Transformative Dialogues: Hip Hop, Media, and Political Engagement

[00:00:00] Welcome to the MahoganyBooks Podcast Network, your gateway to the world of African American literature. We're proud to present a collection of podcasts dedicated to exploring the depth and richness of African American literature. I'm also sure South and Podcasts like BlackBooks Matter of the Podcasts

[00:00:17] where we learn about the books and major life moments that influence today's top writers. Or tune in to Real Ball and Three, where brothers, Jan and Miles, invite amazing people to talk about the meaningful books in their lives.

[00:00:29] So, whether you're a literature enthusiast and advocate for social justice, or simply curious about the untold stories of shape our world, subscribe to the MahoganyBooks Podcast Network on your favorite platform and let African American literature ignite your passion. Filling! Wait a minute, how y'all feeling?

[00:00:52] Yes, yes, yes, yes. First of all, I want to give it a prod DJ. Can y'all give it a prod DJ? Dr. Deep Cranks. This is a whole architect, right? So, Black people be doing things but we're just grateful for you all being here tonight.

[00:01:08] My name is Ramanda Young and I am Derek Young. And we are the owners of Mahogany Books right here in Washington, D.C., let me see about sure if he has a familiar with Mahogany Books. Okay, okay, thank you. So, just a little bit about Mahogany Books.

[00:01:23] We've been in business once, 17 years now and next week will be Mary 22 years. So, yes, Black Books, Black people, Black Love, all of that. So, 17 years but just a little bit about Mahogany Books. We created this business. Why actually it was your dream?

[00:01:40] Maybe you want to share about your dream? I want to sell Black Books to Black people so they can be empowered. Oh, sorry, sweet. I got plenty to say. But I'm from Tulsa, Oklahoma. When I did not have access to Black Books.

[00:01:52] I did not know Black Wall Street was literally about 1.5 miles from my house. Because it was never talked about in my schools. And so, when you had this brilliant idea about creating a bookstore, I was like yes,

[00:02:04] because I didn't want people in Tulsa, South Carolina, Ohio, wherever, to not have access to Black Books and our stories. You already know there's a whole thing going on about banning our history and books of that nature. So, this is a real love letter to us.

[00:02:18] Love letter to our community about creating Black Books. And so, when we see people out at our events, it's a deep thing for us that you guys took your time, took your money, took your energy, got babysitters to be here. So give yourselves a big round of applause.

[00:02:31] Yes, yes, yes, yes. The other thing I want to give a quick shout out to is the ARC. You guys, let me see my show of hand. How many have been here at the ARC? Okay, okay.

[00:02:41] Let me see about show of hand to have not been here at the ARC. Yes, so I'm excited. This is a large number that have not been here. This event is hosted. We also converse in John Lewis here. Many, many years ago, a young event.

[00:02:52] So this is a great space. We had Cadene and Devol here for their event. So we enjoy bringing people to this venue in Southeast DC. It's important that this side of the community has access to just amazing program. So thank you for being here.

[00:03:06] So let's get into it. I don't even come here, Ramantha. So let's get into this. We are thrilled to welcome our amazing moderator today. Our name is Angela Rye. Angela is an award winner. We go clap just a second.

[00:03:21] So to be working hard, I want to read these accolades. Angela Rye is an award-winning host, social justice advocate, a whole lawyer, commentator and self-described empowerment tour. She embodies what it means to be a bringer of truth, named and raised accordingly. The attorney holds no, holds no bar.

[00:03:39] No holds bar commentary has resonated with demographics all over the world. Her thoughtful yet incisive commentator in real talk about social justice, politics, culture and history sparked much needed conversation about the state of America. She is the host of the weekly podcast on the one with Angela Rye.

[00:03:58] She has also been seen on several programs at outlets from the Breakfast Club to the Daily Show BET where she has been nominated for multiple NAACP Images Awards. Please, please, I'll give it up for the Angela Rye. All right, welcome.

[00:04:19] Shalaman the God to the stage next, Shalaman the God, multimedia mogul, Boko, Best in on for co-hosting heart radios, The Breakfast Club, an addition to starring on television. He is also the CEO of the Black Effect podcast network. His own production company,

[00:04:37] See the God World LLC and co-host a popular podcast of brilliant idiots. Helling from the small town of Marks Corner South Carolina. Did I say that right brother? Okay. Shalaman quickly rose to become one of today's most compelling media personalities,

[00:04:55] non-forced ability to interview politicians and celebrities with the same unique POV through his various platforms he helps drive the national conversations around race, culture and politics. He is the author of Get Honest or Die Line, why small talks sucks,

[00:05:11] the New York Times best selling Black privilege and the global best seller, shook one. Let's get into it. Welcome Shalaman the God. Yes, give it up, give it up. Yes, yes, yes. What's happening? How y'all feeling out there?

[00:05:35] You almost had a viral moment before your book talk even started because I was like, whoa, okay. Why would I have it? I don't know. It's, you know, y'all catch me if I fall. Well, if you rock in the chest, probably going to do that.

[00:05:47] Well, I just sat down in my foot for a little anyway. It's fine. Um, you all we are so happy to be in DC. Yes, thank y'all for coming out, man. Really appreciate it. I don't think if we're granted that all. Yeah. Oh, I feel it now.

[00:05:59] Oh, okay. I feel it now. Just, just sit like, okay. Like, all right. Like, Prince Akim is okay. Okay. Anyway, so we are here today to talk about your third book. This is on his imprint Black privilege publishing. And get honest or die-like. Yep.

[00:06:20] What's the purpose of this title? The purpose of that title, I want to weigh on a spiritual retreat earlier this year and one of the things that came up from it, this spiritual retreat was a stop lying to yourself and stop volunteering to lies to other people.

[00:06:35] And you know, it makes you realize that, you know, every day of our lives we wake up and we really just sometimes volunteer lies the folks and I know you might be thinking

[00:06:44] to yourself, well, I don't be lying in nobody but you know, nine times I've got to tend you probably do because you know, you get on social media and pretend to do things

[00:06:52] that you're not doing or you get on social media and pretend to be happy when you're not happy or you know, you get on social media and you know, see something that somebody got going on and you want to, one up them in some way shape of form.

[00:07:04] So we all constantly show up with these mask on and you know, volunteer these lies to the world. So you know, that title is just me constantly challenging myself and challenging all of

[00:07:16] us to just really show up and be the true authentic honest version of yourself at all times. Love it. Okay. So we start in the introduction and you name someone a chocolate covered white supremacist. Yep. Do you care to tell the audience who you're talking about?

[00:07:35] It was Kanye West. Yes, do you? I think it might have some folks to agree with you. I don't care if they do it not, I just have it. That's my thoughts. Do you want to talk about why you named him a chocolate covered white supremacist?

[00:07:51] What did I reference in? I mean, I think I was just referencing you know, where are we, where were you seeing him, you know, lately over the past few years. I was just a tongue-in-cheek joke. They would know story attached to it.

[00:08:03] What about do you have others you like to name? Well, chocolate covered white supremacist? No, I'm not, you want me to get my cat Williams on and just start shooting. Yeah. Yes, that's exactly what I want with no beverages. No. You will drink this alcohol. Okay, fine.

[00:08:22] All right. So one of the things that you say in this book later in the book, but she's mentioned throughout is that Judy Bloom was your dream interview. Yes. Talk about why Judy Bloom was your dream interview. Oh man, because my mother, well, she's an English teacher.

[00:08:37] She wasn't English teacher. She's still an English teacher, but she does like substitute now so she's not like a full time in English teacher. But she was an English teacher for like four decades in South Carolina and you know, we used

[00:08:49] to have the book at program on, if you're up on the book at program where you had to read four books to get a free pizza. So I must look like an English teacher for a reason because I love pizza.

