July 3, 2024 • 49 mins
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Crystal E. Taylor, lovingly known as the Queen Curator, takes us on an inspiring journey from her days as a Girl Scout troop leader to becoming a powerful community activist and organizer. Join us as Crystal shares her passion for fostering meaningful connections and creating cultural events like the Beats N Bars Festival. Her dedication to building community mirrors the spirit of Bayard Rustin, whose life and work are beautifully depicted in the Netflix film Rustin.
Crystal opens up about the emotional and logistical challenges she has faced and the incredible impact of surrounding oneself with positive influences. Her story resonates with the powerful portrayals by Colman Domingo of historical figures in the film.
Dive into Crystal's insights on building inclusive communities through intentional actions and genuine allyship. From celebrating Black liberation during Black August to addressing systemic issues like gentrification and the prison industrial system, Crystal's journey is a testament to the transformative power of activism. She highlights the importance of collaboration and the courage to seek support, even during challenging times like the pandemic.
Celebrate the triumphs and challenges of expanding community advocacy and organizing impactful events. Crystal shares stories of forming meaningful partnerships and receiving recognition from unexpected places, emphasizing the value of authenticity and mutual respect in all endeavors. Listen to how mentorship and unwavering support have driven her to inspire others and push boundaries, leading to profound personal and professional growth. This episode is a heartfelt masterclass in how dedication and passion can bring about significant change.
Black August In The Park
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Clip (00:01):
We are going to put together the largest peaceful
protest in the history of thisnation.
Crystal Taylor (00:08):
How big 100,000 people.
Just watching it I felt like Iwas watching myself.
All the things that he had todo was doing all the people he's
talking to encouraging, yelling, fighting, crying like all the
emotions.
I was like I know this life.
You want to be inspired, youwant to be jolted.
(00:30):
You want to learn what it takes, what people have gone through,
to break barriers.
You know.
Watch Rustin.
Taylor D. Adams (00:44):
Hi, I'm Taylor and welcome back to the Film
Nuts podcast, a show about whywe love what we watch, and if
you're joining us for the firsttime, welcome.
I hope you enjoy your time here.
I mentioned at the end of ourlast episode on Midnight Mass
how the idea of community hasbecome really important to me
throughout the run of the FilmNotes podcast, as well as in my
(01:05):
life in general.
Community in air quotes hasbecome kind of a buzzword in
recent years, but don't let thatdetract from its significance.
When it's used in earnest, whenwe find the people who really
get us, who represent our ideasand who help us grow, that's
something worth fighting for.
Sometimes community is a nichefilm and TV podcast like this
(01:30):
one, but other times it can besomething bigger, like a human
rights movement.
The Netflix original film Rustinstarring Coleman Domingo tells
the true story of activistBayard Rustin as he helps change
the course of civil rightshistory by orchestrating the
1963 March on Washington amidrampant racism and homophobia.
(01:51):
Rustin is a movie that detailsall the hard work that goes into
massive community organizationand because of that it was a
mirror for my wonderful guesttoday.
Crystal Taylor, aka the QueenCurator, is an entrepreneur,
community organizer and eventcurator, whose own journey she
saw reflected in Bayard Rustin'sefforts.
Crystal feels that portrayalsof figures like Rustin can push
(02:16):
us to serve and better our owncommunities.
Crystal and I chat aboutfinding purpose, cultural events
that can bring people togetherand what it's like being on the
cover of magazines.
I sincerely hope you enjoy thisepisode, because they won't
teach you this stuff in historyclass.
Here's Crystal Taylor talkingabout Rustin on the Film Nuts
podcast.
(02:38):
I mean this is an award initself being on the cover of
magazines here this is so coolon the cover of.
North Carolina Central's alumnimagazine.
Yeah, um, tell me a little bitabout everything going on.
In this picture you're in afield looking gorgeous at all,
as always, thank you working on,like I think feel like a
million different things rightnow it feels like it yeah, and I
(02:58):
feel like if I asked you totalk about all of them, we'd be
here for two hours.
Um, I can give you a short, butI do want to focus a little bit
on we're coming up on the eightyear birthday it's nine.
It's nine, nine, that's soawesome so tell me, tell me a
little bit about what that'slike going on the ninth birthday
of beats and bars festival um alot of coffee obviously
(03:22):
obviously, and stress, butexcitement.
Crystal Taylor (03:28):
I'm very proud.
We've known each other for howlong Since 2015?
Taylor D. Adams (03:33):
Yeah, I think 15 or 16.
Crystal Taylor (03:34):
Yeah, and at that time I did not know what I
was doing.
And I still feel like.
I feel like now I know what I'mdoing, but it's like I'm
breaking over.
You know, I'm really gettinginto the crease of it, which is
crazy because, like for nineyears you've been doing
something and then you thinkthat you've got it good and then
(03:57):
you finally like, oh, this ishow it goes you know, kind of
thing, but I'm excited about itand I'm very proud and it's like
to do something for nine years,um, consistently, and I've
failed and made some badmistakes and learned from it and
been depressed for like sixmonths for it and you know, this
(04:21):
, this festival is like a childto me and it's and it's been a
road, but it's good, it's reallygood.
I'm very excited.
This is my first year bookingas big as I did for the
headliners.
Taylor D. Adams (04:32):
That's awesome.
Yeah, looking back on, I was atthe first Beats and Bars.
Looking back on that first one.
Crystal Taylor (04:38):
You did the recap video for that one I did.
Yeah, I did the first recapvideo.
Taylor D. Adams (04:41):
Yeah.
So looking from like yeah, backin back during the first one to
now, how have you seen it growyourself grow as well as like,
this is like, these are likecommunity things.
So have you seen the communitygrow and maybe embrace it?
Crystal Taylor (04:58):
um, I have seen people that came to the first
one consistently come every yearlooking for the conference.
I have seen them take whatthey've learned in the
conference spaces and use thatto help them evolve as creatives
(05:18):
and artists.
And if I'm not doing it foranybody besides my friends, I'm
doing it for those people whoreally like seek to come.
And it's like a running joke inthe team meetings Like I'm,
like I only be thinking like meand like 20 other people are
going to come to Beeson BarsBecause you know, You're like me
and my friends.
(05:52):
Yeah, me and my friends, youknow, because I'm essentially
like, this is why I'm doing allthese things for me and my
friends to have spaces thatwould enjoy, because we're all
cool and we love to do thesethings.
Right, but to see, um, the citysponsor it, the state sponsor
it, um, coca-cola, just people,corporate companies like step up
and say, hey, I want to supportyou.
Here's a check for this, or howcan we give you access to
certain things.
It's like very overwhelmingly,like I'm has so much gratitude
for that, because literally,it's just me saying I want to do
(06:14):
this thing and everybody's like, okay, cool, it sounds great,
and it's all the things that, um, I've stayed consistent with
making sure the festival lookslike things that I care about
and I think my friends careabout too, that are they're
affected by and things that areimportant to them.
So, um, even from having childcare available for people
(06:38):
because I'm a single mom andmassa is gonna need to be
somewhere attending somethingand so to be able to remember it
from day one to now and to seehow people have new people come
around every year for it.
People that have been watchingit for years are still coming
(06:59):
for it.
People love t-shirts like.
It's just stuff that I don'teven think about, but I do
remember, through the process ofplanning it and stuff, so it's
I have grown a whole lot in thesense of recognizing that it's
bigger than me.
Um, it's about my communitythat I'm serving and it's also
about the culture, protecting itand making sure that, um, every
(07:23):
aspect is lifted up and alsokilling the narrative that
hip-hop just looks likesomething for black people.
Um, making sure that I'mopening up to my spanish and
mexican latino family, whitepeople, people that don't know
where they fit in the racespectrum, just people who love
(07:44):
the culture in general and wantto learn about it and want to be
able to come and meet newpeople just off the strength of
love of music and culture, ofeven the graffiti and music and
dance and all that stuff.
So, just being able to be moreopen and learning what people
care about in hip-hop cultureand not just focusing in on
(08:06):
music, yeah, so, yeah, it's been.
It's been a learning process,like I'm being stretched and
challenged.
Beast and bars is a very big,challenging feat for me and I
have changed so many times, butthe last couple years going
through covet was a a bigexperience for me to be able to
(08:27):
be humble.
I took a loss one year of likeprobably over $75,000, bouncing
back from that and taking inlike OK, I lost this money, it's
OK Like you're not a failure.
Clip (08:41):
You know, learn from it.
Crystal Taylor (08:43):
I was really hard on myself for that for a
while, and it was reflective inthe festival and so, um,
gratefully, my team is able tolike hold me accountable for how
I'm showing up as a leader,because that's what's gonna
happen at the festival if I'mnot in a good, healthy space.
So it's all.
It's all relative, but it'sgreat.
Taylor D. Adams (09:05):
Yeah, I'm good, I'm happy and the festival is
happy, like you know, it's goodum, okay, so when I asked you
about what movie you wanted totalk about, went back and forth
a little bit we did.
But then when you said Rustin,in my head I was like that's so
perfect.
So I have my own reasons why Ibelieve there's a connection
between you and this movie, butI want to know why you wanted to
(09:28):
talk about Rustin.
Crystal Taylor (09:29):
Dude, I literally.
I'm sorry, I just hit themicrophone, Literally.
I watched this movie randomlyone night and I don't get to
watch movies often because ofNASA, but I was sitting there
watching this movie and I was inawe, Friend one of my greatest
(09:53):
joys is watching you rise.
Clip (09:56):
We need you to lead us into Los Angeles, where we will
most vigorously let Kennedy andthe entire Democratic Party know
that unless they show up forour people, take a stand against
segregation, our people willnot show up for them.
Yes, yes, yes.
Do this, martin, own your power.
Crystal Taylor (10:16):
I had thought to myself, like I wonder how big
marches and different things,like who does that?
Because now I'm in a space oflike pushing myself into a
different space of eventcurating and producing, right, I
got a goal to produce the SuperBowl one day.
I got a goal to produce a marchlike that in DC or whatever one
(10:37):
day, and I just ended upwatching this movie.
And I'm watching a movie andI'm just like, oh my gosh, this
is how it happened, like theMarch on Washington, right, and
just watching it I was.
