I will never forget, i was struck by his slogan. He said when i become a mayor, we become mayor. That said this was a collective enterprise, collective work and responsibility, so there are policies being elaborated here last year we were talking about a Marshall Plan, because he called for a Marshall Plan. And we are going to work toward the creation of a Marshall Plan to get massive investment in the cities, because no matter what our mayors do for all the good efforts that are made, unless we get massive resources in our community, we are not going to be able to solve all problems. We must fight for reparations and fight for a Marshall Plan. [applause] the struggle against gentrification is not without controversy. It is complex, it is difficult, so there are voices that may agree and disagree, and that is fine. This agreement as long as it is constructive should be welcomed. It is not always comfortable, but nobody ever said it would be comfortable. There has to be creative tension and out of that comes better partnerships read it sharpens our analysis, sharpens our thinking. This is not a blanket endorsement of anyone. Is it it is about an understanding that someone has the right vision, right direction, because without the right vision we know for sure the people were parish. So vision is important, and the values behind that. We wanted to lay that out there. This summit is about the fact that black people and black institutions are being placed. Being displaced. So, we came here, to newark, because at least there are efforts being made to mitigate this. It doesnt mean that is always successful, because gentrification is a monster. It isnt the first time black people have been removed. We talked about the need grover removal of the 21st century, because as long as White Supremacy is in place and a capitalist political economy, we will always be challenged until we transform that system. [applause] so now, i want to introduce a number of people. We had a summit and everybody couldnt come to the summit, because it was a summit. But we have convened some of the most brilliant minds, activists, organizers, elected officials, faith leaders, all across this country, to deliberate and share ideas about how we are going to deal with this crisis, and we are going to deal with it. David harris from the institute for race and justice from harvard said, you know, ron, we came here on an emergency, but we are now emerging. We are emerging. We will be victorious. We cant introduce them all but that would be to because that would be too difficult, but if all the resource people who came from all across the country could stand up so people can see you. [applause] thank you, very much. I would like to introduce the panel. It is a conversational format to tap into the wisdom, ideas, experiences of these folks on the stage who have come from across the country, different disciplines, different experiences, different expertise to share with you and among themselves, part of what we have been trying to do in deals in terms of dealing with gentrification. Let me start in no particular order, starting with dr. Jeffrey love, associate director and the department of urban planning at Texas Southern university. Give him a wave. [applause] and the return of the native son, i was so happy because i knew him from the Jackson Campaign and beyond. He was here for many years. He is now president of the council of bishops, president of all the ame bishops. Welcome Bishop Reginald jackson. [applause] lee is the director of development from the great city of new orleans. [applause] next step needs no introduction, revolutionary in office, assemblyman Charles Barrett from East New York. [applause] all the way from omaha, nebraska, the African AmericanEmpowerment Network and omaha is one of the most formidable, powerful models of operational unity i know. Please welcome willie barney. [applause] and one of our Favorite Places happens to be in mississippi. We have a lot of love, for jackson, mississippi. The mayor couldnt beer but set his apology, but he didnt have to apologize because he sent his chief of staff, dr. Sophia amari. [applause] and she needs no introduction, she is my bad sister, you know her well, she gets stuff done. She just gets stuff done. She was on my radio show the other day and almost took over. That is frederica bay. [applause] and thats a woman in support of the million man march. Also, joining us shortly chairman larry hamm, the chairman is in the house. [applause] and finally, a brilliant mind, a great faith leader all the way from oakland, california, with the Live Free Initiative of the faith in action, reverend Michael Mcbride all the way from berkeley, california. And last but not least, my dear friend who has been the one who has moderated so many things, you see him on msnbc, he has his own radio program, i was going down my list, you all know her, right . Black americas leading political economist, dr. Julianne malvo is in the house. [applause] and before i forget, i have to say that on your program you have danny glover, i have to apologize. Listen carefully. Danny was here yesterday, he was in new york planning an event for harry belafonte, but danny is a film star and television and so forth, so he had to go back for shooting but he sends his regrets. Danny is with us and loves us, and sends his love and respect. Lets give it up for danny glover anyhow. [applause] i guess i forgot another one. Now right all right. From the Rainbow Push Coalition, Vice President and chief strategist for engagement of programs in the Rainbow Push Coalition, reverend gary from chicago. Thank you, reverend, for saving me from myself. The way we are going to do this is going to be a conversation, moderated by my dear friend coming up. Time permitting we will hopefully be able to entertain a few questions. You will raise your hand, we will get an index card to you, and at the conclusion, the most important thing is that we hear from