 00:27:28,479 Speaker 1: A lot of those people who come to move here 571 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:31,120 Speaker 1: from other countries, whether whether quote unquote legally or quote 572 00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:35,119 Speaker 1: unquote illegally, are are coming here because we have exported 573 00:27:35,119 --> 00:27:38,040 Speaker 1: the idea of the American dream of like you can 574 00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:40,359 Speaker 1: come here and make and make anything happen you want to. 575 00:27:40,760 --> 00:27:44,080 Speaker 1: And then when they come here, even from African countries, 576 00:27:44,280 --> 00:27:46,159 Speaker 1: they learn as long as you're not black, you have 577 00:27:46,560 --> 00:27:48,639 Speaker 1: a higher chance of getting a bank loaned. Oh, and 578 00:27:48,720 --> 00:27:50,840 Speaker 1: also you have an easier chance of starting a business 579 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:52,720 Speaker 1: if you're not if you're not a black American. So 580 00:27:52,760 --> 00:27:54,600 Speaker 1: they come here and they start business and they start 581 00:27:54,640 --> 00:27:56,800 Speaker 1: to make some money, or or they just get seduced 582 00:27:56,800 --> 00:27:58,960 Speaker 1: by idea of like I think, when I make money, 583 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:00,879 Speaker 1: I want to make sure I keep my money, And 584 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:03,199 Speaker 1: the Republicans are like, oh, we'll help you do that, 585 00:28:03,600 --> 00:28:07,680 Speaker 1: not understanding you're never going to be us, but they 586 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:10,720 Speaker 1: get seduced by the idea that the Republican Party has 587 00:28:10,880 --> 00:28:13,280 Speaker 1: has exported. Oh you want the American dream. We're the 588 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:15,320 Speaker 1: part of the American dream. And then they hear things 589 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:18,120 Speaker 1: like even though I'm paying taxes out my ass when 590 00:28:18,160 --> 00:28:19,840 Speaker 1: i'm rich, I don't want to pay taxes. And the 591 00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:22,280 Speaker 1: Republicans said, when I become rich, but you'll never go 592 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:24,440 Speaker 1: come then I won't have to pay a lot of taxes. 593 00:28:24,760 --> 00:28:27,200 Speaker 1: America used race as a way to make poor white 594 00:28:27,240 --> 00:28:29,480 Speaker 1: people feel better about themselves, like at least I'm not 595 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:29,920 Speaker 1: that guy. 596 00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:33,200 Speaker 5: Welcome ou. I can't thank the man. 597 00:28:33,359 --> 00:28:36,880 Speaker 1: I mean, I can't thank you enough for so many reasons. 598 00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:38,800 Speaker 1: And I you know, I've made jokes about it, but 599 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:42,000 Speaker 1: like when I say that Hans Charles got me through 600 00:28:42,280 --> 00:28:45,360 Speaker 1: that talk, I would just like my eyes would be wide. 601 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:46,760 Speaker 1: I'm like, what do I get involved in? And you 602 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:49,840 Speaker 1: would just be like, we got this. I was like, okay, 603 00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:52,560 Speaker 1: he said, we got this, So I'm happy to be here. Yeah, 604 00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:54,880 Speaker 1: this is You gave us some gold. I really appreciate it. 605 00:28:54,960 --> 00:28:56,120 Speaker 1: Thank you man, Thank you. 606 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:00,800 Speaker 4: We want to thank you for taking the time to 607 00:29:00,880 --> 00:29:03,840 Speaker 4: listen to our story. And as Bob Marley once said, 608 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:06,280 Speaker 4: the duty of youth is to challenge corruption. 609 00:29:06,640 --> 00:29:08,240 Speaker 5: We want to leave you with some form of hope 610 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:12,440 Speaker 5: and inspiration. So here's a great inspiring Medeeba Nelson Mandella. 611 00:29:13,920 --> 00:29:17,920 Speaker 10: So I say to the youth of today, to the dreamers, 612 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:24,360 Speaker 10: to the ones who have been silenced, rejected, or overlooked, 613 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:31,240 Speaker 10: walk your path with dignity, lift your voice with integrity, 614 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:37,719 Speaker 10: and serve not just your ambition but a cause greater 615 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:43,640 Speaker 10: than yourself. I believe in you, I believe in tomorrow, 616 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:47,760 Speaker 10: and I believe that the long walk continues, not just 617 00:29:47,960 --> 00:29:49,600 Speaker 10: for me, but for all of us. 618 00:29:55,440 --> 00:29:59,200 Speaker 5: The A Building is produced by Imagine Audio for iHeart Podcasts. 619 00:29:59,560 --> 00:30:02,640 Speaker 5: It is written and hosted by me, Hans Charles and 620 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:04,520 Speaker 5: my co host menelec La Mumba. 621 00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:08,720 Speaker 4: It is executive produced by Karl Welker and Nathan Klope, 622 00:30:08,760 --> 00:30:11,200 Speaker 4: me Mandelik Lamomba and Hans Charles. 623 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:16,160 Speaker 5: Executive producers at iHeart Podcasts ar Katrina Norville and Nikki Torre. 624 00:30:16,640 --> 00:30:18,440 Speaker 5: Marketing lead is David Wasserman. 625 00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:22,480 Speaker 4: It is produced, directed, and edited by Timothy Fernara with 626 00:30:22,600 --> 00:30:27,560 Speaker 4: producer John Asanti, Sound design and music by Alloy Trex. 627 00:30:27,480 --> 00:30:31,680 Speaker 5: And special thanks to April Ryan, Doctor, Elia Davis, Kim 628 00:30:31,920 --> 00:30:36,640 Speaker 5: vc Ada, Bobbino and James Early. If you enjoyed this episode, 629 00:30:36,880 --> 00:30:39,240 Speaker 5: be sure to rate and review the A Building on 630 00:30:39,320 --> 00:30:47,120 Speaker 5: Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.