matters leaders have subconsciously built upon both the black power and black panther movements. last point i will make about the past resonating with the president, -- resonating -- that present continues to be powerful today is in the form of what is known as southwest humor. it relates to the tall tale, tough talk, bombastic confidence, ended is a form of representation based on the parity and imitation, and at best it becomes a burlesque that invokes a certain degree of in the imitation becomes amusing so it reaches a broad audience. but it highlights or exposes the contradictions and absurdities of culture. tall tales and confidence men circulate and resonate in american culture in those areas n which there are great -- those eras in which there are great incongruent these, a profound separation between the ideal and the real, especially between, accredit dreams and social and economic realities. activists and protesters using -- great activist using burlesque humor "huckleberry, finn" capturing the post revolutionary movement, the counterrevolution after the end of reconstr

black women's alliance. when we think about how the white public is perceiving civil right, it is going to be for the most part negative. it is interesting to remember that martin luther king jr. by 1968 is not the same mainstream hero is in 1964 when he accepts the nobel peace prize. by 1968, king is touring the country like a man on fire critiquing the johnson administration about the vietnam war, trying to galvanize support for a multi-racial poor people's campaign. planning to go in washington and stay in washington until congress passes meaning full anti-poverty legislation. we have congress persons who had praised king after winning the who werece prize saying he was an anarchist and anti-social and unamerican. in 1968, there is a feeling of doom as if the subversives have taken off. -- taken over. what is interesting, and this is one of the things that dr. king says. he starts to feel that even white liberals are abandoning the movement because so many white americans are embracing this notion of peac

blacks in the u.s. still face many challenges their unemployment rate is double that of the white population there are also twice as likely to live in poverty only twenty three percent of black people over the age of twenty five have a college degree and nearly half a million black americans are in jail more than any other ethnic group. let's now bring in our panel from memphis tennessee we have with us the reverend bernard lafayette he's a lifelong civil rights activist who was appointed by martin luther king jr to direct the alabama voter registration project in one thousand nine hundred sixty two in new york vincent warren is the executive director of the center for constitutional rights also in memphis joining us a tammy sawyer she's a social justice activist and a director of diversity and cultural competence at teach for america welcome to you all thanks for joining us on inside story bernard lafayette if i may start with you you were a long time civil rights activist you worked with the you knew

. >> what has been expressed by young people and not only black lives matter ptest and black youth haven protesting over the issue ofun g violence and they've been protesting over the issue for years and has nothing to do with the students in parkland and what they're speaking to again is how pervasive racism is and that racism is so pervasive that it manifests in how people show empathy for people. another example recently is the bombings in austin. we had a white terrorist sending bombs through packages in the mail and there seemed to be as much or even more empathy for the terrorist than for the black victims, and so again, it's really just highlighting the pervasive, really insidious nature of racism in america. >> and christiane, if i can chime in on that because brie is hitting such an important point, racism is so embedded into every institution in this country, just give you two examples. when tamir rice was shot within ten seconds of a police officer pulling up to him in ohio park, the officer called in we just shot 18-year-old with a gun and tamir was 14 years old. there's dat

never asking why black poverty? why black paint?eally wanted to do that and i asked my husband to document some things for me and pull images, which he did. i'm going to show you a little film that really talks about the roots of black poverty and pain that continue on today. and also, healing is possible. you will see that in the time that was allotted to me to speak which is about eight minutes i said i would take. thank you. if we can dim the lights appear i think we can see the screen. [video] the villages and communities were bound by the belief that family and the elders were to be revered. that always for the children for they mattered most. but the pillaging of resources, of people over centuries, straight black lives and civilization. this is the truth of what happened to us. the story rarely told. to the americas, enslaved africans and the caribbean south-central and african-american descendents endured well over the 250 years of forced labor. we are the benefactors of the western world enormous wealth. the uncompensated l

men against black women. i'm 58 years old. my mother was a very strong black woman. she raised 11 children. she went to high school. we've always had black women who involved in this process. >> thank you for the call. kathleen cleaver. >> respond? >> go for it. >> i'm very happy to hear you acknowledge the backbone of all the movements in black justice and black freedom and antislavery have been women for several reasons and one is the intention on oppressing men was so vicious testimony almost necessary for women but the other one is that women took on that responsibility. and women leadership has been a feature of the struggle against slavery, segregation of racism and part of that is because of the role of churches in the past. no so much now. our churches are a gathering place for women who are activists, who are supporting leadership of male pastors, but certainly running these churches. so the base of social activist and political activist in black communities have been frequently is women, women organ

