April 21, 2025 • 32 mins
Episode Notes My guests include Dr. Kandace Thomas, Executive Director of First 8 Memphis. They are celebrating a big win with a resolution that approves a partnership with Shelby County and the City of Memphis to establish universal, need-based Pre-K. This has been proven to improve grade school and high school education rates. She tells me why this is a true investment in our future that will payoff in a big way. Next, The National Civil Rights Museum is a forever reminder of the struggles of the past and the memory of the loss of the greatest voice for equality we have ever seen. President and CEO Dr. Russell Wigginton joins me to share his future vision for the museum and the fight to keep the dream alive in spite of those who want to erase it. That and more on air and online Monday, 6 pm on WYXR 91.7 FM. Also the WYXR app, Tunein, Facebook Live, YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.
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It's a real talk. It's real, it's real talk. And
(01:15):
here we go.
Speaker 5 (01:15):
Here we go on this Monday evening. It is the
twenty first day of April twenty twenty five, six o'clock.
Straight up, ladies and gentlemen, which means it is time
for in all new end lives, real talk Memphis. Glad
to have you with us. I am your humble host.
My name is Chip Washington. You know who you are,
so we don't have to go through.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
All of that.
Speaker 5 (01:35):
But I'm glad you are here if you are this evening.
For the next hour, we are going to engage in
some great conversation with some great guests about some great topics,
and we'll do that in just a few minutes. But
you know, there's a lot of different ways you can
catch this fine piece of radio broadcasting. The first way,
(01:56):
of course, is ninety one point seven on your FM
DAT that would be wy are we are on right now.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
You can tune in and hear us.
Speaker 5 (02:03):
You can also find us on the tune in app
to you n e I input in Real Talk Memphis
in the search and you'll find us. We are also
live streaming of the show tonight on Facebook Live and
when the show post in the next couple of days,
you can find us on YouTube. And of course we
(02:24):
are a podcast. Did you know we're a podcast? Well
you know now we're a podcast, so you can catch
us once the show post wherever it is you get
your podcast. A lovely, lovely day in the city today
after us rather stormy overnight, but today it turned out
to be beautiful. We're gonna see some off and on
rain here as we get I think Wednesday through the
(02:45):
end of the week, but first couple of days of
the week tomorrow should be right around eighty degrees. So yeah,
it feels a lot like spring out side, and you
should get out and enjoy it as you can, or
while you can. We have a great guest list for
you tonight, or at least I think so. We are
going to be speaking in just a few minutes with
doctor Candice Thomas.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Who is she?
Speaker 5 (03:06):
She's the executive director of a nonprofit organization dealing with
the educational factor of things called First eight Memphis. What
is that you ask or you will find out in
just a few minutes. But they believe in starting education
with our young babies while they're young, and we'll talk
more about that in just a few minutes. A little
(03:28):
bit later on, we will be speaking with doctor Russell Wiington.
He is the president and CEO of the National Civil
Rights Museum, and we will talk with him about some
of the projects that they are working on here in
twenty twenty five, and we will talk about, you know,
trying to fight against what the government is looking at
(03:51):
in terms of slashing museums and libraries and things like that,
you know, maybe in terms of a budget. We're going
to see if he's heard anything about that or if
he's even concerned about that.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
I know I am.
Speaker 5 (04:07):
And a little bit later on we are going to
shift to the arts and we are going to speak
with the founder of Hattieloo Theater. His name is Atkundayo
Bandella and he will be joining us in the second
half hour of the show. So there you go. Sounds
pretty good, doesn't it. I think it's us anyway. We
will get to all of that in just a minute.
(04:28):
We do birthdays on this broadcast in case you did
not know, So if you celebrated your birthday today and
it was a very small list today, but if you
celebrate it today or over the weekend, a happy, happy,
happy birthday. I hope the celebration was wonderful and great
and you woke up this morning without a hangover a headache, right,
(04:49):
you were able to get on with your business. If
you have a birthday this week, we're going to celebrate
you as well. We do that with a little thing
we like to call the shout out, but we can't
do that until I say hit it. Brent, Happy birthday,
Happy birthday, every birthday till the following.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
This is as I said, it's a very short list.
Speaker 5 (05:08):
Today, Happy birthday going out to Jocelyn Reid William celebrating
in her birthday today. Happy Birthday Charles Jefferson, and Happy
birthday to Charlene Johnson Calhoun. Those are the only three
birthdays I have though, if you if you have your birthday,
(05:31):
you didn't you didn't let me know about it. I'm sorry,
but happy birthday to you anywhere, and I hope that
this day has been filled with love and laughter and
we look forward to being with you next year if
you celebrate your next trip around the sun.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Happy birthday everybody. Thanks Brent.
Speaker 5 (05:53):
Quick look at news and notes before we get into things.
The memphisis Sheevy County School's takeover plan, which has been
proposed in the State House on the Senate side and
the House side. Right now, they are they're looking at
a compromise between both bills. You have to have to
(06:15):
submit one bill, but they're looking to compromise. I guess,
take something from one of the bills offered by Mark White,
something from the other bill authored by Senator Brent Taylor,
and kind of put everything together to come up with
a comprehensive bill. They are going to the Senate that's
going to have their debate tomorrow. I believe the House
had their debate today. No, it has not been canceled,
(06:38):
it has not been postponed. The legislative session ends, I believe,
this week, so they have to get this thing done
within the next day or so. So we will be
paying close attention to that again. And you know this,
this would this would of course be a process by
which things will be taken over in terms of the
(07:00):
local school district.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
By the state.
Speaker 5 (07:02):
Who would appoint a group of individuals, maybe six, maybe
seven to be school managers, if you will. They will
oversee the entire process of everything that happens regarding your
children's education. Should this bill pass, and so we have
to keep a very very close eye on it. Could
be six members, could be seven members. And of course
(07:23):
this could go from anywhere from four to even six years.
I guess that they feel that it would take that
long to turn all of this around. All of this
on the heels of course, of the Memphis and Chevy
County schools firing doctor Marie Fagin's and all of the
subsequent back and forth that happens in reference to all
(07:46):
of that. So we will again this is a very
very important component. We need you to pay attention to
it as well. It is known as the Tennessee Public
School Accountability Act, which again would authorize the Department of
Education in Tennessee to appoint a boor word of managers. Yeah,
I know you're asking yourself, well, what about the people
that we elected?
