And we have the presentation of the book awards and we hope youll stay. I have the honor of presenting the author of a new book entitled democracy in black. A professor at princeton in university in the Religion Department and of africanamerican studies. He writes for Time Magazine and democracy now. This book i have read. Intrigues me it is very thoughtprovoking and very provocative and the title itself says that. It is actually quite to offputting how race in sleazy american soul and how many a. D. Is we havent met title with batf of race race, enslavement, antiamer ican sold that is very interesting because we aired never really able to answer that question because day idea of seoul has the connotation of truth and absolute mess. Truth and now and then there is life as we know it and the two dont align to the american soul. Democracy in black. [applause] how are you doing . I have little black preacher in the one to make sure you are all right. Thanks to the organizers of this amazing book fair that last panel was so enriching. There is a picture, a photo of when i was a little kid i had a rag tied around my head. I was doing research for my book and was reading the sanctified church and she wrote about a remedy when mother is a devout catholic goes to mass every sunday and sings in the choir but there is a moment in the book where she says get some sardines and you had the patient eat the sardines then you pour the juice on the rag and tighter around the head to shield the mumps. [laughter] i am looking at this picture for a long time so i called my mother from mississippi by the way. And i said did you put sardines use on my face when i had the mumps . And she said i sure did. [laughter] so want to thank the organizers that this is truly a blessing to be here in historic harlem surrounded by lovers of books for those who are committed to a more loving world. We need this. In these trying times to take comfort in each other even as we are angry and as we grieve that our lives are not reducible to that anger and to that brief. Thankyou to brother rodriquez for his vision and courage i can only imagine what it takes to do this. All of those running around in the atrium i am honored and humbled and buy your powerful witness but that book in my presence is not limited to that. This requires maurer of us we have noticed a senseless murder with the latest in the long list of casualties of what seems like the all out what wore on over community. We could call the names of so many like trade bob martin so many are dead so many have caught too early to deal with that collective trauma. To say over and over again this ritual of what black grief the refiner cells looking death fellow white americans of the truth of our english and depth of our sorrow many would seek to blame those in the longer have a voice because they are dead to talk about black on black crime in the need for the respect for police that culture of poverty of what is really being said that black people deserve to die. If it is exhausting. Is in raging in the think we have had the knack of. I dont want people to get it confused we are still grieving in we are still angry. So i wrote democracy in black to provide an account of the crisis in our community the crisis of this moment. From the mouths of pundits and politicians declaring we have turned and america has survived the Great Recession now and the path of genuine recovery but i saw a different picture are we better off . You know, the old baggage when america has the cold and then we get the flu. I have seen the struggling rental market over 240,000 homes people lost their jobs and those that were lucky enough to get a new job many having to make a decision. Many black families go spiraling into poverty of the new economy to languish in poverty so in my home state of mississippi 50 percent of black children will end up in poverty. Fifty . By damn near every statistical measure black america is suffering. By damn near every statistical measure we are suffering. This is not the flu. It is the flare up of a national disease. We are experiencing the great black to flexion and too many have ignored that factor simply dont want to know what is happening all around them they are adamant. Du hear me . Their adamant in their contrived innocents. Black people especially the vulnerable are invisible to sell many people in this country. Why is that the case . We talk about the wealth gap and the achievement gap but i want to say there is something more fundamental let the bottom of this in the book i called it the of value gap with the belief that white people are valued more than others the belief that white people are valued more than others in this country and i say this on cspan and the chair africanamerican studies at Princeton University we need to confront the value gap. [applause] five i know we came here to talk about the book that i have so much spirit of our social practices that forms a are political regions might arrangements and unrealities. Not just discrimination or prejudice but the way we come to see the world that shapes our actions and the value gap is a key feature since conception. Even when we ignore alleged the progress we have made we have a reassertion of that value gap but at the moment the Founding Fathers give voice they reconcile those principles and at the moment of which we have the civil war and being paid to pawed radical reconstruction what do we get in response . Still from the back of black prisoners . En in response to that jim crow and mississippi and alabama the value gap in response to the Civilrights Movement everyday ordinary people insisting upon their dignity and then there is a tax revolt in california and calls for law and order. Not just republicans but democrats also. Then president obama is elected what do we get in response . And attack on Voting Rights and donald trump in. Bond with each moment of progress we get a sense of the value gap because at the heart of this country for the first time a modern constitutional state was created with the institution of slavery. And determines the very idea if is the belief because of the color of their skin are valued more than others. Today is the same but what is consistent is that value gap some black people say things have not changed we know theyre not in slavery i know i dont live in the mississippi that my dad grew up in but read do know that it can be taken from us just like that we know that value gap those whose lives are less valued. You dont know the context or the conditions he will take your last breath you have to worry about your love ones every time you have encountered. Now let me say this. The value gap isnt the same ambitious i and yelling at you because i want you to hear me in the back it is an sustained that is easy by race is one to identify those who are running around that is too easy. It allows the sentimental white liberal to say those are the bad people laugh laugh i am one of