so ta'nehisi is land of the black, from the black land. it's generally interpreted as land. people who are located somewhere around sudan, okay. his suggestion was to deliver so that's out ta'nehisi got his name. he would always ask about ta'nehisi. when ta'nehisi begin to write he would ask about how he could never come he could never member his name, okay? how is our boy? house our boy, , you know, the e that rights. >> out of all their children acv only writer at this point? and you have what, nine children, eight children? >> i actually have nine. two of them are through marriage. they are my last acquisitions and a bring them along, you know? i have seven biological children, but i have nine. it's interesting because i don't think ta'nehisi, the kids used to always right, and his sister, his younger sister -- his older sister, i'm sorry, i always thought would be the writer. she was the one they used to have notebooks full of writing and writing and writing. ta'nehisi used to do a lot of rap and then he, as he went to how he did a lot of poetry. he hung out with a treme

socks, they each have a black glove, and they raise the black power symbol. it is interesting because that was a powerful, iconic moment, but they were kicked out at the olympic village, stripped of their medals, vilified in the mainstream by the 1990's, san jose state, where they were athletes, had erected statues in their honor. really, over a quarter of the century, they were denied employment, the access and opportunities that they should have been afforded because they made this human rights protest. for them, what they were in solidarity with was indigenous people all over the world who were being oppressed, including african americans in the united states, but all people all over the world, the third world, people of color, and others of press. in a way, when we think of smith and carlos, they anticipated what happened to colin kaepernick and where his protest against police brutality and against racial injustice became reinterpreted as an indictment in this anti-american act, when what he was trying to do was really unveil and sheds light on contempor

some of the black people did so and a journalist noted that after the white crowd had parted, the blacks that had been waiting outside "summed up for jen began timidly to approach -- summoned up courage and began timidly to approach. andpresident greeted them they laughed and wept, exclaiming through their blinding tears, god bless you, god bless abraham lincoln. home town ofent's springfield, a scandalized democratic editor asked rhetorically -- are not such scenes at the white house disgusting? when will the white people of country awaken to such a shame that the dominant party is bringing upon us by the establishment of social equality of the negro? -- thewaukee daily news fact that negroes flocked to other rooms of the white house. so, that is three examples of black people coming to the white house. after new year's 1865 reception, the ban on black guests was reinstituted at white house levees, at least those given by mrs. lincoln. sojourner truth was turned away from the first lady's reception on february 25, 1865. a white woman who is president that event recorded in her diary tha

it was black men, not blacks generally.if you want to say something about that the second question was more to you in terms of what we can do besides voting. i got the impression he wanted you to speak to entrepreneurship. connect that question to wealth building. we only use homeownership as. the next question got back to the home mortgages products. 50th anniversary of the, of the fair housing act is coming up. we know fair housing has not been achieved in this country. what do we need to be doing beside meeting with mel watt next friday, tell him hi. my old boss. final question, what can we do to address particularly issues facing african-american males in this country. you can take it in that order? >> on the 14th amendment, and the electoral college i really do agree with many people that the electoral college is antiquated, out of date, unnecessary and, it was put there of course to equalize, as the 3/5 clause was to equalize all these concerns about slaves and some states having too much population based on the amoun

ta'nehisi is of the black land or land of the blacks from the black land. the ta is land, and it's generally interpreted as land of. nehisi refers to people located somewhere around sudan, okay? and his suggestion was to do that, and so that's how ta'nehisi got his name. and he would always ask about ta'nehisi as he grew, but when he began to write, he could never, he could never remember his name, okay? [laughter] how is our boy? how's that boy? you know, the one that writes. [laughter] but, yeah, he was a good friend -- >> host: out of all of your children, is he the only writer at this point? and you have, what, nine children, eight children at this point? >> guest: i actually have nine, two of them are through marriage. they're my last acquisitions, and i'm bringing them along. so i have seven biological children, but i have nine. so it's interesting because i don't think ta'nehisi was the writer. the kids used to always write. but his sister, his younger sister -- his older sister, i'm sorry, i always thought would be the writer. she was the one that u

