♪ [THEME MUSIC] ♪
  >>> AND THANK YOU 
FOR JOINING US TODAY.
I'M CAROL JENKINS.
  THE PROGRAM IS 
  BLACK AMERICA.
  OUR GUEST TODAY IS
MICHAELA ANGELA DAVIS.
A WRITER AND COMMENTATOR 
ON RACE, STYLE AND GENDER 
AND HIP HOP CULTURE 
AND IMAGE ACTIVIST.
  SHE'LL TELL US 
  WHAT THAT IS.
SHE IS A FREQUENT COMMENTATOR
ON CNN AND FAMOUS FOR HER
MAD FREE AND HAIR TALES
  CONVERSATIONS, 
  COMMENTARIES AND 
  SOCIAL ACTIVISM.
  THANK YOU SO MUCH 
  FOR BEING WITH US.
  >> THANK YOU FOR 
  HAVING ME. 
  >> I'M SUCH A FAN.
  WHENEVER YOU SAY 
  THAT ON CNN, I SAY
ALL IS RIGHT WITH THE WORLD. WE
HAVE TO PUT IT
  INTO PERSPECTIVE.
  WE TALK ABOUT ALL 
  OF THE THINGS THAT
  YOU'RE DOING AND 
  THERE ARE A LOT.
TO SEE YOU WORKING,
IT'S AN INCREDIBLE IMAGE
  THAT YOU PRESENT A
  WORKING WOMAN.
  >> IT'S JUST A 
BLACK AMERICAN WOMAN
  MULTITASKING.
  IT'S WHAT WE DO.
>> IT'S WHAT WE DO.
  >> TELL US ABOUT 
YOU AND BLACK AMERICA.
  WHERE WERE YOU 
  BORN AND YOUR 
  EARLY INFLUENCES.
>> I WAS BORN IN GERMANY.
  TWO BLACK AMERICAN
  PARENTS WHO WERE 
  IN THE SERVICE.
BUT WHERE I WAS MADE
WAS WASHINGTON, D.C.
  CHOCOLATE CITY.
  AND THEY DID 
  ARLINGTON SCHOOL 
  OF THE ARTS WHICH 
  IS A GEM OF AN 
  INSTITUTION IN 
  WASHINGTON WHERE 
  YOUNG GIFTED AND 
  BLACK WAS THE 
  EXPECTATION, WAS 
  THE CALL, WAS THE 
  RALLYING CRY.
  SO LOVE JUST 
POURED INTO ME THERE.
  >> AT THE SCHOOL?
  >> AT THE SCHOOL.
  SO BY MY PEERS AND
  MY TEACHERS, 
  PEOPLE LIKE DONNA 
  LEASE AND I WAS 
  EXPECTED TO BE 
  BRILLIANT.
AND THEY SAW IT IN ME.
  AS EVERY BLACK 
  CHILD HAS 
BRILLIANCE IN THEM.
  NOT EVERYONE IS 
  BLESSED FOR A 
  COMMUNITY TO SEE 
  IT AND FEED IT AND
  AMPLIFY IT.
AND I JUST BLESSED.
  AND BY THE TIME I 
GOT TO NEW YORK, I WAS --
I HAD A
  CONFIDENCE THAT I 
  WAS CONNECTED.
  THAT WAS PART OF 
  MY ARTS EDUCATION 
  WAS KNOWING THAT 
  I'M CONNECTED TO A
  VERY RICH LEGACY 
  OF GENIUS AND OF 
  HISTORY AND OF 
  POSSIBILITY.
>> AND YOU STILL ARE.
  >> YEAH, I AM.
  I WENT TO NEW YORK
  AND WENT TO NYU.
  I GOT ACCEPTED.
  I WAS VERY WELL 
  TRAINED BECAUSE OF
THE SCHOOL OF THE ARTS.
I STUDIED THE GREEKS.
AND THAT WAS MY CLASSICS.
  THEY WERE SMART 
  ENOUGH TO KNOW 
  THAT I WAS NOT A 
SHAKESPEAREAN WOMAN.
  I WAS TALL AND I 
  HAD PRESENCE.
  SO THEY GAVE ME 
  ROLES LIKE MADIA.
  SO WHEN SOMEONE 
  LOOKS AT YOU AND 
  SAYS YOU CAN BE 
  MEDIA OR RICHARD 
  THE THIRD.
  I CAME IN AND I 
  WAS RICHARD.
  SO THAT OPENS -- 
  THAT CHANGES YOU.
  >> SURE.
  SO MANY OF US 
  KIDS, ESPECIALLY 
  THESE DAYS, DON'T 
  HAVE THAT IN ANY 
  LEARNING SITUATION
  WHATSOEVER.
NOBODY TELLING THEM,
YOU CAN BE MEDIA.
  >> IT'S NOT JUST 
THAT THE BAR IS LOW.
  THE BAR IS ON 
  THEIR NECK.