[00:08:58] So I used to read a lot of books, but my mother used to always tell me to read things that don't pertain to me. And so like when I would be in like the library, I would see these Judy Bloom books and these Beverly clearly books.

[00:09:10] But I would see these books and it would be like these, you know, young white girls. And I'm like, well, that's clearly doesn't pertain to me. Like that's the total opposite of who I am.

[00:09:19] So I would just pick up those books and read them, but what I appreciated about them was just the story telling. And you know, I look at Judy Bloom the same way I look at it. Jay Z.

[00:09:28] Our ghost face, our scarf face, like they're just amazing storytellers and, you know, we come from a people that love to tell great stories. So we appreciate great stories, regardless of, you know, what color right them? And so I just loved her for her story telling.

[00:09:44] You say here that you'll never lose if you understand that your true purpose in life is service to others. That's right. That's what Judy chooses to do with her art. What is your greatest service to others?

[00:09:57] My greatest service to others right now, oh man, that's a great question. I think it's a lot of things, right? Because you know, Malcolm Mek said a person who controls the media controls the minds of the masses.

[00:10:08] So you know, if you have various platforms, you know, if you have various, like I got a book in print with Simon and Shielster and you know, I got a me in Kevin Hart got a company with all the book called SPH Productions.

[00:10:19] So we're able to be of service to people who helped them, you know, get their stories out there. You know, that's the being of service. You know, I have my nonprofit, you know, the mental, wealthful science.

[00:10:29] You know, our goal is to get, you know, 10 million black and brown people free there for over the next five years. That's, you know, being of service. So I mean, there's a lot of different ways to show up and be of service, but I think

[00:10:38] the main one is like, you know, having these different platforms, you know, empower other people who helped them to be able to tell their stories. I was thinking when you were saying this that on this next page, you talk about how your

[00:10:52] aversion to small talk has been your super power. Are you really ready to book? Do you want, do you want to see all my dark years? I see. Wow. First of all, I'm trying to understand why this is our third book talk. Yes, it is.

[00:11:04] And I have read every single book and I'm trying to understand why you think I would come on the right. You're right. You're right. You're right. This is a y'all know we are not blabbered related, but we really might have

[00:11:14] been like in a past like, like, this is my brother for real. I can't even believe you would think I'm doing this in that. Yeah, but you know, I've been doing a lot of these and it's just like people just be asking me about politics.

[00:11:23] They sent me, I'm as deafening last year, I apologize. Oh, Lord. But here's my thing. They sent me some questions and I was like, I am not using these questions. I have my own questions. That's why I'll be getting all the same questions. Yes. Absolutely.

[00:11:35] And then I was like, I am not doing this. I am stuffing him. I want to know about the chocolate covered white supremacists. Like, what do you mean? Okay. So see you through me off. I was trying to, oh, a version. Yes.

[00:11:49] So you have an aversion to small talk you mentioned. You are referenced as a true, you know, a lot of people call themselves multi-hifin it, but it's not really no nothing in between the high fins. It's just like stuff. It's just. It's a influencer.

[00:12:03] In fluent saying, yeah, influence. Influencer, twerker. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I last door. No shade to people who do I last year. But you know what I'm saying? I heard that his, my bad. I didn't mean to like, that does first and he came out.

[00:12:16] But okay, back to you. It is bad if all you were stalling is them 25m's, like, the big long joints. Oh, I don't understand. Anyways, we're not on that. Because you about to give me a treble and I wasn't even trying to do that. Okay.

[00:12:27] So the version two small talk has, I think, everything to do with what is between the high fins for you. So you talked about the company with Kevin Hart. You talked about the publishing company. Your on-breakfist club, your fantastic interviewer.

[00:12:41] There is something about the antithesis of small talk. And I think it is storytelling and providing a platform for folks to tell their stories. You talk about in the book being curious about people's genuine life stories, even if you're ill prepared for an interview.

[00:12:57] Talk about why that is significant. I honestly think it's because growing up in South Carolina, growing up in most growing in South Carolina, like I came from a small town, like when I was growing up, you know, the population might have been like 7,000 people.

[00:13:08] Like my dad, you always say the fastest way between two points is a screen line. So I never heard anybody beating around the bush about anything. Like my father, my uncles, you know, my mom, everybody just used to get to it.

[00:13:22] And well, you say in the book, your mom said that you and your dad don't have to talk to people. Yeah, but that's true. But she still spoke. She just was more measured. Yeah. You know? And I could be measured.

[00:13:35] But you know, I wanted to be like my father and my uncles. Like they were quick. Like it seems like they would say the first thing that came to their mind. And you know, that was great for them. Great for me too. I tell they wasn't. Right?

[00:13:48] And then, yeah, I just feel like, and I always felt like there was big ideas and topics being discussed. Everything from the supernatural. Like I grew up listening to people talking about putting roots on folks and, you know, the hag and like, you all know about the hag?

[00:14:04] So that's what the type of stuff I grew up around. And then it was always these political conversations going around because, you know, I grew up around 5% as an I grew up around people who are in the nation at Islam or like my grandmother was a Baptist.

[00:14:15] My mother was a Jehovah witness. So it was like always religion. It was always the supernatural. It was always things that were going on in our community. I never heard small conversations being had. Like my dad gave me the autobiography of Malcolm X when I was like 10.

[00:14:31] And so I all, he would make me sit down and watch speeches from the album in the Louis Firecon. So I never heard anybody wasting words. So to speak. And even if it wasn't, you know, necessarily anything that deep, even when they were just

[00:14:46] finding joy and laughing and cracking jokes, it seemed like it was just big. It was centered around, you know, something big. So I just, I just never, you know, I never was around people who were at a loss for words. So to speak.

[00:15:07] Makeer Space Office is proud to sponsor this episode on the Mahagini Books podcast network. Makeer Space is here to meet the needs of today's entrepreneurs, creatives and work from home professionals. We do this through private offices, co-working spaces, and a host of other resources, including

[00:15:25] conference rooms, a photo in podcast studios, a creative workshop. And a retail showroom that's perfect for any e-commerce brand. At Makeer Space, we are a hub for makers and shakers to build, brand, and broadcast your business.

[00:15:41] Just mention code Mahagini for all current specials as we have two locations to best serve you. So be sure to visit us online at makeerspaceoffices.com. And remember, makeer space is where entrepreneurs work.

[00:16:01] So in this book, you say that small talk is a symbol of our lack of authentic communication. And someone who doesn't know you and know that you are a professional troll on the side. They might think that you will only... Not you. Oh. Somebody said it is true?

[00:16:22] Say it, say it's all you understand, is it true? But look, this is about to be a whole protest and here you definitely a troll. They may think that you are going to be very serious now. Small talk means that you can't laugh.

[00:16:40] You have to have a very intentional, very deep conversation. How do you balance not having small talk? Is this small talk to be like, how's the weather? Yes, that is small talk, especially if, probably why would you be asking me how's the weather?

[00:16:55] You don't got a weather app. You haven't been outside. Like what is the point? I'm not a meteorologist. What do you mean? What do you mean? That is beyond small talk. That's when I know you're trying to for the next me out of something. Really?

[00:17:07] Yes, you are definitely trying to for the next me out of something if you ask me how's the weather. Okay, so what if somebody's like, how are you doing? How are you feeling? I love that question, but you know what?

[00:17:16] I love doing somebody ask me that, tell them the truth. Yes! Tell them exactly how you feel. So even if I'm going through something in that moment, I'm going to let... I'm a dumping on you.

