March 17, 2025 • 23 mins
BIN Reporter Kevin Brown sits down with civil rights advocate and Revolt News Chief Political Correspondent Tezlyn Figaro, who also hosts the Straight Shot No Chaser podcast on the Black Effect Podcast Network.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
I'm Kevin Brown on the Black Information Network. You're home
for Black News First, and we are very excited to
have someone who is on the front line of what
you are seeing in the news every single day today,
the incredibly talented Teslin Fergaro. Welcome to the Black Information Network.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Thank you so much for having me, Kevin, I'm glad
to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Before we get started, let's talk about this town hall
that's coming up on March thirtieth. Okay, this is the
perfect time, tes then for a town hall, because there
is so much going on. It's happening on March thirtieth
at the Bankhead Seafood Restaurant for people who are interested
in being engaged with what is going on. How can
(00:46):
they pick up a tickets and what can they expect
when they get there?
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Yeah, thank you so much for asking the very important question.
People can get tickets at ww dot Teslinfigaro dot com,
t e z l y nf I g A r
o dot com. You can also find me on Instagram
under Tesslin figure O. The link is right there in
the bio. I encourage people to get tickets in advance
because ben Kassi Food, which is owned by my brother Killer,
(01:12):
Mike and t I. It doesn't hold a lot of folks,
and so we want to make sure you know that
we're staying within the occupacy guidelines. So the tickets are
going very very fast, and what they can expect is
a town hall that is focused on community conversation. I
also have a little bit of comic relief. That's important
(01:35):
to me because as we go through some of the
most stressful times for most folks you know, in their
lifetime on what we're happening, on what's happening now with
anxiety and depression and people not knowing which way to turn.
I wanted to make an evening of not only community conversation,
but some comic relief with comedian Erica Duchess, also comedian
(01:55):
Glenn tattoo Man Page that's coming in from Detroit, and
then you know, some one on one conversation with me.
The main focus of this is Kevin and a lot
of what I will be directing our conversation about today
on is about micro organizing. People literally don't know what
(02:17):
to do. People are saying, you know, what do I
do next? My job may possibly be laid off. I
want to remind people that the federal government is the
largest employer of Black Americans. So when you're talking about
not possibly having a job, maybe just laid off, don't
know what's happening next, confused on what's happening, you know,
with foreign affairs and what's going on here domestically, it
(02:40):
is really important that we start to what I call
micro organized on a very very small level. Every year, Kevin,
I organize hundreds of candidates to learn how to run
for office, to work on campaigns, and to be organizers.
But I switched this up to say that we need
people in the room. Whether it's one hundred and two
hundred people is good enough for Gideon's army, for three
(03:01):
hundred is good enough for me. For folks to be
able to engage with each other, have like minded individuals
around them, not just online, but then have an opportunity
to build.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Who in the room.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Knows how to farm, Who in the broom knows how
to you know, fix a car, Who in the room,
you know, uh has a small business. That type of
thinking has been able, at least for me to give
me some solace to know that I have a tribe.
So I am tribe building on a very small local
level and at the same time patronizing our black business,
(03:33):
making sure you know, they earn something for that night,
patronizing you know, self employed comedians, DJs, all of those things,
so that we can show how we can circulate the dollar.
But more importantly, everybody doesn't have a family or friends
or people who are even concerned about, you know, what's happening,
and so I just want to create a space for
those you know, who need to to basically build a tribe.
(03:55):
And that's what it's about.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
And you've been organizing for quite some time. I was
wondering if if you've seen a difference in the type
of people who become galvanized by some of the things
that you are involved in in past two years versus
what you're seeing today, Are people more engaged less engaged?
(04:18):
What are you experiencing in that world?
Speaker 3 (04:21):
You know, they say that the greatest motivator is fear,
and right now, people, I think, to be honest with you, Kevin,
some folks are still at shell shock, if you will.
They are still having a hard time processing how Donald Trump,
you know, got elected. It was very clear to me,
I was very clear about I knew that that was
(04:41):
more than a possibility. I actually knew that it was
very much possible. So people are still struggling with that.
And remember, folks really tapped out, you know, we could
see that in the numbers with news. We could see
that in the cable news sector, the podcast sector. People
really say, you know what, I'm just going to take
a break. I'm just going to mind my black business.
I'm just going to you know, protect my mental health
(05:03):
and you know, protect my spirit. Well what happened is
Kevin Now it is the real deal, Holy Field. And
so now as people have set back and thought that
they would have more time to get engaged, they're realizing
they're absolutely behind. They are absolutely behind and having the
type of strategies that they need to have in place
in order to survive what possibly be coming and what's
(05:25):
actually real. For many people, they are finding out that
the organizations that they did not think were as important
before actually are. They are finding out that there are
many ways to as they say, eat an out elephant,
one bite at a time, whether that's protests, you know,
physically protests, whether it's protest what our dollar economic protests,
you know, whether that it's policy. So they are learning
(05:46):
in real time that they have to do something. And
so what I have found in this is people are
just saying, Teslium.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
What do I do? In desperate need? What do I do?
