hello everyone, this is al jazeera america, live from new york city. i'm david shuster. just ahead. the promise... >> we are proposing that britain resettle up to 20,000 syrian refugees. european nations say they'll take in thousands of refugees, will the united states do the same. action and act ability in this growing crisis employee benefits, on this

labour day, increase in sick days by president obama. >> i signed a new law requiring federal contractors who allow employees to work on our contracts to earn up to seven sick days paid a year and stood up to unions holy war. >> accept them as ministers women ordained at an illegal ceremony leaving them facing excommunication from the catholic church plus... strike up the band. grammy winner shares his music, mission, message after witnessing the rise of the u.s. flag rise over the embassy in cuba. which begin on the border

between hungaria and serbia. at this hour, thousands of refugees are being stopped making the journey to europe. tensions boiled after os refugees clashed with police. some got through, and started walking authorities the capital budapest. andrew simmonds is on the border with more on the clashes and tensions. >> reporter: families following in the weary footsteps of thousands. any hope that there'll be a refugees exodus into austria and germany is diminishing. nothing changes, it's getting worse. hundreds of rev disease spent three days in a field, guarded by police. waiting to be taken to a camp to be registered. police are refusing move. there's real anger, not just

among the men, but frustration amongst the mothers, the children that have been here for three days, and it's really cold at night. this man brought his family from afghanistan. eventually they are lined up, preparing to board a bus. then this. >> stand up. go back. >> reporter: excuse me, this is this man's children. >> go back. >> go back. >> reporter: what do you make of this? >> you see the frustration. we are not a good people. you are not human, treated as human. this is not a human being. nearby syrians have gathered, that man complaining he's been stuck here for two days.

. >> they should make faster administration, and taking the people to another village, another camp. >> reporter: scuffles break out after the people decide to protest, trying to breakaway from the assembly point. this woman says she was beaten with a baton. then a disturbing sight. a sick child in the arms of an exhausted syrian running on the rail track, shouting for help. the limp figure of a 5-year-old, passing out with either heat exhaustion or fever. he's five years old, his mother fears the worse. the boy was revived. first, by a doctor, and then paramedics put up a drip before taking him to hospital. not the first nor the last casualty of this crisis. with no buses the refugees are

allowed to march to the registration camps, dozens ran away, dozens chased by police. there'll be more scenes, the government introducing new laws to clampdown harder on illegal migration. greece is also struggling to deal with the daily in flux of hundreds of refugees arriving on its island. the immigration minister says lesbos, near the coast, is near explosion. hoda abdel-hamid spoke to some who arrived. >> they are volunteers from denmark are giving water and food. you will see that there were a lot of children on this boat. tiny kids. [ speaking foreign language ] okay. these children are as young as two years old.

and the other two babies are less than one year old. it's the birthday of the little girl in yellow, who is holding the apple in her hand. they have arrived on this boat, it's one of the largest boats we have seen arrive on the coast. usually they arrive in smaller rubber dinghies. >> hoda abdel-hamid reporting. european leaders have not come up with a policy to deal with the crisis, but today the leaders of the germany, france and great britain made pledges to try to address the issue, angela merkel said her country would set aside $6.7 billion to deal with the crisis. fans will take in over 24,000 asylum seekers for the next two years, and great britain accepting 20,000 refugees in syria. barnaby phillips has more from

london. >> another boat from lesbos arrives in the harbour. almost 2,500 on board. many fled war, all for a better life in europe, or, at least, to give their children a chance. >> now they reached the mainland. they want to carry on. that suits greeks, who provide buses to take them to center athens, for where most of these people travel northwards. germany, most often the preferred destination. >> but if angela merkel's government has been among the most generous, they are looking for other european countries to do their part. >> translation: we need a strengthened european response, and only with common european solidarity will we master this challenge. >> reporter: in paris, the french president is in agreement with angela merkel. his country will participate in an e.u. wide quota system for refugees. >> translation: france is willing to do its part.

