WEBVTT - Jada Pinkett Smith Comes to the Virtual Red Table 0:00:00.120 --> 0:00:04.280 In this episode, we briefly discussed suicide. If you or 0:00:04.320 --> 0:00:07.960 it loved one need help, please call the National Suicide 0:00:07.960 --> 0:00:14.520 Prevention Lifeline at nine eight. Hey y'all, Hey, what's up? 0:00:14.560 --> 0:00:17.000 And welcome to Let's Red Table Bat. I'm Tracy t 0:00:17.239 --> 0:00:20.080 Row and I'll call Rap Pressley and do we have 0:00:20.120 --> 0:00:23.840 an amazing episode plan for you today or what Tracy, 0:00:24.040 --> 0:00:29.200 we truly do? Because today we are recapping the Different 0:00:29.320 --> 0:00:33.360 World Reunion special and we're not doing it alone. We 0:00:33.479 --> 0:00:36.240 have two guests coming to the Virtual Red Table today. 0:00:36.600 --> 0:00:38.720 One of them is a fellow Red Table Talk o 0:00:38.920 --> 0:00:43.160 G and the other is none other than Red Table 0:00:43.200 --> 0:00:47.720 Talk host Jada Pinkett Smith. Yes, this has been a 0:00:47.760 --> 0:00:51.040 long time coming, and what a perfect episode to have 0:00:51.120 --> 0:00:53.920 Jada on. So we have more questions about a Different 0:00:53.920 --> 0:00:57.040 World and we have some questions straight from the community 0:00:57.080 --> 0:01:00.440 for Jada, So stay tuned for all of the answers. 0:01:00.760 --> 0:01:04.560 Let's welcome our first guest, Dr Danita Crawford. Danita is 0:01:04.600 --> 0:01:07.839 a fellow Red Table Talk o G and co organizer 0:01:07.880 --> 0:01:11.120 of the Red Table Talk Discussions Facebook group. Like the 0:01:11.200 --> 0:01:14.640 Characters in a Different World, Danita attendant an hbc U 0:01:14.959 --> 0:01:18.399 and that experience forever impacted her life. She is here 0:01:18.440 --> 0:01:22.400 to tell us all about it today. Welcome, Dr Danita, 0:01:22.800 --> 0:01:25.400 Thank you for having me. I'm really excited to talk 0:01:25.440 --> 0:01:29.080 about this. All right, We're happy to have you here. 0:01:30.000 --> 0:01:32.880 Before we reveal our wait what moments, we're gonna take 0:01:32.880 --> 0:01:46.640 a quick break and we'll be right. This is the 0:01:46.680 --> 0:01:49.080 part of the show where we reveal which moments made 0:01:49.160 --> 0:01:53.280 us pause, rewind, and listen again. This week it's all 0:01:53.360 --> 0:01:58.360 about the Different World Reunion. Wait what? Wait? What? Oh 0:01:58.400 --> 0:02:01.480 my gosh, I'm gonna kicking off Debbie revealing what Jada 0:02:01.520 --> 0:02:03.760 said to her the first time they met, which was 0:02:04.000 --> 0:02:07.840 I'm the next Debbie Allen and she already had all 0:02:07.920 --> 0:02:13.399 that and I said, wow, you are wonderful. So I'm 0:02:13.400 --> 0:02:19.720 the next Debbie Aland I'm like and I loved her 0:02:19.760 --> 0:02:26.240 from her now. So can y'all imagine a seventeen year 0:02:26.280 --> 0:02:31.160 old Jada Pinkett saying this That was bold. I totally 0:02:31.200 --> 0:02:33.840 see it. It was bold. Dr, don't need to I 0:02:33.919 --> 0:02:36.799 agree it was bold. And I see little feisty Jada 0:02:36.919 --> 0:02:40.440 Pinkett before she was Jada Pinkett Smith. I see her 0:02:40.560 --> 0:02:42.880 playing this day, going in there saying that just as 0:02:42.960 --> 0:02:45.920 clear yeah, but I see that's how you get places. 0:02:46.000 --> 0:02:48.320 You have to be very bright, you have to claim it. 0:02:48.840 --> 0:02:50.920 So Debbie Allen had to wait what? But then she 0:02:51.000 --> 0:02:53.120 was like, hold on here, now, let's bring her fourth. 