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Well, what about them? That's kind of the attitude that
they're taking.
Speaker 5 (08:09):
Anyway, moving forward here, there has been a lot of
conversation about x AI, the Elon Musk funded project for
these supercomputers that are coming here. Well, uh, these turbines
that are being used in reference to that are at question.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Now.
Speaker 5 (08:29):
Many people who live in the southwestern part of Memphis, Riverside,
and you.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Know, and and and and and and and.
Speaker 5 (08:40):
Folks over in the South Memphis zone of things are
very concerned about the fact that there could be some
possible UH side effects in reference to UH pollution. Well,
there's been a lot of conversation and a lot of
discussion about this circling this and there will be a
public meeting hosted this Friday by the Chevy County Health Department.
(09:01):
I say that because a lot of the folks who
are complaining about this have an opportunity now to hear
from the experts from the Chevy County Health Department. This
public meeting will be hosted by doctor Michelle Taylor of
the Health Department, because again, a lot of folks are concerned.
(09:22):
We don't know exactly what these turbines will produce, and
we don't know how it will affect, if any, the
air quality behind all of this. The meeting will be
Friday evening at five o'clock I believe at fairly high school,
and the public is invited to show up and hear
the presentation and ask all of the questions that need
(09:43):
to be asked.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Ladies and gentlemen.
Speaker 5 (09:45):
I don't say this often, but you know you need
to get off your rusty dusty and go and attend
and learn and find out about what is happening in
and around your communities, so at least you will know, okay,
And again you know, voices, collective voices can make a difference.
Doctor Taylor says, we ought to stop this right now
(10:06):
until we find out all of the information. Also, the
environmental groups around here are involved in this as well.
You know, we had Keshan Pearson on the show a
couple of weeks back. You know, he's the head of
one of the groups, the pollution groups here in town,
and says this should absolutely be halted until we can
find out more information about what is happening. So again,
(10:27):
this Friday, five pm over at Fairly High School, pack
the playing out. Let's pack the place out. I plan
on trying to attend that meeting. I think it's important enough.
If I'm gonna sit here and talk about it, I
need to know about it as well. All right, we're
gonna take a quick break and when we come back,
we will get into the broadcasts.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
I hope you're doing well. I hope you had it.
Speaker 5 (10:46):
By the way, I hope that you all had a
wonderful Easter celebration yesterday with family and friends and a
lot of folks that know went to worship and and
I had food fund and fellowship and had a good
time yesterday. I hope that was you were involved in
the mix. Also, before I go to break, we need
to pay attention to ourselves and our surroundings. There's a
(11:09):
lot going on in the city of Memphis and not
all of it's good. We're seeing a lot of violence,
the spiking and things that are happening. A fifteen year
old boy lost his life after a shooting yesterday afternoon.
Don't have any suspects, don't know what it was all
about or anything else, but another child has lost his life.
We're seeing far too much of that lately, and we
(11:30):
need to do a lot of praying, and we need
to hold a lot of folks accountable, but more no
more so than ourselves in situations like this. Okay, so
we need to pray for the families that are affected
by any kind of tragedy here in our city. But
we can do better, and we should do better, and
we should hold folks accountable for doing better. With that,
(11:52):
let me take a break, and when we come back,
let's get into it, shall we.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
I'm Chip, you know who you are. Let's take a
quick break and we'll be right back.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
If you like real Talk, here's the way you can
get involved. Do you have a show topic, idea or
a suggestion I want to be considered a guest or
have a guest idea, then send Chip a message on
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go out and tell somebody, we'll be right back.
Speaker 5 (12:33):
It's and welcome back to Real Talk Memphis on this
Monday evening. I know we're having some technical difficulties in
terms of our live stream. You all can still hear
us on the radio, and uh uh and and and
and and elsewhere. But anyway, I do have my first
guest on the.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Phone with me right now. Uh, and we're gonna do
it the old fashioned way.
Speaker 5 (12:57):
I told you a few minutes ago about an educational
organization who is working very hard to make sure that
our young folks and I mean our very young little
babies have a good start educationally in this world.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
And she joins me now.
Speaker 5 (13:13):
She is the executive director of an organization called First
eight Memphis, and her name is doctor Candace telling us
and doctor Candace, it is great to see you.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Welcome to Real Talk Memphis. How are you tonight?
Speaker 4 (13:26):
Thank you, I'm good, how are you.
Speaker 5 (13:28):
We're gonna make it. We're gonna be okay. We're doing fun.
But thank you so much for being here. And first
things first, if you don't mind for folks who are
not familiar, tell us about First eight, Memphis, And I'm
curious as to exactly what you mean by that and
why that title.
Speaker 6 (13:47):
Yeah, so first eight means the first eight years of
a person's life.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
So starting at birth up until age eight or until
a child enters the third grade.
Speaker 6 (14:00):
And they named this organization First eight because we know
that the first eight years of our lives determine everything
about us, and too late into our lives, So the
first years of our lives, our early childhood years, is
most important. And so when the organization was named, they
were acknowledging the importance of those years.
Speaker 5 (14:22):
So having said that, you all have been working hard
to try to get other folks, especially the folks in
the County Commission and the city Council to understand. And
a lot of folks have been really battling this with
you about just what you said and starting our young
babies off and giving them a good start in life
(14:46):
the K through three and basically starting them what I
guess age three. Am I correcting that in terms of
the learning opportunity?
Speaker 4 (14:54):
Yeah, you're talking about pre K.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
For all, pre K for all, guest, ma'am.
Speaker 6 (14:58):
Yes, So we are trying to advance pre K to
include three year olds. So right now, it's only for
four year olds in our community and across the state,
and we're trying to expand that to include three year
olds and also to expand it so that there's no
income limitations.
Speaker 5 (15:17):
How big a deal is that, I mean, I obviously
I know it's a very big deal. But I mean,
obviously this has been a lot of work going into this,
and you obviously have the okay from correct me if
I'm wrong, the County Commission and the City council.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
How big a deal is this for you?
