April 15, 2025 • 59 mins
This week on the Black Perspective, Mike Eiland speaks with Dr. Maxmillian Chambers, a CalFresh Champion Fellow and clinical staff dentist at Innercare, about a new community-focused health campaign in California.
2025 Gracie Award-winning anchor, Esther Dillard explores the unique historical connection between Harriet Tubman and the city of Philadelphia.
Alexandria Ikomoni sits down with Markuann Smith—creator, actor, and executive producer of The Godfather of Harlem—to discuss what’s in store for Season 4 and his latest projects.
Mimi Brown shares Episode 4 of her podcast To Altadena with Love, continuing to spotlight powerful real-life stories from Black victims of the Altadena wildfires.
Doug Davis talks with U.S. Representative Jennifer McClellan about the SAVE Act and its potential impact on the Black vote.
Plus, we hear sharp commentary from Mo Kelly.
Listen now!
2025 Gracie Award-winning anchor, Esther Dillard explores the unique historical connection between Harriet Tubman and the city of Philadelphia.
Alexandria Ikomoni sits down with Markuann Smith—creator, actor, and executive producer of The Godfather of Harlem—to discuss what’s in store for Season 4 and his latest projects.
Mimi Brown shares Episode 4 of her podcast To Altadena with Love, continuing to spotlight powerful real-life stories from Black victims of the Altadena wildfires.
Doug Davis talks with U.S. Representative Jennifer McClellan about the SAVE Act and its potential impact on the Black vote.
Plus, we hear sharp commentary from Mo Kelly.
Listen now!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Blacky Feast of the Planet.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
I go by the name of Charlamagne of God, and
I can't wait to see y'all at the third annual
Black Effect Podcast Festival.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Yeah, number three, Baby Black called Black Rose More Black
CEO be coming back to pull me in Yard Saturday
for twenty six in Atlanta, hosted by none other than
Mandy B and Weeezy. That's Right, Decisions, Decisions. The Black
Effect is bringing some of the biggest and best podcasts
in the world to.
Speaker 4 (00:23):
The stage for one day only.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Ready, we got the R and B Money Podcast with
Tanking Jay Valentine. We got the Woman of All Podcasts
with Saturday Jay Roberts, Good Mom's Bad Choices, neckd Sports
with Cherry Champion, and the Trap Nerds podcast with more
to be announced. And of course it's bigger than podcasts.
We're bringing the Black Effect marketplace with black owned businesses,
plus the food truck court to keep you fed while
(00:47):
you visit us. All right, if all my firing podcasters,
we got something for you too.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
You know.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
We got informative panels and you can go to the
career corners for exclusive one on one time with industry leaders.
Tickets on Selle Now tap in at Black Effect dot
Com Flash Pod Festival.
Speaker 5 (01:01):
It's Sunday, April thirteenth, and on today's show, I talked
to doctor Maximilian Chambers, a col Fresh Champion Fellow, and
clinical staff Dennis at Inner Care, a California based federally
qualified health center, and their new campaign to help the
local community. Twenty twenty five Gracie Award winning anchor Esther
Dillar talks about a unique connection between Harriet Tubman and
(01:23):
the city of Philadelphia. Alexandria Igamoni sits down with creator, actor,
and executive producer of the TV series The Godfather of Harlem,
Markwan Smith about season four and what else he is
working on. Mimi Brown gives us another preview of To
Altadena with Love on her new podcast, episode four, as
(01:43):
she retells real stories from black victims of the Altadena wildfires.
And Doug Davis talks to US Representative Jennifer McClellan about
the Saves Act and how it might hurt the Black vote,
and we get commentary from Moe Kelly. These stories of
more are coming your way. On today's program, Welcome to
the Black Perspective. I'm your host Mike Islan.
Speaker 6 (02:05):
Welcome to the Black Perspective, a weekly community affairs program
on the Black Information Network featuring interviews and discussions on
issues important to the Black community.
Speaker 5 (02:14):
Good Sunday, everyone, and welcome to the Black Perspective. This week,
I start the show with the California Department of Public
Health and their new campaign aimed at helping our community
to adopt a healthier lifestyle through simple steps like staying
active and eliminating sugary drinks from our diets.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
I spoke with doctor Chambers.
Speaker 5 (02:32):
He's dedicated to promoting oral health and educating underserved communities
and about the impact of dietarian drink choices on dental care,
and joins us now to talk about the Cow Fresh
Healthy Living campaign. Good day, doctor Chambers, thank you for
being with us today on the Black Information Network.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 5 (02:50):
We're talking about sugary drinks like SODA's, sweet teas and
energy food drinks. They're popular in our community, but what
are the risks of drinking too many?
Speaker 3 (03:00):
You know, a significant portion of the added sugars in
the American diet come from these beverages, and African Americans
going average consume more sugar drinks than other groups, which
is putting us at higher risk for type two diabetes
or disease and tooth tocare.
Speaker 5 (03:14):
How do sugary drinks contribute to these problems?
Speaker 3 (03:17):
We when we look at the research, it's showing that
for type two diabetes, we are seeing regularly drinking sugar
sweetened beverages can increase the risk of developing diabetes. We're
seeing heart disease as a leading cause of death in
the United States, and excessive sugar intake can increase that
risk even more. And when it comes to tooth decay,
(03:38):
drinking more than two servings of sugary drinks per week
increases your odds of having tooth decay well.
Speaker 5 (03:43):
And a lot of people don't think about that because
it's just drinks versus foods exactly. So what is the
first step to making better healthier choices?
Speaker 3 (03:52):
I think start by checking your nutrition labels. If you're
looking for words for like syrup or juice concentrate, those
are trigger words. It means that there's added sugar. Try
and said on sweet and tea still or sparkling water
or even flavored sparkling water with no added sugar.
Speaker 5 (04:08):
Yeah, those are some of my choices as well.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
There you go.
Speaker 5 (04:11):
Besides us swopping out to drinks, what else can people
do to improve their health overall?
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Well, making sure that you're staying active. Movement is key.
It's just as important as coming back on sugar. Try
going for a walk, dancing to your favorite music at
family gatherings, playing games with your families and friends, or
even just a few extra minutes of movement each day
can make a big difference.
Speaker 5 (04:35):
All right, So a little bays featuring Frankie Beverly and
I'm good.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
To go there.
Speaker 7 (04:39):
It is all right.
Speaker 5 (04:41):
We're talking with doctor Maximillian Chambers. He's a spokesman and
champion provider for the cal Fresh Healthy Living campaign under
the California Department of Public Health. And you have a
lot of great information on your website. In fact, I've
been there looking at it, and of course you know,
the first thing you see is all the green, which
is which is good? Healthy? And does drink more water,
(05:04):
eat healthy, be active and get involved. I mean that
pretty much tells you everything right there. But I love
the tabs and the information you have on that.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
There are a lot of great tips.
Speaker 5 (05:14):
Can you give our listeners the website information.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Of course, it's time to make a change everyone, and
so you can do that by visiting uncoverhealthy habits dot
com for more tips.
Speaker 5 (05:24):
A lot of people, you know they want to eat healthy,
drink healthy, but find it hard to afford. What are
some of the ways to eat and drink healthy on
a budget.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
Always choose water. Water is water is healthy. Water is
normally free in most places, and it's good for you.
I think. I think that's that's that's key. I mean
choosing milk, choosing water, Choosing you know, healthier foods is
sometimes yes, hard to find, but it's easier on you
(05:52):
in the long run.
Speaker 5 (05:53):
And one of the things I wanted to ask is
when did you become involved with cal Fresh and and
what kind of picked your interest in doing something so awesome.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Honestly, I think just seeing patients come in and seeing
children come in with you Tuesday kay and pain and
missing school. That was a huge trigger for me getting
involved with the Department of Public Health and through the
UCSF Champion Provider Fellowship, I've been able to truly kind
of make a change and dedicate myself to the people
(06:23):
that I serve on a daily basis.
Speaker 5 (06:25):
Well work in life, balance, kind of led you to
this exactly. We're speaking with doctor Maximilian Chambers, spokesman champion
provider for the cal Fresh Healthy Living campaign under the
California Department of Public Health. Anything else you wanted to
get out about this campaign before we go.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
It's about small, consistent changes that add up over time.
Start by replacing one sugar drink a day with water
or herbal tea. Add fruit slices our cucumber to water
for extra flavor and overtime, these swamps will become healthier habits.
Speaker 5 (06:56):
Well, thank you for your time today on the Black
Information Network.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
Thanks, I appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (07:01):
Thanks again, doctor Chambers. For more information, be sure to
visit the Uncoverhealthyhabits dot com website. Once again, that's Uncover
Healthyhabits dot com. Mimi Brown is back to take us
inside the heart of a California community forever changed by
the Eton Fire. Here's a preview from episode four in
her new five part docu series to Alta Dina with Love.
Speaker 8 (07:26):
Someone said to me, like, you know, it's good that
you're not going through this alone. You know, like there's
a community going through this with you. I would much
rather go through this alone. The stories that I'm hearing
the generational homes that are lost, the businesses that are gone.
(07:48):
My kids friends have lost their homes where they would
have sleepovers. My daughter's school is gone. Where do we go, Like,
how do we like figuring out the next steps? If
it was just me, I would know what to do.
(08:09):
But how do I I'm a fixer, I'm a helper.
Everyone's hurting so much, and I just it is hard
to see an entire community herding.
Speaker 7 (08:28):
I missed the city, but the people of the city,
you know.
Speaker 8 (08:33):
We would drive down the hill, get out of the
you know, out the front door, into the car, and
you see your neighbors.
Speaker 7 (08:39):
You say, good morning, any neighbor.
Speaker 8 (08:41):
Then you drive down the street and you wave to
the crossing guard that's at the intersection of Lincoln and
Altadena Drive. And then you go across Altadena Drive and
you see the same kid riding his bike to school
every day. And then we would pass a certain spot
where there was like a group of peacocks that was
the gaggle of peacocks whatever it is, flock of peacocks
that was crossing the road, and we would sometimes be
(09:04):
late cause we had to let the peacocks cross and
then you know, doing the drop off, but you saw
you saw the mom who had a special needs child
wheeling her son out and putting him on the bus.
Speaker 7 (09:16):
It's those things.
Speaker 8 (09:17):
That you do every single day where you see your
community and action. You don't realize how much that is
part of your daily routine and you just miss it.
So the Eaton Canyon fire started and it is nice
so rapidly.
Speaker 9 (09:36):
The worst of the winds haven't even started yet.
Speaker 10 (09:38):
So did you never aculate the floor?
Speaker 9 (09:42):
I think it's too close for comfort. Everybody stay a forer.
Speaker 8 (09:50):
We actually had spent the day preparing for the winds.
There is a wonderful man named Edgar. He's twenty four
year old metiorologists from Altadina and he has his own
little Facebook page and he's like, all right, guys, you
need to hunker down and be ready for these winds
because it is more than what they're saying. And so
we spent the day preparing for the windstorm that was coming.
But he also said, if there is a spark of anything,
(10:13):
you need to be you need to be ready to go.
So I said, okay, well I didn't think that. I
couldn't even imagine in my wildest dreams that there would
be a fire, but I was sure that we would
be out of the danger. But we spent the day
preparing for the electricity to go out, because that's what
happens up here when there's high winds.
Speaker 7 (10:30):
So sure enough, the winds kicked.
Speaker 8 (10:33):
Up and the power went out, and so we had
our flash lights, and we had our little lanterns, and
we had our games out, and I had just finished
cooking dinners. We were eating dinner in the dark or
by flashlight lantern light, and we were playing a card
game and so we were you know, where we live,
it's further up in the mountains, so there's no cell
(10:53):
service with the Wi Fi goes out and everything was out,
but we're fine. It was no screen time. Then all
of a sudden, I got one message and it was
from uh private school village.
Speaker 7 (11:05):
It was a a community group and.
Speaker 8 (11:07):
They said, are you guys okay Lavinya's evacuating or there
was something like that, And that was the one message
that I saw from that group. And I said, steph uh,
they're talking about Lavignya, cause that's the name of the
little community that we live in the gated community that
we live in in Altadena and said, Levinya's evacuating and
(11:28):
he was like, they're over reacting, like don't don't worry.
Speaker 7 (11:31):
About that, and I said okay, and then I said,
you know, Steph, I think we should actually pack a bag.
Let's do it. And he was like, th y, now
you're now you're getting nervous for nothing.
Speaker 10 (11:39):
You know.
Speaker 8 (11:39):
We had that little little squabble that people do, and
I said, we played one more hand of the game.
