>> How long do we
have to wait for
a President that
gets it, who can
move us ahead
instead of heading
backwards?
How long do we have
to wait until college
is affordable, until
there are jobs that pay
us our worth, until
we can get
justice?
How long until we
can vote him out?
And vote for someone who
is going to transform
this country.
That's why I'm with Joe.
>> I'm with Joe.
Joo I'm with Joe.
>> I'm with Joe.
>> And Shop
Talk Milwaukee.
Now please welcome
the founder and
owner of Gee's
Clippers, Gee
Smith.
>> Hello, and
welcome.
I want to welcome
everyone to Gee's
Clippers,
America's
barbershop.
At this time I want
to - I want to
introduce Chuck
Creekmur, he is
co-founder and CEO
and co-CEO of
AllHipHop.com.
Chuck is an
outstanding
journalist.
He is
a trailblazer
creating a unique
path in internet
content and
technology.
I
want to introduce
to you guys, Chuck
Creekmur.
>> Hello, everybody.
Can you hear me?
>> Yes.
>>
OK, how's it going?
Just wanting to say
hello to everyone
here, how is
everybody doing?
My name is Chuck
Creekmur, some
people might saw
me Jigsaw, I'm one
of the co-founders
of AllHipHop.com.
We are the
longest-running
consistently-runnin
g hip-hop website
on the planet.
We are a community of
lovers of hip-hop
that have been
known to engage
deeply within our
communities.
We have developed and
really sustained a
platform for over
two decades ha has
firm roots with
the people and we
have provided a
voice for the
voiceless, in a
lot of ways.
I want to urge
everyone out there
to get out and do
whatever you can
at this time, get
out and push hard
for everyone in
your communities
and beyond to vote
and to really do
your part.
This is a real-time
where consequences
are real, if you
don't vote.
And I
think that we can
see this all playing
out live
on television.
We can see this
playing out live
in our social
networks.
We can seeing this
playing out live
in all facets of
life.
I want to
say proudly that
AllHipHop.com is a
black-owned
company and we've
remained black-owned for
that reason, to
continuously allow
our voices to be
heard,
particularly in
this hip-hop
context in this
hip-hop land where
a lot of times
those voices are
muted and we don't
even know they are
muted.
For that I say thank
you for having me.
Continue to fight,
continue to say
resolute.
Practice good
health mentally
and physically and
spiritually, I
might add.
Again thank you very
much.
AllHipHop.com is
a platform for the
people of the people.
>> Ladies and
gentlemen, please
welcome the
Congressman from
Louisiana Cedric
Richmond.
>>
Let me just take a
moment to thank
Gee for being our
host, but this
would absolutely
not be a true
black barbershop
experience without
a little
trash-talking.
Gee, I saw that
Green Bay football
helmet up over
your shoulder to
the right.
I want
you to know I do
represents the Saints
right here.
>> Oh, my god.
>> If that isn't
good enough,
I represent the National
Championship with
a helmets that
changes colours
when you look at it.
The I want you to know
that Louisiana is in
full effect and one
little hurricane won't
stop us.
But on a serious note, I
think it's a good
transition to where we
are.
Part of what government
is there to do is to
help people when they
find themselves in a
position where they
don't have their own
ability to lift
themselves up.
So whether it's COVID-19
and our black businesses
and we are projected
to lose 40% of black
businesses in this
country that will not
recover from coronavirus
and the economic impact
of it.
Just like a hurricane
or a mudslides our
government has to
be there to help.
That's on the
economic side.
But then on the
real life side,
you know, what the
NBA players did
yesterday was
phenomenal in the
sense that they're
not doing it for
their kids.
Their kids for the most
part are going to
be OK.
They are doing it for
kids that they don't
know, kids that
they will never
meet.
Black men and black
women that they will
never meet.
I think that's what
makes America
special, is that
we come together
to help people who
need it, and the
history of the country
is that we
fight to strive to
be a more perfect
union, and the
problem is
President Trump
just doesn't have
it in him.