Speaker 6 (15:33):
Oh, it's a big deal for the community. It's not
a big deal for me. This is a big deal
for families with young children. So, first, Memphis would be
one of less than ten cities and counties around the
country with pre K for all. So that would be
a huge win for Memphis and Shelby County. And most importantly,
(15:54):
it would be big for families. You may know that
it can cost up to one thousand dollars a month
or family to pay for their child to go into
childcare at three years old or at four years old, and.
Speaker 4 (16:08):
So one, it would help families. Two, it would be
about businesses.
Speaker 6 (16:13):
We know that when a parent sends their child to
a place where they know that child is going to
be cared for, and they know that baby's gonna be safe,
and they're gonna be learning, they're gonna go to work,
They're not they're going to feel like, Okay, I can
be at work and not worried about this baby.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
And then our businesses have a more.
Speaker 6 (16:31):
Competitive edge in terms of having employees who can send
their child.
Speaker 4 (16:37):
To a high quality center and.
Speaker 6 (16:39):
Being able to work and be a part of our
economic community. So this is a win win for everybody, babies, families,
and businesses.
Speaker 5 (16:49):
Absolutely, and it has been proven I imagine I read
some of this on your on your website that it
has been proven that in later years, as a young
people advance into some of the higher grades, there is
more of a success rate if they indeed can start
at an earlier age.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Am I correcting that?
Speaker 4 (17:11):
Yes, you're absolutely correct.
Speaker 6 (17:12):
So we see it starting with pre kindergarten readiness scores,
we see it at third grade reading. We know that
they graduate high school at a higher degree than students.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
Who didn't have early education, and on and on.
Speaker 6 (17:26):
So this is it's a win win for our community.
Speaker 5 (17:31):
So you know, in reference to this in particulars as
you've been trying to get other people to realize and
understand this, and you laid it out beautifully as to
what the benefits are. Have there been any pushback from
anybody in particular in the community or the elected officials
(17:53):
or anybody in reference to what you have been trying
to do for so long?
Speaker 6 (17:57):
No, there actually there has not been a lot of pushback.
And maybe that's because actually here in Memphis, folks have
been fighting for pre K for all for over ten years.
So there's been different interests over the years for pre
K for All. But now we're at the right time
with the right folks at the table, and tomorrow will
know if if we're.
Speaker 4 (18:18):
Gonna make it happen.
Speaker 5 (18:19):
Well, listen, we are just I mean, I'm very excited
for you because I think that obviously this is something
that has been going off.
Speaker 4 (18:28):
For the un is off. I can't hear you very well.
Speaker 5 (18:31):
Oh, okay, hold on just a second. I'm sorry. Can
you hear me better now? Or no, can you hear me?
Speaker 4 (18:36):
I hear you a tiny bit. It's cutting in and out.
Speaker 5 (18:40):
Okay, I'm trying to Yeah, we're trying to get the
sound here. Straight and we're doing good here a second ago.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
But okay, wait there you are.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Okay, there, I are, okay, good, good enough.
Speaker 5 (18:49):
But what I wanted to I guess I wanted to
to ask you finally, and almost I think I almost
lost track of the question. But really, in terms of
in terms of this, we have heard for a very
long time about the fact that uh uh, you know,
the test scores in our schools in particular, are are
(19:13):
have been down for a while, you know, I mean
the testing right, and they're doing they're doing their TACAP
testing and things like that, and one of the biggest
issues that that we've been faced with is the fact
that reading scores are down. So you really, if you
look at this from the perspective of where you're coming from,
this really does have to be a big deal.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
And again you're proving a.
Speaker 5 (19:32):
Point that that that that this really will be a
more successful product having started these young folks a bit earlier.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
Correct.
Speaker 6 (19:41):
Yes, absolutely, so we know that if kids, if young
children have exposure to early learning. So really, this is
about an adult who cares for a child from the
from a developmental perspective, who understands what does it mean
to educate a three year old, to care for a
three year old, We know that they will improve test
(20:03):
scores later on. So I think we're gonna we're gonna
answer some of the problems that we may have in
our community around reading and literacy with early learning.
Speaker 5 (20:14):
So now that you know we are taking this advanced step,
if folks want to understand more about your organization and
to find work that you do, please let us know
how they can get in touch with you at First
Date and find out more about the organization and what
you all have to offer educationally and academically for our
(20:35):
young folks.
Speaker 6 (20:37):
Sure, so First Day what is what is called a
backbone systems organization, So we don't do any direct work
with young people. We let the people in the classrooms
and childcare settings and family day homes, et cetera do
all the work. We are doing everything on the back
end to support them. So you can find out more
(20:59):
about First Date Memphis from our website First eight.
Speaker 4 (21:02):
Memphis dot org. Or you can find out more about pre.
Speaker 6 (21:06):
K at pre k Memphis dot com and that should
it'll get you right to us.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
So we're working hard on behalf of the community.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
And before I let you go.
Speaker 5 (21:16):
I want you to to if you would to give
a message to our community, to the folks who are
listening uh to this broadcast right now, in terms of
the future of education for our young people here in
Memphis and Shelby County, if you could give them something
to be inspired about or to to understand that you know,
(21:40):
it is really up to all of us as shareholders
in the future of our children's education. What what message
would you would you say to our parents and folks
who might be listening.
Speaker 4 (21:53):
So I would say, first, the earlier we start, the better.
I'm an early childhood person.
Speaker 6 (21:58):
We know that babies are born ready to interact and
engage with the adults who care for them. So waiting
till three years old is even too late. Start loving
on your baby as soon as they come into your family.
Talk to them, read to them, sing with them. That
is the building blocks. So when they do go to
(22:20):
pre k at three, they would have had some of
those important interactions.
Speaker 4 (22:25):
And you got this.
Speaker 6 (22:26):
You can talk to your babies, you can send to
your babies, you can read to your babies, and that
is going to get us ready for when they turn
three and hopefully start pre K or a high quality
learning center.
Speaker 5 (22:39):
Doctor Candice Thomas, Ladies and gentlemen, executive director of First
eight Memphis. You heard what she said, Start loving your
babies as soon as they get here. Doctor Thomas. Thank
you so much for taking the time out and working
with us a little bit here technically. Really appreciate everything
that you are doing in and around our community. And
thank you so much for coming on the show tonight.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 5 (23:01):
Take care Geah, thank you. Well, there you go, Ladies
and gentlemen, First eight Memphis. Look start these children out right,
and start them out young, and get them to the
place where by the time you know they're three years old,
they're already rocking and rolling and ready to go. Congratulations
on all of the hard work for the folks at
the First eight Memphis.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
Let's take a break.