Speaker 7 (11:44):
And I was like, you know, we're packing a bag,
like I'm I'm just try and.
Speaker 8 (11:47):
He kind of huffed and puffed, and the kids huffed
and puffed, and they went and they uh started packing
a bag. And I had these beautiful French doors that
opened up to the backyard and while I was getting
ready to go down the hallway, say yeah, let me
just look outside. I looked outside and that fires like
the mountain was a glow with flames. And I said, hey, stuff, uh,
come here for a second. And he looked out and
(12:10):
his whole demeanor just switched right up.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
You know.
Speaker 8 (12:12):
He was like, alright, kids, this is what you need
to pack. This is what you need to go, you know,
go and get this is what we need to do.
Speaker 7 (12:19):
And he just grabbed our our.
Speaker 8 (12:22):
Like we have uh lock boxes that have our like
passports and stuff in it, and he grabbed those and
he started packing up the car cause we were gonna
come to my mother in laws and and hunker down here.
So we grabbed our generators and things like that further,
so I was like, okay, we'll be fine. By the
time I checked one more time, about fifteen minutes later,
it had doubled in size the fire and it was
(12:44):
coming rapidly close to us. And I looked outside and
we were having like eighty mile per hour winds and
I saw I don't know if it was a bush
or a tree top it picked and it was on fire.
It picked up off the side of the mountain, spun
around like a little tornado, landed with a thud, and
just lit more of the hillside on fire. And I
(13:08):
was like, all right, this is this is serious. So
I so we got to move quickly, so we're running.
Speaker 7 (13:14):
Out the door.
Speaker 5 (13:14):
Wow, that was just a glimpse of to Alta. Dina
with Love a powerful new podcast from Bi n anchor
Mimi Brown. This episode is available tomorrow. This week, we
are learning about a unique connection between Harriet Tubman and
the city of Philadelphia. The Black Information Networks. Esther Dillard
has all the details in this edition of The Color
Between the Lines.
Speaker 11 (13:40):
On this edition of The Color Between the Lines.
Speaker 9 (13:42):
To hear them talk about it was mysterious.
Speaker 11 (13:46):
We speak to two filmmakers who are sharing the legacy
of Harriet Tubman kept alive by two Black women farmers.
I'm Ester Dillard chatting with right authors and experts who
offer an added perspective for listeners. This is the Color
between the Lines. Oh, many people are trying to erase
(14:15):
Black history. There are two women by the name of
Donadere and Paulette Green who are trying to preserve Black
history with a unique connection to farmland. The married couple
bought the farmland in nineteen ninety four. It was a
land adjacent to Paulett's great great grandparents farm. The special
thing about this land, located on the eastern shore of Maryland,
(14:36):
is that it once was the plantation where Harriet Tubman
and her family lived as enslaved Africans. The women run
the Mount Pleasant Acres Farm. It's a one hundred and
eleven acre plot. There they run tours of the land
and grow food that they distribute to their neighbors in
Southwest Philadelphia. Filmmakers Carlyn Griffith Oro and Jeanine cayambe Oro
(14:57):
both thought these women's story was so unique they convinced
them to let them create a documentary called The Aunties.
It's now an award winning short film featured on Black
Public Media's online series Afropop Digital Shorts. We talked about
what inspired both of them to start the project.
Speaker 9 (15:14):
The Aunties is our love note to them as we
witness them living lives that very proudly espouse the values
of Harriet Tubman and their families legacies.
Speaker 10 (15:36):
For me, the Aunties is about two blacka women that
are in stewardship of black ancestral land that's connected to
Harriet Tubman, the around railroad and just the rich history
overall of Maryland Eastern Shore. And yeah, I think what
(16:02):
Charlon said love letter is really beautiful because of what
it took to make this film and what it took
for their lives.
Speaker 11 (16:13):
The main ingredient of all of that, how did you
first encounter Donna and Paulette? And I guess what initially
drew you to making this into a film.
Speaker 10 (16:25):
Well, I became an urban farmer at the age of nineteen,
helped start an urban farm here in North Philadelphia, and
through that became a part of a network of black
farmers across the country. And I think not only did
(16:49):
that journey and pathway really lead me to the Aunties,
but I was also a you know, period enthusiast and
studied her and not just the kind of surface part
of her story.
Speaker 5 (17:06):
But the deeper parts of her story.
Speaker 10 (17:08):
So I think a lot of my purpose and journey
also brought me to that land in that space as
well as meaning the Aunties.
Speaker 9 (17:15):
Aunt Donna tells us a story about when she was
in the service and they came back to Preston to visit,
and she looked at Aunt Paula and said, I'm going
to retire here. We're going to own a farm here.
I'm going to retire on a farm here in Preston.
(17:38):
And she says in nineteen ninety four that it was
probably around now. It was wintertime. There was a huge
storm and they were passing by the land and saw
for sale sign being put up. She pulled around, told
(17:58):
the person, you know, I would I'll buy this property.
What are you asking? And within a few days they
made the sale.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Happen.
Speaker 9 (18:08):
To hear them talk about it was mysterious. And the
way that they began to understand the history of the
place was through the relationships that they were forming through
just doing what they do the way that they do it,
(18:29):
you know, which is very community centric. It's very about
you know, being in good productive relationship with others. And
so they were allowing college students to come to the land.
They have friends who are historians. They were, you know, reconnected,
reconnected to more of the really beautiful community of Preston,
(18:55):
of the entire Eastern Shore.
Speaker 11 (18:58):
Jennie, what would you say in regard to know Harriet
Tubman in her history and how.
Speaker 10 (19:02):
This is espectually what I was gonna have. Yeah, So
Harriet was enslaved in Dorchester County by Brotis and Brotis
had a son in law that was a doctor, Anthony
Thompson or Thomas Thompson. So that was the Thompson plantation.
(19:26):
Her mother was enslaved, was enslaved there, and her father,
we know, was free and he was a logger and
he worked in that forest. And you know, Harriet would
walk it's about I don't know how long it's like
(19:46):
a twenty minute drive, so maybe even thirty minute drive.
So Harriet would walk to go visit her family on
this plantation and this land. When when people went, every
one says, this is Harriet Tubbans ancestral land. This is
where her family lived and was enslaved, and this is
(20:07):
where she took her family out of enslavement. So this
is the trip where she took her mom and one
of her brothers I believe two of her brothers, both
of her brothers. Okay, this is the trip where she
took her mom and her brothers, not from where she
took her first trip to our understand.
Speaker 9 (20:28):
And Brotus also used to hire out send Harriet out
to go and work for other people and made money
off of Harriet's labor working for other people, including for Thompson.
So yeah, the other notable thing about that trip that
(20:53):
a lot of people know about now and often reference
because she left that part of Maryland on Christmas Eve
of eighteen fifty four and arrived in Philadelphia where we live,
and her and her siblings are signed well, her siblings
(21:17):
are are signed into the log at the Anti Slavery
Office of William Still. That was here in Philadelphia on
December twenty ninth, so it took them four days to
cross from Maryland, through Delaware and into Philadelphia.
Speaker 11 (21:38):
What do you ladies want the people who watch this movie?
What do you want them to get from this film
and to take away?
Speaker 9 (21:48):
I think there's so many different themes happening. So I'm
just I'm just excited for people to be able to witness,
to witness that a film was made about people like
Aunt Paulette and Aunt Donna, as Aunt Paulette says, everyday people.
(22:14):
Because it's not just about those whose names, you know.
I think that I hope that people see themselves in
many parts or in some parts of the tale and
understand a little bit more about who they can be
(22:36):
as they live their lives with purpose, you know, because
what we're seeing of them and how fantastic they are.
They always ask us, well, why did you want to
do this? And why do people care about what we're doing?
Tell me, explain this to me, and we're like, well, Auntie,
(22:57):
you know you all have done really fatbulous things and
have lived so truthfully, so honestly, so bravely, and they
just say, well, we were just being ourselves.
Speaker 10 (23:13):
Love on your elders, and if your family has land,
hold on to it. True, get the cousins, pay the taxes.
Speaker 9 (23:23):
Pay the taxes, pay your taxes.
Speaker 10 (23:25):
Pay the taxes on the land. Sometimes it'd be one
hundred dollars. The fact that they've been able to keep
their families land on. Paula's grandparents were born in the
eighteen hundreds, eighteen eighties, so she has land that goes
that far back. And that's really inspiring to me. So
(23:50):
I know it's not for everyone, and it's not the
easiest most thing to do to even call the cousins
in the first place to get the money for this taxes.
Understand it. But if you have a little time and
you got a little energy, beyave your family's land es.
Speaker 11 (24:11):
Actually, I guess the only question I had was why
why was it?
Speaker 3 (24:15):
So?
Speaker 11 (24:16):
I guess why was it so important for them to
acquire that land. Was there something that threw her to
that land, those two to that land to say we
want to we really want to get this particular one
hundred and eleven acres or whatever it is that that was.
Speaker 10 (24:32):
It was connected to Aunt Paula's great grandparents.
Speaker 7 (24:36):
Land and.
Speaker 10 (24:39):
The and in the film aunt Donna says, we we
it was like we were preparing for it our whole lives.
So when you when you do when a piece of
land calls to you and you steward it, there's no planning,
there's no oh my gosh, I ca couldn't wait to
(25:01):
just pressent to buy this piece of land. It really
calls to you, and it's really in your pathway, in
your own whatever your spirituality is, or however it comes
to you. That's how the land chooses you. And there's
not really an ingredient. As people that have steward all
(25:24):
types of land, different people's projects around the world, those
pieces of land just called to us, whether our ancestors
been there, whether our spirits have been there before. It's
not like a it's not usually a mathematical right. Oh
maybe at some point they were like, oh, yeah, it
was gonna be an investment, but like that's what everyone says,
(25:47):
and then it becomes this place where people commune and
gather and are able to build families upon and you know,
share families with. So yeah, I don't think it was
like a calculated Okay, this is what we're gonna do.
It was more of like spirit called them and right
(26:10):
place on Donald was prepared. Plus it being family land,
they wanted to be, you know, somewhere closer to New
York for an pauled but still down south so that
its chilled, so those kind of things. But for the
most part, it was a spiritual spiritual.
Speaker 11 (26:30):
That's it for this edition of The Color Between the Lines.
The film is called The Aunties and you can find
it on the Black Public Media YouTube channel. And if
you'd like to hear the longer in depth version about
the filmmakers and the Aunties, feel free to check out
the Color Between the Lines podcast on the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 5 (26:47):
I'm Esther Dillard, Thanks Esther. The Godfather of Harlem is
a captivating TV series on MGM Plus about Harlem's legendary
Bumpy Johnson played by Forrest Whitaker. Season four airs tonight,
and Alexandra Icimoni sits down with the creator, executive producer,
and actor on the show, Mark Kwan Smith, about the
(27:08):
new season and what he's working on behind the camera.
Speaker 4 (27:11):
What's up, guys, He's a girl. Alexandria Ikamoni in the
studio iHeartRadio with Mark Kwan Smith. How you doing today?
Speaker 1 (27:19):
Great? Thank you for having me.
Speaker 4 (27:20):
Absolutely happy to have you in studio. I mean, for
those who don't know the name, you need to write now.
He is the EP of the Godfather of Harlem. Also
an actor, producer on other you know, different projects, so
many great things that you really do work on. So
tell me more. First, we know that we are here
primarily because the newest season, season four, Season four is out,
(27:43):
is coming out April. It's time, right, yes, yeah, MGM.
Plus okay, I know that's all right, So tell us
more about the season and what fans can really expect
from season four.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
Well, if you've been following god Fall the Halem from
season one, you saw the kind of like the clash
between politics and criminality, right, so you saw the demise
of Malcolm X at the end of season three. Now
we're going to the season four with a new chapter,
which is called the Black Panthers and how they emerge
(28:13):
out of Harlem. And you know, we have characters such
as James Baldwin, Athene Chakor. I mean, it's an amazing
show to even have a season for us, you know,
that's like an anomaly, and I'm glad that we were
able to like at least we have a steady core audience.
Speaker 4 (28:28):
Absolutely, you do have a steady audience. You have steady
fans who have been there from day one, including myself
and the producer here in the studio, Brill. But I
do also want to talk about what makes this particular season.
Now we talk about the Black Panthers, but what makes
the season different than the seasons you've had in the past.
