The example to support the club during these uncertain times. Today eye crimed to talk with tiffani cross, political analyst and author of book say it louder, black voters, white narratives and sieving our dem. Tiffany has spent years in politics and media and witnessed the ways in which black voterrers are minimized and suppressed through both policy and media coverage. Say it louder builds on the work and explains the way in which black voters have been crucial in the same political system that were an dismissed from and although Voter Suppression is not new, Tiffany Cross asserts the change is coming by way of political activism and a demographic shift. I if you have a question you want me to ask tiffany later put it in the chat box in youtube or the comments facebook and the question will get to me. Thank you Tiffany Cross for joining us today. Thank you, aimee, for being in this conversation with me. Im so excited to have it, but im especially excited to have it with you. So looking forward to this. I wanted to just congratulate you also on your role in msnbc where joy reid moves on to her somehow and. What it like to have a regular outlet like the saturday shows once msnbc to discussion the issues of black participation. Im guessing hosting until the official announcement is made so youll see other people in the chair for next month or so but im very excited. I wont be in the host chair this weekend and a few other times this month, and i enjoyed contributing my thoughts to msnbc and other outlets. Ill say joy created such an amazing platform and a lot of what i write about is the lack of diversity in broadcast journalism at all legals and i want to take this opportunity to say what joint went through to get this primetime slot and having an army of people and supporters elevate here and cheer her on and what msnbc gave her this platform, what she gave them was 2. 6 million viewers. So i just think tie versety wins diversity wins and feels like an era of black women taking the helm. The work youre doing at she the people, even in the executive ranks at msnbc. They promoted a woman, rashida jones, to lead weekend programming. So its atower im and i feel very excited to be part of this era and alive at this moment. Yes. Its our time ask your time. Think but your book coming out in the midst of a pandemic in which black and brown communities are disproportionately affected with covid19, and our often dying at higher rates. Unemployment is hitting our communities hard. And in the wake of historic protests in every state across the country demanding that america deal with its racism. Not just the past but the racist present. Whats the journey that started you writing the book in the first place and what does it mean to come out in this moment . Well, for it to come out now is really interesting because i wrote the book before ahmad aubrey and before Breonna Taylor and overall and shows how timeless brutality against black people is in this country. Its historic and its an american tradition at this opinion. And so the fact i detail the historic murders dating back to the last century, even the last president ial election cycle, i create this wrinkle in time and the fact that is timeless shows how black people have always had to die in spectacular fashion to pierce the white narrative what happens. At we sis this time a racial wakening, centuries in the making. Im very excited but the cultural shift. Im cheering that on for sure but i wont be satisfied until a power shift accompanies the cultural shift. As long as the narrative is that white people should allow black People Freedom and white owners should allow players to neil and white nascar owners should allow drivers to wear the black lives matter. The narratives is the power rests solely with white decisionmaker and i dont support that. We have to disrupt power at every level until the power beckers look like america. Its interesting. Look at your book, you have this on the cover in the air but talks about black voters and white narratives. Give us some examples from your book about the white narratived that have limited the political power and voices of black people. So in the media landscape that is run by older white men, every political Conversation Centers white people, white people history, finances, labor stats. You just talk but the unemployment high light inequality amid a Global Pandemic, and really when we hear labor stats they frequently reflect White Americas lane juror stated. When you look at black American Labor sites theyre very much higher but you dont hear that in the media. Also, in this political coverage moment, you always heard terms like, nascar dads and soccer moms, these cute little nick names for voters that exclusive live apply to white voters, but black voter a aggregate in the same way, college edded men or women. The same thing to black voters but you dont hear that. When you hear people or see on broadcast news people to diners, where apparently no black or brown people ever eat but theyre the voters of the heartland and meant to represent the Political Landscape and thats bs because if you go to birmingham a to a golden coral after Baptist Church lets out those are the heartland. You go to ohio, those are voters from the heartland but you decent see that. One example i talk about in the book, i the there was a segment that a network did, supposed to be feel goods and groomsmen were dancing in the parking lot and someone from the Police Someone called the police. And i they said were rehearsing our routines and the guy does the dance and he leaves without indent. A Network Shows this like this is a great example, and this is at the height of 20 a2016 when black men were target practice, and i just thought, i know it was not their intention to be innocencetive but how utterly ridiculous. The suggestion is all you have to do when the cops show up to not get shotdown, get to good home safely and i thought maybe i they had a black investigative producer or black host, someone could point it0. We cant be so kev service in the media that you santa say my social conscious was down on that one, missed that one. So