Speaker 5 (23:21):
When we come back, we'll continue on the Monday edition
of Real Talk Memphis.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
I'm Chip. Don't go away, We'll be right back.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
If you like Real Talk, here's the way you can
get involved. Do you have a show topic, idea or
a suggestion. Want to be considered a guest or have
a guest idea? Then send Chip a message on his
Real Talk show page. And you can be a part
of the real talk experience. So as he always says,
go out and tell somebody, We'll be right back.
Speaker 5 (24:03):
It's I think we have another Get do we have?
Uhrus is Russ checked in?
Speaker 3 (24:12):
Is he?
Speaker 2 (24:12):
Is he there? Russell? Are you there? There? He is?
Speaker 5 (24:16):
Okay, he's coming now. Well, I can't believe we're gonna
get all this and we're gonna we may.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
Be we may be maybe there he is. Can you
hear me? Okay, sir, oh, bless your heart. Listen.
Speaker 5 (24:27):
First of all, thank you, thank you, thank you uh
for hanging in there with us. You know, sometimes the
technical grimlins getting them to get in the machinery.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
But I'm glad we were able to get you on.
How are you tonight?
Speaker 7 (24:37):
I'm good, I'm good.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
Good to see.
Speaker 5 (24:39):
It's good to see you too, my friends. So listen,
I wanted to ask you in specific. First of all,
I want to talk about some of the projects that
you're working on uh this year at the National Civil
Rights Museum.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
UH. But but I want to ask you too.
Speaker 5 (24:54):
You know, we have h we're seeing some movement uh
in the federal government about some slashing of programs.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
One of those I think is that.
Speaker 5 (25:04):
Maybe has been discussed is about libraries and museums like
yours and possible cutting. We've heard about the Smithsonian, the
museum in Washington, d c. That depicts black history. How concerned,
if any, are you about those programs of the funding
(25:26):
being cut and more importantly, really taking a big slice
of American history away from us.
Speaker 7 (25:34):
Yeah, I'm very concerned. And because we are a private
foundation and we don't rely on those resources you're talking
about the Institute for Museum and Library Sciences. Yes, that
we're fortunate in that regard, will make no mistake about it.
(25:58):
So many of my colleagues and institutions around the country
are situated differently. We need support, but we don't have
a line item from the federal government like many of
that many of them do. What I'm concerned about is
when you take museums, arts, zoos, libraries out of the
(26:26):
ecosystem for all communities, what you do is you damage community.
Those are places where people come together across all of
the typical ways, typical boundaries that we've established. That's where
people come together across zip codes, socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity,
(26:49):
and religion. That's where we have our best examples of
being in community. And when you diminish that, you're suggesting,
you're suggesting very strongly that community is not important. That's
what concerns me.
Speaker 5 (27:04):
Yeah, you know, I was listening to what you were saying,
and it makes a lot of sense, you know. I
mean I talk all the time about you know, really
taking a major slice of American history. I mean, we're
seeing efforts now across this country in schools by wiping
out you know, the history of Black Americans in this country.
(27:25):
And I guess I'm troubled like you are, in terms
of the current and future generations. How are people going
to get an accurate depiction of where we have come
from to where we are now, even now and beyond
into the future. If things like this are allowed to
happen and a very important piece of American history, and
(27:49):
I don't need to tell anybody any more than that,
then you might be erased from you know, giving these
young people an opportunity to learn. And that's why I
value and treasure so much. The National Civil Rights Museum.
Speaker 7 (28:04):
Well, we appreciate that, and it is actually a very
exciting time for us. We have a significant, unprecedented renovation
going on with our Founder's Park, legacy, terrorists, and the
Boarding House, the building that where the alleged shot was fired.
(28:25):
We are focused on telling that story from nineteen sixty
eight to the present.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
We know that.
Speaker 7 (28:35):
The story in the Lorraine Motel goes up through the
assassination of doctor Martin Luther King. That is a powerful
and important foundational story that in a comprehensive story of
the American civil rights movement for all people to learn
from and be inspired by. But it's also important that
(28:57):
we talk about civil and human rights that have happened
since nineteen sixty eight, because that was over fifty years ago,
and there has been so many steps forward, some steps back,
and continuing to recognize the sacrifices and the struggle that
(29:19):
we've had and the figuring out, if you will, as
a country, of how we move forward. So we are
doing that in the building called the boarding House. Doctor
King's last book, Where do we Go from here? Chaos
r Community is the umbrella, if you will, by which
(29:40):
we are renovating that building. So we are going to
talk about important issues continue to be connected to nonviolence.
We're going to talk about poverty and housing and job opportunities,
and how our society has continued to struggle with equity
(30:08):
and equality. But we're going to do it in a
way that young people in particular can see themselves and
connect with it and learn and use it as a
as a jump off point to learn and understand the
heart of the civil rights movement historically.
Speaker 5 (30:28):
Yeah, you know that that that fight continues. Before I
let you go, I want to know from you, as
the man who oversees the the operations that at this
absolutely magnificent museum, when uh, when you see crowds coming
in uh and and really you know, I'm speaking of
everyday crowds, but but you know, even on the special
(30:49):
occasions of juneteens and and in the king holidays and
a lot of other things, what do you hope that
people who come through uh with their families and even
down to their little little bit little babies. What do
you hope folks take away from the experience that you
are building at that museum.
Speaker 7 (31:10):
I want people to, however they enter at various degrees
of knowledge, whatever notions they may have coming in, whether
they've been there before or not, I want them to
uh know that they are welcome and show up authentically
as whoever they are, and I want them to have
(31:34):
at both an intellectual so a learning educational opportunity, but
I want them to also have a heartfelt experience what
I call a head and heart collision. I want them
to be emotionally touched and inspired and motivated to think
about what role they serve and helping our country reaches
(31:59):
full potential. So I want them to learn something and
I want them to be touched by something.