  THE EXPECTATIONS 
  ARE SO -- THERE 
  ARE NONE, RIGHT?
AND SO I DIDN'T KNOW
WHO RICHARD III WAS.
  SOMEONE HAD TO 
  OFFER THAT TO ME.
  NO ONE TOLD ME I 
  COULDN'T DO THAT.
  SO MY FIRST -- 
  WELL MY SECOND 
REAL AWARENESS,
AT THE TIME I WAS IN
  A POST PUNK MOMENT
  AND MY HAIR WAS 
  SHAVED OFF.
  >> SHAVED OFF 
  COMPLETELY?
>> MOSTLY SHAVED OFF.
IT WAS ALSO PLATINUM.
  >> YES?
  >> AND I WORE A 
  SUIT FOR LIKE 
  EVERY DAY FOR TWO 
  WEEKS.
  >> THIS IS A 
  LITTLE UNUSUAL.
  THEN AND NOW.
>> AND I WORE LIPSTICK.
  VERY ANNIE LENNOX 
  TO LOCATE IT. 
  >> SURE. 
  >> THEY DID NOT 
  KNOW I WAS BLACK.
AND AS I SAID,
I WAS STUDYING RICHARD.
  AND IN SOME 
  CONVERSATION I 
  REVEALED THE FACT 
  THAT I WAS BLACK.
  THE NEXT SEMESTER 
  I WAS ASKED TO DO 
  MOMMA FROM RAISIN
  IN THE SUN.
  SHE IS GENIUS.
  >> OF COURSE.
  >> HOWEVER, I WENT
  FROM BEING RICHARD
  III TO MOMMA JUST 
  BECAUSE THE 
AWARENESS OF I WAS BLACK.
  AND MY PUSH BACK 
  WAS WHY NOT GIVE 
  THE WHITE MALE 
  ACTOR MOMMA?
IN THAT MOMENT,
I KNEW THAT MY
  INSTRUCTOR HAD NO 
  OTHER REFERENCE IN
  BLACK THEATER THEN THAT
  AND NOW I WAS NOT 
  SEEN AS THIS 
  BRILLIANT ACTRESS.
  I WAS SEEN AS -- 
  >> WOW.
THAT WAS NEW YORK CITY.
  >> SO THAT'S WHEN 
  I KNEW ANOTHER 
  PASSION WHICH IS 
  GROWING AND THAT 
  IS FASHION.
  HOW YOU WAKE 
  THROUGH THE WORLD.
  >> AN ELECTIC, 
  UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL.
  SO YOU WENT TO 
  WRITING AND 
MAGAZINE AND PUBLISHING.
  >> YES.
  >> YOUR BABY.
  I READ THAT YOU 
  WROTE ABOUT THE 
  CLOTHES OF THAT.
THAT GREAT EXPERIENCE.
  AND THEN IT COMING
  TO AN END AND YOU'RE
  WALKING AROUND FOR
  A WHILE SAYING-
  >> WALKING AROUND 
IN MY LOFT FOR TWO DAYS.
  I HAD NEVER DONE 
  THAT WITH A 
  ROMANTIC BREAKUP.
  I CHANGE MY HAIR 
  AND GET MOVING.
  BUT BECAUSE I WAS 
  IN CONVERSATION 
  WITH A MILLION 
  YOUNG WOMEN OF 
  COLOR THROUGH THAT
  MAGAZINE, IT WAS 
  EXTRAORDINARY.
  AND I KNEW THAT 
  THAT -- TO THIS 
  GENERATION AND 
  THESE WOMEN WERE 
  DRIVING CULTURES.
AND THEY STILL ARE.
IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.
  IT WAS JUST THE 
  BUSINESS BEHIND IT
THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL.
  >> AS A MAGAZINE 
  AND A INDUSTRY.
  IT'S THE FASTEST 
  GROWING WOMEN'S 
  MAGAZINE IN THE 
COUNTRY AT THE TIME.
  >> AS WE ALL HAVE 
  IN OUR LIVES, HUGE
  DISAPPOINTMENT.
  YOU WALKED AROUND 
LIKE THAT FOR TWO DAYS?
  >> YES. 
  >> THAT IS NOTHING
  COMPARED TO -- 
  >> WHEN YOU HAVE 
  TO FEED YOUR 
  DAUGHTER, YOU 
  CAN'T ENDULGE BUT
 FOR SO LONG.
  IT ALSO WAS CLEAR 
  TO ME THAT THE 
  MAGAZINE INDUSTRY 
  WAS CHANGING AND 
MEDIA WAS CHANGING
VERY RAPIDLY.
  AT "HONEY," WE 
  WERE STARTING TO 
DEVELOP THE DIGITAL
SIDE IN EARLY 2000.
  >> SURE.
  SO YOU CAME IN A 
  VERY SHORT TIME.
  AND YOU THEN 
  CREATED MAD FREE.
