NLP at CBCF’s Annual Legislative Conference 2025

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Native Lampod is a production of iHeartRadio in partnership with
Reason Choice Media.

Speaker 2 (00:05):
Welcome, Welcome, Welcome, Welcome, Welcome, Welcome, Welcome home. Y'all, this
is Native Lampid. We are live from the Walter E.
Washington Convention Center here in Washington, DC, and we couldn't
be more thrilled to be joined by two very special people.
Andrew and I are the host today. Andrew and I
are the host today, and we are joined by our
friend Roland Martin, and we are the backup dancers for

(00:30):
Tivity Cross who joined us. Y'all. She ran from the train,
but she's here. She made it and we couldn't be
more thrilled to be here for the Phoenix Awards. How
y'all doing?

Speaker 3 (00:37):
You came from the train.

Speaker 4 (00:39):
My train was delayed out of New York an hour
and I'm thank you.

Speaker 2 (00:44):
I see that's how you need a good friend to
tell you.

Speaker 4 (00:46):
Yeah, listening to you and I has a run home,
get dressed and literally run here.

Speaker 2 (00:51):
I couldnt find my shoes, so I'm in sneed you
look at a lot. That's all that and you know
what that means. You're gonna save your feet Unlike the
rest of I'm surprised.

Speaker 4 (00:59):
You have some is I didn't like any you take
it to see these guys before we come on air.

Speaker 2 (01:03):
But gorgeous. You guys will be able to see her
full attire.

Speaker 3 (01:06):
Hopefully than surprises them.

Speaker 4 (01:10):
I could not find them. Bro, you look handsome as always.

Speaker 2 (01:15):
He is.

Speaker 5 (01:16):
Let's get.

Speaker 2 (01:20):
You even got on the sweater on the shirt. I
love that the lion kick Disney, y'all all rolling some money?
You got Mofosa on the shirt? Okay, school mascot, Okay,
but I'm not calling Mufasa if I say it's Mufasa.
The Lion's name is MUFAs. I love that.

Speaker 4 (01:41):
Tell you guys, was saying, where are you guys set up?
I'm like, I'll let you know when I get there.

Speaker 2 (01:46):
Well, we are really thrilled to be here, y'all. There's
so much happening right now in this country. You all
know that the conference theme is made for this moment.
I have been ending all of my panel discussions this
week saying, please tell me why you're made for this moment.
Can you say made for this moment? Because and fill
in the blank. And I've left to hear that from you.
Roland Martin we'll start with you and we'll go down

(02:07):
the line.

Speaker 3 (02:08):
Made for this moment, because this is what I was
born to do. That's song one thirty nine. So somebody
asked me, they like, well, how do you deal with
all of this? I said, well, well, this is what
you were supposed to do. Then you understand what the
focus is and so not getting to not getting freaked out,

(02:29):
but being completely focused on what it is that we
have to communicate to our people in this moment.

Speaker 2 (02:34):
I love it. I like that, mister Mayor, my forever governor. Yeah,
tell us why you were made for this moment, made
for this moment.

Speaker 6 (02:41):
Because made for this moment, because God has made it
such that I've spent some good.

Speaker 5 (02:46):
Time on my mental energy.

Speaker 1 (02:48):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (02:48):
And I think we.

Speaker 6 (02:50):
Oftentimes expect our leaders to sort of get out there,
run the race without any renewal. Yeah, And the truth
is is we can't win that way.

Speaker 5 (02:59):
So mental health is in the right place.

Speaker 2 (03:00):
I feel, Yeah, TI, what about you? Okay, I was
moderating for a little bit and I can't.

Speaker 4 (03:08):
I think I was made for this moment because it's
a time for information informing people. All of our information
can't come in sound bites. Or social media. It's a
time for reading books. And so I hope that every
time people hear from me that I'm informing them in
some kind of way.

Speaker 2 (03:24):
Absolutely are tip. The survey says you do. We just
surveyed more than six hundred of our listeners and y'all
absolutely agreed that this is the news Lady for the time,
and so we're so grateful. I'll tell you all, I
feel like I'm made for this moment because I was
able to pivot. I walked into this year on the
other side of Martin Luther King Day when this man

(03:45):
was sworn in to take the you know, the oath
of office, allegedly, and I felt like just so much resentment.
And I was able to turn that rage into powerful
passion and try to mobilize our community. And I couldn't
have done that without great partners like y'alls. I just
want to thank you Roe. First of all. I'll say
this to you and we and TIF and I talk

(04:06):
about it all the time, Andrew as well. You put
so many young black voices on that have never been
heard on air, and for many of us, including me,
You're not gonna make me emotional today. Some goa look
this way. I know, but I'm just saying looking at
your face and just knowing the importance. Oh yeah, black boy,
don't call on a forefather.

Speaker 3 (04:26):
Here's that damn all.

Speaker 2 (04:28):
But no, but Roland gives so many of us opportunities,
and you don't always get the recognition, the honor and
the flowers you deserve. So thank you so much for
putting us on, for trusting us, and for being a
light to us on our issues. You might not be
I to be wells, but maybe your ego or be wells.
But for that we I mean.

Speaker 3 (04:47):
The thing is, and this is what I think people
need to understand. It was all intentional.

Speaker 7 (04:53):
I was.

Speaker 3 (04:54):
I am intentional. When I meet people and I look
at them, I go, all right, let's put them on
a show and see what they do. Because it took
four and a half years for me to get hired
at CNN. I was there six years. I did. I
did all those networks for free for four and a

(05:14):
half years.

Speaker 2 (05:15):
Jesus.

Speaker 3 (05:16):
So I watched how the producers and the bookers they
were gatekeepers, and that were amazing people who I thought
could have been amazing voices who never got a shot.
So I said, even when I guess hosted I'm putting
folks on and I said, when I get my own show,
we're gonna do that. I never forget one of the

(05:36):
I think it was at twenty sixteen, twenty ten election.
One of those it Waswens sixteen. So seeing in hired
like eight or nine people who are regular payelists on
our TV one show now tweeted, I said, Jeff Zucker,
you can hire every persons on my show. I'm good.
I'm gonna go find a whole new crop that you
can go hire all of them and find a whole
new crop. And so what I keep telling our people

(05:59):
don't get a position of power and then you don't
use it and you're not intentional in doing it. And
so I'm not going to release the names, but in
the next month and a half, they're two sisters who
are going to be launching shows on a network. One
will be a daily show, one won't be a weekly show.

(06:20):
Of course, we just launched Bria Baker and jamiir Burley show,
the Other Side of Change, same thing, you know, two millennials.
And I made it clear that I'm looking for gen
z voice as well, because what I also never understood
were black people who have black platforms who didn't understand

(06:41):
that you have to cultivate the next generation with your platform.
Is stupid to me to build something and then when
you retire, it goes away and so all that infrastructure,
all of that stuff that came with it, and so
that that so it was all intentional from day one
and it still is.

Speaker 7 (06:59):
Love.

Speaker 4 (07:00):
I think ro you are so crucial to the community,
your integral and it was interesting because in our survey,
Roland Martin also came up a lot, and I think
we shared the biggest audience with you. And when people
stopped me, I think they all think we live in
like one big dorm right.

Speaker 8 (07:16):
House.

Speaker 3 (07:17):
It's a big brother black media house all the time.

Speaker 2 (07:20):
That yeah, exactly.

Speaker 4 (07:23):
But the first time I saw you host was Roland
Martin's show. I remember you had all the members of
Congress on there. The first show I did was yours.
I used to do Fox News the first the first.

Speaker 3 (07:34):
Show that Laurad Coach hosted was mine.

Speaker 7 (07:37):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (07:37):
The first time Nea Malika Henderson did TV was mine.

Speaker 8 (07:41):
Wow.

Speaker 3 (07:41):
The first time April Ryan got paid this contributor was mine.

Speaker 2 (07:46):
That I didn't get paid.

Speaker 3 (07:49):
That was That was like that was them.

Speaker 5 (07:52):
I control you.

Speaker 3 (07:53):
Yeah, but even even conservatives Gianna Calwell, Michael.

Speaker 5 (07:56):
Singleton think we got you to.

Speaker 3 (08:01):
So are you talking about so again, it was, but
it's intentional because I saw how white producers and white bookers, no,
we don't know them, and I'm like, okay, but they're great.
And I remember Tiffany Lofton. I had Kim on the
show and then she's ad the AFL CIO and they
came to her. She told my people, don't tell Roland.
So they literally said, oh no, we're gonna send somewhere else,

(08:25):
not you. And I then my producer told me, I said,
what do they say? I said, I need you explain them.
I didn't invite them. Yeah, I invited you. They don't
get to pick who comes on my show. And I
had to check them and I was like, no, no,
I picked you, not them, and let them know that.
And so again I see how the game is played. Yeah,

(08:48):
and there's so many people. All they want is a shot.
What did James Brown say? He said, don't hand me nothing,
just open the door. I'll get it myself. I believe
you have to open the door. You got to kick
it open, and you give folks a shot. And there
are some people I put on game a shot they sucked. Yeah,
And it was like absolutely, say brother, say what you do.
But other people I've worked with them, like, hey, work

(09:11):
on this, work on that. And again I don't even
treat if somebody goes into another show, I'm fine if
they leave. People who work for me, I'm like, no,
you should leave. But we have to create opportunities for
more people. And I just think that there are too
many black folks who like being the only one, who
like being the center of attention. And I'm like, nah,

(09:31):
I want there to be thirty fifty one hundred, two hundred.
And the people who I help, I want them to
do the exact same thing, to bring on the same thing,
because that's how we now build scale.

Speaker 2 (09:43):
Well, we thank you, I appreciate. I want to ask
you this to the second part of this week's theme
has been power, policy and progress. Where do you grade
us right now? Row, and I'm talking about us. Is
not everybody because they not like the but like black
as the black community. Where do you grade us right now?

Speaker 3 (10:05):
Right now? Our people literally you said it pissed off
in shock. A lot of our folks are still there.
Folks were tripping. So two days after the election, I'd
already processed it and moved on, and they were like,
what are you doing. I said, the election is over.

(10:27):
I have to focus on the next election and then
the next election. And I could not allow myself to
allow the rage. But so what's happening is our people
are frustrated. But when they're frustrated because and I literally
hear this everywhere I go in this country and I
am always on the road, they are begging for leadership. Yeah,

(10:50):
they're like, who is drafting the plan? Who is telling us?
They're like, we want to do something, but they don't
know what to do. And I have no problem with
saying it. Our civil rights organizations are frozen, our business
groups are frozen. People are afraid of retribution, they're afraid
of being attacked. They don't know where to go. And

(11:14):
what I've said to the groups that don't get lots
of attention, this is your moment. This is your moment.
And what we keep trying to have is we keep
trying to have the macro conversations versus the micro conversations.
My whole deal is as an election in Virginia, If
the Dems controlled to keep the House, Don Scott remains
Speaker of the House. If they control the Senate, that

(11:36):
black woman Louise Lucas controls all the money. If Spanberger,
who needs to do more black media interviews, becomes governor,
they now will be able to put it to pass
a bill in January to put on the ballot to
restore voting rights without the governor's permission, because you have
to do it in two consecutive years. So that's the
impact New Jersey go to election. I made it clear,

(11:57):
Mikey Cheryl, you need to start talking to black people
because the pole is tied. Same thing next year. Now
we're talking about not just midterms city election. There's a
mayoral election in New Orleans. Okay, black folks didn't turn
out and Baton Rouge. The sister lost. Some of us
elected officials didn't support the sister in Mobile. She just
lost by fourteen hundred votes on Tuesday. So our people

(12:20):
are waiting for somebody to say this is where we're
about to go. I have told alphas. I said to
the preachers in NANDLS, be life member, baby. I've said
we've got to be locked and loaded on North Carolina
for next year, I said, but not western North Carolina,
in the black belt, East North Carolina, I said, so

(12:41):
mobilize our people. Same in Georgia, Bishop Barbara sent me
a text said, six hundred thousand blacks in North Carolina
did not vote in November, a million in Georgia. So
they are waiting for somebody to say to issue. In essence,
the Neamiah Claring called this is how we're gonna rebuild
this wall. Yeah, and then here the piece of everybody forgets.

(13:03):
The piece of the people said, let us rebuild. But
they're waiting for somebody to say, here's where we're going.

Speaker 5 (13:09):
Roland, I got a quick follow up. You mentioned that civil.

Speaker 6 (13:12):
Rights organizations are frozen, and if I were on the
listening end of that, as I am, but if I
were at home listening to that, I would wonder, why
would organizations that are speaking of the theme made for
this moment, Organizations that were literally thought of, they were
born out of a resistance to whatever the status quo
was at the time. How could how could we look

(13:32):
on them right now as being frozen in a moment
with an administration that never respected them, that that never
gave us the time of day and are now actively
going after us, and.

Speaker 3 (13:44):
The soul frozen because there's a generator, just generational shift happening.
And I'm gonna say this here, and Angela understands I'm
about to say, and and those of us are unders stay.
There was a there were a group of people. They
were the ones who sustain us from King's assassination to
present day. They were the ones who knew who didn't vote.

(14:07):
They did precinct walks, they showed up at city council,
county government, state government. I guess my parents seventy eight,
just like Eddie Rae and I guess what those people
are retiring or in some many cases they passed away.
So there's a generation that did not replace those people.
So what we've done is we've become so technical where

(14:29):
we think that social media Texabaschien phone calls replaces that
on the ground infrastructure. And that's what's missing if you
go to place all around the country. That group, Dude
gen X did not step up. So we have to
replace that massive black infrastructure. If you look at NAACP chapters,

(14:52):
it was a sixty sixty five seventy year old sister
or brother who were doing the work, they're now they're
tired or they passed away, So now who replaces them?
So we have to replace that infrastructure. So that's what
I mean by frozen. So now it's like who's next,
who's batter up? And that to me is the problem.

