Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:00 Of our communities, our families who are in the most vulnerable place, how much, much more vulnerable can you be than to be a child, uh, that is, has been separated from their family, their biological family, and placed in a system that is foreign to you more often than not racially and ethnically as well. Um, that's a really big disruption in a child's life that is unforgettable, right? And, and you can't erase those memories. Um, and that it is followed by a cascade of barriers that you've identified as well as Don. Um, this, uh, this segment we're signing off. I'm Luz Maria Step, the Attorney Attorney General with the State of Minnesota. Any comments and opinions that I express are strictly my own and should not be attributed to my employer?
Speaker 1 00:00:48 I'm Don Eubanks, associate Dros Group and member of the miax Banner, Ojibwe Indians.
Speaker 2 00:00:53 I'm Holly Lee, owner of the other Media Group and producer of
Speaker 0 00:00:56 Counters, our special guest. I'm
Speaker 3 00:00:58 Fong Murphy, uh, and I'm still leading Foster advocates as as of the end of this podcast.
Speaker 0 00:01:04 And we're so grateful that you are. Thank you for joining us. This has been Counter Stories, a co-production of the K Stories crew, the other media group, and Ampers Diverse Radio for Minnesota's communities with support from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. For a full conversation, please visit counter stories.com.
Speaker 5 00:01:36 The viewpoints expressed in this program are the opinions of the people expressing them, and not necessarily those of Fresh Air Incorporated its staff, or its board of directors.
Speaker 7 00:01:57 You can burn a whole thing down. I don't care if you are uncomfortable. We can burn a whole thing down. Couldn't care. You can burn a whole down. Y'all don't really care.
Speaker 8 00:02:15 Views from the ground, views from the damn ground views, from the ground views, from the damn ground views, from the ground views, from the damn ground. And that's on that, on that, on that. Hey,
Speaker 9 00:02:26 Welcome, welcome, everyone. So we're gonna get right into it. Um, so I'm gonna start with our new segment. Um, we're gonna start with what popped off today. Former officer, um, Thomas Lane, pleads guilty to manslaughter, um, in aiding abetting the, um, murder of George Floyd. Uh, so today, um, the officer took the plea deal, um, for aiding and abetting, second degree unintentional murder related to the death of George Floyd in 2020. Um, in the ex in the plea, it was kind of, it's one of those things like the officers are going to be tried in June, so it's coming up. Um, Keith Ellison said that he is pleased, uh, that he accepted responsibility for the role, um, and had an acknowledgement and, um, mentioned while accountability is not justice, this is a significant moment in this case, and a necessary resolution on our continued journey. Um, and then Thomas Lane's, um, defense attorney, Earl Gray had to say a few things Also, um, he, Thomas Lane faced a mandatory 12 year sentence, um, if he was convicted of the murder charge. Um, we did find out that manslaughter, uh, is about three years he's gonna be doing, and the sentence will be co current with his federal sentence. Um, so he'll serve that in a federal institution. He mentioned that, um, due to him having a newborn baby, uh, that is what made him decide to take this plea deal. And it was an eye roll when I heard that part.
Speaker 8 00:04:01 An eye roll.
Speaker 9 00:04:02 Yeah, that's the nicest way to say it. Cause it's like, what about George Floyd's daughter? Mm-hmm.
Speaker 8 00:04:07 <affirmative> mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And, and it's just like one of those things where it's, it's to me like it is, it is like they keep giving us crumbs and they want us to be like, excited with the crumbs. They're like, they're like, oh yeah, he pled guilty. And so like, that's kind of like the first time it's ever happened. So we're gonna kind of give you like, you're kind of getting justice, even though like he's like getting no additional time by like pleading guilty or anything like that. So mm-hmm.
Speaker 9 00:04:34 <affirmative>, his, yeah. I mean, we've seen him before. Uh, cases can quote unquote go the way of justice and then come sentencing, you feel mm-hmm. <affirmative> very different. So we're gonna see in September, uh, how this will go. Mm-hmm.
Speaker 10 00:04:47 <affirmative>. Yeah. When, whenever we hear like these guilty pleas, uh, like with Chauvin pleading guilty, um, in the federal case also, it's like, all I can think about is like, everyone who like backs the blue and says this, that, and the third, like, oh, few, few bad apples, blah, blah, blah. Well, now we just have an officer who pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting manslaughter, right? So he admitted that he did it. So if you were saying, oh, it wasn't their fault, it wasn't, well, they just admitted right? That they denied him of his civil rights and that these other officers let Chauvin do it, but these are the police that you are still supporting blindly. You know? And, and it just, whenever I hear a guilty plea or whenever we get a conviction, like, you're wrong, like, you know what I'm saying? It's, I get that it's all opinion based, but like, I'm not saying I always agree with the decision of the state, but the state now says, what is fact and what is fact is he pled guilty to aiding at abetting, so there's no more opinion to be had there.
Speaker 9 00:05:52 Yeah. Um, so moving on. Uh, this weekend was really heavy, um, with gun violence. And let me start by lifting up Anaya Allen's name. Um, today was the year angel anniversary, um, for her murder due to gun violence. Um, and we just wanna send, you know, prayers and solidarity out to that family. They're out on 36th and Penn today. Um, this weekend though, um, Buffalo, New York is what everyone saw talking about deep breaths. So, uh, an 18 year old allegedly carried out a race racist tech at a supermarket, uh, tops in Buffalo, New York on May 14th, killing 10 people in injuring three others. Almost all the victims were black. Um, the whole thing was live streamed. Uh, and the, there's been things popping up about a manifesto posted online, um, with his racist white, uh, super, excuse me, white supremacist I ideologies. Um, and just other horrible things.
Speaker 9 00:06:54 Um, he has been charged, charged with first degree murder. They were able to take him in a life, guess we're not surprised about that. Um, if convicted, he would face a maximum sentence of life without parole. Um, they are, the FBI is investigating, uh, the shooting as both a hate crime, um, and racially motivated extremism. This is, uh, or that, I mean, at the time, that was the 198th mass shooting in 2022. It's, yeah, we, the pandemic ain't slow nothing down. Um, and it's like, it's just really sad. Uh, cuz that happened in New York and then in Milwaukee, um, for the playoffs there were 21 people injured, um, during a couple series of events, um, tied to being downtown. And then in Chicago, a 16 year old was shot, um, in Millennium Park, which is where the infamous the bean kind of tourist attraction areas at, um, in, then in Laguna Beach, um, one person was killed in a church. And it's just a lot happened to this weekend. And I think, um, well, what's your reactions to all of that first?
Speaker 8 00:08:07 Yeah, my initial reaction is a lot of this has to do with the fact that like, you know, inflation is up eight and a half percent, and, uh, you know, and companies are still making record breaking profits and, you know, people are not attending to the community. People aren't getting, um, any more money or any way of providing for their family, and it's just becoming tougher and tougher. And so I think since that's, um, happening, that, that, that's why we're seeing this, um, spike of crime. I mean, um, I I was actually reading an article the other day that was talking about how places who, um, quote unquote defunded the police and funded the police saw, uh, a actual spike in crime, even though only one was really being reported was the one that defund, quote unquote defunded the police. So, Hmm. Um, so we, so, so, so yeah, the, the, the spike is everywhere and we need to, um, you know, realize that the conditions of this capitalist system that we live in is the, it's the thing that causing that. Right.