I felt like I was watchingmyself, you know, and all the
(10:58):
things that he had to do wasdoing all the people he's
talking to, encouraging, yelling, fighting, crying, like all the
emotions.
I was like I know this life, butI was just amazed at how, um,
just watching what I do happenin that way and it was just very
(11:19):
inspiring.
And then the next thing I knowI get a call to help reverend
barber organize the march on thecapitol in raleigh.
Oh yeah, wow.
So right after I watched thismovie wow, I got I said to
myself, man, I want to organizesomething like that, right, and
I get a call literally likewithin a week.
(11:42):
Wow.
I got a call and I was able todo that like within months.
Man Isn't that crazy.
Taylor D. Adams (11:49):
That ain't some serendipitous shit.
Right there I'm telling you.
Crystal Taylor (11:52):
That's what I'm saying.
Like you know what it's in here, you know what I mean.
Like, if you're already in thepath, like you just got to be,
like I want to do what.
You know what I mean, yeah, so,yeah, that's.
That's the kind of vibe I'm on.
Taylor D. Adams (12:05):
That's awesome, that's so cool, um, yeah, so
like when you said this movie, Iwas like I watched this movie,
I think back in february, um,and thought it was really good.
And sometimes these uh moviesabout historical figures,
biopics, sometimes they kind offollow the same formula and like
that's a little bit in here,but I had no idea who or what it
(12:26):
was about.
Yeah.
And there's a lot of energy inthis movie too.
Like there's a lot.
It's like quick.
It's serious, but also funny.
Like there's also some reallyinteresting dynamics.
Crystal Taylor (12:35):
And there's a lot of community and
collaboration.
It's amazing so there's a lotof community and collaboration.
It's amazing.
Taylor D. Adams (12:38):
Yeah, it's really solid, but that is like
true to life.
Clip (12:42):
Yeah.
Crystal Taylor (12:43):
Like that movie is solid, like if you follow me
for a day, for a week, like thatmovie is exactly it.
Taylor D. Adams (12:52):
The scene where they're first coming up with
the ideas about the March on.
Washington.
I was like I wonder if this iswhat Crystal's meetings look
like.
Crystal Taylor (12:58):
It's insane.
It's so true to life.
I'm just not gay, even me notbeing gay.
The relationship stuff Goingthrough a breakup or going
through a partner, that's justlike hello, all the things Life
does not stop lifing.
And for us to be able to seehis life personally and also his
(13:23):
life as rustin, like in the, inthe business, and dealing with,
like this person that I love,this, this thing I'm going
through people know they don'tknow, whatever, whatever, and
then being in the boardroomfighting for this, that and the
third, and then telling yourteam blah, blah, blah and
dealing with the emotionalroller coaster.
(13:44):
It's so true to life Like it is, and I just absolutely love
that movie so much.
Taylor D. Adams (13:51):
Yeah, I was blown away by Coleman Domingo.
He got nominated for an Oscarfor this movie and that was
super cool to just see that,something that I-watched it just
yesterday.
Um, just in preparation for achat, and one of the things that
there was a quote that cameacross to me that I want to get
your thoughts on.
So, uh, he says in this movie,inspiration untethered from
(14:12):
action loses all value.
So what are your thoughts onthat?
Crystal Taylor (14:17):
amen statement yeah, amen, like you know I can.
I can't risk like lettingdormant mindset play in.
You know like I thrive off ofbeing inspired, I thrive off of
being motivated, I thrive off ofpositivity and energy from
(14:37):
people.
Today, you know like I don'twaste my time on things that
will kill any of thatinspiration.
Um, because inspiration comesto me for a reason to empower me
and gas me to do these thingsright.
And so when you aren't in thosespaces or community, like it
(14:59):
kills that.
It's like you don't use it, youlose it.
And so if you have theinspiration, inspiration comes
and it's there, like water thatyou know fuel that to keep it
moving, because that keeps thepossibility of anything alive,
you know so alive.
So when he said that, it's like,yeah, you know why would I talk
(15:26):
to anybody?
Taylor D. Adams (15:27):
who's?
Crystal Taylor (15:27):
not going to inspire or push or motivate.
Taylor D. Adams (15:30):
It's one of those things where, like, we all
know that, but until somebodysays it it doesn't like click.
So when he said that, I waslike he said it in a really
eloquent way.
And I was like, oh, in a reallyeloquent, what eloquent way.
And I was like, oh, yeah, thatliterally like that makes a
hundred percent sense and it'snot even a novel idea.
Crystal Taylor (15:46):
But when it's voiced out loud, it all of a
sudden has a different weight toit and you take it a little
more seriously when you hearsomething yeah, well, you know
also people get stuck innegative yeah like somebody can
call you and tell you somecraziness that's going on and
you're next thing you knowyou're in a phone call for 30
minutes going back and forthabout he said, she said or this
(16:08):
conflict or beef or whatever,and it takes your energy back
down to a place of like you know, yeah, what am I doing next you
?
know, kind of you know yeah andso you know I try to protect
myself from those kind of thingsbecause everything that's on me
I have to stay up and I'm notsaying every day I'm like hype
(16:33):
and inspired and whatever,because I have to choose to be
inspired.
I have to choose to be.
I have to choose to have myenergy up every day, and some
days I'm just.
I just don't care aboutanything and I just don't want
to do nothing and just float,float through.
But you do have to feel thatinspiration and then, when it's
(16:55):
in you and you're waking upevery day and you see all these
beautiful things here and youknow you're like yes, I'm doing
this, and then when the awardsstuff come, it helps even fuel
it even more, Because you'vealready how many people do you
know that have these things Likethere are, that you know that
you can walk in their house andsee more?
Of that.
You know, and that's enoughinspiration in itself to be like
(17:16):
you know.
I don't know nobody else coolerthan me right now, unless to be
like you know, I don't knowanybody else cooler than me
right now, unless they're youknow somewhere that you want to
attain.
To be, yeah, you know.
Yeah, very true.
Taylor D. Adams (17:25):
Yeah, so what?
I don't think I've ever askedyou this question, but what got
you first involved in?
Basically like communityorganization.
Was there like an idea?
Was there something that youfelt was lacking, that you
needed to see?
Crystal Taylor (17:43):
so my mother always would tell me if you see
something you don't like, don'tcomplain about it, do something
about it.
That's what she would alwayssay.
And it started with girl scouts.
Okay, I used to get.
I encountered some girls, younggirls, and I was just so
disappointed in their behavior.
(18:04):
And I saw these girls and I wasjust like ugh, yikes, like they
need mentors, you know.
And so I talked to my mom andshe's like don't complain about
it, do something about it.
And the only thing I knew to dowas go and submit myself to be
a Girl Scout leader and Istarted a troop, troop 1464.
Taylor D. Adams (18:24):
Okay, are they still around?
Crystal Taylor (18:25):
No, well, we dissolved the troop.
By the time they got to likethey were going to graduate
middle school.
Okay.
And they just had so manyactivities and it was a lot Okay
and I still know all the girls.
We have a group chat andeverything.
Taylor D. Adams (18:40):
Oh, that's awesome.
Crystal Taylor (18:41):
And still talk.
They're in college and doingtheir thing.
It's great, but um, I wanted todo something and help inspire
something you know, that wasdifferent, and so that started
that.
And then, when I recognized howdope that was, um, I started my
(19:02):
business Underground Collectiveand at first it was just to be
able to help shape the cultureof what I was hearing.
Because music changed.
It took a whole shift and Iwasn't happy about the shift,
about the shift, and I was like,well, I'm gonna create a
(19:23):
platform where I can meet realartists that are good, to keep
them, you know, encouraged aboutthe music they're making so
they won't make the music thistrash on the radio.
So that happened and then thatwas going well and been doing
that for a long time 13 yearsand I met moses ochola and he
wanted to do black august in apark and I had no idea about
(19:49):
black august, what that meant,what it was what does that mean?
Taylor D. Adams (19:54):
like that phrase, that idea black august
is a.
Crystal Taylor (19:58):
It's a commemorative time of the month
of.
August.
It is not something we just inDurham have, it's a thing across
the world that celebrates theliberation of black people.
In San Quentin, the Soledadbrothers were locked up
wrongfully and they went throughthis whole unjust prison system
(20:22):
.
So it is really to lift up theinjustices that happen in the
prison judicial system.
Okay.
And so we decided to create aspace for people to come be in
remembrance of people that havepassed and died and been
murdered in the month of August,because it's a very bloody
historical time for.
African American community andculture, and so we created that
(20:45):
space for that, becausegentrification was ramping at
that time and so we wanted tocreate a space for people to
come black people to come andcelebrate being free and
liberated and safe, and inDurham, and so we did that.
Me learning about the history,my dad grew up in Tuscaloosa,
(21:08):
alabama, and he shared a lot ofhis experiences.
He actually wrote a book thatI'm waiting to try to get
published, but he shared a lotof his experiences in Alabama,
you know, in the 40s and 50s youknow, as a kid, so I knew
things, but I didn't know likethe full, like knowledge around
(21:29):
black liberation, and so, um, Icontribute that to Moses, like
bringing me into the space of,like learning that stuff and so
if you're organizing this event,like, you need to know about
the history of it and what'sgoing on, and so that helped me
open my eyes to the prison,industrial system, injustices
that were going on,gentrification, um, even
(21:51):
agriculture, racism that's beengoing on.
So black farmers market, youknow, happened from that kind of
situation, and so, um, you know, my parents were always very
like clear about racism, whatwas going on, but they also
taught us to find your people,um, no matter what they look
like, and that been able to dothat, you know.
And so, um, being all this workthat I'm doing and learning
(22:16):
about all the injustices and theracisms and just the things
that were happening in all thesespaces, um, it just helped me,
encourage me and push me to wantto be that person, to speak up
for injustices and unfairnessand just creating space to be
able to change the narrative andbuild community of people that
(22:39):
wanted to help make thosechanges happen.
And so that doesn't always likejust all black people like
you're one of my people, and Ihave people that don't look like
me, that care about the samethings, are passionate about the
same things, and they know whatthey get as me being their
friend and also like ally andadvocate.