(15:14):
So now that's what I keep saying, micro versus macro.
We got to go back to micro. So if I say,
you can't change nation without states, states without cities or counties, counties, cities, cities, neighborhoods, neighborhoods, blocks, blocks, streets, streets, houses, house,
person in the house. That has to be our mentality

(15:34):
and our people are they are crying out. Who is
going to issue the clarion call?

Speaker 2 (15:54):
If y'all know Roland, you know that he is big
on Texas. He is very serious about Texas. On a
raid you, I've been joined by a very mighty Texan,
someone who is a people's championship.

Speaker 3 (16:06):
Quyat, she's meek, she's an introvert.

Speaker 2 (16:09):
I let Rowland introduce this Texan. Go head, row go ahead,
row Eli.

Speaker 3 (16:13):
She's quiet, she's meet she's an introvert.

Speaker 9 (16:16):
Uh.

Speaker 3 (16:17):
She went to this little school called the University of
Houston right behind jack Yayes High School across from texasuthern University.
Was an international track star, goes on to run for office. Child,
she being everything. She been on the school board, she
been on the city council. Now she's in the state
legislature and now she's running for congress.

Speaker 7 (16:38):
So she is.

Speaker 5 (16:38):
Somebody said real Reality TV a little.

Speaker 3 (16:40):
Bit all that rallity TV. She's an AKA state represented
Jelonda Jones. Well, hello people, did I miss anything now Roland?

Speaker 10 (16:52):
Because you from the third Ward, you went to school
with third Ward, you diet a good.

Speaker 3 (16:56):
Job, good Jackie's graduate.

Speaker 5 (16:58):
Baby.

Speaker 10 (16:58):
Absolutely, I represented jay okay there, I represented Jayy. I
still represent Jayy, and when I went for Texas eighteen,
I'm represent Jayy.

Speaker 5 (17:09):
Nice nice that is lying on his shirt.

Speaker 10 (17:13):
I see you, I see you, King, You're a kid.

Speaker 4 (17:16):
Thank you for joining us. Welcome once again because we
had you on the show before, but welcome back, Welcome.
I appreciate that there's a lot happening in Texas, as
we well know, but I think for people who may
not be from Texas. For years now, we have been promised,
titilated in teased that Texas will eventually be a purple state.

(17:38):
I'm curious what you predict for the future of Texas politics.

Speaker 2 (17:42):
I predict a number of things.

Speaker 10 (17:43):
I predict we racist, anti black in Texas, anti immigrant
in Texas, anti anything that's not a rich billionaire white
man in Texas. I predict that. I predict that unlessen
until the National Democratic Party invests in Texas, it doesn't
have a snowballs chance in hell of being.

Speaker 3 (18:00):
Purple, right, That's what I predict.

Speaker 10 (18:03):
I predict that Democrats take us for granted, and they
just think Black folks going to vote for Democrats as
if we ain't sick and tied to being sick and
tied to being sick and tied. So I predict that
if the Democratic Party doesn't specifically invest in black people,
black political consultants, black media, black church, that the Democrats

(18:24):
will not have black people and that we I don't
believe we'll go vote for Republicans, but we will just
stay home.

Speaker 3 (18:30):
For people who don't understand infrastructure, Texas has more eligible
black voters than any state in America. For sure, we
do when you talk about a party infrastructure. There are
two hundred and fifty four counties in Texas massive state.
There are only eighty one county Democratic parties, so that's

(18:50):
only one third of the state. When Betro ran, he
visited all counties. But that was a campaign. When when
Obama and Clinton ran in two thousand eight, that was
massive energy because because folks were on fire and folks said,
finally they can to organize Texas. What happened Obama wins.
They only came to Texas to raise money. He went

(19:11):
to Dallas, Houston, Austin, picked up checks and left. So
they've never funded the state. There are two million eligible
Latinos who are eligible but not registered. Sixty one percent
of Texas is minority. Sixty one percent of Texas who
vote are white.

Speaker 7 (19:28):
Wow.

Speaker 10 (19:30):
You sure, right, But I mean if government was doing
stuff for me, I probably vote too.

Speaker 5 (19:34):
And so that's right. I mean, it just makes it
and it just seems to me that the.

Speaker 10 (19:39):
People who need government the most are engaged the least. Yes,
and that's because we as a party haven't figured out how.

Speaker 3 (19:48):
To connect the dots for people. When Beno ran against
Greg Abbott, seventy five percent of voters thirty and under
did not vote.

Speaker 10 (19:57):
Wow, but you got to speak to our issue rolling.

Speaker 3 (20:00):
Yeah, you guys speak I'm just giving the data so
folks understand that they're there, but.

Speaker 10 (20:06):
You got to talk to them, but you got to
connect the dots for them.

Speaker 7 (20:08):
Right.

Speaker 10 (20:09):
So if I'm struggling, right, and I see, what's the
lady's name, Wendy Davis.

Speaker 2 (20:15):
She stood in some pink tennis shoes.

Speaker 3 (20:18):
And against the abortion bill, got lots of attention, lots
of money, and got crushed.

Speaker 2 (20:24):
But what we knew is black people.

Speaker 10 (20:26):
What I knew as a black person is you'll stand
for all them ours for abortion, but you won't stand
for all them ours for.

Speaker 3 (20:33):
Criminal justice reform, right right.

Speaker 10 (20:35):
You won't stand for all in ours to make sure
that we have affordable health care, or that we have
affordable housing, or that you're not standing to stop the
police from killing us with impunity.

Speaker 3 (20:47):
So we know what you're willing to do when you
believe in something.

Speaker 10 (20:52):
Right, we see that the Democratic Party is afraid to
say racist. When we were out on the corm rate,
the conversation talked about this Angela, we talked about this
Roland was that Donald Trump wanted to steal five season.
Now I was racist. That's why I had that viral
moment because the right answer was they identify four black seats.

(21:14):
They messing with the CBC. They're trying to undermine the
CBC's power because they're the most senior caucus. And but
they have the people that are speaking about the corn
break don't look like us. When they literally have moved
Jasmine out of her district, They've taken VC's core constituency,
Terror County moved it. They've literally collapsed CD eighteen and

(21:35):
CD nine And ain't nobody saying it's racist.

Speaker 3 (21:38):
And when I talked to Terran County Commission at Lisa Simmons,
they jerrymandered her district. Yes, they had a huge rally
in Tarran County. The lawyer said, when you go to
the mic, call it racial jerry mander.

Speaker 7 (21:51):
Yes.

Speaker 3 (21:52):
Every speaker who went up there, who was in black
didn't say racial jerry mandry. And the lawyer said, you
have to use that lane, which because parts jeered manding
has been loud on Supreme Court, racial geer mandering is
not allowed. Literally, until he went up, they wouldn't even
say it.

Speaker 2 (22:09):
But you know, Roland, I'm a lawyer for thirty years.

Speaker 3 (22:13):
I'm a trial lawyer.

Speaker 10 (22:14):
Let me tell you what I would do to all
the people that went up and refused to say racial germander.
When it goes to court, they're gonna call witnesses.

Speaker 3 (22:23):
Yep.

Speaker 10 (22:24):
And the first person I'm gonna calls a witness if
i'm them, is a person that said it was political
Jerry right right, And I'm gonna say is it racist?
And they're gonna say no, or even if they say yes,
I'm saying.

Speaker 3 (22:37):
What you said evidence, they're.

Speaker 10 (22:39):
Gonna say so now you're saying it's racial now because
are you lying.

Speaker 3 (22:43):
In or you're lying in? Are you looking now?

Speaker 11 (22:45):
Let me so.

Speaker 3 (22:45):
My point is.

Speaker 10 (22:47):
What we need, like the most importantly in the Democratic
Party is we need white people, our allies, those who
lack and melanin, to actually be courageous enough to say racist.

Speaker 2 (22:59):
Okay, wait a minute now, I've been ping ponging my
head back and forth between two Texans. We have a
legend that just walked up to the set. AJ just
come say hi really quick. We got a jalloway from Oh.

Speaker 3 (23:10):
I thought the woman he was with was a legend.
I wasn't even thinking she was talking about him. That's
my mama. She is the left to said, yo, mama, legend.

Speaker 12 (23:21):
I know.

Speaker 3 (23:22):
I thought she was coming up.

Speaker 2 (23:24):
Principle say hi, I'm the set you over your wave
and we're not gonna let her. He wrote, walk by
without a heroes welcome.

Speaker 5 (23:30):
How are you doing?

Speaker 2 (23:31):
We're doing We're getting schooled by two Texans.

Speaker 13 (23:34):
Were we're doing like this and you want to you
wanna take your hat off to me. I'm gonna take
my hat off to y'all because honestly, we need honest
reporting and a time like this and the day like this.
I gave Rolling his flowers last night at an event,
and I'm giving them to.

Speaker 3 (23:48):
He said, an event we at the park last night. Look,
but we do, but we do. Got talked to the
thoat at the club. The doctor King went to pool
halls too. Exactly, you have to you have to go
and talk to the people.

Speaker 2 (24:03):
But that y'all was not doing doctor King's work.

Speaker 3 (24:05):
Yes, yes we were, Yes, we were. We were register
voters exactly, we would. We were talking policy. We were
talking about friend d C.

Speaker 5 (24:15):
We talked about friend d C.

Speaker 3 (24:16):
We talked about giving money. Yeah, giving money. People were
handing me donations. That's right. Look, we would work out
because that's how Roland got that outfit.

Speaker 14 (24:25):
Todays.

Speaker 2 (24:27):
You know why he got donations. I heard you was
tworking at the club yesterday.

Speaker 5 (24:33):
That ain't nothing new, Lord, have murdy back to the CBC.

Speaker 4 (24:38):
Yes, Lord, Hey, I'm so happy you joined us because
you are a legend for so many young people who
grew up watching One on six. In part that was us,
well for us, for us older people and younger people.
We also lost another legend this year in Annanda Luis,
who a lot of us grew up watching and Teens Summit.

(24:58):
I was so disappointed that she was not honored at
the award show, so we certainly want to take our
time to honor her here. But because you said at
that intersection of entertainment and information, I'm curious what you
make of the landscape now because it's been so democratized.
People are getting information on social media. What would you
advise for younger people, like, how can they get proper

(25:20):
information and be awake?

Speaker 5 (25:22):
Watch Roland Martin on Tilter. No, honestly, So two things.

Speaker 13 (25:27):
First, I just want to acknowledge what you said because
Ananda was one of my first friends at Howard University.

Speaker 5 (25:33):
We lost the legend, so moment.

Speaker 3 (25:35):
Out for Ananda Lewis.

Speaker 5 (25:37):
I'm glad you said that, but.

Speaker 13 (25:39):
Honestly, there's so much misinformation. There's so much nonsense that's
out there. Everybody with a microphone does not deserve to
be amplified. Everyone with a microphone does not deserve to
be amplified. Everybody with a camera phone, everybody with a podcast,
everybody has on a show, does not deserve.

Speaker 5 (25:57):
To be amplified.

Speaker 13 (25:58):
JJ.

Speaker 3 (25:58):
I don't want to interrupt you, but I have to
that brother right there is running for governor of Nevada.
Aaron Ford. We went to Texas A and M together.
He's a Kappa a J. He's a kappa, but it's
all good company. But he's running for governor of Nevada.
Give him my microphone, Novada Baby, Nevada, Nevada is Anyvada

(26:19):
in alpha any v a D he's a member.

Speaker 12 (26:24):
And he is.

Speaker 4 (26:26):
Yes, no, no, no, he's a he's the current attorney
current attorney general.

Speaker 2 (26:32):
And walk in front of the camera, Aaron, go sit in.

Speaker 3 (26:35):
So we were we were at Texas A and M together.
He's also a Texan, but again running for governors that
crucial state.

Speaker 4 (26:44):
Aaron, it's so good to see you and we're so
excited that you're running for governor in a swing state
at that you and I have traveled together overseas but
been friends a long time, so really happy to have
you join the show.

Speaker 5 (26:58):
Welcome home.

Speaker 15 (26:59):
Well, thank you so very much. And let me thank Roland,
my classmate, my good buddy. He's an alpha, but we
get along very well. Thank you so much, sir for
calling my name out. And Tiffany's so great to see you.
We did travel. It's been over a decade now and
I'm delighted to.

Speaker 5 (27:12):
Be here on the show. Thank you, thank you so much.

Speaker 2 (27:15):
Well, I want to know from you all. I asked
the host when we came on Rolling, is I'm doing
a popa riote thing today? We got an honorary guest
host and when he gonna stay as long as he wants. Yes.
But I will say to you all, Julanda and Aaron,
this conference made for this moment. I would love for
you all to say made for this moment because before
you depart today.

Speaker 15 (27:38):
Well, you know, look, I love the theme and the
fact that the matter is made for the moment is
very fitting. I'm the first African American to be elected
statewide to a concerts office in Nevada, and this moment
I don't think it's just this moment. It's been the entirety, frankly,
of my tenure as Attorney General, whether it was George
Floyd and Meeping the top law enforcement officer in the state,

(28:00):
being able to speak truth to power from my position
to power about what our relationship was with law enforcement.
I said at point blank, I'm a black man, married
to a black woman, raised in three black sons and
a black nephew, and I'm gonna speak truth on this issue.
And I think that moment was entirely designed for me
to be in this particular position and right now, as
we have to define and protect our constitutional rights from

(28:23):
an onslaught of unlawful activities, it takes people who are
willing to stand up and speak truth to power right now.
And I'm happy to be in this position for this
particular moment that I'm made for.

Speaker 3 (28:35):
Get a website. Get a website. Oh the website. Thank you, sir,
Ford for Nevada dot Com.

Speaker 15 (28:40):
Listen, I'm the first black person to be ag for Nevada,
but I'm going to also be the first black person
to be governor of Nevada. And that website is Ford
for Nevada dot com I appreciate you.

Speaker 5 (28:51):
Let me come on, y'all, thank.

Speaker 2 (28:52):
You for me made for this moment.

Speaker 10 (28:57):
Is important because those of us who are on the
front lines, this is hard work.