Speaker 5 (32:05):
Doctor Russell Wiggington, President and CEO of the National Civil
Rights Museum, Rush, thank you so much, man for for
hanging in there with us through the through, through, through
the ups and downs of this evening. I really am
so happy to have had you on to share some
of your insight with us, and I look forward to
talking to you down the road, my friend.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
Thank you so much. Absolutely, it's always about getting through
It's real talk with your main chip washing it. When
it comes to information, the main guy an aus little
bring it up to speed with what you need.
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He can go for a nationhoul.
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White who feed. Let's talk about it, guy, I can
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And you got questions about it. It's main.
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It's to show that brings until.
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Your row to solve all problems.
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It starts real talk, real talk.
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It's real talk.
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It's real talk.
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Jail, Welcome to real tr real host chill watching him
wit you.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
It's a real talk. It's real, it's real talk. And
(01:15):
here we go.
Speaker 5 (01:15):
Here we go on this Monday evening. It is the
twenty first day of April twenty twenty five, six o'clock.
Straight up, ladies and gentlemen, which means it is time
for in all new end lives, real talk Memphis. Glad
to have you with us. I am your humble host.
My name is Chip Washington. You know who you are,
so we don't have to go through.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
All of that.
Speaker 5 (01:35):
But I'm glad you are here if you are this evening.
For the next hour, we are going to engage in
some great conversation with some great guests about some great topics,
and we'll do that in just a few minutes. But
you know, there's a lot of different ways you can
catch this fine piece of radio broadcasting. The first way,
(01:56):
of course, is ninety one point seven on your FM
DAT that would be wy are we are on right now.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
You can tune in and hear us.
Speaker 5 (02:03):
You can also find us on the tune in app
to you n e I input in Real Talk Memphis
in the search and you'll find us. We are also
live streaming of the show tonight on Facebook Live and
when the show post in the next couple of days,
you can find us on YouTube. And of course we
(02:24):
are a podcast. Did you know we're a podcast? Well
you know now we're a podcast, so you can catch
us once the show post wherever it is you get
your podcast. A lovely, lovely day in the city today
after us rather stormy overnight, but today it turned out
to be beautiful. We're gonna see some off and on
rain here as we get I think Wednesday through the
(02:45):
end of the week, but first couple of days of
the week tomorrow should be right around eighty degrees. So yeah,
it feels a lot like spring out side, and you
should get out and enjoy it as you can, or
while you can. We have a great guest list for
you tonight, or at least I think so. We are
going to be speaking in just a few minutes with
doctor Candice Thomas.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Who is she?
Speaker 5 (03:06):
She's the executive director of a nonprofit organization dealing with
the educational factor of things called First eight Memphis. What
is that you ask or you will find out in
just a few minutes. But they believe in starting education
with our young babies while they're young, and we'll talk
more about that in just a few minutes. A little
(03:28):
bit later on, we will be speaking with doctor Russell Wiington.
He is the president and CEO of the National Civil
Rights Museum, and we will talk with him about some
of the projects that they are working on here in
twenty twenty five, and we will talk about, you know,
trying to fight against what the government is looking at
(03:51):
in terms of slashing museums and libraries and things like that,
you know, maybe in terms of a budget. We're going
to see if he's heard anything about that or if
he's even concerned about that.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
I know I am.
Speaker 5 (04:07):
And a little bit later on we are going to
shift to the arts and we are going to speak
with the founder of Hattieloo Theater. His name is Atkundayo
Bandella and he will be joining us in the second
half hour of the show. So there you go. Sounds
pretty good, doesn't it. I think it's us anyway. We
will get to all of that in just a minute.
(04:28):
We do birthdays on this broadcast in case you did
not know, So if you celebrated your birthday today and
it was a very small list today, but if you
celebrate it today or over the weekend, a happy, happy,
happy birthday. I hope the celebration was wonderful and great
and you woke up this morning without a hangover a headache, right,
(04:49):
you were able to get on with your business. If
you have a birthday this week, we're going to celebrate
you as well. We do that with a little thing
we like to call the shout out, but we can't
do that until I say hit it. Brent, Happy birthday,
Happy birthday, every birthday till the following.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
This is as I said, it's a very short list.
Speaker 5 (05:08):
Today, Happy birthday going out to Jocelyn Reid William celebrating
in her birthday today. Happy Birthday Charles Jefferson, and Happy
birthday to Charlene Johnson Calhoun. Those are the only three
birthdays I have though, if you if you have your birthday,
(05:31):
you didn't you didn't let me know about it. I'm sorry,
but happy birthday to you anywhere, and I hope that
this day has been filled with love and laughter and
we look forward to being with you next year if
you celebrate your next trip around the sun.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Happy birthday everybody. Thanks Brent.
Speaker 5 (05:53):
Quick look at news and notes before we get into things.
The memphisis Sheevy County School's takeover plan, which has been
proposed in the State House on the Senate side and
the House side. Right now, they are they're looking at
a compromise between both bills. You have to have to
(06:15):
submit one bill, but they're looking to compromise. I guess,
take something from one of the bills offered by Mark White,
something from the other bill authored by Senator Brent Taylor,
and kind of put everything together to come up with
a comprehensive bill. They are going to the Senate that's
going to have their debate tomorrow. I believe the House
had their debate today. No, it has not been canceled,
(06:38):
it has not been postponed. The legislative session ends, I believe,
this week, so they have to get this thing done
within the next day or so. So we will be
paying close attention to that again. And you know this,
this would this would of course be a process by
which things will be taken over in terms of the
(07:00):
local school district.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
By the state.
Speaker 5 (07:02):
Who would appoint a group of individuals, maybe six, maybe
seven to be school managers, if you will. They will
oversee the entire process of everything that happens regarding your
children's education. Should this bill pass, and so we have
to keep a very very close eye on it. Could
be six members, could be seven members. And of course
(07:23):
this could go from anywhere from four to even six years.
I guess that they feel that it would take that
long to turn all of this around. All of this
on the heels of course, of the Memphis and Chevy
County schools firing doctor Marie Fagin's and all of the
subsequent back and forth that happens in reference to all
(07:46):
of that. So we will again this is a very
very important component. We need you to pay attention to
it as well. It is known as the Tennessee Public
School Accountability Act, which again would authorize the Department of
Education in Tennessee to appoint a boor word of managers. Yeah,
I know you're asking yourself, well, what about the people
that we elected?
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Well, what about them? That's kind of the attitude that
they're taking.
