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app giving your unfiltered view of what's happening in washington, live and on-demand. keep up with the day's biggest events with the live streams of floor proceedings and hearings from congress, white house events, the courts, campaigns and more for the world of politics all at your fingertips. you can stay current with the latest episodes of washington journal and find scheduling for c-span network and c-span radio. plus a variety of compelling podcast. it c-span now is available in google play. it downloaded for free today. c-span now, your front row seat to washington, anytime, anywhere. >> we focus on martin luther king, holiday. we are joined by spencer overton who is a professor of law in washington university at the capital, focusing on voting rights. he is the president of the joint center for political and economic studies. we understand you are stepping

down from that rule this spring, but what does your organization focus on? spencer: in many ideas and policy debates are driven by research organizations which we call think tanks. some focus on conservative issues, like the heritage foundation. some focus on prevent -- progressive issues for like center of american progress. some focus concerning to particular people like women, or rural communities. the joint center is america's black think tank. we focus on the unique challenges that face lack communities. the organization was founded in 1970 after the passage of the voting rights act. to help black activists move from protest policy, from outsiders to become elected officials. the past 53 years we helped set up that black caucus, that black caucus state legislatures and advance and left up research and

ideas. recently, our work focused on issues critical to the future of black communities. issues like expanding broadband, preventing harmful information on tech platforms, expanding workforce training and facility economic mobility and ensuring diversity amongst top political appointees in government. you can check us out at joint center.org. >> it is a track record and agenda of yours as a joint center. bill: where would you say the country is in since the death of the death of mlk for economically and politically for equality? spencer: we made progress sense the assassination of dr. king. structural inequalities still exist. this is a problem that has been

at play for 400 years. it is not just a scenario of black folks having less education or something like that. one study shows that the typical household is black is headed by a college grad, has less wealth is in the white household headed by someone who does not have a high school diploma. you would assume of everything were equal, more education would equate in higher returns for income. certainly hard works important, education is important, mobility is important, but we have to recognize you have work to do. bill: of the woodson center, and he focused on the moral issues facing the black community. you see more than jeopardy or

the american public as a whole? spencer: moral issues are important for all of us in terms of individuals. i think they are important in terms of us as a nation. we talk about, i am thinking about on it is mlk day, the residents of the black rural south. these are rural counties with significant black populations in the south. just this last week, many of these areas, like selma alabama -- selma, alabama were hit with tornadoes and suffered death and loss. this was tragic in part because these communities are already so fragile. the black children live in prep -- poverty compared to 20% of children. there are less jobs, health care, broadband. i think we have a moral

obligation to ensure that these communities are not just fixed from a tornado. we want to support the red cross and help with immediate relief, but we want to invest in infrastructure so these areas are a part of our future. they were essential in terms of the forced unpaid labor that resulted in the united states being an economic super tower in terms of cotton being over 50% of our exports for the first six decades of the 1800s. the insurance companies and textile mills and banks and a whole host of other industries growing out of the ancestors of the folks who live in places like the black rural south. i think we want to rain those communities in as well as other communities in place like west

virginia were coal are closed down. laces like the midwest, industrial midwest. we are great on this country in terms of innovation. we need to be more deliberate and how we are inclusive and include these so there is an economic future. bill: the response, sounds like there is similar issues facing many of our rural communities that face inner-city. spencer: i think that is right. one thing that is unique is broadband in the black rural south is about 38% of black folks in the rural south do not have broadband. that is compared to 22% of other world residents added 22% of black folks nationwide. black folks in the south are facing unique challenges that we have to grapple with.

there is some commonalities, and what is important as we understand some of our common challenges. it is also important we do not ignore the unique challenges faced by black communities and black rose south or tribal populations and to their history and contemporary life that many folks on reservations are living. we got similarities, we also want to recognize the differences and ensure everyone has an opportunity. spencer: our lines are open for questions. (202) 748-8000 four democrats and 202 8000 and four for republicans and independents is (202) 748-8002. if there is focus on capitol

hill on pushing voting rights let -- legislation. a year since the 22 election has passed, what is on the capitol hill to pass voting rights legislation and changes made to voting in states across the country, where are we? spencer: we are in a place -- it was a mixed bag for election deniers. on one hand many prominent election deniers lost as in arizona, but there are many, over half the election deniers who want. -- one. we face the threat of restrictive voting laws. one thing we are facing is our nation is becoming more diverse, and with so many people calling for racial justice and seeing an increase in cultural anxiety.