  TELL US ABOUT THAT
  AND I READ YOUR 
  NEWSLETTER.
  ITS SO EXCITING.
  I WANT TO FIND OUT
  WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
>> IT'S A PERFECT CONNECTION.
  THE HEARTBREAK OF 
  LOSING 
  COMMUNICATION WAS 
  THOSE WOMEN WAS 
  SOMETHING I 
COULDN'T NEGOTIATE.
  I JUST CREATED A 
  MUCH SMALLER 
  VERSION OF THAT.
IT BEGAN AT THE SALON
SERIES IN MY LOFT.
  I HAD YOUNG WOMEN 
  COME IN AND THEN I
  WOULD HAVE SOME OF
  MY WOMEN FRIENDS 
WHO WERE JUST AMAZING,
JUNE AMBROSE AND FILMMAKERS
  AND SURGEONS SO 
  THEY COULD HAVE --
  >> A SALON?
  >> YES.
  A SALON TO SHINE.
  THEN IT GOT TOO 
  BIG TO GET INTO MY
BROOKLYN APARTMENT.
  IT CAME OUT OF 
  THIS NEED TO STAY 
  IN CONVERSATION 
  WITH PARTICULARLY 
  YOUNG WOMEN AND 
  MAKE THAT CROSS 
GENERATIONAL CONNECTION.
  KEEP THAT 
  CONNECTION STRONG.
WE NEED EACH OTHER.
  MY GENERATION 
  NEEDS THE ENERGY 
  OF YOUNG 
  GENERATION AND 
  THEY NEED THE 
  CONNECTION TO A 
  LEGACY AND 
  CONNECTION TO 
  EXCELLENCE.
  SO THAT'S HOW I 
  SEE US MOVING 
  TOGETHER.
  SO MAD FREE HAS 
  BECOME THIS BIGGER
  EXPRESSION OF 
BEING IN CONVERSATION,
  PARTICULARLY ABOUT
IMAGE, BEAUTY AND POWER.
  >> BECAUSE THESE 
  GIRLS, THE YOUNG 
  WOMEN ARE BEING 
  TOLD BY EVERYBODY 
  ELSE THAT THEY 
  CAN'T BE MADEA SO 
  YOU'RE THE 
  CIRCUMSTANCE TOLL 
  TELL THEM THAT 
  THEY CAN, HOWEVER.
  >> WHOEVER THEY 
  SAY THEY ARE.
  I MEAN, SELF 
  REALIZATION AND 
  SELF DEFINITION 
  AND SELF CREATION 
IS A BASIC HUMAN NEED.
  AND WITH BLACK 
  WOMEN IN 
  PARTICULAR, YOU 
  ARE EITHER TOLD 
  THAT YOU ARE SLUT 
  OR YOU HAVE TO BE 
  A PRINCESS.
  HUMANITY ISN'T 
  ALLOWED OR YOU 
JUST TOTALLY IGNORED.
  INDISABILITY IS 
ANOTHER KIND OF PAIN.
  THERE IS HYPER 
SEXUAL OR YOU'RE INVISIBLE.
  OR YOU'RE ONLY 
  INTERESTING WHEN 
  YOU'RE BEING 
  VIOLENT AND 
  THROWING DRINKS 
  AND BEING EXTRA.
  NOT TO SAY THAT'S 
  NOT -- I DON'T 
  WANT TO SHAME.
  THAT I'M JUST 
  SAYING THAT THE 
  NARROW NARRATIVE 
  THAT OFTEN BLACK 
  WOMEN ARE ALLOWED.
  MAD FREE IS ABOUT 
  EXPANDING THAT 
  PAST SO THAT MORE 
  OF OUR NARRATIVES 
  CAN BE SHARED AND 
  ALSO WE CAN SHARE 
  HOW FRUSTRATING IT
  IS TO WALK THROUGH
  THE WORLD AND 
  TRAVEL IN ITALY IF
  YOU'RE A YOUNG 
  BLACK WOMAN.
  THEY THINK THAT 
YOU'RE A VIDEO GIRL.
  LIKE, THE PR FOR 
  BLACK WOMEN, 
  PARTICULARLY THE 
  TIME WHEN IT 
  BEGAN, WAS SO BAD.
  IT WAS LITERALLY 
THROUGH MUSIC VIDEOS
AND REALITY TELEVISION.
  THAT IS WHERE YOU 
  SAW THE MOST 
PARTICULARLY IN GROUPS.
  AND SO AS WE MOVED
  THROUGH THE WORLD 
  THAT, WAS MOST 
  PEOPLE'S 
  UNDERSTANDING OF 
  YOUNG WOMEN OF 
  COLOR WHEN THE 
  REALITY IS THEY 
  WERE LOCKING, YOU 
  KNOW, THEY WERE SO
  BRILLIANT AND SO 
  BRAVE AND SO 
  INTERESTING AND SO
SMART THAT THIS ONE --
IT'S COMFORTABLE TO
  UNDERSTAND BLACK 
WOMEN AS THIS. RIGHT?