men against that women --pit black men against black women.y family has those had black women involved in the process. host: response? kathleen cleaver: i am happy to hear you acknowledge that we had the backbone of these movements have in women for several reasons one of which is that the attention on a pressing man was so vicious that what was necessary for women -- women took on the responsibility, women leadership has been a feature of the struggle against slavery segregation and racism. part of that i think is the church, the role of churches in the past, not so much now, church is a gathering place for and whoo are activists support the leadership of male pastors, but essentially running the church. the place of social activism and political activism in black communities very frequently is women, women organizations and women leaders. virginia, leesburg max is their calling from the line for the 29 and under. go ahead. host: thank you. caller: thank you for hosting this conversation, it is a great conversation. the professor mentioned be

socks, they each have a black glove, and they raise the black power symbol.t is interesting because that was a powerful, iconic moment, but they were kicked out at the olympic village, stripped of their medals, vilified in the mainstream by the 1990's, san jose state, where they were athletes, had erected statues in their honor. really, over a quarter of the century, they were denied employment, the access and opportunities that they should have been afforded because they made this human rights protest. for them, what they were in solidarity with was indigenous people all over the world who were being oppressed, including african americans in the united states, but all people all over the world, the third world, people of color, and others of press. in a way, when we think of smith and carlos, they anticipated what happened to colin kaepernick and where his protest against police brutality and against racial injustice became reinterpreted as an indictment in this anti-american act, when what he was trying to do was really unveil and sheds light on contemporar

people, changing the world for black people, being for black people.hat will change with the election of a black person or election of the person like that kkk. it's been the same for me since i started doing this. >> i think i might have to echo that. i'm not sure my work has changed at all. i have been very concerned with gender, mostly because i have walked in the skin of a black woman and i don't feel like my story is respected represented, so it's my job to tell that story and i tell it in essays. i tell it in fiction and it really really bad poetry, but i think part-- i hope we are not back there, but i'm wondering if you tiptoed into the black aesthetic question, especially during the black arts movement. if your work wasn't political than it was then to work because at the time it was we can't be fooling around with sunshine and rain bones at this juncture. we have work to do with our hearts and i hope that we don't go there this time. i feel like that was part interracial plat for an interracial gender war that women were going to talk about t

and black lives matter.her organizations with the movement for black lives continue to try to figure out what are the ways that are going to get us closer to freedom. i am excited to be in this conversation, even when it's such a painful moment in this country to challenge our ideas about what's going to push us to win. i'm interested in victory. >> and i think, michelle, by the "woke 100," which covers everyone from grassroots activists, to mayors, to women in business, shows that we are not a monolith in terms of our style or approaches, but we all are trying to do something. and that's what i think the magic of the "woke 100" in "essence" is. and, frankly, the seminars and symposiums that you've done through the years at the essence festival that you'll again do in july in new orleans. >> yes, reverend sharpton. this is a movement, and the change is critical in our lives. this is a life or death situation. we are dying. we are dying in the streets and hospitals. our schools are failing. our wealth is abys

but he's black and his father is black and they are the blackest of black, right? so give you a little clip of adam. >> i stood one day before the greatest ruler of this day. god said to moses, what's in your hand? moses said, lord, i've got a stick, that's all. he said let me use what's in your hand. and god used that slave boy with a stick in his hand to divide the red seas, marched through a wilderness, drained water out of rocks and people to freedom land. what's in your hand? what's in your hand? one with god. always. walk with him and talk with him and speak together and fight together and with god's hand in your hand, the victory will be accomplished here sooner than you dreamed, sooner than you hoped, sooner than you prayed for, sooner than you imagined. good night and god bless you. >> so adam was cool, all those things, and he led in the congress until he was unceremoniously put out of congress in the late 1960s. adam, unfortunately or fortunately had a little trouble in an island called biminy. that island seems to be a sticky place for politicians. both