So it's, it's been, um, I lovemy life, I love the work I get
(23:03):
to do for community and I lovethat people know what they get
when they're calling me to helpthem do something, because it
also means that they're reallyintentional about changing the
narrative and where theirworkspace is like when they want
to do something for community,like when I say community, black
people, they're like we don'tknow how to do this and we don't
(23:25):
want to mess it up.
So will you help us do this andnot mess it up and create space
where we can build communityproperly.
And you know either I will orwon't, depending on what kind of
conversations we have goingforward, because I have to know
the person and make sure theirintention is right.
So it's been fun, it's beengreat.
Taylor D. Adams (23:45):
So sorry for the interruption, but I will be
brief.
I am so grateful that youdecided to listen to the Film
Nuts podcast today.
If you are enjoying what you'rehearing, please consider
supporting the show on Patreon.
With a small monthly amount,you can get access to behind the
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(24:06):
Nuthouse Discord.
The Nuthouse itself is free tojoin and is full of other film
and TV lovers, so you'll fitright in.
You can check out info on allthese things in the show notes,
and if all of this sounds like abit too much, that's totally OK
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But if you want to keep up todate on all of our episodes,
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(24:29):
awesome people like yourself.
Okay, Enough of me ramblingback to the good stuff.
Like I said, when you wanted totalk about Rustin, I was like
that makes so much sense.
Crystal.
The community organization thecollaboration, trying to get all
these pieces together andbalancing everything.
What do you think that thismovie says about the potential
(24:53):
and the power of collaboration?
Crystal Taylor (24:57):
It's inspiring.
I have walked in the spaces andbeen terrified to ask for
collaboration and support, justbeing like a black woman and not
knowing if it made sense orthey would like it or they would
just be like no, right, um, butI've found I found my way
(25:18):
before watching the movie, butthen watching the movie was even
more inspiring and invigorating.
To be like no, just go.
What if?
Clip (25:26):
we flood the offices of every member of the house and
tenant with delegates of church,labor, civil rights and and
such numbers, the legislativebranch will cease to function.
Taylor D. Adams (25:36):
Write it on the wall.
No, no, it is impossible totrain that.
Many effective lobbyists no, no, it is impossible to train that
many effective lobbyists.
Clip (25:41):
No, no, no, no, no.
Do not kill an impulse beforeit's born.
What if, instead of lobbyists,they were constituents from
their respective states whorefused to leave until they've
been heard?
Now, that's collaboration.
Crystal Taylor (25:52):
Write it on the wall.
It helps me figure out how todo it in more strategic ways and
also motivated me just to belike you know, don't care.
Like you want to see somethingand people.
You find people that agree towanting to see that.
Like, this is how you cantackle it, this is how you go
(26:13):
and just do it.
And it's kind of interestingbecause during the pandemic I
wanted to do movies and a lotfor you know community, because
there was something going on.
People can't go anywhere and Icalled adam klein at the time.
Adam was with american tobaccocampus and I was like, hey, I
(26:33):
need a parking lot.
And adam isn't again one ofthose allies and friends that
doesn't look like me but helpscreate spaces and like Michael
Goodman too, like these arefriends and advocates but also
allies that will help createspace to do these types of
things for community.
And we made the connection withthe Durham Bulls and had a
(26:57):
great conversation and I wasunapologetically clear about
like what are your efforts tobring community into the
ballpark?
Like, what are we doing?
At the time DEI was becoming tobe a hot stoke.
You know slogan right now and soI was just like you know what
are you guys doing to make surepeople are here, make sure
(27:21):
community knows it's a safespace?
You know things of that natureand they didn't really have, you
know, a plan or a concept atthe time.
So it was it made sense to say,hey, crystal, bring your
community into this space sothey know it's a welcome space,
this, this is something thatwe're doing, a special event
thing that we can collaborate ona community member with.
(27:43):
So those types of things havehappened and just skyrocketed my
ability to be able to connectand build those bridges.
So hopefully, if somebody elsecomes along, they want to do it,
they can be open and you know,okay with doing that kind of
thing to build for a community.
So it's cool, I love it, andthat movie contributed to my gas
(28:06):
to want to keep doing thatstuff.
So again, it's out there nowPeople know you need to call
Crystal, you want to buildbridges and you want to create
space and you want to advocateand do it the right way and find
out what community wants, whatthey don't want, what they won't
respond to, versus how to dothis the proper business way.
(28:29):
People have learned that I'mthe good I'm sitting on the
fence.
Okay, you know, so I can bebusiness crystal or street
crystal.
Taylor D. Adams (28:38):
You know, so it's fun you can be in both
worlds.
Yeah, I totally understand.
Crystal Taylor (28:43):
I enjoy it too.
Taylor D. Adams (28:44):
That's awesome.
So one of the interestingthings upon the second watch for
me watching this movie was itshowcases a lot of issues that
come from differentorganizations fighting for the
same cause but differing on theapproach.
Clip (28:59):
Gandhi brought an empire down to its knees.
Would someone please tell thisman that this is not India.
For decades, the NAACP has beenlegally leading the charge, and
now you're proposing 100,000black folks invade Washington DC
.
Have you talked to Martin aboutthis?
I lost his number, he lost mine.
Well, Dr King, who hasn't lostmy number, has come to
(29:19):
understand that mass lobbying issheer madness Brown versus
Board is the crowning glory ofthis organization.
Yet all across the South, whenNegro children sleep, they see
whites only signs instead oftheir dreams, counting on the
courts to eradicate racialinequity.
That's madness.
Taylor D. Adams (29:38):
Have you encountered anything like that
in the events or causes you puttogether, and how have you kind
of maybe overcome any obstaclesthat have come in the way?
Crystal Taylor (29:46):
Yeah, I mean, my approach is totally not
traditional at all what is it my?
Taylor D. Adams (29:51):
way or the highway.
Crystal Taylor (29:55):
Well, you know, I believe in building community,
like straight up, right, if wecan't be cool in the boardroom
and like at home or at arestaurant and chilling, then
we're just transact, we're justbeing transactional and I I
can't function that way.
(30:15):
I don't like that.
I mean, I have relationshipslike that.
Of course you know I'm anentrepreneur, yeah, but I prefer
to have a relationship with you, like if you're gonna give me
thousands of dollars or ifyou're gonna do something from
my community, I want to knowthat you're doing it off the
intention of the real basis ofwhat is needed for, and also
(30:38):
that you mean well, like you'rejust not trying to fill your
numbers for the end of year orfor that quarter or whatever.
I do have relationships withpeople that just want something
to get done and they don't careabout how's your mom doing, you
know the fluffy type things, andI prefer to not have a lot of
(31:00):
relationships like that becauseI really believe that we're all
like, we're all characters inthis situation of world and so
you know, somebody could leavetheir job as this person
tomorrow.
So does that mean I don't getto talk to you anymore?
(31:20):
I don't get to work with youanymore, yeah, you know.
And so sometimes, yeah, that'swhat that does mean.
But I'm fortunate to haverelationships with people that
will leave a place, go toanother place and want to shake
stuff up at another place.
Say, crystal, I'm here at thisplace, I want to do this at the
third, let's do somethingsimilar to what we did.
(31:41):
You know, yeah, and it keepsgoing, and so I prefer to have
those types of relationships,now, those are not traditionally
what you see in the kind ofcommunity advocacy work that I
do and some people don't likethe way of like how I've worked.
(32:01):
Like you know, I buildrelationships and I go for it.
Like some people don't want towork with white people, some
people don't want to, you know,collaborate that way where they
have to change up some of theirthoughts or processes, and I'm
open.
So, what people want to do andhow they want to do it, and I'm
(32:24):
open to collaborate with whitepeople that I believe that feel
the same notions and desires fortheir community too, and so I
don't care.
You know, whatever feels goodand safe and right, especially
if I get to know the person,then I move off that and I truly
(32:52):
believe that you can't fakebeing real.
You can't fake what you careabout, what your intention is.
People can lie about it, butwhen you talk to a person and
get to know them and see youknow, you can hear it, you can
feel it, you know intentionalityand the, the, the realness in
that.
Yeah, so that's how I work.
(33:14):
A lot of times people don'tcare for that, but you know,
gratefully, I don't have longterm relationships with those
people, so watching him wasreminiscent of that.
Rustin yeah, you could tell whowere the people that had his
back and other people were likeget this guy out of here.
(33:34):
And I have had my own communitysay certain things or accuse me
of being self servant orsomething like that.
So, like I said from thebeginning, like that movie is
true to life, like you gotpeople that look like you, that
judge you or criticize you.
They got people that look likeyou, that love you and support
(33:54):
what you're doing, and then youhave people who don't that do
the same thing too.
So you know it's it's definitelyan emotional roller coaster
period yeah and you wouldn'tthink like in my mind um, I deal
with slight imposter syndrome.
Okay, a very small amount of it, just because there's a very
(34:15):
small amount of people who don'tget it or are not on board.
Very small amount of people ifthere's more, I don't know them
and I don't want to hear iteither.
Yeah, but it's, it'sdiscouraging and distracting
because it's like it's like overa thousand some people that are
over here like yeah, yeah, yeah, and you're like no, you know
(34:37):
so it makes you think you know,yeah, like why you?
Know like what's the problem,but I've learned that it's them
like.
Whatever it's, it's an internalself issue not a.
Crystal issue or Crystal's workissue yeah.
Taylor D. Adams (34:49):
When you were talking about that.
That actually reminded me abouta scene in the movie.
It's after the informationabout Baird Rustin's arrest
record, yeah, and it comes outand there's like potential
scandal bubbling for amongst thepublic.
(35:09):
But then Martin Luther King Jrcomes out and basically says,
hey, this guy's, he's a good guy.
Clip (35:16):
Mr Rustin is one of the most moral, one of the most
decent human beings I have everknown.
He is as committed to Americandemocracy as any current elected
official and would fight toprotect the rights of all,
including those who would usethe power of their position to
(35:49):
deny him his.
I'm proud to call him friend.
Taylor D. Adams (35:53):
The character of Rustin witnesses this cries.
Have you had someone or a groupof some people come out in
support of you that really movedyou beyond?
