Transcripts For WABC Here And Now 20160424

At a time an arts and Academic Program in brooklyn. And later, making Lasting Impressions an etiquette coach on why social dos and donts still matter. Thats all ahead on there has been an apparent increase in racerelated problems on College Campuses around the country, sparking protests nationwide, as well. A new documentary, remixing colorblind, examines how the educational system shapes our understanding of race and also takes a look at the nuances of race relations. If you can overcome the stigma, if you can acclimate yourself to what sometimes is a strange and alienating environment, and then if you can wrestle with and confront and overcome the biases and implicit biases that well be subject to as a student of color at a predominantly white graduate and be successful. I actually didnt think about diversity when i was selecting a college, but now i wish i did. Because when i came, i didnt realize, like, how the theres not much hispanics here. So, since i didnt realize that, it was a very, like, big Culture Shock for me. Remixing colorblind was produced and directed by dr. Sheena howard, an associate professor of communications at rider university, and she is with us today. Thank you so much for being here. Thank you. Why was this project an important one for you . Why did you undertake this subject matter . I think a couple of things. One, i went to an historically black university for my phd program, and so that really opened up a whole new world to me, as far as educational experience and being around, you know, people of color in that way. Previous to that, i had spent my time at predominantly white kind of shaped how i thought about race. And as a young black professor at a predominantly white school now, i really started to think about some of the institutional practices that shape our experiences and our notions around race. And, you know, what are some of those institutional practices, and would you describe them as being racist . I would describe them as structural racism. Things like the number of faculty of color at the university, the abysmal number of administrators who are of color. Even when we look at core curriculum, i think that we need a place in the core curriculum that deals with notions of race, civility, social justice, and a lot of universities dont dont have that. Those are the institutional things, but then there are the like racist comments on campus, socialmedia apps, where students are using to be racist and use racial slurs. So, its the institutional practices, and then its just the everyday casual racism that were seeing on College Campuses, as well. And how do you get people to Pay Attention . If this is if they say, well, these are the rules. This is the way weve always done it. I dont understand what the problem is, how do you get them to start to listen . Well, thats one of the things that im trying to do with this documentary. You know, im a writer, im a researcher, but i thought that presenting the experiences of students on College Campuses around race and faculty members with that visual element may start to get people to Pay Attention. Because what im trying to do is prepare universities for the shifting demographics of students of color who are going to be appearing on campus and who have already appeared on these institutional microaggressions and racism. Mmhmm. And, you know, what was reading looking at pieces of your documentary and reading some about the subject matter, i think one of the things that was interesting to me is that term microaggression, where for a long time, i think we all just said, well, thats the way it is and it doesnt really have to mean theyre racist, but thats the way theyve always done anything done things. What do you think has been the shift for collegeeducated students of color in this generation . Why have they decided, or what made them say, you know what . Its not okay. Just because its always been done this way, it needs to change, and we have to be the instrument of that change. What do you think is the shift in thinking . What made them decide to you know, to take on this subject matter at this point in time . One, i think young people are being empowered by the black lives Matter Movement that weve seen over the last couple of years, two, the changing demographic, so by 2020 on the northeast corridor, there are going to be more students of color graduating from high school than white students, so were seeing more students of color on College Campuses, so they can coalesce around diversity in different ways now, in ways that we havent seen in the past. Three, social media. Students are able to document the things that are happening to them on campus in the same way black lives matter is able to Document Police brutality with videos, with apps like yik yak, when you can say, look, students are saying these racist things using this app. So, i think those three things are making a real difference in this issue really emerging to public consciousness, even though we know its always been happening. That say, well, i think theyre being overly sensitive, you know, hypersensitive . I think, one, the conversation around race and Higher Education always misses the mark. So a lot of the things that we saw with the university of missouri, all these, you know, articles came out about freedom of expression and students should be able to say what they want. But thats thats not the main problem on College Campuses, that if you look at the demands that students have on College Campuses, theyre not saying, you know, we dont want to be called the n word anymore. Theyre saying, we want more investment in our black student union. Theyre saying, we want apps like yik yak banned. Theyre saying, we want more Faculty Diversity and administrative diversity. So, i think people are having the wrong conversations when they talk about race in Higher Education, and if