a very basic humane perspective. Diversetive creates a better political and media landscape that impacts democracy and informs people. When we talk about your journey and how your Life Experiences have taken you into newsrooms and also political activism, did that standard with the beat in d. C. . Where did the journey up to this book start . I got my start in rayow and then i was hired at cnn. I worked at the World Headquarters in atlanta and they relocated know d. C. To help cover capitol hill. Coverage where the capitol bang with bob know bob novak, and late edition with wolf blitzer. Wolf is a weekday host but 20 years he was hosting the sunday show. And sew in that space i really just felt like the only i was sad. I felt very ostracized and not very welcomed by my peers and so i write about what that was like. Navigate agnusroom and feeling like maybe this space was not for me. Maybe i didnt belong in broadcast news. So i took a lot of different turns. I was a producer, field producer, an executive producer, i ran a d. C. Bureau. I ran bette i founded my own news platform, i worked if investors and built up investment and navigated the land of intercap yall. Taught a encloses on tie verse the in broadcast journalism at harvard and still to this day people will ask, does she have the news stuff . Can she hold her own on an anchor desk and you wander if i war white woman or man people would be tripping over. Thes to give me a platform, but that i worked so hard and earned it is just shows there has to be a more Diverse Group of decisionmake erred so through the frustration of navigate thing 20 years career of news and pole ticks, i worked on campaigns at the federal, state and local level, when i got frustrated with journalism and would take break every couple of years and then like a crappy exboyfriend it would call me back and i went running back. Even in that space i was preparing to tell this story. It was a story that needed to be told and in 2016 thats when i started doing research and ill tell you, 18 months of solid writing it and was torture. I wrote every single word in this book. I wrote every single sentence and i wrote it in every way it could be written, and so it flowed, and i did that because i was weaned on seen geniuses like Tony Morrison and she said you write a sentence in every form until it sounds right and that is mental torture but after 18 months i was finally done and im just real proud of this work. A beautifully written book. Im surprised a powerhouse is inspired by Tony Morrison. That surprises me but maybe not. I love writing. I love the art of the written language and i think at the end of the day what we do in journalism is tell temperatures and she is a storytell and are she true on real life experience, systems of White Supremacy, drew on an imagination where there could be some sort of reckoning. I was heartbroken when she passed away, what the world would be if she were alive today to see this, james baldwin, another Brilliant Writer if he were alive. I love writing i love having written. I hate writing. I do love the art of it and i love reading and i think if you want to be great writer you have to first be a great reader and she was definitely someone who i read and some of her works were challenging, oprah said you have to go through every sentence and Tony Morrison would say, my dear, thats called reading. Tell it like it is. Theres something about the just blatant, bold, straight, truthtelling, so inspiring. I saw a video of her in an interview with a white journalist who was saying, what do you become this he racism in the country and she said, thats a good question, and i think white people should say ask what theyre going to do about it. Has nothing to do with me. Powerful exchange where she didnt give an inch. Have the protestness the wake of the killing of overall and all the other black people who lost their lives, which it built up to this moment, have those protests changed the National Narrative . Have they changed the way black people express or received . Have they changed the way the world of journalism shapes the narrative about black people . I think so but not enough. I think that were in this moment where its a cool thing and its trendy to talk about it. At some point this racial reckoning will hit newsrooms because a lot of people reporting on systems of White Supremacy are intentionally or unintentionally still practicing is where the work which directly impacted the narrative. One example is you have a lot of report effort get an interview with mike pence or peter novarro, or even donald trump or bill barr and they will ask, is there a systemic raceism in the United States or Law Enforcement and the question itself is disrespectful. We wouldnt ask somebody the question is racist. Right. If it was successful we wont ask somebody, are women yell low . Thats an obvious statement. We know that systemic racist existed. How does your Administration Plan to address it and theyve given the administration an out simply by posing an as nine question asinine question. I thing for journalists part of this beltway chattering class who have been blanketed in privilege and industry of diversity, for. The its a question but for the masses of people of color across the country, we know the answer. As long as theyre talking to and about each other, were not having real conversations and thats why we have to continue the fight for power to fight for access and keep disrupting the space and taking up space is our full authentic selfs and showing up in a space where were comfortable at making people uncomfortable with asking question or speaking our truth. So i tried to do that in my capacity. Im pleased to be joined by other people who are increasingly more bold and audacious and what they speak while theyre on air or in writing because a lot of newsrooms are still run by older white men and theyre appealing to viewers who average between 62 and 65yearold white men and you have to keep reminding these execs that crowd aint immortal so i speak to the rising majority of the country while you keep trying to cater to a shrinking majority. Only makes