Speaker 10 00:09:11 And, and just to specify, when you're talking about inflation and the, the real world implications are, you're talking about like community violence and gun violence and situations like that. You're not, are you, are you also including the, uh, racist shooting that was happening Buffalo into that? Are you including that or No? No. Okay. Uh,
Speaker 8 00:09:30 That was for the community violence.
Speaker 10 00:09:32 Gotcha. Okay. I just wanted to make sure that we made that specification. I, I knew that's what you meant, but I just wanted to Yeah. Say that clearly. Again, uh,
Speaker 8 00:09:39 No racist attack. It's just
Speaker 10 00:09:42 <laugh>,
Speaker 8 00:09:42 You know,
Speaker 10 00:09:43 It white, white supremacy being loud as opposed to how it's normally just quiet, but still present, you know? Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Um, uh, again, we're going to see talking about the buffalo, uh, shooter, terrorist attack, we're going to see people talk about, um, mental illness and say that he was, you know, a a easily influenced boy who found himself on the wrong side of, of the internet and being influenced by these different things. But I mean, at what point do you just say he was violently racist and used his, his, you know, blindness of just taking out what he thought was his enemy, which is black people? You know, he, he believed in the, uh, great replacement theory that white people are becoming the minority in this country. Uh, I mean, he literally wrote the n word on the site of his gun, and there's videos. He live streamed the entire thing.
Speaker 10 00:10:39 And there's a point in the video where he's about to shoot what appears to be a Caucasian man, picks his gun up, says, sorry, and then goes on to go shoot at more black people. Um, so it's very clear what his intentions were. It is very clear how he felt about people who looked like me. It is very clear what he was trying to do. We can't blame this on anything other than white supremacy. This is just white supremacy being much louder. It's the same white supremacy that killed George Floyd. It's the same, it's the same thing. It's just when it, when it's this loud, they want to, uh, they want to give it a different name.
Speaker 9 00:11:14 Yeah. It requires a radical reformation of society. Like it's, we gotta do more than what's being done, gun reform. It's not gonna cut it. Um, so I just want to lift up again, prayers and solidarity to those, um, who are, you know, suffering right now because of this gun violence and because of these racist attacks. Um, moving on. So this is a shout out to my fellow 6 46 arrestees. Uh, this was a sweet treat for me this weekend, uh, learning that the Minneapolis City attorney Jim Router, announced Thursday that he will not seek another term. Uh, his last day is going, going to be next Monday. Uh, so there's no word on, uh, what router will do next. Uh, the arrestees may have or may have not, um, had a little operation pull up to demand him to drop some charges. So, feels a little good to know that, um, we'll have to do something else with someone else next time.
Speaker 9 00:12:10 But, uh, this dude came in, uh, July, 2020 promising to be the catalyst for change in his position. Another eye roll. He was a high level attorney for Target. So I would be surprised, uh, I wouldn't be surprised if the private sector is where he's gonna go back. Um, you know, good riddens and goodbye <laugh>. Um, but also a quick report back, uh, this past weekend on Saturday was the all Naba, um, march. There were around 150 protestors who rallied in March in uptown, uh, to mark the 74th anniversary of all Naba, uh, which is Arabic for the, the catastrophe to Israelis, the days to celebrate declaring independence in 1948, uh, to the Palestinians. It's a day of mourning for the ensuing war that at least 750,000 Palestinian men, women, and children were ruthlessly attacked, uh, and driven from their homes by Zionist terror groups. Uh, the anti-war committee and the American Muslims for Palestine organized the march, uh, to pressure the US backed Israeli occupation in apartheid.
Speaker 9 00:13:18 Um, uh, the rally was at Bryant Square Park. DJ had a very great speech, so great that someone was very upset about it. <laugh>, it was, it was a good moment. It was great because they weren't listening to dj, but they were just upset at dj. It was amazing. But our, um, awesome security team handled that. Um, DJ made sure to connect to the Palestinian struggle for national liberation, uh, with Black Liberation. Um, and the next, uh, event is going to be a Palestine solidarity action on Wednesday, May 24th at the state capitol in the Rotunda. And they'll gather at 8 45 to pressure the state board of investment to divest from the Israeli companies complicit in the occupation of Palestine.
Speaker 8 00:14:07 Yep. And, um, one of the really powerful things, um, for me was the fact that, um, that they actually got keys, right? So a lot of the posters that they had were keys mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And so they, they, with the keys, what they were doing was when they left their houses and they were, um, and they were completely, um, forced out of their houses brutally, um, they all kept their keys because they believed one day that they would return mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And so I thought, and so I thought that was like really powerful that a lot of them still have those keys. Yeah. So thank you so, um, much for the excellent, um, new segment as usual Jalen. So we so appreciate you. So, um, moving next, we're actually going to have, uh, a interview in our, in our interview. We're gonna have it, um, nerdy is in the studio with us in the studio. In the studio, um, live. Yep. We are here, uh, live
Speaker 11 00:15:12 From. Yep.
Speaker 12 00:15:14 Yeah, we live, we live
Speaker 8 00:15:17 <laugh>. Yes. And, uh, but you brought, um, your, your guests, uh, lieutenants, uh, Sonny, who we've been listening to all month here. Love your music. So thank you. So I, so, so excited, excited to have you. Thank you. Thank so much. Yeah.
Speaker 13 00:15:32 Thank you. Thank you. I'm so excited to, I'm glad to
Speaker 11 00:15:34 Get to know you. Thank you. Dope. Hello everybody again. My name is Nerd d. This is the little artist spotlight we get to do every week, highlighting someone here in the city who's making art, making music, and making us all have a great time now. Hello, Lieutenant. Sunny.
Speaker 13 00:15:48 Hello. Hello. Hello. People out there. Hello, everybody.
Speaker 11 00:15:52 <laugh>, how are you feeling this
Speaker 13 00:15:54 Evening? I feel so good. The sun is shining. It is. It feels so great outside. It's perfect. The, the temperature is perfect for me today. There
Speaker 11 00:16:01 It is. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, that's what we love to hear. Perfect. Temperature, but now we're not outside. We in the booth. So I'm gonna ask you some questions. You cool?
Speaker 8 00:16:07 Yeah, yeah, yeah. Ready? It's hard
Speaker 13 00:16:08 Hitting. I'm
Speaker 11 00:16:09 Ready. It's, it's hard headed. That's all we do here. Let's do it. All right. So, real quick, before we get into the hard-hitting questions, I gotta ask, what, what got your start in music? We've been listening to you all month. Like, tell us what got you into this.