Speaker 2 (29:03):
For this is hard work.

Speaker 10 (29:05):
We are made for this moment because we have got
to remind people that this is history repeating itself. We've
got to remind people that we got hoes, we got lynched,
people getting lynched again. We got to remind people that
we used to didn't have voting rights and they're trying
to take us back. We got to remind people that

(29:27):
there was Jim Crow. We got to remind people of
that at this moment in time. And for me being
here in this space, I need rejuvenation. And it's very
difficult when you're home and people, young people especially don't
understand how bad it can be. So I need people

(29:49):
who are reinforcing me because I got to go back
to Texas. I got to go back to Texas. And
so we are made for this moment for those of
us that again on the front lines to be reinforced
and reminded while we have to do this work, and
who we can lean on when this starts getting weak.
And for me, I'm running for Congress Texas at the

(30:13):
seat at Barbara Jordan, Mickey Leland, Craig Washington, Sheila Jackson Lee,
and Sylvester Turner were in. And we need somebody who's unafraid.
I was the first black, openly LGBTQ plus person in
the Texas Legislature House or Senate, and when I win
on November fourth, I will be the first black LGBTQ

(30:36):
plus woman in the US House of Representatives. And so
I just need reinforcement.

Speaker 2 (30:44):
And I we came back.

Speaker 10 (30:45):
We say as long gone as long as I wanted,
And I need to be around people who I know
woul to stay gone longer. And so I too, will
give a website real quick Joelanda Jones dot com. Let
me tell you how to spell joelaw It's a made
up black name. My mother like Yolanda. My daddy's name
was John. She wanted me to have his initials. Take

(31:08):
away to why and add A J J O L
A n DA Jones dot com because we need people
who are unafraid and unapologetically black, and that's who we all.

Speaker 3 (31:21):
Are, That's what we all are, real quick, real quick,
Jolanda Aaron, please tell specifically aka's and kappus while they've
got to get out of our insular business and active
in driving folk to the polls locally. Yes, I said it,
So make the call for what they need to do

(31:41):
these D nine folk.

Speaker 15 (31:42):
No, absolutely, there's no way we can do this, as
you've indicated, as insular individuals and insular entities. What I'm
proud of Roland. To your point is, I was invited
to the Alpha Pack event. I'm a sweet new I'm pretty.

Speaker 5 (31:56):
But then let me come to the hour.

Speaker 3 (31:57):
But you need that out for money, but go ahead,
I show.

Speaker 5 (32:01):
It will take it as well.

Speaker 15 (32:02):
So we have to move, have to come together as
organizations to pursue these goals and to assist us and
get in there. And I'm grateful for the support that
I'm getting across the board.

Speaker 2 (32:11):
We so appreciate you.

Speaker 10 (32:13):
And I am an Alpha Kappa Alpha woman, so is
my wife. She's so pretty Fall nineteen eighty seven and
we were the first black sorority, and we need to
be the first getting people to the polls because if
the world is run by those who show up, we
need to show up.

Speaker 2 (32:33):
So I am encouraging all.

Speaker 10 (32:35):
Of my sorority sisters specifically and the D nine generally
that we are the infrastructure in this country. We give scholarships.
We all believe in service to mankind and womankind, So
we need.

Speaker 16 (32:50):
To do that.

Speaker 10 (32:51):
As Alpha Kappa alpha women, we need to be more
than pretty. We need to be soldiers in the cause.

Speaker 3 (32:57):
I hear you and Prince all Mason start and links.
We have massive black infrastructure that's not being fully maximized.
And doctor King said that in his book Where do
we Go from here? Chaos all community here we have money, right,
but but the point is too many of us are
risk averse. We think it's going to jeopardize our letters. No,
we have the infrastructure. We're international, national, regional, state undergrad

(33:22):
grad we go all the way down from k So
I just think that we're not maximizing our infrastructure.

Speaker 2 (33:28):
Great, you're right. I love y'all, and we're gonna carry
this town hall, this Greek town. All y'all doing later.
But Aaron and Jalanda and roll An, I said, a
black from the West Coast's hour some time. So sorry, lens.

(33:50):
We are so grateful for y'all. Thank you so much
for being here. I want to just acknowledge someone whose
legacy this live podcast is and that is Congressman Joyce Baty.
She's gonna come join us later, but she's standing right here,
so let's give it up.

Speaker 3 (34:06):
The International President of the Ak's is right over there.
Oh yeah, I saw the president. President.

Speaker 2 (34:16):
Yeah, is in the house. I got the house. Are
where you could come back if you want. You're always young.
Now is my good friend Todd Cox, who is making

(34:38):
things happen at the na A c B Legal Defense Fund.
We just had a conversation on redistricting. Of course, the
na A c P l d F will be arguing
a case before the Supreme Court on Section two of
the Voting Rights Act. What's hanging in the balance is very,
very serious, and they will determine whether or not the
Section two of the Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional or not.

(35:02):
We also have our good friend Elizabeth Booker Houston who's
joining us. Y'all know hera is Booker Squared. All that
content going viral. She tells us like it tells it
like it is. Or Daddy say, you don't mind her cussing?
My daddy does, but they love That's the way she
tells the tr.

Speaker 17 (35:17):
Okay, But can I tell you. I got to ask
Jasmine crocketts daddy yesterday if he minded her cussing, and
he kind of gave the same kind of answer my
daddy did.

Speaker 2 (35:24):
Like, Okay, I don't really like it your daddy talk
to my daddy.

Speaker 4 (35:27):
So I got as I can I help jump in
and ask a question because when you were making the introduction,
I was curious for our audience and even for myself,
what exactly is Section two of the Voting Rights Act?

Speaker 18 (35:40):
Yes?

Speaker 2 (35:40):
And why is it so important?

Speaker 7 (35:42):
Well?

Speaker 19 (35:42):
Section two of the Voting First of all, let me
just say thank you so.

Speaker 5 (35:44):
Much, Michael. Oh yeah, shit, your mic down, just pushing down.

Speaker 2 (35:49):
Sorry, just talk right into it, all right, can you
hear me now?

Speaker 7 (35:52):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (35:53):
Real close? Or lifted up just a little bit. Lifted
it back up there you go, Ques should be.

Speaker 19 (35:57):
Perfect good, all right, Thank you, Thanks for that question,
and thanks for the opportunity to join you all. Section
two of the Voting Rights Act is a key part
of the Voting Rights Act, which, by the way, is
only sixty years old. It's a gen x statue, it's
a young statute. Section two is the bulwark that really
protects voters, black voters, voters of color, from having their

(36:18):
votes diluted. It says basically that you can't create a plan,
a redistricting plan, or any kind of voting change that
would take away, dilute, diminish the voting rights of those voters.
And as Angela mentioned, Section two is at stake right now.
From the very beginning, Section two has been threatened by courts.

(36:40):
We've been fighting to keep Section two seen as constitutional.
We have won under Section two cases very recently, and now,
as Angela mentioned, a case called Louisiana versus Cala, we're
going to be arguing for the constitutionality of a plan
that was drawn to big sure that voters had the
right to let their candidates a choice under Section two.

Speaker 14 (37:00):
But now also the state is arguing that.

Speaker 19 (37:02):
Section two is unconstitutional, and we're doing all we can
make sure that they lose that argument.

Speaker 2 (37:07):
Yeah, do we know when that case will be before
the Supreme.

Speaker 3 (37:09):
Court, We certainly do.

Speaker 19 (37:10):
It's going to be argued October fifteenth, and we would
love for everyone to come out be on the steps
of the Supreme Court to support us. We know we
need folks on the ground, folks in the real world,
not just in court, making sure we protect our voting rights.

Speaker 6 (37:22):
And then what are the consequences if Section two were
to go down? Well, especially as we're looking at redistricting,
racist based based redistricting happening.

Speaker 5 (37:34):
In red states around the country, right, well, what are
the implications?

Speaker 19 (37:37):
The implications are democracy itself. I dare say if Section
two were did not exist, it would not protect the
rights of voters who are currently being threatened by this
off cycle redistricting. Right we see in several states black
elected officials, who are the candidates of choice of voters
in those states being targeted in.

Speaker 3 (37:56):
A way that we haven't litigated.

Speaker 19 (37:58):
This may be seen as as threatening the candidates of
choice of black voters. Section two stands for the proposition
that that can't happen, and if we didn't have Section two,
we would not be able to as successfully defend those.

Speaker 14 (38:10):
Districts as possibly.

Speaker 19 (38:11):
We still have tools. Don't be wrong, we still have
tools to do that. But Section two is the most
effective way that we have in place right now to
make that happen.

Speaker 2 (38:20):
You know, I want to come to you on this point, Liz,
because I think what Todd mentioned about us being on
the steps of the Supreme Court is important. What we
know in this day and age especially, is there is
a lot that is one in the court of public opinion.
You have been outside of steps, outside of the Heritage Foundation,
outside of all kinds of things with bullhorns, saying all

(38:42):
kinds of important things, sometimes foolishness. But can you talk
a little bit about why it's so important to lift
up your voice at a time like this and to
lean into courage when there's so much to be afraid of.

Speaker 17 (38:54):
Well, I would just say it's all about pushing back
on the disinformation.

Speaker 16 (38:58):
You know.

Speaker 17 (38:58):
I'm just thinking about what I've learned the week, in
particular here at CBC ALC Week, and we talked a
lot about censorship.

Speaker 2 (39:06):
We talked a lot about suppression.

Speaker 17 (39:07):
I sat in on a panel that Congressman Lamona MacIvor led,
and Karen Atilla was on that panel, who we know
was just fired from the Washington Post. I know that
April d Ryan was on that panel, and there was
a lovely woman named Jollin who I had never met before,
who was a public relation specialist, and she said, there
is spiritual power in telling our stories, and that has

(39:29):
been resonating with me all week, because it's really important
that we get out there, and we are the ones
making our voices heard because they are going to talk
about us whether we are out there or not. So
we want to make sure that we set the record
straight and also to just inform our communities. You know, Angela,
you and I are in a very gate kept profession.
We're in a very gate kept profession when it comes
to the law. And there's not very many black lawyers.

(39:52):
What are there over the over sixty thousand black lawyers
that we have percent somewhere in there, and we I
know that the profession is geate kept for a reason.
It's so we can charge well, I'll say, white male
lawyers can charge three hundred, five hundred dollars an hour
for the information.

Speaker 2 (40:08):
But really this is stuff that pertains to all of us.

Speaker 17 (40:10):
When you talk about Section two of the Voting Rights Act,
that pertains to all of us, and it's important to
get that information out to our communities in a way
that they understand. And so sometimes it is me with
foolishness on the steps somewhere because that's the way that
it's going to get across. But I know that I've
had very proud moments that yeah, I'm talking foolish. But
I also taught a whole bunch of people what substantive
due process was on Instagram one day, and I think

(40:31):
that's amazing. I think it's amazing that people understand how
things are affecting them and also the disinformation, in particular
when it comes to the Voting Rights Act. I know
that I got to talk to Congressman Jasmine Crockett for
a recording for State of the People TV, and I
don't want to give away too much because I want
people to go watch that episode, but we did talk
about Section two of the Voting Rights Act and how
that is about Black people being able to choose who

(40:53):
represents us. It's not about putting black people in seats,
which is a common piece of disinformation use because I'm
from Memphis, Tennessee, where Congressman Steve Cohen, who is a
white man, is actually in a Section two seat, so
that's what he's technically in. And it wasn't about the
race of the person elected, but it was about making
sure that black individuals just have the opportunity to elect

(41:15):
the person who we feel as best represents us.

Speaker 2 (41:17):
I want to just pause here. I know Tiff is smart.
Her brain is buzzing. She's got more questions. But we've
been joined by Mayor I call him Mayor Leo. Mayor
Leonardo Williams from Durham, North Carolina. I got to meet
Leo during our State of the People Power tour and
he's been a great partner ever since. So I just
wanted to welcome to the stage. He can get into

(41:38):
redistricting too, he knows a little bit about that in
North Carolina as well.

Speaker 3 (41:41):
North Carolina.

Speaker 2 (41:42):
Yes, indeed, so I want to, but I want to
guilt to you.

Speaker 4 (41:45):
Yeah, I'm sorry because you know, I didn't know this
data about black lawyers, so that was really surprising to me.
And we're blessed to have so many on the panel
right now and something that I've always wondered about, and
anybody who has an answer can weigh in. Doesn't help
us or hurt us by not televising Supreme Court hearings,

(42:05):
because when you're saying, show up on the steps of
the court, how so many people have no idea when
the Supreme Court is in session. They have no idea
what's before the court, and they have no idea about
the back and forth. Some of the dissents from Justice
Kazanji Brown Jackson and the counterpoint Andrew, You and I
talked about this from Amy Hony Barrett.

Speaker 14 (42:25):
I mean it was.

Speaker 4 (42:25):
Tantamount to a rap battle, like the real dis tracks
coming out.

Speaker 2 (42:29):
Of the court.

Speaker 4 (42:30):
So I'm just curious the thoughts from the lawyers. Should
there be cameras broadcasting these proceedings?

Speaker 19 (42:36):
Well, I can't speak for the Legal Defense Fund on
that point, but personally, I think in this day and age,
we do a disservice not to be as transparent as
we can about the very processes that determine the future
of our democracy. The Supreme Court is one. We televised
congressional arguments, congressional hearings, c span. We don't do the
same thing with courts, and increasingly, you know, all eyes

(42:58):
are on the courts.

Speaker 3 (42:59):
They are the.

Speaker 19 (43:00):
Last stand in many ways to push back on this
overreach for this executive. And I would love for my
community to be able to see the strength and power
of lawyers speaking in court about what's going on in
this country with our democracy, and we don't have a
chance to do that very often. The other thing, I'll say,
we have very few black lawyers, We have very few

(43:21):
black women lawyers done arguments in the Supreme Court. Jane Nelson,
my boss, my president director counsel. She is going to
be arguing the Kale case. It is rare to see
a black woman in the Supreme Court. We're so proud
of that. But I think that's another thing that people
should be aware of, and they should see visually the
power of those kinds of arguments and the lack, frankly

(43:42):
of voice that we've given folks who represent us in
this community.