they focused on the things that can actually improve the campus culture, we would be a lot further along. Mmhmm. Whenever we start to talk about this this the subject of race in this country . No matter what the context is, that everybody gets their feelings hurt. They go to their corner, and so they immediately think that youre just talking about me, so we end up just talking over each others head and nobody hears what the other person is saying. Right. So you never really get at what the real issue is, that there really is an issue. Right. Right. And if there wasnt an issue, you wouldnt have kids starving themselves to make a point. You definitely wouldnt have division i athletes protesting to say, hey, this needs to stop. Thats a really brave move on the part of athletes to say, you know, were going to take a stand. So, you have to know that the situation is a lot more deep than freedom of expression, and we dont want to be called racially insensitive things on campus. So, youre hoping this documentary, remixing colorblind, at least starts the conversation, informs know much about the issue or needed or wanted to hear more . Yes. Absolutely. So, one of the things we talk about in the documentary also is affirmative action. You know, theres a big case at the Supreme Court right now around affirmative action. So, you know, were not giving people necessarily conclusions, but we want this to be a starting point for conversations. Now, there is going to be a supplemental piece that i will create for things that institutions can do to make their Campus Climate better for students of color. You know, im an educator, so i believe in Higher Education. I want to see institutions be places that lead in the actions that we can take for better environments for people of color. You know, i want to see individuals that run universities alleviate these problems before, you know, you see them in the media. So, thats what im trying to do. Okay. Sheenachoward. Com. Its your website, so you can about the work youre doing, as well as your documentary. And then remixingcolorblind. Com is about the documentary specifically, and itll have information about where youll be able to see it. Absolutely. Thank you so much for being with us. Thank you. Well be right back. I hope we have a buyer for the house. Me too what are the neighbors doing here . Bill hey come in, come in i didnt know your home wifi could stream so many devices at the same time. Dad, its time warner cable. 300 megs. Crazyfast. And we were right across the street the whole time. The whole time. Make your home as connected as possible with time warner cable. Get 50 meg internet for 39. 99 per month. Call now. Would anybody like to see the kitchen . Anybody . Dad you can get wifi all over this place. Cool switching is easy. I know, right . you get a onehour arrival window, no contract to sign, and a moneyback guarantee. Do you want to take a look pizzarolls are done take a look at the kitchen. Get 50 meg internet with unlimited data for 39. 99 per month. Call now. Ask about free installation and access to nearly 500,000 wifi hotspots with select plans. Call now. Some young people in brooklyn are marching to the beat of a lifechanging drum. Theyre part of the brooklyn united music and arts program, which combines marching band experience with academic achievement and selfimprovement. It is changing lives one beat at a time. Joining us this afternoon is the founder of bu, tyrone brown. So nice to meet you. Thank you. Yeah, lot of energy. Oh, yes, all day. A whole lot of energy. So, tell us about brooklyn united. Whats the idea behind it . Well, the thought is that young people really require a place to be, someplace to go after school where they know theyre safe, they know theyre welcome, know theyre loved, and they get to kind of move out of the School Environment and do something different. So, brooklyn united was designed with that in mind a place where we can create a Community Within a community, a family of students. You know, give the parents something to be proud of, something that they can tell their child, im proud of you. Good job, great work. So, bu, in its design, was really about that new family structure, that opportunity where young people just had a place to be and call home. Yeah, and have alternatives, instead of something that they probably shouldnt be hanging out doing. Definitely. So many choices, so many influences in their lives, so bu serves as one of those positive influences. And why is it and how is it was the way to capture their attention . Well, you know, for me, this is 22 years. When i was a young man, i was blessed enough to have the opportunity to be a part of a marching band, and i got a chance to see exactly what we did behind the scenes. You know, for some people, you see the performances and the horns and the drums, all the great things that we do, but for us, we were able to learn some really strong life lessons. And i saw marching band as the magnet, honestly. You know, its the tool, its the thing that attracts the young people. But once theyre with us, we teach so much more. So, you know what it did for you, so you believed it could do for other people. Again. You know, me, my peers, over the years, weve seen so many young people from crown heights, from bedfordstuyvesant, east new york, flatbush, all over the borough come into our program and just go into the world and be amazing citizens, college world, and just be leaders wherever they go. So, definitely, i know what it can do. There are four pillars you talk about with brooklyn united, some of the things that youre able to do and teach them in their lives. Talk to me about those four pillars. Well, one of the main areas that we try to work hard on is academics. Young people come to us after school, and truthfully, they just need some assistance with their homework, some encouragement, really. You know, i think that homework