[00:17:25] Now, I want to see how much you really care about how I'm doing. Professional Trou. That's not true, no! One thing that we learned after COVID and I talked about it in the book. I've got there at home, so. I'm sorry.

[00:17:36] But one thing we talk about, one thing I said after COVID when people ask you how you're doing, be prepared for a real answer. When you ask somebody how they're doing, be prepared for a real answer. We don't have no time to play. You know what I mean?

[00:17:47] People we lost during COVID, like whether it was because people died because of the actual disease or because people committed suicide just because I lost two friends. You know, during COVID because of the suicide.

[00:17:56] When you ask somebody how they're doing, you better be prepared for a real answer. How are you doing? I'm actually really good right now. Good. Yeah. And this present moment right now, I'm actually doing fantastic. Should I have asked you that first?

[00:18:09] Well, if you care, but you didn't care. Oh. You see what I'm saying? She didn't care. Let me tell you how much I care. Oh, Lord. Let me tell you guys how much I care. Just a quick 30 seconds. Okay. We're going south west today.

[00:18:22] We're going to fly south west to get to this camp. But talk, don't you ever tell me, you guys. I was on American. That flight from Albany, New York in America is still hasn't taken off. I have to lose south west. Well, thank you, Angela. Jesus.

[00:18:41] Make some noise, Angela. I'm flying on southwest to get here. Thank you. I want to south west. Don't you ever tell me. Anyway, okay. I'm back. I just had to have a quick tantrum. But yes, so you, so small talk is asking about the weather.

[00:18:58] It could be how you're feeling in the weather, but fine. You don't like that question. You want to be very candid about how you're doing and it should have been asked initially. I apologize. Although I did ask you back there before we got it, but it's mine.

[00:19:10] I totally understand. I want to ask you about this part. You tell us what are the things that we can small talk about. So I'm also confused about this. So you say small talk about guys, small talk about race, small talk about our fears. Is that small talk?

[00:19:29] No, I said we're having too much small talk about those things. That's the point of like the book, right? I feel like we make a lot of, um, what should be macros, micros and we make the micros macros. We put everything on the same scale.

[00:19:45] It seems like everything is way the same nowadays. Okay, I have this was my question more specifically. How are you differentiating the size and these small, is it the quantity of the conversations? Is it the quality of? I think it's the quality.

[00:20:01] Like I know, I think we are in an era right now where you probably going to it right now. It'll be like three or four things trending and you'd be like, what the hell do people talking about? Yeah.

[00:20:12] But it's maybe like the most nothing conversations, literally the most nothing conversations. But social media won't amplify them and make them like the biggest issues in the world. But then the actual things that we should be talking about,

[00:20:26] the things that we should be discussing, the things that actually impact us on a daily basis. Where is it not talking about that all? Are the conversations very, very, very, very tiny? And that's very confusing to me.

[00:20:38] I think it's just because, basically encouraging people to amplify what we actually should be amplified. You maintain that we reward small talkers. Oh, man. 100%. Give me an example. Um, I think, well, in this current moment right now, I'm just going to give a broad example.

[00:21:01] We focus on the celebrity of things a lot of times instead of the actual issue. Right? I've been saying it about the Ditty, Cassie situation. We'll talk about the celebrity and you start hearing things like, well, should you ban his music from Peloton or should you, you know,

[00:21:19] or the radio, but still play his music? The issue is domestic violence, right? The issue is men doing the work on themselves so they don't project that, that pain and that hurt, that they're feeling on to people that they love.

[00:21:30] Like the issue should be patriarchy, but we don't never get to those discussions because we do busy focused on the celebrity of it all, right? Or even right now like I saw the past couple of days everybody been talking about the WNBA, right?

[00:21:41] And they're talking about Caitlin Clark and Andrew Reeves, but it's just like, Yo, is that really the conversation folks should be having? I should be talking about how all of this is good because it's just helping the grow the game of the WNBA, right?

[00:21:53] So it's just like I feel like we always just focus on individuals instead of actual issues. Do you think that sometimes folks may focus on the individual because they're speaking through their own trauma? And it may be it's not small talk, maybe it's a loop.

[00:22:09] I think it's easier to focus on the individual because if you focus on the individual, you don't have to actually change anything. If you focus on the individual, you can just say, hey, we need to get rid of that person,

[00:22:20] but you don't have to do any of the real work to get rid of the actual problem. You think folks want to get rid of Caitlin Clark? Um, I think y'all want to get rid of every... What was y'all? Professional troll. Apparently that's going to be the thing.

[00:22:41] This is better thing to do. He knows it. Erks, so bad. No. I dare you to say that to this room for the black woman to see. You go, man. She said, come on. I'm going to shut up this. Let's move right along.

[00:22:58] Let's just move on, because you're about to get troubled. Okay, so you say that you had... You once had high hopes for Kamala Harris. Do you feel like those hopes have dissipated now? No, they haven't dissipated. They haven't dissipated, you know, but you know, you just want to...

[00:23:21] They haven't dissipated. There's this disappointment. I understand why she is not doing the things we want her to do, right? So it's like we have different perspectives. My perspective is different because I know her. My perspective is different because when she ran for president,

[00:23:38] I was out there stopping with her. Like I was with her various different places. Brooklyn, Charlotte, you know, South Carolina, when she unveiled her mental health plan. Like I was a frightened center with her. You know, I was out there supporting Kamala Harris for president.

[00:23:52] So we understand the position that she's in now, but my whole thing with all of this... This current situation we're in and I have a chapter in the book called, you know, Deaf of a nation and another chapter The language of politics is dead.

[00:24:05] My whole thing is like, are we... Are we in an urgent situation now or not? You know, are the risk as high as everybody's saying they are? Because nobody's acting like it. Because since of urgency around this whole, you know, he's Trump is attracted to democracy, right?

[00:24:25] I see things and I'm like, well damn, that absolutely looks like a threat to democracy. You know, we've been hearing that about Republican candidates, especially presidential candidates my whole life. But that actually looks like it is what they say it is, but there's no real sense of urgency.

[00:24:39] So if there is that real sense of urgency, I expect people like the VP to say, Look at it and really be like, yo, this is a life of deaf situation for our country right now.

[00:24:52] So I expect them to speak a lot more, you know, truth to power. You can't let on the position you're in compromise you at a time like this. And the culture, the culture will have your back if they see you showing up. So that's good.

[00:25:07] You started the beginning saying everybody only wants to talk to you about politics. We're in DC, so we're absolutely going to talk politics. Oh yeah, I don't mind it.

[00:25:17] And I was getting ready to say you say that, but I really feel like over the last since we got close, like your conversation, I would say the percentage of conversation that we have has exponentially increased towards politics. So what's your fault? No. I don't receive that.

[00:25:35] I actually think that you are really interested in this stuff. I mean, yeah, how can you not be interested in politics? I wouldn't need to turn to say if you know if you don't do politics, I'm going to do you.

[00:25:47] So it's like, yo, you have to be, of course we're interested in it. I pay a lot of taxes every year. You know, I got for beautiful daughters that I'm raising on this planet in this country. Of course, you're going to be engaged in politics.

[00:25:58] But that's what I mean when I talk about how we make microbes, I mean how we make macros, microbes. Like that is something all of us should be engaged in on a daily basis. You should know what's going on, not just on the national level,

[00:26:09] but definitely on a local level. Like you should be knowing what's going on. You should be going to city council meetings. You should be going to school board meetings. Like you should be doing those things.

[00:26:19] I didn't even realize that kind of stuff until I got older as an adult and you live in a community. You just don't want to live in the community. You want to know who the sheriff is and you want to know who the mayor is

[00:26:31] and you want to know who the council is. You want them to see you and know who you are. You want them to know who your kids are. So it's like why wouldn't we be involved in politics?