sense for your bottom line to give a megaphone to folks like me and other folks who are speaking in bold right to wont be the form anymore. The fact there used to be a colored water fountain. Not so long ago that was the norm. What are we going to be looking at 20 from now that we would consider appalled. This is not a black and white issue. The Los Angeles Times group of latin people that worked for the company, reporters and other roles, signed a letter demanding that the Los Angeles Times hire more people from the community, given how many people in california are latin x. So i think what youre talking about is insiring other communities and were seeing reflection of this in other communities. Can i talk to you about 2020. Let get get it spasm we are just a little over 100 days from the most import election of our lifetime. ll just say we dont have to argue things were note that great for black people before trump took office, for black women, although we put all in there highest educated group in the country, and really highest turnout group of voters, things werent all great around economic possibilities and health and disparities and things like that. I guess my question 100 days out is how are you assessing the political voice and at the political power of black people in this moment and i will just say for the people who are watching to shares no question, black people are 25 of Democratic Party voters, and we are the most loyal as a group, Democratic Party voters. I want to get that out of the way. When the your introduction by Michael Eric Dyson starts out with a clyburn statement but joe biden that catapults him to front of the pack andle assess the political power and voice of black voters in this moment. So, i penned an oped, and we talked about the role that black voters have played, not just now but throughout democracy and in this on yesterday we were trying to purpose wait our he res suspect campaigns and decide cal pains and that is what i wrote in the book to celebrate black people the super heros they are in this country. Even now, what we see a lot of stories about people standing in long line in wisconsin and how awful it is and now all of a sudden people are interested in Voter Suppression, even though this has been something we have been impacted by for years, and so as Program People are just now starting to Pay Attention to our reality i thought how black voters have always put our life and our livelihood on the line every single time we cast a ballot. The wealth that black people have created for this country and never really been acknowledged. That resentment hat rippled through time and created generational trauma in our lives, and so in this moment, while were reimagining america, we are reimagining a government that is not only of the people, by the people and for the peoplebut for the people includes us and it baffles me that so many people still maintain loyalty to this president. They still look at him as though he is protecting something that its being taken away, and so as we see voters still show up in drove numbers, were not a hodge month yous group of voters voted demanding Something Better from a country we have served and we still have push back and will be facing an unholy trinity. Well have foreign election interference. G. O. P. Led Voter Suppression and the fallout of covid19 but watch black voters shape democracy, just as we did during the democratic primary and as we need 2016 despite the political narrative we didnt show up because also you know black voters dioverwhelmingly show up. A lot of white people could who were very excited but the presidency of a donald trump, who overwhelmed and overindexed the voting booths and did not have the hurdled that black voters faced. One thing i heard as part of the narrative that step shapes the way people talk about and understand donald trump is particularly from white women, surprise that the majority of white women are republican. Surprised that for decades, majority of white voters have been conservative and increasingly so, as well as a some risking part of the base. How does that serve a particular narrative . I think im curious about that. As youre talking about the loyalty, we have to understand it in the context of race. Right. There isnt another way to understand it given his base is overwhelmingly white. Yes. I actually wrote on oped that focused on the role white women have played. White men represent i think small number of society but whoeveremmingly overinick e decked in pile ticked. Still treated and elected as the ruling clats in our politicked. White women have been their biggest enablers, and so i think we have to have conversations about this. After 2016, a friend of mine sent out an email to all of the white women she knew and said ladies a conversation needs to happen. She was referencing the 53 and they all wrote her back and said, great, when do you want to have the conversation. She said, not with me. With each other. Talk to each other. We do our work, were overwhelmingly held accountable for all our community. So we are saying, yes, ladies, talk to each0. 0 some people get bothered and say im a white woman and asupport black lives matter and im making contributions and trying to be an ally, and thats great because we do need that. It does take an effort. However, i would encourage people, talk to your girlfriends. Dont just unfriend the maga supporter, confront her with the support and confront her with the truth and facts, dont just ignore your racist uncle at thanksgiving, like were held responsibility for our community. Its time for everybody to be held responsibility for their community and as long as people are looking at this, like youre taking something away from me. Thats going to be a problem. As long as for the people includes people of color, that seems to be a problem because people think theyre luting while were winning and every time i think, wow, some people in White American thing were winning . Heat enough to make me burt interest laughter and then tears because i havent seen this as the overwhelming gains. Ive seen a lot of us that why a white watch it and works