He doesn't worry
about anyone else.
Look, not black
people, not white
people, not rural
not urban.
If your last name is
not Trump he has
little concern for
you.
At some point the people
have to rise up
and the other
thing is - that's
important, we
don't need other
people coming to
us to tell us what is
best for the black
community.
We have the intellectual
capacity, we have
the wherewithal,
the grit to shape
our own future.
If you look at
Gee's barbershop
you are looking at
a place that is
not only a
sanctuary but it
is a thriving
business, and we
need to make sure
that there is
support there,
one, and two, that
the people who
frequent his
barbershop are
safe and there is
actually liberty
and justice for
all.
With that let me just say
that today's a
very special day,
but it's an
important day for
black men to have
earnest
conversations,
talk a little
trash, but more
importantly talk
about the future
we want for our
chirp and for our
families.
Not to mention we
still owe a debt of
gratitude to our
ancestors who marched so
that we could have the
right to vote without
knowing how many, you
know, bubbles in
a bar of soap, how
many jelly beans
in a bottle.
They boycotted so we
could go to some of the
best schools in the
country.
They did all of those
things so that we
could live out our life
to the fullest dreams.
Now we owe that to the
next generation and to
others.
That's why I'm really
excited to be on with
such an awesome panel of
accomplished black men
who have more than paid
their dues, but beat the
odds and still care
enough to make sure they
pave a way for the
people coming behind
them.
They are the
bridge-builders.
With that again, let me
just thank everybody for
being on this to
highlight the importance
of voting, making sure
that everybody talks to
their family about
having a plan to vote,
stressing early voting
in person, voting by
mail if we had to,
but if necessary
showing up on
election day.
Let me just again
thank everybody.
I think I'm turning
it back
over to you, Gee,
or maybe the voice
of god, but I
don't - you know
follow directions
very well, so
whoever is next,
just take it over.
>> Ladies and gentlemen,
please
welcome Senator
Kamala Harris.
>> Good evening.
First of all I
know we are all
praying for
Wisconsin today,
and for the Blake
family, Jacob
Blake's family, as
Joe put it, the
shots fired at
Jacob Blake
Pierced the soul
of our nation.
We talked to his
mother today and
she told us about
the trauma he and
his young sons
have faced, who
watched his sons -
watched their
father being shot.
And that trauma
may never end.
We all know too
well that Jacob is
not alone, black
men in our communities
and
all across our
country are
fighting for their
lives every day.
So even as we
continue to pray
for him and his
family, we need
more than thoughts
and prayers right
now.
We need
energy, urgency
and leadership.
Frankly, we need
drastic change and
we need reform.
Not just for Jacob
or Brianna or
George, but for
everyone, who
feels under
assault by their
own government and
police, and for
everyone committed
to the hard work
of transforming
law enforcement to
defend the lives
and the dignity of
all people, all
the time.
We are
in a battle for
the soul of our
nation, and we
must stop the
violence unfolding
now in our
streets.
Protest is an American
response to the
anger and
frustration that
we are feeling
now, and it is
protest that has
brought about over
generations the
kind of change
that gets us
closer to the
ideals that we say
we hold dear.
Of course we cannot
allow violence to
over take the
reason for these
protests.
Jacob's own mother found
the strength to
tell us that she
was praying for
the nation, and
calling for an end
to the violence
and for our nation
to heal.
That healing will
require raised
voices demanding
real change.
It will also require
action.
That is
how we truly honor
peaceful protest
and justly diffuse
violence on our
streets, by taking
meaningful,
hard-fought action
against systems
and traditions of
oppression.
Which
is why we are
here, and exactly
what to expect and
what you can
expect from a
Biden-Harris
administration.
In Wisconsin,
black men face
some of the highest
incarceration
rates, lowest
graduation rates,
largest wealth
gaps and most
disproportionate
health disparities
in the entire
country.
So we need to change
this.
We must do better
and we will
do better.