the european commison will propose placing 120,000 people over the next few years, france will take 24,000. we'll do it. we'll do it as a matter of principle. it's part of a proposal that we, ourselves, put forward. >> reporter: several thousands of the refugees and migrants who arrive in france want to move from britain. this is the camp at calais, where they wait for opportunity to cross the channel into southern england. >> so what of the british government. the prime minister has been coming under criticism for not doing enough. >> we are proposing that britain should resettle 20,000 refugees over the rest of the parliament. in doing so we'll show the world that this country is a country of extraordinary compassion. always standing up for our values, and helping those in need. >> reporter: so some european

governments are giving ground. the numbers of refugees they are talking about accepting is only a small fraction of the hundreds of thousands who have travelled to europe this year here in the united states a democratic presidential candidate is urging the government to do more. martin o'malley says the united states has fallen short of comationate and generous people. at the moment they are planning to take in 8,000 reffies, o'malley says they should take in 65,000. the president of refugees international and former u.n.h.c.r. representative for the united states and caribbean joins us from washington d.c. what do you make of the call by martin o-mallee for 65,000, is that something the united states could do easily?

>> i think the united states could do that. the united states very strong resettlement programme, resettles about 70,000 refugees from all over the world on an annual basis. the numbers mentioned were announced by the u.s. i think now the government is prepared to review the figures, or it will reach in the first proposal the request of mr o'malley, i don't know yet, but this country has the capacity to do that. i'd like to make a difference between resettlement, taking refugees from turkey, lebanon, from where the syrians moved, from the obligation from the europeans, to deal with the people on their shore. that's the priority right now. to establish good reception facilities, and decide how to share them. the resettlement from neighbouring countries to syria

will be key to show syrian refugees in this country that there is an orderly way to move out of the country without taking all the risks, and, therefore, providing some hope to these people. >> for the people you mentioned, the refugees in europe. is this a question of money, the billions of dollars that germany put aside for the crisis, or in terms of policy? >> well, it is both. obviously to deal properly with the amount of people that have shown up on the shores of southern europe requires resources to establish reception facilities, transit facilities, to process them. most of them are real refugees, in need of protection. they cannot be returned. maybe there are people among there that are refugees, and they need to be processed. there's a decision on where to send them. and how to distribute. there's a question of resources are key. then there's a question of

political will, and there europe is divided. we welcome the fact that some countries are rallying behind the leadership of german chancellor angela merkel. but much remains to be done, and a meeting of ministers takes place in two weeks. a lot of things happen within two weeks as they figure out what to do about people in europe, what about hundreds, on some days thousands, of those leaving africa and syria, to see if they can get to europe? >> well, for those that try to leave syria, at the begin i travelled extensively in turkey, lebanon and jordan. in the first year they did not thing about leaving, thinking the situation in syria would change. when they left the country, they wait for the violent to cede and go home. that has dried completely. the life in turkey, lebanon and

jordan is difficult. the countries received them with open arms. they are not receiving the level of aid they do require to be able to absorb the refugees, for a long time. and tensions are arising with local communities and governments, and they are starting to reel against the pressure. >> the president of refugees international, michelle. thank you for coming on, we appreciate it. >> next, president obama's labour day gift to employees. federal contractors and sick leave. plus... >> we have more american servicemen and women dying in world war i than vietnam war or the korean war it's a forgotten war, but now the chance to build a world war i memorial.

president obama marked labour day with an executive order providing paid leave for employees of federal contractor, the policy will not take effect until after his presidency, but it is hoped private employees will do the same.

roxana saberi reports. >> reporter: president obama celebrated workers rights at a union rally in boston. >> the fight against social security, medicare and retirement. they are sampled with the union label. >> reporter: there's a gain the president wants to add, paid sick leave. >> i required a new executive order requiring federal contractors allowing workers to be paid. >> the white house said it will apply to contracts in 2017. but the white house hopes it will spur private employees to follow suite. >> it will be good. many small businesses say they

can't afford the expense. >> if people are not there doing work, you lose money. no one is servicing customers. the president wants them to pay the workers who are not there. it's a double point of business. >> reporter: nearly 40% of workers in the private sector or 44 million americans can't call in sick without losing pay or worried about getting fired. tracy returned to work as a security guard after recovering from a medical emergency. she said her company suspended her for three days without pay. >> they confiscated my badge and security i.d. card and escorted me out of the building as though i was a fugitive of some sort, or criminal. >> she agrees businesses need to day afloat. but paid equity would make her a better employee. >> i understand that, but i