Speaker 1 (28:43):
Well, one, two, and three you actually see Bumpy coming
home from Alcatraz, coming home nineteen sixty three to a
new Harlem, right, and him trying to establish himself, and
then you see the roller coaster ride in his life,
the ups and downs he has to go through, but
really trying to kind of disassociated associate himself from the
Italian mob. So season four is like Malcolm is gone.
(29:05):
You know, that was his friend, that was his best friend,
that was his heart, and he has to find a
way to move on. Malcolm's only wish that he would
just get out of the drug game. So he's trying
to figure out how I can keep maintaining a lifestyle
and providing for my family without this dujie, without getting
loans or money from the Italian So this is about
(29:26):
him breaking apart and trying to become the man of
his own, man of his own.
Speaker 4 (29:29):
I love it. I love it. Also, quick question, because
I have to ask, because you know, as fans, we
want more. We're never satisfied. Have you guys already started
filming season five? Or where are we with that?
Speaker 1 (29:40):
Well, the film gods, you know, we're you know, the
good thing about the show is we're in nineteen sixty six, right,
Bumpy doesn't pass away till nineteen sixty eight. Yeah, you know,
he actually passes away in my character's arms. I pay
a character by the name of Junie Bird. He died
of congestive heart failure. So the film gods are with us,
you know, the winds behind us, the ancestors are behind us.
We will have six seasons, but right now, you know
(30:02):
we're taking it. You know, we're taking it time by
time just to build great storylines, you know, and we're
looking forward to season four. But season five, I'm praying
from your mouth to the film god's.
Speaker 4 (30:12):
Is absolutely we can't wait for our fingers crossed film
gods listening up right now. Love to see it. But
also let's talk about it, because you mentioned your character
talk to us more about your character, and I guess
the balance you have to have between being on camera
but also behind the scenes as an EP.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
Well, you know, I started off as an actor and
I always believed in creating my own lane. I say
this in a lot of interviews. If you knock an
opportunity's door and it doesn't open for you, go to
home depot, buy some lumber, create your own door.
Speaker 3 (30:42):
Right.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
I love it, and I wanted to create an outlet
for me to express myself creativity. But I figured out
later on in life, after promising my godmother eighteen years
ago of getting this TV show done, that just because
you're an EP, that doesn't mean you don't have to audition.
So I had to audition and go through the same
training ground.
Speaker 10 (31:03):
You know.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
I felt like my showrunner was like Alonzo from training.
Speaker 4 (31:05):
Today.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
You have you auditioning, you know, running lines of forest
and it's it's fun. You know, being behind the camera
is fun as well, you know, getting all the research
and getting all the material that's needed for the for
the writer's room. So it's it's you know, it's about
having a balance.
Speaker 4 (31:23):
Yeah, which kind, I ask, which one do you like more?
Speaker 10 (31:25):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (31:27):
I think I like I like both. You know, I
like both because there's a time when you want to create,
but you also want to show your expression in front
of the camera. So to be able to be multi
hyphen there, I think that's special and I like both.
There's no difference than what Array does or lean away,
you know, or fifty you know, being able to just
(31:47):
showcase yourself as a talent. You're a talent you know.
Speaker 4 (31:50):
Absolutely makes sense and you do it well. So we
love to see it. It's not just this show, but
you do have you know, the credits behind you from
back in the day until now. So it's great to
see the longevity of your career from the camera's perspective.
So let's talk about, you know, the fact that you
are also from New York.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
New York City.
Speaker 4 (32:09):
How does that tie in or does it time at
all to you know, I guess bringing out the character
or even on the EP side, does it measure? How
does that go?
Speaker 1 (32:18):
Well, Harlem is a Harlem is a place of being
flied swag. You know, princes and princesses and royalty and
politicians and athletes, everybody want to take that eight train
all the way to one hundred, twenty fifty you know
what I'm saying, the greats of it on the Apollo
Apollo stage. So our character Harlem and god Father Harlem
(32:39):
is an example of what Harlem is. You know, it's
it's a place of rebirth. It's a place of being
a man proud of being black. And the music, the culture,
the food. So we wanted to make sure that we
were able to showcase this in season one, two, three,
and four. Who Harlem and what Harlem is? You can
(32:59):
go call the world and mentioned Harlem. People know where
Harlem is.
Speaker 4 (33:02):
Oh, I love it, and we know who Harlem is.
I'm also from New York City, the Bronx over here,
so oh yes, I'm happy to have another you know,
New York City. Yeah, in the building. I love it. Okay,
So if you could you know one more question about Harlem,
then we can move on. But if you could, you know, say,
your favorite character other than your own, who would that be?
(33:23):
And why?
Speaker 3 (33:24):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (33:26):
I think it would really be a lease because you
see the emotional roller coaster she has to as an actor,
and she's a great actress. Antonetta Crore Legacy. Her her
arcs is so crazy. She goes from this drug addicted
(33:48):
woman that's living on the street to this powerful woman.
You should see her battle internally and externally with families
with the street. You know, I really love a character
in her arcs.
Speaker 4 (33:58):
No, I love it. That's a good one and that
you picked, so we'll take that. I'm sure my producer
also has his one own, but we'll talk about that
a little bit later. I also want to talk about
some of the other things that you're working on. I'm
sure this takes up a lot of your time, but
are you working on any other projects or Yeah?
Speaker 1 (34:14):
Absolutely. As a creator, I think you know, you should
always be at the drawing board, right and you know,
I'm very excited. I went to an HBCU, so I'm
in the middle of telling this amazing story of being
in DC from eighty five to ninety and my experiences
you know, you know, with Go Go music and things
of that sort. Big shout out to Morgan State University
(34:37):
as well as I'm doing a track and field story
showing the relationships with five the six women athletes and
their relationships. You always see it on the side of
a man playing basketball. I wanted to show it on
the athletic side of track and field and their relationships
with these young women growing up. So I like to
tell stories. That's cool, right, I like to make history cool.
Call it editatement, shout out the Kearris one, you know,
(35:00):
educating and entertaining, be able to show the just the
positions of the different worlds that we live in.
Speaker 4 (35:06):
Yeah. Absolutely, And when are those projects coming out? Can
we know?
Speaker 1 (35:10):
We're in the process, you know, sooner and later.
Speaker 4 (35:13):
It takes time, You definitely know it takes time. So
I if I could put or if you could put
into our that should say, what would be I guess
the dream project for you? Like, what would you really
like to work on if you had, you know, access
to everybody in the entertainment world and an unlimited budget,
what would that project look like?
Speaker 1 (35:33):
From our kwan? Oh, that's big. I know, that's big.
I would personally love to like, I love music. Music
is something that saved my life at first fulfilm and television.
But I would love I would love to tell the
story of Sammy Davis Junior, tell me more. You know,
(35:55):
I love Sammy Davis because he was an icon and
he was he was the first person that actually kind
of like stood up to the to the men, you know,
what I mean. But he was still cool. He was
down with the rat pack.
Speaker 3 (36:08):
You know. He was a.
Speaker 1 (36:11):
Dancer, all around performer, and he did it doing civil rights,
you know. So you know, I would love to be
able to just dive into that world and see what
that was hanging out with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin,
you know, and seeing what that would be like.
Speaker 4 (36:26):
Yeah, I like the vision. I like it. You know,
we talked about the film gods here or the TV
guys we're going to you know, speak that one to
existence as well, So that's super exciting. You do a
lot of work, a lot of projects that you do
work on, you know, behind the scenes on camera and
so forth. How do you balance that with your personal
life as well? Like, you know, what does that balance?
Speaker 10 (36:44):
Real?
Speaker 1 (36:45):
I never had a plan B, right. I've always believed
if you had a plan B, you were planning for
your plan Atohil And I tell people all the time,
you could chase your pension and chase your passion. It's
up to you. I decided to chase my passion. And
I was looking at the of you the Marl and
Wayne's I saw the other day, and it was really
deep what he said he said, we have more years
(37:07):
behind this than we have in front. So I want
to keep creating. You know, of course you want to
balance life and have a good time as well too.
The thing about it is you want to leave your
fingerprints in time. You want to turn memories into moments, right,
and keep going. So I understand as a creator there's
other people creating as well too, So we got to
be out there just I love to. I'm going to
(37:30):
make you smile, make you laugh, I want you to
go through emotions. God Father Harlem. What I like about
it so much? It's like when The Cosby Show first
came out, everybody rushed to the living room, regardless of
your age, to sit down as a family and watch
Bill Cosby. Right, that's the same thing I wanted to
do with god Father Harlem. And I think that we
got it. You know, we have, like I said, with
(37:50):
the flagship Showlder Network, and it's just about creating, creating content.
So I try to have a balance, you know, eating healthy,
working out, things of that sort. But I also like
to be in books. I love to read. I like
to know what's what's happening outside, what's history is about?
You know, it's not just about seeing an MSNBC, you know,
(38:11):
just getting your books. Like James Bodwood is a phenomenal author.
You know, I learned more about him the season, you
know what I'm saying. So that's what I like to do.
Speaker 4 (38:20):
I love it feeding your mind. That's also very important
for sure. So any advice you would like to give,
You know, people who are wanting to get into the
entertainment space, whether it's on camera, behind the scenes as
an EP, really what can they really do to really
make it in this tough business.
Speaker 1 (38:35):
Well, learn your learn your talent. You know, it's like
someone wants to come in and jump in your seat.
You didn't just jump in the seat. You have to learn,
you know, you have to learn how to interact with people.
You know, I tell people go to Baardes Nobles, get
screenwriting for dummies, Get acting for dummies, Get producing for dummies.
Being an actor is not just about memorizing words. It's
about becoming that character, becoming that person.
Speaker 3 (38:57):
You know.
Speaker 1 (38:57):
You know, you have miser you have you know of
people have different methods of bringing to the screen. You know,
it's about angles as well. Do my bringing down my
emotion from up here or bringing it up from up
here with a fifty twenty whatever it may be. Learn
your craft, you know, don't let them put you in
a sandbox with John carl Esposito on Forest with It
Could and Vincent and Nawfiel, the guys that have been doing
(39:20):
it for years, and you look like a daring headlights.
So tell people learn your craft. You can't just wake
up and say I want to be an NFL player
right without going through the pop warns, without going through
the combine whatever like that to become an NFL player.
People right now they love microwave success, but I'm all
about letting it grind and soak and braised, and you
(39:41):
know it tastes better like that a steak because it's's
soak overnight. Y Now we just put in the mic.
You don't in the microwave, right, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (39:48):
That would be crazy, Yeah, but I hear you great advice. Honestly,
it's so important to really master what you what you
want to achieve, and what you want to do. So
do you remember your first interview, not first interview, excuse me,
your first audition and how you felt you know during
that time? What was it?
Speaker 3 (40:04):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (40:05):
It was. Well, my first project I was in was Juice.
Speaker 3 (40:09):
You know.
Speaker 1 (40:09):
Shout out to good friend of mine's RP Tupac Shakur.
We were on the road together and just being on
set was so exhilarating. They have Samuel L. Jackson chasing
me through the the game room was exhilarating.
Speaker 2 (40:24):
You know.
Speaker 1 (40:24):
I just fell in love with just being on set.
You know, I've auditioned so many times. I got a
lot of nose before I got a yes. But you
can't let that discourage you, because the loudest booze come
from the cheapest seats. You could be up in the
nosebleeds talking about Lebron James, he can't shoot the basketball. Well,
look where you're sitting at talking about Lebron James can't
shoot the basketball. The peanut man, don't even want to
(40:46):
walk up there peanuts or give me water. You too
out for me, you know, So remember that you got
to be your biggest cheerleader. That's that's the most important thing.
Speaker 4 (40:55):
I love that great advice as well. I do want
to ask you just a few fun questions. Get on
how to hear you know, I have somebody in your
entertainment business. What is your favorite show right now, other
than of course The Godfather.
Speaker 1 (41:07):
You know, I just watch Adolescents of Netflix and it's
an amazing, amazing show. It's it's a British show, but
I really like uh, I really like it. I like
the dynamics. It's really deep. It's about a kid that
I'm not gonna give you too much of a spoiler,
but he's done. He got caught up in some some
(41:27):
s hi t you know what I'm saying. And yeah,
Adolescence is it's a dope.
Speaker 4 (41:33):
Okay, we got to check it out for sure. If
you say it's good, it has to be good, you know,
good stuff. So we love that. Favorite movie right now.
Speaker 1 (41:41):
Favorite movie I recently has seen was I like, I
like mob movies, so I want to see Alto Nights.