Right now Kenosha is
hurting, angry and
exhausted.
While
these emotions
field protest and
outrage we know
one of the best
outlets for our
collective outrage
is to be involved
in the community
and to change the
circumstances of
our world, and
that is why we are
here.
We have come to Milwaukee
to launch Shop
Talk, a pathway
for black men to
engage with this
campaign on the
challenges that
exist for black
men and to turn
talk into action
and real
solutions.
And
that is why we are
relying on your
leadership.
We
must remain
focused on galvanizing
support and
defeating Donald
Trump.
This
source of leaders,
voices and
solutions must
continue to drive
change, far beyond
election day.
In
a Biden-Harris
administration the
well-being - the
well-being of
black men and the
success will very
much be at the
forefront of our
efforts, and we
will need you
right there with
us every step of
the way.
We are
in a critical
moment in our
country, a moment
for change like
this may never
reemerge in our
life times.
That's why our
opponents at every
level of government
are trying to suppress
the votes of black
people in every
way imaginable.
We are committed
to stand by you,
and fight for
meaningful change.
You are so
critical to this
campaign in this
country and we
stand together.
We stand together
in this fight.
We are all in this
together.
So
let's all hold on
to hope.
Let he is keep our faith
and keep it close,
and let us pledge
together to stay
in this fight,
this ongoing fight
for justice,
because we know
that our country
needs us, the
people of our
country need us,
and our
leadership, all of
us together more
than ever.
Thank
you and take care.
>> Thank you
Senator Kamala
Harris.
We are definitely praying
for the families
of Jacob Blake.
Before I introduce
the three individuals in
Wisconsin here, I
could not let this
slide with
Congressman's
comments on the
Packers.
Let me
tell you something.
I was trying to
stay politically
correct, you know,
hey, I can't let
it slide, the
Milwaukee Bucks,
Milwaukee Be
packers, Wisconsin
packers, you know,
listen those are
my teams, so
listen.
I know you're the
Congressman over
in Louisiana, I
was just talking
today about how
cool of a guy you
seemed.
But I'm not going to
let your love for
those teams get
the best.
But let me go on...
>> Gee, just for
the record.
>> I will proceed at
this time.
(Laughs)...
>>
I have to go - no,
no no, I have to
go, but I will say
this.
Both the Packers and the
Saints have won a
Super Bowl.
Please don't start
with Terrence J or
Jermaine Dupri
about the Falcons
winning half of a
Super Bowl at half-time
and not
being able to
close the deal
28-3.
With that I will
scoot off the
call.
Remember...
>> Laughs >> It's a
good lesson that this
election is not
over until we vote
on November 3.
We cannot celebrate
half way through.
We have to win.
I went to Moore
House, I love it,
half my family is
there, I felt the
pain of my
Falcon's fans,
don't let a little
friendly ribbing
get to you Atlanta
fans.
Gee thank you for hosting
and allowing me to
crash this party
today.
>>
(Laughs).
Thanks
for being here.
I want to
introduce a friend
of mine, the
Biden's prevention
manager I will
introduce Dr Rob
Biko baker a close
friend of mine,
and Anthony Davis,
President of...Baker a
close friend of mine,
and Anthony Davis,
President of...
>> Hello?
It looks like we are
going to Dr Rob
Biko Baker.
Welcome.
>> How you doing,
gear, appreciate
you for joining me.
You have that great look
back there at that
bank.
>> (Laughs) only if
money was in it,
only if some money
was in it.
>> Yes, sir, yes,
sir.
The I appreciate
the opportunity.
I know the Biden
Campaign, I appreciate
them reaching out to
me.
I know how foreign
Milwaukee is, Gee for
years we know we worked
to young sure that
young people of
color participate
in this process.
So much is on the line.
I encourage everyone
in Milwaukee not to
blow it.
Let's not blow it.
>> Yes, definitely,
and thank you.
Next is jam malor
Anthony Davis?
-- jam mal.
>>
Jam malis here.