and climbed a Steep Mountain with ankle weights on. Our issues align. Our issues align. But its the fact that people dont want 0 government to serve people two dont look like them. Theyre fine with corporate welfare but not with a government that serves us and doesnt kill us. Its a problem. And i havent figured out their reason if dont try to figure out their reason. Try to focus my energy on appealing to people who can be informed and inspired and i just its been a challenge to try to bridge that divide but i dont think thats my ministry. Thats somebody elses ministry. Its not my ministry either. Let me ask you. Kashich was announced as a speaker, those who understand that politician, and you have you tweeted about this recently. Hit role in ohio has been to enable Voter Suppression, one before thing he was outfield in because i was involved, tends to negate sunday Early Voting Program that helped particularly like pastors and churches organize in the pews to get people to actually vote, black people to vote, and he was involved in ending that program in ohio. Why how do you assess why his speaking at the dmc given that black women are six times more likely to vote for a democrat than white men. Is is saying about who is important, who the Democratic Party is going for and who they think they can win over. That was a meaty question. I appreciate how it was framed. So, thank you for that. Because not only is case sick invited to the dnc and attacked up space on a Network Every night and has never been even asked about his role in Voter Suppression. The get to decry trumps prepared in white house and never been confronted in his role of delivering hem down 1600 pennsylvania avenue or black lives matter avenue. So much as what we know about politic is filtered through a media lan cascade that sometimes there is a tendency of the Democratic Party to make their appeal to people who can appeal to those trump voters or swing voters. Dont not what a swing voter is or win the red states and i during the democratic primary said youre running at a democratic. Talk to how you can win blue states, that appealing to trump votest and are you insecure teenager girl . They left you a long time ago. The last time the Democratic Party won the majority white vote was in 1954. The last time the american electorate was preknock nantzly white was 1976. So where they are now is just out of step with the rising majority and the changing demographic in the american politics. Im baffled he is invite. Im curious how Many Democrats will be invited to peek at the rnc. I understand people are nervous about black voters making asks because we have been so historically brutalized so people get scared and like, no we have to get this White Supremacy out of office. I would say, evangelicals get to make the demanded, the gun lobby, single issue voters get to make their demanded. Why can we not as black people make demand of our government, may demands of a party we disproportionately uphold and now theyre valuing somebody like john kashich who has been the antithesis of what we have been fighting for. I have to pel people dont cam at me when im advocating where we have been at the epicenter of political power and this party that leap frogged over a lot of yall to give john kashich a huge platform but its a slap in the face. But black women are used to it but well continue to try to disrupt that system and that way of thinking and until there is a true reckoning, not just culturally but in terms of power, in the political party, i dont see this boding well for democrats. I could not agree more but let me ask about one thing you said. Its fine. Is it fine black women or used to it . Its happened. It happened in 2016. We saw Hillary Clinton a lot 0 her campaign and her messaging, even centering around suffrage yets. Its not for us. Black women, Asian American women, latin x. Its not 100 years for us but to center a Campaign Messaging and narrative around that, centered whiteness, and what happened in 2016 coupled with underinvestment in swing states that could have made a difference in states like georgia, michigan and wisconsin. The question is, is this why people are excited about he Lincoln Project . Never trump republicans can find a home that will come in droves and help to win the Battle Ground states. Is that the belief people are operating off of to prioritize states got a for a black woman. Let me clarify when if say its fine whale mean if mean its my dog is here making noise. We cant hear your dog. Youre okay. Everybody is at home. Hes here whining. Dont mean its fine as in its okay. Its fine that black women will city shown because we vote in our own selfsome the interest of our great are good and we organize community. And you even had a beautiful forum for black women and all women of color we are centered in the conversation and should have been break news could the networks. That thats what i mean, its not acceptable. 1920es when white women got the right to vote and doesnt apply to us. Youll hear time and again as we come up on the 100 year norse people mistakenly celebrate this as an opportunity for all women which we know is not true. And so as i see the party overlook black women, because they made their effort but its kind of in the same way as some of mead landscape is making efforts to include race. It steel treats us as though wi the potato when were the steak. We are the main dish. Not the side dish. So as long as you have thats powerful entities treating us as though we cant be brought into the main part of the conversation its gone to be uncomfortable weapon we stop asking for a seat at the table and we set at the helm of the table and thats coming whether people like or. No of its a revolution and you can agree or def agree on a revolution, take one side or another. But i say were in an evolution and an evolution dont give to damn if you agree or disagree. You just get left behind. In this evolution of america where black women are at the epicenter of political power there are too many who are saying were innovate going back and it is not the time as an american body politic we imagine this government