Speaker 5 (08:09):
Anyway, moving forward here, there has been a lot of
conversation about x AI, the Elon Musk funded project for
these supercomputers that are coming here. Well, uh, these turbines
that are being used in reference to that are at question.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Now.
Speaker 5 (08:29):
Many people who live in the southwestern part of Memphis, Riverside,
and you.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Know, and and and and and and and.
Speaker 5 (08:40):
Folks over in the South Memphis zone of things are
very concerned about the fact that there could be some
possible UH side effects in reference to UH pollution. Well,
there's been a lot of conversation and a lot of
discussion about this circling this and there will be a
public meeting hosted this Friday by the Chevy County Health Department.
(09:01):
I say that because a lot of the folks who
are complaining about this have an opportunity now to hear
from the experts from the Chevy County Health Department. This
public meeting will be hosted by doctor Michelle Taylor of
the Health Department, because again, a lot of folks are concerned.
(09:22):
We don't know exactly what these turbines will produce, and
we don't know how it will affect, if any, the
air quality behind all of this. The meeting will be
Friday evening at five o'clock I believe at fairly high school,
and the public is invited to show up and hear
the presentation and ask all of the questions that need
(09:43):
to be asked.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Ladies and gentlemen.
Speaker 5 (09:45):
I don't say this often, but you know you need
to get off your rusty dusty and go and attend
and learn and find out about what is happening in
and around your communities, so at least you will know, okay,
And again you know, voices, collective voices can make a difference.
Doctor Taylor says, we ought to stop this right now
(10:06):
until we find out all of the information. Also, the
environmental groups around here are involved in this as well.
You know, we had Keshan Pearson on the show a
couple of weeks back. You know, he's the head of
one of the groups, the pollution groups here in town,
and says this should absolutely be halted until we can
find out more information about what is happening. So again,
(10:27):
this Friday, five pm over at Fairly High School, pack
the playing out. Let's pack the place out. I plan
on trying to attend that meeting. I think it's important enough.
If I'm gonna sit here and talk about it, I
need to know about it as well. All right, we're
gonna take a quick break and when we come back,
we will get into the broadcasts.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
I hope you're doing well. I hope you had it.
Speaker 5 (10:46):
By the way, I hope that you all had a
wonderful Easter celebration yesterday with family and friends and a
lot of folks that know went to worship and and
I had food fund and fellowship and had a good
time yesterday. I hope that was you were involved in
the mix. Also, before I go to break, we need
to pay attention to ourselves and our surroundings. There's a
(11:09):
lot going on in the city of Memphis and not
all of it's good. We're seeing a lot of violence,
the spiking and things that are happening. A fifteen year
old boy lost his life after a shooting yesterday afternoon.
Don't have any suspects, don't know what it was all
about or anything else, but another child has lost his life.
We're seeing far too much of that lately, and we
(11:30):
need to do a lot of praying, and we need
to hold a lot of folks accountable, but more no
more so than ourselves in situations like this. Okay, so
we need to pray for the families that are affected
by any kind of tragedy here in our city. But
we can do better, and we should do better, and
we should hold folks accountable for doing better. With that,
(11:52):
let me take a break, and when we come back,
let's get into it, shall we.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
I'm Chip, you know who you are. Let's take a
quick break and we'll be right back.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
If you like real Talk, here's the way you can
get involved. Do you have a show topic, idea or
a suggestion I want to be considered a guest or
have a guest idea, then send Chip a message on
his Real Talk show page and you can be a
part of the Real Talk experience. So, as he always says,
go out and tell somebody, we'll be right back.
Speaker 5 (12:33):
It's and welcome back to Real Talk Memphis on this
Monday evening. I know we're having some technical difficulties in
terms of our live stream. You all can still hear
us on the radio, and uh uh and and and
and and elsewhere. But anyway, I do have my first
guest on the.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Phone with me right now. Uh, and we're gonna do
it the old fashioned way.
Speaker 5 (12:57):
I told you a few minutes ago about an educational
organization who is working very hard to make sure that
our young folks and I mean our very young little
babies have a good start educationally in this world.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
And she joins me now.
Speaker 5 (13:13):
She is the executive director of an organization called First
eight Memphis, and her name is doctor Candace telling us
and doctor Candace, it is great to see you.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Welcome to Real Talk Memphis. How are you tonight?
Speaker 4 (13:26):
Thank you, I'm good, how are you.
Speaker 5 (13:28):
We're gonna make it. We're gonna be okay. We're doing fun.
But thank you so much for being here. And first
things first, if you don't mind for folks who are
not familiar, tell us about First eight, Memphis, And I'm
curious as to exactly what you mean by that and
why that title.
Speaker 6 (13:47):
Yeah, so first eight means the first eight years of
a person's life.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
So starting at birth up until age eight or until
a child enters the third grade.
Speaker 6 (14:00):
And they named this organization First eight because we know
that the first eight years of our lives determine everything
about us, and too late into our lives, So the
first years of our lives, our early childhood years, is
most important. And so when the organization was named, they
were acknowledging the importance of those years.
Speaker 5 (14:22):
So having said that, you all have been working hard
to try to get other folks, especially the folks in
the County Commission and the city Council to understand. And
a lot of folks have been really battling this with
you about just what you said and starting our young
babies off and giving them a good start in life
(14:46):
the K through three and basically starting them what I
guess age three. Am I correcting that in terms of
the learning opportunity?
Speaker 4 (14:54):
Yeah, you're talking about pre K.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
For all, pre K for all, guest, ma'am.
Speaker 6 (14:58):
Yes, So we are trying to advance pre K to
include three year olds. So right now, it's only for
four year olds in our community and across the state,
and we're trying to expand that to include three year
olds and also to expand it so that there's no
income limitations.
Speaker 5 (15:17):
How big a deal is that, I mean, I obviously
I know it's a very big deal. But I mean,
obviously this has been a lot of work going into this,
and you obviously have the okay from correct me if
I'm wrong, the County Commission and the City council.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
How big a deal is this for you?
Speaker 6 (15:33):
Oh, it's a big deal for the community. It's not
a big deal for me. This is a big deal
for families with young children. So, first, Memphis would be
one of less than ten cities and counties around the
country with pre K for all. So that would be
a huge win for Memphis and Shelby County. And most importantly,
(15:54):
it would be big for families. You may know that
it can cost up to one thousand dollars a month
or family to pay for their child to go into
childcare at three years old or at four years old, and.