>> Alright, jam mal.
>> Thank you Gee.
>> Welcome.
>>
Appreciate it,
brother.
As a
proud customer of
Gee's Clippers, I
appreciate you for
being here.
I thank you the
Biden Campaign for
the invitation.
I'm definitely looking
forward to
this conversation.
We know how
important the
November 3rd
election is.
This is one step.
We have to stand
beyond the voting
becomes the
accountability.
I look at it, my
brother Dr Dr
Baker will understand
and appreciate this,
as people who have
participated for
sports in years
the hardest part
of sport is practice.
By the time you get
to the game all
you're doing is
implementing the
strategies that you
learnt in the practice.
So when it comes to
voting that is considered
a game aspect but the
hardest part is the
accountability
structures over the
administration.
We are making sure we
are pushing not only the
voting but insuring we
are holding our public
officials accountability
to bring about the
necessary changes that
will benefit our
communities.
I'm definitely proud
to be pay part of this
conversation and
looking forward to
what is at stake
for this evening.
>> Yes, thank
you.
Anthony
Davis.
>> Gee, this is my first
time.
I had an opportunity
to be
over at the
facility over
there.
I got a cousin who lives
in the area, the
Milwaukee area.
I asked her to give
me a tour of the place.
I enjoyed that tour.
We had to sit down and
have a little snack
while we were in
the building.
First of all, you know
we're dealing with a lot
here in Kenosha.
It's been difficult
for us with the death
of Jacob Blake.
The shooting of
Jacob Blake, and I
just appreciate
you could pray for
us, and all that
you are doing.
You're doing a
great job, thank
you.
>> The
thank you.
I
appreciate you.
Next - next I'm
going to introduce
some individuals.
I think I've got a
question for - I'm
so sorry, guys, we
made a couple of
changes here.
As we have heard
already, there's a
lot of pain, and a
lot of frustration
here in Milwaukee,
in Kenosha and
across Wisconsin.
What plans do Joe
Biden and Kamala
Harris have to
meet this moment
and to address the
end - the needs of
black men?
>> I think that's
a great question.
I'm looking forward to
seeing what the Biden
Campaign is.
We just came out of
the powerful Democratic
Convention and the
Republican Party has a
vision that clearly many
of us are not involved
or attached to.
I'm excited to
hear more about
that.
I do know - whatever
the campaign is, we
have to, as young
people of color,
young men of color,
we've got to be engaged.
As my brother Jamal
highlighted we have to
hold all our elected
officials accountable
through action
and engagement.
Even when Barack Obama
was ee lented in
2008 he -- elected
in 2008 he asked
us to hold him
accountable.
>> Anyone else?
>> Go ahead.
>> I'm excited
about the campaign
at this time.
Because like you
said, all that we
are dealing here
with in Wisconsin
there needs to be
some changes made
and we believe
they can do that
through the
Biden-Harris
ticket to help us
in Wisconsin as we
deal with the
incarceration
rates, and all the
other things that
we are dealing
with in Wisconsin.
We just
appreciate the
opportunity just
to be here today.
>> At this time I want to
introduce Trey
Baker, he is
Biden's national
director of
African-American
engagement.
>>
Thank you so
much, Gee.
Thank you for giving us
the opportunity to
come to your
barbershop and thank
you all also
for setting up in
the location that
we wanted you to
set up.
This conversation today
is so important,
because we are
hearing from local
individuals who
are feeling the
pain of what is
going on right in
the moment.
The opposition in the
Biden-Harris
campaign because
of the empathy,
because of the
understanding that
this campaign has
for communities
just like yours,
whether it's
around policing or
around criminal
justice reform or
around that very
core issue of the
creation of wealth
in our
communities, the
Biden-Harris
administration
will be best
positioned to help
communities
through the racial
equity program to
make sure there is
$150 billion
invested in
community and CDFI
banks and
black-owned banks.
We will make
sure people have
access to housing
with a $15,000
first-time tax
credit.