cannot perform for you if i'm not healthy. >> president obama also renewed calls to expand family leave. noting the u.s. is the only advanced country that does not guarantee paid maternity leave. a proposal that is expected to be an uphill battle. now, union members are celebrating this victory david is a pulitzer prize-winning journalist joining us from rochester new york. happy labour day to you. what do you make of the president's announcement today? >> this is an important step in removing america from the bottom of the pile among modern countries. we are the only country that doesn't have paid parental leave. vacation. if countries like portugal can afford to do this, we can. sick leave should be mandatory for anyone in the food business. you really want sick people preparing food? the employer that talked about

difficulties he had - that's part of the cost of doing business. i don't want to get sick, because your worker is sick. >> you said the united states is at the bottom of the pile when it compares to other nations. why is that? >> in this country we have basically decimated unions. the unions are fundamental to market economics, they give bargaining power to workers. individuals don't have bargaining power. we have a take it or leave it market for jobs. and through unions, weekends, holidays and other things, they are not down to 6 prd of the private workforce, and many are relative i elite. >> what about the argument involving productivity, that perhaps unions have gone too far and that they hurt productivity, and the u.s. is more product

mfiin terms of goods and services. there has been an increase in productivity in the country. workers have not shared in that. the medium earnings are at the level they were at in 1998. and so what we are seeing is a shift away from labour towards capital. and in the long run it produces social unrest. and may destroy the american work ethic. what is the point of working hard if you never will be better off. >> it takes us to a big issue in the presidential campaign. bernie sanders and joe biden talking about a reordering issue. is there a practical way for government leaders, for the government to impose this in some national parks? >> well, sure, one of the biggest things the government can do is we have laws that you can't fire people for organising a union. they have no teeth to them. you are better off if you are an

employer, firing those people. we can put in place enforcement of those laws. right not just for the owners of business. someone that is in the head of the u.n., and a founder of a business. you need to have balance, balance in the system, and we don't. the government can do this by setting the standards, which is what you saw president obama do in the executive order, taking effect with the next administration. >> one of the polls out there is a new taxes on people who make a tonne of money on wall street, who get what is known as carried interest. that impact in terms of - would that have much impact in terms of workers, or is it a way for punished people who are at the top of the food chain, making sure the government let's them go for free? >> well, i wouldn't call it punished. i would call it making them pay in full for compensation, just like you and i do. they benefit from two special rules. one is that they get taxed at

the lowest rate for capital investments for their work, their labour, and they are allowed to defer unlimited amounts of money, and borrow against that money, and live tax free, while you and i have money taken out of our paychecks. it would bring equity to the system to do that. i don't think many realise how many at the top. people with 100 million plus incomes, in little or no tax relative to the income. >> pulitzer prize-winning journalist, a pleasure to have you on the programme. >> glad to be here. >> washington d.c. has monuments and memorials, but nothing to honour those that served in world war i. a hundred years after that war, an effort is underway to build a tribute. jamie mcintyre reports. >> reporter: in the nation's capital there are monuments

world war ii, korea and vietnam. the great war, the war to end all wars is without a national memorial in washington. edward is on a mission to change that. what most don't realise we have american men and women dying in world war i, korea and vietnam. >> how many? >> 1,516. we honour the veterans ever vietnam and korea with memorials on the wall, but heroism and sacrifice of american soldiers in world war i was no less worthy of commemoration and honour than that of the later wars. i met with the vp of the wwi centennial commission in washington's persian park. the legendary general black jack persian. congress decreed no more monuments, but approved this down with the heels park, across from the historic hotel, a block

from the white house as a suitable location. the glistening reflecting pool drained and in disrepair. >> in the original design of the park, this area was an ornamental pool. it has not been used that way for several years. >> reporter: for now, it's a blank canvas inspiring more than 350 entries in a design competition this summer. five made the final cut. the forgotten war features a grid of 1,166 markers, one more every one of deaths. a victory tower in a forest of trees - the weight of sacrifice incorporating images on the walls along the edges. park. and an american portrait with a portrait wall and photographs on the ground. >> hero's green, imagines images.