  THIS IS A 
  NARRATIVE WE'VE 
  BEEN SEEING IN 
  BLACK WOMEN SINCE 
THE BEGINNING OF TIME.
  AND SO NOW YOU SEE
  US CHANGING AND 
  EVOLVING.
  AND SOCIAL MEDIA 
  HAS REALLY BROKEN 
THAT DOOR WIDE OPEN.
  >> AND YOU USE IT 
  SO WELL.
  THE VIDEOS THAT 
  YOU DO.
  I HAVE A CLIP OF 
  YOU SPEAKING TO 
  BLACK GIRLS.
  LET'S TAKE A 
  LISTEN TO THAT.
  >> SUCH A COMFORT 
LEVEL OF WATCHING US
TEAR EACH OTHER DOWN.
  AND THEN YOU JUST 
  COME OUT WITH ONE 
  SHINING LIGHT.
  BLACK GIRLS ROCK.
AND IT'S RESISTANCE.
  LIKE WHAT DO YOU 
  THINK THAT IS?
  >> I DON'T THINK 
  IT IS FAIR TO SAY 
  THAT ALL OF US 
WOULD RATHER SEE US
TEAR EACH OTHER DOWN.
  >> NO, I MEAN THE 
PEOPLE LIKE THESE SHOWS.
  MEANING, THAT I 
  FEEL LIKE THERE IS
  A COMFORT LEVEL 
  INSIDE OF 
  PRODUCING AND 
  PERPETUATING THESE
  IMAGES IN 
  MAINSTREAM MEDIA.
  THEY'RE MUCH MORE 
  COMFORTABLE IN 
  UNDERSTANDING WHAT
  BLACK GIRLS 
  FIGHTING IS RATHER
THAN BLACK GIRLS LIFTING.
  >> YOU'VE DONE A 
  WHOLE SERIES OF 
  THE INTERVIEWS 
  WITH WOMEN THAT, 
  AS YOU SAY, CHANGE
  THE CONCEPT OF 
WHAT A BLACK WOMAN IS,
WHAT BLACK GIRLS ARE.
  AND YOU THEN SEGUE
  INTO THIS WILD 
THING I CALL HAIR TALES
  ARE YOU THE ONE 
  THAT SAID IT'S THE 
 VAGINA MONOLOGUES.
  >> YES.
  TALK A LITTLE BIT 
  ABOUT THAT.
  >> THE VAGINA 
  MONOLOGUE IS A 
  BRILLIANT PROJECT 
THAT HAS GROWN INTO --
IT'S BIGGER THAN
  MOVEMENT NOW.
  THAT WAS THE 
RESULT OF THOUSANDS
OF EVENTS AND TALKING
  TO WOMEN ABOUT 
  THEIR SEXUALITY 
  AND ABOUT THEIR 
  EXPERIENCES AND 
  PARTICULARLY 
  THROUGH, YOU KNOW,
  THE SEXUAL 
  EXPERIENCES.
  IT'S ABOUT 
  IDENTITY, RIGHT?
  >> RIGHT.
  >> AND IT'S TURNED
INTO AN ANNUAL EVENT.
  >> I KNOW.
  I ACTUALLY DID SIX
  WEEKS OF IT ON 
  BROADWAY.
IN THE EARLY STAGES.
  THEY GOT DOWN TO 
  ALL OF THE 
  ACTRESSES AND THEN
  THEY GOT TO THE 
NEWSCASTERS OR ANYBODY.
  IT STILL GOES ON.
>> IT'S EVERY DAY.
  >> RIGHT.
  >> THIS IS A BLACK
  GIRL, BLACK WOMAN 
VERSION OF THAT IDENTITY.
  >> YOU KNOW, IT'S 
  INTERESTING.
  I'M SO GLAD YOU 
  SHOWED UP WITH 
  BEVERLY.
  THAT WAS MY FIRST 
  PUBLIC MAD FREE.
  I HAD TO MOVE OUT 
  OF MY APARTMENT 
  BECAUSE HUNDREDS 
  OF PEOPLE CAME.
  AND BECAUSE ITS SO
  CLEAR AND SO 
  CONNECTED AND 
  THAT'S MY COMRADE.
  BUT HERE I WAS 
  SITTING ON MY 
  COMPUTER DESKTOP 
  FOR A WHILE.
  LAST YEAR I WAS IN
  SO MANY 
  CONVERSATIONS 
  ABOUT BLACK TRAUMA
  AND TERROR AND 
  AFTER CHARLESTON, 
SOMETHING IN ME BROKE.
I FEEL I GOT COMPLETELY
OUTSIDE OF.