its not the time to appeal to people who are really political anna crimps so well see what happens. I know black women always show up and during the political season but i think after this, this the last time that white people will sit be centered at everything. I the can this is a point in time where were going to have to share in this power structure and thats going to be uncomfortable for some people. The Lincoln Project. A conversation i want to have and hopefully youll see me have at some opinion is the never trumpers. A lot of these people are allies now but what does it like like when a democrat is in office . Is the enemy of my enemy still my friend or still my enemy . At love of these folks happened create the route for this man to get in white house and frankenstein was not the doctor he was the monster and now that the monster has turn on you and you want to be bffs with us, thats fine, about i got one eye on you. I stay woke. Im not sleeping on it and i want to know, post 2020, what the relationship looks like what lessons have you learned and holiday will you confront and disrupt the system of White Supremacy you benefited on but perpetuated. I love this. Were in a moment well go to your questions. The folks have been asking questions on facebook and youtube. Im transporter. Ail could for a woman of color and a woman as Vice President for months and thats transparent for me. There are lot of people who are excited about the idea of a 2008 joe biden but the reality of 2020 ed with a newer, younger american elect toate is not the time to make space choices and he needs somebody who become exciting and if we werent dealing with a Global Pandemic who is somebody can pack arenas and people bill thrilled there sew and get a piece of and this where is ego has to be set aside. And we have to think downballot, congress and senate and second term, and i think as longs your operating from a space of white man eek go you might make a misstep and huh how say things like truedded our fist racist president itself you than a sane you need a black woman i dont know what is because right now he has all these female surrogates, amaze egg egberongbe amazing people, people around you but when it comes to the top of the ticket and trying to cast a ballot he needs a woman who is going to really dance him across the finish line because right now i think there are lot of people with concerns, and im one of them with concerns. Theres a lot of concerns out there we just did a series of listening sessions with women of color in Battle Ground states and heard about an enthusiasm gap, and we have seen that having a black woman at the top of the ticket could really, really help bring you said it earlier. Black women are going to turn out for the democrat. The most loyal democratic voter bus its the number. Are we going to close the gap in pennsylvania. Houston, miami, and florida. What about phoenix and i think those are to its the number of turnout that im also interested in. Let me come to a couple of questions. What it feel like democrats resist using their leverage that is our base in the bulk of the country at policy behind this reality . I interpret this to mean, why does the base not see a reality of a policymaking coming from the Democratic Party. Let just take something, maybe the Defund Police or any other issues that you see coming from the black community right now. I dont think thats the question. The way i interpret that is why isnt the Democratic Party leveraging the base which are black voters, translating that into policy that black people want as opposed to going off to the side. Yes so, again, thissing something we have seen the highest level of government. You want ed are his response to this was ill give more money to the police. Law enforcement aint with you. Not everybody but many have solidifiedded themselves to be members of maga, so i think thats not necessarily true in every part of the government. I think even if joe biden is elected he will be facing a very progressive congress, the most Diverse Congress the country has ever seen. The 116th congress was very diverse and only gotten more and theyre going to have company. When you have Richie Torres and jamal bowman who unseated an incumbent its going to be hard to legislate as though its 1994. Not going to happen. When you see people winning elects based on progressive policies steeped in black lives matter, the black lives matter mantra, im not too concerned that at least from a legislative perspective. I think you have i wrote but a ton of legislation that was really speak together riding majority and reflective of what america will look like, but all these amazing bills fell flat in a republican controlled senate, thumper chamber. The president ial election takes up all the oxygen in room but a lot happens at the legislative branch that you take the senate will see a different landscape in government. Its worth noting also that a lot of thieves fights, thats call for deminuting police for shifting resources as in eek Oakland Police attend, the large percentage goes to police instead of the local rec. Who runs for city council to the are real critical. Exactly. Heres another question. Do you have any thought theres a section of your book that really delves deep into Voter Suppression. Its something that a lot of folks have woke up to in 2018, watching Stacy Abraham race and the blatant Voter Suppression in georgia. Do you have any thoughts about how how covid affects black voter turnout and compounds the problem already in place, particularly in battleground states where high voter turnout amongst black voters will make the difference for democrats. I think this going to be a major issue. Like we saw in wisconsin, and its not just the fallout of covid. Its for an election interference targets us and glop led Voter Suppression. When were asking people the hurdle these three major challenge wed have to give them something to vote for, and our Election Protection is down. We have already seen were he know russia i trying already. Already been proof that iran tried to ininfiltrate our election and i dont imagine china will sit this one