Speaker 13 00:16:21 Okay. Um, so I, I grew up in Apostolic Church, and I was always in the choir dancing, praise, dancing, and all doing all that fun stuff. Um, but I, I was always pretty radical. Like I always had this fiery spirit inside of me. Um, I was like labeled the Revel child and things like the problem child, all that fun stuff. Um, and I used to dance a lot, you know, but I always like had this, uh, feeling inside of me, like I'm trying to get a message across. And I felt like I tr I tried to convey that through dancing. But one day I picked up a microphone, like back when I was 19. Um, and I, uh, I was a part of this, uh, what's, what's it called? It was a residency project. Ooh. Um, with Big Quarters. They were collaborating with Culture Club Collaborative, shout out to Culture Club, shout out. And they were doing a, uh, a recording project with the youth participants, and I was one of them. And, uh, the day that I came, they were writing, we were writing about our experience on Hennepin Avenue. Hmm. And so, um, I wrote about my experience as a young queer black person walking down Hennepin Avenue. I recorded my voice and I heard it back, and I fell in love. And I've been rapping ever since. I
Speaker 11 00:17:29 Love that. I heard my own voice and I fell in love. Oh, that's, that's beautiful.
Speaker 13 00:17:34 I didn't <laugh> I didn't even hear that yet.
Speaker 11 00:17:38 Now, uh, since we, we listened to a little surprise Okay. Uh, last week. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, fantastic song, lovely music, video. Like I said, I don't know if any of y'all heard of them. Music video is spicy. Is is hot. It's hot. So tell me a little bit, uh, tell me a little bit about that, cuz I know you had said that that was very transformative for
Speaker 13 00:17:55 You. Yes, yes. So, um, being a, being a big body person, being plus size, um, I've had to learn how to love the, like me and love the skin that I'm in. You know, like there's a point on my spiritual journey where I'm like, I, I keep abandoning myself and I keep trying to escape myself and having anxiety and mental health and all the fun stuff. Um, but I realized that every, every therapy session, every prayer session, every everything always led me back to myself. And so there was a time I wrote that song two years ago, and Wow. It was actually, uh, during the uprising, um, that was taking place. And I was just, so, it's, it's interesting, I, I explained it on my podcast, the Sex Talk podcast about look that, shout it out. Yes. Get out <laugh>. I have a, uh, podcast, you know, and so we just did a debrief about the music video with myself and the other women. Um, but the anger and the rage and the frustration that I had from the unjust discussing murder of our dear brother George Floyd, I channeled it into, um, I, I channeled in it into my sensuality. Hmm. And so I transformed that energy. I transformed that anger, energy, angry energy. And what I realized was that if, if I'm going to die for being black, I would rather die for being myself.
Speaker 11 00:19:12 There it is. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>.
Speaker 13 00:19:13 And that's where I came from. Yeah.
Speaker 11 00:19:15 <laugh>, oh my God. Church. Say Amen, church, say Amen.
Speaker 13 00:19:18 Say <laugh>. Y'all are so kind.
Speaker 11 00:19:21 <laugh>. No, but that's so real. I think that, um, it's real important, I think specifically for black femme people in music to be able to express their love for themselves. Yeah. You've said this a multiple times. Not only just your voice, but your body and your content. Yeah. That's so important. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, because there's not a lot of avenues for that.
Speaker 13 00:19:40 No, no, it's not.
Speaker 11 00:19:41 It is the, the industry is not normally kind. Yeah. Um, as mu as a reflection of most of the world. But so as a femme, black queer plus size person in the music community here. Yeah. What have been the challenges? Uh, what are, what, what things have you overcome? We talked a little bit about what it's like being that type of performer here in Minnesota mm-hmm.
Speaker 13 00:20:02 <affirmative>. Um, I think that, I think that what I realize is there's a lack of, uh, uh, there's a lack and there's a gap between visibility. Mm-hmm. I think it's so important that we see each other, like we see ourselves in these spaces. And, and this is why I'm such a fan of you. Like, I know you're our friend. I know, I know. But you, like, you, you make it seem so easy. Like I know it's hard and I know we have our one-on-ones and we talk about it, but, you know, like, ha seeing it, seeing, seeing things that you've done in other queer black folks and, and queer black fem folks too, is inspiring. And so I'm like, you know, like I see me in these spaces when I see other faces like me, <laugh>. I wasn't trying to ride, but, uh, you can't stop it.
Speaker 13 00:20:46 You can't turn, turn it off. Natural talent. Yes. So I just, I think we need, um, more visibility. And what I realized too, which I've had conversations with non, non-black folks, um, I, like, I've had to learn how to have like, I don't know, I don't know if I call it patience or whatever it is, but it's like, sometimes the message doesn't land for non-black folks until like three to five years later, <laugh>. And so I'm like, I'm just gonna wait for you to catch up. I'm gonna say this thing and then hit me up in five years when you get it, you know? Yeah. And there's been so many times where people are like, uh, five years ago when we had that convers, I get it now, Sonny. It's like, I don't got five years. You
Speaker 11 00:21:26 Done got five years,
Speaker 13 00:21:26 I need you. Right. So, education is so important. So the barriers, the barriers that I face are just, uh, falling on deaf ears. Mm. People not hearing me the first time. Mm-hmm. And so it's just, uh, along with, you know, being comfortable in my skin and liking me, I have to be okay with being alone and, and knowing that people will catch up. Hopefully, I hope that they'll catch up. You know what I'm saying? So just ta being patient.
Speaker 11 00:21:50 Being patient. And that's, it's kind of a, it's, it's a, it's a sobering realization is that as a, as a a specifically a black woman in this industry, one of the things that you have to master is patience. Waiting for people to catch up to. Yeah.
Speaker 13 00:22:04 Yeah.
Speaker 11 00:22:05 <laugh>. That's gotta be
Speaker 13 00:22:05 Frustrating. Yeah. Sobering. I'm like, like I said this five
Speaker 11 00:22:09 Years ago, <laugh>, <laugh>.
Speaker 13 00:22:12 And then you're like, oh yeah, cuz you're so excited now that you got it. Yeah. You know, the ladies, and you know, it's so tired.
Speaker 11 00:22:19 How many times have we told some somebody something and then they, later on they come back, oh, hey, you know what? I found out? You're like mm-hmm. <affirmative> mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Yeah.
Speaker 13 00:22:26 Right. Exactly.
Speaker 11 00:22:27 Exactly what I told you. Exactly. Exactly.
Speaker 13 00:22:30 Exactly.
Speaker 11 00:22:31 <laugh>. I, I mean, like, we've, even, we were just talking about, I've had, uh, friends of mine mm-hmm. <affirmative>, uh, friends of the, uh, paylor, uh, persuasion. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And they'd be like, man, these police really be out here like that. Huh. <laugh>. I'm just like,
Speaker 13 00:22:43 Really? Me? You gonna say that to me right
Speaker 11 00:22:46 Now? All right. Okay. Um, we're here. Yeah. You made it. Yeah. Right.