Those will things that
will ultimately
help communities
like those in
Wisconsin.
Ultimately in
situations like in
Kenosha the Biden
administration is
pushing for law
reforms and
policing.
No
chokeholds.
Making sure there
is an incident in
police misconduct
in communities
like we have seen.
Because of those
issues, because of
that understanding
that is about
having some
accountability in
those communities,
as opposed to what
the current
administration is
trying to do, to
go to war with
those communities.
The Biden administration
will be much
better position to
be helpful in
situations and be
understanding when
it comes to things
like - like these
police misconduct
issues and the
unrest that
follows from it.
So we are just so
happy to be with
you today, so
happy to hear from
local voices,
first of all and
to take this
conversation
forward.
>> Thanks.
At this
time I want to
introduce three
individuals, who
really needs no
introduction.
First, there's
Jermaine Dupri,
producer, Atlanta
resident and is
most known - this
guy has so many
things, I'm so
proud of him, he
discovered
criss-cross, TLC,
Usher, and more,
the catalogue goes
on and more.
Terrence J actor
is most known for
co-anchor of E!
News and BET 106
in Perth back in
2006 and 2012,
starred in movies,
'think like a man'
one and two.
He's
an author.
Very impressive.
I think Trey has the
pleasure of
introducing the
other individual,
I apologise.
Trey?
>> Our
panel will include
Jermaine Dupri
Terrence J author
and notable
annulus Bakr
sellers, we are
happy to have all
of them today.
>> OK, Bakari.
I apologise, I
didn't know that
Bakari was able to
make it.
I pray for your son,
I pray he is doing
well.
>> We are ready,
we're here.
Bumps and bruises
but we are here.
What's up?
>> How are you doing?
>> Day, D.
>> What up?
>> I'm glad to be in a
Milwaukee barbershop.
I'm happy.
>> My man, welcome,
welcome.
>> To be sure.
>> I posed the question
to you guys again
that I posed to
the residents here
of Wisconsin.
As we have heard
already there's a
lot of pain and
frustration here
in Milwaukee.
And
in Kenosha, and
across Wisconsin.
What do Joe Biden
and Kamala Harris
have to meet this
moment and to
address the needs
of black men.
>> I will jump
in there first.
>> One of you guys
can take it first.
>> Let me jump in.
First of all I have
a great deal of
admiration for JD,
great deal of
admiration for
Terrence J in what
they have done.
They have paved
the way in
immediate yuls, he
is the best rapper
ever.
I want you
all to know that
we're not debating
that tonight.
>> Alright, alright.
>> You know one of
the things that I
think about today
is my son, we were
here in a hotel
room and he pulled
the dresser down
on his leg, so our
heart dropped.
I was picking him
up, he was having
trouble walking on
it and taking him
to the emergency
room, I called and
said I wouldn't be
able to make it.
Your heart drops, you do
everything you can for
your son.
That level of empathy
is something that is
just god-given.
You know, as black
men you know
immediately the reason
I'm participating in
this, the reason I
think Biden and Harris
can meet this moment
is because I'm a
father.
I'm a father to
two caughtful
daughters and a
black son and for
me the image in my
head right now is
the image of Jacob
Blake being pulled
on his T-shirt by
officers and one
of them pointing
that gun at him.
Just opposed to a
white boy 17 with
purple gloves on
with an AR or AK,
I couldn't tell
the difference
from where I was
sitting, walking right
by police.
I think we have to
meet this moment
head on with honesty
and with
truth.
In talks like this,
they are important.
For too long we've been
talking to black men but
we haven't been
listening to black men.
Tonight I'm just happy
to be with my brothers
and be a part of a panel
like this, so we can
share our views, but
also kind of dissect and
chop it up about how
we can move forward.
>> You know, I will
piggyback right off of
that.
First of all when they
said this was a Shop
Talk I got really
excited because I really
need a haircut bad, but
I didn't know we were
going to do this in
person then it moved to
a virtual thing.