Speaker 7 (43:47):
Yeah.

Speaker 17 (43:47):
Yeah, and I would agree with all of that. It
goes back to what I just said about the profession being.

Speaker 14 (43:51):
Very gate kept.

Speaker 17 (43:52):
That is the problem, and that would take away some
of that gatekeeping and take away some of the illusory
power that we see that comes with the profession, which
again is just trying to assert dominance over the entire populace.
When we know again that this is something that affects everybody,
that everybody should have a stake in, that everyone should
have a saying, and everybody should be informed about.

Speaker 2 (44:13):
I will tune in to goo to TV.

Speaker 17 (44:14):
I would love to see all of the expressions that
Clarence Thomas makes whenever Justice Katanji Brown Jackson decides to
slam down with good some good line here or there.

Speaker 2 (44:23):
I would like to see it, mister Mayor. I know
you joined us.

Speaker 4 (44:26):
I want to bring you into the conversation because a
lot of big cities get a lot of attention.

Speaker 2 (44:32):
You know, there's a race in New Orleans right now.

Speaker 4 (44:34):
We talk about Detroit and LA but for some of
our smaller towns that may not be in the headlines.
Why should people who don't live there care about what's
going on there? And how can we support some of
these smaller towns because it's our way of community. No
matter where we are geographically, we are one in this country.
So curious your thoughts there.

Speaker 12 (44:53):
You know, the the manipulation that's happening in politics right now,
the city doesn't matter anymore. I mean they're starting in
smaller towns. It's starting with school boards. The power should
be built from the bottom up. And that's what's happening
to your point, what you're just talking about. You know,
ignorance is the greatest currency for political manipulation. And I

(45:18):
mean we can do for your requests for everything except
this untermed limited you know, body of legal leads people.
And it's so intimidating because we don't know. So if
we don't know how and we can't see it, how
can we be a part of it?

Speaker 7 (45:34):
Right?

Speaker 12 (45:34):
So back to the size of the towns and cities,
it really doesn't matter, you know. There there's there's takeovers
of you know, redistricting starting from those smaller areas. My
city is almost a half million people, but I get
the same representation as Wentworth, North Carolina, or somewhere else
where they have maybe twenty five hundred people. That doesn't

(45:56):
make any sense. But you want to make sure there's
equal representation, Yes, we all want to make sure it's balanced. Yeah,
and we're not getting that.

Speaker 4 (46:03):
Well, thank you so much for joining us as a
really helpful insight. We'll have to have you all back.
This was a really fascinating conversation to me because I
had no idea about black lawyers. So that's a conversation
that has to continue. And speaking of black lawyers, we're
going to welcome.

Speaker 2 (46:16):
Yet another one.

Speaker 4 (46:17):
It's a very well known friend of the show, and
that is, of course, Marilyn Moseby, former Baltimore State's Attorney,
joins us now looking beautiful dainning a beautiful black down
and we're also going to be joined by doctor Michael
Eric Dyson and certainly last but not least, Congressoman Latifa
Simon will also join us. Thank you please come along everybody.

(46:40):
I have to say for our viewing audience who can't
see we are a beautiful people because we see the
line of people coming along.

Speaker 2 (46:47):
Looking beautiful and gorgeous. Oh well, thank you.

Speaker 4 (46:51):
I came here from the train station, so I'm in sneakers,
so I'm.

Speaker 2 (46:54):
Hiding behind well, thank you to tell nobody, but she's
been telling it all.

Speaker 5 (47:00):
Of Maryland, Maryland, Maryland, Maryland, Maryland. It's good to have
all of our guests, Congressmoman, doctor the Doctor, michaelry Dyson,
Michael Maryland.

Speaker 6 (47:09):
Since the last time you were with us on the show,
something pretty monumental happened. As it relates to your case,
which native lampod listeners, our family rallied significantly, you know,
behind you on this cause. Can you let the folks
know what happened and that time between now and then
shore Key.

Speaker 20 (47:29):
Yeah, I'm so incredibly grateful to all of you. You
all advocated for me. There were over one hundred thousand
people that signed that part and petition. Unfortunately, the Biden
administration didn't do what it needed to do. But in
the end, the Court of Appeals actually reversed one of
the convictions and affirmed yes, yes, the mortgage fraud conviction,
the same sort of playbook that they used on me

(47:49):
that they're executing perfectly on Lisa Cooke and Letitia James right,
that same reversal of that conviction. However, they did affirm
two of the perjury convictions. And mind you, these reconvictions
are based off of a vague and ambiguous statute that
has never been legally defined or used against anyone in
this country. And so my attorneys actually, as of two

(48:11):
days ago, filed an appeal on Bunk in front of
the Fourth Circuit, which we're asking all fifteen judges to
review not only the two perjury convictions that the Court
of Appeals affirmed.

Speaker 5 (48:22):
I love it.

Speaker 2 (48:23):
I love it, and I want to come to Congresswoman
and Simon because I begged her to stay right here
for two seconds. I want you all to understand this
woman is so powerful and standing on some tremendous shoulders.
We know that you replaced Congresswoman Barbaraly in Congress, who
is now the mayor of Oakland and you read Oakland hard.

(48:44):
You know the best coast has always went in Latifa.
But I just want you to give us a charge.
We've been asking all of our guests, why are you
made for this moment? And I know if there's anybody
that can bring this, just you. Let's bring this word Latifa.

Speaker 7 (48:58):
Well, first of all, doctor I met doctor Dyson when
my daughter was five years old. She's right over there,
she's twenty nine, and she's an attorney. She's an attorney
because there are women like miss Mosby who decided not
only to study the law, but to enter the public space.
These public spaces were not made for us. We know that,
we know that, damn well. But we are made for

(49:18):
the moment because we don't have a choice. Liberty and
justice is so deeply ingrained in the deep DNA and
bone marrow of black people. Listen, it's not easy to
run for the district attorney. It's not easy to be
a black academic and white institutions. It's not easy being
single mothers or folks who are trying to fight cancer
on budgets. Now is the time where we call a

(49:41):
spain a spain. I'm an organizer. You know that you
know that Andrew Gillum told me to run for office
some years ago and got me into the Young Elected
Officials Network. We are family and we have always fought charity.
And here's the charge, s here's the charge. What is
happening right now? We know it's not new, we know

(50:02):
it's not new, but we are gathered here today at
this conference not just to celebrate, but to force back.
And I'm gonna give you a little bit of what
I've learned from Dyson's text.

Speaker 14 (50:12):
They are trying to erase not only us, but memory.

Speaker 7 (50:16):
Yeah, but memory, the memory of liberation, struggle, the memory
of joy through organizing and fighting.

Speaker 2 (50:23):
And we say hell no.

Speaker 7 (50:24):
So when I go into the Dome on Monday, when
the Republicans will still be vacationing, we are going to
get ready to throw off all that we have in me.
I'm fighting for the mothers who doesn't have quarters for laundry.
I'm not just fighting for a democracy. I watch that mother.
I am fighting sus for the mothers who are literally
taking their children out of clinical trials because this damn

(50:47):
administration is defunding the NIH.

Speaker 3 (50:50):
Listen, our lives are on the line.

Speaker 2 (50:52):
The only thing that we have to lose is our lives.

Speaker 3 (50:54):
And the last thing that I'll.

Speaker 7 (50:55):
Say Asada, if she's taught us anything, all right, anything,
live and die free.

Speaker 4 (51:04):
Yes, yes, thank you, Congresswoman, thank you both.

Speaker 2 (51:08):
We got We gotta close out this amazing panel with
the rightful preacher that I know I call a mentor Dad.
This is doctor Dyson, and we have some special guests
coming right up. But doctor Dyson, we are made for
this moment because.

Speaker 9 (51:25):
As my pastor used to say, we've already come through
what we've come to, right, We've been here before.

Speaker 3 (51:30):
I've been reading a brilliant book.

Speaker 9 (51:31):
I guess I'm not allowed to say what book I'm reading,
but it reminds us that we have faced all the
stuff we facing out.

Speaker 3 (51:39):
Racism is a dry run for fascism.

Speaker 9 (51:42):
Everything that fascism fears, racists have already visited upon black people,
whether calling our congresswomen out of their names, these inveterate
viragos who stalk the horizon with their viciousness and vitriol,
we face that before.

Speaker 3 (51:57):
So we're based in the.

Speaker 9 (52:00):
Reality of this moment, because we don't limit ourselves to
this moment. And so I think Howard Thurman said it
best our slave. Fore parents refuse to reduce their dreams
to what they confronted immediately. They borrowed from the future
in order to articulate a goal and aspiration for their
kids that they could never imagine. So I'm glad to
be an inheritance of that profound legacy.

Speaker 5 (52:21):
And we got to continue.

Speaker 9 (52:22):
And let's be real, Black women in particular have always
saved not only the race, but America. So I look
forward to the day when we look past this. Last
time I checked, God ain't resigned. If God ain't resigned,
that means God is going to be here when other
people are dead, gone.

Speaker 3 (52:37):
Buried, or out of office.

Speaker 9 (52:39):
So we continue to fight because we have the strength
of our ancestors behind us.

Speaker 2 (52:43):
We love, thank you, enjoy the dinner. We will see
y'all in there just shortly, beautiful and at this time
we are being joined by some more living legend. Y'all

(53:05):
hugging right in front of our CRI is so sweet.
But y'all got to see black love, Black family, right.
And speaking of black family, we have the opportunity to
be joined by some incredible people who are coming up
in just a moment. They are an incredible black family.
They exude black love. They are our good sister and

(53:28):
brother from the state of Maryland. They are coming right up.
They're just hugging another Marylander. But literally everybody's welcoming then
because they are the black y'all, come sit together. Right
here next to to this is the Governor y'all of Maryland,
Wes Moore and the first Lady Don Moore. They're taking
a picture and that.

Speaker 4 (53:49):
They will join because he was known as the other
wes Moore for so long and he is not the
other wes Moore.

Speaker 2 (53:55):
Who is the other wes Moore. This is the only one.
We love y'all, thank you so much.

Speaker 21 (54:03):
While they're allading, you know, I know we always say
the CZC, but we hugged while they're getting seated, guy,
I will tell you a story of my book club
read the other wes Moore.

Speaker 4 (54:15):
This was maybe ten years ago, maybe a little more
than ten years ago, and you were in labor at
the time, and the other wes Moore was still kind
enough to dial into our book club so he can participate.
So this brother is committed.

Speaker 2 (54:29):
So I'm so thankful to have you both on the show.

Speaker 3 (54:31):
I love it.

Speaker 2 (54:32):
I want to know how y'all are feeling right now,
this is gonna be a special moment for you tonight
as well. Talk about what you're gonna be doing at
the CBC Foundation dinner, Governor, Well.

Speaker 14 (54:41):
Listen, first, were so excited to be at an award
dinner where you are going to be recognized.

Speaker 2 (54:46):
And yes, thank you very much, thank you, thank you.

Speaker 14 (54:51):
It is so well deserved. And listen, I mean, I
think for both of us, this is just a night
of lyft.

Speaker 2 (54:58):
We got to get your mic closer.

Speaker 14 (54:59):
I was like, I can't even I apologize. I mean,
this is just a night of lyft and a filling up.
And I think, honestly, like these past weeks and months
for so many people has been so draining, has been
so tiring, has been so exhausting, and so like tonight
is a night to remind us just how powerful we are,

(55:20):
just how important we are, just how just how important
we are inside this moment, and it's a time to
go out there and laugh and smile and celebrate and
celebrate what excellence is. And so honestly, like you know,
to have a chance to be here with each of y'all,
to have a chance to have a date night, my bride.
But honestly, Angel, I'm telling you, it means so much

(55:42):
to us to watch you lift it up, and so
tonight is a real joy, and tonight is a blessing
for all of us to watch you be celebrated for
the work that you do.

Speaker 5 (55:49):
I love that. I love that.

Speaker 6 (55:51):
Well, we first, Lady, we're not gonna give you softballs
today because you yeah, we know, we know you're broad
intellection and otherwise capacity, so as a leader on this
stage as well, because we know that our governors need partners.
In fact, some of the best advice and guidance we

(56:11):
get are from those partners, and I would imagine the
same may be true in this case. As you analyze
the moment that we found ourselves in, not just in
the state of Maryland, but around the country, what would
you diagnose are the things that are missing in this movement,
in this space, in this counterbalancing to autocracy.

Speaker 5 (56:33):
What do you think is missing that you would.

Speaker 6 (56:34):
Charge your fellow Americans and Black Americans most specifically with
needing to step up on if we're going to win
this race.

Speaker 18 (56:43):
Well, first, let me just say thank you for this platform,
thank you for everything that you all do. I love
that you know the theme of this weekend is that
we are made for this moment and that is a fact.
So what I would say is for us to continue fighting.
It's it's not what we're missing is that sometimes the
fight is long and we just have to continue on

(57:05):
that path and we can't give way to despair. We
cannot be scared to keep stepping up. When I think
about my husband, I tell everybody this, I never knew
I would marry a governor, but I knew I was
marrying a soldier. And now it's time to soldier on.
And this is what we're doing, and we have the ability.

(57:26):
We're here to celebrate. We're here to talk about the
great work that the CBC is doing, that we are
all are doing. But then we get back to work
after we celebrate, and that's what I would say that
we continue to do.

Speaker 2 (57:38):
Okay, Can I ask all a black love question? Really cozy?
Since you brought it up. I think it's so important
for and Wes. This is going to come to you.
Here's a not softball for you. When people think about
choosing partners, they say that who you married determines if
you are you elevate to your next level to your
highest purpose and what you do or you get pulled

(57:59):
all the way down. Talk about what you saw in Dawn,
the first Lady of Maryland that made you know like, oh,
she definitely gonna elevate me. I'm gonna get upgraded. But yo,
so actually this I'm laughing, but I'm serious.