Speaker 3 (05:58):
So I've been trying to give people tips on how
to self preserve in addition to what can you do
to build the community.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
We have to know. I'm sorry, Kaed, I.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Was gonna say, we have to do something right now.
This is not about trying to get forty six million
people on board.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
You know.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
This is about really, like I said, micro organizing and
then coming up with ways that you personally can self preserve.
And those are the thing the tips I've been giving
people on my podcast on iHeart Radio and all of
my appearances on really trying to give people realistic tips
on what they need to do in their own household
to what I call brace and if you don't mind
(06:35):
me being frank on your show, belt to ask. We
are in the belt to ask mode and so people
have to brace and build, and so that's what I've
been pushing.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
The town hall tour happens Sunday, March thirtieth at Bankhead
Seafood Restaurant. Will this be the first of many town halls?
Speaker 2 (06:52):
I'm hoping.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
So I'm being very honest with you, trying to galvanize,
kind of going back to your point where your questioning
about it. How many people like to get involved. It's
very difficult. You know, people love, which is what one
reason to be honest with you. I added the comics.
I wanted people to feel they were getting a lot
of value for you know, for their dollar.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
I would love for it to be multiple times in
multiple cities.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
But what I'm learning is it is a real challenge
to get you know, one hundred hundred and fifty people
in the room. Because even if an establishment says, hey,
we'll let you come in the room for free, the
goal is to patronize that business. The goal is to
show some type of you know, ecosystem, you know, of
money flowing.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
And so what I think.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
I'm going to have to do, Kevin, is after this
and the tickets are going very well in Atlanta, but
not everybody, Not every city is the Black Mecca. Some cities,
you know, may not be able to galvanize in that way.
So I Am going to come up with some virtual options.
But these virtual options, Kevin, will be you know, how
to write a resume, how to interview, how to transfer
your skills, how to identify transferable skills, how to organize,
(07:57):
how to be an organized, how to run for office.
So I've all I always had what I call the
push the line nonpartisan institute politics until something happens. And
so we're going to expand those programs to do it
virtually instead of in person, because I just can't get
to everybody as fast as I want and it's not
economically feasible. So I will be opening up virtual options
(08:17):
after this town hall.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
As when you are giving me goosebumps, thank you, thank
you for taking time out. You have been here before.
Is the sense that I am getting my goodness? You
were talking my kind of talk. Where did the fires
start for you? Has this always been a party? You
always background?
Speaker 3 (08:39):
And in your family it's all we No, never in
my family. Nobody in my family's been in policies. Nobody
in my family has been in the law. I was
teased on the Breakfast Club when I asked Vivid Ramasami
what he was doing in the sixth grade. And I
really wanted to know, because I know what I was
doing in the sixth grade. I am from the cloth
of It's either in you are. It's not it's not
it's in you, ours on you. There are many people
(08:59):
who have this as a career. I have been called
I can literally go every year of my life of
knowing the exact circumstance of when I've stood up to
the bully. In the second grade, I got a bloody nose,
you know, over Shantey Rowland, who was teased by Benjamin
and I stood up for her. In the fourth grade,
I stood up for Kelly Reynolds who was being bullied
by Stephanie Collins.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
In the sixth grade, I got.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
Suspended from school because I did not like how Miss
Harris was treating the teachers. Same thing with Miss an
Sabino in high school. This has literally been my life.
I have literally been on the bus stop for somebody
never meet. I didn't have fights growing up, but I
was always jumping in front of.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
You know danger.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
After that, going to the military, I could have easily
just been a secretary. I decided to be an M
sixty gun or twenty three pound weapon and guard the plane.
This is in me. You cannot learn this. This is
not passing on a public policy knowledge. Although I am
proud of my education, I'm proud of having a master's
degree of an education. I'm proud of working on my
second master's in political science. I'm proud to be going
(10:05):
to law school in the fall. That is not where
I stand. I stand on the principles of is what
am I going to say when my father calls me home?
Speaker 2 (10:14):
This is about the least of these.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
The old hymn that I used to listen to growing
up that I played at my mother's funeral says I
should wear a crown and I will put on a
robe and tell the story. So I want to make
sure that my story is being told. What did I
do when they were in prison? What did I do
when they were hungry? What did I do when the
widow needed justice? So I've just always been this way.
I've always gotten in trouble for my mouth. I've always
(10:38):
been told I talk too much. I've always been in
somebody's business. So it's just who I am. I didn't
know that it would be politics and the law and
you know, all those things, but it's just really it
is absolutely just what I was born and called to do.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
Then, how did you meet Ben Crump?
Speaker 2 (10:53):
How did I meet being Crump? Great question?
Speaker 3 (10:55):
I was in Orlando, Florida, my political stomping ground. We
initially started working together. I was an organizer during the
Trayvon Martin. I actually lived in Sanford, Florida during that time.