god is black. and jesus is black.nd jesus seeks the empowerment of black people in that the masters need to walk away. amy: i want to go to a minute to jim conte in his own words, "theend dr. cone 2011 book cross and the lynching tree" calling the crucifixion of jesus a first century lynching. i want to turn to dr. james cone being interviewed by bill moyers in 2007. >> the lynching tree interprets the cross. it keeps the cross out of the hands of those are dominant. nobody who is lynching anybody can understand the cross. that is why it is so important to place the cross and the lynching tree together because the cross had a crucifixion, was analogous to a first century lynching. in fact, biblical scholars, when they want to describe what was happening to jesus, many of them said it was a lynching. and all i want to suggest is, if american christians said they want to identify with that cross as a lynching. anytime your empathy, your solidarity is with the lynching people, your jennifer with the cross. if you identif

we want black power! we want black power! >> black power!ssissippi this summer that carmichael with his cry for black power first became a national figure and to many a frightening one. >> we want black power. >> it's two words that come to capture a whole host of white anxieties about race and about african-american civil rights activism. >> what do you want? black power. what do you want? black power. >> it has taken off like a lightning bolt in the media. it sounds kind of aggressive. it sounds on the verge of military revolt. i mean, everybody was full of black power. it drew all the news coverage. >> in baltimore, the concept of black power. >> the issue of black power here in grenada, mississippi -- >> here in watts, black power -- >> black power. >> black power. >> black power. >> the press was fixated on the notion of violence. >> are you talking in violent analogies because you want to see a negro violent uprising? >> when stokely says "black power," he's not just whistling dixie. three white male journalists as the panel, and they'

we're an anomaly that a black writer and black illustrator produced a children's book for mainstream corporate press on a love letter to black children. we did that in part because we didn't have those exact same books growing up. and both of us are around the same age as well. so i think that one of the reasons that i decided to be a part of my role at the feminist press is that i do believe that we need systemic change in the industry as it relates to having more people who represent the reality of our full diversity and life. i would love to see an industry that looks more like what i see on the subway every day. i think that would change the books that we see and that we're reading. but the reality is that in in my of the industries that we have right now we are not represented. but i think that i have a lot of hope because we have each other, we have a community like this one, we have other people who are supportive and mentoring. and also some of the white folks who are allies who also see that this needs to be changed. but i do think that you're eliminating an important point

god is black. and jesus is black.nd jesus seeks the empowerment of black people in that the masters need to walk away. amy: i want to go to a minute to jim conte in his own words, "theend dr. cone 2011 book cross and the lynching tree" calling the crucifixion of jesus a first century lynching. i want to turn to dr. james cone being interviewed by bill moyers in 2007. >> the lynching tree interprets the cross. it keeps the cross out of the hands of those are dominant. nobody who is lynching anybody can understand the cross. that is why it is so important to place the cross and the lynching tree together because the cross had a crucifixion, was analogous to a first century lynching. in fact, biblical scholars, when they want to describe what was happening to jesus, many of them said it was a lynching. and all i want to suggest is, if american christians said they want to identify with that cross as a lynching. anytime your empathy, your solidarity is with the lynching people, your jennifer with the cross. if you identif

we're going to see black women months ago. and when she was running for governor i pulled out my checkbook and before i could send it off she said it's not my time but girl, every day is your time. every year is your time. every moment that we live it's time for us to begin to put blacks in a position to run for office and to win that office and you don't have to wait until monday to get your electric groove, you can get it in 2018. but you can get your election groove now by supporting stacy abrams who's running for governor of the state of georgia. many of you are saying donna, what did you eat? donna, i had two pieces of sausage and red wings. got to remember that. but we have the vote. we have the vote to put people in office, we have the vote ladies and gentlemen . this is women's history month, thank you for being here, we love you. continue to support us and we will continue to support you. but we have the vote. when i went downtown andthe last year , i got off. and the moved my number. they still know my number. out bo

black you know thirty. second drink. it was the speech that took a southern black movement and made it first a national movement. that involved blacks and whites and jews protestants catholics . but it was also a theme that one around the world. the dream of freedom and the whole notion of the song we shall overcome the history of be after people of african descent in america and their struggle for freedom the subs and of the speech had to do with america america giving black people a bad chick. but of course the rhetoric and the romance of i have a dream caught everybody's attention but that was merely the closing phrases but the sub's is that the speech was about america giving black people a bad check that had bounced and we wondered check made good on our citizenship and on justice. like the idea of characterizing the u.s. constitution as a check made out to all of american citizens why doesn't king use that energy at the end of a speech. it's a few hours till dawn everyone is far too nervous to sleep they all know w