[00:26:41] Plus man growing up in hip hop, we can't sit here and act like, hip hop hasn't always had artists that were saying things that socially redeeming value. And my dad was making me trying to get me to watch videos of the honorable minister Louis Fraakon.

[00:26:56] I wasn't really moved to until I heard Biggie Small say deep like the mind of Fraakon. I heard Chuck D. Fraakon to profit. I think you ought to listen to him. You know same thing with the autobiography of Malcolm X.

[00:27:07] I had the book and I read it but man went Spike Lee came out with the movie and had us walking around in the X-Hatch and after came a dying is that was like, whoa! So it's like you always been socially conscious. Yeah.

[00:27:20] So on that I wasn't going to get into politics but since you brought up hip hop. You talk about in the self destruction chapter which is named after the 1989 song, all about stop the violence but you also reference

[00:27:33] for special answers he thinks that the end of hip hop was like in WA, the era of in WA and West Coast. You know I say issue with that. That's the best coast. But I do wonder how we talk about

[00:27:48] the death of hip hop there when we did have excuse me language for the police. We can't talk about a destruction of a community without talking about the engagement of police departments and police officers and how they were pouring guns and drugs into our neighborhoods.

[00:28:05] So was that really the destruction or was it the exposure of the role of I mean there were other things they talked about as well. Oh yeah, I don't agree with special. Yeah he's a specialist said that on a drink

[00:28:16] champs and I reference it in the book because that was a reference to more as a question like was that you know and I don't necessarily agree with that. I think that hip hop just like humans is complex. Yeah.

[00:28:28] You know, I always say I'm the perfect balance of righteousness and righteousness. That is the end in the end of life like you. We are all complex creatures. So yes it might be F-the police one minute and it might be rolling down the streets

[00:28:42] Morgan and those seven on genuids and another. You know what I mean? But that's just the way things are. You know as human beings the only thing I would say and in that chapter self-destruction is we know hip up is 50 years old.

[00:28:55] We know the power of hip hop culture at this point. We know exactly what hip hop can do. We know what it can't do. We know how hip hop can move people. We know hip hop can make you, you know, dress a certain way.

[00:29:06] We know hip hop can make you, you know, talk a certain way. We know how hip hop can move and motivate you. So I'm just encouraging us in that chapter for the next 50 years. I saw this great quote that was myth just said the day.

[00:29:20] Well, Smith said, man 50 years is a long childhood. Right? So if you look at hip hop in that way we went through our childhood phase. Now we're in our grown phase and when you hear Kendrick Lamar is Mr. Morales and the big step

[00:29:35] with an easy on that talking about going to therapy and wanting to do right by his wife and issues with his father. When you hear Jay Z's 4444. He's talking about the same thing. He's talking about therapy and wanting to do right by his wife

[00:29:49] and talking about being a good father. When you see that or you see a rap city's new album, please don't cry. Man she's talking about going to therapy and her issues with anxiety and talking about things. She got a song about it on having all the time

[00:30:02] was like, that's incredible. Because those are things that we actually all deal with. So when we start getting into that grown phase of hip hop that is a beautiful thing and that's really what that chapter is encouraging. We already went through 50 years of childhood.

[00:30:16] Now let's put it next 50 years. Let's be adults. And you do talk about the need for hip hop to start holding itself accountable. But that accountability, bringing it back to DC now, really should be across the board. And I can every industry at every level of government,

[00:30:32] federal, state and local, you talk about wanting to get rid of the normal political voice. What is it normal political voice sound like to you? What is it saying? Normal political voice is people trying to say the right thing.

[00:30:50] All the time, you know, the same way they gave you a bunch of questions that asked me, they gave them a bunch of talking points that they don't ever veer off. That's why you can see the same answer in a million different

[00:31:01] interviews and that's why if you want to my tricks is when I ask a politician a question, they answer it with a regular political, you know, jargon and then I get them right back and give it. What does all that mean? But why?

[00:31:13] And now they got to be like, oh shoot. All right, you gave them a talking point. So now they got to actually be, they got a big deeper in beyond us. So when I say the language of politics is dead, you just say what you want, you know,

[00:31:25] Donald Trump killed that. And if Donald Trump can say what he wants, how he wants, why can't we? I think Congresswoman Jasmine Crocket proved that a couple of weeks ago when Marjorie Taylor Green tried to do this. That was going to be my next question.

[00:31:40] Is she bringing up M.T. G in the book? Hey, when Marjorie Taylor Green knocked Jasmine booked and guess what? The culture got behind her. It was. Jasmine here. I know that Jasmine was talking about coming. Oh, you are okay. This is surprise. Sorry. Okay.

[00:31:56] But but but but you see what happens when the culture gets behind you. When the culture got to you back, you good. And that's what happened in that situation. I don't know if it was just that the culture got behind her.

[00:32:07] Or if the culture felt seen in that moment. Like I said, you know, like it was like, you know what? It's about time because we tired of her. This lady is carrying guns into the capital. You know, she's telling her about her.

[00:32:19] I know I said somebody I last night. So like M.T. G. I says a my eyelashes to it. But no. But what you saying is true, but my whole thing is when you see people like Marjorie Taylor Green moving the way she's moving.

[00:32:32] It looks normal because nobody ever calls it out. Who does it? Normal to what you mean, it looks normal to society. You may not look normal to you because you on the inside, but from people. No, that's normal to you.

[00:32:44] Far weird make America great again had on like during the state of the Union. You're not even supposed to wear a hat on the house floor and violently. Well, well, we're pretty like this all that bullshit is getting normalized. It's no kids in here, right?

[00:32:54] Oh, I said, have to please two. There's sir. Oh, we growing this right. No, there's some babies in here. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Lord have mercy. I apologize. Lord have mercy. You know, we was in Joe, we was in Atlanta last week, man.

[00:33:10] I forgot we was in the church. Oh, I felt so bad. I was like, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. I was actually. Which church were you in? I was at first the Kada Baptist and something like that. I came to remember the name of it. I forgot.

[00:33:24] I forgot we was in there. And we was sitting on the altar. I forgot. We was just it was kicking it. He was playing. He was playing. He was playing. He was playing. He was playing. And he was playing. Yeah, it's kicking.

[00:33:38] OK, well we not in the church, but we are very sorry to the children and to the elders. Yes. Apologies. But what I was saying was with Marjorie, Taylor Greene and all of them, like they all do this nonsense

[00:33:47] and this foolishness so much that it starts to look normalized. I'm not going to say this no. Yeah, that's right. But it starts to look normalized. So when you see somebody, you know, check them with a dosa reality. Like like Congresswoman, you just. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:34:02] Now people are acting like it's not normal. Now this is what I can get behind. She also was showing a dichotomy that exists. And I think it was so resonant because she was calling her out on her regular violation of committee rule.

[00:34:15] And she was like, now if I come back at you with this B6 and so you know, even going to be able to handle it. That's right. That's right. Because I'm a tongue, I'm going to say the B word in front

[00:34:26] of the babies by accident, that even when she said I can't get it out. And she didn't even, if you think about it, she didn't even hit her. She asked a question, what if I call her this blonde? I'm going to do that for me on.

[00:34:38] Yes, me when I got something for some reason. Yes, yes. What if I tell you, yes, ma'am? Oh, we're already at time? Oh, my God. Dang. You talk too long. We just got it. OK. Well, let me see. I can't ask this question either.

[00:34:53] So Hillary, you said, kissling a great MF. All of them can. No, but I'm the Hillary. That's it. That's the most frustrating thing. And I'm not from the Hill. I'm not from DC. I don't want to say it like that. I'm not.