I really appreciate that.
Crystal Taylor (36:07):
I mean to be honest with you, like the
Triangle Business JournalJournal Magazine, like those are
not necessarily spaces thatblack people frequent or know
about, um or read, and to beable to get that type of
(36:30):
accolade from both of thosespaces I mean um.
The deputy secretary of thestate has has sent me two
handwritten congratulationsletters.
That's so cool.
I just got a letter from theHouse representative last week
(36:53):
congratulating me and sayingthank you for the work, and I
don't even think I've ever mether before.
Wow.
Taylor D. Adams (37:00):
Is that validation, or is that just like
a really fucking cool addedbonus to?
Crystal Taylor (37:06):
things.
I mean it's I don't want to sayvalidation, because I'm I'm
working on like self-validating,right, you know?
Okay, um, but it's definitelylike affirmative, like you're
killing it, but it's from peoplethat are not in my community.
(37:26):
I got you.
You know what I'm saying yeahand so it's like for me to do
this bold, unapologetically,like you know, black advocacy
for fair community engagement,for fair access.
For you know me being a blackwoman doing things in a white
(37:47):
male dominated industry, it'slike, oh, wow, thank you yeah
you know, because I I'm, it'svery clear, like you know, if
you know me, you know you'regetting, and so for me to be
(38:12):
recognized, in my company's namebeing said underground
Collective.
Yeah, it's like a dope thing,yeah.
And so when I get it on theseplatforms of like like the
triangle business journal, youknow, it's like man, that is
super dope, like thank you, youknow.
And so I just got another thankyou card from a deputy secretary
yesterday and I was like man, Igotta buy stacy something
(38:33):
because she is like on it withand I love cards like
handwritten cards, like that,and so she just keeps it coming
and it's more inspiration.
You know, like, if the governorand secretary and the deputy
secretary, these people, theyknow who I am, they know what my
work is, it's like, okay, yeah,I'm going to keep it rolling,
(38:56):
then you know, good trouble.
You know I'm going to keepdoing it.
That's awesome, so yeah.
Taylor D. Adams (39:02):
So do you have a favorite moment or scene from
this movie?
Clip (39:08):
hmm, I think that some of my favorite scenes were when
they're in their meetings he'swith his team and he's just like
challenging their thought andthey're all like what you wanna
do that and he's like, yeah,rochelle, how many bodies did he
take to surround the WhiteHouse?
How many?
Sorry, I thought that was thesetup for a joke.
You literally want me to findout.
(39:29):
Because day two we shallsurround the White House.
Draw the White House up on theboard While serenading the
president.
Ain't gonna let the presidentturn me around, hold on now.
Turn me around Turn me around.
Come on now, turn me around.
Turn me around.
I'm going to be the president.
Turn me around.
I'm going to keep on walking,keep on walking.
(39:51):
Come on now Marching up tofreedom land.
Crystal Taylor (39:55):
You know, you know he was, he was very like
unafraid and he would challengethem their thought.
And I find that happening withme and my team.
You know I'll be like, well,why would you think we couldn't
do that?
Or you know?
And so every time he was meetingand you see the whiteboard well
(40:20):
, you know the chalkboard backthere and everything, and you
know, it just reminded me of,like, how, in those moments,
like you, can inspire a person'smind to go further than where
it is in that box, and everytime he was in a boardroom or
meeting with his team like itwas always my experience of
(40:43):
watching that was you didn'tforget that he was in there.
You heard his voice, you felthis presence and you were either
pissed off or inspired Okay,Depending on the room.
Like in the boardroom.
Those guys are pissed offbecause he's bold, he's
challenging, he's, you know,being you know, and in the
(41:10):
workroom with his team he wasinspiring.
You know, creative, passionate,like pushing the mark.
Yeah, like pushing the mark.
So to be able to watch him showup in different ways depending
on who he's talking to and howhe's present, what he's
presenting was, again, true tolife.
(41:30):
Like you know, I'm going to goon this boardroom, I'm going to
tell y'all what we need to do,how we need to do it and who
needs to do it.
Who doesn't want to do it, getout.
And then I'm going to go backto my team and say we're going
to do this, this, this and thisand this, Because we're going to
prove that we can do this thingthat they don't think we can do
, but, you know, because it'sstill fuel.
Like you hear, people say, oh,that's not been done and can't
(41:55):
do this, Don't you just lovethat.
Taylor D. Adams (41:57):
Oh, that's not the way we do it Like get out.
Crystal Taylor (41:59):
Let me show you do it.
Oh, yeah, get out, let me showyou.
And I say from that, let meshow you.
Yeah, like you're not thinkingI'll help you, just sit right
there, I'll be back later.
And then to go back to yourteam and say hey, boom, boom,
boom, boom, boom.
And then there was a woman,said you want to do what?
He was like yes, my dear youknow he was yeah you know,
(42:21):
because it's encouraging.
Like you didn't think that youcould do that yeah so you know
to be able to, because I rightnow my I'm the oldest on my team
.
Okay, besides bishop, bishop ispretty old, but you look, you
look good bishop he looks sogreat, but I mean, you know, he
(42:44):
has been with me since thebeginning.
Yeah.
And so he is also one of thoseones that will stand with me and
say you've done everything else, why not?
And so if I know anything, Iknow I can look at him and he'll
be like yeah, do it.
And so, to be able to inspireyounger people to be like I had,
(43:05):
I had lauren on my team.
God bless her, she's probablythe newest of all, and so she
she reminds me of the young girlthat was like you're gonna do
what?
And so I tasked lauren withsomething, and when I reported
back the following week, youknow, she was overwhelmed.
She was very flustered,overwhelmed, and she was like
(43:27):
how do you do all this?
And I'm just like, how do younot like, do you want it?
Do you want to get this done?
Like, let's figure out how toget this.
You know, yeah, if I can do it,I know you can do it.
And so, so she, you know, hadthat moment of like I cannot
believe that you have been doingall this.
And I just tasked her with thefact that you can too.
(43:48):
You know, and it's reminiscentto those moments in the movie
where it's like, you know,people don't have it until they
can be shown or taught to dothat.
Taylor D. Adams (44:01):
That was good.
Crystal Taylor (44:01):
That was a bar.
That was a bar.
That's a social media clipright there.
Taylor D. Adams (44:07):
So I know there's so much going on in this
movie, both from like.
It's a really good movie.
It's inspiring.
It teaches a bit of history too, for those of us who were
uneducated about how everythingkind of came together.
Crystal Taylor (44:20):
Yeah, so how would you recommend this movie
to someone who hasn't seen it?
If you want to be inspired, ifyou want to be inspired, if you
want to be jolted, you want tolearn what it takes, what people
have gone through, to breakbarriers.
You know, watch Rustin.
(44:41):
You know.
It's a great movie to make youfeel like man, I'm not doing
anything with myself.
You know what I mean.
Like it's it's one of thosemovies where it's like man,
people are really out here beingextraordinary and it it really
helps you figure out like am Igoing to be extraordinary or I'm
(45:02):
just going to clock in and out?
Yeah, and so there's nothingwrong with clocking in and out,
but you know, it does inspirelike the thought around like
what can I do?
How can I help?
You know, what can I create?
Yeah, you know.
Taylor D. Adams (45:19):
Yeah, I feel like a lot of people they might
not realize that they need theinspiration.
Because there are plenty ofpeople that are like look, I
know what my life is, this iswhat I want to do, this is what
is comfortable and makes mehappy, and I don't want to kind
of like stray too far beyondthese boundaries that I've set
for myself, but there are peopleout there that are like looking
(45:39):
for a thing to like getinvolved in or be inspired with,
and I think what you haveproven, uh, with what you've
been doing, um, as well as what,uh, bayard rustin has done in
like throughout history, butspecifically with this movie,
rustin is proving that what wasthat quote?
Again, yeah, inspirationuntethered from action loses all
(46:02):
value, and so I think you'redoing a fantastic job of
tethering action to inspiration.
Thank you, crystal.
I can't thank you enough for,oh, I'm so honored to be here
sitting with my friend andtalking about movies.
Crystal Taylor (46:16):
I want to come back and talk about more movies,
okay, Okay, good to know.
Yeah, okay, okay, good to know.
Taylor D. Adams (46:25):
I've been thinking a lot lately about the
definition of success.
The default societalmeasurements are stuff like
income, title and maybe how manyhouses you own.
But if we pivot that criteriato things like impact, message
and the size of our communities,the idea of wealth becomes more
(46:46):
attainable the kind of wealthmeasured by the number of people
on which you have a profoundimprint.
With all the folks that Crystalmentioned in our chat about who
she's worked with, it's clearshe's making a difference, a
difference big enough to cementher success in her community.
So here's a question and callto action to you what are you
doing for your community?
(47:06):
Are you a parent who volunteersat their kid's school?
Are you an ally to yourmarginalized friends?
Do you donate any of yourbelongings to Goodwill?
Any small bit helps.
So if you think of a cool wayto help your community, I want
to hear about it.
We want to hear about it.
Everybody in the NuthouseDiscord community you can check
out links to that in the shownotes Hop on over.
(47:27):
Tell us the best ways in whichyou're supporting your community
and maybe what your favoritemovie or TV show is.
And before you go, I want tolet you know that the next
episode of the Film Nuts podcastwill be the season four finale.
It's finally here, it's been along ride, and we will be
discussing the indie classicEternal Sunshine of the Spotless
Mind.
So in order to not miss out onthat episode, please go ahead
(47:50):
and subscribe on your favoritepodcast platform of choice so
you don't miss out.
A huge thanks to Crystal forchatting with me today and a
thank you the size of theNational Mall to you for joining
us.
If you want to check out all ofthe events and initiatives that
Crystal is a part of, head onover to the show notes for links
to those things.
If you enjoyed what you heardtoday, please go ahead and leave
a rating and or review on yourfavorite podcast platform of
(48:13):
choice, especially on ApplePodcasts, where if you leave a
review, it helps us get noticedby more awesome people like
yourself.
If you want to help the FilmNuts podcast get even bigger and
better, please considersupporting us on Patreon.
In exchange, you'll get somereally dope perks and behind the
scenes access and, in general,just feel all warm and fuzzy
inside.