  THAT IT WAS SO -- 
  BUT IT WAS ON TOP 
  OF SAN BERNARDINO 
  AND MIKE BROWN AND
  ON TOP OF -- BUT 
  THERE WAS 
  SOMETHING ABOUT --
  AND I DECIDED THAT
  I HAD TO GET IN 
  CONVERSATION WITH 
  SOMETHING THAT 
  CONNECTS US, 
  SOMETHING ABOUT 
  BLACK GIRLS' JOY.
  LIKE, SOMETHING 
  THAT IS UNIVERSAL 
  AND INTERMAT.
  AND I THOUGHT THAT
  WHETHER YOU'RE 
  FROM DETROIT OR 
  DEKAR OR THE WHITE
  HOUSE OR PUBLIC 
  HOUSING, WE ALL 
HAVE A STORY IN OUR HAIR.
  THIS IS SOMETHING 
  THAT CONNECTS US.
IT HOLDS OUR HISTORY,
OUR HYSTERIA,
OUR PASSION, OUR PLEASURE.
  IT CAUSES 
  CONFUSION OUT IN 
  THE WORLD.
  >> AND SO MANY 
BLACK GIRLS DON'T SWIM.
  >> DON'T HAVE 
  SWIM, DON'T HAVE 
  SEX ON FRIDAY.
  BUT IT'S ALSO WE 
HAVE GREAT CREATIVITY.
  AND GREAT SENSE OF
  EXPRESSION.
AND SHAPE SHIFTING.
  SO PART OF THE 
  URGENCY WAS IT WAS
  A REACTION TO A 
  YEAR OF SHARING 
THE PAINFUL STORIES.
  AND SO I JUST -- I
  DID WHAT YOU'RE 
NOT SUPPOSED TO DO.
  I STARTED WITH MY 
  OWN MONEY AND I 
  ASKED -- AND I 
  NEVER ASKED 
  CELEBRITY FRIENDS 
  TO DO ANYTHING.
  THIS TIME I'M LIKE
I NEED TO START IT.
  REGINA KING IS THE
  FIRST PERSON TO 
SAY YES, GOD BLESS HER.
  TASHA SMITH GAVE 
  ME SOME AND I HAD 
  ONE SHOOT AND NOW 
  IT'S GROWING.
  >> I WAS WATCHING 
  LAST NIGHT THE 
  INTERVIEW WITH 
  PATRISSE CULLORS AND 
  SHE WAS A GIRL WHO
  SHAVED HER HEAD 
  AND SURVIVED IT 
AND HER MOTHER SAW HER.
  >> YOU KNOW WHAT 
  IT REVEALED WAS 
  THEIR IDENTITY.
  WHEN THEY TOLD THE
  HAIR STORY, IT 
  REVEALS WHO THEY 
  ARE IN THIS WORLD.
SO PATRISSE IS BRAVE.
PATRISSE IS A REBEL.
PATRISSE IS DISRUPTIVE.
  RIGHT?
IN A VERY LOVING WAY.
  AND SO WHEN HER 
  STORY IS ABOUT 
  SHAVING HER HAIR, 
  THAT WAS A 
  REBELLIOUS ACT.
  OR ANOTHER WOMAN 
  WHO TOLD HER STORY
  ABOUT NOT 
  DISAPPEARING.
  SHE ALMOST GOT 
  BEAT UP AT THE 
  SKATING RINK 
  BECAUSE THEY SHE 
HAD THAT GOOD HAIR.
  EVERYONE HAD THE 
  DIFFERENT STORIES.
  BUT THE STORIES 
  REVEALED SOMETHING
  ABOUT THEM.
  AND THAT WAS -- 
  THIS IS ABOUT 
  BLACK WOMEN'S 
  IDENTITY THROUGH 
THE LENS OF OUR HAIR.
  AND PATRICE WAS 
  REALLY POWERFUL.
  IT REALLY -- I 
  LOOK AT HER 
  DIFFERENTLY NOW.
  >> WELL, THAT'S 
  PART OF WHAT 
  BROUGHT HER HERE. 
  >> SURE.
  >> RIGHT.
  I WANT TO TALK 
  ABOUT A COUPLE 
  THINGS THAT YOU 
  SAY ARE CONNECTED 
  IN A SENSE.
  YOU'RE WORKING 
  WITH THE CAST OF 
  ECLIPSE.
  YOU'RE DOING A 
DOCUMENTARY WITH THEM.
  AND YOU ALSO HAVE 
  BEEN FACILITATING 
  THE CIRCLE OF 
  MOTHERS, TRAYVON 
  MARTIN'S MOTHER 
  AND OTHERS, A 
  MEETING WITH 
  HILLARY CLINTON.
  TALK ABOUT THOSE.
  IT'S AN ODD 
  COMBINATION BUT 
  THEY'RE CONNECTED.
  >> ALL OF IT IS 
  CONNECTED.
  ALL OF IT ABOUT 
  AMPLIFYING THE 
  BRILLIANT STORIES 
  OF BLACK WOMEN, 
  ALL OF IT WLCHLT 
  IT'S ABOUT OUR 
  HAIR, WHETHER IT'S
  ABOUT WAR, WHETHER
  IT'S ABOUT LOSING 
  CHILDREN IN THE 
  MOVEMENT.