Speaker 18 (58:13):
I love that.

Speaker 14 (58:14):
I'm no, So it's so it's real. There are actually
a couple of moments when I was like, oh, she's
just different. Yes, and you're right, man, I was like,
I have seen good people become great by the people
they've chosen to have as their life partner. And I've
seen great people become less than good by the people

(58:35):
who they chosen to have as their as their life partner.

Speaker 5 (58:39):
Because this is like, this is real.

Speaker 14 (58:40):
Yeah, it's the it's the person who you wake up
to every morning. Yeah, it's the last face you see
every night. It's the person who and I'm telling you
it was so crazy. So first of all, I tell you,
there were a whole bunch of moments as we were
like dating that I was like, oh, she again, she's
just different, Like I remember someone she remembers this. The
first gift she gave me was It was the Christmas

(59:04):
after we first started dating, and she gave me a
bunch of a few things, but she gave me a
speech by Voklibhabo about the importance of democracy and how
to defendimoxy. I'm like, yo, most of the people I've
dealt with before, I didn't know Whobabo even was. But like,
I saw how like she thought deeply about this stuff

(59:24):
in a way that frankly, in many ways, I never
had thought about it before. But I'm gonna tell you.
I'm gonna tell you a quick story. I remember when
I was running for governor, and I had never run
for office before my life, so everything was new, all
the stuff, and she was like, listen, let me tell
you how this thing's gonna go down, and here's how
they're gonna come at you, and here's how it is.

(59:44):
And she was like and at some point when the
attacks started coming this and that, She's like, it's because
they're finally starting to pay attention.

Speaker 5 (59:52):
That's right.

Speaker 7 (59:53):
Yeah.

Speaker 14 (59:53):
And I remember it was April of twenty twenty two,
the election year, and out of nowhere, I'm like, I
just started watching all these attacks, all these lies, all
this sudd I'm like yo, what is going on? And
it literally just happened like over a three week period.
It was like this onslaught. Yeah, And I remember getting

(01:00:14):
up one morning and being like mad, It's like, I
gotta go through all this stuff again. And I was
getting up when I was going in the bathroom and
I turned the corner and she was standing right there
and she put my face in her hands and she
just looked in my eyes and she said, it's because
you're winning.

Speaker 5 (01:00:33):
Keep going.

Speaker 14 (01:00:36):
And at that moment when I was like, yo, why
did I sign up to do this? Why did we
give up our life for this? And I looked in
her eyes and it was all the reminder that she needed.
She's like, listen, we in this together and we're gonna
be Okay. I warned you what was going to happen.
The moment the attacks are coming, it's not because they're

(01:01:00):
they're not thinking about you.

Speaker 2 (01:01:03):
Listen, this is my last point. But I have to
say this because I'm and Donna's gonna be like, why
are you telling family business? But I'm about to family business.
So y'all, this is how I want you all to know.
This is not a commercial. Yeah, this is real. Don
isis this is my sister for real. And let me
tell y'all why we got in a real fight and
not like fist fight, but right I would never swing.

(01:01:25):
She would win, by the way. Let me tell you
don rides for this man, believes in this man. And
I was like, what about that? And I she was like,
let me tell you something. My husband. Once she got
to my husband the fifth time, I was like, you
know what, y'all, I'm gonna make sure he knows he
got a writer for real. And I think that there's

(01:01:47):
something about that that is so magical. We believe in you, brother,
But this sister right here, she might win me along somebody.
I love it so much because it was so clear
I was I love this for him, and I love
it for you.

Speaker 5 (01:02:02):
We love you, we love you, and it's real.

Speaker 14 (01:02:06):
It's real because I say, like, like, I'm telling you,
you can't say nothing about this lady to me. Yeah,
I'm telling you, like she knows I got her front back,
whatever it is. And also I know it's the same
thing for her, and like this is why I mean, like, listen,
God is I always say, man, It's like I get

(01:02:27):
a reminder every single day that God loves me. Yeah,
because he plays Dawn in my life and that's the
reminder that I needed God. God loves me, and I'm
grateful for that.

Speaker 2 (01:02:40):
Because we're on this black love theme, I mean, because
I really do.

Speaker 4 (01:02:43):
Now is a moment when I say for informing and reading,
it's also a time for love.

Speaker 2 (01:02:48):
I mean, we are going through collective.

Speaker 4 (01:02:50):
Trauma right now, and it feels sometimes that we're in
our own silos. Young people don't know how to approach
each other because they they've grown up with nothing but phones,
text People are pretending to be okay with casual and
you know, not so serious things, and we see the
power of what happens, and the very thing that helped

(01:03:10):
us survive this four hundred year nightmare was our love
for each other, the way we would show up for
each other. So for people who are younger looking for
life partners, for people who are just navigating this space,
I'm curious what advice you guys might offer at a
time such as this, where our politics impact our hearts,

(01:03:32):
impact our lives. What should we consider navigating this jungle
out there?

Speaker 18 (01:03:38):
You know I would say this when I fell in
love with Wes, I fell in love with a whole person.
I didn't fall in love with someone that needed to
be fixed, someone who needed.

Speaker 3 (01:03:53):
Me to be his mother. He had all those things.

Speaker 18 (01:03:57):
And what I found in Wes was that we were
equally yoked. We had the same value system and it
wasn't that hard. I didn't have to force him to
love me, and he didn't have to force me to
love him. And I think sometimes we have to realize that,
you know.

Speaker 2 (01:04:17):
You find love.

Speaker 18 (01:04:18):
Wes and I we joke, we say our marriage is
an arranged marriage because we were introduced and it was
a beautiful way for us to meet. That doesn't happen
for everybody, although I had a lot of girlfriends like.

Speaker 2 (01:04:29):
Do you think your aunt knows anybody else?

Speaker 18 (01:04:31):
But but the truth of the matter is is that
it wasn't hard, and the value system was there, and
that's it, you know.

Speaker 2 (01:04:45):
And we worked as not to say that. We never
ever question are we going to do this for life?

Speaker 18 (01:04:50):
In the beginning, of course, we had all those honest conversations,
but when it came down to it, we valued family,
We wanted the same things we wanted to serve. We
both had a deep belief in our faith and in God,
and that was enough and so it was a blessing.
It was a blessing, but we put the work in

(01:05:10):
and we stay true to what was important to us.

Speaker 6 (01:05:14):
I bet y'all did not become governor first lady thinking
you would be the interviewed.

Speaker 5 (01:05:19):
On marriage, life, love partnership.

Speaker 6 (01:05:23):
So a good deviation probably from the normal rigor of
interviews that you get. But I do want to just
connect one other thing before we let you all go,
and that is as the only sitting black governor in
the United States right now, and we know that many
have tried and there are many more who are attempting
that feat right now in this cycle a state that

(01:05:46):
has pretty prosperous African Americans. But also you've got the
reflection of our community from the highest earners to the
lowest earners yet hardest workers. How do you all balance
your leadership for the state where you have a diverse
state without a doubt, but the expectations of our people,
which have to be even more greatly animated that they

(01:06:09):
have they see themselves reflected in their governor and first lady,
how do you tend to those needs, give them the
proper attention well at the same time sort of fighting
off this expectation that you're only serving your people and
not the rest of fotes or the impression that you're
only serving everybody else and you're taking us for granted.

Speaker 5 (01:06:29):
How do you balance that end?

Speaker 18 (01:06:32):
You know?

Speaker 14 (01:06:33):
And first I'll say that I am the only black
governor in the country right now, and that's not a
title that I want to hold on to for very long. Yeah,
we've got to make sure we are getting more black
chief executives in the United States of America because you
just realize, as you know, brother, like the power of
a governor is unique.

Speaker 5 (01:06:54):
For sure.

Speaker 14 (01:06:54):
The budgets start with the governor.

Speaker 7 (01:06:57):
Right.

Speaker 14 (01:06:57):
For something to become a bill of law, it requires
a governor, right. So it's like we have to be
able to focus on and unapologetically say we need to
have more chief executives in this country. I mean, there's
no reason, Like when people celebrate, they're like, you know,
you're only the third African American ever elected governor in
the history of the United States. I was like, that's

(01:07:19):
not a celebration, it's an indictment that in the history
of this country three And you can't tell me again,
like you said that I'm only the third African American
ever qualified to be a governor.

Speaker 5 (01:07:29):
So I'll put that.

Speaker 14 (01:07:32):
The second thing I will say, though, is this is
the reason that I am unapologetic about focusing our policies
on making sure we're uplifting black people. The reason that
we talk about, yes, we do procurement reform in the
state of Maryland that has procurre reform that focus on
black businesses, where since I'm been the governor, we've now
done procure reform that's now allocated over eight hundred million
dollars to black own businesses, unapologetically, that we've put over

(01:07:56):
one point three billion dollars towards Maryland's HBCUs, unapologetically. But
the reason I say we do this is because if
you are not and do not have a focus on
lifting up black communities, you cannot have a focus on
lifting up your jurisdiction that you serve.

Speaker 3 (01:08:13):
That that this country.

Speaker 14 (01:08:16):
For the past twenty years we have lost sixteen trillion
dollars in GDP because of the racial wealth gap. That's
not GDP of a group, that's right, that's GDP. So
racism is expensive and this country will never be able
to fulfill this promise as long as we have policies
that continue to harm, policies that continue to push back,

(01:08:40):
policies that do not have an economic lift for Black
Americans and in my case, black Marylanders. So the reason
that I say we have to have these this lens,
we have to focus on the racial wealth gap. The
reason that we say that is because it's not because
I'm saying that, you know, this is because this is
a zero sum game. I'm like, no, No, The way

(01:09:01):
this country has historically been has been a zero sum game.
And if you actually want to lift everybody, then make
sure you have a specific focus on black folks and
making sure there's real opportunities of black folks can benefit.

Speaker 7 (01:09:12):
Well.

Speaker 2 (01:09:13):
We so appreciate you all, and we will definitely see
you all inside.

Speaker 7 (01:09:17):
Y'all.

Speaker 2 (01:09:17):
This is the Governor and first Lady of Maryland making
history and also making change. We so appreciate y'all.

Speaker 5 (01:09:24):
We appreciate you.

Speaker 4 (01:09:26):
Congrats on winning the Dad Games with y'all.

Speaker 14 (01:09:28):
Do that was dope?

Speaker 2 (01:09:46):
All right? We are so grateful to be joined.

Speaker 4 (01:09:49):
Uh hey, celebrity fests out here. I just Claudia Jordan
walk up. Yeah, all kind of people.

Speaker 2 (01:09:56):
Are here at the Personal Black Caucast Center. We see, well,
you have to get Congresswoman Joyce Baty. This is a
woman that wears many, many hats and is always making
history using her voice boldly. I love this, she said
when we were talking about bringing native lampod back. She's like,
of course it's coming back. This is my legacy. And
look at you got some Yes she is gold. Okay, absolutely, yes, ma'am.

(01:10:25):
And then we also have joining us with Miss Batty,
Raina Walters Morgan. She is the vice Chair for Civic
Engagement and Voter Participation for the d NC. MSS Batty,
We're gonna start with you. I want to talk about
this theme this year. We've been talking to all of
our guests about what it means to be made for
this moment. You all had a really tough vote just

(01:10:49):
last week with this resolution honoring the life of Charlie
kirk Ben and to really put the Caucus in a
really tough pozion. I'm really where you're seeing kind of
the caucus burst apart at the seams. And I'm not
talking about the CBC, I mean the Democratic caucas is right.
Talk about what you think the path forward is, particularly

(01:11:11):
if we need to be made for this moment.

Speaker 22 (01:11:13):
I think the path forward on that is for us
to be blatantly clear that when we talk about made
for this moment, and we talk about the three subsets
to that, and that is policy and progress and power.
That is power and policy and progress. So everything else

(01:11:33):
we do, we have to share it and better educate
the message and why we're doing something, because we all
have different jobs.

Speaker 2 (01:11:42):
But I was very clear that I can mourn.

Speaker 22 (01:11:46):
Someone's death and not celebrate their life and legacy. And
so I think it was clear because I told my
folks back home that be real clear. I'm a no,
I'm a real clear note. And here is why people
have other jobs to do in trying to make sure
our leadership. You know, I speak truth to power. You know,

(01:12:07):
it was very difficult. We took some hard hits as Democrats.
Our leader took hard hits. But we have three leaders
that made that decision. And too often it's only the
black person that everybody wants to come after when you
have shared power.

Speaker 3 (01:12:22):
But that's the way it is.

Speaker 22 (01:12:24):
But I can tell you with the Congressional Black Caucus,
we have been on point with This conference has been
one of our best conferences in the minority without the presidency,
and we have the vice president coming today, we have
Wes Moore that's going to be on this stage, and
we have Angela Rod getting a fitting award on this stage. Yes,

(01:12:45):
but I say that because those are the kinds of
things that the public needs to see, especially now that
we have brought back the vice president. We have Raina here,
and it's not by accident. This sister is the baddest
sister at the DNC that was elected to do all
of our engagement talking about voter registration and how we

(01:13:07):
get out there.

Speaker 3 (01:13:08):
And I get to be the.

Speaker 2 (01:13:09):
Associate chair of the DNC.

Speaker 22 (01:13:12):
So I'm wearing a whole lot of hats today, but
I think we just have to educate our young folks.
Today I was with seven hundred folks, all probably between
twenty nine and forty five, and it was amazing to
see how thirsty they were for made for this moment.
So we have to engage them. But we have to

(01:13:34):
sit down and have a better dialogue. And that's why
I like this podcast, and I will fight every year
because this is my legacy of making sure that this
podcast exists.