[00:35:12] So when you are a person who just sees these people on television, you have interviews with them. When you talk to them behind the scenes, it's like when you saw little John on Dave Chappelle and he was so articulate and like you was like, whoa,

[00:35:28] because you saw you study yelling in the screen. It's the opposite. So they're so articulate when they're in front of the camera and so clean. Well, you know what? Behind the scenes, it's like, they sound like me. But hold on. OK, so here's my pushback.

[00:35:41] I'm slightly in violation because his family talk, but I'm not going to say who is about. So you will get frustrated in some instances when people come on the show on breakfast club and they will just kiss. Well, because you can tell the difference between somebody

[00:35:54] who's doing it authentically and somebody who's just trying to be down with the algorithm of this era. It's a difference. It's a difference when you are sitting there and talking to somebody, and you can tell us authentic. And then when somebody is just sitting there

[00:36:08] and every other word is like, bro, you have elected official, like that. Yeah, that's a much. Oh, yeah. Yeah. OK, so here is the one thing that I really want for you to do and I know you're tired of it, but I think it's important

[00:36:21] because we are in the beltway, the hill. Can you clarify for the gazillionth time your position on Donald Trump? You hear all that? That's why I need you to do it because people are confused. I don't know what I mean. I don't know, it's I understand.

[00:36:39] That's why I said, I said, I said the gazillion times. Yes. And so help. And I literally say, and I talk about that in the book as well. I was getting to say. I literally say this on every single platform I'm on. They asked me about Donald Trump.

[00:36:52] I say, I think Donald Trump is a threat to democracy. I say, I think that man led an attempted coup of this country. And people were act like it was just a bunch of kids down in Miami for spring break, having a good time.

[00:37:02] I say this man, you know, wanted to terminate the constitution. The overthrow, the results of an election. I say, have you read Project 25? It's terrifying. Well, 2025. It's terrifying, right? I say this everywhere I go. And then they'll be like, I mean, then this started,

[00:37:21] I can say it started with, but I remember I was doing the interview with John Carl. And I say that about Trump. And John Carl was, well, you know, President Biden says these things, you know, why don't they resonate? And I think President Biden is an unspiring candidate

[00:37:34] with no main character energy. And see what happens is, Fox will take that and run it all day, every day in the left for whatever reason. Doesn't go watch the whole interviewing context. And the left responds to Fox News is narrative.

[00:37:50] So the right, let's just the truth though. I'm saying watch out. I thought you got to hit yourself with the mic. And I was saying was, I though just asked you, I can see how it happens because I just asked you your position on Donald Trump.

[00:38:03] And somehow you ended up with a look. Because that's it because that's in my book. And that's not a dig at Joe Biden. It's just the truth. And we should be able to black people to criticize. We should be able to criticize. I'm not saying you can't.

[00:38:17] Even if you elect the officials, you voted for. You should dance to the baby is still in here. I am not at all saying that you're wrong. I'm saying can we put a period on this question, or this answer to my question?

[00:38:32] And then we can get to the rest. No, and I'll tell you why. No, no, no. I want to tell you why. Fact. Because that is part of the problem I have with this new era of media because the left does not know how to push narratives.

[00:38:49] The left doesn't even know how to control their narrative. And clarify your position because I am tired of having to answer this for you as well. Well, you should tell people to listen. I do. But I want you to listen too.

[00:39:02] So you said Donald Trump is a threat to democracy. Let's full stop that there. Does that mean that you could ever under any circumstance? See yourself voting for Donald Trump. No. OK. Is everybody clear? No, I'm saying that. I said that a million times.

[00:39:18] I didn't say you didn't. The point that you're not, I don't know if you heard. But this same audience and we were just in. I said, can you clarify for the gazillion time your position on Donald Trump? People to my own.

[00:39:29] Well, I would challenge people to look past headlines. And I would challenge people to watch conversations in full context. And I would challenge you to tell the people that you trust in the media to stop feeding into narratives from the right.

[00:39:43] Because I was on Fox News last week. I went on gut failed. I went on Brian K. O'Micheau and I said, I said everything about Donald Trump that I said everywhere else. And Nate was playing dumb. Like in a real way.

[00:39:58] It was like he said he wanted to terminate the constitution. He said that? Yeah. And one of them said they didn't know what project 25 was. Brian K. O'Micheau said that. He literally said he was like, I've never heard a project 25. I said cut it out.

[00:40:11] Like my point is I was there having that conversation in front of their audience. And guess what? They didn't take me out of context. They ran the headline. So I'll let me know, God's called Donald Trump with threat to democracy on Fox News.

[00:40:26] So my brother is a cancer. And he will say that he doesn't care. But I do think being misquoted, being taken out of context, especially because of how much you care about the political process, about their still,

[00:40:44] about our ability to preserve a democracy that has to be hurtful. No, I don't care. I don't like how stupid people are. Especially people that are supposed to be smart. That's what bothers me. Does it feel like does it feel disrespectful? No, because I'm over trying to convince.

[00:41:06] I'm over trying to make people understand me who are hell bent on misunderstanding. Yeah, I get that. Yeah, yeah. OK, so one last thing, because I know we really are going to go. But you can't believe it. I was ridiculous. But the people are going to ask questions.

[00:41:19] So I think that's not going to be a question. Oh, yes. Lining up for questions? Yes. We'll have questions on this side. We'll do two questions over here and two questions over here. Well, while they're lining up, I have a timer. So yes.

[00:41:30] You talked about Republicans writing for their own. Yes. And you talked about how even in a scandal they closed ranks. Yes. And I think that your criticism is that Democrats don't do the same thing. Do you think that they should support, so for example,

[00:41:50] there's an alleged scandal right now with Hunter Biden, the Hunter Biden trial started. This is a BS case, not because in front of the baby, where they've now gone after him. They couldn't get him on taxes. So they went after him about a gun charge

[00:42:05] for a gun he's never fired. And now he's being prosecuted under a statute that nobody has ever been prosecuted under. Is it like if you pay attention to what's happening, the only place that's talking about this case really is Fox because Democrats haven't closed ranks around.

[00:42:19] Well, no, because also liberal media is not fair. So liberal media should be reporting about that case. If that was any other, if that was one of Donald Trump's kids, they'd be talking about it. So why shouldn't they be talking about it in a Biden case?

[00:42:30] That's why people don't trust the media in normal because they know it's not fair and balanced. Why is Fox moved only for us in talking about it? I think we're not. They should be talking about it on CNN and MSNBC.

[00:42:40] And if it's true what you said, just now, they should be saying that to the people. Yeah, I don't disagree with you. What I was asking is, is that an example of closing ranks because they think if they avoid it

[00:42:51] because they can't be near a scandal, even a perceived scandal. That isn't necessarily make folks pass a purity test that just makes them look oblivious or like they're being, like you said, hiding something. I mean, it does kind of, kind of buy it in smoking crack and can.

[00:43:05] Guns, does that going to keep you off from voting? I don't know. Well, he's not being charged for, what was saying he has smoking crack. That was the whole point they said. And he's you then word. I mean, you see that you saw the transcript,

[00:43:15] but I, I, I, I, I, I, so is Donald Trump by the way. That's my point. He's actually running for president and, and nobody. And, and nobody's never in for, but I was not saying, I was gonna say they said that he lied on the application

[00:43:25] for the gun saying he's never used drugs. I don't know if they have never been raised with addicts. I had been raised around addicts. They always lie about using drugs. Like, is that surprising you? Anyway, I just, I think that you're right

[00:43:40] that we should be talking about in the media and reducing the severity of the case because there's no there there. And it don't matter. Like, that's not gonna stop anybody from going out to vote for who they want to vote for. That's another part, part point.