  SO IT'S ALL PART 
  OF -- THAT'S ALL 
  THE STUFF UNDER 
  THE AMPLIFYING 
  BLACK WOMEN'S 
  STORIES.
  THAT'S HOW I MOVE 
  THROUGH THE WORLD.
  WHERE ARE THE 
  BLACK WOMEN.
  AND SO WITH 
  ECLIPSED, I JUST 
  GOT VERY, VERY 
  LUCKY TO PARTNER 
  WITH BET 
  INTERNATIONAL IS 
  THE EXECUTIVE 
  PRODUCER -- OR 
  HOSTING THE 
  DOCUMENTARY.
  BUT I SAW THE PLAY
AND WAS COMPLETELY RIVETED.
  AND BACK TO HONEY.
  MY LAST ISSUE OF 
  HONEY, I DID A 
  STORY ON THE 
  LIBRARIAN WOMEN 
  REBEL THAT'S NO 
ONE WAS TALKING ABOUT.
THEY LIVED JUST LIKE US.
  THEY LOOKED -- 
  THEY WERE DRESSED 
  IN HIP HOP GEAR 
  BUT THEY WERE 
  FIGHTING THE WAR.
  AND CONCURRENTLY, 
  THERE WERE THE 
  WOMEN PEACEMAKERS.
  SO WHAT WAS 
  HAPPENING IN THE 
  ENTIRE STORY IS 
AROUND BLACK WOMEN.
  I FORGOT IT AND 
  THEN I SAW THEM 
  PLAY THE PUBLIC 
  AND THAT BLACK 
  DIAMOND WHO WAS 
  THE CENTRAL 
  CHARACTER IN OUR 
  STORY AND HONEY 
  WAS ON THAT STAGE.
  SEEN THE WHOLE 
  EVENT CAME BACK.
  BUT ALSO IT BECAME
  WHAT HAPPENS IN 
  BLACK WOMEN GET 
  INTO POSITIONS AND
  CONNECT AND TELL 
  THEIR STORY.
  SOMETHING VERY 
  POWERFUL.
  SO DANIA, LUPITA, LIESL THOMAS
  THE AMAZING 
  DIRECTOR, THEY ALL
  HAD BEEN DOING 
  THIS PLAY FROM 
  YALE TO BROADWAY.
  THERE WAS THIS 
  INCREDIBLE JOURNEY
  THAT THE CAST IS 
  EXTRAORDINARY.
  THEY REPRESENT 
  FIVE DIFFERENT 
  COUNTRIES ON THE 
  CONTINENT AFTER 
  AFRICA.
  NEVER DID WE SEE 
  AFRICAN WOMEN 
  STORIES TOLD, 
  PARTICULARLY ON
THE GREAT WHITE WAY.
  THIS IS 
  BREAKTHROUGH, NOT 
  ONLY IS THIS THE 
  FIRST ALL WOMAN 
  PLAY ON BROADWAY.
  NOT ALL BLACK 
  WOMEN BUT ALL 
  WOMEN, MEANING 
  THAT DIRECTOR, THE
  WRITER, THE STAR 
  AND ONE OF THE 
  PRODUCERS IS A 
  BLACK WOMAN.
  >> RIGHT.
SO IT'S EXTRAORDINARY.
  AND I JUST WANTED 
  TO HAVE THAT STORY
  TOLD AND ALSO SO 
  THE PEOPLE ON THE 
  CONTINENT CAN SEE 
WHAT THEY MATTER, TOO.
  AND THAT WE'RE ALL
  CONNECTED. 
  >> THEY MATTER.
AND WE'RE CONNECTED.
AND THE CIRCLE OF MOTHERS,
YOU WERE THERE.
  AT THAT MEETING OF
  HILLARY CLINTON.
  IT'S SO 
  INTERESTING THAT 
  SHE DEVELOPED THAT
  CONNECTION.
>> YES. YEAH.
  >> TALK A LITTLE 
  BIT ABOUT THAT.
  >> YOU KNOW WHAT'S
  INTERESTING?
  TRAYVON MARTIN'S 
  MOTHER, I GOT 
  CONNECTED TO HER 
AS SOON AS TRAYVON FELL.
  I SAW THIS ONE 
  BLACK WOMAN WHO 
  JUST BURIED HER 
  SON STANDING IN AN
  ARMY OF 
  MICROPHONES AND 
  MEN AND HAVING TO 
  TELL HER STORY AND
SHE WAS INCREDIBLE.
  AND SO I HAD DONE 
  A PROJECT AROUND 
  HER FOR THE 
  HUFFINGTON POST, 
  AROUND HER FIRST 
  MOTHERS DAY SHE 
  HAD TO FACE 
  WITHOUT TRAYVON.