serves as an excellent study tool and a good gauge for us to know how the young man and young ladys doing. So, academic support and academic encouragement is one of our major pieces. Secondly, we have our mentorship piece, mentorship character development, where its just a reminder of some of the things that they may see thats not really the norm. And our opportunity to kind of, either, a, reverse certain behaviors or, b, encourage certain behaviors, where just at bu, we just dont do it that way. You know, when you come into bu, theres a sign at the top that says be better. Everybody touches that sign as they enter. And its just that opportunity here, certain things wont be allowed. So, discipline is really important to us, and it works. And do you have the experience well, look, youre dealing with kids. Right, right. So, some kids are a little bit tougher nut to crack than others, i would take it . Oh, yeah. And i like the tougher ones. Send me the tough ones. You know, the thing about it is the tough ones come in tough, and when they get there, they get an opportunity to really just see the other ones kind of fall in place. So, its not really that bad of a crack, because you realize that theyre tough because of from. But when they enter the doors of bu and they realize that they can be themselves, they can relax a little bit, calm that down a little bit, and sometimes we put em in a corner and remind them. You know, but we have the pleasure of having young people from age 5 all the way up to 22. Okay. So, theres always a mentorship opportunity, always a way for us to pull a young man and young lady aside and say, listen, i used to be you. And one of the great things also about bu is the performance allow them to show what they can do, and it also allows them to see places they may not ever have expected to be able to see. Talk to me about some of the places youve performed, the people the kids have met. That list is going to be long. Weve got time. But its amazing the amount of opportunities that have opened up for brooklyn united. You know, one of the things that ive tried to do is really go after the bigger ones, go after the big shows. You know, lets show our young people they belong on the big stages, that they fit right in with all the big stars. So, brooklyn united has built some wonderful relationships where were a regular at the barclays center. Weve been to carnegie hall. Weve been to the apollo. You know, pretty much anything large in new york city, its the rockettes, its the brooklynettes dancers, and its the brooklyn united marching band. And were excited about that. We want our young people to really, really just know what its like to perform in front of huge audiences. And it kind of helps encourage you know, if you do this, if you do that, this is whats going to happen. So, as long as those phones keep ringing and people invite us to these great places, it gives us opportunity to motivate them to continue to do better. And when your kids, you know, they graduate kind of out of the program, do they come back and tell you . Have you seen the sign, the evidence of how much you influenced that kid and pushed them on to do bigger and Better Things . Man, its really its really a great feeling to talk to some of the alumni about bu and about the work that weve done. Many of them mention that in their everyday life, in their workforce on their jobs, some of them are supervisors, how much how much the things that happened to them in bu just constantly reminds them of how to be and how to act. So, yes, its great stories, and its great when they come back and talk to the young people about being the same little trumpet guy, and now here i am doing xyz. So, its a great feeling to see them come back and talk about the life lessons that they so, if you want to find out more how many kids are involved with the program right now . Currently, we average 200 kids a year. Okay. All right. To find out more information about bu, how you can get involved, how you can help you with the work youre doing, its bkunitedmb. Com. Yep. Bkunitedmb. Com. You can check out our website. Its a lot of great information there. Yeah, take a look at some of those videos so you get a chance to see exactly how talented those kids are. Very. Such a pleasure to meet you, tyrone. Thank you, again. And keep us posted on your good work. Will do, for sure. All right. When we come back, building selfconfidence with the help stay with us. Lasting, and proper etiquette could make or break a business meeting or even a date. Sharonfrances moore, the president of shances, is an etiquette coach who says it is never too late to learn the rules of etiquette. So nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. You know, its funny. When i first heard about this interview, i said, etiquette . You know, 30 seconds later, a minute later, i thought, you know what . Im always complaining about how people, younger people dont necessarily know how to dress for an interview these days, cause maybe its something they never did. And honestly, i think you hit the nail on the head. Thanks. Why why was this something that youre passionate about . Well, i started teaching etiquette in college. The university asked me to teach other students proper dining for interviews, and it just morphed from there. I started getting clients in the entertainment field, and then corporations who really wanted to help their employees, especially those who are because etiquette really is about respect. Sometimes people think its oldschool, but its not. And that rolled into me helping people who were new in the workforce and students who often just they need the little tips and help to help them dress correctly or know how to walk into a room with confidence. Yeah. You know what . And its interesting i dont think that sometimes we we all kind of think of it as being an oldschool thing. And so maybe there was that gap in there, when