I think it's called but Robert de Niro. It drags,
it's kind of slow. But you have to be really
into the history of the Mob, so that this is
a movie about the relationship with Frank Costello and Vinnie
(42:04):
the Chen, you know, so you should see it because
Vinnie the Chen is in Godfather Harlem, right, so Vincent
Gigante and Mob history tried to kill Frank Costello and
he had a hat on, so the bullet went through
his hat and it shows their their their tension between
each other. So that's a movie that I did. I
just want to see.
Speaker 4 (42:24):
I love it. I love it. A show that got
canceled that you want to come back?
Speaker 1 (42:29):
Oh that is?
Speaker 4 (42:33):
That is and only one.
Speaker 1 (42:37):
Ozark?
Speaker 4 (42:38):
Oh okay, you know I never really got into Ozark.
Speaker 1 (42:41):
You gotta watch Maddie Man, Okay, Maddy Bird. Hell, he's
a he's a he's a character, and he goes from
being a financial advisor to a money line for the
for the cartel. Like you, I mean, it's a solid,
solid project, you know, solid project. I hope it comes back.
Speaker 4 (43:00):
Okay, okay, good to know. If you were not in
the entertainment business, what would you be doing right now?
Speaker 1 (43:06):
I used to play basketball, Yeah, I have used to
play ball. I injured myself in Juco. It would be
either doing that or possibly working in some type of
space with with athletes, whether it's like on the aging side,
or even maybe maybe being entertainment reporter.
Speaker 4 (43:28):
And I love it, look at it. We love it.
But you, like you said, you know, if you have
a plan B, that means you weren't really focused on
your plan A, and look it worked out perfectly. So
I love that. What is the best piece of advice
that you have gotten professionally but also personally?
Speaker 1 (43:46):
Uh, Forrest told me, he said, you know, you have
to drown off the white noise. You have to stay focused,
don't listen to anyone and they say, is you know
the history of my show? It took us. It took
me eighteen years to get this show done and we
got turned down by three networks. So it started off
on my back and with a tribe of good people
(44:09):
such as Forrest Whitaka, Jim Atchison, Nina Yang, bon Jovi,
Pat Moran, Tracy Onderwood, Chris Broncado, Paul Eckstein. It was rip.
It was about never giving up and believing in yourself
because if you it starts with I can do it right,
It starts to always has to start with I can.
(44:31):
You know you have to get up. You know, we
could say we dream every day, but eventually we're gonna
have to wake up right and chase those dreams or
run after them, swim after them, ski after them, do
whatever you need to do, because you know life is
too short. Absolutely, so I tell anybody just focus, believe
in yourself.
Speaker 4 (44:48):
You know I love that, And any last words do
you want to leave with the people?
Speaker 1 (44:52):
Stay tuned. Godfather Harlem April thirteenth, MGM Plus We're back.
Speaker 4 (44:57):
I love it. I love it once again. Alexandria Acamoni
in the studio iHeartRadio with Mark Kwana Smith. Thank you
so much for coming in, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (45:05):
For having me.
Speaker 5 (45:05):
Thanks Alexandria and Mark jan Check out the new season
of the Godfather of Harlem on MGM Plus. Now we
get commentary from Moe Kelly.
Speaker 12 (45:14):
The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed in this commentary are
those of the author and do not necessarily represent those
of BN and its founding partners and employees.
Speaker 6 (45:26):
I'm Mo Kelly on the bin with your two minute warning.
Boycott of the Mattel Corporation on the way in three
two one. Yes, there will be a boycott of Mattel,
the maker of Barbie. I know this because it was
just announced that future Natesmith Basketball Hall of Famer Lebron
James has become the first professional male athlete to have
his likeness depicted in a Kendall America. And I put
(45:49):
that in quotes, America will not tolerate the idea of
a six foot nine black man who speaks out against
Donald Trump serving as the likeness for Barbie's boyfriend. And
I don't mean to be well, that's not true. I
need to be crass here to really convey the serious point.
America again in quotation marks will not stand for Barbie
metaphorically having her back blown out by a six foot
(46:11):
nine black man, and especially not the one named Lebron James.
Here are the details. Mattel unveiled the Lebron Ken doll
Wednesday to kick off the toy manufacturer's Ken Bassador series.
Last year, nine female Barbies, including tennis star Venus Williams,
were unveiled. Lebron said the following quote. As a young kid,
I was fortunate to have role models who not only
(46:32):
inspired me, but also showed me what's possible through hard
work and dedication. Now, as an adult, I understand how
vital it is for young people to have positive figures
to look up to. That's why partnering with Barbie to
release the Lebron James Ken Bassador's doll is such an honor.
It's an opportunity to recognize the powerful impact of role
models who is still confidence, inspire dreams and show kids
(46:54):
that they too can achieve greatness. Close quote. I know
MAGA is losing their minds right now. I know this
because they always lose their minds over black people being
supposed white fictitious characters, especially those which might date fictitious
white ones. I'm Mo Kelly at mister mo Kelly on
social media, and that's your two minute warning on the
(47:15):
Black Information Network.
Speaker 5 (47:17):
Thanks Mo. Check out Mo Kelly, Roland Martin, and James T.
Harris as they give daily commentary on the Black Information Network.
The Saves Act has passed through the House, and US
Representative Jennifer McClellan believes it's a step back for Black Americans,
making it even harder for us to vote. She says
it's time for Black Americans to stand up and fight,
(47:38):
and she's back to continue the conversation with our very
own Doug Davis.
Speaker 13 (47:43):
Doug, Hey, Thanks, Mike, this is Doug Davis, and we
are honored to have back with us US Representative Jennifer
mcclennan of Virginia, who made history by becoming the first
African American women that represent the state in Congress. She's
impassionate champion for civil rights and social justice, and has
been instrumental in standing up against the Save Act, which
aims to make sure only citizens can vote in federal
(48:04):
elections by showing proof of citizenship like a passport or
birth certificate. The law would also require states to remove
non citizens from voterless and penalized officials who don't follow
these rules. Welcome back to the bin. We left off
discussing how black voters need to contact their senators to
show their disapproval of the bill after it passed through
(48:26):
the Senate, where four Democrats sided with Republicans, which pushed
the vote through the House. You described the Save Act
as a modern poll tax. Could you elaborate on this comparison,
especially in the context of how poll taxes historically disenfranchised
marginalized communities. How does this resonate with you personally, with
(48:46):
your own experiences with the communities that you represent.
Speaker 10 (48:51):
Well.
Speaker 14 (48:51):
First of all, Doug, I took my oath of office
two years ago on the Bible that my dad kept
a copy of his poll tax receipt, so this is
not ancient history. The first time my father registered to
vote in Nashville, Tennessee. He had to pay two dollars
and twelve cents in a poll tax. My grandfather did too.
(49:15):
My great grandfather had to take a literacy test and
find three white men to vouch for his character to
be able to register to vote. Every member of the
Congressional Black Caucus, probably every person listening to this, somewhere
in their family they have a similar story. Because the
(49:37):
history of our country has been every time we make
progress and expanding the right to vote beyond white land
owning men, there's been a backlash. So after people were
able to vote who were formerly enslaved during reconstruction, there
(49:57):
was a backlash that included violence, propaganda, and voter suppression
like poll taxes, like literacy tests, like requirements that you
register in person. We got rid of that poll taxes
are actually illegal under the twenty fourth Amendment to the Constitution.
(50:21):
The Voting Rights Act ensured that we ended discrimination on
the basis of race, sex, national origin in voting. And
yet that backlash came when the Supreme Court gutted the
Voting Rights Act, and I and other members of the
(50:41):
Congressional Black Caucus have been pushing to fix that by
passing the John Lewis Voter Advancement Act because we refuse
to go back to the Jim Crow days where barriers
were put in your way that are illegal under the Constitution,
but they did it anyway. That's exactly what we see
right now. And so this is personal and I am
(51:07):
not gonna, you know, just sit idly by while Republicans
put new barriers in the way, illegal barriers in the
way of every American citizen exercising the right to vote,
to solve a problem that doesn't.
Speaker 13 (51:22):
Exist, right, So what can we do to get all
of our Democratic lawmakers in position to vote against this
we had for that jump ship.
Speaker 14 (51:32):
You know, Republicans, I told you that this backlash always
includes propaganda, and propaganda always includes a villain, and we
have seen in the past few years Republicans vilifying immigrants,
and so they had the boogeyman for this latest attack
(51:55):
is these non citizens that are supposedly voting and putting
our elections at risk. That's simply not true. But you
do have some Democrats in who are frontline members or
in areas that Trump won where there's anti immigrants sentiment
(52:17):
who find it difficult to argue against what we don't
want citizens to vote. What they need to understand is
this bill stops citizens from voting. This bill feeds into
an ugly part of our history where it puts bears
(52:41):
in the way of American citizens to solve a problem
that doesn't exist, or by pitting one group of people
against another.
Speaker 7 (52:52):
And so you know, it's not.
Speaker 14 (52:54):
To someone who doesn't have a history of dealing with
poll taxes. That's not the first thing that comes to
mind when I read this build That's the first thing.
The first question I had was are any of these
documents free? But that's because I had a history in
my family of people having to pay, which, oh, by
the way, that's why diversity is important in Congress.
Speaker 13 (53:19):
And this kind of leads back to a question that
you kind of answered earlier, but I still want to
pose it. How do you believe that this requirement disproportionately
affects low income voters, particularly black voters, who you know
may already face systemic barriers in participating in elections.
Speaker 14 (53:34):
You know, again, all of all of these all of
these items cost money. So the a real ID like
your your state driver's license won't count. You know, in Virginia,
where we had an ID requirement. The state mailed everybody
a voter card for free. That doesn't count, so you
(53:57):
would have to get a passport. It's over one hundred dollars.
You would have to get a copy of your birth
certificate to go get another ID. That's twelve dollars in
Virginia and ranges in other states. But the amount of
money doesn't matter, whether it's the two dollars and twelve
(54:20):
cents that my father paid in nineteen forty seven or
it's forty three dollars. It's illegal because our Constitution, in
the twenty fourth Amendment says no more poll taxes in America.
After the Supreme Court said this violates the right to
(54:45):
vote in our constitution.
Speaker 13 (54:48):
Right, what would be so wrong with let's say the
federal government. You know, they know who the US citizens are.
You know they know who's not So why couldn't the
federal government send us the documentation so that you know,
real voters or I should say, you know, quote unquote
real Americans as they say, you know, can take that
(55:09):
document with them along with their driver's i D driver's
license and present that when voting. What do you feel
like would be great solutions to the Save Act that
would be more effective for everyone.
Speaker 1 (55:24):
All voters.
Speaker 14 (55:25):
There is no evidence of large numbers of non citizens voting,
but where there are, if a non citizen votes, your localities,
your state, and the federal government all can prosecute that
(55:46):
person and put them in jail. I would flip your
question on its head. We should. The Save Act is
not about saw having the problem of we want to
make sure non citizens don't vote, because they already aren't,
(56:06):
and if they are, we have laws in place to
fix that. The Save Act is about limiting who can vote.
The Save Act is about if you are homebound, if
you are an activity military person stationed away from home,
making it harder for you to register to vote because
(56:27):
you have to show up in person. It's about if
you are poor, if you are uneducated, because there are
studies that show a correlation between who has a passport
and most of them are people with college degrees. If
it is about putting bears in your way.
Speaker 4 (56:47):
Just like.
Speaker 14 (56:49):
The former Confederate power structure when they got back in
charge after reconstructioning put bears in the way of newly
voting people who were once slaves. It is about rolling
back the clock on progress that allowed more than just
whiteland owning men to vote.
Speaker 7 (57:11):
That's what the Save Act is about.
Speaker 3 (57:13):
Any final thoughts to me.
Speaker 14 (57:15):
We have heard since we are kids that this is
a government buyo for the people. And what that means
is government is only going to reflect the perspective of
and therefore meet the needs of the people who participate.
And the fundamental right to vote is sacred and people
died to ensure that every American citizen, regardless of race,
(57:42):
regardless of sex, regardless of military status, that you would
be able to vote. And you know, I represent Virginia,
which is the birthplace of American democracy. But when voting
first began in Jamestown, there was a voter suppression. And
(58:06):
the long history of our country has been when the
federal government steps up and enforces the right to vote,
more people can vote, and more people do vote, and
our government reflects more of the people governed. When the
federal government retreats from that responsibility or puts barriers in
(58:29):
people's way proactively, fewer people vote. And that's what the
Save Act is all about. It is about undoing the
progress that we have made over the past one hundred
years and I guess what Donald Trump means when he
says make America great again is make it so that
fewer people and people only who look like me can vote.