all five have two things in common. there's no walls like the veterans memorial, but there are trees, lots of trees. >> wanted to be inviting to people that want to come here. to recreate, to do what they want to do. we wanted to dignify, compliment the memorial purposes of the study. >> the commission will pick the winning design, in the hope of raising 25 million in private funds, raising the money in completing construction in time for it the 100th anniversary of the end of world war i, veterans day, 2018, will be, to say the least, a monumental task a police officer shot and killed in illinois last week has now been laid to rest. the hunt continues for the killing of the lieutenant. he died last tuesday, while

pursuing three men. he called for backup after the men disappeared into a swampy lake. communication was lost soon afterwards police in las vegas took an unidentified man into custody in connection with an ambush of a police vehicle. he walked up to two officers at a stop light and fired into the patrol car. an officer was struck in the hand, his partner chased down and arrested the suspect. the injured officer is expected to make a full recovery. >> two high school football players in san antonio texas have been suspended after tackling a referee. the players at john jay high school barrelled into the referee, one after the other. they were losing. the attack appeared to be retaliation for calls the players did not like. several investigations are under way, including by the local police department. no word yet on the referee's

continue just ahead. political momentum. bernie sanders, hillary clinton - populism is fuelling a sanders surge, and hillary clinton continues to struggle. catholics are fighting and praying that women will one day be allowed to become priests.

this is al jazeera america, live from new york city. i'm david shuster the contenders... and we are going to fight until we finally break through the barriers. hillary clinton singing. bernie sanders is surging. and another major democrat is fuelling speculation of a return. mexican students. a report contradicts findings as

blowing the case wide open. >> seeking change in the catholic church. bringing women into the church. the vatican refuses to budge. revolutionaries strike out on their own. >> a personal take on music, and ties between the united states and cuba as america marked labour day with barbecues and parades. the candidates are taking the opportunity to push their messages about american workers. several contenders are mingling with voters in primary states. michael shure reports from mill ford, new hampshire.

>> reporter: new amp >> reporter: bernie sanders the only candidate campaigning in new hampshire, a state with 23,000 union members, iowa 1.1 million, hillary clinton is there, martin o'malley is there. ban bernie sanders is cementing himself as the front runner. they are feeling the burn. >> i think bernie is doing well. >> meeting him in person. it's a grassroots movement. authentic, and people are getting the message, hearing what he's saying, it's speaking to them, and they want to get behind that. >> this is all happening at the labour day parade in millford, new hampshire were not only sanders is here, but lim grand, carley fiorina. people are excited about the way he's moved into second place in the polling, and they let it show. >> you saw today it's a traditional campaign, town to town, person to person. that's what voters expected. you have great experience and a record at the federal record. balancing budgets.

he's cut taxes. he's really engaged in order to improve the economy in ohio, he's been successful. it's what people are looking for in a candidate. >> it doesn't end today, it begins, it's a short labour day parade and a long campaign trial. the people of mill ford new hampshire seem excited about it michael shure reporting. that is the view on the ground in new hampshire. the big pictures in the democratic side as the nomination race heads, front runner hillary clinton by most accounts is facing a challenge that she and her campaign have never seen or imagined. >> we are going to fight until we finely break through the barriers to equal pay for quarl work. >> reporter: for hillary clinton, the underline is troubling. as summer turns to fall, the democratic candidate has seen momentum from bernie sanders. >> we'll create an economy that works for all of us, not just of

the people on top >> reporter: the latest poll suggests that bernie sanders is leading in new hampshire, pulling ahead. the poll suggests that is sanders cut clinton's lead to 11. in july, the same polling organization had sanders behind by 24. i think the secretary's people are nervous about the enthusiasm our campaign is bringing forth. >> this labour day weakness underscored problems that hillary clinton faces. she refused to take a clear position in a transpacific partnership deal, and it's hurting the union area, the key constituency. >> when you say "i don't know whether t.p.p. is good or bad", and you don't articulate what a good one will be, i think that lessons the energy that workers derive from that.