[00:43:50] I'll be making about, you know, the language of politics is that I don't want none of my politicians to be perfect because I know they're not. I want them to be effective, you know? And we all got crackhead family members. I like that. I don't agree. Okay.

[00:44:03] Okay, we have questions. We do because husband, you wanna start off your side? Okay. Hi, my name is Keanti. I am from Gravel, South Carolina. There's a sixfold. Went to school at College of Charleston, shout out to the eight, four, three.

[00:44:16] Anyway, also a fellow out there in my book is actually in my high-gene bookstore. They've all been white black. But my question is, this is your third book. It took me three years to get this book out my spirit. How do you recover and like,

[00:44:30] what do you do to prepare yourself for each one? Is my question? That's a great question. I mean, my first book came out 2016. My second book came out 2018. This 2024. So I haven't written a book in six years. I write a lot.

[00:44:45] I honestly never thought I would get the three books. I thought I was one and done, you know? Even though I do like the right. I just didn't know what I would be constantly, you know, writing about. But you used the right word, spirit, you know?

[00:44:57] When something is in your spirit, you just gotta get it out. And if you're a creative, you know, you're gonna find different outlets to get that, you know, creativity out. It just so happened that this is my latest example that wanted to be creative.

[00:45:09] My next example might be a movie or it might be a comic book, which I do have a comic book coming out in the literature. So it's like, you know, is this about, you know, whatever you got in your spirit and you wanna get out artistically,

[00:45:23] just get it out. Like, you know, you shouldn't hold it in. Like, if you got something in your spirit right now, you want to write another book right now, even though it took you three years to write it.

[00:45:31] And it's probably gonna take you six months to write the next one. Like, the first one is the longest one, that's Angela Rae. But the second one, and it's gonna be so easy. Perfection for all. To get out. What? Really? Okay, next question.

[00:45:46] Hi, my name is Anisa Sonders. I'm the program coordinator here at the arc. And I have an eight year old who sales and promotes her own lip gloss business. And so I just want to ask you as an entrepreneur, do you have any advice to the younger generation?

[00:46:04] Specifically, Matt Yield. When it comes to the entrepreneurship. Tasting about business early. I mean, that's something that our community is always suffered from. You know, not being financially literate, not knowing business the way that we should. So, you know, whatever you know about business,

[00:46:20] whatever you can teach her at about business at her early age, do it now. Because, you know, the public school definitely not teaching them that. So, you know, you gotta instill that in them early. I guess, never too early to have an LLC.

[00:46:32] I guess never too early for her to have a bank account. It's never too early to understand, you know, for her to understand how to market and promote her product. And at H.A. is old at the best time. Because who turned it down to H.R.O.?

[00:46:44] You know, she can be out here kicking up ones with sales. Like if you knew that was an eight year old selling lip gloss and you weren't buying it? Oh, you going to hell. Just like you on that alter last week. I digress next question.

[00:47:02] I'm getting my name's Delk Mar, first of all. Thank you for coming out and doing this event for us. I'm a question as far as Charlemagne. And I saw you said six percent of time, you live through therapist. Now, it's curious as to why we're not supposed

[00:47:14] to be considered a private confidential moment with that therapist. Then my thing was, I'm a student in Charlotte. You look absolutely gorgeous today. May I have a figure? Cut it out. Okay, okay. Shoot, shot. Shoot, shoot. Shoot, shoot. Shoot, shoot. Shoot. Shoot. Shoot.

[00:47:33] We didn't hear the last part of that. You didn't have a picture with you and what you're thought is on the lipitarian party. Block that shot. I'm just kidding. Get that shot. We definitely take a picture and I didn't hear the last part.

[00:47:44] What's your thoughts on the libertarian party? Oh, I don't really have thoughts on the libertarian party. You know what I really hope for? He asked a question to you first. Why am I answering? Oh, it's supposed to be coming.

[00:47:57] I'm like, God, that was like the voice of God. Why do you lie to your therapist? Like, exactly. I didn't lie to my therapist. I just didn't tell my therapist. I didn't tell my therapist everything because you know, and by the way, when I went on this

[00:48:19] trip, I had to go to the church and retreat. The stuff that came up for me during this retreat, I had suppressed so deep and boy, man, when I said I went through it that night, I mean, I went through it.

[00:48:33] Like, I mean, my wife and together 26 years. And I was telling her things that I never had told anybody in the troops of the matter is she's probably the only person on this planet. I trust the tell that.

[00:48:44] So you know, yeah, those are just very tender things that I didn't. I don't want to share with the therapists. Like, that's just the reality. And it didn't even dawn on me until that weekend. Like, man, I never even explored that. I never even peeled back that layer.

[00:49:01] I never even, you know, discussed that with anybody because a lot of that stuff may you be surprised like even this thing that happened to you when you was younger that was so traumatic that you just, you're suppressed so much that it

[00:49:12] almost feels like it's not even real. You know, and you forgot it until it comes back up and you like, oh, shoot that did happen. So that's literally what it was. I didn't tell him her at the time. I didn't tell her everything. That's what it was.

[00:49:31] I still don't have thoughts on the libertarian party, but what I will tell you is I remember after the ANC won the election in the early 90s in South Africa. My dad got this poster that included all of these parties that South Africa had, a

[00:49:47] soccer party, a labor party, a progressive party, all of that. And I remember thinking as a child like why don't we have this here. I would love to see a more diverse representation in our democracy that wasn't just a two-party system.

[00:50:03] But I think until we have that in earnest, like we have to be for real about where we vote, don't think that means that people can't run. I think it's a free country, people can run. They can challenge where we are on things.

[00:50:16] But I don't necessarily love some of what happens with their party candidates. I think you know, I'm still triggered and traumatized by what happened in 2016. So there was that. I wanted to go back to Jess really quick. The Nards lovely bride who have adopted as a sister too.

[00:50:35] They just threw a sweet 16th for their daughter this Sunday. And Jess is tough and tender. And you say in the book that she's, you don't think she's ever be asked anyone in her life. No. But she is a very steady, stable, strong hand.

[00:50:52] And we thank God for Jess. Next question. Hi, Sean. I'm Ryan. Hi. Hi. My name is Richard. I am a host of four black girl podcast, y'all see this. So make sure you take a listen. I wanted to say I listened to the breakfast club since the beginning.

[00:51:11] So if anyone never gives you your flowers for the fact of your growth and I really appreciate that. And I just wanted to say that that's a great. I've watched it. Thank you. Thank you. Greatest compliment ever. Thanks. I really love it.

[00:51:25] And I just want to say that. Also, because this is kind of to both of you all, since we are fully aware of like the gap or maybe the disconnect between our current president and their administration and our culture has no one reached out to you,

[00:51:45] Charlemagne or you, Angelou, I'd like to be like some type of advisory. And if they have, would you consider that or have you turn that down? Your faces are showing that maybe. That that has happened. I just want to know because it is concerning for me.

[00:52:02] I have quite a few friends that are, you know, we in DC. So I've quite a few friends that are consultants and they fought a lot of misinformation that has been given out in previous campaigns but it just seems like there's a disconnect.

[00:52:17] And I do work for DC local government. So your local government members are hope you guys voted for DC primary. But I just want to know if you guys consider that at all. Go ahead, Eddie Radoll.

[00:52:29] I mean, I guess the answer to that question, I guess it would be a yes. Right? And answers to that question would be definitely a yes. They do reach out. And I like to, I like vice president Kamalara. It's like, that's, that's the home.

[00:52:46] I ain't going to sit in that, like, it's not. Like yeah, that's why is the disappointment is there. You know, so it's like yes when she needs to reach out. She definitely reaches out absolutely. And I was so aggressive. Yeah, and I always beat it.