  WE DID THIS BIG 
LOVE LETTER TO HER.
I DEVELOPED IT SPIRITUALLY.
  SHE WAS THE 
  MOTHER -- SHE WAS 
  LIKE THE MOTHER 
  THAT WAS BRAVE 
  ENOUGH TO SAY -- 
  >> TAKE A LOOK AT 
  HIS FACE AND SEE 
WHAT THEY DID TO IT.
  >> THIS THE IS THE
  21st CENTURY 
  VERSION OF THAT.
  SHE STARTED THE 
  MOTHER THAT'S IS 
  THE SADDEST 
  SORORITY THEY DO 
  NOT WANT TO GROW, 
  BUT IT DOES.
  SO JORDAN DAVIS' MOM, 
  MIKE BROWN'S MOM, 
  SOME OF THE 
  MOTHERS FROM SANDY
  HOOK WERE THERE.
  THEY CAN SHARE AND
  HEAL AND CREATE A 
  SISTERHOOD.
  FOR THOSE THAT ARE
  STRONG ENOUGH ARE 
  FIGHTING FOR A 
  POLICY CHANGE.
  FOR COMMON SENSE 
  GUN LAWS.
  SOME OF THEM HAVE 
THEIR OWN FOUNDATION.
  SOME OF THEM HAVE 
  THEIR OWN LAWS 
  THAT THEY'RE 
  TRYING TO PASS 
  BECAUSE THEY HAVE 
  DIFFERENT STORIES.
  ONE MOTHER'S SON 
  WAS MENTALLY ILL.
  ONE MOTHER'S SON 
  WAS TAKEN BY THE 
POLICE FROM SCHOOL,
LEFT SOMEWHERE AND SO
  THEY ALL HAVE 
  COMMON STORIES.
  BUT WHAT WAS 
  INTERESTING ABOUT 
  GOING THERE AND 
  SEEING SECRETARY 
  CLINTON, SECRETARY
  CLINTON HAD BEEN 
  INVOLVED WITH 
  THESE MOTHERS 
  BEFORE SHE BECAME 
  A CANDIDATE.
  AND A LOT OF THAT 
  I DIDN'T KNOW, FOR
  INSTANCE, NICOLE 
  BELL, SHAWN BELL'S
  FIANCEE SAID THAT 
  SENATOR CLINTON 
  WAS THE FIRST AND 
  ONLY ELECTED 
  OFFICIAL TO CALL 
  HER DAYS AFTER.
  AND JUST WHAT CAN 
  I DO FOR YOU?
  ALL ALL THESE 
  MOTHERS HAVE 
  STORIES ABOUT HOW 
  PERSONAL STORIES 
  ABOUT HOW 
  SECRETARY CLINTON 
WAS LISTENING TO THEM.
FOR INSTANCE, GWEN CAR
SORT OF ONE LINER WAS I
  ENDORSE HILLARY 
  BECAUSE SHE 
  ENDORSED ME FIRST.
  AND I SAW THEIR 
  STORIES WERE VERY 
  POWERFUL.
  AND THEIR STORIES 
I FELT WOULD CONNECT
WITH BLACK WOMEN.
  THIS ELECTION IS 
  THE MOST CRITICAL 
  IN MY LIFETIME.
>> WHY DO YOU FEEL THAT?
  AND WHAT PART -- 
  >> THE CHOICE IS SO
  STARK AND I FEEL 
  LIKE WE'RE HAVING 
  ANOTHER LEVEL OF 
  THE CIVIL WAR OR 
THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
  THIS IS AN 
  IDEOLOGICAL MOMENT
  AND WE'RE FACING 
  DIPLOMACY.
  YOU KNOW, THE 
  CIVIL RIGHTS ACT 
  HAPPENED BUT I 
DON'T KNOW IF ALL --
SOME MAGICAL MOMENT
  DIDN'T HAPPEN AND 
  CHANGE ALL THE 
  HEARTS OF ALL THE 
  PEOPLE THAT HAVE 
  BENEFITED FROM 
  SOME WHITE 
  PRIVILEGE OR WHITE
  SUPREMACY.
  SO I FEEL LIKE 
  THIS IS THE WORK 
  CONTINUING.
  THIS IS THE CIVIL 
RIGHTS WORK CONTINUING.
  WATCHING HOW 
  PEOPLE SHOW UP AT 
  4:00 IN THE 
  MORNING FOR A 5:00
  TRUMP RALLY JUST 
  TO BE HATEFUL.
  AND SO WHILE THE 
  LAST ELECTION FELT
  SO GOOD AND WE 
  WERE A PART OF 
  HISTORY AND I FELT
SO PROUD AND MOVED.
  THIS IS DIFFERENT.
  I FEEL LIKE THIS 
  IS A FIGHT.
  AND WHERE TO BE 
  REALLY HONEST, I 
  WISH WE HAD 
  PRODUCED BETTER 
  CHOICES.