You can find links to that inthe show notes or visit
(48:34):
patreoncom.
Slash film nuts.
Our theme this season isbrought to us by the Deep End.
Our artwork is designed byModongwa Subuhudi, our head of
production is Keaton Lusk, andall episodes of the Film Nuts
podcast are produced and editedby me, taylor D Adams.
If you want to get in touch,you can email filmnutspodcast at
(48:55):
gmailcom or follow us onInstagram and TikTok at
filmnutspodcast.
Thank you all again.
So much for joining us todayand until next time, have each
other's backs, take care andfight the power.
We are going to put together the largest peaceful
protest in the history of thisnation.
Crystal Taylor (00:08):
How big 100,000 people.
Just watching it I felt like Iwas watching myself.
All the things that he had todo was doing all the people he's
talking to encouraging, yelling, fighting, crying like all the
emotions.
I was like I know this life.
You want to be inspired, youwant to be jolted.
(00:30):
You want to learn what it takes, what people have gone through,
to break barriers.
You know.
Watch Rustin.
Taylor D. Adams (00:44):
Hi, I'm Taylor and welcome back to the Film
Nuts podcast, a show about whywe love what we watch, and if
you're joining us for the firsttime, welcome.
I hope you enjoy your time here.
I mentioned at the end of ourlast episode on Midnight Mass
how the idea of community hasbecome really important to me
throughout the run of the FilmNotes podcast, as well as in my
(01:05):
life in general.
Community in air quotes hasbecome kind of a buzzword in
recent years, but don't let thatdetract from its significance.
When it's used in earnest, whenwe find the people who really
get us, who represent our ideasand who help us grow, that's
something worth fighting for.
Sometimes community is a nichefilm and TV podcast like this
(01:30):
one, but other times it can besomething bigger, like a human
rights movement.
The Netflix original film Rustinstarring Coleman Domingo tells
the true story of activistBayard Rustin as he helps change
the course of civil rightshistory by orchestrating the
1963 March on Washington amidrampant racism and homophobia.
(01:51):
Rustin is a movie that detailsall the hard work that goes into
massive community organizationand because of that it was a
mirror for my wonderful guesttoday.
Crystal Taylor, aka the QueenCurator, is an entrepreneur,
community organizer and eventcurator, whose own journey she
saw reflected in Bayard Rustin'sefforts.
Crystal feels that portrayalsof figures like Rustin can push
(02:16):
us to serve and better our owncommunities.
Crystal and I chat aboutfinding purpose, cultural events
that can bring people togetherand what it's like being on the
cover of magazines.
I sincerely hope you enjoy thisepisode, because they won't
teach you this stuff in historyclass.
Here's Crystal Taylor talkingabout Rustin on the Film Nuts
podcast.
(02:38):
I mean this is an award initself being on the cover of
magazines here this is so coolon the cover of.
North Carolina Central's alumnimagazine.
Yeah, um, tell me a little bitabout everything going on.
In this picture you're in afield looking gorgeous at all,
as always, thank you working on,like I think feel like a
million different things rightnow it feels like it yeah, and I
(02:58):
feel like if I asked you totalk about all of them, we'd be
here for two hours.
Um, I can give you a short, butI do want to focus a little bit
on we're coming up on the eightyear birthday it's nine.
It's nine, nine, that's soawesome so tell me, tell me a
little bit about what that'slike going on the ninth birthday
of beats and bars festival um alot of coffee obviously
(03:22):
obviously, and stress, butexcitement.
Crystal Taylor (03:28):
I'm very proud.
We've known each other for howlong Since 2015?
Taylor D. Adams (03:33):
Yeah, I think 15 or 16.
Crystal Taylor (03:34):
Yeah, and at that time I did not know what I
was doing.
And I still feel like.
I feel like now I know what I'mdoing, but it's like I'm
breaking over.
You know, I'm really gettinginto the crease of it, which is
crazy because, like for nineyears you've been doing
something and then you thinkthat you've got it good and then
(03:57):
you finally like, oh, this ishow it goes you know, kind of
thing, but I'm excited about itand I'm very proud and it's like
to do something for nine years,um, consistently, and I've
failed and made some badmistakes and learned from it and
been depressed for like sixmonths for it and you know, this
(04:21):
, this festival is like a childto me and it's and it's been a
road, but it's good, it's reallygood.
I'm very excited.
This is my first year bookingas big as I did for the
headliners.
Taylor D. Adams (04:32):
That's awesome.
Yeah, looking back on, I was atthe first Beats and Bars.
Looking back on that first one.
Crystal Taylor (04:38):
You did the recap video for that one I did.
Yeah, I did the first recapvideo.
Taylor D. Adams (04:41):
Yeah.
So looking from like yeah, backin back during the first one to
now, how have you seen it growyourself grow as well as like,
this is like, these are likecommunity things.
So have you seen the communitygrow and maybe embrace it?
Crystal Taylor (04:58):
um, I have seen people that came to the first
one consistently come every yearlooking for the conference.
I have seen them take whatthey've learned in the
conference spaces and use thatto help them evolve as creatives
(05:18):
and artists.
And if I'm not doing it foranybody besides my friends, I'm
doing it for those people whoreally like seek to come.
And it's like a running joke inthe team meetings Like I'm,
like I only be thinking like meand like 20 other people are
going to come to Beeson BarsBecause you know, You're like me
and my friends.
(05:52):
Yeah, me and my friends, youknow, because I'm essentially
like, this is why I'm doing allthese things for me and my
friends to have spaces thatwould enjoy, because we're all
cool and we love to do thesethings.
Right, but to see, um, the citysponsor it, the state sponsor
it, um, coca-cola, just people,corporate companies like step up
and say, hey, I want to supportyou.
Here's a check for this, or howcan we give you access to
certain things.
It's like very overwhelmingly,like I'm has so much gratitude
for that, because literally,it's just me saying I want to do
(06:14):
this thing and everybody's like, okay, cool, it sounds great,
and it's all the things that, um, I've stayed consistent with
making sure the festival lookslike things that I care about
and I think my friends careabout too, that are they're
affected by and things that areimportant to them.
So, um, even from having childcare available for people
(06:38):
because I'm a single mom andmassa is gonna need to be
somewhere attending somethingand so to be able to remember it
from day one to now and to seehow people have new people come
around every year for it.
People that have been watchingit for years are still coming
(06:59):
for it.
People love t-shirts like.
It's just stuff that I don'teven think about, but I do
remember, through the process ofplanning it and stuff, so it's
I have grown a whole lot in thesense of recognizing that it's
bigger than me.
Um, it's about my communitythat I'm serving and it's also
about the culture, protecting itand making sure that, um, every
(07:23):
aspect is lifted up and alsokilling the narrative that
hip-hop just looks likesomething for black people.
Um, making sure that I'mopening up to my spanish and
mexican latino family, whitepeople, people that don't know
where they fit in the racespectrum, just people who love
(07:44):
the culture in general and wantto learn about it and want to be
able to come and meet newpeople just off the strength of
love of music and culture, ofeven the graffiti and music and
dance and all that stuff.
So, just being able to be moreopen and learning what people
care about in hip-hop cultureand not just focusing in on
(08:06):
music, yeah, so, yeah, it's been.
It's been a learning process,like I'm being stretched and
challenged.
Beast and bars is a very big,challenging feat for me and I
have changed so many times, butthe last couple years going
through covet was a a bigexperience for me to be able to
(08:27):
be humble.
I took a loss one year of likeprobably over $75,000, bouncing
back from that and taking inlike OK, I lost this money, it's
OK Like you're not a failure.
Clip (08:41):
You know, learn from it.
Crystal Taylor (08:43):
I was really hard on myself for that for a
while, and it was reflective inthe festival and so, um,
gratefully, my team is able tolike hold me accountable for how
I'm showing up as a leader,because that's what's gonna
happen at the festival if I'mnot in a good, healthy space.
So it's all.
It's all relative, but it'sgreat.
Taylor D. Adams (09:05):
Yeah, I'm good, I'm happy and the festival is
happy, like you know, it's goodum, okay, so when I asked you
about what movie you wanted totalk about, went back and forth
a little bit we did.
But then when you said Rustin,in my head I was like that's so
perfect.
So I have my own reasons why Ibelieve there's a connection
between you and this movie, butI want to know why you wanted to
(09:28):
talk about Rustin.
Crystal Taylor (09:29):
Dude, I literally.
I'm sorry, I just hit themicrophone, Literally.
I watched this movie randomlyone night and I don't get to
watch movies often because ofNASA, but I was sitting there
watching this movie and I was inawe, Friend one of my greatest
(09:53):
joys is watching you rise.
Clip (09:56):
We need you to lead us into Los Angeles, where we will
most vigorously let Kennedy andthe entire Democratic Party know
that unless they show up forour people, take a stand against
segregation, our people willnot show up for them.
Yes, yes, yes.
Do this, martin, own your power.
Crystal Taylor (10:16):
I had thought to myself, like I wonder how big
marches and different things,like who does that?
Because now I'm in a space oflike pushing myself into a
different space of eventcurating and producing, right, I
got a goal to produce the SuperBowl one day.
I got a goal to produce a marchlike that in DC or whatever one
(10:37):
day, and I just ended upwatching this movie.
And I'm watching a movie andI'm just like, oh my gosh, this
is how it happened, like theMarch on Washington, right, and
just watching it I was.
I felt like I was watchingmyself, you know, and all the
(10:58):
things that he had to do wasdoing all the people he's
talking to, encouraging, yelling, fighting, crying, like all the
emotions.
I was like I know this life, butI was just amazed at how, um,
just watching what I do happenin that way and it was just very
(11:19):
inspiring.
And then the next thing I knowI get a call to help reverend
barber organize the march on thecapitol in raleigh.
Oh yeah, wow.
So right after I watched thismovie wow, I got I said to
myself, man, I want to organizesomething like that, right, and
I get a call literally likewithin a week.
(11:42):
Wow.
I got a call and I was able todo that like within months.
Man Isn't that crazy.
Taylor D. Adams (11:49):
That ain't some serendipitous shit.
Right there I'm telling you.