[00:53:02] It's not even that's that. Like Mr. Clyburn, that's my OG. It's beautiful wife Emily. She from Monks Point, it's South Carolina. It's not like we don't talk to these people. Mr. Clyburn has no problem picking up that phone and cursing me out when he feels the need.

[00:53:15] So it's like yes, those conversations do happen. And you know, ideas are shared. And whether they're implemented enough, I don't know. I'm not consulting because if I can't get paid with the white boys to get paid. There's no path.

[00:53:34] And I think that I'm ready for that real conversation about the, like part of the reason you're so frustrated with the, well, I'm projecting but I suspect this is what it is. The talk is the same.

[00:53:49] And you know, even when it's a black candidate, they have to come to work. What their sleeves rolled up and, you know, it like all of the stuff that has worked for white candidates.

[00:53:57] They expect to just like cookie cutter drop you into it because it is lazy consulting. Like they don't want to have any emotional intelligence about our community. What works for us. They talk about polines.

[00:54:08] We did a whole podcast native land pod, child, child, native land pod, a reason choice media. But we did a whole podcast just last week where we were like, have you ever been poled? I've never been poled.

[00:54:19] So I even have this conspiracy theory that like most of these posters be lying. You know, like they like well, let me see last week was 72% this we're going to make it 70%.

[00:54:29] Like I'm not even convinced that they're actually poled and folks in except for Cornell Belcher and Terence Wibir. I do believe they're poled and folks. But yeah, if I can't get paid with the white boys to get paid, I'm not here for your pro bono services.

[00:54:41] And this is Olivia Pope. Man, fact Angela Wright got your back if she's in your corner she can move mountains and I tell Angela Rye all the time man we don't that we collectively have a culture have not sat back and you know really

[00:54:59] giving Angela Wright a flower that she deserves because even when you look at when you look at all of these black people on every single network.

[00:55:07] The way that they talk the courage that they speak with, the way that they embrace culture you know, you hear these people quote and rap lyrics and all kind of stuff now.

[00:55:16] That's her that was her on CNN years ago and I feel like she paved the way for all of those political puns instead of out here now. She don't like when I say that but it's true. I don't agree. Yes we have another question.

[00:55:32] Hi my name is Kadeja. I am a new native of the word a community. I recently moved and I have a nonprofit in the makes addressing the misdiagnosis of ADHD and autism.

[00:55:47] I am diagnosed with both and I didn't know until I was an adult and until I started a business. And with that I'm working on connecting the dots between the misdiagnosis and the connection to crime and fill relationships financial and housing issues.

[00:56:07] They're all correlated and my question is if I can receive some form of mentorship apprenticeship I'll work for free just for knowledge because I am I have full intention on revitalizing the culture of the black community.

[00:56:25] Yes, I'm getting her on information because you know every year we do symptoms right there.

[00:56:30] But every year we do this thing called the mental health expo you know in New York City my organization mental offline so I love to connect you with Dr. Alfie Brele and Noble she runs my nonprofit.

[00:56:39] She also has a great private call the a comor project so I think yeah and we always look for people who want to help. Same as right. Same wave. With the big last. Same as the boss right there. Same we love you. I'm shout out to Sam everybody.

[00:56:55] Sam. We love to. Well, I think that's all the questions. I have one. Oh, I'm sorry. We will it is you right. I'm technically stalling Jasmine is like she didn't got behind the wheel her cell.

[00:57:08] So I have more questions again here to see you Jasmine Crocket so I'm just I know we got things to do but so our last official question right here. No, we everybody have a hand.

[00:57:20] Hey my name is Brian I'm a recent graduate from Claffling University and hey I'm from Charleston South Carolina I've been listening to you since I was like a little kid and I just wanted to thank you for it. What's your major?

[00:57:35] Well, I was a well I'm I'm turning 24 tomorrow and I'm a very day. I'm doing radio for 26 years.

[00:57:45] I'm my radio career old in him happy birthday my father along with the Claffling tool that's what's up and I'm from Charleston and my major was I was a double major in criminal justice and psychology with the minor and political science and I would like to thank you again for you know keeping that network open for you know blacks to listen because we don't listen to other radio stations especially in the morning but I would say

[00:58:10] Although we spoke on Trump when it comes to politics and the conversation comes up about how Joe Biden negatively affected the black community with the push to funding the police in the 80s and 90s and pursuit of the 1994 crime bill which led to the mass incarceration of black people I want your honest take.

[00:58:29] I mean is this forgivable and who would you say is the lesser of two years.

[00:58:39] It's not something that you would say if we're giveable it's something that should be atonement for right like an ask the thing with legislation like you know there's legislation that was put in place that hurt then you got to put legislation in place to help and. Yeah.

[00:58:56] Well the second order second part of the question who the lesser to you is I don't even like to have that conversation because that's my problem why we all got to choose evil.

[00:59:03] I want to choose evil no more like I'm so sick of choosing evil like I I even hate that rhetoric me and Angela had a whole conversation about that.

[00:59:11] I think we got to even change that language if you want to start the energized people again if you want to energize people to vote again if you want to get people you know.

[00:59:25] You know, impassioned about the voting process y'all got to change that rhetoric I'm not voting for two evils I'm not doing that okay hold on because this is so you start here this little. And they're wondering now if that means you're not voting.

[00:59:35] No, I'm definitely voting but that's because my mind said ain't the lesser to evils I had to change my mind said because if I keep thinking the lesson to evil is I'm going to be off that if you walked in a room and it was two evils on the table.

[00:59:47] Would you even think of making a choice. So you got to change your perspective you got to change the way you got to change the way you look at things you know and I think the only way to do that is to like I said earlier.

[00:59:57] Your politicians are not perfect you know we want them to be effective so you need to look at these politicians and say hi man.

[01:00:06] You know who is going who's going to hurt us the most and who is going to hurt us I don't even want to say hurt us who's going to hurt us the most and who we who can we talk to our push.

[01:00:18] To help ease some of the hurt that we've already been experiencing all these years. I like this politicians don't belong on pedestals they belong in policy.

[01:00:28] Yes, yes. So we're right in elsewhere I'm forget that's right and that's another my other perspective too is like people ask you about individuals right like I said earlier they'll ask you about Trump and ask you about Biden.

[01:00:41] Look at the issues that's what I will get the individuals what did they issue that's what I would that's what I look at.

[01:00:46] Yes, yes whatever she said fancy okay so okay since we have a second here's what I want to get into that we didn't because we were a little bit in a deep dive on politics you talk about being a tree hugger.

[01:01:03] So I just talk about being a tree hugger what compelled you to your first tree how often do you hug trees why do you encourage all of us to hug trees.

[01:01:14] Two people are good sister Debbie Brown and yaddy all you know you know Angela Ryan should do me the yaddy all of us.

[01:01:25] She's a great spiritual advisor that I started communicating with and Debbie is a 20 year old friend you know like no and Debbie literally forever we started met her in 2007 doing radio and we just have grown since then and

[01:01:41] Yeah, just understanding the benefits of how you know being I'm a country boy so running around those dirt roads running through those coffee was running through the woods.

[01:01:50] You know you think about when you were a child how freeing that was running through those you know running on those dirt roads to South Carolina and how that it just bought you joy to be outside you wanted to be outside and you know there are actual benefits to you know being in nature and you know as you get older you start to realize that okay can help.

[01:02:08] You know decrease your anxiety it can help with your you know depression like just take your shoes off man take your socks off walk barefoot in the grass like you know go sit under tree put your back to a tree put your forehead to a tree you know literally yaddy was like face down.

[01:02:24] Child in the room face down bottom up right in the grass so I mean the bound were dog.