the anxiety is feeling election outcome to now. disregard for the rule of law, intimidation and violence like on january 6. this is not black-and-white, but it is between different communities of color. in l.a. for example we saw l.a. city council members using anti-black rhetoric during redistricting. our founders unfortunately do not conceive of people of color participating in politics. many of our institutions were not designed to facilitate multiracial democracy. they exacerbated our challenges. you talk about the u.s. senate which is not representative of the diversity of our population. wyoming is not diverse has less than 2% of the population of diverse california, but they have the same representation in the senate and the senate is

where we sell voting rights legislation's blocked. states have used gerrymandering in an unprecedented wave to dilute the voting strength of people. the supreme court is weakening the voting rights act, and we will see what they do with the current case in 2023. we are at a crossroads, we have to figure out a way to build institutions that allow us to develop cross racial coalitions and to respect the differences of folks, but respect and recognize our commonalities and come together to solve emerging problems. bill: let's get to calls. we have robert in worcester, massachusetts, democrats. >> good morning. one thing i would like to say it with the speech of dr. martin luther king, i had a dream.

let me tell you something. that was just a dream with no reality attached to it at all. the naacp is a great foundation. now that was a group of people that helped us out the civil rights in voting rights and all types of things. now have we these last two gentlemen on tv trying to tell and go to washington to tell them how to vote. al sharpton but him -- if a black man got killed and made national tv, i will guarantee you al sharpton and they would be there to sue for money. i graduated in 1976. -- black, white, we all -- no

problems whatsoever. until we got ronald reagan. ronald reagan was developed -- governor of california. he broke up and did mississippi with john. the next thing you need to do is get rid of kate on the fbi's elbow. bill: several things, spencer. spencer: we focus on data and research, and we think it is important to informing public policy in making good decisions. i know both reverend sharpton and ben crump. both of them have put other things on hold in their lives, including personal gain to give voice to the voiceless.

to show up when folks are at sign's of crisis. it has not just been for african-americans, but for various other folks. this is not, but want to be on the record there. bill: let's hear from david in englewood, new jersey, republican. >> i have two questions. first i want to know what your organization with regards to the crisis in terms of black root -- kids reading levels. across the board, black kids are wave low grade level. no one ever talks about this situation. all this emphasis on this book is not going to be in this library it -- and is being banned, even if the books were there, the kids are not on grade

level in terms of reading. my second question has to do with all these black politicians in office for decades, and we do not see the economic impact of this. for years, the joint the senate was called the joint center for political studies. and economic. in terms of the economy we have ourselves as victims and start thinking as investors. you talk about the economic plight of college black compared to white only finished high school. you do not look into the majors of these students. i'm not saying there is no racism, there is. there is discrimination. at the same time we need to look at our reading levels, math levels and you would have to

look at these urban school systems where i grew up in chicago. the democrats have controlled chicago for 100 years. bill: a couple questions there spencer over 10. spencer: i agree economic mobility is important. we focus on the future. we found a 20% -- 27% of black workers are concentrated in 30 jobs at high risk automation. these are cashiers, retail and office clerk. many other black workers are in low-wage, low benefit jobs. we develop career pathways so people in these low-wage jobs can get a certificate that allows them to get a high-paying job and an associates degree and bachelors. someone might move from home health care to being in medical assistance. and becoming a medical technician and a nurse.

the gap between graduation rate, community college doubled percentage points from seven to 11, over two thirds borrowed for a. to -- nine the racial disparity as well. evaluations of programs. comes by. if the programs are black workers. agree that. should focus on economic mobility. not just black communities, but eliminate racial -- that can translate into an additional

$2.7 trillion per year of gdp. according -- that is a 13% boost in our gdp for business, taxpayers, collectors and creativity is and share our needs in the economy. it is low cost in brown and in the case of -- based on that.

>> black pert -- political participation. in a number of ways. also has a deleterious effect on those who might not want that on what do you think the future looks like as far as challenges

gerrymandering, and how strong republican legislatures get more political power? thank you for calling in. i will take this moment to shout out to hampton university our home by the sea area we have a great new president and i encourage people to check out >> they made a decision to not terms of partisan redistricting. it is not a function -- the gerrymandering. this gerrymandering section two of the voting rights and they can scale it is 2013 becoming.

a judicial function here can't and gerrymandering. this problem alabama and shelby county versus holder. that was section four and five. they can scale back section two. now we have fewer elected officials of color in legislative bodies. there are a variety of neutral alternatives. folks are starting to talk about. different alternative vote systems, rank-choice voting,

multimember districts in a variety of solutions. they are affiliating with who they want to affiliate with. , one interesting thing it is it is a libertarian is you do not want government manipulating things. you want actual voters to affiliate with each other. bill: what would you say to our viewers who tweets and says it would be nice if we stuck with the spinach lies on voter suppression. states like georgia have three to four weeks of early voting, mail-in ballots, when you have a record turnout that is not suppression and it had them to pull the all-star game.