So watching Samfra, Florida is a very small town, watching
that city turn upside down, I knew what it was
to be followed home from folks in Sanford, Florida pulling
(11:18):
guns on you and all of that is definitely a
place that will absolutely have no problem, you know, asserting
their white supremacy. And so we had a casual relationship then,
But it wasn't until I was in Oklahoma City for
a year after my business. I had a very successful
business with three hundred employees the staffing firm in Orlando, Florida.
That staffing firm shut down due to healthcare reform. Who
(11:41):
couldn't afford to cover health care, And so I went
to Oklahoma.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
To stay.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
A short period of time. My mother was diagnosed from
cancer while I was there. I believe the Lord had
me there in that particular moment. And it was the
Housecloth rape case. The thirteen black women who were raped
by officer Housecloth called the attorney who was a White
attorney at the time. I asked him, I said, I
really want to make this story national.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
He told me no.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
I said, no problem, I'm going to make it national anyway.
And so I advocated for that every single day by myself.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
I called Attorney Crump.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
I said, these women really, really, you know, they need
to be represented. I don't believe they're being represented the
way that they should because most attorneys where people don't understand,
most attorneys civil attorneys, they don't want to take a
civil case because they're not profitable, especially from the government.
Two the chances of winning or zero to none. Three,
they don't want to bring that type of negativity on
the city. At that particular time in Oklahoma City, the
(12:34):
Oklahoma City Thunder, you know, was still somewhat of a
new organization. Oh you medical is huge in that city.
Officer house Cloth was pulling over these black women directly
around the corner from the Oklahoma Capital. So it was
something that the city did not want anybody to know,
and so I joined in that crusade with him. My
(12:54):
grandmother's house was literally and Kevin, when I say literally
next door to the police station, I mean literally as
a next door neighbor my grandmother's house. It was a
police station right next door where Officer Hosscloth was assigned,
and so I was advocating for that with the police
that I was challenging living next door to me. Every
time I would drive out my driveway, they would follow
(13:17):
me because that was the only way to get out
out the neighborhood. So there were many days where I
wondered if I would be as Sandra Bland and like
I said in the documentary, would Attorney Crump civil that's
on Netflix. I'm the only one that has a speaking
role outside of Attorney Crump that I'm willing to die
for the cause.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
So we just.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Became very good, not just friends, but truly family, like
a brother to me, and I've been rocking with him
ever since. On every case, I'm usually the one saying
what he won't say on the stage, and we just
have a very very close and very God ordained relationship
and we've been together ever since.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
This is the Black Information Network. I'm Kevin Brown, and
Tesa is nice enough to join us for a discussion
of issues of the day, and speaking of that, Minnesota
Attorney General Keith Ellison has released a statement condemning what
some conservatives are advocating for in terms of George Floyd
(14:18):
in that case, that they are suggesting that the president
issue a pardon for the officer who is in jail. Chauven,
what are your thoughts on that?
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Thank you so much for asking me that question. I
was the senior advisor for the George Floyd family. Not
only did I work on the case for Attorney Crump
from the legal side, I also became very bonded with
that family, who I still talked to on a weekly basis.
When we meet these families, they truly become family, Kevin.
(14:56):
They're not just a one and done, you know, once
the trial is over. And I am deeply disgusted by
I'm not surprised, but deeply disgusted of the conservative commentator
that said, you know, this pardon would truly, you know,
make a mark on how we need to basically go
in reverse. I'm not shocked that Elon must also said
(15:19):
this sounds like a good idea.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
I want the family to know.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
And I'm not talking of George Floyd family coming the
Black family, because when I put it up on my page,
I was you know, people kind of went in and
was saying, you know, I'm fine with you know if
that happens.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Well, one, there's misinformation. He was charged.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
He was found guilty on the state and the federal level.
So that's important. There's a lot of misunder misinformation on
folks saying, well, Trump can't pardon him on the state. Well,
he was found guilty on both levels, the state and
the federal. That's the first thing. The second thing, you know,
a lot of people say, well, even if he got
off on the federal, he's still serving time, you know
for the state. Let me be crystal clear on behalf
of the George Floyd family and the Being crumblaw firm.
(15:56):
We want him to serve time on both times. Both
rights were violated on both levels, on the state and
on the federal. So a pardon is completely unacceptable. And
shout out to Keith Ellison, who did a remarkable job.
And this is why state attorney jobs are so important.
I tell people all the time, pay attention to your
state attorney is. Had Keith Ellison not been in position,
they would not have been able to galvanize the legal
(16:17):
team that they did to fight the case on the
criminal side. So we want to see both charges stand
and when people think, oh that's a long shot, Oh
it won't happen, Oh it's no big deal, and then
they wake up and see that it does. This is why,
over and over they continue to be ahead of us,
because we don't operate with the urgency in the moment
at that time. And I want to say this, Kevin,
(16:38):
if Trump decides to pardon, it's nothing we literally can
do about it.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
We can't change his heart. Only God can change the
hearts of man.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
But what I want to see people is be willing
to fight, be willing to stand up. Don't just roll
over and play possum. Don't just be okay with it,
you know. And so that's what I'm learning. People are
just kind of giving up up in a lot of ways.