Speaker 4 (01:13:45):
Breaking a little bit of news saying Angela's get in
the world. So I do want our viewing audience to
know that you guys are in for a special treat
because you will be treated to Angela's acceptance speech here
before anyone else gets to hear it. So please stay
tuned to the end of the show for I want
to revisit something you said, congresswomen, because so many of
our listeners are deeply engaged and they take ownership over

(01:14:06):
this platform. A lot of people were very troubled and
hurt by some of the yes votes, and you said
a lot of times it's only the black people who
they come after. And I think for our viewing audience,
they come after our community because they expect the most
out of our community. What might you offer them? You
voted no, But what might you offer them? The people

(01:14:29):
who are have a righteous anger about the way some
of our leaders voted in this moment. What words might
you offer them, even though you made the right decision
in their mind?

Speaker 22 (01:14:39):
I think education is important, so it's important for me
to tell them that more than fifty percent of the
Democratic Caucus voted now, so when there were people who
didn't dignify the vote, four members of the Congressional Black
Caucus walked out and didn't vote because they didn't want
to dignify.

Speaker 3 (01:14:58):
It with the vote.

Speaker 22 (01:15:00):
And then we had four of our we had twenty
six of our members who voted present. And then we
did have four of our members that voted yes. So
I want people to get it in the theme of
the thing that more of us voted no overwhelmingly other
than two in leadership voted yes, and two other members

(01:15:23):
of the CBC voted yes.

Speaker 6 (01:15:25):
But the work you know of the Democratic I got
to tell you honestly, first of all, Congressman, thank you
for your leadership, And honestly, black members of Congress are
having to work over time, not only tending to the
constituencies that you represent, which are oftentimes largest in need
in many of our communities, but also having to pull
the weight of keeping people who are registered Democrat to

(01:15:48):
say still being Democrat and saying that they are.

Speaker 5 (01:15:50):
Because I have to tell you, this was the first
time I've ever seriously considered registering as an independent.

Speaker 6 (01:15:55):
Looking up and seeing a party that appeared quite frankly,
quite feckless in some ways, almost complicit to the legacy
of a person who endangered the lives of black women
who endangered the lives of black men. A man who
would say, when I see a black pilot, I have
to ask whether or not.

Speaker 14 (01:16:14):
You're qualifified it to fly this plane.

Speaker 5 (01:16:17):
The kind of indignity that that imbuse.

Speaker 6 (01:16:22):
In society creates it to be harder to stepping stone
for all.

Speaker 5 (01:16:27):
Of us, not just some of us.

Speaker 22 (01:16:28):
Let me give you a better answer than you becoming
an independent.

Speaker 2 (01:16:32):
I need to have you do more of what you're
doing now. We all have a role, and I like
to share people.

Speaker 22 (01:16:38):
It is on us and Andrelie are absolutely right and
to think that people look to us, and so we
have to carry our heavier load. But what you do
in allowing us to come and voice ours, we need
to be doing more with you. So our plan should
be that we should be getting more contracts, more of

(01:17:00):
appearances so we can have more exposure. And that's why
I wander Raina to be here because I'm gonna be
hooked to her, and she's gonna let me be hooked
her because we are teamed. But people don't know about
her skill sets and being here, you allowing her to
be here, makes the difference to your listening audience for sure.

Speaker 2 (01:17:18):
And can I chime into please, and I have a
question for you, Rain. I think it is such an
interesting time because too miss Baby's point, the CBC largely
stay together and I hate to harp so much on
the resolution, but I think the resolution represents kind of
this larger problem. I said to someone last week. They said, well,
where does the party go from here? And I said,

(01:17:40):
the party is shattered? And so I want to know,
given your role, you know, in voter participation and engagement,
where people are checking out by the droves, particularly folks
who look like us, what is the path forward and
how is the Democratic Party made for this moment when
only two white Democrats vot know on that resolution last week,

(01:18:01):
Jasmine Crockett was broken hearted about that made it very
clear on air. So I do want to hear what
is the path forward? You're one person, and that party
apparatus has been there a long time. I watch it
try to destroy Jamie Harrison. I've watched it hurt many
of our members. I've watched them disrespect our members over
and over again. And I even know we were going
to talk about this today, but that's what's on my heart,
and I just I do think it's important to recognize

(01:18:24):
that resolution, which is a nothing burger. They were willing
to risk it all on a nothing burger. So what
is the path forward for the party?

Speaker 23 (01:18:31):
So I think it's really important to acknowledge that people
are feeling away, and rightfully so. But at the same time,
we are built for this moment and at the same time,
the work that you're doing angelo with going into the
communities and reaching out to people.

Speaker 3 (01:18:45):
That's what we've got to do more of.

Speaker 23 (01:18:47):
You don't always reach people with politics, but how you
do reach them is when they're going through things, when
they start rolling off of those snap benefits, when they
start losing access to Medicaid and Medicare, when those rural
hospitals start close, saying who is going to be there
for them? And at the end of the day, the
Democratic Party has been the party that has been there
for communities and we've got to make sure that that's

(01:19:08):
how we are showing up. I know that we are
in a very difficult time and I would be remiss
to not acknowledge that people are have been very disappointed
in the way that some things went down. But when
the rubber meets the road, we are the best party
to do the work of the people, and so that's
how we've got to move forward. We can't always start
with politics. We have to start with meeting people with

(01:19:28):
where they are and making sure they understand that when
they have needs, when they need access to health care
and education, that we are the people that are going
to be there for them. And that's why I said,
I've got to chime in and commend you for the
work that you're doing with Stay to the People, because
that is essentially the base.

Speaker 3 (01:19:43):
And the root of how we move forward.

Speaker 2 (01:19:45):
Sorry, and I'm going to hope right now. I speaking
of the people. There's a woman who runs a platform
that gets people engaged politically, mostly from small dollar donations regularly.
Regina Wallace Jones is joining us. I wanted to make
sure she could come on at this time andrew your
question next, because there's also a little Delta party going on,

(01:20:06):
So I want to make sure Regie.

Speaker 6 (01:20:13):
I simply want to say right now because I think
the work that you're going to be doing and that
you are doing is critically important, and I don't want
folks to be confused that we are people are throwing
off their hands because of a Charlie Kirk that.

Speaker 5 (01:20:25):
Issue is a harbinger.

Speaker 6 (01:20:27):
However, for do we have a group of folks who
are prepared to fight to the mat on behalf of
the things that we believe in. We know that the
worst bill or bill better. But whatever the bill is
that Trump called, this thing is horrific for our community.
But but what makes it makes the sting so much
harder and so much tougher, is on the things where

(01:20:50):
we can stand up, where we can show leadership, what
we can push back.

Speaker 5 (01:20:53):
We're saying, if they give away on the easy stuff,
how can we rely on them for the hard stuff?

Speaker 6 (01:20:58):
So I don't I don't think this was simply about
a vote of honoring Charlie Kirk or not. It is
when you are in your power, in your position where
you get to demonstrate your power.

Speaker 5 (01:21:09):
Are they going to do it?

Speaker 23 (01:21:10):
But I think you see that every day. I'm sorry,
I think you see that every day in communities. You
have black mayors, you have municipal and county officials who
are doing the work.

Speaker 3 (01:21:20):
This is not just one body.

Speaker 23 (01:21:22):
This is a moment where we all have to get
together because it is going to take a village. It
is the mayors, it is the governors. The new Jerseys race,
the Virginia race, Wesmore and Maryland. It's gonna take all
of us standing together. So yes, that vote was difficult,
and yes, like there are people who will always disappoint you,
but you can't just look at one body, because at
the end of the day, we are a party up

(01:21:43):
and down the ballot, and you've got some really, really
amazing people who are doing the work in their communities
at the local level, and that's how we're gonna do it.

Speaker 22 (01:21:50):
We're gonna have to all do it together. Well, let
me say this on that, because I think you're right.
I don't want to sound naive or defensive. It was
a bad vote, it was taken by our community, very upsetting,
but I would say that lessons were learned. And what
you didn't hear was immediately after there was a meeting

(01:22:11):
with the civil rights leaders.

Speaker 3 (01:22:13):
With journalists to say, here was my job.

Speaker 22 (01:22:17):
Right or wrong, but I should have had a better
process and I have.

Speaker 2 (01:22:21):
Learned from this to move on.

Speaker 22 (01:22:24):
So my thing is it didn't turn out the way
it should have for Black America. By the way people
are responding, and I'm not making it small, but I
am saying the Republicans set this up to get us distracted.

Speaker 2 (01:22:41):
Let's not let that work, because we have.

Speaker 22 (01:22:43):
Too many children, too many seniors, too many people who
are at risk of losing their snack, their Medicaid, their
Social Security, their Medicare and healthcare. We need to fight
for and we need to fight for my sister, to
make sure that those dollars it Act Blue, that they
don't come after her like Lisa Cook, like they did

(01:23:04):
with Peggy Carr, and coming after black women.

Speaker 2 (01:23:08):
So we need your voices.

Speaker 22 (01:23:09):
We need you to stay where you are absolutely and
not give up on us, and I'll make a commitment
that we'll stay in the fight.

Speaker 3 (01:23:16):
Well, thank you.

Speaker 2 (01:23:17):
So much, you're so great for being joining us.

Speaker 6 (01:23:22):
Speaking of where a money reside, where the money reside,
where the money reside, we would love to know on
the you're sort of.

Speaker 5 (01:23:30):
At the.

Speaker 6 (01:23:32):
Canary in the coal mine when you start to see
Democratic dollars weighing off away from their candidates and their infrastructure.
Folks out to be in touch with you, trying to
figure out what's happening and what's happening in that space.
I'd love for you to share with us, not only
a little bit about the platform of Back Blue, but also,
where are you diagnosing the state of affairs right now

(01:23:55):
as you see money either coming in or not coming
in as relates to candidates who are on your platform.

Speaker 24 (01:24:00):
Excellent, thank you for the question, and let me just
back up and say Act Blue is a twenty one
year old platform. It is beloved by Democrats and progressives.
We have twenty eight million donors who at any given
time are going to make a choice to give to
a candidate, to an issue, or to a cause. And

(01:24:23):
the average donation that comes through Act Blue is about
thirty eight dollars. It's not huge, but the average donor
is going to give thirty eight dollars six times. And
the truth is that when you magnify that over the
number of donors that care about our candidates, our issues,

(01:24:46):
and our causes, that swells into something that is a
huge behemoth. So one thing that we're a canary in
many ways, we were also the canary of.

Speaker 5 (01:24:59):
Right wing attack.

Speaker 24 (01:25:00):
Actually, there is a whole section of Project twenty twenty
five that is written specifically and explicitly to dismantle Act Blue,
and it lays out the clear steps that it was
that they were trying to take to do that. But
they substantially underestimated the strength of what this entity is.

(01:25:24):
So it turned out that under attack, what they had
hoped was that the donors would lose faith in the platform,
that they would believe the lies that they were spreading
and sharing. What actually happened is that donors took a
different position. This has been the largest off year fundraising
cycle that we have ever had on the platform, and
it is thirty six percent larger than this time in.

Speaker 5 (01:25:47):
Twenty twenty one.

Speaker 2 (01:25:48):
That's incredible, that is incredible.

Speaker 24 (01:25:50):
So we see it very clearly. Donors are leaning into
giving for a redistricting. Donors are leaning into candidates that
are committed deeply.

Speaker 2 (01:26:01):
To the grassroots.

Speaker 24 (01:26:03):
Donors are leaning into candidates and elected officials who are
showing courage in this moment, not cowardice. And donors are
leaning into many of the things that Democrats and progressors
really care about, clean energy, climate, etc. So we're finding

(01:26:24):
a ton of success, and we are also in this
moment spending a fair amount of resources to defend ourselves.
And that is not because there's anything that we are
guilty of. Unfortunately, when you make a charge against an organization,
they have to take the resources to defend themselves, whether
they're guilty or not. So we are encouraging the universe

(01:26:49):
of donors that care about the things that we're fighting
for to double down. It is actually an act of
resistance to keep on giving. And what we're finding is
that donors are doing exactly that.

Speaker 2 (01:27:09):
You know, I want to come to you, thank you
so much. I'll also it's the two mayors sit next
to each other, for we're mayor right here as well.
So I want to come to Ilhan Omar, who has
been such a champion, such a clear voice since even
before where we are right now, like have always been
a voice of conviction. When I think of what the

(01:27:31):
CBC represents as the conscience of the Congress, Ilhan, you
have done that, you have lived that, You've broken history
in your home state, and I know that the battle
has not been easy for you, and I know you
got to go inside. So my quick question for you
is continuing to double back into this theme. When you
consider what it means to be made for this moment,
true to this conference theme, how are you embodying that

(01:27:53):
and what would you encourage our audience to do to represent.

Speaker 4 (01:27:55):
I just say real quick to the Congress someone from
Minnesota say yes, and that's part of the pride and
a history maker as well.

Speaker 16 (01:28:06):
So this, this is what happens when you get interviewed
by your friend, a member of Congress.

Speaker 2 (01:28:13):
That are just like Omars here, Representative Elhan Omar, the legendary.

Speaker 7 (01:28:20):
No.

Speaker 16 (01:28:20):
I mean, I think it is beautiful the fact that
you mentioned that the Congressional Black Caucus is the conscience
of Congress. Because I had the fortune of coming into
Congress doing a really horrendous time, right, it was the
first Trump administration. My class was supposed to be the

(01:28:43):
anecdote to the hate, the vitriol. We were about love,
we were about compassion. We were about shaping a narrative
that was like what it was to be American.

Speaker 22 (01:28:55):
Right.

Speaker 16 (01:28:55):
We were the most diverse class in the history of Congress.
But what I didn't realize was that part of our
fortune is that we were joining the Black Caucus with
the likes of Jan Lewis.

Speaker 3 (01:29:11):
And I remember, you know, I had all of these
you know moments, and.

Speaker 16 (01:29:18):
John stopped me on the floor one time and he said,
young lady, pace yourself. And I thought that was peculiar,
And I said, what does that mean?

Speaker 3 (01:29:31):
And he said, we are in a moment not only
are we fighting for.

Speaker 16 (01:29:36):
A democracy that we desperately need, because we as black
people do not have survival in this country without democracy,
without the ability to voice our opinions through the ballot box.
And he said, in this moment, we are also dealing
with what it means to be American. And I know

(01:29:59):
you and stand that, and so I want you to
pace yourself because this journey of struggle that we have entered.