Crystal Taylor (11:52):
That's what I'm saying.
Like you know what it's in here, you know what I mean.
Like, if you're already in thepath, like you just got to be,
like I want to do what.
You know what I mean, yeah, so,yeah, that's.
That's the kind of vibe I'm on.
Taylor D. Adams (12:05):
That's awesome, that's so cool, um, yeah, so
like when you said this movie, Iwas like I watched this movie,
I think back in february, um,and thought it was really good.
And sometimes these uh moviesabout historical figures,
biopics, sometimes they kind offollow the same formula and like
that's a little bit in here,but I had no idea who or what it
(12:26):
was about.
Yeah.
And there's a lot of energy inthis movie too.
Like there's a lot.
It's like quick.
It's serious, but also funny.
Like there's also some reallyinteresting dynamics.
Crystal Taylor (12:35):
And there's a lot of community and
collaboration.
It's amazing so there's a lotof community and collaboration.
It's amazing.
Taylor D. Adams (12:38):
Yeah, it's really solid, but that is like
true to life.
Clip (12:42):
Yeah.
Crystal Taylor (12:43):
Like that movie is solid, like if you follow me
for a day, for a week, like thatmovie is exactly it.
Taylor D. Adams (12:52):
The scene where they're first coming up with
the ideas about the March on.
Washington.
I was like I wonder if this iswhat Crystal's meetings look
like.
Crystal Taylor (12:58):
It's insane.
It's so true to life.
I'm just not gay, even me notbeing gay.
The relationship stuff Goingthrough a breakup or going
through a partner, that's justlike hello, all the things Life
does not stop lifing.
And for us to be able to seehis life personally and also his
(13:23):
life as rustin, like in the, inthe business, and dealing with,
like this person that I love,this, this thing I'm going
through people know they don'tknow, whatever, whatever, and
then being in the boardroomfighting for this, that and the
third, and then telling yourteam blah, blah, blah and
dealing with the emotionalroller coaster.
(13:44):
It's so true to life Like it is, and I just absolutely love
that movie so much.
Taylor D. Adams (13:51):
Yeah, I was blown away by Coleman Domingo.
He got nominated for an Oscarfor this movie and that was
super cool to just see that,something that I-watched it just
yesterday.
Um, just in preparation for achat, and one of the things that
there was a quote that cameacross to me that I want to get
your thoughts on.
So, uh, he says in this movie,inspiration untethered from
(14:12):
action loses all value.
So what are your thoughts onthat?
Crystal Taylor (14:17):
amen statement yeah, amen, like you know I can.
I can't risk like lettingdormant mindset play in.
You know like I thrive off ofbeing inspired, I thrive off of
being motivated, I thrive off ofpositivity and energy from
(14:37):
people.
Today, you know like I don'twaste my time on things that
will kill any of thatinspiration.
Um, because inspiration comesto me for a reason to empower me
and gas me to do these thingsright.
And so when you aren't in thosespaces or community, like it
(14:59):
kills that.
It's like you don't use it, youlose it.
And so if you have theinspiration, inspiration comes
and it's there, like water thatyou know fuel that to keep it
moving, because that keeps thepossibility of anything alive,
you know so alive.
So when he said that, it's like,yeah, you know why would I talk
(15:26):
to anybody?
Taylor D. Adams (15:27):
who's?
Crystal Taylor (15:27):
not going to inspire or push or motivate.
Taylor D. Adams (15:30):
It's one of those things where, like, we all
know that, but until somebodysays it it doesn't like click.
So when he said that, I waslike he said it in a really
eloquent way.
And I was like, oh, in a reallyeloquent, what eloquent way.
And I was like, oh, yeah, thatliterally like that makes a
hundred percent sense and it'snot even a novel idea.
Crystal Taylor (15:46):
But when it's voiced out loud, it all of a
sudden has a different weight toit and you take it a little
more seriously when you hearsomething yeah, well, you know
also people get stuck innegative yeah like somebody can
call you and tell you somecraziness that's going on and
you're next thing you knowyou're in a phone call for 30
minutes going back and forthabout he said, she said or this
(16:08):
conflict or beef or whatever,and it takes your energy back
down to a place of like you know, yeah, what am I doing next you
?
know, kind of you know yeah andso you know I try to protect
myself from those kind of thingsbecause everything that's on me
I have to stay up and I'm notsaying every day I'm like hype
(16:33):
and inspired and whatever,because I have to choose to be
inspired.
I have to choose to be.
I have to choose to have myenergy up every day, and some
days I'm just.
I just don't care aboutanything and I just don't want
to do nothing and just float,float through.
But you do have to feel thatinspiration and then, when it's
(16:55):
in you and you're waking upevery day and you see all these
beautiful things here and youknow you're like yes, I'm doing
this, and then when the awardsstuff come, it helps even fuel
it even more, Because you'vealready how many people do you
know that have these things Likethere are, that you know that
you can walk in their house andsee more?
Of that.
You know, and that's enoughinspiration in itself to be like
(17:16):
you know.
I don't know nobody else coolerthan me right now, unless to be
like you know, I don't knowanybody else cooler than me
right now, unless they're youknow somewhere that you want to
attain.
To be, yeah, you know.
Yeah, very true.
Taylor D. Adams (17:25):
Yeah, so what?
I don't think I've ever askedyou this question, but what got
you first involved in?
Basically like communityorganization.
Was there like an idea?
Was there something that youfelt was lacking, that you
needed to see?
Crystal Taylor (17:43):
so my mother always would tell me if you see
something you don't like, don'tcomplain about it, do something
about it.
That's what she would alwayssay.
And it started with girl scouts.
Okay, I used to get.
I encountered some girls, younggirls, and I was just so
disappointed in their behavior.
(18:04):
And I saw these girls and I wasjust like ugh, yikes, like they
need mentors, you know.
And so I talked to my mom andshe's like don't complain about
it, do something about it.
And the only thing I knew to dowas go and submit myself to be
a Girl Scout leader and Istarted a troop, troop 1464.
Taylor D. Adams (18:24):
Okay, are they still around?
Crystal Taylor (18:25):
No, well, we dissolved the troop.
By the time they got to likethey were going to graduate
middle school.
Okay.
And they just had so manyactivities and it was a lot Okay
and I still know all the girls.
We have a group chat andeverything.
Taylor D. Adams (18:40):
Oh, that's awesome.
Crystal Taylor (18:41):
And still talk.
They're in college and doingtheir thing.
It's great, but um, I wanted todo something and help inspire
something you know, that wasdifferent, and so that started
that.
And then, when I recognized howdope that was, um, I started my
(19:02):
business Underground Collectiveand at first it was just to be
able to help shape the cultureof what I was hearing.
Because music changed.
It took a whole shift and Iwasn't happy about the shift,
about the shift, and I was like,well, I'm gonna create a
(19:23):
platform where I can meet realartists that are good, to keep
them, you know, encouraged aboutthe music they're making so
they won't make the music thistrash on the radio.
So that happened and then thatwas going well and been doing
that for a long time 13 yearsand I met moses ochola and he
wanted to do black august in apark and I had no idea about
(19:49):
black august, what that meant,what it was what does that mean?
Taylor D. Adams (19:54):
like that phrase, that idea black august
is a.
Crystal Taylor (19:58):
It's a commemorative time of the month
of.
August.
It is not something we just inDurham have, it's a thing across
the world that celebrates theliberation of black people.
In San Quentin, the Soledadbrothers were locked up
wrongfully and they went throughthis whole unjust prison system
(20:22):
.
So it is really to lift up theinjustices that happen in the
prison judicial system.
Okay.
And so we decided to create aspace for people to come be in
remembrance of people that havepassed and died and been
murdered in the month of August,because it's a very bloody
historical time for.
African American community andculture, and so we created that
(20:45):
space for that, becausegentrification was ramping at
that time and so we wanted tocreate a space for people to
come black people to come andcelebrate being free and
liberated and safe, and inDurham, and so we did that.
Me learning about the history,my dad grew up in Tuscaloosa,
(21:08):
alabama, and he shared a lot ofhis experiences.
He actually wrote a book thatI'm waiting to try to get
published, but he shared a lotof his experiences in Alabama,
you know, in the 40s and 50s youknow, as a kid, so I knew
things, but I didn't know likethe full, like knowledge around
(21:29):
black liberation, and so, um, Icontribute that to Moses, like
bringing me into the space of,like learning that stuff and so
if you're organizing this event,like, you need to know about
the history of it and what'sgoing on, and so that helped me
open my eyes to the prison,industrial system, injustices
that were going on,gentrification, um, even
(21:51):
agriculture, racism that's beengoing on.
So black farmers market, youknow, happened from that kind of
situation, and so, um, you know, my parents were always very
like clear about racism, whatwas going on, but they also
taught us to find your people,um, no matter what they look
like, and that been able to dothat, you know.
And so, um, being all this workthat I'm doing and learning
(22:16):
about all the injustices and theracisms and just the things
that were happening in all thesespaces, um, it just helped me,
encourage me and push me to wantto be that person, to speak up
for injustices and unfairnessand just creating space to be
able to change the narrative andbuild community of people that
(22:39):
wanted to help make thosechanges happen.
And so that doesn't always likejust all black people like
you're one of my people, and Ihave people that don't look like
me, that care about the samethings, are passionate about the
same things, and they know whatthey get as me being their
friend and also like ally andadvocate.
So it's, it's been, um, I lovemy life, I love the work I get
(23:03):
to do for community and I lovethat people know what they get
when they're calling me to helpthem do something, because it
also means that they're reallyintentional about changing the
narrative and where theirworkspace is like when they want
to do something for community,like when I say community, black
people, they're like we don'tknow how to do this and we don't
(23:25):
want to mess it up.
So will you help us do this andnot mess it up and create space
where we can build communityproperly.
And you know either I will orwon't, depending on what kind of
conversations we have goingforward, because I have to know
the person and make sure theirintention is right.
So it's been fun, it's beengreat.
Taylor D. Adams (23:45):
So sorry for the interruption, but I will be
brief.
I am so grateful that youdecided to listen to the Film
Nuts podcast today.
If you are enjoying what you'rehearing, please consider
supporting the show on Patreon.