Some people are ready to fight, some people don't know
what to do, and some people just say, you know what,
it's above me now and that's just what we cannot do.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Yes, one other question I want to ask you about
is the Flint water case. Where does that stand now?
You were also involved in that situation.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Yeah, well Flint still doesn't have clean water.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
You know, the things that we still like to talk
about over and over, But yes, it was a over
six hundred million dollar lawsuit that was filed. So a
lot of those victims, you know, did get some recovery,
but nowhere near what they should have gotten. A lot
of children will have severe damage for the rest of
their life. Also, a lot of victims who were affected
did not file claims. We went down several several times
(17:44):
as much public information as we possibly can. Shout out
to Eric Mays, rest in peace to him. The Flint
councilman became a very good friend of mine. We did
as much as we can to get people, you know,
to get the information. This is why Black information news
is so important, you know, trying to get the information,
trying to get the information out. So a lot of
people still did not get, you know, the recovery that
they need. And Kevin a real thing that happens, particularly
(18:07):
in the black community.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
We are hesitant to give our information.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
We're hesitant to sign up for things like with the senses,
We're hesitant to exchange information. So there's still a lot
of folks who are impacted and still did not receive covery,
so recovery. So I just want to remind people that
problem is still not completely fixed. And we just kind
of moved on. In twenty sixteen, I was working the
Bernie Sanders campaign, the racial justice I was this racial
(18:30):
justice director.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
And all of them were running to Flint.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
You know. It was the darling if you will of
the campaign season. And I haven't seen any of them back.
And so those that's the problem that I have in politics,
the you know, come in for the photo ops and
then leave and don't stay connected to the community moving forward.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
As Lynn, why are you optimistic moving forward?
Speaker 2 (18:55):
That's a great question. I can't. I don't know if
I would say I'm optimistic.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
Optimistic is usually for people who say, you know, I
know that eventually there and barrel means I go into
my past story or bootleg preacher moment for a moment.
Those are usually folks who are looking for the solution,
the coping, the feel good, let's focus on the positive.
(19:21):
I don't operate that way. I operate in a very
clear sighted understanding that what I am doing, the seeds
that I'm planning, I may well not reap the benefits
of that shade tree. When people get into this and
(19:41):
they say, oh, modermen's things are gonna get better, things
are gonna get better, and then it doesn't happen, they
fall out. I am a military veteran. My mindset is
set to fight until I die. It is not about
being optimistic.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
This is me.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
I'm not talking about everybody else. It's not about oh,
this is gonna get better. I do believe things will
get better. I think they'll get worse before they get better.
I'm not a negative Nancy. I'm not saying that they
won't be any change. What I'm saying is we live
in an imperfect world. There will always be something to
fight for, and so your one job is to do
what you can and pass the baton. We don't have
time for you being in the positive posture, the optimistic
(20:16):
pot We need you to be moving, and a lot
of people when they get optimistic and they sell stuff
and get better, they find they use that to cope
to not have to do anything. So I have to
operate in the we need to fix this, we need
to do something the negative posture. I can't operate in
the optimistic because if I'm operating optimistic, then nothing will get.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Done, so I don't.
Speaker 3 (20:40):
My mindset can't lean into that because that's usually where
I find where people rest.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
And as we wrap things up, what do you do
to maintain peace of mind? How do you relax? What
do you do for fun?
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Poor Kevin, I've been trying to tell you this whole time.
I have a robot. I am called for this.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
I am sure, you know, going out listening to live music, fine,
but I don't.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
There's no relax in me. I'm a warrior.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
I'm a soldier. I'm in the battle of the Lord.
This is not about yeah, what it relaxed? Relax What
I don't like? I literally don't. And I mean that
in a little sense. I'm managing editor, chief political corresponding
senior producer for Revolt News. I got a seventeen year
old that's going to college. I run my own business.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
I'm in school. Relax What when? Why? I will relax
when I die? I don't.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
This is not a bad relaxing. So sure, but fine, Okay,
if I'd like to go listen to music, you know,
every now and then, I guess, but that I don't
even consider that relaxing. I kind of consider that, especially
being in Atlanta. I go out to get a recharge
of black folks. You know, the hug owns, the Black
Season Black. So no, oh, this is what you're fighting for.
But I just don't operate that way, Kevin.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
I just don't. I'm not built that way.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
I'm not built to I am very very much purpose driven,
and I don't know how people find the time to
relax when I'm looking at what's happening. You know, I'm
just not built up that way. You just got to
get somebody else that'll say, yo, I like to do that.
That's not what it is with me. I have a
very disciplined life, a very called life, a very purpose
(22:30):
driven life, and I just prefer to center that on community.
And I'm okay with that. And when people say, well,
you still should take some time, yeah, I do. I
like live music, I like going out, That's about it.
But other than that, I know what I'm called to do.
A lot of people celebrate birthdays.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
I don't. I want to celebrate the dash. What do
we do between the birthday and the death date? That's
the dash in the middle. I'm concerned.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
That I want to make sure that I've done everything
that I possibly can with everything I possibly had to give.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
I'll relax when it's time to go home.