Speaker 13 (58:51):
Representative mcclennan, thank you so much for taking time out
to share and express your views regarding the Saves Act,
and we welcome you back to the BI in whenever
you haven't open invitation. This is Doug Davis and you're
listening to the Black Perspective on the Black Information Network.
Speaker 5 (59:05):
Thanks Doug, and that's our program for this week. For
more on these stories, listen to the Black Information Network
on the free iHeartRadio app or log onto binnews dot
com for all of the latest news impacting the black community. Also,
be sure to follow us on social media at Black
Information Network and on x at Black Info Nets and
(59:25):
make the Black Information Network number one on your car
radio and iHeartRadio app pre sets. I'm Mike Island, wishing
everyone a great Sunday. Be sure to tune in next
week at this time for another edition of The Black
Perspective right here on the Black Information Network
Blacky Feast of the Planet.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
I go by the name of Charlamagne of God, and
I can't wait to see y'all at the third annual
Black Effect Podcast Festival.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Yeah, number three, Baby Black called Black Rose More Black
CEO be coming back to pull me in Yard Saturday
for twenty six in Atlanta, hosted by none other than
Mandy B and Weeezy. That's Right, Decisions, Decisions. The Black
Effect is bringing some of the biggest and best podcasts
in the world to.
Speaker 4 (00:23):
The stage for one day only.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Ready, we got the R and B Money Podcast with
Tanking Jay Valentine. We got the Woman of All Podcasts
with Saturday Jay Roberts, Good Mom's Bad Choices, neckd Sports
with Cherry Champion, and the Trap Nerds podcast with more
to be announced. And of course it's bigger than podcasts.
We're bringing the Black Effect marketplace with black owned businesses,
plus the food truck court to keep you fed while
(00:47):
you visit us. All right, if all my firing podcasters,
we got something for you too.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
You know.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
We got informative panels and you can go to the
career corners for exclusive one on one time with industry leaders.
Tickets on Selle Now tap in at Black Effect dot
Com Flash Pod Festival.
Speaker 5 (01:01):
It's Sunday, April thirteenth, and on today's show, I talked
to doctor Maximilian Chambers, a col Fresh Champion Fellow, and
clinical staff Dennis at Inner Care, a California based federally
qualified health center, and their new campaign to help the
local community. Twenty twenty five Gracie Award winning anchor Esther
Dillar talks about a unique connection between Harriet Tubman and
(01:23):
the city of Philadelphia. Alexandria Igamoni sits down with creator, actor,
and executive producer of the TV series The Godfather of Harlem,
Markwan Smith about season four and what else he is
working on. Mimi Brown gives us another preview of To
Altadena with Love on her new podcast, episode four, as
(01:43):
she retells real stories from black victims of the Altadena wildfires.
And Doug Davis talks to US Representative Jennifer McClellan about
the Saves Act and how it might hurt the Black vote,
and we get commentary from Moe Kelly. These stories of
more are coming your way. On today's program, Welcome to
the Black Perspective. I'm your host Mike Islan.
Speaker 6 (02:05):
Welcome to the Black Perspective, a weekly community affairs program
on the Black Information Network featuring interviews and discussions on
issues important to the Black community.
Speaker 5 (02:14):
Good Sunday, everyone, and welcome to the Black Perspective. This week,
I start the show with the California Department of Public
Health and their new campaign aimed at helping our community
to adopt a healthier lifestyle through simple steps like staying
active and eliminating sugary drinks from our diets.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
I spoke with doctor Chambers.
Speaker 5 (02:32):
He's dedicated to promoting oral health and educating underserved communities
and about the impact of dietarian drink choices on dental care,
and joins us now to talk about the Cow Fresh
Healthy Living campaign. Good day, doctor Chambers, thank you for
being with us today on the Black Information Network.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 5 (02:50):
We're talking about sugary drinks like SODA's, sweet teas and
energy food drinks. They're popular in our community, but what
are the risks of drinking too many?
Speaker 3 (03:00):
You know, a significant portion of the added sugars in
the American diet come from these beverages, and African Americans
going average consume more sugar drinks than other groups, which
is putting us at higher risk for type two diabetes
or disease and tooth tocare.
Speaker 5 (03:14):
How do sugary drinks contribute to these problems?
Speaker 3 (03:17):
We when we look at the research, it's showing that
for type two diabetes, we are seeing regularly drinking sugar
sweetened beverages can increase the risk of developing diabetes. We're
seeing heart disease as a leading cause of death in
the United States, and excessive sugar intake can increase that
risk even more. And when it comes to tooth decay,
(03:38):
drinking more than two servings of sugary drinks per week
increases your odds of having tooth decay well.
Speaker 5 (03:43):
And a lot of people don't think about that because
it's just drinks versus foods exactly. So what is the
first step to making better healthier choices?
Speaker 3 (03:52):
I think start by checking your nutrition labels. If you're
looking for words for like syrup or juice concentrate, those
are trigger words. It means that there's added sugar. Try
and said on sweet and tea still or sparkling water
or even flavored sparkling water with no added sugar.
Speaker 5 (04:08):
Yeah, those are some of my choices as well.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
There you go.
Speaker 5 (04:11):
Besides us swopping out to drinks, what else can people
do to improve their health overall?
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Well, making sure that you're staying active. Movement is key.
It's just as important as coming back on sugar. Try
going for a walk, dancing to your favorite music at
family gatherings, playing games with your families and friends, or
even just a few extra minutes of movement each day
can make a big difference.
Speaker 5 (04:35):
All right, So a little bays featuring Frankie Beverly and
I'm good.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
To go there.
Speaker 7 (04:39):
It is all right.
Speaker 5 (04:41):
We're talking with doctor Maximillian Chambers. He's a spokesman and
champion provider for the cal Fresh Healthy Living campaign under
the California Department of Public Health. And you have a
lot of great information on your website. In fact, I've
been there looking at it, and of course you know,
the first thing you see is all the green, which
is which is good? Healthy? And does drink more water,
(05:04):
eat healthy, be active and get involved. I mean that
pretty much tells you everything right there. But I love
the tabs and the information you have on that.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
There are a lot of great tips.
Speaker 5 (05:14):
Can you give our listeners the website information.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Of course, it's time to make a change everyone, and
so you can do that by visiting uncoverhealthy habits dot
com for more tips.
Speaker 5 (05:24):
A lot of people, you know they want to eat healthy,
drink healthy, but find it hard to afford. What are
some of the ways to eat and drink healthy on
a budget.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
Always choose water. Water is water is healthy. Water is
normally free in most places, and it's good for you.
I think. I think that's that's that's key. I mean
choosing milk, choosing water, Choosing you know, healthier foods is
sometimes yes, hard to find, but it's easier on you
(05:52):
in the long run.
Speaker 5 (05:53):
And one of the things I wanted to ask is
when did you become involved with cal Fresh and and
what kind of picked your interest in doing something so awesome.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
Honestly, I think just seeing patients come in and seeing
children come in with you Tuesday kay and pain and
missing school. That was a huge trigger for me getting
involved with the Department of Public Health and through the
UCSF Champion Provider Fellowship, I've been able to truly kind
of make a change and dedicate myself to the people
(06:23):
that I serve on a daily basis.
Speaker 5 (06:25):
Well work in life, balance, kind of led you to
this exactly. We're speaking with doctor Maximilian Chambers, spokesman champion
provider for the cal Fresh Healthy Living campaign under the
California Department of Public Health. Anything else you wanted to
get out about this campaign before we go.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
It's about small, consistent changes that add up over time.
Start by replacing one sugar drink a day with water
or herbal tea. Add fruit slices our cucumber to water
for extra flavor and overtime, these swamps will become healthier habits.
Speaker 5 (06:56):
Well, thank you for your time today on the Black
Information Network.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
Thanks, I appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (07:01):
Thanks again, doctor Chambers. For more information, be sure to
visit the Uncoverhealthyhabits dot com website. Once again, that's Uncover
Healthyhabits dot com. Mimi Brown is back to take us
inside the heart of a California community forever changed by
the Eton Fire. Here's a preview from episode four in
her new five part docu series to Alta Dina with Love.
Speaker 8 (07:26):
Someone said to me, like, you know, it's good that
you're not going through this alone. You know, like there's
a community going through this with you. I would much
rather go through this alone. The stories that I'm hearing
the generational homes that are lost, the businesses that are gone.
(07:48):
My kids friends have lost their homes where they would
have sleepovers. My daughter's school is gone. Where do we go, Like,
how do we like figuring out the next steps? If
it was just me, I would know what to do.
(08:09):
But how do I I'm a fixer, I'm a helper.
Everyone's hurting so much, and I just it is hard
to see an entire community herding.
Speaker 7 (08:28):
I missed the city, but the people of the city,
you know.
Speaker 8 (08:33):
We would drive down the hill, get out of the
you know, out the front door, into the car, and
you see your neighbors.
Speaker 7 (08:39):
You say, good morning, any neighbor.
Speaker 8 (08:41):
Then you drive down the street and you wave to
the crossing guard that's at the intersection of Lincoln and
Altadena Drive. And then you go across Altadena Drive and
you see the same kid riding his bike to school
every day. And then we would pass a certain spot
where there was like a group of peacocks that was
the gaggle of peacocks whatever it is, flock of peacocks
that was crossing the road, and we would sometimes be
(09:04):
late cause we had to let the peacocks cross and
then you know, doing the drop off, but you saw
you saw the mom who had a special needs child
wheeling her son out and putting him on the bus.
Speaker 7 (09:16):
It's those things.
Speaker 8 (09:17):
That you do every single day where you see your
community and action. You don't realize how much that is
part of your daily routine and you just miss it.
So the Eaton Canyon fire started and it is nice
so rapidly.
Speaker 9 (09:36):
The worst of the winds haven't even started yet.
Speaker 10 (09:38):
So did you never aculate the floor?
Speaker 9 (09:42):
I think it's too close for comfort. Everybody stay a forer.
Speaker 8 (09:50):
We actually had spent the day preparing for the winds.
There is a wonderful man named Edgar. He's twenty four
year old metiorologists from Altadina and he has his own
little Facebook page and he's like, all right, guys, you
need to hunker down and be ready for these winds
because it is more than what they're saying. And so
we spent the day preparing for the windstorm that was coming.
But he also said, if there is a spark of anything,
(10:13):
you need to be you need to be ready to go.
So I said, okay, well I didn't think that. I
couldn't even imagine in my wildest dreams that there would
be a fire, but I was sure that we would
be out of the danger. But we spent the day
preparing for the electricity to go out, because that's what
happens up here when there's high winds.
Speaker 7 (10:30):
So sure enough, the winds kicked.
Speaker 8 (10:33):
Up and the power went out, and so we had
our flash lights, and we had our little lanterns, and
we had our games out, and I had just finished
cooking dinners. We were eating dinner in the dark or
by flashlight lantern light, and we were playing a card
game and so we were you know, where we live,
it's further up in the mountains, so there's no cell
(10:53):
service with the Wi Fi goes out and everything was out,
but we're fine. It was no screen time. Then all
of a sudden, I got one message and it was
from uh private school village.
Speaker 7 (11:05):
It was a a community group and.
Speaker 8 (11:07):
They said, are you guys okay Lavinya's evacuating or there
was something like that, And that was the one message
that I saw from that group. And I said, steph uh,
they're talking about Lavignya, cause that's the name of the
little community that we live in the gated community that
we live in in Altadena and said, Levinya's evacuating and
(11:28):
he was like, they're over reacting, like don't don't worry.
Speaker 7 (11:31):
About that, and I said okay, and then I said,
you know, Steph, I think we should actually pack a bag.
Let's do it. And he was like, th y, now
you're now you're getting nervous for nothing.
Speaker 10 (11:39):
You know.
Speaker 8 (11:39):
We had that little little squabble that people do, and
I said, we played one more hand of the game.
Speaker 7 (11:44):
And I was like, you know, we're packing a bag,
like I'm I'm just try and.
Speaker 8 (11:47):
He kind of huffed and puffed, and the kids huffed
and puffed, and they went and they uh started packing
a bag. And I had these beautiful French doors that
opened up to the backyard and while I was getting
ready to go down the hallway, say yeah, let me
just look outside. I looked outside and that fires like
the mountain was a glow with flames. And I said, hey, stuff, uh,
come here for a second. And he looked out and
(12:10):
his whole demeanor just switched right up.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
You know.
Speaker 8 (12:12):
He was like, alright, kids, this is what you need
to pack. This is what you need to go, you know,
go and get this is what we need to do.
Speaker 7 (12:19):
And he just grabbed our our.