the embargo will get me laugh laugh at the heart of the value gap are these racial habits die tell the story of the book my daughter worked at the post office in mississippi. He knew he had precocious kids city move them to the west side and as we were moving in the police would drive by he said yes i own it and a couple of days later the kids in the back blew up the back window with a pellet gun he responded with a 12 gauge john to the land and said she again. I heard them say stop playing with that nigger the first time i had been called that word in that context. In that context. [laughter] i thought you did it get that. Been the grab my truck and iran in size of the history of mississippi i know what he said but they had separate for sale sign within months but some black family achieve the American Dream to buy the big house on the hill but then said means bearded adults fast to prevent there not that but that is too easy because i knew at the age of eight removing to the white south white side of town because it when their range of flooded or the sidewalks were not paid to the houses were smaller the park was not close by was learning race. I was learning the value gap. Just drive through harlem or brooklyn. You know, what im talking about. You learn race and racial habits. All the salt making choices day in and day out. Not just white people all of us. I am not a Climate Change denier. I do think the world is getting hotter and human beings are the reason why. But if you look at my car or my house or the labels i use all of my daily traces you would think that i think the planet is just fine but i dont run around to deny that i dont run around calling people the n word i dont talk about but you just need to listen when i say a one to take my kids to the best schools that means means, any black or brown people are in the school . What does that mean . We are making choices day in and day and out that reproduce the value gap. Racial habits. We to give the lifeblood and to bring back home. I was thinking about this theater day of a town hall meeting. White fere racial habits are nourished by white fear. Political like muslims or anxiety that is bigger than any one person. And shared by people that it threatens them end to their way of life. Is in and has. It is political fear and generalizes them. And that fear can drive Public Policy with racial moral panic. Talk about the fear of black male sexuality in the context of the emancipation think of white fear what it did in new york city in terms of central park five per godey remember that they were passing laws that these young black men were Walking Around randomly knocking people out. It turned out it was an isolated incident but in the arts legislature is bat passing laws based upon that and it is not new panic and white fere who said they fear for my country and i am thinking about slavery. As gods punishment for the institution of slavery worrying about black revenge. And they still pay for it the black Panther Party scaring the hell of black people obama is the manchurian candidate for black revenge. [laughter] so he was initiated. That fear driving Public Policy. Interacting with our babies. But what is so interesting is that our fere affects our political behavior. How many times are you in in your office and you bite your lip . We dont want to be perceived as being freed negro remember they settle bombing cannot be angry . Cool as the other side of the palo . But i with malcolm on this. Remember that wonderful line . Tell them what kind of hell you have been catching the they are not ready to clean up their house they should not have a house then it should catch on fire and burned down. Of not trying to scare a betty r. Bern peoples houses down but we do need to affirm the reality that it comes home to roost. We dont have the limited moral capacity we dont have that unlimited moral capacity to forgives. We are human beings. [applause] so i just gave you the first five chapters of the book the fifth chapter has everything to do transitioning to our complicity and the fact that we are scared to tell the truth. That the class contradiction within our community is fully in view and those that have taken the bride and are willing to engage to undermine the deep radical of american democracy. Do hear me . The second part of the book is a deep interrogation of the black Political Class with the implication the black people are catching with a profound critique of black liberalism that has been on their watch. Even if you dont control the keys to the blasts or if the stairway is locked if you were on the bus he should be screaming at the top of your lungs. What have people been doing . The crack of access. So many people have been so excited about this moment but i try to argue for a revolution of values sustained by racial habits fuelled by white fear to be reinforced buyer own complicity in the revolution of value calling for the revolution of value changing how we view black people and what we take to matter most tawdry change review of government . Or the view of black people change the view of white people only white people can kill the idea of white people had retained what matters . Predicated upon selfishness and greed and then we get donald trump. He is a reflection at the heart of our society. That requires a strategy in the street and at the ballot box. In the street and the ballot box. We need to have a debate about what we will do this election season dont let them make you feel afraid with the prospects. Then they dont have to give you anything or address your condition they just the detail that donald trump is in the wing but in fact, what the Republican Party did not pass welfare reform they did it dismantled last eagle these were democrats had we exhibit what is reflected of the conditions of our community . , this is one simple idea since we experience joy we need to expand the notion it is of the people for the people by the people to sacrifice our lives to be defined who those people are. So we need to do democracy in black again to understand the complexity of our view with the complexity of our community. We have to understand the importance when ltv team means and understand we are complex to the politics with all of its complexity. [applause] what stop fighting for freedom and just be free. But the moment we stop acting like they expect us to the moment the universe the moment we reject the categories that imprisoned us then all hell breaks loose. Lets just be free. [applause] and what it seems in the panel that was alluded to this that the politicians orchestrated by their blackness. Obama whenever he says things i may applaud him he gets the cry of being racist. Now in the future cannot politician in this climate represent us like johnson or clinton to actually do things in our interest . There was a wonderful study of a scholar from the university of chicago who looked at the correlation between policies that black people