I'm Kevin Brown on the Black Information Network. You're home
for Black News First, and we are very excited to
have someone who is on the front line of what
you are seeing in the news every single day today,
the incredibly talented Teslin Fergaro. Welcome to the Black Information Network.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Thank you so much for having me, Kevin, I'm glad
to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Before we get started, let's talk about this town hall
that's coming up on March thirtieth. Okay, this is the
perfect time, tes then for a town hall, because there
is so much going on. It's happening on March thirtieth
at the Bankhead Seafood Restaurant for people who are interested
in being engaged with what is going on. How can
(00:46):
they pick up a tickets and what can they expect
when they get there?
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Yeah, thank you so much for asking the very important question.
People can get tickets at ww dot Teslinfigaro dot com,
t e z l y nf I g A r
o dot com. You can also find me on Instagram
under Tesslin figure O. The link is right there in
the bio. I encourage people to get tickets in advance
because ben Kassi Food, which is owned by my brother Killer,
(01:12):
Mike and t I. It doesn't hold a lot of folks,
and so we want to make sure you know that
we're staying within the occupacy guidelines. So the tickets are
going very very fast, and what they can expect is
a town hall that is focused on community conversation. I
also have a little bit of comic relief. That's important
(01:35):
to me because as we go through some of the
most stressful times for most folks you know, in their
lifetime on what we're happening, on what's happening now with
anxiety and depression and people not knowing which way to turn.
I wanted to make an evening of not only community conversation,
but some comic relief with comedian Erica Duchess, also comedian
(01:55):
Glenn tattoo Man Page that's coming in from Detroit, and
then you know, some one on one conversation with me.
The main focus of this is Kevin and a lot
of what I will be directing our conversation about today
on is about micro organizing. People literally don't know what
(02:17):
to do. People are saying, you know, what do I
do next? My job may possibly be laid off. I
want to remind people that the federal government is the
largest employer of Black Americans. So when you're talking about
not possibly having a job, maybe just laid off, don't
know what's happening next, confused on what's happening, you know,
with foreign affairs and what's going on here domestically, it
(02:40):
is really important that we start to what I call
micro organized on a very very small level. Every year, Kevin,
I organize hundreds of candidates to learn how to run
for office, to work on campaigns, and to be organizers.
But I switched this up to say that we need
people in the room. Whether it's one hundred and two
hundred people is good enough for Gideon's army, for three
(03:01):
hundred is good enough for me. For folks to be
able to engage with each other, have like minded individuals
around them, not just online, but then have an opportunity
to build.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Who in the room.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Knows how to farm, Who in the broom knows how
to you know, fix a car, Who in the room,
you know, uh has a small business. That type of
thinking has been able, at least for me to give
me some solace to know that I have a tribe.
So I am tribe building on a very small local
level and at the same time patronizing our black business,
(03:33):
making sure you know, they earn something for that night,
patronizing you know, self employed comedians, DJs, all of those things,
so that we can show how we can circulate the dollar.
But more importantly, everybody doesn't have a family or friends
or people who are even concerned about, you know, what's happening,
and so I just want to create a space for
those you know, who need to to basically build a tribe.
(03:55):
And that's what it's about.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
And you've been organizing for quite some time. I was
wondering if if you've seen a difference in the type
of people who become galvanized by some of the things
that you are involved in in past two years versus
what you're seeing today, Are people more engaged less engaged?
(04:18):
What are you experiencing in that world?
Speaker 3 (04:21):
You know, they say that the greatest motivator is fear,
and right now, people, I think, to be honest with you, Kevin,
some folks are still at shell shock, if you will.
They are still having a hard time processing how Donald Trump,
you know, got elected. It was very clear to me,
I was very clear about I knew that that was
(04:41):
more than a possibility. I actually knew that it was
very much possible. So people are still struggling with that.
And remember, folks really tapped out, you know, we could
see that in the numbers with news. We could see
that in the cable news sector, the podcast sector. People
really say, you know what, I'm just going to take
a break. I'm just going to mind my black business.
I'm just going to you know, protect my mental health
(05:03):
and you know, protect my spirit. Well what happened is
Kevin Now it is the real deal, Holy Field. And
so now as people have set back and thought that
they would have more time to get engaged, they're realizing
they're absolutely behind. They are absolutely behind and having the
type of strategies that they need to have in place
in order to survive what possibly be coming and what's
(05:25):
actually real. For many people, they are finding out that
the organizations that they did not think were as important
before actually are. They are finding out that there are
many ways to as they say, eat an out elephant,
one bite at a time, whether that's protests, you know,
physically protests, whether it's protest what our dollar economic protests,
you know, whether that it's policy. So they are learning
(05:46):
in real time that they have to do something. And
so what I have found in this is people are
just saying, Teslium.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
What do I do? In desperate need? What do I do?
Speaker 3 (05:58):
So I've been trying to give people tips on how
to self preserve in addition to what can you do
to build the community.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
We have to know. I'm sorry, Kaed, I.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Was gonna say, we have to do something right now.