Speaker 8 (12:22):
Like we have uh lock boxes that have our like
passports and stuff in it, and he grabbed those and
he started packing up the car cause we were gonna
come to my mother in laws and and hunker down here.
So we grabbed our generators and things like that further,
so I was like, okay, we'll be fine. By the
time I checked one more time, about fifteen minutes later,
it had doubled in size the fire and it was
(12:44):
coming rapidly close to us. And I looked outside and
we were having like eighty mile per hour winds and
I saw I don't know if it was a bush
or a tree top it picked and it was on fire.
It picked up off the side of the mountain, spun
around like a little tornado, landed with a thud, and
just lit more of the hillside on fire. And I
(13:08):
was like, all right, this is this is serious. So
I so we got to move quickly, so we're running.
Speaker 7 (13:14):
Out the door.
Speaker 5 (13:14):
Wow, that was just a glimpse of to Alta. Dina
with Love a powerful new podcast from Bi n anchor
Mimi Brown. This episode is available tomorrow. This week, we
are learning about a unique connection between Harriet Tubman and
the city of Philadelphia. The Black Information Networks. Esther Dillard
has all the details in this edition of The Color
Between the Lines.
Speaker 11 (13:40):
On this edition of The Color Between the Lines.
Speaker 9 (13:42):
To hear them talk about it was mysterious.
Speaker 11 (13:46):
We speak to two filmmakers who are sharing the legacy
of Harriet Tubman kept alive by two Black women farmers.
I'm Ester Dillard chatting with right authors and experts who
offer an added perspective for listeners. This is the Color
between the Lines. Oh, many people are trying to erase
(14:15):
Black history. There are two women by the name of
Donadere and Paulette Green who are trying to preserve Black
history with a unique connection to farmland. The married couple
bought the farmland in nineteen ninety four. It was a
land adjacent to Paulett's great great grandparents farm. The special
thing about this land, located on the eastern shore of Maryland,
(14:36):
is that it once was the plantation where Harriet Tubman
and her family lived as enslaved Africans. The women run
the Mount Pleasant Acres Farm. It's a one hundred and
eleven acre plot. There they run tours of the land
and grow food that they distribute to their neighbors in
Southwest Philadelphia. Filmmakers Carlyn Griffith Oro and Jeanine cayambe Oro
(14:57):
both thought these women's story was so unique they convinced
them to let them create a documentary called The Aunties.
It's now an award winning short film featured on Black
Public Media's online series Afropop Digital Shorts. We talked about
what inspired both of them to start the project.
Speaker 9 (15:14):
The Aunties is our love note to them as we
witness them living lives that very proudly espouse the values
of Harriet Tubman and their families legacies.
Speaker 10 (15:36):
For me, the Aunties is about two blacka women that
are in stewardship of black ancestral land that's connected to
Harriet Tubman, the around railroad and just the rich history
overall of Maryland Eastern Shore. And yeah, I think what
(16:02):
Charlon said love letter is really beautiful because of what
it took to make this film and what it took
for their lives.
Speaker 11 (16:13):
The main ingredient of all of that, how did you
first encounter Donna and Paulette? And I guess what initially
drew you to making this into a film.
Speaker 10 (16:25):
Well, I became an urban farmer at the age of nineteen,
helped start an urban farm here in North Philadelphia, and
through that became a part of a network of black
farmers across the country. And I think not only did
(16:49):
that journey and pathway really lead me to the Aunties,
but I was also a you know, period enthusiast and
studied her and not just the kind of surface part
of her story.
Speaker 5 (17:06):
But the deeper parts of her story.
Speaker 10 (17:08):
So I think a lot of my purpose and journey
also brought me to that land in that space as
well as meaning the Aunties.
Speaker 9 (17:15):
Aunt Donna tells us a story about when she was
in the service and they came back to Preston to visit,
and she looked at Aunt Paula and said, I'm going
to retire here. We're going to own a farm here.
I'm going to retire on a farm here in Preston.
(17:38):
And she says in nineteen ninety four that it was
probably around now. It was wintertime. There was a huge
storm and they were passing by the land and saw
for sale sign being put up. She pulled around, told
(17:58):
the person, you know, I would I'll buy this property.
What are you asking? And within a few days they
made the sale.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Happen.
Speaker 9 (18:08):
To hear them talk about it was mysterious. And the
way that they began to understand the history of the
place was through the relationships that they were forming through
just doing what they do the way that they do it,
(18:29):
you know, which is very community centric. It's very about
you know, being in good productive relationship with others. And
so they were allowing college students to come to the land.
They have friends who are historians. They were, you know, reconnected,
reconnected to more of the really beautiful community of Preston,
(18:55):
of the entire Eastern Shore.
Speaker 11 (18:58):
Jennie, what would you say in regard to know Harriet
Tubman in her history and how.
Speaker 10 (19:02):
This is espectually what I was gonna have. Yeah, So
Harriet was enslaved in Dorchester County by Brotis and Brotis
had a son in law that was a doctor, Anthony
Thompson or Thomas Thompson. So that was the Thompson plantation.
(19:26):
Her mother was enslaved, was enslaved there, and her father,
we know, was free and he was a logger and
he worked in that forest. And you know, Harriet would
walk it's about I don't know how long it's like
(19:46):
a twenty minute drive, so maybe even thirty minute drive.
So Harriet would walk to go visit her family on
this plantation and this land. When when people went, every
one says, this is Harriet Tubbans ancestral land. This is
where her family lived and was enslaved, and this is
(20:07):
where she took her family out of enslavement. So this
is the trip where she took her mom and one
of her brothers I believe two of her brothers, both
of her brothers. Okay, this is the trip where she
took her mom and her brothers, not from where she
took her first trip to our understand.
Speaker 9 (20:28):
And Brotus also used to hire out send Harriet out
to go and work for other people and made money
off of Harriet's labor working for other people, including for Thompson.
So yeah, the other notable thing about that trip that
(20:53):
a lot of people know about now and often reference
because she left that part of Maryland on Christmas Eve
of eighteen fifty four and arrived in Philadelphia where we live,
and her and her siblings are signed well, her siblings
(21:17):
are are signed into the log at the Anti Slavery
Office of William Still. That was here in Philadelphia on
December twenty ninth, so it took them four days to
cross from Maryland, through Delaware and into Philadelphia.
Speaker 11 (21:38):
What do you ladies want the people who watch this movie?
What do you want them to get from this film
and to take away?
Speaker 9 (21:48):
I think there's so many different themes happening. So I'm
just I'm just excited for people to be able to witness,
to witness that a film was made about people like
Aunt Paulette and Aunt Donna, as Aunt Paulette says, everyday people.
(22:14):
Because it's not just about those whose names, you know.
I think that I hope that people see themselves in
many parts or in some parts of the tale and
understand a little bit more about who they can be
(22:36):
as they live their lives with purpose, you know, because
what we're seeing of them and how fantastic they are.
They always ask us, well, why did you want to
do this? And why do people care about what we're doing?
Tell me, explain this to me, and we're like, well, Auntie,
(22:57):
you know you all have done really fatbulous things and
have lived so truthfully, so honestly, so bravely, and they
just say, well, we were just being ourselves.
Speaker 10 (23:13):
Love on your elders, and if your family has land,
hold on to it. True, get the cousins, pay the taxes.
Speaker 9 (23:23):
Pay the taxes, pay your taxes.
Speaker 10 (23:25):
Pay the taxes on the land. Sometimes it'd be one
hundred dollars. The fact that they've been able to keep
their families land on. Paula's grandparents were born in the
eighteen hundreds, eighteen eighties, so she has land that goes
that far back. And that's really inspiring to me. So
(23:50):
I know it's not for everyone, and it's not the
easiest most thing to do to even call the cousins
in the first place to get the money for this taxes.
Understand it. But if you have a little time and
you got a little energy, beyave your family's land es.
Speaker 11 (24:11):
Actually, I guess the only question I had was why
why was it?
Speaker 3 (24:15):
So?
Speaker 11 (24:16):
I guess why was it so important for them to
acquire that land. Was there something that threw her to
that land, those two to that land to say we
want to we really want to get this particular one
hundred and eleven acres or whatever it is that that was.
Speaker 10 (24:32):
It was connected to Aunt Paula's great grandparents.
Speaker 7 (24:36):
Land and.
Speaker 10 (24:39):
The and in the film aunt Donna says, we we
it was like we were preparing for it our whole lives.
So when you when you do when a piece of
land calls to you and you steward it, there's no planning,
there's no oh my gosh, I ca couldn't wait to
(25:01):
just pressent to buy this piece of land. It really
calls to you, and it's really in your pathway, in
your own whatever your spirituality is, or however it comes
to you. That's how the land chooses you. And there's
not really an ingredient. As people that have steward all
(25:24):
types of land, different people's projects around the world, those
pieces of land just called to us, whether our ancestors
been there, whether our spirits have been there before. It's
not like a it's not usually a mathematical right. Oh
maybe at some point they were like, oh, yeah, it
was gonna be an investment, but like that's what everyone says,
(25:47):
and then it becomes this place where people commune and
gather and are able to build families upon and you know,
share families with. So yeah, I don't think it was
like a calculated Okay, this is what we're gonna do.
It was more of like spirit called them and right
(26:10):
place on Donald was prepared. Plus it being family land,
they wanted to be, you know, somewhere closer to New
York for an pauled but still down south so that
its chilled, so those kind of things. But for the
most part, it was a spiritual spiritual.
Speaker 11 (26:30):
That's it for this edition of The Color Between the Lines.
The film is called The Aunties and you can find
it on the Black Public Media YouTube channel. And if
you'd like to hear the longer in depth version about
the filmmakers and the Aunties, feel free to check out
the Color Between the Lines podcast on the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 5 (26:47):
I'm Esther Dillard, Thanks Esther. The Godfather of Harlem is
a captivating TV series on MGM Plus about Harlem's legendary
Bumpy Johnson played by Forrest Whitaker. Season four airs tonight,
and Alexandra Icimoni sits down with the creator, executive producer,
and actor on the show, Mark Kwan Smith, about the
(27:08):
new season and what he's working on behind the camera.
Speaker 4 (27:11):
What's up, guys, He's a girl. Alexandria Ikamoni in the
studio iHeartRadio with Mark Kwan Smith. How you doing today?
Speaker 1 (27:19):
Great? Thank you for having me.
Speaker 4 (27:20):
Absolutely happy to have you in studio. I mean, for
those who don't know the name, you need to write now.
He is the EP of the Godfather of Harlem. Also
an actor, producer on other you know, different projects, so
many great things that you really do work on. So
tell me more. First, we know that we are here
primarily because the newest season, season four, Season four is out,
(27:43):
is coming out April. It's time, right, yes, yeah, MGM.
Plus okay, I know that's all right, So tell us
more about the season and what fans can really expect
from season four.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
Well, if you've been following god Fall the Halem from
season one, you saw the kind of like the clash
between politics and criminality, right, so you saw the demise
of Malcolm X at the end of season three. Now
we're going to the season four with a new chapter,
which is called the Black Panthers and how they emerge
(28:13):
out of Harlem. And you know, we have characters such
as James Baldwin, Athene Chakor. I mean, it's an amazing
show to even have a season for us, you know,
that's like an anomaly, and I'm glad that we were
able to like at least we have a steady core audience.
Speaker 4 (28:28):
Absolutely, you do have a steady audience. You have steady
fans who have been there from day one, including myself
and the producer here in the studio, Brill. But I
do also want to talk about what makes this particular season.
Now we talk about the Black Panthers, but what makes
the season different than the seasons you've had in the past.
Speaker 1 (28:43):
Well, one, two, and three you actually see Bumpy coming
home from Alcatraz, coming home nineteen sixty three to a
new Harlem, right, and him trying to establish himself, and
then you see the roller coaster ride in his life,
the ups and downs he has to go through, but
really trying to kind of disassociated associate himself from the
Italian mob. So season four is like Malcolm is gone.
(29:05):
You know, that was his friend, that was his best friend,
that was his heart, and he has to find a
way to move on. Malcolm's only wish that he would
just get out of the drug game. So he's trying
to figure out how I can keep maintaining a lifestyle
and providing for my family without this dujie, without getting
loans or money from the Italian So this is about
(29:26):
him breaking apart and trying to become the man of
his own, man of his own.
Speaker 4 (29:29):
I love it. I love it. Also, quick question, because
I have to ask, because you know, as fans, we
want more. We're never satisfied. Have you guys already started
filming season five? Or where are we with that?