  MEANING, I WOULD 
  HAVE LIKED THE 
  TABLE TO BE 
  DIFFERENT IN TERMS
  OF OUR CANDIDATES.
  BUT THIS IS WHAT 
  WE'VE GOT.
  AND WHAT I DO KNOW
  ABOUT SECRETARY 
  CLINTON IS SHE'S 
  INCREDIBLY SMART 
AND INCREDIBLY PREPARED.
  AND MY INTEREST IS
  WHY WERE ALL THESE
BLACK WOMEN AROUND HER?
  HER STAFF, I GOT 
  INVOLVED WITH HER 
  BECAUSE OF THE 
BLACK WOMEN ON HER STAFF.
  SOME INCREDIBLE 
  AMOUNT OF BLACK 
  WOMEN THAT WALK 
  WITH HILLARY.
I WANTED TO KNOW WHY.
  AND SO I WENT DOWN
  TO CIRCLE OF 
  MOTHERS AND 
  COLLECT THIRD 
  STORIES AND THEY 
  ARE SO 
  HEARTBREAKING BUT 
  THEY'RE SO -- BUT 
  THEIR HEARTS ARE 
  SO BRAVE.
  >> YOU'RE SO 
  PASSIONATE.
AND, YOU KNOW,
SO INVOLVED.
  WHAT DO YOU WANT 
  TO SEE HAPPEN THAT
  COMES FROM YOUR 
  INITIATIVE?
  WHAT WOULD YOU SAY
  I REALLY MADE A 
  DIFFERENCE, I MADE
  A CHANGE.
  WHAT DO YOU WANT 
  TO SEE HAPPEN?
  >> I WANT TO SEE 
BLACK WOMEN BE SEEN.
  BECAUSE THIS IS 
MADE TO DELIGHT US.
  BUT I WANT OTHERS 
  TO BE INFORMED AND
  KNOW OUR HUMANITY 
  AND UNDERSTAND OUR
  COMPLEXTIVE SO 
  THAT WE CAN 
CONTRIBUTE MORE FULLY.
  WE'RE SPENDING SO 
  MUCH ENERGY 
  FIGHTING AGAINST 
  RESISTANCE AND 
  OPPRESSION THAT IF
  WE HAD -- IF YOU 
  GAVE US MORE ROOM,
  WE COULD 
  CONTRIBUTE TO THIS
  WORLD IN SUCH A 
  BIGGER WAY.
  AND SO THIS IS FOR
  ALL OF HUMANITY.
  BLACK WOMEN IN 
  AMERICA HOLD THE 
KEY TO OUR HUMANITY.
 AND THEY CARRY 
  OUR POSSIBILITY.
  I FEEL LIKE 
  EMPOWERING BLACK 
  WOMEN, THE EMPOWER
  BLACK FAMILIES AND
  BLACK COMMUNITIES,
WE EMPOWER THE COUNTRY.
  AND IN AN ODD WAY,
  I FELT THAT 
  SECRETARY CLINTON 
  FELT THAT, TOO.
  WHEN I SAW AN 
  INTERMAT MOMENT 
  WITH THOSE 
  MOTHERS, SHE WAS 
  LISTENING AND 
  FEELING AND 
  UNDERSTANDING THAT
WE HAVE THIS CAPACITY.
  WHY I LOVE BLACK 
  WOMEN, WHY I LOVE 
  US IS OUR CAPACITY
  TO HAVE A RANGE OF
EXPERIENCE IN ONE DAY.
  WE CAN GO FROM 
  BEING IN THE BOARD
  ROOM TO BEING IN 
  THE CLUB TO TAKING
  OUR KID O SOCCER 
  TO WORKING IN THE 
  CHURCH THAT WE ARE
  FUNNY AND SEXY AND
  SMART AND OUR HAIR
CAN SHIFT IN ONE DAY.
  IF I HAD A FLAT 
  IRON, YOU COULD 
  HAVE, YOU KNOW, 
  SOMETHING WOULD 
  HAPPEN TO YOU.
  AND WE HAVE BEEN 
  MADE TO BE COMPLEX
  BECAUSE OF THE 
  PRESSURE.
  AND NOW THAT IS 
  OUR GREATEST GIFT.
  >> WE USUALLY HAVE
  OUR GUEST FINISH 
  THE SHOW WITH  
  STRENGTH OF POWER 
  OF BLACK AMERICA.
  I HAVE A FEELING I
  KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS.
  >> WHAT IS IT?
  >> BLACK WOMEN.
  >> THAT'S RIGHT.
  >> AND OUR HAIR.
  THANK YOU SO MUCH 
  FOR BEING WITH US.
>> OH, IT'S MY PLEASURE.
  >> WHAT A DELIGHT.
  >> THANK YOU FOR 
BEING WITH US TODAY.
  I'M CAROL JENKINS.
THE SHOW IS "BLACK AMERICA"
AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
♪ [THEME MUSIC] ♪