out. So donald trump has already tried to sow doubt in the election results. Dont think well know who our president is necessarily on november 3rd. And i suspect he might try and challenge it. He has already attacked mailin ballots even though he boats by mailin ballot. I think the suppressing issue is not something that gets enough attention and i will say that Voter Suppression just recently became a issue. In georgia brian kemp has jailed black people for running for office and winning. So a lot of people think this jim crow era of Voter Suppression is long gone but the fact it that it is still rising and hepatology elect people. Eric holding is suing the state of mississippi for jim crow era that keeped the power struck tire with predominantly conservative rubble white men. Mike espy running for senate . Mississippi outraise the incumbent senator who likes to tell lynching jokes. Is it says victory is possible. And that people are just ready to disrupt all these efforts to keep our keep us out of the ballot box. So, it makes me nervous because i think the discord well see in november is not to be hype are bolick but i think things could be violent one you see the maga supporters pulling guns on peaceful protesters. Cbs news ran a segment that they called Trump Supporters sharing their thoughts and it was a ton of people, one guy actually said that trump wont be removed from office. I have a. 357 mag unlv that says otherwise. Win you have people like this in the base who are voters, i am concerned about the peaceful transition of power that has kept this country functioning for so long, to be honest. The greatest modern challenge to democracy. What does your research, your writing, your work, tell you about the best way for i would just start with be black community, the multiracial folks who live in communities across the country to prepare for the possibility of there being a trump not leaving peacefully or contesting the election. Im thinking al gore, a lot of evidence there had been something happening in ohio and hanging chads in florida, some cheating that happened but he withdrew his claim, and there was a peaceful transfer of power. I just how do we prepare for that threat . So, the times did a great piece on this about the legality of it. So, this is another discussion that i hope to have in the near future but there actually is a law enforce. Issues and constitutional issues in play that no member of his cabinet can aid him legally in trying to keep him in power, but the challenge is, what does he mean Jared Kushner asking secretary of defense or ivanka acting secretary of interior. Be have seen hem do these thing and erode the core pillars pillf democracy. Think we have a Young Country that has never been tested like this. Never been tested to this degree, and so if that happens, again i anticipate that it will be a disruption and what i want to ask some of the election analysts who ill be talking to and National Emergency preparedness analyst, how far down the line do we have to go if he does not exit . Thats not an area of expertise i have but its a question on me minds of a lot of voters and we have to consider that. Ive heard people, the paramilitary in portland. It is a general wherein concern and these are things we were saying in 2016, and i have to tell you, aimee, they say you have to move forward but im petty enough that every day i want to shout to the top of my lungs we tried to tell you. We tried to tell you, and here we are. Look where White Supremacy gets us. This president was elected on White Supremacy and this has always been americas greatest weakness. So its very concerning and i think we will be tested in ways that we have never been tested before, and i dont feel optimistic about the outcome but what i do feel optimistic about is being united with the people and i know this is my spirit. I would rather fight to the death before i lay down and die. Not let White Supremacy have the last word. Thats right. Making me terrified but i have questions from folks. The democracy and the future of the country is about more than the vote. What is what do you want team to do besides vote . What is your get to, what your goal and what are you fighting to create and share your hopeful vision of the future of america. Yeah. So i think besides vote, is inspire people who dont go feel inspired. Certainly understand people Natasha Brown talked me through this and there are so many black people who dont trust the system. This is a system that kept their families in redline communities, that keep their children in dilapidated pools and pete their brothers and we have to ask peopledont believe in this system, believe in you. Get a sense of agency about you and how you envision this country to be. What if you get to be the architect of the next phase of democracy . What does that look like . I hope that people can have those conversations because while some people are talking to the american, midwestern, rust belt working class there needs to be just as men or moment people talking to the dudes on the block or the chick inside any nail salon because these are voters as well, and if theyre not voters theyre potential voters, and people who hold potential political power mitchell hopeful vision for america is that people this dog my hopeful vision is for america is that everyone participates in this democracy because that is what democracy is, and that everybody gets a voice in what thats country looks like. When i hear Trump Supporters comment, sometime its on the radio shows and call in and i think my god this persons vote counts just as much as mind. One last thing. Another people can do, my focus is media and i cry for my diversity in media. I challenge the media landscape and people echo my thoughted. Right now we have a black woman in primetime and how you let people know you appreciate that is by tune, in by delivering the ratings, by 8 said littling posting, tweeting, sharing your enthusiasm but the program. Then that send as message that, yes, we august to do more of this. We ought to have more voices like this on every platform and thats why when one of us wins, we all