This is not about trying to get forty six million
people on board.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
You know.
Speaker 3 (06:14):
This is about really, like I said, micro organizing and
then coming up with ways that you personally can self preserve.
And those are the thing the tips I've been giving
people on my podcast on iHeart Radio and all of
my appearances on really trying to give people realistic tips
on what they need to do in their own household
to what I call brace and if you don't mind
(06:35):
me being frank on your show, belt to ask. We
are in the belt to ask mode and so people
have to brace and build, and so that's what I've
been pushing.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
The town hall tour happens Sunday, March thirtieth at Bankhead
Seafood Restaurant. Will this be the first of many town halls?
Speaker 2 (06:52):
I'm hoping.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
So I'm being very honest with you, trying to galvanize,
kind of going back to your point where your questioning
about it. How many people like to get involved. It's
very difficult. You know, people love, which is what one
reason to be honest with you. I added the comics.
I wanted people to feel they were getting a lot
of value for you know, for their dollar.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
I would love for it to be multiple times in
multiple cities.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
But what I'm learning is it is a real challenge
to get you know, one hundred hundred and fifty people
in the room. Because even if an establishment says, hey,
we'll let you come in the room for free, the
goal is to patronize that business. The goal is to
show some type of you know, ecosystem, you know, of
money flowing.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
And so what I think.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
I'm going to have to do, Kevin, is after this
and the tickets are going very well in Atlanta, but
not everybody, Not every city is the Black Mecca. Some cities,
you know, may not be able to galvanize in that way.
So I Am going to come up with some virtual options.
But these virtual options, Kevin, will be you know, how
to write a resume, how to interview, how to transfer
your skills, how to identify transferable skills, how to organize,
(07:57):
how to be an organized, how to run for office.
So I've all I always had what I call the
push the line nonpartisan institute politics until something happens. And
so we're going to expand those programs to do it
virtually instead of in person, because I just can't get
to everybody as fast as I want and it's not
economically feasible. So I will be opening up virtual options
(08:17):
after this town hall.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
As when you are giving me goosebumps, thank you, thank
you for taking time out. You have been here before.
Is the sense that I am getting my goodness? You
were talking my kind of talk. Where did the fires
start for you? Has this always been a party? You
always background?
Speaker 3 (08:39):
And in your family it's all we No, never in
my family. Nobody in my family's been in policies. Nobody
in my family has been in the law. I was
teased on the Breakfast Club when I asked Vivid Ramasami
what he was doing in the sixth grade. And I
really wanted to know, because I know what I was
doing in the sixth grade. I am from the cloth
of It's either in you are. It's not it's not
it's in you, ours on you. There are many people
(08:59):
who have this as a career. I have been called
I can literally go every year of my life of
knowing the exact circumstance of when I've stood up to
the bully. In the second grade, I got a bloody nose,
you know, over Shantey Rowland, who was teased by Benjamin
and I stood up for her. In the fourth grade,
I stood up for Kelly Reynolds who was being bullied
by Stephanie Collins.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
In the sixth grade, I got.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
Suspended from school because I did not like how Miss
Harris was treating the teachers. Same thing with Miss an
Sabino in high school. This has literally been my life.
I have literally been on the bus stop for somebody
never meet. I didn't have fights growing up, but I
was always jumping in front of.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
You know danger.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
After that, going to the military, I could have easily
just been a secretary. I decided to be an M
sixty gun or twenty three pound weapon and guard the plane.
This is in me. You cannot learn this. This is
not passing on a public policy knowledge. Although I am
proud of my education, I'm proud of having a master's
degree of an education. I'm proud of working on my
second master's in political science. I'm proud to be going
(10:05):
to law school in the fall. That is not where
I stand. I stand on the principles of is what
am I going to say when my father calls me home?
Speaker 2 (10:14):
This is about the least of these.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
The old hymn that I used to listen to growing
up that I played at my mother's funeral says I
should wear a crown and I will put on a
robe and tell the story. So I want to make
sure that my story is being told. What did I
do when they were in prison? What did I do
when they were hungry? What did I do when the
widow needed justice? So I've just always been this way.
I've always gotten in trouble for my mouth. I've always
(10:38):
been told I talk too much. I've always been in
somebody's business. So it's just who I am. I didn't
know that it would be politics and the law and
you know, all those things, but it's just really it
is absolutely just what I was born and called to do.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
Then, how did you meet Ben Crump?
Speaker 2 (10:53):
How did I meet being Crump? Great question?
Speaker 3 (10:55):
I was in Orlando, Florida, my political stomping ground. We
initially started working together. I was an organizer during the
Trayvon Martin. I actually lived in Sanford, Florida during that time.
So watching Samfra, Florida is a very small town, watching
that city turn upside down, I knew what it was
to be followed home from folks in Sanford, Florida pulling
(11:18):
guns on you and all of that is definitely a
place that will absolutely have no problem, you know, asserting
their white supremacy. And so we had a casual relationship then,
But it wasn't until I was in Oklahoma City for
a year after my business. I had a very successful
business with three hundred employees the staffing firm in Orlando, Florida.