0:02:53.480 --> 0:02:56.560 Oh my god, let me meet this girl. Who meet her? 0:02:56.600 --> 0:02:58.640 Because she just feels like she's gonna be next me. 0:02:58.720 --> 0:03:02.160 Let's see. Was definitely a wait what. Another way what 0:03:02.320 --> 0:03:05.480 moment was when Don Lewis reflected on how when she 0:03:05.680 --> 0:03:07.800 was on the show, she couldn't wait to tell the 0:03:07.840 --> 0:03:11.840 guest stars how inspirational they had been for her. Now 0:03:12.200 --> 0:03:15.520 people are sharing with had Don and others on the 0:03:15.520 --> 0:03:19.320 Different World how they're an inspiration. I couldn't wait to 0:03:19.320 --> 0:03:22.160 tell miss Horn how inspirational she was and how what 0:03:22.240 --> 0:03:24.200 she meant to me. So I walked over her and 0:03:24.240 --> 0:03:26.600 she held my face in her hands and said you 0:03:26.680 --> 0:03:30.000 on that show, aren't you? And I said yeah. She says, 0:03:30.480 --> 0:03:33.000 your name is Dawn. You good at Jelisa. She said, 0:03:33.040 --> 0:03:35.840 y'all are doing such a good job. Y'all keep that up. 0:03:35.840 --> 0:03:38.640 I'm so proud of you. And I'm thinking to myself, 0:03:38.760 --> 0:03:42.320 I was waiting to tell you how you inspired me 0:03:42.480 --> 0:03:45.440 and so many others, but it flips me to now 0:03:45.520 --> 0:03:48.720 who we have become two people who walk up to 0:03:48.880 --> 0:03:51.240 us and say, you don't know how you inspired me, 0:03:51.440 --> 0:03:55.280 how you changed my life. Okay, so now, Dr Danita, 0:03:55.360 --> 0:03:58.440 I know how you feel about a different work. How 0:03:58.560 --> 0:04:02.000 have the cast and crew of a Different World inspired you? 0:04:02.080 --> 0:04:04.440 And they've inspired me in many ways throughout my life. 0:04:04.480 --> 0:04:07.200 Like we've discussed before, I did attend the nhbc U, 0:04:07.280 --> 0:04:09.320 and it was all because of a Different World. I 0:04:09.440 --> 0:04:11.160 used to watch that show when I was younger, I 0:04:11.240 --> 0:04:13.440 used to watch while I was in college. It actually 0:04:14.240 --> 0:04:17.960 was my first impression of what and all black environment 0:04:18.000 --> 0:04:22.400 would be. I used to live in an all Hispanic environment, 0:04:22.839 --> 0:04:25.760 and then I moved to a predominantly white community, and 0:04:25.800 --> 0:04:29.320 then after that in a Different World presented another concept 0:04:29.320 --> 0:04:32.720 to me. While my family was very much black, I 0:04:32.760 --> 0:04:36.919 had never lived in a community like that. So it 0:04:37.040 --> 0:04:38.880 just triggered something in me to say, like, you know what, 0:04:38.920 --> 0:04:40.599 I would like to live in that kind of environment. 0:04:40.640 --> 0:04:43.159 I would like to be able to see how it 0:04:43.240 --> 0:04:46.520 feels to live among my people. And my mom was 0:04:46.560 --> 0:04:50.600 a little hesitant, but I kind of convinced her. When 0:04:50.600 --> 0:04:53.760 I got a scholarship, I convinced her to let me 0:04:53.800 --> 0:04:57.039 go and it was like mind blowing, how amazing my 0:04:57.120 --> 0:05:00.640 experience was. It was very similar to a different world 0:05:01.040 --> 0:05:04.760 and many SMEs. Wow. Okay, so now give us one 0:05:04.800 --> 0:05:08.000 little snippet. How was it similar to your HBC you 0:05:08.080 --> 0:05:11.599 experienced compared to Hillman. Okay, let's think of some of 0:05:11.640 --> 0:05:14.480 the fun parts. I would say joining a sorority. I'm 0:05:14.480 --> 0:05:17.559 a part of Data Publate a sorority incorporated, and my 0:05:18.000 --> 0:05:24.680 membership intake was very similar to when Whitley and Kim 0:05:24.680 --> 0:05:29.240 were joining their organization and Ron was joining his organization. 0:05:29.400 --> 0:05:32.120 You know, you just learned and you grow with the sisterhood. 0:05:32.680 --> 0:05:34.839 And I don't think I would have even thought to 0:05:35.000 --> 0:05:37.800 join an organization had I not seen that, and I 0:05:37.839 --> 0:05:40.640 had this perception of what it was supposed to be like. 0:05:40.960 --> 0:05:43.839 It was a very similar presentation to what the show did. 0:05:44.040 --> 0:05:45.880 I was just all in. I was just ready to go. 0:05:46.279 --> 0:05:49.360 I wanted to participate in everything the college had to offer. 