support systems for black men. we know it's not a blind spot in the community. the book no jewels is about trauma. i wrote a kind of like a bizarro version of what is it-- 20 songs and-- 20 poems and son of-- you know the book. it's 18 poems up well and three of love. i'm writing the book or guy could write the book because i was able tickets ago to conquer and deal with an process by abuse. while interviewing other men for the book, a lot of people-- [inaudible] a lot of people that need a hug the drink and a collation of those things, so i began to realize that yes as a writer i have support. , i have brothers who i can write with. i can call and talk about them with. most people don't so you lean on other things. you lean on alcohol and drugs promiscuity, lying through these are the things you can lean on, so if you're witnessing-- i adopted the tools my parents gave me to do with personal oppressions i had a day worked. i was able to come out of my own trauma by using that thinks my parents told me were for glo

ownership, thousand acre allotment, black schools, black teachers, black doctors, black nurses, alllack world that my grandmother introduced me to and black and indian world that was kind of right there along side and within and it wasn't new -- until -- i actually didn't really like history growing up. it wasn't until i got to college and i had a wonderful professor craig wilder that i realized the story that i was hearing at home was very much connected to what i was seeing and not seeing in history textbooks. for instance, growing up i occasionally would read history textbooks in the 80's about trail of tears or history of slavery but it wasn't until -- it was only really through my grandmother's story that i learned about the intersection that some native americans had held slaves and african americans contributed to runs. my adviser at some point -- my father passed away but going back to oklahoma, you should do something with these and it was not. [laughter] >> because history was in many ways founded as modern history and u.s. founded on the idea of objectivity as many academ

and can black people develop black privilege?ecause abraham lincoln said at one time that privilege comes with power, and that almost every man can withstand adversity but if you want to test the character of a man, give him power. i just need to hear your input on that. and also, tell you today that you have just changed my life. you mentioned you were a computer programmer. i'm an engineer, and i've always thought about writing, but i never took interest in the political or literary readings, but after listening to you, for some reason, i don't watch this station that often. something pushed me to listen to you today. so i want to thank you. may god bless you and keep on going. with what you're doing. >> host: all right, patrick. >> guest: well, the first thing about what happened 20 years ago and today, i don't think there's a lot of difference. i think that the -- see the way i look at the world them germans, lament world war ii but the americans are happy but it but the americans lament the vietnamese war because it was mist

and so ended the days of black unity. and strategy. and for many blacks the days of black progress.d all is not well with the black people of africa and the black people around the world. they healed also the hurt of the -- of my people slightly -- sing peace when there is no peace. there is no peace. only 21 percent of blacks enrolled in college in 2009. graduated from college within the next six years. compared to 44% of whites. compared to our 21% of blacks. in the year 2015 on the 23% of african-americans held at least a college degree. compared to 33% of whites. a 5% of blacks were living at or below the poverty level in 2016. where is only 11% of whites did so. black families are less likely thanntain a married couple all other groups. only 44% of black couples compared to 80% for whites in 2011. white males are likely to live almost five years longer than black males and black man is six times as likely to go to jail. as a white man. 25% more likely to die of cancer. twice as likely to die of diabetes. we are the poorest and the sickest and the first to die. black on black ho

at the end of the day of black and for manyategy, blacks the days of black progress.ple of africa, and the black people around the world. of myave healed the hurt people slightly saying peace, p eace, for there is no peace. only 21% of blacks enroll in 2009, graduated from college with in the next six years. compared to 44% of whites. compared to our 21% of blacks. the 20 --r 2015, on only 23% of african-americans held at least a college degree. compared to 33% of whites. living25% of blacks were at or below the poverty level in 2016. so. 11% of whites did black families are less likely to contain a married couple that all other groups. only 44% of black couples compared to 80% for whites in 2011. white males are likely to live almost five years longer than black males. a black man is six times as likely to go to jail as a white man. 25% were likely to die of cancer. twice as likely to die of diabetes. we are still the poorest and the sickest and the first to die. black on black homicide or murder is a leading cause of death among one each group of young black men. li