Speaker 11 00:22:52 There you go. Okay. I, I, first of all, like, music is powerful, music is protest. I think just your existence is protest. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> and I, and I, I applaud you for continuing to make the music that you love to make and you let your voice heard. And five years from now where everyone's like putting the Grammys that you made on the stuff. Okay. Yes. We'll be able to say, Hey, we heard it here. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, we heard it here. We heard it first. We heard it. Yes. Now real quick, just so people can get to know you, where can, what's, what are you doing up, what's coming up next for you? What, what music are you doing five years from now when people are talking about it? What are you doing next? Right.
Speaker 13 00:23:24 Right. <laugh>. So to the people in the future, <laugh>. There you go. Tell them. Hey, everybody. So, um, actually tomorrow I'm going to be hosting, uh, my favorite ever over mic. Uh, uh, it's like, I forgot the name. It is my favorite. No. Um,
Speaker 11 00:23:39 Just the reverb
Speaker 13 00:23:40 Over reverb over mic with True Art speech. Yes. I love shout out to True Art speech. Shout out to, to the team over there. I love them so much. I get to hold the space tomorrow and I'm so excited. Um, and so, uh, yeah, it's gonna be a Halle Q Brown Center from six to eight, and it's free all ages, and it's a real good. Good. Yeah. Oh
Speaker 8 00:24:00 Six. Yeah. No.
Speaker 13 00:24:01 Oh yeah. Yeah. And so, um, sorry. And so that's what I'm doing immediately. And then, uh, uh, right now what I'm working, I'm working on a new project. Um, I don't wanna say too much about it.
Speaker 11 00:24:12 Don't, don't, don't, don't, don't release
Speaker 13 00:24:14 It. Know,
Speaker 11 00:24:15 But Yeah. You don't know it's coming. It's
Speaker 13 00:24:16 Simmering. I'm, yeah. Something really good is coming. And then, uh, uh, what, what's, I can't think of what's happening. There's something, just follow me on social media. I'm, oh,
Speaker 11 00:24:26 There you go. Where, where, where can they find you? Where's the place that they can find you
Speaker 13 00:24:29 At? Yeah. Uh, Instagram and Twitter. L l t Sunny. E l l t e e s u n n i e.
Speaker 11 00:24:34 Ooh, there it is. And that's, that's, that's, uh, Instagram. That's
Speaker 13 00:24:37 Twitter. Yep. And, and Facebook too. If you, uh, put in that tag. Lieutenant Sunny. Yep.
Speaker 11 00:24:42 There it is. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, we got, we got, we got someone in the building who's making waves.
Speaker 8 00:24:46 <laugh>. <laugh>.
Speaker 11 00:24:47 That's super dope.
Speaker 8 00:24:48 Yeah. I really wanted to talk about your song Legend, because I really loved that song because I was banging it at my job the whole time. Yay. And I was just like, enjoying it. People was like, who is that? I was like, Lieutenant honey. What you mean <laugh>? Yes. Yes. Yo. So just tell us like, um, um, what that song is about and how that like, made you feel and how you came up with it. So,
Speaker 13 00:25:08 Yeah. Um, so, um, another shout out to Tru Speaks, uh, in hip hop education, something that I learned about, um, you know, the ele the elements of hip hop is that it's, uh, like even in church too, like growing up in church is call and responds. And so, um, I, what I really love about that song is this like, community oriented. Like when I write my music, I like to make sure people can like, uh, if they never heard it before, or if they, if they heard it and they love it, they feel like they can, um, join in when we're we're all together or when, when I'm performing. Um, so it's like, uh, I wanted to incorporate that element into the course, um, which I hope you can, you know, sense that, um, the call and response and then also I just had to hype me and my people up, you know, like cuz we're, we're living legends. Like, to go back to what, uh, nerdy was saying about like, our existence is radical, like to be black and exist, and B period is a radical act. And it's, it's like disrupting space. Certain spaces, like our existence is political when we show up, you know? And, and that's legendary <laugh>, you know? So. Wow. I love that song. And I was just spread like purging my heart into it with those, with those things I'm learning with this thing called life. So yeah, <laugh>
Speaker 8 00:26:31 <laugh>,
Speaker 11 00:26:31 That's fantastic. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Oh, okay. And next week, I know we got one more, we got one more track for you next week. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, it's called Word of Howie mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And it has a couple people on there. Yes. You wanna talk a little bit about that? That's right.
Speaker 13 00:26:42 Yes, yes. So word to Howie is one, one another one of my favorite songs. And it's a celebratory song. Um, and it's with, uh, my lovely friends and coworkers, Brenda Pofu and Tuva The Word. And, um, it's, it's just a really a celebration. And the idea was to, you know, like, you know, as black artists, like I know we get into the political meat and potato stuff and so I was just trying to keep it kind of light, even though it probably got a little heavy in there somewhere too <laugh>. But yeah, just trying to keep it light and, and turn up and have fun on some, we, we gonna be all right. Type stuff. There
Speaker 11 00:27:19 It is. There it is. Having fun, joy in the face of adversity is the ultimate form Yeah. Of protests a lot of time. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> when you just happy and they can't stop you from being happy. It's beautiful. Yes.
Speaker 10 00:27:31 We got time for another question we still going with, uh, just like from an artist's perspective, um, you know, a lot of times with art comes like insecurity or like self doubt. Like we're always like our own biggest critic. Like, what was the moment? Just cause I like to hear this from an artist, what was the moment where you're like, okay, yeah, that's pretty dope I did that. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, like, you know what I'm saying? Like whether it was someone did something for you, or like you did a project and it came out and went crazy. Or like, what was the moment that comes to the top of your mind where you're like, yeah, I did that. Mm.
Speaker 13 00:27:58 <laugh> Well, okay. The, my immediate, my immediate thought because I was listening to it on my way over here is, is holding my own on a cipher full of, full of my peers. Oh crap. Like, you know, like, uh, so check out, check out the f p e Cipher on Always Sunny and Philadelphia. Um, it has all of Fair Play collective, um, on it. And first of all, I didn't go first in the Cipher. Like, even though it was my idea, I didn't go first, which I thought was, that was so player, you know what I'm saying? <laugh>, I was like, lemme sit back, you know what I'm saying? And then when I came in I was like, Ooh. And so it was like, and also I was going through a breakup at the time, and the first verse, the first lyrics are heartbreak taught. I got nothing approved. And just being my own cheerleader, not hating on myself is when I, when I have the best like, execution, like yeah, Lord, just come in with the ugh. And I held my own, you know, that's, I leave them running for they money. That's right. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 11 00:28:59 That's what we are about. We have any more ques any more questions? We have time for one more. Are we good? One more. We got time for one more question. Anybody? Anybody? Cuz I got, I got one more. Okay. Okay. This is my last question. I, I, I ask everybody, every segment we've ever done, I ask this question. Yeah. Yeah. Um, if you could perform with two people living or dead, who would you pick and why? Ooh.
Speaker 13 00:29:22 Ooh. Oh no, you
Speaker 11 00:29:23 Got 60 seconds. 60
Speaker 13 00:29:25 Seconds Living the dead. Oh, okay. Be Beyonce, boom. And Michael Jackson. There
Speaker 11 00:29:32 It is. There
Speaker 10 00:29:33 It's,
Speaker 13 00:29:34 And Michael Jackson. Boom. They're such great entertainers and I just, it's so, yeah. I will be, I would, I would live
Speaker 14 00:29:40 With all the dancing and all that singing.