0:05:49.680 --> 0:05:53.600 I just knew that watching the show, that oh, this 0:05:53.640 --> 0:05:55.719 is what they did in regards to housing, this is 0:05:55.760 --> 0:05:57.960 what they did in regards to activities. They participated in 0:05:57.960 --> 0:06:00.200 all kinds of activities. I'm going to partist of fate. 0:06:00.240 --> 0:06:03.000 I'm going to immerse myself into this entire community so 0:06:03.040 --> 0:06:04.800 that I can get as much as I can out 0:06:04.800 --> 0:06:06.719 of this. What do you think the show did for 0:06:06.800 --> 0:06:10.360 black people in America? It showed them a different way 0:06:10.400 --> 0:06:13.159 of life. It was Oh, wait, I grew up with 0:06:13.240 --> 0:06:18.039 Rudy in college? Wait do I do I have to 0:06:18.040 --> 0:06:21.000 go to college? Wait? What can I do in college? Oh? 0:06:21.000 --> 0:06:23.880 My guards is so fun? And then you see Denise's 0:06:23.960 --> 0:06:27.400 challenges and how she's not managing her finance as well. 0:06:27.560 --> 0:06:29.520 And I'm just one of those people that I see 0:06:29.520 --> 0:06:32.520 something on TV and I learned from other people, and 0:06:32.680 --> 0:06:35.080 I seen how she was just like, oh, she was 0:06:35.120 --> 0:06:37.440 just messing up everywhere she could turn. And I'm like, 0:06:37.720 --> 0:06:39.920 I'm not applying for credit cards because that's gonna mess 0:06:39.960 --> 0:06:44.000 up my finances, much like the person who was like 0:06:44.560 --> 0:06:47.200 this happened in that show. So guess what I learned 0:06:47.240 --> 0:06:49.800 from that mistake? So I'm not You didn't have to 0:06:49.839 --> 0:06:53.080 experience it yourself, So you really allowed the show to 0:06:53.160 --> 0:06:56.040 help give you some direction and guidance on how you 0:06:56.080 --> 0:07:00.480 could navigate through your own journey and what was maybe 0:07:00.800 --> 0:07:03.640 not a standard that you would transition from high school 0:07:03.640 --> 0:07:06.359 to college and made it become like a natural progression 0:07:06.400 --> 0:07:08.599 for you. Exactly. I grew up in the era of 0:07:08.600 --> 0:07:11.560 the after school specials, where you know, they said, don't 0:07:11.560 --> 0:07:14.680 do drugs, and guess what, I'm not doing drugs. This 0:07:14.720 --> 0:07:20.960 is Friday Boy. Yeah, that's so good. That's a that's 0:07:21.000 --> 0:07:22.960 a major weight. What that was a weight? What this 0:07:23.080 --> 0:07:26.240 changed my life? Yes, yes I did. I would not 0:07:26.360 --> 0:07:29.840 have even known about HBCUs I promised you. That's a 0:07:29.880 --> 0:07:32.560 major Wait, what's right? You know? I love that for you, 0:07:32.600 --> 0:07:34.520 And like, I think, we all just have our history 0:07:34.520 --> 0:07:36.480 with a different world, and I remember the beginning, and 0:07:36.520 --> 0:07:39.720 I also remember, like the later season when the beginning 0:07:39.800 --> 0:07:43.920 characters kind of transitioned into the older the senior students 0:07:43.920 --> 0:07:46.000 of course, and then they've graduated and things like that. 0:07:46.080 --> 0:07:49.480 So all the actors sharing their favorite moments and episodes, 0:07:49.720 --> 0:07:52.920 what is your favorite moment or episode from a different world? 0:07:53.360 --> 0:07:55.520 I think it's cliche because we all have that same 0:07:55.560 --> 0:08:03.440 favorite moment where doing runs after that? Please man it, 0:08:03.520 --> 0:08:09.360 please please back number one favorite. And then I do 0:08:09.480 --> 0:08:13.480 like the one where Kim she had to confront some 0:08:13.560 --> 0:08:17.040 issues she had with her complexion. You teared up thinking 0:08:17.080 --> 0:08:19.320 about how much people of color have to go through 0:08:19.400 --> 0:08:23.200 especially when even just the little things could be offensive. 