With a small monthly amount,you can get access to behind the
scenes goodies, early access tofull episodes and you can vote
on what movie we watch the firstMonday of every month on the
(24:06):
Nuthouse Discord.
The Nuthouse itself is free tojoin and is full of other film
and TV lovers, so you'll fitright in.
You can check out info on allthese things in the show notes,
and if all of this sounds like abit too much, that's totally OK
.
But if you want to keep up todate on all of our episodes,
please be sure and subscribe onyour favorite platform of choice
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leave a rating and review so wecan get in front of other
(24:29):
awesome people like yourself.
Okay, Enough of me ramblingback to the good stuff.
Like I said, when you wanted totalk about Rustin, I was like
that makes so much sense.
Crystal.
The community organization thecollaboration, trying to get all
these pieces together andbalancing everything.
What do you think that thismovie says about the potential
(24:53):
and the power of collaboration?
Crystal Taylor (24:57):
It's inspiring.
I have walked in the spaces andbeen terrified to ask for
collaboration and support, justbeing like a black woman and not
knowing if it made sense orthey would like it or they would
just be like no, right, um, butI've found I found my way
(25:18):
before watching the movie, butthen watching the movie was even
more inspiring and invigorating.
To be like no, just go.
What if?
Clip (25:26):
we flood the offices of every member of the house and
tenant with delegates of church,labor, civil rights and and
such numbers, the legislativebranch will cease to function.
Taylor D. Adams (25:36):
Write it on the wall.
No, no, it is impossible totrain that.
Many effective lobbyists no, no, it is impossible to train that
many effective lobbyists.
Clip (25:41):
No, no, no, no, no.
Do not kill an impulse beforeit's born.
What if, instead of lobbyists,they were constituents from
their respective states whorefused to leave until they've
been heard?
Now, that's collaboration.
Crystal Taylor (25:52):
Write it on the wall.
It helps me figure out how todo it in more strategic ways and
also motivated me just to belike you know, don't care.
Like you want to see somethingand people.
You find people that agree towanting to see that.
Like, this is how you cantackle it, this is how you go
(26:13):
and just do it.
And it's kind of interestingbecause during the pandemic I
wanted to do movies and a lotfor you know community, because
there was something going on.
People can't go anywhere and Icalled adam klein at the time.
Adam was with american tobaccocampus and I was like, hey, I
(26:33):
need a parking lot.
And adam isn't again one ofthose allies and friends that
doesn't look like me but helpscreate spaces and like Michael
Goodman too, like these arefriends and advocates but also
allies that will help createspace to do these types of
things for community.
And we made the connection withthe Durham Bulls and had a
(26:57):
great conversation and I wasunapologetically clear about
like what are your efforts tobring community into the
ballpark?
Like, what are we doing?
At the time DEI was becoming tobe a hot stoke.
You know slogan right now and soI was just like you know what
are you guys doing to make surepeople are here, make sure
(27:21):
community knows it's a safespace?
You know things of that natureand they didn't really have, you
know, a plan or a concept atthe time.
So it was it made sense to say,hey, crystal, bring your
community into this space sothey know it's a welcome space,
this, this is something thatwe're doing, a special event
thing that we can collaborate ona community member with.
(27:43):
So those types of things havehappened and just skyrocketed my
ability to be able to connectand build those bridges.
So hopefully, if somebody elsecomes along, they want to do it,
they can be open and you know,okay with doing that kind of
thing to build for a community.
So it's cool, I love it, andthat movie contributed to my gas
(28:06):
to want to keep doing thatstuff.
So again, it's out there nowPeople know you need to call
Crystal, you want to buildbridges and you want to create
space and you want to advocateand do it the right way and find
out what community wants, whatthey don't want, what they won't
respond to, versus how to dothis the proper business way.
(28:29):
People have learned that I'mthe good I'm sitting on the
fence.
Okay, you know, so I can bebusiness crystal or street
crystal.
Taylor D. Adams (28:38):
You know, so it's fun you can be in both
worlds.
Yeah, I totally understand.
Crystal Taylor (28:43):
I enjoy it too.
Taylor D. Adams (28:44):
That's awesome.
So one of the interestingthings upon the second watch for
me watching this movie was itshowcases a lot of issues that
come from differentorganizations fighting for the
same cause but differing on theapproach.
Clip (28:59):
Gandhi brought an empire down to its knees.
Would someone please tell thisman that this is not India.
For decades, the NAACP has beenlegally leading the charge, and
now you're proposing 100,000black folks invade Washington DC
.
Have you talked to Martin aboutthis?
I lost his number, he lost mine.
Well, Dr King, who hasn't lostmy number, has come to
(29:19):
understand that mass lobbying issheer madness Brown versus
Board is the crowning glory ofthis organization.
Yet all across the South, whenNegro children sleep, they see
whites only signs instead oftheir dreams, counting on the
courts to eradicate racialinequity.
That's madness.
Taylor D. Adams (29:38):
Have you encountered anything like that
in the events or causes you puttogether, and how have you kind
of maybe overcome any obstaclesthat have come in the way?
Crystal Taylor (29:46):
Yeah, I mean, my approach is totally not
traditional at all what is it my?
Taylor D. Adams (29:51):
way or the highway.
Crystal Taylor (29:55):
Well, you know, I believe in building community,
like straight up, right, if wecan't be cool in the boardroom
and like at home or at arestaurant and chilling, then
we're just transact, we're justbeing transactional and I I
can't function that way.
(30:15):
I don't like that.
I mean, I have relationshipslike that.
Of course you know I'm anentrepreneur, yeah, but I prefer
to have a relationship with you, like if you're gonna give me
thousands of dollars or ifyou're gonna do something from
my community, I want to knowthat you're doing it off the
intention of the real basis ofwhat is needed for, and also
(30:38):
that you mean well, like you'rejust not trying to fill your
numbers for the end of year orfor that quarter or whatever.
I do have relationships withpeople that just want something
to get done and they don't careabout how's your mom doing, you
know the fluffy type things, andI prefer to not have a lot of
(31:00):
relationships like that becauseI really believe that we're all
like, we're all characters inthis situation of world and so
you know, somebody could leavetheir job as this person
tomorrow.
So does that mean I don't getto talk to you anymore?
(31:20):
I don't get to work with youanymore, yeah, you know.
And so sometimes, yeah, that'swhat that does mean.
But I'm fortunate to haverelationships with people that
will leave a place, go toanother place and want to shake
stuff up at another place.
Say, crystal, I'm here at thisplace, I want to do this at the
third, let's do somethingsimilar to what we did.
(31:41):
You know, yeah, and it keepsgoing, and so I prefer to have
those types of relationships,now, those are not traditionally
what you see in the kind ofcommunity advocacy work that I
do and some people don't likethe way of like how I've worked.
(32:01):
Like you know, I buildrelationships and I go for it.
Like some people don't want towork with white people, some
people don't want to, you know,collaborate that way where they
have to change up some of theirthoughts or processes, and I'm
open.
So, what people want to do andhow they want to do it, and I'm
(32:24):
open to collaborate with whitepeople that I believe that feel
the same notions and desires fortheir community too, and so I
don't care.
You know, whatever feels goodand safe and right, especially
if I get to know the person,then I move off that and I truly
(32:52):
believe that you can't fakebeing real.
You can't fake what you careabout, what your intention is.
People can lie about it, butwhen you talk to a person and
get to know them and see youknow, you can hear it, you can
feel it, you know intentionalityand the, the, the realness in
that.
Yeah, so that's how I work.
(33:14):
A lot of times people don'tcare for that, but you know,
gratefully, I don't have longterm relationships with those
people, so watching him wasreminiscent of that.
Rustin yeah, you could tell whowere the people that had his
back and other people were likeget this guy out of here.
(33:34):
And I have had my own communitysay certain things or accuse me
of being self servant orsomething like that.
So, like I said from thebeginning, like that movie is
true to life, like you gotpeople that look like you, that
judge you or criticize you.
They got people that look likeyou, that love you and support
(33:54):
what you're doing, and then youhave people who don't that do
the same thing too.
So you know it's it's definitelyan emotional roller coaster
period yeah and you wouldn'tthink like in my mind um, I deal
with slight imposter syndrome.
Okay, a very small amount of it, just because there's a very
(34:15):
small amount of people who don'tget it or are not on board.
Very small amount of people ifthere's more, I don't know them
and I don't want to hear iteither.
Yeah, but it's, it'sdiscouraging and distracting
because it's like it's like overa thousand some people that are
over here like yeah, yeah, yeah, and you're like no, you know
(34:37):
so it makes you think you know,yeah, like why you?
Know like what's the problem,but I've learned that it's them
like.
Whatever it's, it's an internalself issue not a.
Crystal issue or Crystal's workissue yeah.
Taylor D. Adams (34:49):
When you were talking about that.
That actually reminded me abouta scene in the movie.
It's after the informationabout Baird Rustin's arrest
record, yeah, and it comes outand there's like potential
scandal bubbling for amongst thepublic.
(35:09):
But then Martin Luther King Jrcomes out and basically says,
hey, this guy's, he's a good guy.
Clip (35:16):
Mr Rustin is one of the most moral, one of the most
decent human beings I have everknown.
He is as committed to Americandemocracy as any current elected
official and would fight toprotect the rights of all,
including those who would usethe power of their position to
(35:49):
deny him his.
I'm proud to call him friend.
Taylor D. Adams (35:53):
The character of Rustin witnesses this cries.
Have you had someone or a groupof some people come out in
support of you that really movedyou beyond?
I really appreciate that.
Crystal Taylor (36:07):
I mean to be honest with you, like the
Triangle Business JournalJournal Magazine, like those are
not necessarily spaces thatblack people frequent or know
about, um or read, and to beable to get that type of
(36:30):
accolade from both of thosespaces I mean um.
The deputy secretary of thestate has has sent me two
handwritten congratulationsletters.
That's so cool.
I just got a letter from theHouse representative last week
(36:53):
congratulating me and sayingthank you for the work, and I
don't even think I've ever mether before.
Wow.
Taylor D. Adams (37:00):
Is that validation, or is that just like
a really fucking cool addedbonus to?