Speaker 4 (16:08):
So one, it would help families. Two, it would be
about businesses.
Speaker 6 (16:13):
We know that when a parent sends their child to
a place where they know that child is going to
be cared for, and they know that baby's gonna be safe,
and they're gonna be learning, they're gonna go to work,
They're not they're going to feel like, Okay, I can
be at work and not worried about this baby.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
And then our businesses have a more.
Speaker 6 (16:31):
Competitive edge in terms of having employees who can send
their child.
Speaker 4 (16:37):
To a high quality center and.
Speaker 6 (16:39):
Being able to work and be a part of our
economic community. So this is a win win for everybody, babies, families,
and businesses.
Speaker 5 (16:49):
Absolutely, and it has been proven I imagine I read
some of this on your on your website that it
has been proven that in later years, as a young
people advance into some of the higher grades, there is
more of a success rate if they indeed can start
at an earlier age.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Am I correcting that?
Speaker 4 (17:11):
Yes, you're absolutely correct.
Speaker 6 (17:12):
So we see it starting with pre kindergarten readiness scores,
we see it at third grade reading. We know that
they graduate high school at a higher degree than students.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
Who didn't have early education, and on and on.
Speaker 6 (17:26):
So this is it's a win win for our community.
Speaker 5 (17:31):
So you know, in reference to this in particulars as
you've been trying to get other people to realize and
understand this, and you laid it out beautifully as to
what the benefits are. Have there been any pushback from
anybody in particular in the community or the elected officials
(17:53):
or anybody in reference to what you have been trying
to do for so long?
Speaker 6 (17:57):
No, there actually there has not been a lot of pushback.
And maybe that's because actually here in Memphis, folks have
been fighting for pre K for all for over ten years.
So there's been different interests over the years for pre
K for All. But now we're at the right time
with the right folks at the table, and tomorrow will
know if if we're.
Speaker 4 (18:18):
Gonna make it happen.
Speaker 5 (18:19):
Well, listen, we are just I mean, I'm very excited
for you because I think that obviously this is something
that has been going off.
Speaker 4 (18:28):
For the un is off. I can't hear you very well.
Speaker 5 (18:31):
Oh, okay, hold on just a second. I'm sorry. Can
you hear me better now? Or no, can you hear me?
Speaker 4 (18:36):
I hear you a tiny bit. It's cutting in and out.
Speaker 5 (18:40):
Okay, I'm trying to Yeah, we're trying to get the
sound here. Straight and we're doing good here a second ago.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
But okay, wait there you are.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Okay, there, I are, okay, good, good enough.
Speaker 5 (18:49):
But what I wanted to I guess I wanted to
to ask you finally, and almost I think I almost
lost track of the question. But really, in terms of
in terms of this, we have heard for a very
long time about the fact that uh uh, you know,
the test scores in our schools in particular, are are
(19:13):
have been down for a while, you know, I mean
the testing right, and they're doing they're doing their TACAP
testing and things like that, and one of the biggest
issues that that we've been faced with is the fact
that reading scores are down. So you really, if you
look at this from the perspective of where you're coming from,
this really does have to be a big deal.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
And again you're proving a.
Speaker 5 (19:32):
Point that that that that this really will be a
more successful product having started these young folks a bit earlier.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
Correct.
Speaker 6 (19:41):
Yes, absolutely, so we know that if kids, if young
children have exposure to early learning. So really, this is
about an adult who cares for a child from the
from a developmental perspective, who understands what does it mean
to educate a three year old, to care for a
three year old, We know that they will improve test
(20:03):
scores later on. So I think we're gonna we're gonna
answer some of the problems that we may have in
our community around reading and literacy with early learning.
Speaker 5 (20:14):
So now that you know we are taking this advanced step,
if folks want to understand more about your organization and
to find work that you do, please let us know
how they can get in touch with you at First
Date and find out more about the organization and what
you all have to offer educationally and academically for our
(20:35):
young folks.
Speaker 6 (20:37):
Sure, so First Day what is what is called a
backbone systems organization, So we don't do any direct work
with young people. We let the people in the classrooms
and childcare settings and family day homes, et cetera do
all the work. We are doing everything on the back
end to support them. So you can find out more
(20:59):
about First Date Memphis from our website First eight.
Speaker 4 (21:02):
Memphis dot org. Or you can find out more about pre.
Speaker 6 (21:06):
K at pre k Memphis dot com and that should
it'll get you right to us.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
So we're working hard on behalf of the community.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
And before I let you go.
Speaker 5 (21:16):
I want you to to if you would to give
a message to our community, to the folks who are
listening uh to this broadcast right now, in terms of
the future of education for our young people here in
Memphis and Shelby County, if you could give them something
to be inspired about or to to understand that you know,
(21:40):
it is really up to all of us as shareholders
in the future of our children's education. What what message
would you would you say to our parents and folks
who might be listening.
Speaker 4 (21:53):
So I would say, first, the earlier we start, the better.
I'm an early childhood person.
Speaker 6 (21:58):
We know that babies are born ready to interact and
engage with the adults who care for them. So waiting
till three years old is even too late. Start loving
on your baby as soon as they come into your family.
Talk to them, read to them, sing with them. That
is the building blocks. So when they do go to
(22:20):
pre k at three, they would have had some of
those important interactions.
Speaker 4 (22:25):
And you got this.
Speaker 6 (22:26):
You can talk to your babies, you can send to
your babies, you can read to your babies, and that
is going to get us ready for when they turn
three and hopefully start pre K or a high quality
learning center.
Speaker 5 (22:39):
Doctor Candice Thomas, Ladies and gentlemen, executive director of First
eight Memphis. You heard what she said, Start loving your
babies as soon as they get here. Doctor Thomas. Thank
you so much for taking the time out and working
with us a little bit here technically. Really appreciate everything
that you are doing in and around our community. And
thank you so much for coming on the show tonight.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 5 (23:01):
Take care Geah, thank you. Well, there you go, Ladies
and gentlemen, First eight Memphis. Look start these children out right,
and start them out young, and get them to the
place where by the time you know they're three years old,
they're already rocking and rolling and ready to go. Congratulations
on all of the hard work for the folks at
the First eight Memphis.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
Let's take a break.