host: how is it for black men versus black women? guest: you know, listen, there's no versus.en there's no versus between black women and black menac. i think black men, people are more afraid of black men,or, more afraid of their anger and also more afraid of what has happened to them. the responses women at least people think it's usually not violent when something's been done bad to, but man it is, so black men have been kept out of the hero category. that's one of the things i feel, even in the greatest black literature in america of the 20th century, the black characters were less euros and more protagonists p, the people richard wright wrote about or do know anyone. you didn't have that person that you would say want to know the guy, want to be that guyha , i want that guy to protect me. host: you right in the book that industry becomes the next plantation. what did you mean by that?id guest: i don't remember writing that. that was 28 years ago, but i think that people -- when i hear it i feel like i know that yeah, it's your l

kennedy was popular among black hostess. but the attorney general has been tenuous and his support for the march on washington is afraid things will turn violent. what he doesn't know is that white racists have destroyed the seventy five thousand dollars sound system set up at the lincoln memorial hoping to provoke a violent reaction from the marchers. cames team is dismayed and angry how can they repair the damage by morning. when it was very clear that we had a disaster on our hands if the hundred thousand people gathered and there is no way to hear the speakers. i quarterly pick up the phone that e.b. and called bobby kennedy at home. and said thank you for all that you've done to get prepared for this match but the fact is we have a major crisis down the contract says the cables have been damaged by someone. to the extent that it can't be repaired by tomorrow and we need help. bobby kennedy immediately informs the president essentially army signal corps to repair the sound system. as a precaution against possible further

one white, one black. which strongly affected me they're twin sisters i'm wondering how thought of that might affect you guys -- [inaudible conversations] >> anybody want that one? [laughter] >> i'm like you it is interesting. very interesting. >> well, i mean, it's interesting too that they chose to represent it through women that's certainly about the moment that we're in. in terms of a political conscienceness to understand racism through the lens of women or two sisters or two young girls in that focus in that way. but beyond that -- >> i'm thinking of twin studies and sadly we can predict that there are different fates for those two people have so much in common that -- >> different experiences. >> separation -- given our climate. >> different. down front. wait for the magic microphone. >> we're going to run these volunteers ragged by the time we're done. so i think -- thing question is for ashley. reading about the nation of islam and, you know, sort of role that women play in that organization, obvi

the black, the brown and the white of my room. and i ask who is it that must make the change that we need. and they talk about the government. they talk about the system. they talk about our economics. and our juries. and they tell me of their lives, their fears, their boyfriends and their fathers, our illness and our poverty, their rights and their desires, how none are ever safe in the room becomes their last surrender while they wait for me to teach. i say this is the part where you wait for me to synthesize your word, and tell you what to do and every face grows hopeful. just if you did the night before. before you knew what you have always known, and knowing the truth doesn't save us, and take a sip of water and tell them every true thing i know, that they are the power who will save what needs saving a dancer the next question with more and more questions asking until time is up. [applause] >> much of the writing that i have done doesn't provide the reader with answers, doesn't save the day or dictate response, when i'm lead

when i went down to alabama, i said, that is a black woman. 1, 2, 3, that is a black woman. barbara, i see you here, so you know i'm going to keep my mouth clean today. she is such a great preacher. i heard you. i heard you lift up the name of jesus. i heard you calling out all the angels and saints to come over here and bless the food and all the speakers. i said, think the lord i just missed all the other blessings. barbara, i love jesus christ treated i believe in jesus. every time people tell me about jesus, i say let me tell you why i follow jesus every day. what was his first miracle? thank you there are much. i follow him every day. when he turns that line -- water into wine, he listened to his mother. he got the party started. i'm a christian. love the lord. it has been going on for a while. i am getting deeper into the history of cabernet. i know you will be quoting second corinthians. but i quote another chapter in the bible, and that miracle. when hazel called me and said i need you to come, she's been doing this for eight years. when she asked me to come this yea

people, black men don't -- black women don't like black men and black men don't read. they were wrong but the fact they were saying it made it true because the wouldn't publish my book. then i wrote devil in a blue dress, and the publisher said this is great, black detective. then they said we don't want to just buy one book, we'll by two. so the decision was made by the publisher it would be a series. >> in you describe easy rawlins as a gun in one pocket and a short fuse in the other. >> guest: that's -- i think a lot of our heroes that are on battlefronts and i think race in america is one of the battle funs, has to be willing to explode into violence and to defend themselves, but how they make decisions on whether or not to do it, and also to try to control that temper, that's the point. in moby dick, the cook is throwing off the side and sharks in this feeding frenzy and the chef starts to lecture them and says, angels are just sharks that have learned to control their appetite. trying to the the sharks they don't have to be what they are. i think that's what you