our host. Will you please welcome to the rostrum to moderate the session, you hear him on siriusxm progress 127, any time you turn on msnbc, all over the place, ill must have to get autographs from this brother, my beloved friend reverend mark thompson. Reverend thompson thank you, all right. [applause] god bless you. [speaking arabic] what it is. It is good to be here in new work, new jersey. I was just at reverend sharptons convention, had the privilege of interviewing senator cory booker just a few minutes ago. And i wanted to let dr. Daniels and others know i did my best to get him to change his schedule to be with us tonight, and we almost get it we almost did it, but he sends his greetings as well and understands the importance of this conversation. Amen. In terms of our other esteemed elected official, mayor roz baraka, he was a student at Howard University and i was a student at the university of the district of columbia. In 1990, reverend wilson remembers we organized the student boycott of virginia beach, virginia, because in 1989, black lives matter is a new term, but our struggle with Law Enforcement has been going on all these years. You all remember 1989 with the students at virginia beach, a place we always went to on labor day weekend, so i want to acknowledge the longevity of the mayors relationship. We had no idea either one of us would be where we are now. You never know. It could have gone the other way. But god has put us in a position to continue to serve our people and he very much so is continuing in the footsteps of the great Ken Gibson Shea and his father. So please give the mayor a round of applause. [applause] and even though i say we were together in 1990, i will let you in on a secret. I usually tell people i may millennial, so dont tell anybody. [laughter] to dr. Ron daniels, i have a lot of affection for ron. Because i know the sacrifices he makes for our people. He is not in the socalled celebrity et celebrity echelon, so to speak. And he works hard and i tell him, let me know anything i can help you, but he works hard and just takes it all on himself. At this stage in life a lot of folks are ready to retire and give up. He hasnt done that. He himself, even though they are really somewhat peers, when dr. Ron walters passed away, we needed to figure out who was going to pick up the mantle in terms of conscious and woke academia. Some folks get phds and they are in these ivory towers and they are not in touch, on the ground with our people. Ron has continued to do that and is been a constant organizer in terms of organizing meetings and conferences that think tanks and things like that, the institute of the black world, going all the way back to the First Political black convention in gary, indiana, so we are just so thankful for what he does and what he continues to do. And i dont mind saying we are on siriusxm and cspan and ron i think holds the record of any individual of having cspan broadcasts events. [laughter] i dont know anyone else. When people say, how can i get on cspan, i say put on ron daniels and cspan will be right there. So im thankful for that as well. Please give dr. Ron daniels around of applause for all that he is at all that he does. [applause] picking up the mental from dr. Ron walters, we were on the radio one day on wol at fourth and h streets northeast, the First Property kathy hughes owned, and i made a decision i would have dr. Ron walters sit in the studio with me and my cohost, dick gregory, and for our community we would come up with a working definition for self determination. And him being the academician he was, we crafted that definition. It was this. Selfdetermination is a peoples command and control of their own cultural destiny, their own social destiny, their own economic destiny and their own political destiny, without any external interference from any external forces. When we talk about the issue of gentrification, that is not selfdetermination. People decide where we live, where we move, what we do. They want to live in the suburbs, you all need grows move into the city you all negroes have to move to the city. And when they want to live in the city, you negroes have to move out of the city. And now after 50 years they say, we want the suburbs back, you all have to move into the city. That is not in control of our movement as a free people and that is why this conversation is important. So we will begin the conversation on the narrative, each of the panelists who choose to, we shall respond to this, what does gentrification look like in your community . Nationally, or from the perspective of your organization or institution . This will give us a greater picture of how this is happening. And again, this isnt just for the national and International Audience that is happening, because we know that it is happening, but our panelist will give us more specifics and detail on what is happening, right where they can see it. So we will go down the line. Good evening, everyone. Thank you dr. Daniels for convening us and thank you all for coming. Friday night you could be anywhere, but you are here because you want to soak up some knowledge. We appreciate it. Dr. Daniels asked me to provide Historical Context to this gentrification. Basically gentrification is an assault on our selfdetermination. But even more than an assault on selfdetermination, this is something called been there, done that. The Great Recession caused africanamericans to lose nearly half of our homeownership, lose a significant amount of our wealth, set the tone in some places for the possibility of land takeover. But understand that in the wake of enslavement, i have this computer not because i needed because but because of a couple of numbers i want you to have. In 1880, 15 years after enslavement, black folks had one dollar for every 36 white folks at. In 1890 we had one dollar for every 26 white folks at. 1900, one dollar for every 23 white folks had to. 1910, one dollar for