Speaker 11 00:29:43 Oh, there it is. Well, everybody, we're gonna make sure that Lieutenant Sonny and Beyonce get hooked up together very soon. Make sure to follow her on all social media. Thank you so much for being with us. Thank you for having
Speaker 8 00:29:53 Me today. Yes. And thank you nerdy once again for your spotlight. We extremely appreciate it. We're gonna take a quick, um, listen to this next cart and it will be back with another interview.
Speaker 15 00:30:05 Support comes from two Betty's providing green cleaning services to twin cities, homes, and businesses since 2006. Two Betty's fact number 12, two Betty's likes to replace paper towels with microfiber cloths with microfibers. Thousands of plush fibers on the cloth grab more dirt, grime and bacteria than paper towels. And they're reusable after a quick spin in the washer, they're ready to go again. Just like two Betty's. Learn more at two betty's clean.com. That's two betty's clean.com.
Speaker 16 00:30:41 Spring in Minnesota, a time for renewal and re rere renewal. And re re rere renewal a time when you need to ask if it's 40 degrees above or below zero a time when it's important to know which shorts to wear over your snowmobile suit. A time when dressing for the weather means taking half of all the clothing you own, just in case. But there's one thing that's consistent. K F A I K FFA i's signature blend of music, news and information is always hot and cool at the same time. Just like dressing for spring in Minnesota.
Speaker 8 00:31:27 All right, we are back.
Speaker 10 00:31:29 We are back. And you know, this whole month we've been doing our words of freedom, uh, poet spotlight and we had Jane Doha Ray. Well you guys are lucky. We are all so lucky to have Jane Doha Ray in the studio here with us. So can we all just say hello and a warm welcome to Jen Del Ray.
Speaker 8 00:31:46 Hello. Welcome. Hello.
Speaker 14 00:31:48 How you guys doing? Thank you guys for having me. Yes,
Speaker 10 00:31:51 We are, like I said, blessed to have you here with us today. Um, and so, you know, this is our, we're just getting into this show, like we're figuring out things. The first person I could think of to do for this segment was Gender, the Ray, um, little bit of her bio when she sends you a bio, get ready to read like a whole novel <laugh>. Um, we got author, award-winning poet, award-winning spoken word poet. We got a painter. Um, I've seen her behind a camera. So a little bit of a photographer. I've seen her in front of a camera. So a little bit of a model. So like you do like all things art. So let's, let's, my first question to you is like, when, when can you first recall like, you being interested in art and like thinking like, yeah, this is something that I enjoy, that type of thing.
Speaker 14 00:32:33 Oh man. I think all of my childhood memories are me ducking off and finding a corner to go do art <laugh>, um, <laugh>, um, yeah, I mean, I don't even know how I found poetry, but I've always been a painter, always drawn, always been interested in music, all kinds of things. And I feel like it's, since I can remember writing short stories since about five, six years old, my dad put the pen in my hand. It's been, it's been love and history ever since. So
Speaker 10 00:32:54 That's what's up. So you said about five years old. Um, when did you find yourself starting to take it like more seriously? Like, this isn't something that I just like enjoy, this is something that like I kind of want to do and I'm gonna like put time and effort into. When did that transition sort
Speaker 14 00:33:10 Of happen? Yeah, that's a great question. Um, if you can remember <laugh>. Yeah. No, I actually do remember it was a defining moment. I, I grew up with a, a strong black woman, my mother, um, beautiful woman, but she's like most black, most black mothers. She's snooping in my stuff and she found some of my poetry <laugh> and she actually submitted me into a poetry contest at like nine, 10 years old. And I won second place just off of, just off of, you know, something. I was like, I hate this neighborhood. It's the hood, you know? So just off some heartfelt, that's how I'm feeling. That's, you know, and I end up winning second place in that competition and it was like, oh wow, I, I might be kind of good at this. And I think that's when I started to take it seriously and that's when she started to invest in me and realize like, oh, my baby got talent. You know? So I think that was a defining moment for me.
Speaker 10 00:33:54 Gotcha. That's super dope. Um, so when it comes to you being multifaceted, you use all of these different mediums. Um, I've had my own like dispute, like self conflict of like, what am I, right? Like I still don't really even call myself a poet. I know I'm an artist cuz a lot of what I do is artistic in nature, but I don't ever really like necessarily know how to define what it is that I'm doing. Um, it always like finds a way like in between a couple categories. So like, for you being someone who does so many different things, like how would you define yourself and like, do you feel like you have like a lane? Do you feel like you have multiple lanes? How does it feel going through multiple lanes and that, that constant battle that you have? I'm sure.
Speaker 14 00:34:40 Yeah, no, definitely. People tell me all the time, you're so talented. I'm like, listen, I am overwhelmed. Okay. <laugh> <laugh>. It's a lot of moving parts. Um, my name is Jen Delta Ray and it actually means the one who continues the story. Um, and so I feel as if like I'm multifaceted for a reason and I think I switch lanes when stories need to be told in different ways. And so sometimes, you know, like the other day I posted a rap on Instagram, that story just need to be told in that way. Kinda like I told you the other day mm-hmm. <affirmative>, I think, um, it just depends on what I'm feeling. Sometimes I do find myself a little off balance. It's like, whoa, I wanna do this, I wanna do that, I wanna do this. Um, but I think that, you know, perfecting one craft, like spoken word, like poetry and then adding on to that, like music and production and things like that have helped me kind of guide my way into what it is that I want to do, which is really creative directing. But I, I would label myself as a storyteller and an artist. I think that's the most blanket generic statement that I can make. And it's just like, you'll just have to see the rest for yourself, <laugh>, because I don't, yeah. It's a lot
Speaker 10 00:35:37 <laugh>. That's that's super cool. Um, so you say that like, you like to do these different things and they all kind of lead you down like a path. Like what is, what is something artistically that you haven't done yet or a different medium that you're like, dang, I kind of, I ain't never got into it yet, but I would like to or, or something that like, you've tried but weren't that great and you want to give it like a second try. I mean, you the natural, so you probably find the first try, but <laugh> just something like, like that, that like, you want to get more into, or you want to like get better at. Like, what's something like that for you?