everybody decided, oh, you just do your own way. Were all going to be casual, were all going to youre going to be accepted exactly the way you are. And sometimes its not really about being accepted the way you are, its about being appropriate for that moment. Its always about being appropriate for the occasion. And it also gives people a great sense of confidence to walk into a room and own the room. Yeah, and know exactly what to do and, you know, how to behave in a given situation. Exactly, and some of those people wont even walk into a room, because theyre so afraid of feeling awkward. And at shances, we help them awkwardness and to actually know how to command a conversation or how to have a great dining experience. Its wonderful. And is there an age group that you focus on, or is it pretty much older, younger . I run the gambit. So, i Teach High School students, college students, executives. My oldest client at this time is 70, and my youngest client is actually 6. The classes are meant to be fun. Theyre meant to be engaging, and theyre meant to be a good time. But most importantly, theyre meant for people to take home and teach their families. Okay. So, are there some common etiquette faux pas . I dont think anythings common, but i think that people really need to just know that its about respect, and its about learning someone elses culture and just the proper way to behave. So, we talk about dining. We talk about proper conversation. Social media is huge. Mmhmm. Yes. How to clean up your social media and also how to behave on social media. So, thats part of the etiquette universe, too . And also just to have a regular conversation with someone, how to be wellrounded. All of it falls under etiquette. Okay, so, social media, because thats, look, everybody, old, young, these days. When you talk about socialmedia etiquette, what are we talking about . Well, first, people always say that social media is a footprint, but its not. Its a tattoo. Its permanent. So, its teaching people that what you put out there will remain out there, and to kind of pause, take a comma in your sentence, and before you press send, to think about what youre writing and to think about the fact that its permanent, and perhaps rewrite it. And are there ways to redo some craziness that youve put out there that you really didnt want mean to . There are companies that will help you with that, but its expensive and its damaging, so its better to do it before. Okay. Than to try to clean it up after. Which is why youre focused on teaching them the right way to do it. Exactly. What about the dining table . The dining is so much fun. I love teaching dining etiquette. We start with 28 pieces, and front of a 28piece place setting. But once youve sat in front of it, Everything Else is a piece of cake. We teach people the proper way to cut, to use their utensils, to identify wines, and to order food. And i think there are you know, there may be some people listening to this that will say, well, that doesnt really have anything to do with my life. Thats not necessarily true, though, is it . It isnt. Your life should always evolve. And whats wonderful about etiquette is that it lets you walk into rooms and doors that you might not have thought that youd ever walk in. We have a lot of social etiquette, as well as cultural etiquette, so we take classes to the opera, to the museum, to jazz shows. Its about just rounding out edges. And i notice you theres a section on your website, you talk to people about the appropriate attire. Theres a reason that some things are appropriate in some places and other things are not. And its not about necessarily infringing upon somebodys personal style. Its really knowing the appropriate clothes to wear for the appropriate time. So, if youre going to the work, if youre going to work, you want to wear an outfit that fits in with your work environment, which will be different than something you might wear to a social function. And you want people to look at your professionally, just like if youre at the social function, you want people to know that you fit into that environment. And you could do that and still express your own personal style. Always. Now, i want to talk to you about your gofundme campaign, because you are doing this, because you want to be able to provide some of these lessons for lowincome families and children . Yes, so presently at shances, we offer a lot of classes to lowincome students. We do a lot of classes in the bronx, in manhattan, and we just want to open it up to more people. So, we have a gofundme campaign, and were asking people to sponsor a school, sponsor a student, and allow us to come in and teach them etiquette. All right, and we can and anyone can go to shances. Com. I hope they do. Its a free resources, and theyll learn a lot. Okay. Honestly, i found the website, you know, and i kind of think i know everything dont we all . But i really did find the website interesting and enlightening. Thank you. It was such a pleasure to meet you. And i hope that youll come to one of our classes. Okay. Well, well see. [ both laughing ] let me figure out what i dont know, okay . Okay. Fair enough. All right. Thank you so much. Thank you. It was nice to meet you. It was nice to meet you. Well be right back. Thank you for dining with us. Hope to see you again soon. Just gotta get the check. Almost there. I cant reach it. If you have alligator arms, you avoid picking up the check. What . Its what you do. I got this. Thanks, dennis if you want to save fifteen percent or more on car insurance, you switch to geico. Growwwlph. Its what you do. Thanks for joining us on here and now. If you missed any portion of todays show, you can watch at abc7ny. And if youd like to comment or share your story, email us at abc7ny or follow us on facebook and twitter. Enjoy the rest of your day. The following is a presentation of espn on abc. Fresh off winning his sec