it changes how black women were thought of, and black -- and back then, 1968, we had four black men and publishing with no experience, and we try to raise money. we put a business plan together. if i had the money, i may not have been talking to you now. [applause] >> you found a way out of no way to do more with less. martina, you wear a number of different hats in the media landscape. part of your work is in public radio. public radio, despite being public, and i think to be just very frank, and not at all pandering, they are much more diverse. but in many cities, there is a color line in public media where you expect there to be a greater public, but it is underrepresented in many cities in public radio. tell us what you do to deal with what is sometimes a color line in public media, not just here in detroit, but your work that helps foster other people's. >> i do a couple of things. i am board chair of an organization that brings together ethnic, immigrant journalists of color from across the country, and we nurture and mentor them. we aggressively find them and bring them together

she asked me, how did you get involved with starting a black -- magazine for black women? one "essence" came into being in 1970, black women were thought about as loudmouth, poor come on welfare. happened, i'm -- it was a seed in 1968. fourme into being because black men had an idea, to celebrate the beauty and intelligence of black women. werether women's magazines not dealing with the aspirations and beauty of black women. it gave us a niche of opportunity to try to tell this story. what we see now in terms of "black panther," for example. i hope everyone has seen black panther. more importantly, incredible black women. i think that this speaks volumes and changes the dynamic between how black women are thought of. blackhen, you had four men, no experience with publishing, who try to do something in terms of raising money. we put a business plan together. we put a business plan together, we were undercapitalized. it is amazing what you can do with less. >> we found a way out of no way to do more with less. you know, martina, you have a number of different hats and part o

and i have a dream speech call for a quality among blacks and whites in the us but how will historians and social justice activists today remembering the iconic figure especially in the current political climate joining us to discuss this incident louis missouri referent our psyche a food seeker who is an activist past musician and ofa in ithaca new york russell rick that professor of history at cornell university he's also the author of we are an african people independent education black power and of radical imagination in chicago gen jackson a doctoral candidate in black politics at the coldness for teen vogue magazine out in san francisco to tell injure and author good to have you here everybody welcome great to see let me show you this review the macneil all that's talked about m.l.k. for the most part of their relations on the judge people by the content of a coward not the color of their skin and that's important but by no means complete and save do we have an m.l.k. jr problem russell you teach students about him. we absolutely have. we don't know all every ok the man or the yo

writers from the black writers co

corps were black. we want to get off the record with him. and i am shocked about it. we wanted it off the record. many of the mainstream journalists received off the record with the president, go into the oval office and talk with him and he knows who you are. i run into him in the hallway and say you need to call me by my name and he did. we needed those 1-on-1 like the abcs, major news organizations, he wanted to talk about his race initiative was floundering. we wanted off the record. you want to give us that. we are going to appeal to the senses, what he likes, soul food. it is true and he comes to me all the time. remember the show, the dinner we had? that is why i have a heart attack, that is not why you had your heart attack. i did a jesse jackson impersonation really well but i can't anymore. when you are around these people you get to know their rhythms or whatever. john kennedy junior's funeral, and it will throw things off the table. we didn't think we were going to have the dinner because s

the whole black nation has to be put together as a black army.g to walk on this nation, on this racist -- we are going to say to the government stick them up. >> so notice who wasn't represented in some of the images. martin luther king junior, okay. there was this sense among the more militant, very militant side of the black community that once again, you had to strike fear among whites because that was the only way to equalize the fear that whites had enforced upon blacks for so many years. so observing all of this and seeing what was going on was martin luther king junior and he saw a fire starting to burn in black culture. he was worried that it was going to get out of control. so one thing he did in 1968, late march early april. he went to memphis, tennessee. he went there to help the sanitation workers with their plight. to him, poverty and economic justice was central to his vision of civil rights. it was not just about desegregating public accommodations, water fountains and bathrooms and lunch counters. it was about economic justice and