Speaker 14 00:36:06 I think for me right now, um, it's twofold. I want to get better at songwriting. Um, and also rapping, that's why I post that love video the other day. Um, but I also want to get better at videography and photography and cinematography. I think that's my end goal. It's like, I wanna be like a mini Ava DuVernay in the game. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> eventually be in that sweet spot where you write, you produce, you direct all of that. That that's in my, that's my, I think that's what's up next. You know, poetry has gotten me here and I'm, I'm a pretty good writer, but I'm like, yeah, I wanna, I wanna divert to the, to the right. So yeah, I think, uh, video editing, photography, cinematography, and a little bit of songwriting and rapping. I don't know how that, I don't know how that's gonna work out, but it's gonna work out, you know. So yeah. <laugh>, I got high hopes
Speaker 10 00:36:46 <laugh>. That's super cool. Um, just a question I have off of the, uh, like the top of my head, like, with everything that you've, you've done so far that you continue to do for yourself, you also take the time to give other artists platform. Um, can you speak a little bit about that for people who might not know you in the events that you do and, and how, what, what your views are on community as artists and as black people together? Like, speak a little bit about that to the people. Yeah,
Speaker 14 00:37:17 For sure. Um, I started organizing an event planning back in college and I have then created an organization called The Last Word Poetry, which is essentially like an epicenter for spoken word poetry. Um, creating space for, um, spoken word poets and spoken word poets in the Minneapolis area. And I think for me it came from a place of giving back to the community that raised me. Um, but also knowing that sometimes art ebbs and flows. And if I'm not in a season to be able to produce or to be able to get on stage, or if I'm fighting imposter syndrome, I think it's important for me to create platforms for other people to get their, their art off. Um, when I first started my poetry Slam, it was really to fund the pockets of poets in Minneapolis. I personally don't know one artist or one poet that's just a poet.
Speaker 14 00:37:58 Usually we're multifaceted. So if I can put some $500 in somebody's pocket where they get some studio time or they, you know, they are able to order some extra books or some color pencils or whatever it is. That was really my, my end goal. Um, and it's, it's evolved into something much bigger where I'm like, oh wait, we can, we can do a lot with this. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. But yeah, my goal was to give back. It was a season of me being depressed, me being down and out, being me, being really sad and I'm like, you know what? I know that I can plan an event, so that's what I'm gonna do and I'm gonna create a space for other people to, to, you know, get their art off, but also allow myself to be inspired by other people and see who's in the community. So that's a little bit about the last word, poetry and what we slash I try to, to do. So
Speaker 10 00:38:35 <laugh>, that's super dope. Yeah. That was where I first met Jan Doha Ray, uh, I applied to be in her poetry Slam <laugh>. Oh man.
Speaker 14 00:38:44 Came in third place,
Speaker 10 00:38:44 By the way. Came in third place. I, bro, I stalled on that stage. What? That was my first ever like, poetry slam. For real, for real. I blanked like literally minute and a half, no words came outta my mouth, but then I went on and killed it. So it ain't no big deal. Once I got it, I got it. But, so you were in that season of, of giving and putting a, a platform together for other people. And then shortly after that you dropped a little project on us, you dropped a little book on us. So, so kind of go through your process of when did you feel like, okay, one, I got all this work, I can put it into a book two, um, like putting, actually taking the steps and doing it, and three deciding that it was ready to give to the people. Like what was, what was that all like for
Speaker 14 00:39:29 You? Oh man. So the idea of that book actually came to me from a friend and he was like, yo, I got this idea where you write the poetry, I take the pictures, it's gonna be great, it's gonna be beautiful. And I was like, all right, but I'm real depressed right now. I don't know how, how, how that's gonna happen. Um, and I just started going through the notes in my iPhone and just realizing like, girl, you'll be writing, you know what I'm saying? Like, you, you got a little arsenal here. And I was going through a season of like, during the pandemic, just really looking at myself, analyzing myself. I'm like, oh, I got trauma. I'm kind of messed up. I need to do something with this. And so I basically laid out my trauma in seven different chapters, talking about seven different things that I suffered from and kind of created this weird non-traditional piece of literature.
Speaker 14 00:40:09 Um, and it was a process. It took a, I would say about a year or two craft the manuscript in the bare bones and all that. Um, but it got to a point where I kept tweaking and perfecting. I kept doing that artist thing where it's like, okay, like if I keep doing meddling with this, it's never gonna be done mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And so I just had to send it off to the editor. I'm like, this is the final copy, whatever it is. It's, it's just what it is. And I felt, I felt really good about it. It felt like I did something, I did something with my trauma, these bullets, you know, all the, all these things that have been controlling my life up until this point can no longer live in me. So it's like I gave it a resting point, a resting place, if that makes sense. And yeah. Yeah. I felt, I felt great to after it was like a weight lifted after I released it, so
Speaker 10 00:40:46 That's super cool. I felt the same. The illusion of healing. Yes. Is the name of her book, uh, go to her Instagram. I'm sure there's, uh, links to that where you can purchase, you can see what it's about. A little bit more. Um, continuing on, on the interview. So I kind of asked this question to our last, uh, guest too. I just like to, to hear this from a artist. Um, so everybody's insecure artists especially, um, because most of the time we are our worst critics. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So what was the time that you can remember where you were like, yeah, I did that. Like, no question about it. That was dope. Like, I did that and no one can, it doesn't really matter at this point what anybody says cuz I know that was dope. What, what's like one time in your head that that comes to mind for that?
Speaker 14 00:41:31 Oh man, it was, okay, so I've, I've ebbed and flowed with poetry, but um, I took like a six, seven year old hiatus when I was in college and I came back to the microphone <laugh> and I had a boy that was messing with me, breaking my heart at the time. It was a lot going on, but I just came back to the mic with so much passion and so much fire and literally shook the house down. And it was one of those moments where I went home like teasing, like, I'm back. <laugh>, can't nobody take that from me. You know? So I mean, just to be able to take that, that long hiatus seven years and to be welcomed back into that space with so much love. And so somebody, you know, so many people saying, oh my God, you're so dope. Where's this talent been? It's like, yo, okay, I gotta do it. And that's really, that performance actually is what really propelled my spoken word career that you see today. So, so yeah, it was, it was a dope moment. I'm always, I'm gonna be proud of that. November 11th, 2000, 2016. Ooh,
Speaker 10 00:42:21 Remember the date, <laugh>, that's what's up. Um, and so kind of on the same topic, right, like you knew that that was dope. You knew that you killed it, you knew that you did a good job, um, for other times or sometimes it's a little bit more gray than that. Um, what does support look like to you, like as an artist? What does it feel like? What does it look like to be supported, um, with your work and people you associate with or people you don't know? Like what does support look and feel like to you? That's,
Speaker 14 00:42:52 That's a great question. I think at the bare minimum, just affirmation behind the art. You know, I think you have so many people who want to put you in a lane or put you in a box or tell you that you should do this kind of art, you should do that kind of art. And just, I think appreciation and affirmation for the fact that I created something. I think that within itself is support. Um, beyond that, sharing things on Instagram, um, I think that sometimes we think that we're too good to share or to post or repost or whatever it is. And I think that, um, that is also support too. But then also asking and knowing, you know, when to ask people for help. You know, like I, in this last season, people have been like, oh my God, you organized, you need help.
Speaker 14 00:43:30 And it's like, that's a beau I should learn. I should, I should be honest. I should be better at asking for help. But it's also, I appreciate community that sees when to fill in those gaps and it's like, yo, I can do this, I can do that for you. You know, those, those moments are nice. So I thinks support, it varies. It looks different for everybody. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. But I think at the bare minimum as an artist, it's just appreciating the art that I decided to put out into the world and giving me compliments, even if it's not you, you know what I'm saying? It should, it's not for you. It's just like, I took the time to create this. I think you put something in your book about that, about like, I created something, so yeah. I I'm better than I was, you know? Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So I think at the bare minimum, that's what support looks like.