>> it is relative. we do not know what turnout would have been absent those laws. we do not know. we know that black turnout was low in places like louisiana. there was a consistent senate race in georgia -- not change election outcomes. just as folks want the liberty to carry a gun, there is this liberty to express one's dissatisfaction with government through the vote. and voter restrictions prevent that. that is something we have to deal with. the demographic change in the fact our nation is changing it is an entrenchment piece for taking america back as opposed to recognizing we want everybody

with a legitimate participant to participate and engage in terms of our democracy. bill: we go to the independent-minded here from barbara new york city. >> good morning. what does the choice centers position on the idea of tax exemption for reparation? spencer: thank you for that question. we focused on playspace solutions like investing in the black rural south and expanding broadband. certainly, there are things we can work on like expanded ei cc, earned income tax credit so which working people are not taxed into poverty and expand that. any of our solutions have been

placement, like that black rural south. org made it disproportionately on recognize the challenges that black folks have in front of them. we have not taken a position in terms of tax exemption as a form of reparations. bill: atlanta with maria on democrats line. >> good morning. my concern is with the gun laws which the parties seem to to be that interested. i know laws can change, and i've seen them change over decades. why is it a stronger force when they do not like to touch it? the gun laws in america are terrifying on the concrete. why is there not a strong 12 -- force of trying to get it to change.

i will take america serious with gun laws when they get to japan. 10 killings a year. and when killing. it is ridiculous when the gun laws are not strong or talk about it. politics. i will lose my will. it is ridiculous with the gun laws. bill: is that something the joint center has looked into and taken a position? spencer: we have focused on gun laws. we have a report from 2015. i think it is a complex topic. certainly there value reasonable restrictions. we recognize folks have gone hunting with parents, and two there is something that is deep there. there are some people who feel

self protection is an important value. there are a lot of folks who are dying due to easy access to guns. especially compared to other nations. one data point is many of the gun victims are black and black males. a disproportionately large amount. like over half. the most gun deaths are white folks, and that is the result of the disproportionately large percentage of folks who who are victims of suicide. they have a handgun, they think they will be safer as a result of images they may have seen on the news. they unfortunately are victims

of suicide. it is a unique, complex issue where people think they are making themselves more safe, and actually making themselves more dangerous. they are submitting themselves to danger from bringing the gun into the home. it is a complex issue and both sides are very well organized. this debate will go on for a while. we will hear bill: we will hear from cheryl next to republican color. >> i am a 58-year-old black woman. i love my country. my husband and i are successful because we do not subscribe to this victim mentality that black ministers and democratic party has. my son went to i and iv league school. they are all from nigeria because they do not take part in this victim mentality, and to look at yourself. how did you become successful?

i'm sure you worked hard in school, he took advantage of opportunities. when you tell people they are -- there's so much racism you cannot make it. i agree with the foundation you have to have the correct values and attitude. when you say ben crump gave up personal gains to do good. he makes a lot of money by being a rabble-rouser. i disagree with everything. spencer: i great in america. it is what we are about. there have other things ben crump can do then he currently does. there is a moral component to what he does, but let me put that aside for a moment. i agree it is an important initiative. it is incredibly important, and things are not divorced from structural issues.

even laws that do not mention race can seem great can expand racial which created the middle class but it expanded racial disparities, african-americans cannot take advantage of this guarantee because of racially restrictive covenants. as well as redlining they cannot take advantage of the tuition benefit because they were not allowed in several schools in terms of the north and the south. so we don't want to repeat the g.i. bill by passing laws -- and opportunities. and actually leave some communities out. what we're talking about his policy and talking about how do we think about policy which is a

collective exercise and that is something that's related to but distinct to a certain extent from our personal habits. initiative, hard work, being ethical and moral. those are all incredibly important characteristics i think we agree, i agree with you on that. host: our guest, and also the outgoing president of the joint center for political and economic studies, spencer overton thank you for being with us. spencer: thanks for having me. c-span's washington journal, everyday we take your calls live from the air and we discussed policy issues that impact you. coming up tuesday morning we will talk about some goals within the house and the commitment to america.

first discussion of energy and climate policy goals with reporter jail holston and later we will talk about the republican proposals to tackle inflation and bolster the economy with competitive enterprises. watch washington journal live at seven eastern tuesday morning on c-span or on c-span now our free mobile video app. join the discussion with your phone calls, comments and tweets. c-span is your unfiltered view of government we are funded by these television companies and more. including cox.