>> meantime clinton continues to be dogged by federal and congressional investigations into her email practices when she was secretary of state. >> there's no place in america that i would rather be to kick off women than here in port smith, right here in new hampshire. >> reporter: clinton is trying to fire up her strongest supporters, that is attacking republican donald trump. >> i rather you stop cherishing women and respecting women. >> reporter: trump has been ridiculing clinton and attacking top aide on news the presidential candidate carley fiorina showed know sympathy. >> boo hoo mrs. clinton. she is the same person comparing republicans to terrorists. i wish donald trump would throw a little more heat hillary clinton's way. >> reporter: most of the action is between donald trump and

former governor jed bush. with trump leading most of the polls, bush began to release video attacking him with his own words. >> i loved in new york city and manhattan all my life. >> reporter: for his part, trump has been using mr bush's words to hit back. >> we recognise the commitment of someone who devoted her life to public service. i want to say thank you to secretary clinton and president clinton the beneficiary of the republican fight appears to be neurosurgeon carson. >> the united states of america is an absolute wonderful place. >> reporter: polls suggest the neurosurgeon is ground, and a survey indicates that he is tied with trump. top republicans meet on stage for the next g op debate. democrats are scheduled to hold

their first debate next month. >> professor and campaign manager. as far as the democratic hillary clinton, what does she has to do to change the trend lines that are favouring sanders? >> we don't know if there'll be someone like joe biden in that. hillary clinton is a good debater, joe biden is a good debater. she'll have to really try to show that the progressive left of her party, that she has their interests at heart, and is willing to take on some of the issues that he has brilliantly, and i think his campaign did a brilliant job to build on. so i think she'll have to try to answer questions about economic policies, her ties to big business, her ties to wall street and show that she is a person that could carry the mantle of progressiveness into the white house. >> it sounds like focussing on women's issues may be smart, but

it not enough. >> it's probably not enough, but it is a good starting point. that is the core of her support, women in the democratic party. she needs to make sure she is energizing them, they are enthusiast enthusiastic. you look at people going out for bernie sanders, with so much energy. you don't see the same thing with hillary clinton, she talks about the fact that she needs to be the first female history. that will galvanise young women. that's not enough. she has to build on that, she has great support in the african-american community, and latino community. she has to build on that and stake a claim in the south and in the mid west as well. she is doing well at this point, and may lose new hampshire, we don't know how shell go in io way. and if you loose new hampshire,

it could cause sa definition. you mentioned joe biden. he seemed to be the democrat most fired up, talking about economic issues. watch this from a speech in pittsburgh. >> why in god's name should a man or woman work in a steel mill making $50,000 paid at a higher rate than someone making tens of millions on wall street. i mean, i'm serious. by the way, this is not politics, this is real. this is what's changed. what's changed out there, folks, is you can't let it stand now, they went into a parade. he seemed to be having the time of his life. does that suggest that he'll run? >> sounds like a campaign speech for me, join what he'll do. maybe he'll announce later this week. that sounded like a campaign speech. that observation is joe biden is in his element, talking to big

neighbours, talking. and this is something hillary clinton doesn't bring. he is masterful is the that. that said, his poll numbers are up now. when he enters the race, he may find that once he's up for a few weeks or months, they start to drop and people will pick apart what he's done in the past. that may happen. ben carson is tying him in iowa, is ben carson a threat to donald trump, or is anything a threat to donald trump. >> i don't think carson will be a big threat. he's actually that. even the clip you paid. he's so quiet, reserved. trump... >> that's parts of the appeal. >> if you want an outsider, you go for carson. in the long run he may do well. i don't think he'll do well in the long run. i have been saying i don't think trump is.