Speaker 2 (01:30:07):
Is going to be long. Wow, that's so powerful.

Speaker 16 (01:30:11):
And so what I carry with myself since that conversation
is that history of people who understood the long arc
of struggle, knowing that ultimately there will be justice, but
also that the pensulum will spin back and forth, that
even though we might win justice for ourselves in moments,

(01:30:33):
we have to continue to fighting for that because the
retention of that justice, of that progress requires us to
pace ourselves. Because what white supremacist and hate and violence does,
it occupies you, it distracts you, it wears you down.

(01:30:53):
And so if we are not engaging in this moment,
in this battle pacing our selves, we are going to
get tired, We are going to get exhausted. We are
going to get disillusion while they win. And in order
for us to win, yes, we have to pace ourselves.

Speaker 25 (01:31:14):
Good.

Speaker 1 (01:31:15):
Thank you.

Speaker 5 (01:31:16):
I was well.

Speaker 6 (01:31:18):
One good friend of mine used to tell me, we're
in this movement space. We sleep in shifts. So part
of this pacing means that everybody can't be on front
deck on every issue every time.

Speaker 5 (01:31:31):
And Congressman, we've seen nothing.

Speaker 6 (01:31:33):
Wanting to be but oftentimes, uh, the opposition trying to
make you the center of their attention by.

Speaker 5 (01:31:40):
Way of distraction. And we thank you for moving gracefully
through that every time.

Speaker 20 (01:31:44):
Uh.

Speaker 6 (01:31:44):
And to my brother over here, fellow rattler, uh, fam
you in the house, but also in the house the
executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Speaker 2 (01:31:52):
Real quick, I know, Ihan, you have to go inside.
We snatched her up, but we're gonna we're gonna let
her go ahead and and go back inside. Thank you, Susan.
Thank you all for the family love.

Speaker 5 (01:32:05):
No no, no, no none.

Speaker 2 (01:32:06):
Rattlers, Come on, Ratlers.

Speaker 5 (01:32:08):
Now to the question events.

Speaker 6 (01:32:10):
Your membership has had quite a week and this week,
but leading into this week, some difficult votes that I
think you can take pride in the carcase hanging as
tight as it was, but as we were saying with
some of the members earlier, the burden for you all
is just higher at this time. The expectations are greater,
and largely because the needs and our communities happen to

(01:32:31):
be greater. What kind of guidance support are you making
sure that your membership has during these tough times that again, ready,
prepare them and keep them steady for the fight.

Speaker 26 (01:32:42):
You know, when we were at this conference a year
ago tonight, we believed we were on the precipice of
breaking that hardest, highest class ceiling to send a woman
to the White House. Right twelve months later that it's
not the case tonight. In America, healthcare is on the line,

(01:33:03):
food service programs are on critical life support, jerry mandering
is on steroids, and a government shut down is looming.
So twelve months later, the stakes are dramatically different. The
paradigm has shifted. And you know, sixty two members strong,
the largest in our history. Our members are working hard.

(01:33:26):
But the reality is there is not a lot of
good news that I thought I would have coming into
this conference. What I can tell you is and what
I think most of us have felt over the last
couple of days. There's a lot of joy in this space.
There are a lot of beautiful black, brilliant people. Joe, Taika, Edie,
all of y'all up here tonight, and so I am

(01:33:49):
renewed tonight. And I know the members are that we
must stay on the battlefield. There's not a fight we
are not in right now.

Speaker 5 (01:33:58):
There is.

Speaker 3 (01:33:58):
We are standing in the brief.

Speaker 5 (01:34:00):
You know this all too well.

Speaker 26 (01:34:01):
And you just said what I was going to say,
and I said it all across the country with Angela
this summer. Black people in America must sleep in shifts.
When you are asleep. I've got to be up when.

Speaker 3 (01:34:13):
I am sleep. You gotta be up because the people.

Speaker 5 (01:34:17):
Of ill Will are never sleeping ever. And so that's
what's required of I feel right and I just.

Speaker 2 (01:34:22):
Have to take them off. Congress Woman Marsha Budge's right here.
Also a former secretary I'm going there, y'ah, I got it.
Also the former secretary of HUD We Love You. She's
walking by. She's also a delta. We had a whole
slew a deltas up here. And speaking of yeah, there's
another delta here. Also the founder of WIN with Black

(01:34:43):
Women Women Win with black women, but there we had
to win with this black woman first. She is also
getting a Phoenix Award tonight, So Joe take a congratulations,
Joe taking you. Welcome to the state. I didn't know
if it's running on.

Speaker 4 (01:35:02):
Joe Taka, you look amazing. I'm always the shallow person
looking at everybody's outfits and a tire, but you always
shut it down every room you're in. I always talk
about how beautiful you are every time I see you.

Speaker 2 (01:35:14):
Thank you, my friend.

Speaker 25 (01:35:15):
It is always the good to be good to be home. Yes, yes,
and congratulations to you. My sister Angela Rye too right back.

Speaker 2 (01:35:23):
Thank you so much. And I want to just acknowledge
to the president of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Nicole Austin.
Hillary has also joined us. I know she's got a
fun feeled impact evening, so we welcome you home as well.

Speaker 5 (01:35:34):
Nica.

Speaker 2 (01:35:35):
Thank you, and we're so happy to honor both you
and Joe Taka tonight. Thank you.

Speaker 4 (01:35:38):
I just want to remind our viewers really quickly. I
did before, but I want to remind you again. If
you're just joining us, please stay tuned because you'll get
to hear Angela's acceptance speech here live on our very show,
So don't go anywhere, stay tuned. Jill Taika, I want
to come to you before we'll come back to you.
I want to come to you because it's a time
where people are so frustrated they don't know what to do.

(01:36:00):
People constantly ask us what should we be doing? And
I always direct them to the Win with Black Women
call that takes place every Sunday, because you lead a charge.
I just want to know for the folks who haven't
been able to join that call for whatever reason, what
would you say to the millions literally millions of women
who you helped to organize and maybe some who you

(01:36:22):
haven't yet tapped into, who are asking what.

Speaker 2 (01:36:24):
Should they be doing right now? Well, thank you for
that question.

Speaker 25 (01:36:28):
I think when we look at the theme of what
we have been talking about this entire week, made for
this moment, and particularly when it comes to Black women,
I think about Esther. Esther was in a midst of
something that was chaotic. She was scared, she was nervous,
but she was reminded that she was made for such.

Speaker 4 (01:36:49):
A time as this.

Speaker 25 (01:36:50):
And so what I would say to black women, and
particularly black women, we are feeling more so than anybody else.

Speaker 2 (01:36:59):
The heart threats and all of.

Speaker 25 (01:37:02):
The systemic challenges and the very specific racism is sexism
that is coming out of this administration. We feel the
brunt of that because we are targeted. But the thing
that I think is most important is that we can
never lose sight of our power and our power. It
is not just a positional power. You don't have to

(01:37:25):
be the leader of an organization. Everybody has power, individual power,
and when we bring that collective power together, there's nothing
that can stop us. And so what I will say
to that woman is that do what you can do
from where you are, because whatever it is, as long
as it is nothing, it is going to move us
towards the liberation that we so desperately need.

Speaker 2 (01:37:48):
But if they do want to join the calls on Sunday,
how can they do that?

Speaker 25 (01:37:51):
They can go to www dot when with Blackwomen dot Org.
You can go to our bitly slash WWBWA you Sunday
call and you probably could just ask a black woman
and she probably can direct you to us on a
Sunday night.

Speaker 2 (01:38:06):
I love this so much. I want to come to you, Nicole.
You will be so happy we have been on messages
this whole evening about what it means to be made
for this moment, and we've asked everyone. I've asked closed
my panels this week with that, and I know that
this is a theme that's near and dear to your heart.
Before you answer that, I also want to take just
a moment to thank Joe Takahiti for joining us in

(01:38:27):
this moment, Rachel Nordlinger, the legendary publicist right here and
coming to Melanie Parker, who was also a partner of
Native lampod and the vice president of Googler Engagement. So
we're so happy to have you. Were going to get
into hbcusing all the great things you're doing in just
a moment, but first we're gonna come to President Nicole
Austin Hillary talk about the theme a little bit, Angela.

Speaker 11 (01:38:49):
You know, when we got to this year's theme, my
team said what is going to encapsulate this moment that
we're in And what I said to them is that
this alec is more critical than ever because we are
in challenging times and folks are trying to really ameliorate us.
I mean they are trying to get rid of our community.

Speaker 14 (01:39:10):
They're trying to.

Speaker 11 (01:39:10):
Ameliorate us with some of these new tasks and new
policies they're putting out, But we know that's just junk
that is not for us. And we knew that we
had to have everyone come together and strategize around how
do we move forward as a community and as a people.
And this is the nation's largest Black public policy conference,

(01:39:31):
and so we said, we have to do something that's
going to galvanize our community so that everyone will know
they have marching orders and need to come together, talk
and then take the message back to their communities. So
that's what made for this moment means and it's also
a reminder of our struggle but also of our history
of strength and resilience, so that folks know, yes, we

(01:39:52):
are at a time of challenge, but in our DNA
is the strength, the resilience and the power to move
forward and to overcome and to get to even higher heights.

Speaker 14 (01:40:03):
That's what made for this moment is about.

Speaker 5 (01:40:05):
Yeah, what I'd be curious to know.

Speaker 6 (01:40:07):
Obviously there's been a lot of energy around the conference
this year, but there's also a lot of despair, as
we all know, out in our community. What do you
think if there was if there was a way to
give lyft, especially coming on the hills of a vote
that has been extremely demoralizing for a lot of black
people at every level of our society. What we would

(01:40:29):
tell folks around this fight when it doesn't look like
we're winning, and I think we can level with people
that were not winning and the stage is set for greater.

Speaker 5 (01:40:38):
Loss, where do they go? Where's the reservoir of.

Speaker 6 (01:40:45):
Tactics that folks can tap into that they can use
and exercise at their respective levels.

Speaker 11 (01:40:50):
You know, Joe Taco said something very interesting that I've
actually been saying all week. Sometimes it feels like we're
all talking to one another and thinking along the same wavelengths.
What I tell people is look to yourself and the
community around you, because you have leaders. You have black
women who have been working for decades in the good

(01:41:11):
times and the bad times, and they know what strategy
is about. They know what it means to in hard
times coalesce around a movement. They know what it means
to make a dollar out of fifteen cents. That's what
we have to do right now. We have to go
back to those routs and do it right in our communities,
go to those wise sages go to those young people

(01:41:32):
who are brilliant, who are out there right now saying
we're not waiting for somebody to give us a title
or give us permission to lead.

Speaker 2 (01:41:38):
We are leading right now.

Speaker 11 (01:41:40):
I'm asking everyone to look inward and right in their
own neighborhoods and their sororities, fraternities, churches, civic organizations, and
that's how we are going to get the well of
information and then come together and share that information and
understand that it's going to take that unity for all
of us to move forward.

Speaker 4 (01:41:57):
Thank you for that, Melanie. I want to bring you
in the converce station after that sermon that we just got.

Speaker 2 (01:42:02):
In and we should probably she literally hasked to run out.
She had a whole program. Thank you, President, and thank you.

Speaker 4 (01:42:10):
For honoring our your sister tonight. We are so proud
and excited to see her get a privileged to do so. Yes,
thank you, thank you very much, melaniew. If there is
a role for the private sector to play at this time,
news came out this week that corporate boards have been
bringing on more white men and drove numbers since Trump

(01:42:33):
has assaulted DEI efforts across the private sector and the
public sector. I'm curious in your role.

Speaker 2 (01:42:43):
One.

Speaker 4 (01:42:43):
We want to know in the community how safe you are.
We want to be able to support you. But to
what role does the private sector have to play to
hold the ground and not completely capitulate if we as
we've seen so many other private sector companies do.

Speaker 2 (01:42:57):
And tip if I could add to that, particularly as
it relates to training up the best and brightest our future.
I'm sitting between sandwich between two HBCU grads and if
I had another piece of bread, it would be you
over there, Speilman. So I know that, Hampton.

Speaker 3 (01:43:14):
I think it was Spelman.

Speaker 2 (01:43:16):
Do I do that every HBT you love? Okay, I'm sorry, Hampton.
I'll get it right next time. My little cousin, Evany
also went to Hampton. So I will I want you
to tap into how you prepare these future young leaders
given everything that's going on, you have a deep and
abiding commitment to that.

Speaker 8 (01:43:34):
Yes, And actually I said, I was on Joe Jaca's
call on Sunday and I was asking myself, like, what
can I do, like in my role, what can I do?
And I walked away from that thinking, actually, I have
to make all of the resources that we have available
at Google, we got to push that more out into

(01:43:54):
the community. As an example, we offer certificate programs you
can at them like Cloud architect, Data.

Speaker 2 (01:44:02):
Science, AI Essentials.

Speaker 8 (01:44:05):
Over two hundred employers accept these certificates.

Speaker 2 (01:44:09):
In lieu of degree.

Speaker 8 (01:44:10):
And so my thing is, how do we get go
to market partners from the Divine nine, from the links incorporated,
from our churches, you know.

Speaker 2 (01:44:19):
Et cetera.

Speaker 8 (01:44:20):
How do we put these courses because they're free, they're
on Casera and then for small business owners, we also
offer a lot of free services as well. And so
I have a personal goal to make sure you know
we're doing our part to address the number of people,
including communities of color and black women that.

Speaker 2 (01:44:43):
Are out of work.

Speaker 8 (01:44:44):
And how do you make that pivot and how do
you take resources that are available and turn that in.

Speaker 2 (01:44:50):
I was talking with a friend last week.

Speaker 8 (01:44:52):
She's been out of work for ten months and she's consulting,
and she said, you know, the consulting market is oversaturated
because we don't need more consultants, but we do need
more people with skills that are you know, meeting us
where we are with AI and how do we do that?