Speaker 10 00:44:07 <laugh>. Yeah. We've, I've, we've gotten some good conversations, so there's plenty of questions here that I still want to ask you. But this last question I'll do is going to be like a two-part and you can decide which part you want to answer first. It's gonna be kind of difficult, whatever, or maybe it'll be easy. What is your favorite thing and your least favorite thing about being an artist? Oh
Speaker 14 00:44:25 My gosh,
Speaker 14 00:44:26 <laugh>. Ah, I think my favorite thing about being an an artist is, you know, touching people. You know, healing people. People that I, I'm not gonna ever be able to see up close people that I don't know their, I don't even know their last names. And they're like, yo, I felt that, you know, being able to touch people from a distance is a beautiful thing and it's a power within itself. I think. Um, the least thing, the least my least favorite part about being an artist is the maintenance, um, the upkeep. Sometimes the promote the self-promotion behind doing art. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, oh my gosh, like I did the art. Whew, now I gotta promote it. <laugh> that is, that's different. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So I think there's levels to it, but I could go on about what I, what I don't like about being an artist <laugh>, but at the bare minimum, I think the self-promotion and overcoming that imposter syndrome to put yourself out there and know that you're great is, is sometimes difficult to do, especially in the age of social media. It's like, whoa, everybody's great. You
Speaker 10 00:45:14 Know, <laugh>. Yeah. Well that was like 15 minutes and it's crazy how fast 15 minutes can go when you're listening to someone as incredible as the Jen Delta Ray. So, uh, if you want to go ahead and plug your social quick so that people can find you, find more of your work, we're gonna hear more of a work next week, but go ahead.
Speaker 14 00:45:30 Yeah, for sure. So y'all can follow me on Instagram or Facebook at Gen Delta underscore Ray. That's j a n d e l t h a underscore r a e. You can follow me on Twitter too. I'm kind of funny. Um, <laugh> <laugh>. And then you can also follow my poetry page at the last Word Poetry on Instagram as well. Thank you guys for the sport. I appreciate it.
Speaker 8 00:45:47 Yes. Thank you so much for coming in. Thank
Speaker 14 00:45:49 You. Thank you for sharing your art with us. Absolutely.
Speaker 8 00:45:53 Yes. And we'll be right back.
Speaker 17 00:45:55 Programming support on K ffa, I is brought to you in part by the city of St. Paul's, department of Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity. Hello, St. Paul Neighbors and Partners, the city of St. Paul's Department of Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity invites you to our department, open house on Tuesday, May 24th from two to 6:00 PM Please join us to learn more about the department's work, meet our team, and enjoy refreshments at the new Frogtown Community Center, located at two 30 Como Avenue in St. Paul. We look forward to seeing you on May 24th.
Speaker 10 00:46:35 All
Speaker 8 00:46:35 Right. So, um, welcome back to Views From the Ground. Views from the
Speaker 10 00:46:41 Damn Ground.
Speaker 8 00:46:42 Um, we have a new segment that is debuting today. It is called Elevated Voices. And what this segment is about is we, there's a lot of people who show up the protests, and there's a lot of people who show up consistently, and a and a lot of them don't ever go on the mic. You know, a lot of them don't get to really tell us why they're at the protests. And so that's what, um, this segment, uh, elevated Voices is meant to do, is to take people who have been boots on the ground and allow them to talk and allow them to say why they feel it's important, um, for protests. So joining me today is Trinity. So
Speaker 14 00:47:18 Hello everybody.
Speaker 8 00:47:19 Yes. Um, and so what, uh, what line of work are you in?
Speaker 14 00:47:23 Um, education.
Speaker 8 00:47:24 Education, yes. Um, and so when did you start going to protests?
Speaker 14 00:47:30 I started going in elementary, middle school when the 1% 99% issue was going on. Um, but I don't remember too much, so I don't really count that <laugh>. I think I really started going after George Floyd, honestly. Um, I was just more, I was older, so I was able to consistently go to protest and it was, I heard it from my house. I heard like the riots and everything, so it was close by too, and it was kind of hard for me to just avoid it and just not paying at pay attention to it.
Speaker 8 00:47:59 And so, um, why did you start going to the protest? So you, um, so so you're saying it was close by. What, what are some of the other reasons that you felt compelled to go to them?
Speaker 14 00:48:10 Yeah. Um, I think a big one is just like me not being able to sit back and just watch these things happen anymore. Like, I've gotten to the point of where I'm tired of just watching and not doing anything about it. And for me, protesting has always been like a go-to where I feel like I'm getting something done and I'm getting my voice, my voice heard in the moment. And obviously like protesting doesn't change things in the moment, but like, people's voices are heard and like, we still do make an impact in a, you know, certain way.
Speaker 8 00:48:43 Yes. And, you know, um, I've only been going to protest since, um, you know, George Floyd was murdered, so, um, and I've seen you a lot, um, at the protest. Um, you've been boots on the ground, the, the entire time. What has inspired you to stay out there?
Speaker 14 00:49:02 Um, I honestly, I think just like me being, so I'm really passionate about teaching and that to me, that connects because I'm passionate about teaching because I wanna change a lot of the racial issues that we have in the education system. And so I think it really stems from that, like, me getting out in the streets is also making a separate impact. And like realizing with like George Floyd, that that was the first time I really felt what it felt like to like, have the possibility of that being my dad or my brother. And I really like, it just really hit me when I found out. Um, and I think like that's really like the main reason is I just have so much emotion for it now and I didn't before.
Speaker 8 00:49:49 Yeah. And, and I, I really feel that too as a, a fellow youth worker. Um, when I, when I see a lot of these, uh, police murders that I've been more aware of now since, um, George Floyd's been murdered, I, I, I see how close to home it is, and I'm just like, some of these could have been my kids, I mean mm-hmm. <affirmative>, some of them weren't my kids. Like, they're like the three kids that they, um, were chasing over north last year. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> and they crashed and ended up, um, dying. So like, those were my kids is like, this is like real stakes as someone who is in youth work. Yep. Um, so what do you feel like we've achieved since, uh, George Floyd was murdered?
Speaker 14 00:50:37 Um, I feel like we've kind of achieved some more of a sense of community in Minnesota with like, I feel like George Floyd did bring the community together, kind of, but it also brought a lot of division. Um, and I think like the main thing that we've achieved is just like making these murders and like these kind of issues more known. Because before George Floyd, like people didn't pay attention to Philando or Jamar Clark or Breonna Taylor. Nothing like as serious. But ever since I think we've just gotten the word out and like made people pay attention a little bit more, even though there's definitely groups of people who don't pay attention enough.