win. When i look to my left and right i want to see aimee at the top of political power. When i look to my right i want to see joy getting enemies emmye elevate each oomph thats one sliver of hope. Youre giving me hope and optimism. The last thing you said was you have to listen to trump people spew the things theyre saying, and the other hand youre cheerleading black people, women who are you want everyone to take their place. Its beautiful. July 1 weekend and donald trump i thought i would be nervous in the chair but donald trump spoke that friday at Mount Rushmore and i didnt wash it a ai didnt watch it the night before, i woke up and watched it, i watched it and i was so angry. I was stomping like im ready. I was walking like i was in malcom x but to get run down, i was ready, i wanted to respond to this blatantly racist bigoted aand i watched native americans there get arrested on their land, on their land and it was just heartbreaking and frustrating so typically when i feel that way im like, let go, i want to write a book i want to write an oped i want to get on somebodys aand im in that space very comfortable making whoever the hell feels uncomfortable, uncomfortable. I think thats what it takes, i mean that from the bottom of my heart. I know theres been times you had to be frustrated at things you saw in this Political Landscape the amazing work the uphill battles you find and i know if today i had a negative thought i would think, i bet amy had some hard times and she is still there and pleasant and smiling, joy, mutual friend of ours, what she has to go through but she still shows up and does the job. Why do i ever have to be tired or complain. I feel like the blood of the enslaved runs through me and the spirit of my sisters in the space and the brother and in my countrymen you, me, other people in the state who were made for a moment such as this. I become equal to that moment even on my darkest days even miles tired of sometimes, my mother went into the hospital the day i was on there she broke her ankle, the next day i was hosting in the chair during a commercial break, dealing with her insurance, ordering her uber eats trying to make sure shes taking care of when the camera comes on, what you see, welcome back to am joy, thats what black women do every single day. Thats what we do. Im inspired by everything i see around me and the spirit of energy like people like you it speaks to me all the time. This is speaking to me too. So many of us doing our best, putting it all out there, doing it from our houses with the dogs in our lap or the kids, and school worried about our work, we are still doing it. I think thats where the inspiration for your book really shines through, your spirit really shines through, its beautiful. Its a miracle that you could work in politics and still have that love and that sense of courage. I admire that so much. Thank you. I have some questions in the last couple minutes. This is from another one of our audience members. How do you think joe biden is going to do in the debate . Trumps cannot fight dirty, not sure . Not sure if joe biden will go as low as trompe loeil . And do debates matter . I think the bates matter. Im very concerned about joe biden i almost wish he could tag out his running mate because pence i think is a much easier debater. I think joe biden has suffered so much and he lost children, which is a pain i cant even imagine and dealing with someone who has no morals and who really just doesnt care who will do whatever to win, im afraid of what he might bring up that well because his debate doesnt care to stop he wont lose any points by bringing up someone deceased wife or children or even his living son and just diverting, i dont trust we will have moderators that will be able to keep this in order, i dont know where physically how it takes place during a pandemic, i will say im very happy i dont think there will be an audience. I think something is lost when you have people working for applause line. The fact that you will just hear substance from these people will be helpful. I hope joe biden the things that gives me faith with him as he has an amazing team around him. I hope hes mentally and emotionally prepared to square off with someone who has no moral compass whatsoever who could bring his behavior during his debates with hillary were so distasteful. Him walking behind her on the stage and being a combination of creepy and threatening. Its ridiculous. I think in this moment i wish at the time that hilary would say, back the hell up or dont get near me. All the old playbook of politics is thrown out. In this place there is still dignity to this process which we should maintain, but little knock if you book that never hurt anybody. I think you have to give this image like im not the one, like dont do that, i might swing on you dont do that. There some behavior thats just opened up so much terrible abusive behavior, look at the congressman who called abi wont even repeat. There are colleagues in congress and for him to have a cost her that way and for him his nonapology justified his behavior and he really does not fear any kind of consequence. Thats what scares me, im good i geek out and talk about game of thrones. There was a season abare you game of thrones person . I might not be a geek but i did watch the whole thing. When Searcy Leominster got in trouble she had a trial ab everyone said she knows the consequences of her actions, she will show up. Woman said she knows the consequences of her actions and she understands them and she still is not here which she has no intention of suffering these consequences. Thats the way i look at this trump presidency, he operates as though he has certain assurances that there is no consequences to his actions and thats what we all have to question. Particularly those in the media landscape layout to be worried about covering who else has access to the white house that we dont know about it. I was talking to my 84yearold dad i said, dad, im really worried, im worried about trump becoming a dictator. Becoming . Being. I think we are here. Thats part of the narrative. I think we are here. My