Speaker 5 (23:21):
When we come back, we'll continue on the Monday edition
of Real Talk Memphis.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
I'm Chip. Don't go away, We'll be right back.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
If you like Real Talk, here's the way you can
get involved. Do you have a show topic, idea or
a suggestion. Want to be considered a guest or have
a guest idea? Then send Chip a message on his
Real Talk show page. And you can be a part
of the real talk experience. So as he always says,
go out and tell somebody, We'll be right back.
Speaker 5 (24:03):
It's I think we have another Get do we have?
Uhrus is Russ checked in?
Speaker 3 (24:12):
Is he?
Speaker 2 (24:12):
Is he there? Russell? Are you there? There? He is?
Speaker 5 (24:16):
Okay, he's coming now. Well, I can't believe we're gonna
get all this and we're gonna we may.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
Be we may be maybe there he is. Can you
hear me? Okay, sir, oh, bless your heart. Listen.
Speaker 5 (24:27):
First of all, thank you, thank you, thank you uh
for hanging in there with us. You know, sometimes the
technical grimlins getting them to get in the machinery.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
But I'm glad we were able to get you on.
How are you tonight?
Speaker 7 (24:37):
I'm good, I'm good.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
Good to see.
Speaker 5 (24:39):
It's good to see you too, my friends. So listen,
I wanted to ask you in specific. First of all,
I want to talk about some of the projects that
you're working on uh this year at the National Civil
Rights Museum.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
UH. But but I want to ask you too.
Speaker 5 (24:54):
You know, we have h we're seeing some movement uh
in the federal government about some slashing of programs.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
One of those I think is that.
Speaker 5 (25:04):
Maybe has been discussed is about libraries and museums like
yours and possible cutting. We've heard about the Smithsonian, the
museum in Washington, d c. That depicts black history. How concerned,
if any, are you about those programs of the funding
(25:26):
being cut and more importantly, really taking a big slice
of American history away from us.
Speaker 7 (25:34):
Yeah, I'm very concerned. And because we are a private
foundation and we don't rely on those resources you're talking
about the Institute for Museum and Library Sciences. Yes, that
we're fortunate in that regard, will make no mistake about it.
(25:58):
So many of my colleagues and institutions around the country
are situated differently. We need support, but we don't have
a line item from the federal government like many of
that many of them do. What I'm concerned about is
when you take museums, arts, zoos, libraries out of the
(26:26):
ecosystem for all communities, what you do is you damage community.
Those are places where people come together across all of
the typical ways, typical boundaries that we've established. That's where
people come together across zip codes, socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity,
(26:49):
and religion. That's where we have our best examples of
being in community. And when you diminish that, you're suggesting,
you're suggesting very strongly that community is not important. That's
what concerns me.
Speaker 5 (27:04):
Yeah, you know, I was listening to what you were saying,
and it makes a lot of sense, you know. I
mean I talk all the time about you know, really
taking a major slice of American history. I mean, we're
seeing efforts now across this country in schools by wiping
out you know, the history of Black Americans in this country.
(27:25):
And I guess I'm troubled like you are, in terms
of the current and future generations. How are people going
to get an accurate depiction of where we have come
from to where we are now, even now and beyond
into the future. If things like this are allowed to
happen and a very important piece of American history, and
(27:49):
I don't need to tell anybody any more than that,
then you might be erased from you know, giving these
young people an opportunity to learn. And that's why I
value and treasure so much. The National Civil Rights Museum.
Speaker 7 (28:04):
Well, we appreciate that, and it is actually a very
exciting time for us. We have a significant, unprecedented renovation
going on with our Founder's Park, legacy, terrorists, and the
Boarding House, the building that where the alleged shot was fired.
(28:25):
We are focused on telling that story from nineteen sixty
eight to the present.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
We know that.
Speaker 7 (28:35):
The story in the Lorraine Motel goes up through the
assassination of doctor Martin Luther King. That is a powerful
and important foundational story that in a comprehensive story of
the American civil rights movement for all people to learn
from and be inspired by. But it's also important that
(28:57):
we talk about civil and human rights that have happened
since nineteen sixty eight, because that was over fifty years ago,
and there has been so many steps forward, some steps back,
and continuing to recognize the sacrifices and the struggle that
(29:19):
we've had and the figuring out, if you will, as
a country, of how we move forward. So we are
doing that in the building called the boarding House. Doctor
King's last book, Where do we Go from here? Chaos
r Community is the umbrella, if you will, by which
(29:40):
we are renovating that building. So we are going to
talk about important issues continue to be connected to nonviolence.
We're going to talk about poverty and housing and job opportunities,
and how our society has continued to struggle with equity
(30:08):
and equality. But we're going to do it in a
way that young people in particular can see themselves and
connect with it and learn and use it as a
as a jump off point to learn and understand the
heart of the civil rights movement historically.
Speaker 5 (30:28):
Yeah, you know that that that fight continues. Before I
let you go, I want to know from you, as
the man who oversees the the operations that at this
absolutely magnificent museum, when uh, when you see crowds coming
in uh and and really you know, I'm speaking of
everyday crowds, but but you know, even on the special
(30:49):
occasions of juneteens and and in the king holidays and
a lot of other things, what do you hope that
people who come through uh with their families and even
down to their little little bit little babies. What do
you hope folks take away from the experience that you
are building at that museum.
Speaker 7 (31:10):
I want people to, however they enter at various degrees
of knowledge, whatever notions they may have coming in, whether
they've been there before or not, I want them to
uh know that they are welcome and show up authentically
as whoever they are, and I want them to have
(31:34):
at both an intellectual so a learning educational opportunity, but
I want them to also have a heartfelt experience what
I call a head and heart collision. I want them
to be emotionally touched and inspired and motivated to think
about what role they serve and helping our country reaches
(31:59):
full potential. So I want them to learn something and
I want them to be touched by something.
Speaker 5 (32:05):
Doctor Russell Wiggington, President and CEO of the National Civil
Rights Museum, Rush, thank you so much, man for for
hanging in there with us through the through, through, through
the ups and downs of this evening. I really am
so happy to have had you on to share some
of your insight with us, and I look forward to
talking to you down the road, my friend.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
Thank you so much. Absolutely, it's always about getting through
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