0:08:23.520 --> 0:08:25.840 And some of that stuff you don't even realize just 0:08:25.880 --> 0:08:28.880 saying like, oh, you're like a mom. I forgot how 0:08:28.920 --> 0:08:31.080 they said it in the show, but it was like 0:08:31.120 --> 0:08:34.240 you're a mom, or you're like the aunt Jemima type, 0:08:34.400 --> 0:08:37.560 and you don't realize that you are referencing these characters 0:08:37.600 --> 0:08:40.679 that are very offensive to certain people. And I remember 0:08:40.679 --> 0:08:44.040 being really impacted by that. There's just some sensitive topics 0:08:44.080 --> 0:08:46.920 that you don't realize how you're offending someone until you 0:08:47.000 --> 0:08:49.440 see it, or you see how they've been effective, or 0:08:49.559 --> 0:09:01.720 you've even experienced it yourself so that you can relate. Okay, 0:09:01.720 --> 0:09:05.600 So now we have thirty five years, which I could 0:09:05.600 --> 0:09:08.679 not believe. I could not believe it had been thirty 0:09:08.679 --> 0:09:13.199 five years. And when I think about the reunion, there's 0:09:13.280 --> 0:09:16.400 so many things that I was looking forward to sing 0:09:16.760 --> 0:09:19.720 and some cast members. I was absolutely looking forward to. 0:09:20.240 --> 0:09:22.640 What did you think about this reunion y'all? I felt 0:09:22.679 --> 0:09:24.520 like I got everything I needed. I got to see 0:09:24.559 --> 0:09:27.160 it all of my favorite characters. I was kind of 0:09:27.160 --> 0:09:29.840 shock because initially I was like, oh, I'm surprised that 0:09:29.880 --> 0:09:32.200 everyone didn't get to join. When I first started watching 0:09:32.200 --> 0:09:35.200 the show, And then when I started to see everybody 0:09:35.240 --> 0:09:37.960 presenting themselves, I saw Freddie and I, you know, I 0:09:37.960 --> 0:09:41.040 just saw everyone, even down to the next generation of 0:09:41.360 --> 0:09:43.800 film and students. I was really excited to see them 0:09:43.840 --> 0:09:46.920 as well, because they had a lot of impactful shows 0:09:47.000 --> 0:09:50.359 like they like even the rape episode that was very impactful. 0:09:50.679 --> 0:09:53.200 That episode and oh my gosh, they touched on a 0:09:53.280 --> 0:09:57.880 lot of things that were sensitive and somewhat taboo. What 0:09:57.960 --> 0:10:00.040 were any of the stories that you heard the a 0:10:00.160 --> 0:10:04.120 Cash shared that surprised you. The number one surprise was 0:10:04.800 --> 0:10:08.120 just how they were treated. I think I was surprised 0:10:08.160 --> 0:10:10.480 at how they were treated because you see the show 0:10:10.559 --> 0:10:12.760 and you realize you thought that they were like a family. 0:10:12.800 --> 0:10:14.680 You thought it was just so like they were so 0:10:14.880 --> 0:10:18.400 connected to like the entire project was connected. But to 0:10:18.440 --> 0:10:21.120 hear the struggles that they went through as actors and 0:10:21.160 --> 0:10:23.680 still were able to pull out such a major content, 0:10:24.280 --> 0:10:27.440 it's like, Wow, you really have to be talented. And 0:10:27.760 --> 0:10:31.360 just hearing the stories that they told about their relationships 0:10:31.360 --> 0:10:33.240 with each other and how they had to defend each 0:10:33.240 --> 0:10:36.680 other was something that you know, you strive for in 0:10:36.720 --> 0:10:39.480 relation to just the people in your community, your sisters, 0:10:39.520 --> 0:10:41.880 your brothers, you want to strive to become that where 0:10:41.920 --> 0:10:45.760 you're an advocate for them, and how Jasmine Guy said, no, 0:10:45.960 --> 0:10:49.480 if it's happening to them, its Taxactually shout out to 0:10:49.559 --> 0:10:52.560 Jasmine Guy for that long stance, I can tell y'all. 0:10:52.559 --> 0:10:54.760 One of the things I was surprised about the show 0:10:54.840 --> 0:10:57.280 is right in line with my time frame, right like 0:10:57.320 --> 0:11:00.520 I was sixteen when A Different World came out, very 0:11:00.559 --> 0:11:03.560 much the trajectory of what they did from high school 0:11:03.640 --> 0:11:07.240 and then with Denise being in college at Hillman. It 0:11:07.280 --> 0:11:10.319 was amazing to me to know from behind the scenes 0:11:10.360 --> 0:11:14.080 how much influenced Debbie Allen made on the show and 