Crystal Taylor (37:06):
things.
I mean it's I don't want to sayvalidation, because I'm I'm
working on like self-validating,right, you know?
Okay, um, but it's definitelylike affirmative, like you're
killing it, but it's from peoplethat are not in my community.
(37:26):
I got you.
You know what I'm saying yeahand so it's like for me to do
this bold, unapologetically,like you know, black advocacy
for fair community engagement,for fair access.
For you know me being a blackwoman doing things in a white
(37:47):
male dominated industry, it'slike, oh, wow, thank you yeah
you know, because I I'm, it'svery clear, like you know, if
you know me, you know you'regetting, and so for me to be
(38:12):
recognized, in my company's namebeing said underground
Collective.
Yeah, it's like a dope thing,yeah.
And so when I get it on theseplatforms of like like the
triangle business journal, youknow, it's like man, that is
super dope, like thank you, youknow.
And so I just got another thankyou card from a deputy secretary
yesterday and I was like man, Igotta buy stacy something
(38:33):
because she is like on it withand I love cards like
handwritten cards, like that,and so she just keeps it coming
and it's more inspiration.
You know, like, if the governorand secretary and the deputy
secretary, these people, theyknow who I am, they know what my
work is, it's like, okay, yeah,I'm going to keep it rolling,
(38:56):
then you know, good trouble.
You know I'm going to keepdoing it.
That's awesome, so yeah.
Taylor D. Adams (39:02):
So do you have a favorite moment or scene from
this movie?
Clip (39:08):
hmm, I think that some of my favorite scenes were when
they're in their meetings he'swith his team and he's just like
challenging their thought andthey're all like what you wanna
do that and he's like, yeah,rochelle, how many bodies did he
take to surround the WhiteHouse?
How many?
Sorry, I thought that was thesetup for a joke.
You literally want me to findout.
(39:29):
Because day two we shallsurround the White House.
Draw the White House up on theboard While serenading the
president.
Ain't gonna let the presidentturn me around, hold on now.
Turn me around Turn me around.
Come on now, turn me around.
Turn me around.
I'm going to be the president.
Turn me around.
I'm going to keep on walking,keep on walking.
(39:51):
Come on now Marching up tofreedom land.
Crystal Taylor (39:55):
You know, you know he was, he was very like
unafraid and he would challengethem their thought.
And I find that happening withme and my team.
You know I'll be like, well,why would you think we couldn't
do that?
Or you know?
And so every time he was meetingand you see the whiteboard well
(40:20):
, you know the chalkboard backthere and everything, and you
know, it just reminded me of,like, how, in those moments,
like you, can inspire a person'smind to go further than where
it is in that box, and everytime he was in a boardroom or
meeting with his team like itwas always my experience of
(40:43):
watching that was you didn'tforget that he was in there.
You heard his voice, you felthis presence and you were either
pissed off or inspired Okay,Depending on the room.
Like in the boardroom.
Those guys are pissed offbecause he's bold, he's
challenging, he's, you know,being you know, and in the
(41:10):
workroom with his team he wasinspiring.
You know, creative, passionate,like pushing the mark.
Yeah, like pushing the mark.
So to be able to watch him showup in different ways depending
on who he's talking to and howhe's present, what he's
presenting was, again, true tolife.
(41:30):
Like you know, I'm going to goon this boardroom, I'm going to
tell y'all what we need to do,how we need to do it and who
needs to do it.
Who doesn't want to do it, getout.
And then I'm going to go backto my team and say we're going
to do this, this, this and thisand this, Because we're going to
prove that we can do this thingthat they don't think we can do
, but, you know, because it'sstill fuel.
Like you hear, people say, oh,that's not been done and can't
(41:55):
do this, Don't you just lovethat.
Taylor D. Adams (41:57):
Oh, that's not the way we do it Like get out.
Crystal Taylor (41:59):
Let me show you do it.
Oh, yeah, get out, let me showyou.
And I say from that, let meshow you.
Yeah, like you're not thinkingI'll help you, just sit right
there, I'll be back later.
And then to go back to yourteam and say hey, boom, boom,
boom, boom, boom.
And then there was a woman,said you want to do what?
He was like yes, my dear youknow he was yeah you know,
(42:21):
because it's encouraging.
Like you didn't think that youcould do that yeah so you know
to be able to, because I rightnow my I'm the oldest on my team
.
Okay, besides bishop, bishop ispretty old, but you look, you
look good bishop he looks sogreat, but I mean, you know, he
(42:44):
has been with me since thebeginning.
Yeah.
And so he is also one of thoseones that will stand with me and
say you've done everything else, why not?
And so if I know anything, Iknow I can look at him and he'll
be like yeah, do it.
And so, to be able to inspireyounger people to be like I had,
(43:05):
I had lauren on my team.
God bless her, she's probablythe newest of all, and so she
she reminds me of the young girlthat was like you're gonna do
what?
And so I tasked lauren withsomething, and when I reported
back the following week, youknow, she was overwhelmed.
She was very flustered,overwhelmed, and she was like
(43:27):
how do you do all this?
And I'm just like, how do younot like, do you want it?
Do you want to get this done?
Like, let's figure out how toget this.
You know, yeah, if I can do it,I know you can do it.
And so, so she, you know, hadthat moment of like I cannot
believe that you have been doingall this.
And I just tasked her with thefact that you can too.
(43:48):
You know, and it's reminiscentto those moments in the movie
where it's like, you know,people don't have it until they
can be shown or taught to dothat.
Taylor D. Adams (44:01):
That was good.
Crystal Taylor (44:01):
That was a bar.
That was a bar.
That's a social media clipright there.
Taylor D. Adams (44:07):
So I know there's so much going on in this
movie, both from like.
It's a really good movie.
It's inspiring.
It teaches a bit of history too, for those of us who were
uneducated about how everythingkind of came together.
Crystal Taylor (44:20):
Yeah, so how would you recommend this movie
to someone who hasn't seen it?
If you want to be inspired, ifyou want to be inspired, if you
want to be jolted, you want tolearn what it takes, what people
have gone through, to breakbarriers.
You know, watch Rustin.
(44:41):
You know.
It's a great movie to make youfeel like man, I'm not doing
anything with myself.
You know what I mean.
Like it's it's one of thosemovies where it's like man,
people are really out here beingextraordinary and it it really
helps you figure out like am Igoing to be extraordinary or I'm
(45:02):
just going to clock in and out?
Yeah, and so there's nothingwrong with clocking in and out,
but you know, it does inspirelike the thought around like
what can I do?
How can I help?
You know, what can I create?
Yeah, you know.
Taylor D. Adams (45:19):
Yeah, I feel like a lot of people they might
not realize that they need theinspiration.
Because there are plenty ofpeople that are like look, I
know what my life is, this iswhat I want to do, this is what
is comfortable and makes mehappy, and I don't want to kind
of like stray too far beyondthese boundaries that I've set
for myself, but there are peopleout there that are like looking
(45:39):
for a thing to like getinvolved in or be inspired with,
and I think what you haveproven, uh, with what you've
been doing, um, as well as what,uh, bayard rustin has done in
like throughout history, butspecifically with this movie,
rustin is proving that what wasthat quote?
Again, yeah, inspirationuntethered from action loses all
(46:02):
value, and so I think you'redoing a fantastic job of
tethering action to inspiration.
Thank you, crystal.
I can't thank you enough for,oh, I'm so honored to be here
sitting with my friend andtalking about movies.
Crystal Taylor (46:16):
I want to come back and talk about more movies,
okay, Okay, good to know.
Yeah, okay, okay, good to know.
Taylor D. Adams (46:25):
I've been thinking a lot lately about the
definition of success.
The default societalmeasurements are stuff like
income, title and maybe how manyhouses you own.
But if we pivot that criteriato things like impact, message
and the size of our communities,the idea of wealth becomes more
(46:46):
attainable the kind of wealthmeasured by the number of people
on which you have a profoundimprint.
With all the folks that Crystalmentioned in our chat about who
she's worked with, it's clearshe's making a difference, a
difference big enough to cementher success in her community.
So here's a question and callto action to you what are you
doing for your community?
(47:06):
Are you a parent who volunteersat their kid's school?
Are you an ally to yourmarginalized friends?
Do you donate any of yourbelongings to Goodwill?
Any small bit helps.
So if you think of a cool wayto help your community, I want
to hear about it.
We want to hear about it.
Everybody in the NuthouseDiscord community you can check
out links to that in the shownotes Hop on over.
(47:27):
Tell us the best ways in whichyou're supporting your community
and maybe what your favoritemovie or TV show is.
And before you go, I want tolet you know that the next
episode of the Film Nuts podcastwill be the season four finale.
It's finally here, it's been along ride, and we will be
discussing the indie classicEternal Sunshine of the Spotless
Mind.
So in order to not miss out onthat episode, please go ahead
(47:50):
and subscribe on your favoritepodcast platform of choice so
you don't miss out.
A huge thanks to Crystal forchatting with me today and a
thank you the size of theNational Mall to you for joining
us.
If you want to check out all ofthe events and initiatives that
Crystal is a part of, head onover to the show notes for links
to those things.
If you enjoyed what you heardtoday, please go ahead and leave
a rating and or review on yourfavorite podcast platform of
(48:13):
choice, especially on ApplePodcasts, where if you leave a
review, it helps us get noticedby more awesome people like
yourself.
If you want to help the FilmNuts podcast get even bigger and
better, please considersupporting us on Patreon.
In exchange, you'll get somereally dope perks and behind the
scenes access and, in general,just feel all warm and fuzzy
inside.
You can find links to that inthe show notes or visit
(48:34):
patreoncom.
Slash film nuts.
Our theme this season isbrought to us by the Deep End.
Our artwork is designed byModongwa Subuhudi, our head of
production is Keaton Lusk, andall episodes of the Film Nuts
podcast are produced and editedby me, taylor D Adams.
If you want to get in touch,you can email filmnutspodcast at
(48:55):
gmailcom or follow us onInstagram and TikTok at
filmnutspodcast.
Thank you all again.
So much for joining us todayand until next time, have each
other's backs, take care andfight the power.
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