I should have gone to
JD, I wish I had a hat
on.
You are looking good,
you have everything
together, I'm
looking off.
I'm not as fresh as I'd
like to be for the shop.
To piggyback off of what
you just said, I don't
want to say even these
past couple of months,
these past four years
I feel like I've been
pulling out my
hair, you know.
There's been so much
that has happened in our
country, back-to-back
to back.
When you think about
these last couple of
months and everything
that has taken place
with the Black Lives
Matter movement, all of
these new videos that
have now surfaced with
senseless acts of
police brutality.
We need people in
office from the
top up that are
ready to confront
this systematic
change, you know.
A lot of people
feel empowered, a
lot of people feel
enabled, and we're
seeing so much
more.
You know that
imagery that
you talked about
with the
17-year-old kid
with an AR rifle
walking in,
because in the
last three years
since he was 15,
14 years old he's
been empowered,
right, he thinks
it's OK to do
that.
We lost two lives
because of
that.
I'm so happy that
this event came
together.
I've had the privilege
of knowing Joe
Biden for years.
I spent a lot of
time in the Obama
White House.
With his administration,
I
can tell from personal
experience and personal
conversations in
his office that
that man cares.
He really
sincerely cares
about all
Americans and what
is going on.
We need somebody in
there that cares
about black people
and that cares
about us.
I think that it's
important to have
this dialogue.
We as black men, we
have to unify, we
have to support
our black women.
We have to support
our black people.
We have to make sure
that we are putting
together the things that
we want to see and work
with this administration
so that we can
accomplish more.
Thank you all
for having me.
I'm
like you, Bakari,
we need the right
person in the
office for the
job.
>> I guess it's my turn.
First of all I will say
it's all Falcons,
all Falcons since
we are talking.
It's all Falcons,
I don't worry
about nothing
else.
We got to the
Championship and we had
fun with the ball.
It's all Falcons.
I don't want to hear
nothing, I don't want to
hear nothing.
I don't want to hear
about nothing.
>> Green Bay Packers,
go ahead.
>>
(Laughs).
I
wanted to join
this panel today
because throughout
my whole career,
my career has been
built on the backs
of people that
pave the way,
right.
And I'm
from Atlanta where
a lot of young
politicians, young
black politicians
took to politics
and got involved
with this at a
very young age.
Something about it
at that age when
they got involved
it was cool to
them.
It was something that
they really wanted
to be a part of.
For some reason
that coolness or
that want to be a
part of politics
has gotten lost
with this new
generation.
Even
my generation.
We don't pay attention
to it as
much.
I don't have a bunch
of friends that
wanted to be
politicians or
anything.
I feel like it's
important to bring
back the want to
be a part of this.
I have seen Quincy
Jones tell
a group of me and
other people that
how important it
was to vote back
like in - 20 years
ago almost he said
this.
Just to see the older
generation tell us
that voting is the
most powerful tool
that we actually have.
I feel like it's
important for us to join
forces with someone who
wants to listen, someone
who wants to hear
what we're
talking about.
I had a conversation
with Biden with
myself, Dallas
Austin, TI, Jeezy,
lance and a couple
of other people
from Atlanta.
He took the time out
to come and listen
and hear what
we had to say.
I feel like as long as
we're got somebody who is
willing to do that.
And we are held
accountable to say what
needs to be said, this
is the perfect place and
perfect platform to be -
these are perfect people
to be behind.
>> I agree, very, very,
very well put.
I know we have said in
the past in previous
elections that this is
the most important
election of our time.
I tell you this is the
most important election
of our tile.
We must bring this
country back together.
So many division,
definitely.
Thank you fellas, very,
very well put.
At this time if...
>> Can I can, Gee?
I just wanted to jump
in and mix it up a
little bit.
Because what is so good
about this panel is we
have national figures,
but we've got people who
are on the ground right
there in Wisconsin.
So I would like to get a
feel from Anthony Davis,
who I know is in the
Kenosha area, about what
is going on on the
ground there.