Speaker 1 (29:40):
Well, the film gods, you know, we're you know, the
good thing about the show is we're in nineteen sixty six, right,
Bumpy doesn't pass away till nineteen sixty eight. Yeah, you know,
he actually passes away in my character's arms. I pay
a character by the name of Junie Bird. He died
of congestive heart failure. So the film gods are with us,
you know, the winds behind us, the ancestors are behind us.
We will have six seasons, but right now, you know
(30:02):
we're taking it. You know, we're taking it time by
time just to build great storylines, you know, and we're
looking forward to season four. But season five, I'm praying
from your mouth to the film god's.
Speaker 4 (30:12):
Is absolutely we can't wait for our fingers crossed film
gods listening up right now. Love to see it. But
also let's talk about it, because you mentioned your character
talk to us more about your character, and I guess
the balance you have to have between being on camera
but also behind the scenes as an EP.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
Well, you know, I started off as an actor and
I always believed in creating my own lane. I say
this in a lot of interviews. If you knock an
opportunity's door and it doesn't open for you, go to
home depot, buy some lumber, create your own door.
Speaker 3 (30:42):
Right.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
I love it, and I wanted to create an outlet
for me to express myself creativity. But I figured out
later on in life, after promising my godmother eighteen years
ago of getting this TV show done, that just because
you're an EP, that doesn't mean you don't have to audition.
So I had to audition and go through the same
training ground.
Speaker 10 (31:03):
You know.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
I felt like my showrunner was like Alonzo from training.
Speaker 4 (31:05):
Today.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
You have you auditioning, you know, running lines of forest
and it's it's fun. You know, being behind the camera
is fun as well, you know, getting all the research
and getting all the material that's needed for the for
the writer's room. So it's it's you know, it's about
having a balance.
Speaker 4 (31:23):
Yeah, which kind, I ask, which one do you like more?
Speaker 10 (31:25):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (31:27):
I think I like I like both. You know, I
like both because there's a time when you want to create,
but you also want to show your expression in front
of the camera. So to be able to be multi
hyphen there, I think that's special and I like both.
There's no difference than what Array does or lean away,
you know, or fifty you know, being able to just
(31:47):
showcase yourself as a talent. You're a talent you know.
Speaker 4 (31:50):
Absolutely makes sense and you do it well. So we
love to see it. It's not just this show, but
you do have you know, the credits behind you from
back in the day until now. So it's great to
see the longevity of your career from the camera's perspective.
So let's talk about, you know, the fact that you
are also from New York.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
New York City.
Speaker 4 (32:09):
How does that tie in or does it time at
all to you know, I guess bringing out the character
or even on the EP side, does it measure? How
does that go?
Speaker 1 (32:18):
Well, Harlem is a Harlem is a place of being
flied swag. You know, princes and princesses and royalty and
politicians and athletes, everybody want to take that eight train
all the way to one hundred, twenty fifty you know
what I'm saying, the greats of it on the Apollo
Apollo stage. So our character Harlem and god Father Harlem
(32:39):
is an example of what Harlem is. You know, it's
it's a place of rebirth. It's a place of being
a man proud of being black. And the music, the culture,
the food. So we wanted to make sure that we
were able to showcase this in season one, two, three,
and four. Who Harlem and what Harlem is? You can
(32:59):
go call the world and mentioned Harlem. People know where
Harlem is.
Speaker 4 (33:02):
Oh, I love it, and we know who Harlem is.
I'm also from New York City, the Bronx over here,
so oh yes, I'm happy to have another you know,
New York City. Yeah, in the building. I love it. Okay,
So if you could you know one more question about Harlem,
then we can move on. But if you could, you know, say,
your favorite character other than your own, who would that be?
(33:23):
And why?
Speaker 3 (33:24):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (33:26):
I think it would really be a lease because you
see the emotional roller coaster she has to as an actor,
and she's a great actress. Antonetta Crore Legacy. Her her
arcs is so crazy. She goes from this drug addicted
(33:48):
woman that's living on the street to this powerful woman.
You should see her battle internally and externally with families
with the street. You know, I really love a character
in her arcs.
Speaker 4 (33:58):
No, I love it. That's a good one and that
you picked, so we'll take that. I'm sure my producer
also has his one own, but we'll talk about that
a little bit later. I also want to talk about
some of the other things that you're working on. I'm
sure this takes up a lot of your time, but
are you working on any other projects or Yeah?
Speaker 1 (34:14):
Absolutely. As a creator, I think you know, you should
always be at the drawing board, right and you know,
I'm very excited. I went to an HBCU, so I'm
in the middle of telling this amazing story of being
in DC from eighty five to ninety and my experiences
you know, you know, with Go Go music and things
of that sort. Big shout out to Morgan State University
(34:37):
as well as I'm doing a track and field story
showing the relationships with five the six women athletes and
their relationships. You always see it on the side of
a man playing basketball. I wanted to show it on
the athletic side of track and field and their relationships
with these young women growing up. So I like to
tell stories. That's cool, right, I like to make history cool.
Call it editatement, shout out the Kearris one, you know,
(35:00):
educating and entertaining, be able to show the just the
positions of the different worlds that we live in.
Speaker 4 (35:06):
Yeah. Absolutely, And when are those projects coming out? Can
we know?
Speaker 1 (35:10):
We're in the process, you know, sooner and later.
Speaker 4 (35:13):
It takes time, You definitely know it takes time. So
I if I could put or if you could put
into our that should say, what would be I guess
the dream project for you? Like, what would you really
like to work on if you had, you know, access
to everybody in the entertainment world and an unlimited budget,
what would that project look like?
Speaker 1 (35:33):
From our kwan? Oh, that's big. I know, that's big.
I would personally love to like, I love music. Music
is something that saved my life at first fulfilm and television.
But I would love I would love to tell the
story of Sammy Davis Junior, tell me more. You know,
(35:55):
I love Sammy Davis because he was an icon and
he was he was the first person that actually kind
of like stood up to the to the men, you know,
what I mean. But he was still cool. He was
down with the rat pack.
Speaker 3 (36:08):
You know. He was a.
Speaker 1 (36:11):
Dancer, all around performer, and he did it doing civil rights,
you know. So you know, I would love to be
able to just dive into that world and see what
that was hanging out with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin,
you know, and seeing what that would be like.
Speaker 4 (36:26):
Yeah, I like the vision. I like it. You know,
we talked about the film gods here or the TV
guys we're going to you know, speak that one to
existence as well, So that's super exciting. You do a
lot of work, a lot of projects that you do
work on, you know, behind the scenes on camera and
so forth. How do you balance that with your personal
life as well? Like, you know, what does that balance?
Speaker 10 (36:44):
Real?
Speaker 1 (36:45):
I never had a plan B, right. I've always believed
if you had a plan B, you were planning for
your plan Atohil And I tell people all the time,
you could chase your pension and chase your passion. It's
up to you. I decided to chase my passion. And
I was looking at the of you the Marl and
Wayne's I saw the other day, and it was really
deep what he said he said, we have more years
(37:07):
behind this than we have in front. So I want
to keep creating. You know, of course you want to
balance life and have a good time as well too.
The thing about it is you want to leave your
fingerprints in time. You want to turn memories into moments, right,
and keep going. So I understand as a creator there's
other people creating as well too, So we got to
be out there just I love to. I'm going to
(37:30):
make you smile, make you laugh, I want you to
go through emotions. God Father Harlem. What I like about
it so much? It's like when The Cosby Show first
came out, everybody rushed to the living room, regardless of
your age, to sit down as a family and watch
Bill Cosby. Right, that's the same thing I wanted to
do with god Father Harlem. And I think that we
got it. You know, we have, like I said, with
(37:50):
the flagship Showlder Network, and it's just about creating, creating content.
So I try to have a balance, you know, eating healthy,
working out, things of that sort. But I also like
to be in books. I love to read. I like
to know what's what's happening outside, what's history is about?
You know, it's not just about seeing an MSNBC, you know,
(38:11):
just getting your books. Like James Bodwood is a phenomenal author.
You know, I learned more about him the season, you
know what I'm saying. So that's what I like to do.
Speaker 4 (38:20):
I love it feeding your mind. That's also very important
for sure. So any advice you would like to give,
You know, people who are wanting to get into the
entertainment space, whether it's on camera, behind the scenes as
an EP, really what can they really do to really
make it in this tough business.
Speaker 1 (38:35):
Well, learn your learn your talent. You know, it's like
someone wants to come in and jump in your seat.
You didn't just jump in the seat. You have to learn,
you know, you have to learn how to interact with people.
You know, I tell people go to Baardes Nobles, get
screenwriting for dummies, Get acting for dummies, Get producing for dummies.
Being an actor is not just about memorizing words. It's
about becoming that character, becoming that person.
Speaker 3 (38:57):
You know.
Speaker 1 (38:57):
You know, you have miser you have you know of
people have different methods of bringing to the screen. You know,
it's about angles as well. Do my bringing down my
emotion from up here or bringing it up from up
here with a fifty twenty whatever it may be. Learn
your craft, you know, don't let them put you in
a sandbox with John carl Esposito on Forest with It
Could and Vincent and Nawfiel, the guys that have been doing
(39:20):
it for years, and you look like a daring headlights.
So tell people learn your craft. You can't just wake
up and say I want to be an NFL player
right without going through the pop warns, without going through
the combine whatever like that to become an NFL player.
People right now they love microwave success, but I'm all
about letting it grind and soak and braised, and you
(39:41):
know it tastes better like that a steak because it's's
soak overnight. Y Now we just put in the mic.
You don't in the microwave, right, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (39:48):
That would be crazy, Yeah, but I hear you great advice. Honestly,
it's so important to really master what you what you
want to achieve, and what you want to do. So
do you remember your first interview, not first interview, excuse me,
your first audition and how you felt you know during
that time? What was it?
Speaker 3 (40:04):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (40:05):
It was. Well, my first project I was in was Juice.
Speaker 3 (40:09):
You know.
Speaker 1 (40:09):
Shout out to good friend of mine's RP Tupac Shakur.
We were on the road together and just being on
set was so exhilarating. They have Samuel L. Jackson chasing
me through the the game room was exhilarating.
Speaker 2 (40:24):
You know.
Speaker 1 (40:24):
I just fell in love with just being on set.
You know, I've auditioned so many times. I got a
lot of nose before I got a yes. But you
can't let that discourage you, because the loudest booze come
from the cheapest seats. You could be up in the
nosebleeds talking about Lebron James, he can't shoot the basketball. Well,
look where you're sitting at talking about Lebron James can't
shoot the basketball. The peanut man, don't even want to
(40:46):
walk up there peanuts or give me water. You too
out for me, you know, So remember that you got
to be your biggest cheerleader. That's that's the most important thing.
Speaker 4 (40:55):
I love that great advice as well. I do want
to ask you just a few fun questions. Get on
how to hear you know, I have somebody in your
entertainment business. What is your favorite show right now, other
than of course The Godfather.
Speaker 1 (41:07):
You know, I just watch Adolescents of Netflix and it's
an amazing, amazing show. It's it's a British show, but
I really like uh, I really like it. I like
the dynamics. It's really deep. It's about a kid that
I'm not gonna give you too much of a spoiler,
but he's done. He got caught up in some some
(41:27):
s hi t you know what I'm saying. And yeah,
Adolescence is it's a dope.
Speaker 4 (41:33):
Okay, we got to check it out for sure. If
you say it's good, it has to be good, you know,
good stuff. So we love that. Favorite movie right now.
Speaker 1 (41:41):
Favorite movie I recently has seen was I like, I
like mob movies, so I want to see Alto Nights.
I think it's called but Robert de Niro. It drags,
it's kind of slow. But you have to be really
into the history of the Mob, so that this is
a movie about the relationship with Frank Costello and Vinnie
(42:04):
the Chen, you know, so you should see it because
Vinnie the Chen is in Godfather Harlem, right, so Vincent
Gigante and Mob history tried to kill Frank Costello and
he had a hat on, so the bullet went through
his hat and it shows their their their tension between
each other. So that's a movie that I did. I
just want to see.
Speaker 4 (42:24):
I love it. I love it. A show that got
canceled that you want to come back?
Speaker 1 (42:29):
Oh that is?
Speaker 4 (42:33):
That is and only one.
Speaker 1 (42:37):
Ozark?
Speaker 4 (42:38):
Oh okay, you know I never really got into Ozark.
Speaker 1 (42:41):
You gotta watch Maddie Man, Okay, Maddy Bird. Hell, he's
a he's a he's a character, and he goes from
being a financial advisor to a money line for the
for the cartel. Like you, I mean, it's a solid,
solid project, you know, solid project. I hope it comes back.