i know you'll go against me. >> we'll see what happens. there's mention in the piece that they are coming donald trump's way, it's a critical phase in the campaign. we see what happens. professor of management. thank you the kentucky town clerk gaoled for refusing to issue a marriage lines to same-sex couples is asking for her freedom. lawyers for kim davis asked the supreme court for an accommodation exempting her from the law, saying forcing her to issue the licences is unconstitutional. she was arrested five days ago and held in contempt of court. >> there has been a development in the catholic church on the issue of marriage annulment. pope francis wants catholics to have an easier time to get marriages annulled and has written guidelines to stream line the procedure, described as complex, costly and out of date. the church does not recognise divorce, but it renders a

marriage invalid from the start. francis is expected to release the new rules tom. for some catholics, change throughout the church is not coming fast enough. francis wants a greater role for women, when it comes to the female private, the reformed pope has said no. it's not stopping some women that say they have a calling and are willing to risk excommunication. lisa bernhard is in san francisco with more. >> reporter: this vast roots most of women priests and deekons is so new that it sunday have the church to meet in. they are using this church, meeting every other seat here, and one of the women orgained as deacon by the group this weekend is going to serve right here at this church. a traditional ord niceation

ceremony for devout catholics that wish to be ordained. this ceremony is forbidden and not recognised by the church they loved. >> accept them as deekons for ministry at your alter. >> a couple of years ago. mary learnt about the organization. roman catholic priests. >> it was a light going off. wow, this is possible. >> reporter: nolan is a nurse, spending time counselling on end of life issues. >> i would be happy if we can have healing rituals. >> noel and says as a deacon, she'll be able to prey during the im -- pray during the illness, but lead the mass at her funeral.

>> there is something about being empowered by got. no one will go on camera to discuss the ceremony, saying the catholic church does not recognise them as priests and deacons, and felt that discussing it would give it legitimacy, which they hope to avoid. it's like why do you talk about it. >> of more controversy is this moment, a female bishop giving communion. the hierarchal church would say it's not recognised. >> no, they would say jesus chose and would say - it is what happened. it's a new beginning.

>> reporter: the president of the roman catholic priest organization said the pope made it clear he would not consider a change created by cannon law. but says the group will persevere. >> do you consider yourself an activist? >> we consider ourselves actsists in the movement to bring access to sacrament, and bring women into the church completely in all leadership roles. >> upon being ordained the women were automatically excommunicated from the church. >> how about knowing that you are ex-communicated. >> i have never felt for loved and part of the catholic church than i do now. >> reporter: another global group pushing for ord nation is planning a conference, coinciding with the visit.

they are asking the pope to discuss the issue of women ord nation, which he said he is not willing to discuss, being the issues is closed thank you lisa bernard. police in nepal say an american woman that travelled to the country to help and went missing was beaten to death. investigators say 25-year-old was killed by a teacher who confessed to her murder. nepalese police said the teacher beat her, put her body in a sack and dumped it in a river. the body has never been recovered there are new questions in mexico over 43 students who disappeared nearly a year ago. the mexican government says students were murdered by a drug gang. an independent analysis says that probably did not happen. >> the night mexico can't

forget. almost a year ago, police, inclusion with a local gang attacked busloads of students. in four hours of coordinated terror, they killed some, abducting 43 others. the government had hoped to head off the following wave of outrage, declaring the students were killed, and their remains burnt in a rubbish dump. but now a much-anticipated independent report from international experts who dropped a bombshell. that official version is signivicly impossible. >> translation: the group considers there's no evidence to support the hypothesis that 43 bodies were burnt there. we are not saying other things couldn't have happened, but that event as described did not occur. >> the investigators don't know where the opportunities are, or if they are alive. what is clear is that federal forces and the army were aware

and in some cases witnesses to the atrocity, but did nothing to intervene. despite this. vex can authorities didn't allow the witnesses. the government investigation in this is deeply flawed believe many. and they made little effort to get to the bottom of this. the students families have been outspoken about a lack of help. >> translation: we are going to discover the truth and find the students. that's the biggest fear the government has, they know there'll be a lot of mistakes, they hope the case will be forgotten. now the flaws are clear. experts hope that authorities will take up the lines of inquiry

minnesota dentist who killed cecil the lion says he's returning to work. walter palmer shot the animal with a bow and arrow. in an interview with the associated press, he said: he believed he acted legally. the death triggering anger and protests outside his office. there's a warning that a snake bite treatment is running dangerously low. doctors without borders says the supply of the drug will expire next june. the anti-venom medication is widely used in developing countries. the manufacturer says it's been driven out of the market by cheaper less effective products. 5 million bitten by snakes, hundreds of thousands dying every year. next, the diplomat musician. an interview and how he is

helping the united states reconnect with cuba. >> i found a quite corner and started weeping...