That staffing firm shut down due to healthcare reform. Who
(11:41):
couldn't afford to cover health care, And so I went
to Oklahoma.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
To stay.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
A short period of time. My mother was diagnosed from
cancer while I was there. I believe the Lord had
me there in that particular moment. And it was the
Housecloth rape case. The thirteen black women who were raped
by officer Housecloth called the attorney who was a White
attorney at the time. I asked him, I said, I
really want to make this story national.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
He told me no.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
I said, no problem, I'm going to make it national anyway.
And so I advocated for that every single day by myself.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
I called Attorney Crump.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
I said, these women really, really, you know, they need
to be represented. I don't believe they're being represented the
way that they should because most attorneys where people don't understand,
most attorneys civil attorneys, they don't want to take a
civil case because they're not profitable, especially from the government.
Two the chances of winning or zero to none. Three,
they don't want to bring that type of negativity on
the city. At that particular time in Oklahoma City, the
(12:34):
Oklahoma City Thunder, you know, was still somewhat of a
new organization. Oh you medical is huge in that city.
Officer house Cloth was pulling over these black women directly
around the corner from the Oklahoma Capital. So it was
something that the city did not want anybody to know,
and so I joined in that crusade with him. My
(12:54):
grandmother's house was literally and Kevin, when I say literally
next door to the police station, I mean literally as
a next door neighbor my grandmother's house. It was a
police station right next door where Officer Hosscloth was assigned,
and so I was advocating for that with the police
that I was challenging living next door to me. Every
time I would drive out my driveway, they would follow
(13:17):
me because that was the only way to get out
out the neighborhood. So there were many days where I
wondered if I would be as Sandra Bland and like
I said in the documentary, would Attorney Crump civil that's
on Netflix. I'm the only one that has a speaking
role outside of Attorney Crump that I'm willing to die
for the cause.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
So we just.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Became very good, not just friends, but truly family, like
a brother to me, and I've been rocking with him
ever since. On every case, I'm usually the one saying
what he won't say on the stage, and we just
have a very very close and very God ordained relationship
and we've been together ever since.
Speaker 1 (13:56):
This is the Black Information Network. I'm Kevin Brown, and
Tesa is nice enough to join us for a discussion
of issues of the day, and speaking of that, Minnesota
Attorney General Keith Ellison has released a statement condemning what
some conservatives are advocating for in terms of George Floyd
(14:18):
in that case, that they are suggesting that the president
issue a pardon for the officer who is in jail. Chauven,
what are your thoughts on that?
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Thank you so much for asking me that question. I
was the senior advisor for the George Floyd family. Not
only did I work on the case for Attorney Crump
from the legal side, I also became very bonded with
that family, who I still talked to on a weekly basis.
When we meet these families, they truly become family, Kevin.
(14:56):
They're not just a one and done, you know, once
the trial is over. And I am deeply disgusted by
I'm not surprised, but deeply disgusted of the conservative commentator
that said, you know, this pardon would truly, you know,
make a mark on how we need to basically go
in reverse. I'm not shocked that Elon must also said
(15:19):
this sounds like a good idea.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
I want the family to know.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
And I'm not talking of George Floyd family coming the
Black family, because when I put it up on my page,
I was you know, people kind of went in and
was saying, you know, I'm fine with you know if
that happens.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Well, one, there's misinformation. He was charged.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
He was found guilty on the state and the federal level.
So that's important. There's a lot of misunder misinformation on
folks saying, well, Trump can't pardon him on the state. Well,
he was found guilty on both levels, the state and
the federal. That's the first thing. The second thing, you know,
a lot of people say, well, even if he got
off on the federal, he's still serving time, you know
for the state. Let me be crystal clear on behalf
of the George Floyd family and the Being crumblaw firm.
(15:56):
We want him to serve time on both times. Both
rights were violated on both levels, on the state and
on the federal. So a pardon is completely unacceptable. And
shout out to Keith Ellison, who did a remarkable job.
And this is why state attorney jobs are so important.
I tell people all the time, pay attention to your
state attorney is. Had Keith Ellison not been in position,
they would not have been able to galvanize the legal
(16:17):
team that they did to fight the case on the
criminal side. So we want to see both charges stand
and when people think, oh that's a long shot, Oh
it won't happen, Oh it's no big deal, and then
they wake up and see that it does. This is why,
over and over they continue to be ahead of us,
because we don't operate with the urgency in the moment
at that time. And I want to say this, Kevin,
(16:38):
if Trump decides to pardon, it's nothing we literally can
do about it.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
We can't change his heart. Only God can change the
hearts of man.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
But what I want to see people is be willing
to fight, be willing to stand up. Don't just roll
over and play possum. Don't just be okay with it,
you know. And so that's what I'm learning. People are
just kind of giving up up in a lot of ways.
Some people are ready to fight, some people don't know
what to do, and some people just say, you know what,
it's above me now and that's just what we cannot do.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Yes, one other question I want to ask you about
is the Flint water case. Where does that stand now?