support and dont get supported or dont get past the more black people like ed gillis likely it is to be passed. The more we like it the less likely it will be passed. So remember we have a language called the racial laws asian we could get out of that niche representational category to present herself says the rationalized part of that was to break loose from the a. D. Well the represent our community. That perception of blackness was understood to be limiting and defining. But they say we are the electorate we cannot go to the Republican Party because they have interest did Democratic Party has a reason to deliver. We have no place to go. One so we see all the time this kind of dancing that is why it igo to steve harvey show you care the language and the tone then they give us the weekend the nod. Alleges cannot talk about this in public. And there are no mechanisms of accountability but then black politics becomes this the risk of distinction between the black Political Class and the democratic establishment when in fact, the black political leaders to the work of the democratic establishment. What does that mean for our community . We need to begin to insist on specificity how is it your policies will address unemployment or address the housing crisis in the black community, not having that public auction affect the black communities . We need to ask those without presuming our blackwork representatives are behind closed doors to linda for us. Not all of them but behind closed doors they are taking care of their own. We have to tell the truth. Your talk was phenomenal. And the president of the black mba association a couple days ago we had a big fundraiser with doctors and engineers he would have been the perfect speaker. There is more than a thousand people there and went to see if we can do a book signing with you. You would be phenomenal but ive been taking what you were saying how the blacks are composite to be apologetic to white people to be so concerned about their feelings but they talk about what is going on in their life so for me i will stop doing that and you are a princeton . I know there is a lot of white people there. [laughter] with is your performance of not being complicitous in that way blacks. I navigate these bases just like you or i am not in a pristine state. Princeton founded African American studies in 1968 despite leaving the department thought in. This is the first year you offered a major in africanamerican studies. Were still fighting battles. I am not running around angry i am not doing that but we find dublin navigating these environments. Sewed James Baldwin writes we have to make ourselves blank to wash away your guilt to talk the unity in this moment is a shorthand for us to leave the suffering at the door. Because somehow we cannot be unified so we cannot be angry in public or enraged in public. We cannot advocate on behalf of the people we care most about. We have a mask we have a cover one of the most unique populations in terms of how we participate in the political process. What happens when we step outside . They want us to bear the burden of the neofascist them. They want us to bear the burden to hold off the new fascism but they cannot even speak to the pet specificity of our needs as a community in the process. Because if you get him he will destroy your community so wide open for denies jobs plan but specifically what do you do about this . Lift all votes. We can get back to that. I am an educator in your city. So hows it to me get on to the basic Foundation Level as far as diversity . I work in the bronx you think theyre ready diversity but with curriculum and presentations i am the only one who will do something about the african culture that would give background history in 2016. I dont see people coming to the pta meeting to give presentations about history and diversity so how would you encourage all people if you have children in the publicschool system or not not, to come out that only to educate the teachers if you dont know about the demographics of the publicschool system in new york city mayor not the majority to educate our children how to read get more education out there to our colleagues . They dont even want to talk about nothing. I am the only one who would do something and i am guilty because i think i came from chicago because everybody was doing it. So the question is how do we get people to get involved in the Public School system to dont have children and get them to the Community Education council to say we need more diversity in our workshops, professional development. I wish i had the answer. I will be very clear the days of people getting up to offer the critique to clear the space we need to stop accepting that i am not presenting myself as someone who knows everything we all have to do this together but i can say generality we imagine our politics and we hit it earlier on the head voting is the last thing that you do democracy is required so much more before the ballot box if we begin to see or politics for as strictly local then organize and to mobilize around those issues but how schools are in peril generally my hero is ella baker she informed the second half of the booker model of organizing that we are the leaders we have them looking for from a custodial model of leadership to presume we just need to hand over to somebody else make the decisions on our behalf behind closed doors. We want to change the scene of the operations of power to understand our power how that take shape in relation to criminal justice or in terms of employment or local communities. Said to change the center of gravity and the mode of politics there is one road and then there isnt. I apologize that is said. [applause] hopefully this is not a forever conversation. Professor glaude book is available and he will be with us until 6 00 p. M. So we can assign some books. This was the last of the cspan broadcast panel of with like to close out this portion of the book festival thanks to the viewers for joining us again across the country and also harlem hospitals for hosting and oslos cspan for broadcasting and for joining us today but for landed your thoughts and voices and intention into the conversation of who we are, where we are going and how we get there. Please join us july next year for the 90s harlem book fair we are working very hard to our 20th year celebration. We are excited about that. The book fair is becoming a public conversation such as professor glaude now. We are hoping that what we all do together is to engender more public conversations to have some ideas how we can maneuver or manage your create facts as we move forward they give for supporting a the harlem book fair please stay for the next part of the presentation and then the awards. [applause] i have alw the institution which takes no federal funds. S. I was reading just yesterday. My wife showed me last night and some literature founded in 18441 of the first universities inerss