>> these people have decided

there's a saying that music is the only universal language. boundaries and barriers, musicians are using their arts to bridge the gap between the united states and cuba before leaders reached a deal. arturo ofarel was in havana the night the two countries said they'd restore diplomatic measures. we asked what it is like. . >> it was chaos, people went nuts. people were laughing. there were parties. tremendous emotion. i was in charge of 75 people. i found a quiet corner, i started weeping, because it was

that powerful to me. it was real. my father never saw his beloved homeland again. he never got to see this moment history when the two nations came together. i was flabbergasted. [ ♪ ] specially flabbergasted and powerful because of the role that musicians have had in forging tying between cuba and the united states? >> it's a position i would like to take credit for all of this. it's dance, theatre, food, culture. it is the prime conduit for so much of what takes place. what people eat. all comes from culture, it's a beautiful example. they need people to come up from kooub ain the past 10 years. >> there's temptation from a lot of artists to focus on art and not worry about geopolitical things that are going on.

there are musicians that take a responsibility to make it more than just justice. >> that's like living in a shell with your head in the sand. as an artist. i cannot film my voice or allow myself to not have opinions. there's a constant argument with other artists that abstract art is real art. narrative art from your life, the community is impact of the. i remember standing in front of picasso and we'd been like a child. that's when i decided i wanted to be an artist. >> your father brought afro-latin jazz to the latest, is that correct. >> he was one of the architects, a dean of afro cubans. he worked and created those relationships that began the home movement

did your father talk to you and others about historical role that they played or how he viewed himself. >> later as he became elderly and frail, he talked about cuba and his childhood. when he did, he cried. the only thing i could thing of that would make him cry. he didn't refer much to that era, the politics or the music of it. >> he didn't go back to cuba after the revolution, did he express regrets? >> he did. he was invited to cuba, and asked, he received a letter from representatives of the miami cuban community, threatening to boycott his music. he hesitate. i believe that there was - i told him it was crazy to hesitate. it was nothing to do with politics.

knowing your culture, your people, it's bigger ideology, bigger than anything you can imagine. when i touched cuba in 2001, i felt literally as if the ground was crawling up through me, grabbing my heart. there's something about stepping on to ground that your people come from, it was the most amazing thing. i feel very sad sometimes that my father was never able to continue the journey. i was proud to do it for him. >> tell us about the album, the style, what you like about it, and how it was different. >> this time we collaborated. we began a conversation in 1947, discovering that in each other's music, it was the easier for each other's music. i commission said six composers to come up with the new musical

tally. the result of the recognise in my submission of the two being from the same stream and asking to write cuba and jazz, the future. there's six different interpretations. the best recording of my career is that record. >> there's one thing you hope that people get out of this album. other than the album, what would it be? >> we are on the preface of something great. we need to ask the representatives. that we need to erase the afro latino threads throughout the americas. it's fair to say that we are all part of one land mass. and at the time we deal with that. >> a jazz musician with a new album. the conversation continues. thank you. >> thank you for having me and stay tuned. an al jazeera special report - united states and cuba - a new era - is coming up next.

that will do it for the news this hour. thank you for watching. see you at 11 o'clock. you can get the news any time of night at aljazeera.com. us tennis association. >> we're about getting rackets in children's hands... >> building the game... >> ...sky's the limit for growing tennis in america. >> and expanding access to play... >> at the end of the day, it's about the kids... >> every tuesday night. >> i lived that character. >> go one on one with america's movers and shakers. >> we will be able to see change. >> gripping. inspiring. entertaining. "talk to al jazeera". only on al jazeera america.

♪ >> cold war adversaries, bringing ahalf century of standoff to a close. >> diplomatic relations with cuba. >> raising flags and lifting hopes on both shores. the signs of change on the streets of cuba.