You were also involved in that situation.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Yeah, well Flint still doesn't have clean water.
Speaker 3 (17:20):
You know, the things that we still like to talk
about over and over, But yes, it was a over
six hundred million dollar lawsuit that was filed. So a
lot of those victims, you know, did get some recovery,
but nowhere near what they should have gotten. A lot
of children will have severe damage for the rest of
their life. Also, a lot of victims who were affected
did not file claims. We went down several several times
(17:44):
as much public information as we possibly can. Shout out
to Eric Mays, rest in peace to him. The Flint
councilman became a very good friend of mine. We did
as much as we can to get people, you know,
to get the information. This is why Black information news
is so important, you know, trying to get the information,
trying to get the information out. So a lot of
people still did not get, you know, the recovery that
they need. And Kevin a real thing that happens, particularly
(18:07):
in the black community.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
We are hesitant to give our information.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
We're hesitant to sign up for things like with the senses,
We're hesitant to exchange information. So there's still a lot
of folks who are impacted and still did not receive covery,
so recovery. So I just want to remind people that
problem is still not completely fixed. And we just kind
of moved on. In twenty sixteen, I was working the
Bernie Sanders campaign, the racial justice I was this racial
(18:30):
justice director.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
And all of them were running to Flint.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
You know. It was the darling if you will of
the campaign season. And I haven't seen any of them back.
And so those that's the problem that I have in politics,
the you know, come in for the photo ops and
then leave and don't stay connected to the community moving forward.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
As Lynn, why are you optimistic moving forward?
Speaker 2 (18:55):
That's a great question. I can't. I don't know if
I would say I'm optimistic.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
Optimistic is usually for people who say, you know, I
know that eventually there and barrel means I go into
my past story or bootleg preacher moment for a moment.
Those are usually folks who are looking for the solution,
the coping, the feel good, let's focus on the positive.
(19:21):
I don't operate that way. I operate in a very
clear sighted understanding that what I am doing, the seeds
that I'm planning, I may well not reap the benefits
of that shade tree. When people get into this and
(19:41):
they say, oh, modermen's things are gonna get better, things
are gonna get better, and then it doesn't happen, they
fall out. I am a military veteran. My mindset is
set to fight until I die. It is not about
being optimistic.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
This is me.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
I'm not talking about everybody else. It's not about oh,
this is gonna get better. I do believe things will
get better. I think they'll get worse before they get better.
I'm not a negative Nancy. I'm not saying that they
won't be any change. What I'm saying is we live
in an imperfect world. There will always be something to
fight for, and so your one job is to do
what you can and pass the baton. We don't have
time for you being in the positive posture, the optimistic
(20:16):
pot We need you to be moving, and a lot
of people when they get optimistic and they sell stuff
and get better, they find they use that to cope
to not have to do anything. So I have to
operate in the we need to fix this, we need
to do something the negative posture. I can't operate in
the optimistic because if I'm operating optimistic, then nothing will get.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Done, so I don't.
Speaker 3 (20:40):
My mindset can't lean into that because that's usually where
I find where people rest.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
And as we wrap things up, what do you do
to maintain peace of mind? How do you relax? What
do you do for fun?
Speaker 2 (20:58):
Poor Kevin, I've been trying to tell you this whole time.
I have a robot. I am called for this.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
I am sure, you know, going out listening to live music, fine,
but I don't.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
There's no relax in me. I'm a warrior.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
I'm a soldier. I'm in the battle of the Lord.
This is not about yeah, what it relaxed? Relax What
I don't like? I literally don't. And I mean that
in a little sense. I'm managing editor, chief political corresponding
senior producer for Revolt News. I got a seventeen year
old that's going to college. I run my own business.
Speaker 2 (21:38):
I'm in school. Relax What when? Why? I will relax
when I die? I don't.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
This is not a bad relaxing. So sure, but fine, Okay,
if I'd like to go listen to music, you know,
every now and then, I guess, but that I don't
even consider that relaxing. I kind of consider that, especially
being in Atlanta. I go out to get a recharge
of black folks. You know, the hug owns, the Black
Season Black. So no, oh, this is what you're fighting for.
But I just don't operate that way, Kevin.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
I just don't. I'm not built that way.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
I'm not built to I am very very much purpose driven,
and I don't know how people find the time to
relax when I'm looking at what's happening. You know, I'm
just not built up that way. You just got to
get somebody else that'll say, yo, I like to do that.
That's not what it is with me. I have a
very disciplined life, a very called life, a very purpose
(22:30):
driven life, and I just prefer to center that on community.
And I'm okay with that. And when people say, well,
you still should take some time, yeah, I do. I
like live music, I like going out, That's about it.
But other than that, I know what I'm called to do.
A lot of people celebrate birthdays.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
I don't. I want to celebrate the dash. What do
we do between the birthday and the death date? That's
the dash in the middle. I'm concerned.
Speaker 3 (22:58):
That I want to make sure that I've done everything
that I possibly can with everything I possibly had to give.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
I'll relax when it's time to go home.
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