0:11:14.120 --> 0:11:16.920 how I honestly believe if she hadn't become a part 0:11:16.960 --> 0:11:19.600 of it and been the showrunner, the show probably wouldn't 0:11:19.640 --> 0:11:22.560 have made it because it was not believe that. Yeah, 0:11:22.640 --> 0:11:25.080 they didn't have the authenticity. It was okay in the 0:11:25.120 --> 0:11:28.319 beginning because we literally got to see the stage set 0:11:28.559 --> 0:11:32.800 for Denise, right, but when it started getting into those 0:11:32.840 --> 0:11:35.520 real life experiences and dr denied some of the things 0:11:35.520 --> 0:11:38.239 that you were saying, and how it was truly reflective 0:11:38.240 --> 0:11:42.200 of your own experience without Debbie Allen having been a 0:11:42.240 --> 0:11:45.600 Howard graduate and I think we would have seen the 0:11:45.720 --> 0:11:49.360 authenticity of an HBC you reflected in that show. So 0:11:49.480 --> 0:11:52.040 I was grateful. I mean, Debbie Allen is a force. 0:11:52.120 --> 0:11:55.360 She's just phenomenal. I've always just adored her and had 0:11:55.400 --> 0:11:57.600 so much respect for because this took it to another 0:11:57.679 --> 0:11:59.640 level for me. That was one of the stories. I 0:11:59.679 --> 0:12:01.720 was like, my god, you know, I remember when she 0:12:01.760 --> 0:12:04.000 came on, but I didn't know what she did for 0:12:04.360 --> 0:12:08.720 the actors, how she empowered them to really be their 0:12:08.760 --> 0:12:12.400 truest best selves in that space and to be honest. 0:12:12.559 --> 0:12:15.040 I just found that out. I just found that out 0:12:15.040 --> 0:12:19.200 watching this episode. So when she said that she came in, 0:12:19.480 --> 0:12:21.280 I believe she said it was like a season later 0:12:21.760 --> 0:12:24.320 where they were all upset about how the direction it 0:12:24.360 --> 0:12:29.280 was taking. It's funny because you noticed the shift you do, 0:12:29.480 --> 0:12:32.000 and then you start to see how the culture starts 0:12:32.040 --> 0:12:35.760 to be presented, even in the language, the language of 0:12:35.800 --> 0:12:38.080 the script. So when she said in the show, how 0:12:38.120 --> 0:12:40.040 the writers were here and the actors were here, like 0:12:40.080 --> 0:12:43.600 still two separate rooms, I felt that and understood it. Yeah, 0:12:43.679 --> 0:12:46.800 so I hear exactly what you're saying. Yeah, thank you. 0:12:48.040 --> 0:12:50.240 I love the reunion, And like maybe I was glad 0:12:50.240 --> 0:12:53.320 to see everyone. There was an obvious person missing, but 0:12:53.679 --> 0:12:57.480 the exception of that, it was phenomenal overdoing right on 0:12:57.520 --> 0:12:59.920 time out. At the same time, it sound like a reunion, 0:13:00.040 --> 0:13:02.360 like your own family union, Like I know these people, 0:13:02.520 --> 0:13:07.520 I know you. I don't know, but I do. Yeah. 0:13:08.840 --> 0:13:11.040 I really started to tear up, like, oh my god, 0:13:11.080 --> 0:13:13.880 it's like they're real, Like they're you know, because you've 0:13:13.920 --> 0:13:17.559 seen like some of the reunions that they've attempted, but 0:13:17.720 --> 0:13:19.920 they don't really get to get into the nitty gritty 0:13:20.000 --> 0:13:22.760 or the discussion of what was really going on behind 0:13:22.760 --> 0:13:24.760 the scenes, how do you really feel about each other? 0:13:25.400 --> 0:13:28.120 And this one really dug in. It really dug into 0:13:28.160 --> 0:13:30.960 the part where you felt truly connected to the character 0:13:31.200 --> 0:13:35.199 and the actress or the actor. Yeah, personally and professionally, 0:13:35.280 --> 0:13:39.320 just both exactly. A different world introduced you to HBCUs 0:13:39.360 --> 0:13:41.320 as you shared earlier, and of course you were able 0:13:41.360 --> 0:13:45.280 to Cheney University of Pennsylvania, which is the oldest HBCU 0:13:45.360 --> 0:13:48.760 in America. Going yeah or not? But how did Cheney 0:13:48.840 --> 0:13:52.560 mirror Human College or was it completely different? Let someone know. 0:13:53.520 --> 0:13:56.079 Of course there were some aspects that were different, but 0:13:56.280 --> 0:13:59.000 Greek life was very much the same. The whole bookstore. 