Speaker 5 (01:45:09):
So tell us. Where's the clearinghouse?

Speaker 6 (01:45:11):
Where do folks if you're on your couches, where do
they go?

Speaker 2 (01:45:14):
So go to Grow with Google dot Com.

Speaker 8 (01:45:17):
And then from Grow with Google dot Com you'll find
our career certificates.

Speaker 2 (01:45:22):
But you'll also.

Speaker 8 (01:45:23):
Find the tools that we have for small businesses and
for founders.

Speaker 2 (01:45:28):
So Grow with Google dot Com.

Speaker 5 (01:45:31):
We'll make sure you get in the show notes.

Speaker 2 (01:45:32):
Tif I'm about to That's a good point, Andrew, that
is a good show note. I'm about to tell the
family business. So, Melanie, we have a chat of black
women who are in media. It's called the Machetes. And
I want to know if there is a machete like
group for folks in your position. I can imagine, especially
as things begin to change, it can become very lonely.

(01:45:55):
So I want to know who are the sisters that
hold you down in this space, so that you feel
like you've goulous sisters. I'm my own machete group. We
hold each other up.

Speaker 8 (01:46:05):
I mean, you know, Harriet Tubman started it right with
the Underground Railroad.

Speaker 2 (01:46:09):
We beat Morse Code. So I have a number of
sisters in like.

Speaker 8 (01:46:15):
Fields across industry, tech industry and other industries and we,
you know, help each other, and we are proactive leading
helping each other, like see around that corner.

Speaker 2 (01:46:29):
But we want to do that together.

Speaker 8 (01:46:31):
Some of those sisters, sadly, you know, are looking for
new roles and need to make that pivot too, and
some have been unsafe.

Speaker 4 (01:46:39):
Yeah, same, I think in our group chat, and it
speaks of the power of the group chat.

Speaker 6 (01:46:45):
I was.

Speaker 4 (01:46:46):
If you guys are regular workers on the show, you'll
know that Angela recommended. We were exchanging booklists book readings,
and Angela recommended Asada Chakor's biography, and I was just
heartbroken this week at her passing. Our friend Jelani Cobb
Dina Columbia Journalism School noted how she was eternally out

(01:47:08):
of the reach of the people who were trying to
destroy her. But she talked about being isolated in prison,
and she kept asking, why can't I go and be
with the other black women, And she would shout to
them through thick metal windows, how y'all doing, and they
would in unison reply back, we good, sister, how you doing?
And when she was able to be in community with them,
just to hear their voices, she said it felt like

(01:47:30):
a piece of home. So when I think about our
group chats and where we gather as black women, there
is something magical and mystical even to that. So just
in honor of Asada Shakur, I just want to say,
I'm shouting through the thick metal windows to you, say Angela,
to all the people out there, asking how y'all doing?

(01:47:50):
And we want to know and hold and keep each
other with a little piece of home as we remember, I.

Speaker 5 (01:47:56):
Got checking a.

Speaker 2 (01:48:00):
Feel glad that made it.

Speaker 5 (01:48:01):
So you do, we have some We just need to
change the topics up.

Speaker 8 (01:48:06):
We do it in the halls, right, So think about
we're out and about and we're giving each other that
look like you know, and so I mean just even
that exchange is.

Speaker 2 (01:48:16):
Like a hug.

Speaker 6 (01:48:17):
So, as we conclude our time here at CBC and
re emphasize the theme here of being made for the moment,
as you think about your own contributions in the space
that you occupy in corporate America, how do you feel
that you are prepared, made, stayed for the moment.

Speaker 8 (01:48:34):
So my brother and I we're first generation college My
parents were Air Force.

Speaker 2 (01:48:40):
They both went in right out of high school.

Speaker 8 (01:48:42):
My mom's from Texas, my dad's from North Carolina, but
they fought for an America that didn't give them full
rights and privileges, with a very.

Speaker 2 (01:48:52):
Intention that what they were fighting for was going to
be better for their children. So my brother and I
we are made.

Speaker 8 (01:48:59):
For this moment because we were groomed and developed in
community to serve and we get that from our parents,
we get that from everybody who surrounded us, and I
do think like esther to Joe Tako's point, if not me,
then who that's right?

Speaker 3 (01:49:13):
That's right.

Speaker 4 (01:49:14):
Thank you for being a partner to Native Lampard. Thank
you for everything you're doing in your role. Melanie Parker.
We so appreciate you, and we are part of your
extended group chat. You have a support of the Machetes,
you know from far beyond, So thank you. We appreciate
all your support over the years, not just tonight, but
over the years.

Speaker 2 (01:49:31):
We really support me and Tip by giving us this
dress because I'm sure beautiful, being so free.

Speaker 4 (01:49:37):
I know that when she was standing over there, it's
allR right when.

Speaker 2 (01:49:39):
She came up.

Speaker 4 (01:49:40):
So thank you so much.

Speaker 2 (01:49:41):
Congratulations on your war. Yes, so excited, so.

Speaker 5 (01:49:46):
Well deserved.

Speaker 4 (01:49:47):
That's what I want to talk about now, Okay, so far.

Speaker 5 (01:49:51):
Shout out quick Jamal Simmons, Hi, Jamal Simmons.

Speaker 4 (01:49:55):
A lot of people who wanted to appear on air
would always.

Speaker 3 (01:49:58):
Represent look at that air mail.

Speaker 2 (01:50:04):
Yes, I'm listening to you. I know, but we got
eighty D a little band fam you.

Speaker 4 (01:50:08):
I knew Andrew was going to spot out the fam
you people. Yes, well, the audience can't see, but I
want you all to know there is a room full
of beautiful, elegant black folks here tonight. And I just
sometimes I look at these colors and I'm like, damn,
the color of yellow was made for black women. And
I'm like, oh, the color pink was made for black women,

(01:50:31):
was made for women. It's just a rainbow of fashion,
but beyond fashion consciousness. You know, we're gathered here tonight
to celebrate the work that has been done and the
work that needs to be done. And we knew, but
Angela would not let us say anything. But we knew
that Angelo Rye will be honored tonight, presented an award

(01:50:52):
because fitting with the theme, she has indeed met the moment.
She is a former executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus,
the legislative body has worked tirelessly. When I met her,
she was already a star in DC among the hills.

Speaker 2 (01:51:07):
She has not changed at all.

Speaker 4 (01:51:08):
People think, you know, sometimes you get on TV and
become well known and get a new personality. This has
always been who Angela is from the day I've met
her almost twenty years ago.

Speaker 5 (01:51:18):
Blacks.

Speaker 2 (01:51:19):
Yes, she is, has always been, and she was staffed.

Speaker 4 (01:51:21):
To the Blacks.

Speaker 2 (01:51:22):
She was a business. You make that up. I think
you made that up.

Speaker 4 (01:51:25):
Albert Sanders actually made that up our Frank, yes, that
he would always say, she's everybody's emergency contact because if
something happens to me, please call Angela.

Speaker 5 (01:51:32):
Rye.

Speaker 4 (01:51:34):
No you, I'll respond next week, like girl, you're good,
are you okay? But you've worked on campaigns, including Andrew Gilliams,
has been a business owner, an activist. Impact Strategies was
your business. But even before it was a business, it
was I don't know what you guys were, an organization
on Capitol Hill.

Speaker 3 (01:51:53):
Yeah, yeah, I remember, I remember.

Speaker 6 (01:51:57):
But also what I find really like inspiring about Angela,
even as you said here, I'll say it is she
has always seemed to make time for bringing the next
generation of leaders up. Her cohort of young people of
all really all range of ages, who were interested in
professional development, who were interested in making real impact, have

(01:52:20):
sought her out, and she's always made room for training
up the next generation leadership, the folks that you want
to replace you. And I think of all of all
the amazing things you do, and there are many in numerable,
I count this among one of the I think greatest
measures of impact you that you have had and are having,
and that's in replacing yourself and replacing the rest of

(01:52:43):
us with the next layer of talent.

Speaker 2 (01:52:45):
You're so elegant.

Speaker 4 (01:52:46):
And of course I didn't want to leave out State
of the People. What you've done with State of the People.
Please join us, I asked, Well, somebody grabbed mister and
missus Rye. Please you get that they can come for
her acceptance be But I also this is the professional
things that we talked about, Angela. But I just want
to say personally, if anyone has ever if you are

(01:53:07):
in her world, and anyone has ever even slightly thought
about wronging you, do not tell Angela because she's going
to carry it to her grade. She will not rock
with you. If you mess with her people. She is
always ready to throw some knuckles. So it is just
a delight to see her honored. One of the reasons
I think she is this powerhouse is because of who

(01:53:28):
raised her. And that is of course, if you know Angela,
you've heard her talk about Papa Rye, who is her hero,
her partner, her father, and her beautiful, elegant mother.

Speaker 2 (01:53:41):
You can see where she gets her looks from. So
so nice to see you. Yeah, you sit down. Your
first job is to hell Mommy sit here.

Speaker 18 (01:53:52):
I love it.

Speaker 2 (01:53:52):
My dad said, how you doing, Governor. So this is
doctor Andrea Rye and Eddie Wright Jr. And at this
point we are slightly We're supposed to be ending right now,
but since we started late, I'm gonna reclaim my time.
If you can help mommy sit down, or you guys
are gonna stand up. Okay, that's fine. So parents, if
you can pay attention for just a moment, mom you're

(01:54:15):
on camera. If you can't pay attention just for a moment,
I think it is worth it. Because I learned this
evening or this afternoon that we don't get remarks for
the Phoenix Awards. I'm gonna do my speech now that
I was gonna do. So I'm gonna just share it here.
Good evening. I stand before you as the first former

(01:54:36):
executive director recipient of the CBC Foundation's Phoenix Award. Receiving
this award fills me with both gratitude and a renewed
sense of purpose, and I will tell you that I
wrestle with the fact that it feels unearned and premature.
In this moment, I feel like I've failed the people
because this year I began working to really gather us

(01:54:59):
in earnest as crisis called. But what I realized to
miss this internal struggle is this honor is not the end.
It's the beginning. It's an urging to keep going, to
keep pushing, and to find higher ground. Thank you to
Chairwoman Clark for seeing me and encouraging me to give
the best of me to our people. I accept this

(01:55:22):
honor with the full awareness that our story as a
people has always been one of resurrection and resilience. This
award is not just for me. It belongs to every
ancestor who refused to quit, every elder who told the truth,
and every young person daring to dream beyond the failures

(01:55:42):
of what America has promised. It belongs to my mom
and Dad, doctor Andrea Rye, and Eddie Rye Junior, To
the members of the Congressional Black Caucus, and to every
Black staffer who knows your duty to also serve as
the conscience of the Congress. It is for It is
for the first responders of the movement, the state of

(01:56:04):
the people, and every partner. It is for every person
we fed, hugged, bailed out, heard out who felt left out,
For the mothers of the movement, the Black Wall Street survivors,
and everyone who knows black lives, history, stories, employees, entrepreneurs, scientists, veterans, preachers, teachers,
elders and babies still matter. Tonight is about more than recognition.

(01:56:29):
It is a clarion call for what it means to
meet this moment. We are witnessing the dismantling of democracy
in real time. Book bands are spreading across our states.
Voter suppression targets our communities with new force. The tightening
of our economy is harming Black women by the hundreds
of thousands, and the eggs, the cost of eggs are

(01:56:52):
still too damn high. Political violence is unleashed to keep
us silent and afraid, and we are being made to
believe that congressional honor must be bestowed upon someone who thought,
who through death, is being upheld as a messiah when
we all know the truth about the vicious, violent vitriol
he actually spewed. We know what survival mode feels like.

(01:57:16):
We see it in every headline that erases our history,
every law that blocks our progress, every threat meant to
break our will. But we are not only survivors. We
are meant to thrive. The question is how we will
not get there through division or subtraction. We will not
move forward by closing our eyes to hatred or shrinking

(01:57:39):
in the face of unprecedented opposition and oppression. So tonight
I ask what will history say about you? What will
history say about me? What will it say about us?
Will it record our silence or will it tell a
story of a collective rising up? Will it remember you
as someone who stood in the gap or as someone

(01:58:01):
who faded and blended when it mattered the most. History
is not written by the comfortable. It is shaped by
the courageous. This is our time to move in the
fullness of who we are. Our steps are ordered to
be bold, to be unapologetically black and beautiful. Shrinking is
not an option. Bowing is not an option. Folding is

(01:58:25):
not an option. Every moment demands our grit, our hustle,
and our backbone. We will not overcome until we confront division.
We will not overcome until we face our fears, speak truth,
plainly and without apology. We will not overcome until the
demands we have of our elected officials are also met

(01:58:47):
when we look in the mirror. We will not overcome
until we let courage replace fear. That is our standard,
that is our charge. You are called now more than EVERBC,
to not just be the conscience of the Congress, but
even more to be the conscience of our community and
the conscience of our culture. You stand on the shoulders

(01:59:10):
of that kind of conscience of a bold thirteen in
nineteen seventy one who demanded the bold pursuit of an
agenda for liberation that is our birthright. Let us move
forward together, refusing to shrink, refusing to be silenced, refusing
to be divided, because we were made for this moment.

(01:59:32):
Thank you for this great honor, all power to the people.
Welcome home, y'all.

Speaker 27 (01:59:39):
For the last morning see. Thank you for joining the
Natives intention of with the info and all of the
latest rock Gilliman Cruss connected to the statements that you
leave on our socials. Thank you sincerely for the patients.
Reason for your choice is clear. So grateful it took
the OA to execute rules. Thank you for serve, defend
and protect the truth, even in case it will walk
a home.

Speaker 3 (02:00:00):
All of the natives, we thank you.

Speaker 1 (02:00:14):
Native Lampard is a production of iHeartRadio in partnership with
Reison Choice Media. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the
iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your
favorite shows.

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Hosts And Creators

Tiffany Cross

Andrew Gillum

Angela Rye

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