Speaker 10 00:51:20 Yeah. I think with what you're saying, like I totally like, agree with that. I think, um, the way someone put it is like, it's like now when things happen, like things have to be said about it. Like, we're about the same age. So when we were in high school, like there were killings that we saw, but we never had a walkout in high school. We never, it was never brought up. It was just kind of day, another day <laugh> in, in America as a black person. Right. But like, now when things happen, you're, you need to expect your high school students to say something about it. It needs to be addressed. And I think, like you said, like the change that we got is definitely like, it's, it's, it's more out in the air now. So I agree with that.
Speaker 9 00:52:01 Say, if you stay ready, you ain't gotta get ready. So I think the community stay ready these days,
Speaker 14 00:52:05 <laugh>.
Speaker 8 00:52:06 So what do you feel like are some of the things, um, that we can do to, uh, some of the solutions locally that we can do to make these murders stop? Like, what are some of the demands that really resonate with you?
Speaker 14 00:52:21 Yeah. Um, I think for me the first thing is we just need to stop having so much division in this city. Like mm-hmm. <affirmative>, especially in the protest community, there's so much division. Um, and that makes it hard, I feel like, to achieve anything because if we're against like the same issues, but then we are, we're butting heads and not working with each other, we're not gonna get to where we need to get in order for these murders to stop. Um mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So I think it really starts with that. And then from there, just like holding these cops accountable and maybe even abolishing them and getting rid of them. Yeah.
Speaker 8 00:52:57 Fully,
Speaker 10 00:52:58 Not maybe, definitely
Speaker 14 00:52:59 <laugh> <laugh>.
Speaker 8 00:53:00 And, and what, um, what are some of the, uh, what does accountability look like to you?
Speaker 14 00:53:07 Hmm. I think accountability, it really just looks like holding someone accountable for something that they did and the harm that they caused in like, letting them know how much of impact of whatever they did cause to like the community or families. Um, and just, you know, not letting people get away with murders or like racial incidents. Um,
Speaker 10 00:53:38 I think sometimes an easier question is like, what are some instances that people haven't been held accountable? Like if you think of Kim Potter, like, is that what accountability looks like to you? Yes. No.
Speaker 14 00:53:50 Um, no, I, I don't know. I think it's so hard to, um, really think about accountability, especially when it is like talk, when we're talking about the cops and like them murdering a black person or a person in general. It's like, how do you hold someone accountable for taking someone's life unjustly? Like, I don't know if I have the answer for that. I don't know if anyone has the answer for that, cuz like, there's no accountability. Accountability that will equal like the life that was lost mm-hmm. <affirmative>, you know mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So, I dunno.
Speaker 8 00:54:28 Okay. Um, and how do you feel like, you know, so, so we're just talking about local issues, um, and things we can do. What do you feel like we should do, um, you know, to truly achieve like black liberation?
Speaker 14 00:54:42 Um, I think we really need to, I guess, gain power by like, getting in positions that have the power. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, like for myself, me as an educator, I see that as like a position in power because I know I can work my way up. I'm a preschool teacher now, but I'm planning to work my way up and become like a principal. Um, and from there being able to make changes. So I think we just need to like get into these spaces where we're not like, expected to be and make changes from there because like, yes. Trying to change how the laws are and all of that is possible, but also like, we need to change the system in like, everything that goes into it. So we need to, I don't know, become more involved in it and have our voices be heard in those specific institutes.
Speaker 8 00:55:38 Yeah. And we, and it's nice to see that you are trying to do that. You are getting in, you're trying to be, I mean you're or a youth worker. And so that's just, um, and I, I feel like especially when it comes to youth work, we have such, especially with, uh, youth workers of, uh, that are black mm-hmm. <affirmative>, um, you know, we, there's not a lot of like black teachers or youth workers in general. So seeing one black teacher, cuz I remember, I feel like I've only had like two or three in my lifetime. And I remember like my favorite teacher was, uh, was Mr. Purvis who was a, a black man at Nelly Stone jobs. He was my science teacher. He let me hold the snake and talked to me about God of war. And he was just, he was just the best. He's just like so excited about it. And I, I think that really makes, uh, a difference in a black kid's life. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And so I just appreciate that. Um, you as another black youth worker are just out there making those changes. So and so thank you for joining us today on the first segment of Elevated Voices. I really appreciate you coming in and yeah,
Speaker 18 00:56:49 Hope to see you soon. Thank you. From the ground. Thanks for inviting. Gonna see you on the streets. We gonna see you
Speaker 8 00:56:54 <laugh>. Oh yeah. Y'all go to a protest. You gonna see Trinity
Speaker 18 00:56:59 In the front.
Speaker 8 00:57:01 Yep. So, um, and yeah. So we are wrapping up,
Speaker 19 00:57:15 Organize, organize, organize.
Speaker 8 00:57:16 We are wrapping up our program here. Views from the ground,
Speaker 18 00:57:21 Views from the dead
Speaker 8 00:57:22 Ground, views from the
Speaker 18 00:57:23 Ground views from the dead ground.
Speaker 8 00:57:25 We'll see y'all next week. We are out of here
Speaker 19 00:57:28 Away with all the lights. All the lights. All the lights. They come in with the digs. And in the 45 in between the protests, we protest every your lives bring. Realize that we have already been here before, protesting the streets. Cause we see and we all war burning police cars and we shooting loo in these doors. You may not agree, but you see they changing these laws. The only thing they understand now is her city burning. They acting like they shot with these cops. They just learning. See you Mr. Floyd on the ground and got 'em squirming. Now we can see they are the Nazis. We the German blacks. Organized, organized, organized. You with all the lights. All the lights. All the lies. They come in with the mac and the black and the 45. In between the protests, we protest and realize, yes, we have to organize, organize, organize, do away with all the lights, all the lies.
Speaker 19 00:58:15 All the lies. They come in with the take as and glass and the 45 in between the protests we protest and realize here we always wake up, but then we go back to sleep again. In between the protestors, when we begin and week again, we hear about the loop, another shoot. And this week again, this gives the police another excuse to hit the streets again. White police, black population can never be a friend. Our mothers and our fathers and our families, they be season them. They overseas, we, the s l a vs. To them. We gotta rise to the level where we ain't needing them. Everybody organize, organize, organize. Do away with all the lies. All the lies. All the lies. They come in with the and the black and the 45. In between the protests, we protest and realize, yes, we have to organize, organize, organize, do away with all the lies.
Speaker 19 00:59:00 All the lies. All the lies. They come in with the take and clap. And the 45 in between the protests. We protest this every your life. Yes. You have to follow me, follow me, follow me. It's my philosophy that white law monopoly makes democracy. Democracy in a capitalist economy, it's no democracy. I demand the return of my sovereignty. No apology, independence, autonomy, don't need the mommy in me. I could run my own country if you could just stop bombing me. Give my lamb back, gimme my gold back, my heritage, my birthright. You outright stole that. Organize, organize, organize. Do with all the lies. All the lies. All the lies. They come in with the act of the black and the 45 between them. Protest, we protest at R. Yes, we are organized. Organized. All the lies. All the lies. All the lies. They come in with the tear. And 45 in between the protests we protest and lies.