0:13:59.120 --> 0:14:01.959 Financial struggle was the same going to try to register 0:14:02.080 --> 0:14:04.760 first classes. I remember seeing one of the episodes. I 0:14:04.800 --> 0:14:07.640 believe it was Lena who was having trouble registering. She 0:14:07.679 --> 0:14:11.319 couldn't find housing. We've all been there. If you went 0:14:11.360 --> 0:14:13.960 to an HBC, we can all connect on that same 0:14:14.000 --> 0:14:16.800 thing about how difficult it is to register, and then 0:14:16.880 --> 0:14:20.840 also the housing aspect of it, Like that's still an 0:14:20.840 --> 0:14:27.760 issue today. I think it is, Yeah, exactly. But even 0:14:27.840 --> 0:14:32.320 with the struggles, you just have the amazing connection with 0:14:32.360 --> 0:14:35.240 the people. And just even as a graduate or an 0:14:35.240 --> 0:14:39.000 alumni of university, I can call on anyone that's went 0:14:39.080 --> 0:14:41.880 to Cheney and we have an instinct connection because we 0:14:42.000 --> 0:14:45.880 just know where we came from. It's I promise you, 0:14:46.040 --> 0:14:49.240 It's just something that is unimaginable. And when I talked 0:14:49.280 --> 0:14:51.320 to some of my friends who went to p w 0:14:51.520 --> 0:14:55.800 i's predominantly white institutions, they struggle with that and they 0:14:55.840 --> 0:14:59.320 struggled keeping a connection. Really, that's me, I swear. When 0:14:59.320 --> 0:15:02.080 you said that, I was, Oh, that must be nice. 0:15:02.440 --> 0:15:04.880 It is. It is. It's amazing. We go to our 0:15:05.200 --> 0:15:07.360 homecomings and it just feels, like I said, like a 0:15:07.400 --> 0:15:10.640 family reunion. You just you remember these people, even if 0:15:10.640 --> 0:15:12.480 you haven't seen them in twenty years. You see their 0:15:12.480 --> 0:15:14.680 face and it's just like, okay, and we I'm gonna 0:15:14.680 --> 0:15:17.440 tell you something that's a p w I kid being 0:15:17.440 --> 0:15:20.960 a Michigander. I went to Kalamazoo and like the closest 0:15:20.960 --> 0:15:23.840 I'm going to come to being connected. I can tell y'all. 0:15:23.880 --> 0:15:26.160 It's Terry Crews, who was who grew up in flat 0:15:26.880 --> 0:15:30.400 and my mom knows his dad there. They worked together. 0:15:30.880 --> 0:15:34.040 And here's the thing, we were at school at the 0:15:34.040 --> 0:15:36.520 same time, we were on campus at the same time. 0:15:36.880 --> 0:15:42.000 I didn't realize that until earlier this year. Really, that's 0:15:42.000 --> 0:15:44.440 how crazy, that's how spread out we are. Because he 0:15:44.520 --> 0:15:46.720 was on the football team and obviously I wasn't, and 0:15:46.760 --> 0:15:50.960 so it was like a totally different experience. Whereas HBCU life, 0:15:51.240 --> 0:15:53.800 you know everyone who went to right there's some larger 0:15:54.000 --> 0:15:57.000 HBCUs where you might not, but you go to a 0:15:57.080 --> 0:16:00.600 chain university where it's very intimate, it's very family oriented. 0:16:01.000 --> 0:16:03.600 The first day at orientation, you have some of the 0:16:03.640 --> 0:16:07.080 coaches and instructors at that orientation telling your parents that 0:16:07.160 --> 0:16:10.400 you're going to be okay, and they basically take the 0:16:10.440 --> 0:16:12.840 reins on how you're going to mature and grow up. 0:16:13.240 --> 0:16:16.760 They go into how you're supposed to interact with society. 