dad said, dont worry, you dont have to dictate. I was like what did he just tell me. There is something because i remember in the circes case the story of abgiven that the yukons laid out some pretty scary scenarios happening in 2020, something positive, something powerful could happen in this transformational moment, lay that out for us. You talked about the possibility to shift where people participate more expansively and powerfully and deeply and democracy as voters. Talk to me more about what the transformational moment might be for this country. It depends on what we are transforming from and what we are transforming to. Donald trump did not invent White Supremacy and it wont end with his departure. Should that happen. I think i would go back to the revolution versus evolution. Whatever this next phase of democracy looks like i certainly plan on being one of the architects of it. I think other people have to be prepared for that as well. Donald trump has reshaped our judiciary. When he leaves office the remnants of him will still very much be felt by an unforgiving criminal Justice System that is disproportionate impact and adverse impact on black and brown communities. Policies he set in place still exist. The judiciary is lifetime appointment so i dont even know how you run through that. Should he get another Supreme Court vacancy Mitch Mcconnell has already said they will fill the seat despite him constructing obamas chances. The programs that he got rid of that we rebuilt, he reshaped the department of justice. And reshaped who the department of justice aims to serve. I think there is going to be a lot of work to be done and everybody has to be prepared to do a little bit of that work because like you said, even at the local level, and i know because i have not always voted, i have not always dissipated at the minutia level of government but people often use a school board as an entrce into running for higher office. The state legislatures that are gop controlled they control local elections are run. This is like the complete overhaul of what the government looks like, particularly if people are Reimagining Public Safety and what that looks like. A lot of this will be left at the local level to happen, which is great because i think more people need to participate in that. It was called the First Step Act and a lot of it takes place at the local level. I think there is so much in every area of our government will need to be transformed. We need everyone. Thats right. I guess the last question, this is kind of combining and just our last couple minutes there is some questions about the role that white people can play in this moment. We talked in this last hour a lot about the black community, black voters, black women, when we look beyond to white voters, white community, white people, their responsibility in this moment, get a couple words to people who are wondering, youve got a system that does everything it can to save black lives dont matter if we want to say black lives matter whats the role for white people . There so many people who support black lives matter but dont support tearing down the confederate monuments and dont support defunding the police, which people need to understand what that means. That doesnt mean the donald trump commercials have not made it like abits rethinking public safety. Allocating those funds to other people. I think people need to ask themselves, what does black lighters mean abblack lives matter mean to you . Its like people say they think racism is showing up Walking Around in skinhead attire. We know thats not all it means. I think when white people show up as allies its not just showing up to the march. Its not just putting the blm sticker in your window. He is chewing something that will kill him. Its a more comprehensive effort than that. Even term karen, everyone thinks that karen is somebody who calls a cop on somebody. No, theres karens at your office, karens of your neighbors, karens that are constantly in the mode of superiority. Its really an overhauling way of thinking about life or you are not centered, where someone else might take up space in a way that like even genter fires moving into a neighborhood and walking past people whove been there for years and not speaking or not engaging, those black lives maters, i dont care if its public housing, they been living there a long time. It such a comprehensive discussion i find it can be a whole another hour. I do too, but we are being told, everyone across the root racial spectrum including white people are being called to be multiracial and thinking, to center to learn what it is to be an advocate for Racial Justice and antiracist activists. Part of the new antiracial democracy as you are one of the architects of the future im so grateful for you and for your book, your beautiful book and for your words and spirit and sharing this time with us today. Thank you so much amy. I cannot imagine a better person to have this conversation with and when the Global Pandemic is passed, we will do this over cocktail glasses i hope. 100 agree, thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you Tiffany Cross author of the new book say it louder for joining us today. We would like to thank the audience who are watching and participating and asking questions. If you would like to watch more programs or support the Commonwealth Club effort in making virtual programming, visit Commonwealth Club. Org online. Im in the allison, founder of she the people and everyone stay safe. Booktv continues now on cspan2, television for serious readers. Joining us now is armstrong williams, not only a columnist, talkshow host, radio host, hes the author of his latest book what black and White America must do now a prescription to move beyond race. Welcome to washington journal. Good morning and thank you so much for having me. If the title of your book deals with the prescription, what has to be fixed in your opinion . Good question. So much about focus has been on Law Enforcement, isolated Police Brutality or individuals have lost their lives and what we ha
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