So we can all know on a
national level what you
all are going through.
I would like to hear
about what you are
seeing right there
in Kenosha?
>> What I'm seeing
right here in
Kenosha it's
heartbreaking.
As I mentioned
earlier to see the
young man in the
video where he got
shot has...has had
a terrible effect
on the whole
community.
We're
in the process of
mourning.
We're just asking for
your support during
this time.
But the worst
thing that is
happening right
now is that we
have folks who are
destroying our
properties.
We have so many
people - they're
going to be
hurting now.
Some
are put out of
their homes.
There are
businesses - small
mom and pop type
shops, they are
all gone now.
Our uptown area is
totally
devastated.
I was riding home and
everyone was
boarded up.
It made me think
about what they
went through in
Louisiana where we
had to board
everything up.
I have never seen
that in Kenosha
before.
It just hurts.
We're going to get
through this.
We are trying to bring
our folks together but
the biggest thing
that we are dealing
with is how police
treat our people,
treat our brothers
and sisters up
here.
Where they don't
treat them
with respect,
don't treat them
with kindness.
Because of the
color of their
skin that's what
we're talking about.
The first ones they come
after is a brother.
If a white boy walk
down the street
with a handgun he
can go home free.
That has really
turned our folks
off what our
police - with our
police department
and along with the
police men.
I'm not saying all
cops are bad.
What I'm saying is
they have bad ones
in there.
They really need to
address that situation
and have some cameras
on these guys
whenever they go
out.
>> Trey,
if I may and Gee,
real quick, I want
to chime in.
>> Jump in there.
>> I want to
chime in and I
want to a
question, my bad
they didn't give
me no script.
I'm making up my own
rules as I know.
Joe Biden probably
asked if he can
move the capital
to Atlanta, you
can't do stuff
like that.
We will try anyway.
I think that the
pain that we are
feeling as black men is
something that we have
to - we have to now put
action behind and
watching LeBron
and Warhi,
watching major
league baseball
and all of these
people take a
stand, my question
to JD and to
Terrence, you know
I think you --
Kawhi.
When you
hear brother Davis
articulate so well
the trauma and
pain his city is
going through.
Whenever we are
asked we say two
things, we always
say we condemn the
rioting and
looting, we understand
it but
we condemn it,
no-one should be
out there burning
anything down.
Let's not go
there.
We also
have to say you
have all got to
stop killing us.
There are two
things.
JD and Terrence my
question is how
do we use our
platforms best.
JD you talked about
people when
you talked about
it.I and Jeezy,
you got the
mayor's ear,
Georgia is a swing
state.
How do you use
your platform?
Tell me what to do.
We have to go out
to the people
watching.
If you spent your thurt
night watching a
Shop Talk on zoom
you're engaged.
What do we tell
people now that
they can do tangibly
to make
change to convince
people.
It ain't still enough to
say my father was
shot in the civil
rights movement.
He literally bled and
went to prison.
It's not enough to
say that to people.
They want to know what
is in it for me.
The question to both of
you respectfully what do
we tell people who may
be on the fence.
How do we get them out.
JD what is your cohort
doing that is more
influential than us all?
>> For me I try to use
what I have seen and
where I come from to
fuel other people.
I think for the longest
I have been here I've
been saying Atlanta
Atlanta Atlanta.
In the process of me
saying this when I was
younger I didn't even
know how powerful my
city was in me
saying this.
As I gotten older and
even through this time
period that we are going
through I realised
how much different
Atlanta is, how
much of this city
the people in
my city actually
really really get
out and vote and
really really put
people in office,
and in different
chairs.
Not just mayors.
I mean I
see a lot of
people here voting
for sheriffs.
I see a lot of people
voting for
just a bunch of
different things
that you should
vote for.
It doesn't solve all
of the problems, I
will say that.
It doesn't solve all
the problems, but
it does make a safer
space for us
as black people.
One of the things
I learned coming
up - growing up in
Atlanta and going
to other places that's
what I always kept
hearing people
say.