0:16:17.000 --> 0:16:18.360 They care about you in a way that I do 0:16:18.440 --> 0:16:20.080 not think I would have been cared for at a 0:16:20.120 --> 0:16:24.480 p W I. I can tell you you're right, possibly 0:16:24.560 --> 0:16:27.560 right to this day, which I had gone to an HBCU. Yeah, 0:16:27.920 --> 0:16:30.200 like I feel like I've been robbed now that you 0:16:30.200 --> 0:16:33.400 know the reunion and hearing you, I'm like dog on it. 0:16:33.840 --> 0:16:36.840 I should have just went ahead and gone well. I 0:16:36.880 --> 0:16:39.200 always feel like there's no limits, So if you want 0:16:39.240 --> 0:16:43.680 to go got We had students that were all ages 0:16:43.760 --> 0:16:47.840 there and they felt just as you know what. That's 0:16:47.840 --> 0:16:51.280 so sweet. Bless your heart, you're doing your level best. No, ma'am, 0:16:51.440 --> 0:16:53.920 no paym no lamb. I'm not going back to school. 0:16:54.240 --> 0:16:55.960 We're done with that. We're done with that. You can 0:16:56.000 --> 0:16:59.200 come with me to homecoming. But now you just finished 0:16:59.240 --> 0:17:02.920 another major milestone, and we know that a different world, 0:17:03.160 --> 0:17:06.359 doctor Danita. We were right there cheering you on and 0:17:06.400 --> 0:17:09.359 so proudly so much. How did the experience that you 0:17:09.400 --> 0:17:11.600 had a changing shape the rest of your life. You 0:17:11.680 --> 0:17:14.000 have so much freedom, even just as a black woman 0:17:14.040 --> 0:17:16.080 like I had so much freedom to be who I was. 0:17:16.400 --> 0:17:19.320 It's just the challenges you deal with when you're at school. 0:17:19.720 --> 0:17:21.840 There were so many different challenges that we had to 0:17:21.840 --> 0:17:26.240 deal with that when you finally graduate, life becomes a 0:17:26.240 --> 0:17:29.000 little easier. Not to say that there aren't challenges when 0:17:29.040 --> 0:17:32.040 you're older, it's just that every time you think about 0:17:32.080 --> 0:17:36.000 a challenge as an adult, you think back to man, 0:17:36.359 --> 0:17:39.200 I had way more issues when I was in college, 0:17:39.320 --> 0:17:43.200 or I had to deal with so many challenges when 0:17:43.200 --> 0:17:45.720 I was a young adult that this is nothing. Let 0:17:45.720 --> 0:17:48.639 me just finish school. Even in those stressful moments, I 0:17:48.680 --> 0:17:51.000 have people that I can call. I know how to 0:17:51.160 --> 0:17:54.520 connect to my support system. I have an amazing support system. 0:17:54.560 --> 0:17:56.879 I don't think they can compare to my support system. 0:17:56.960 --> 0:17:58.800 At the drop of a hat, if I'm having an issue, 0:17:58.840 --> 0:18:01.280 I know who to call. I know exactly who will 0:18:01.640 --> 0:18:03.879 bring me down. I know who will pep me up, 0:18:03.960 --> 0:18:06.960 I know who will set me straight. And that all 0:18:07.000 --> 0:18:10.800 comes from just Chaine University. Everyone that I connect with 0:18:10.880 --> 0:18:13.679 in regards to like just making sure that I'm okay 0:18:14.520 --> 0:18:16.760 has attended Chaine University. Not to say everyone, because there 0:18:16.800 --> 0:18:18.560 are some people that are connected with along the way, 0:18:18.600 --> 0:18:22.159 but my core group, they attend the Chine University and 0:18:22.240 --> 0:18:25.120 they know the Denia that was at Chaine University. It's 0:18:25.160 --> 0:18:29.480 not that that you see before you today. And that 0:18:29.560 --> 0:18:32.199 connected a different world very much because because look at 0:18:32.200 --> 0:18:35.320 how Freddie's transition was. I was tinding like Freddie where 0:18:35.480 --> 0:18:38.280 she was a little lost and she had her moments 0:18:38.280 --> 0:18:40.600 where it was like, what's she talking about? My friends 0:18:40.680 --> 0:18:42.719 used to be like, you're a little goofy, what's going 0:18:42.760 --> 0:18:45.600 on girl? And then all of a sudden you started 0:18:45.640 --> 0:18:48.480 transition into Okay, maybe I do want to be become 0:18:48.520 --> 0:18:51.359 a professional. I'm not a Norman, like, I'm not flake person. 0:18:51.520 --> 0:18:54.520 I want to become a mature adult. And then you 0:18:54.520 --> 0:18:57.200 see that shift in a person. And everyone that I've 0:18:57.200 --> 0:19:00.439 attended Chaining university with has allowed me to have shift. 