every 16 wax every 16 white folks had. Look at the progress. Today we have seven dollars for every 100 white folks have. From a wealth accumulation perspective we are worse off in 2018 then we were in 1910. We were just out of enslavement. Mark, you talked about degrees, all these degrees folks have running around, well, we didnt have degrees then. Only one in 100 of us had gone to college. Many of our hbcus were no better than schools, really. But we were able to accumulate in ways we have never before. Now, what happened . First of all, theres nothing trifling about the black community collectively. When people talk about the wealth gap, they will tell you we have some deficiency. We do not. What we do is live in an era through hostility, and something i call economic envy. When we get it, white folks want it. That is how it goes. So in 1910 we had over 100 blackowned banks. Now we have 23. Now some of it was changes in banking regulation that happened deliberately. There was a brother in richmond, virginia, john mitchell, and he had a f. U. R. Before everybody did. He had a cadillac. They took his bank. They said the negro league arrogant they said the negro was arrogant. They put it on paper. A savings bank ended up consolidating in 1929, 1930, and became consolidated savings bank. That bank thrived in hundreds of not thousands of people in richmond in the 1920s got their homes because consolidated was lending money to black people when other people would not. Its important to understand, we have made economic progress but then people jump up in our faces and take our stuff. Economic envy israel real. Tulsa, oklahoma was about economic envy. The story some people will tell you, the melon deficient will tell you tulsa was about a young shoeshine guy, 19, raped or assaulted sarah page, 17yearold elevator operator. Dr. Olivia hooker died not too long ago and dr. Hooker was six when it happened. She remembers it. She remembers hiding under the table at her home, the tablecloth hiding she and her siblings. Watched the white people come in, vivid memory of folks who were so envious, broke her mothers caruso records, took a next to the piano, burnt her dolls close, just people because black people had too much. When the oklahoma governor later asked for a commission to investigate this, remember nobody went to jail, they have pictures of people, a black physician came out of his home, hands up, they shot them, they killed him. We dont know how many were killed. Some people say 300, some say 600, we know 35 square blocks were eviscerated, we know me of dollars were lost we know millions of dollars were lost, and we know nobody paid anything. In fact, the red cross did not even want to go to tulsa. They wended they ended up going through external forces, but they didnt want to come. They had us in concentration camps. And the black women of the rich area of tulsa, they were not allowed to leave the reservation unless they were going to do a days work for white people. There were not allowed. I apologize, we want to give in this first round everybody just three or four minutes. Then we want to come back. Dr. Daniels had asked me to do the Historical Context. History takes a long time. [laughter] [applause] [laughter] anyway, the tulsa case, you must deal with. White folks had been stockpiling guns and waiting for an excuse. When the Governors Commission came in, why did they have this . They said, too many negroes. They didnt say negroes. Too many you know what with too much money. , anytime wee clear accumulate, there has been Public Policy against us. Public policy conspired against us. The g. I. Bill, so many things, when you look at Public Policy, we have systematically been discriminated against, systematically taking our stuff, and as i listen to the mayor this morning and so many others, when there is vacant land it needs to be redistributed to people who have been systematically sidelined. When there are opportunities, they need to be distributed to people who have been systematically sidelined. It is utterly inexcusable for this wealth gap to exist, as hard as black people work. And dont let anybody ever tell you we dont work hard. Final part before he snatches the mic. A final point, when we look at all of this in the context of economic envy and this other stuff, we must look at the ways we have to resist. We must look at the resistance we must put out there. We have black mayors who do not have the sensibility, they never met a developer they dont want to slowdance with, and to our detriment. We have black City Council People taking money under the table so that they can exploit our people. We cannot have that. Financial literacy is not Public Policy. We must be responsible stewards of that which we have been blessed with. We must save and invest. But if we saved and invested everything we got, we couldnt close the wealth gap. We will be literate, but we also want our share, reparations now. [applause] reverend thompson amen. I apologize, i should have told you three or four minutes from the outset. Let me also apologize, please keep dr. Malveauxs mother and prayer mother in prayer. Dr. Jeffries coming may we have your permission to continue dr. Jeffries, may we have your permission to continue . All right. Charles, three to four minutes. Charles i want to take the responsibility dr. Daniels spoke of to provide creative tension. I would like to play that role. We can talk about gentrification, but there is a larger problem. That is the problem of a racist, predatory, parasitic, bloodsucking capitalist system. [applause] and the solution is revolution. We can talk about gentrification, but there is a larger problem. That is the problem of a racist, predatory, parasitic, bloodsucking capitalist system. The solution is socialism. The solution is us electing that are notls descriptively black that look like us, but are authentically black and committed to us. Our biggest problem in our neighborhoods is black neoco