[01:02:30] Know she wanted me stomach flat. Oh face bottom up like yeah, okay, but you do you do stuff like that and you'll be like man this is it does feel good. Is that cober post no that's. Husband I think more party be with it like. Like nah.

[01:02:52] Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah. Oh, you know that is what's the puppy post? Is the butt is up. The butt is up your chest is on the ground your hand. Nah, y'all know uncle Luke man.

[01:03:01] We born in the 1900s can't you can't you can't stand baby the baby the babies in the room the babies in the room just be careful. Okay, so. So we can close the wrapping. Oh, y'all keep going. I hope we look got in this screen just now.

[01:03:20] Can't take y'all nowhere. Okay. So okay there was something else I asked you about. Oh, pedestals. So we just, or a moment ago, we're talking about politicians on pedestals. You also had this come to Jesus, Mom. You had a series of them with your father.

[01:03:37] You talked about him having some challenges with depression and anxiety as well, and it was an eye opening experience for you to talk about why. Yeah, I got a chapter in my book called Father Time. And listen, I love my dad.

[01:03:51] You know, saying my dad is a great man. But it started when I was like young when I was like 17 years old and found out he was cheating on my mom. So I approached him about it.

[01:04:03] You know, you had to get a lot of courage to approach your pops. Right? Because that's the first superhero. That's the man that you look up to, but you also terrified of and my dad will put hands on me in a heartbeat. So that took a lot, right?

[01:04:15] So you know, going up to him and just saying asking him like, oh, why you cheating on mom? He literally looked at my eyes and he goes, you only go one girlfriend. He was like, what are you going to understand? Messed me up, right?

[01:04:26] That was just one incident. And then it was another time where like I remember my first breakthrough in therapy, my literal first breakthrough I was just in tears balling, right? Like it's when I realized my dad used to discipline me for things he never even taught me. Right?

[01:04:42] And the one example always uses is like, when I first got my license, he told me to follow him and he told me to do everything he does. So he's driving, I'm driving. And we're coming off this road and mom's going to call Gil Yaroad.

[01:04:56] We're going on Highway 52. He thinks we're going on Highway. So he runs the stop sign. I'm running the stop sign too. He told me to do everything he does. So then he pulled over the side of the road, I pulled over the side of the road.

[01:05:06] He gets out the car, walks to the car, road one to the night. He's smacked. He tells me, wake up. You know, you know, see that stop sign? And I'm like, you didn't see that stop sign? I said that in my mind. I didn't say that.

[01:05:17] I love it. Right? But it was things like that that just, you know, made our relationship very, very complicated. It's when I started going to therapy. And you know, I'm thinking I'm going to therapy for my anxiety and about to depression.

[01:05:30] But then you know, you're having these conversations and you start peeling back all these layers. And you like, oh, I got that issue. You know? And we think that that issue is just something that women have. But no, men probably haven't even worked.

[01:05:43] Because that's like the person that that's our first role model. That's what we want to be, you know, connected to the most. And so man, those first, like, I mean, I started going to therapy in like 2016. So like those first two years, 20, half years.

[01:05:59] I thought I hated my pops, like with a passion, right? And then I remember it was 2018 and I put out my second book, shook one, which was literally about me going to therapy and all the things I was learning at therapy.

[01:06:13] And I had a cousin who had just completed suicide. He was 25 years old and he used to do my dad's construction so he used to work on my dad all the time. And so my dad called me. I never forget it was the week of things given 2018.

[01:06:26] And he told me he read the book and he was talking about my cousin who's just died. And he said, man, I tried to commit suicide for 40 plus years ago. And I was there if he 200 times a week.

[01:06:38] And I was on 10 to 12 different medications from my mental health throughout my life. And I was like, what? And I remember going, my mom said, you know, that was going to deal with all this.

[01:06:47] And my mom was like, I thought he was playing crazy to get a check. Because that's what happened in South Carolina. They couldn't figure out what was wrong with them. And then put them on all these different medications. They just started giving them a chance.

[01:06:56] He still gets to check it this day if I'm not mistaken. So it's just like, that gave me so much grace. That opened up a level of forgiveness for him. And I was just like, oh, he's a man. Just like I was a man.

[01:07:09] And I'm doing weird weird. We were just a man trying to figure it out. And that just called me to give him so much grace. And that's what you know I talk about in the book.

[01:07:18] But I also tell people, I think I wrote about this in Black privilege. I talked about it a little bit in this book as well. You got to have conversations with your parents because a lot of us don't realize

[01:07:27] our parents had a life before they were our parents. You know? And we don't. And to tell you how that conversation with them and see why they did what they did or why they showed up the way that they showed up.

[01:07:38] They was just trying to be the best version of themselves or the best version as they knew of themselves at the time. And I think when you get, when you have that conversation with your parents and you understand that it'll give you so much grace.

[01:07:51] Even when they make mistakes now. You also have to have conversations with your children. You have four daughters. And daughters are very serious about their dads. But they also do not play. Like in these girls definitely don't play.

[01:08:06] They don't play about you and they don't play with you. So are you, do you have any trepidation at all? Given how much you disclose in all three books. Given how much you share on the radio.

[01:08:16] Are you scared at all about, you know, especially the second oldest when she gets older? What kind of conversation she's going to have with you about the things that you share? I hope, I hope ruined. Yeah. You know?

[01:08:33] I want to, I'm glad that it's all out there so they can read my books and ask questions. Like that's what I want them to do. I want them to do that.

[01:08:41] I want to have that open dialogue with my children because I don't feel like I had that with my parents. You know, my parents grew up in a different day and age. You know, they was born in the 1950s.

[01:08:54] So you know, they didn't have those kind of conversations with us. They didn't have any kind of conversations with us. It was adults to talking. Going to room. I'm not saying reverence. Yeah. This is the reverence leave is honesty more important to you than the reverence.

[01:09:10] Yes, I want to be honest. I want to have honest conversations. I want us to have real. I don't want her to have to guess anything. Yeah. You know, and I don't want her to learn from the world.

[01:09:22] I mean, the world going, you know, show her things, show all my daughters things regardless. But at least we have in those conversations in the house first. So when she's presented with certain things in the world, oh, she's like, oh, I already. I'm already hip to that, right?

[01:09:34] Because what they say smart people are from the almost things. Why are people laughing and mistakes? Others is dead. That he has made a lot of mistakes. You know, so I should raise four very wise young ladies. They're wise. All right.

[01:09:45] Jasmin is two minutes away just as F. White eyes. Is it like a real two minutes of black. Real two minutes of black. You should see the picture she said behind the wheel. But nonetheless, please help me give it up for Charlotte Maynard the guy. Yes.

[01:10:01] An Angela Rire. And all of you that are here in taking pictures, please post please tag us. Please tag them and use hashtag. Why small talk sucks? Correct. Okay. So please use a hashtag. But yeah, let's do a group photo from the stage.

[01:10:19] And thank you all very much, man. I really appreciate you all coming out. And I hope that you all enjoyed a book. And most importantly, I hope that the book, you know, sparks conversations. I hope it sparks, you know, discussions.

[01:10:30] And I really truly mean that we got to start, you know, making these, you know, macro conversations actually macro. Let's start stop shrinking, you know, the conversations that were supposed to be having. And thank you again. We'll get it. Discover a world where words ignite change.

[01:10:46] To an end to black books matter the podcast, where we celebrate the profound impact of African American literature. Join us as we delve into iconic words and hit it just. Discussing their power to shape minds and transform societies.

[01:11:01] Get ready for thought provoking discussions, author interviews, and insights that make. Don't miss out. Subscribe to Blackbooks Matter the podcast and your favorite podcast platform. And let the voices of African American authors resonate with you.