0:19:00.800 --> 0:19:03.520 They've allowed me to mature. It's not like they're still 0:19:03.520 --> 0:19:05.840 trying to hold me to the same immaturity that I 0:19:05.920 --> 0:19:10.080 have as an undergrad. That is so powerful because you 0:19:10.160 --> 0:19:16.439 want to have those be lifetime relationships that forge because 0:19:16.480 --> 0:19:19.760 it helps you as you go through your evolution to 0:19:19.920 --> 0:19:24.359 know that you have some foundational steadiness and that you 0:19:24.400 --> 0:19:26.400 will be able to pass that on. Like the number 0:19:26.400 --> 0:19:28.879 of people that are having the opportunity to listen to 0:19:29.000 --> 0:19:32.639 us now and say, you know what, A different world 0:19:32.720 --> 0:19:35.159 isn't on? And I can catch it in the reruns, 0:19:35.160 --> 0:19:37.320 and I can go and look at episodes, but I 0:19:37.359 --> 0:19:41.920 can hear firsthand from someone who attended an HBCU, and 0:19:42.000 --> 0:19:45.240 now I can include that in my consideration for my 0:19:45.400 --> 0:19:49.480 choices as a college. That's so powerful because hearing you, 0:19:50.400 --> 0:19:52.560 like I'm telling you, I wish I had gone to 0:19:52.560 --> 0:19:56.080 an HBC you myself, and so I want want to 0:19:56.119 --> 0:19:59.040 thank you for that. But at least we have our experience. 0:19:59.400 --> 0:20:03.159 That's why we need these conversations. That's right. Do I 0:20:03.200 --> 0:20:05.440 need to go back? Should I go back to Oh? No? 0:20:05.440 --> 0:20:10.720 Oh no, Wait a minute. You know you're talking about 0:20:10.760 --> 0:20:13.520 the other people who with the other million people who 0:20:13.560 --> 0:20:17.879 have listened, Yes, because yeah, okay, not me, that ship 0:20:17.880 --> 0:20:21.320 is sealed. But for those who are selling onto college, 0:20:21.480 --> 0:20:25.200 consider it because you hear Dr Juanita, it was definitely 0:20:25.320 --> 0:20:28.959 something that made her life. It's been a different world 0:20:29.960 --> 0:20:32.399 was the catalyst for that. So I'm so grateful to 0:20:32.400 --> 0:20:34.640 be a part of this. And Dr Juanita, we could 0:20:34.640 --> 0:20:40.120 talk to you for for hours. I know so much 0:20:40.160 --> 0:20:43.359 more we could discuss on the impact of HBCUs. But 0:20:44.200 --> 0:20:47.159 we have to go, so we want to say to 0:20:47.359 --> 0:20:54.080 a fellow Red Table talk O g o ge, we 0:20:54.119 --> 0:20:56.320 are so grateful for you being here and coming to 0:20:56.400 --> 0:20:59.159 the birch for Red Table to share your HBCU you 0:20:59.240 --> 0:21:02.520 experience and enjoy be a different world reunion with us. 0:21:03.040 --> 0:21:06.600 Thank you. I do appreciate you allowing me to be here. 0:21:06.800 --> 0:21:10.600 If it can even persuade one person to consider an HBCU, 0:21:10.920 --> 0:21:12.840 don't make it your second choice. Think about it as 0:21:12.840 --> 0:21:16.240 the first option, because it really does change lives. It 0:21:16.320 --> 0:21:19.800 really did. Love that. Alright, y'all, we're taking one more 0:21:19.840 --> 0:21:22.760 break and when we returned, Jada will be joining us, 0:21:23.080 --> 0:21:36.680 So don't go anywhere no more waiting. It is time 0:21:36.720 --> 0:21:39.680 to welcome our very special guests, straight from the Red 0:21:39.720 --> 0:21:47.760 Table herself, Ms. Jada peket Smith, Welcome Lo you successful ladies. 0:21:49.000 --> 0:21:52.040 We are doing every day amazingly. That's how we are doing. 0:21:52.800 --> 0:21:55.080 We are super excited to be here with you and 0:21:55.200 --> 0:21:57.480 so grateful that you're coming fresh from the table to 0:21:57.560 --> 0:22:00.600 our virtual were a table. We have lots to talk about. 0:22:00.960 --> 0:22:03.840 I know y'all have been doing such a beautiful job. 0:22:03.920 --> 0:22:06.640 I have so much fun listening to you guys, thank 0:22:06.680 --> 0:22:08.760 you for what you do, and I'm just happy to 0:22:08.800 --> 0:22:12.800 be here. Absolutely, thank you. We are excited to talk 0:22:12.800 --> 0:22:16.280