Speaker 4 (43:00):
Okay, okay, good to know. If you were not in
the entertainment business, what would you be doing right now?
Speaker 1 (43:06):
I used to play basketball, Yeah, I have used to
play ball. I injured myself in Juco. It would be
either doing that or possibly working in some type of
space with with athletes, whether it's like on the aging side,
or even maybe maybe being entertainment reporter.
Speaker 4 (43:28):
And I love it, look at it. We love it.
But you, like you said, you know, if you have
a plan B, that means you weren't really focused on
your plan A, and look it worked out perfectly. So
I love that. What is the best piece of advice
that you have gotten professionally but also personally?
Speaker 1 (43:46):
Uh, Forrest told me, he said, you know, you have
to drown off the white noise. You have to stay focused,
don't listen to anyone and they say, is you know
the history of my show? It took us. It took
me eighteen years to get this show done and we
got turned down by three networks. So it started off
on my back and with a tribe of good people
(44:09):
such as Forrest Whitaka, Jim Atchison, Nina Yang, bon Jovi,
Pat Moran, Tracy Onderwood, Chris Broncado, Paul Eckstein. It was rip.
It was about never giving up and believing in yourself
because if you it starts with I can do it right,
It starts to always has to start with I can.
(44:31):
You know you have to get up. You know, we
could say we dream every day, but eventually we're gonna
have to wake up right and chase those dreams or
run after them, swim after them, ski after them, do
whatever you need to do, because you know life is
too short. Absolutely, so I tell anybody just focus, believe
in yourself.
Speaker 4 (44:48):
You know I love that, And any last words do
you want to leave with the people?
Speaker 1 (44:52):
Stay tuned. Godfather Harlem April thirteenth, MGM Plus We're back.
Speaker 4 (44:57):
I love it. I love it once again. Alexandria Acamoni
in the studio iHeartRadio with Mark Kwana Smith. Thank you
so much for coming in, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (45:05):
For having me.
Speaker 5 (45:05):
Thanks Alexandria and Mark jan Check out the new season
of the Godfather of Harlem on MGM Plus. Now we
get commentary from Moe Kelly.
Speaker 12 (45:14):
The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed in this commentary are
those of the author and do not necessarily represent those
of BN and its founding partners and employees.
Speaker 6 (45:26):
I'm Mo Kelly on the bin with your two minute warning.
Boycott of the Mattel Corporation on the way in three
two one. Yes, there will be a boycott of Mattel,
the maker of Barbie. I know this because it was
just announced that future Natesmith Basketball Hall of Famer Lebron
James has become the first professional male athlete to have
his likeness depicted in a Kendall America. And I put
(45:49):
that in quotes, America will not tolerate the idea of
a six foot nine black man who speaks out against
Donald Trump serving as the likeness for Barbie's boyfriend. And
I don't mean to be well, that's not true. I
need to be crass here to really convey the serious point.
America again in quotation marks will not stand for Barbie
metaphorically having her back blown out by a six foot
(46:11):
nine black man, and especially not the one named Lebron James.
Here are the details. Mattel unveiled the Lebron Ken doll
Wednesday to kick off the toy manufacturer's Ken Bassador series.
Last year, nine female Barbies, including tennis star Venus Williams,
were unveiled. Lebron said the following quote. As a young kid,
I was fortunate to have role models who not only
(46:32):
inspired me, but also showed me what's possible through hard
work and dedication. Now, as an adult, I understand how
vital it is for young people to have positive figures
to look up to. That's why partnering with Barbie to
release the Lebron James Ken Bassador's doll is such an honor.
It's an opportunity to recognize the powerful impact of role
models who is still confidence, inspire dreams and show kids
(46:54):
that they too can achieve greatness. Close quote. I know
MAGA is losing their minds right now. I know this
because they always lose their minds over black people being
supposed white fictitious characters, especially those which might date fictitious
white ones. I'm Mo Kelly at mister mo Kelly on
social media, and that's your two minute warning on the
(47:15):
Black Information Network.
Speaker 5 (47:17):
Thanks Mo. Check out Mo Kelly, Roland Martin, and James T.
Harris as they give daily commentary on the Black Information Network.
The Saves Act has passed through the House, and US
Representative Jennifer McClellan believes it's a step back for Black Americans,
making it even harder for us to vote. She says
it's time for Black Americans to stand up and fight,
(47:38):
and she's back to continue the conversation with our very
own Doug Davis.
Speaker 13 (47:43):
Doug, Hey, Thanks, Mike, this is Doug Davis, and we
are honored to have back with us US Representative Jennifer
mcclennan of Virginia, who made history by becoming the first
African American women that represent the state in Congress. She's
impassionate champion for civil rights and social justice, and has
been instrumental in standing up against the Save Act, which
aims to make sure only citizens can vote in federal
(48:04):
elections by showing proof of citizenship like a passport or
birth certificate. The law would also require states to remove
non citizens from voterless and penalized officials who don't follow
these rules. Welcome back to the bin. We left off
discussing how black voters need to contact their senators to
show their disapproval of the bill after it passed through
(48:26):
the Senate, where four Democrats sided with Republicans, which pushed
the vote through the House. You described the Save Act
as a modern poll tax. Could you elaborate on this comparison,
especially in the context of how poll taxes historically disenfranchised
marginalized communities. How does this resonate with you personally, with
(48:46):
your own experiences with the communities that you represent.
Speaker 10 (48:51):
Well.
Speaker 14 (48:51):
First of all, Doug, I took my oath of office
two years ago on the Bible that my dad kept
a copy of his poll tax receipt, so this is
not ancient history. The first time my father registered to
vote in Nashville, Tennessee. He had to pay two dollars
and twelve cents in a poll tax. My grandfather did too.
(49:15):
My great grandfather had to take a literacy test and
find three white men to vouch for his character to
be able to register to vote. Every member of the
Congressional Black Caucus, probably every person listening to this, somewhere
in their family they have a similar story. Because the
(49:37):
history of our country has been every time we make
progress and expanding the right to vote beyond white land
owning men, there's been a backlash. So after people were
able to vote who were formerly enslaved during reconstruction, there
(49:57):
was a backlash that included violence, propaganda, and voter suppression
like poll taxes, like literacy tests, like requirements that you
register in person. We got rid of that poll taxes
are actually illegal under the twenty fourth Amendment to the Constitution.
(50:21):
The Voting Rights Act ensured that we ended discrimination on
the basis of race, sex, national origin in voting. And
yet that backlash came when the Supreme Court gutted the
Voting Rights Act, and I and other members of the
(50:41):
Congressional Black Caucus have been pushing to fix that by
passing the John Lewis Voter Advancement Act because we refuse
to go back to the Jim Crow days where barriers
were put in your way that are illegal under the Constitution,
but they did it anyway. That's exactly what we see
right now. And so this is personal and I am
(51:07):
not gonna, you know, just sit idly by while Republicans
put new barriers in the way, illegal barriers in the
way of every American citizen exercising the right to vote,
to solve a problem that doesn't.
Speaker 13 (51:22):
Exist, right, So what can we do to get all
of our Democratic lawmakers in position to vote against this
we had for that jump ship.
Speaker 14 (51:32):
You know, Republicans, I told you that this backlash always
includes propaganda, and propaganda always includes a villain, and we
have seen in the past few years Republicans vilifying immigrants,
and so they had the boogeyman for this latest attack
(51:55):
is these non citizens that are supposedly voting and putting
our elections at risk. That's simply not true. But you
do have some Democrats in who are frontline members or
in areas that Trump won where there's anti immigrants sentiment
(52:17):
who find it difficult to argue against what we don't
want citizens to vote. What they need to understand is
this bill stops citizens from voting. This bill feeds into
an ugly part of our history where it puts bears
(52:41):
in the way of American citizens to solve a problem
that doesn't exist, or by pitting one group of people
against another.
Speaker 7 (52:52):
And so you know, it's not.
Speaker 14 (52:54):
To someone who doesn't have a history of dealing with
poll taxes. That's not the first thing that comes to
mind when I read this build That's the first thing.
The first question I had was are any of these
documents free? But that's because I had a history in
my family of people having to pay, which, oh, by
the way, that's why diversity is important in Congress.
Speaker 13 (53:19):
And this kind of leads back to a question that
you kind of answered earlier, but I still want to
pose it. How do you believe that this requirement disproportionately
affects low income voters, particularly black voters, who you know
may already face systemic barriers in participating in elections.
Speaker 14 (53:34):
You know, again, all of all of these all of
these items cost money. So the a real ID like
your your state driver's license won't count. You know, in Virginia,
where we had an ID requirement. The state mailed everybody
a voter card for free. That doesn't count, so you
(53:57):
would have to get a passport. It's over one hundred dollars.
You would have to get a copy of your birth
certificate to go get another ID. That's twelve dollars in
Virginia and ranges in other states. But the amount of
money doesn't matter, whether it's the two dollars and twelve
(54:20):
cents that my father paid in nineteen forty seven or
it's forty three dollars. It's illegal because our Constitution, in
the twenty fourth Amendment says no more poll taxes in America.
After the Supreme Court said this violates the right to
(54:45):
vote in our constitution.
Speaker 13 (54:48):
Right, what would be so wrong with let's say the
federal government. You know, they know who the US citizens are.
You know they know who's not So why couldn't the
federal government send us the documentation so that you know,
real voters or I should say, you know, quote unquote
real Americans as they say, you know, can take that
(55:09):
document with them along with their driver's i D driver's
license and present that when voting. What do you feel
like would be great solutions to the Save Act that
would be more effective for everyone.
Speaker 1 (55:24):
All voters.
Speaker 14 (55:25):
There is no evidence of large numbers of non citizens voting,
but where there are, if a non citizen votes, your localities,
your state, and the federal government all can prosecute that
(55:46):
person and put them in jail. I would flip your
question on its head. We should. The Save Act is
not about saw having the problem of we want to
make sure non citizens don't vote, because they already aren't,
(56:06):
and if they are, we have laws in place to
fix that. The Save Act is about limiting who can vote.
The Save Act is about if you are homebound, if
you are an activity military person stationed away from home,
making it harder for you to register to vote because
(56:27):
you have to show up in person. It's about if
you are poor, if you are uneducated, because there are
studies that show a correlation between who has a passport
and most of them are people with college degrees. If
it is about putting bears in your way.
Speaker 4 (56:47):
Just like.
Speaker 14 (56:49):
The former Confederate power structure when they got back in
charge after reconstructioning put bears in the way of newly
voting people who were once slaves. It is about rolling
back the clock on progress that allowed more than just
whiteland owning men to vote.
Speaker 7 (57:11):
That's what the Save Act is about.
Speaker 3 (57:13):
Any final thoughts to me.
Speaker 14 (57:15):
We have heard since we are kids that this is
a government buyo for the people. And what that means
is government is only going to reflect the perspective of
and therefore meet the needs of the people who participate.
And the fundamental right to vote is sacred and people
died to ensure that every American citizen, regardless of race,
(57:42):
regardless of sex, regardless of military status, that you would
be able to vote. And you know, I represent Virginia,
which is the birthplace of American democracy. But when voting
first began in Jamestown, there was a voter suppression. And
(58:06):
the long history of our country has been when the
federal government steps up and enforces the right to vote,
more people can vote, and more people do vote, and
our government reflects more of the people governed. When the
federal government retreats from that responsibility or puts barriers in
(58:29):
people's way proactively, fewer people vote. And that's what the
Save Act is all about. It is about undoing the
progress that we have made over the past one hundred
years and I guess what Donald Trump means when he
says make America great again is make it so that
fewer people and people only who look like me can vote.
Speaker 13 (58:51):
Representative mcclennan, thank you so much for taking time out
to share and express your views regarding the Saves Act,
and we welcome you back to the BI in whenever
you haven't open invitation. This is Doug Davis and you're
listening to the Black Perspective on the Black Information Network.
Speaker 5 (59:05):
Thanks Doug, and that's our program for this week. For
more on these stories, listen to the Black Information Network
on the free iHeartRadio app or log onto binnews dot
com for all of the latest news impacting the black community. Also,
be sure to follow us on social media at Black
Information Network and on x at Black Info Nets and
(59:25):
make the Black Information Network number one on your car
radio and iHeartRadio app pre sets. I'm Mike Island, wishing
everyone a great Sunday. Be sure to tune in next
week at this time for another edition of The Black
Perspective right here on the Black Information Network
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