If you watch
Minister Society
at the end right
before one - the
guy got killed.
Their plans were
to move to
Atlanta.
In the mindset of black
people outside of
this city this is
the place where
black people are
taken care of a
lot different than
other places.
All
I say is that same
energy that we
have in this city
can happen to
other places.
I try to just like
force people - not
force, you know
try to get people
to do the same things
that we do and vote and
get involved and be
involved with the
city.
I think you know our
mayor comes and speaks
to the artists of the
town and the artists of
the town goes speaks
to the mayor.
There's not a
separation.
Right.
I feel we are in a world
now where it can't be a
separation.
It's got to be all
of these places.
I know for me I'm
sitting here asking I
want to know more about
Kenosha, because I don't
know anything about it.
I want to know more
about the city, the
background of the city
and what's the black
population in Kenosha.
Am I saying it right?
>> Yes, Kenosha.
>> I think that
brings in a
point.
I want to turn to Jamal
Smith and Dr Dr
Baker who are
there in Wisconsin, and
just ask you all,
we're on this
national platform
right now.
Shop
Talk we are going
back and forth.
I just want to know
what are those things
that people
should know right
now, to people who
are interested.
What is really
going on.
What should we be
knowing about what is
going on in Wisconsin and
what's the message that
you want to give out to
folks while we have
this platform.
Better start with Jamal.
>> There's a cull of
things we can speak
about.
Fist off when you look
at the data in terms of
racial disparities
across the country we
have to recognize that
Wisconsin has been
deemed the worst place
for African Americans
to live from the Wall
Street report there are
five cities that are
labelled as the worst
cities for African
Americans, Wisconsin has
two, No.1 Milwaukee two
Racine.
We have seen historically
the impact of
racism and racial
injustice has
permeated through
this country
has been very
prevalent within
this country.
When you start asking
about what
is the feeling of
what is happening,
whether it's Milwaukee
or what has happened
tragically in Kenosha
what we are really seeing
is compounded
frustration at the
irregularity of
these actions but
the flip side of
there is there's
no shock value with
these actions
any more.
When you really look
at a lot of the times
looking at the data,
whether we are talking
about criminal justice,
whether we are talking
about housing, food,
education, small
businesses, I know
that's part of the
plan, that Joe Biden
and Senator Kamala
Harris have
is addressing the
impact of small
businesses, there
are large
disparities that
are very much
prevalent within
the state, but we
also look - we are
talking about criminal
justice,
we know this has
the largest -
Wisconsin has
the largest
incarceration rate for
African Americans in the
country.
This is something that
we're just looking at
all of these different
practices that
have been hoirkly
problematic in the
state.
-- historically in
the state.
With
the momentum that
is having behind
all the protest.
I have to give a
shoutout to Kamil
Coleman, and Tory
Low who is
marching to DC to
be part of the in
DC, with the
people's revolution
they've
been marching for
80 days straight.
Because of what
happened with
George Floyd.
Not just what
happened with
George Floyd and
bee Anna Taylor we
had our own
homicide in
Milwaukee.
We
know what the within
the grounds
of this state the
problematic aspect
of racial injustice that
exists.
We are tipping to make
sure we are fighting
against
these injustices.
That we are
holding again our
public officials
accountable and
making sure the
platform the
agenda is centered
around addressing
these issues that
continuously -
continuously
person pet wait
the racial
injustice ha has
existed in this
state for
generations.
We're not even
talking about the
last four years.
This administration
has done nothing but
give it more of
a platform that.
Racism has continuously
existed within this
state and across this
country for
generations.
Continuing to bring
awareness to
the impact of
racial injustice,
insuring that we
are going to
hold our public
officials whether
that's on the
Federal state
or local level
accountable to
addressing those
disparities.
We have to also
acknowledge that
Milwaukee was the
first city to say
that racism was a
public health crisis.
We were the first city to
make that declaration.
And standing on that
declaration and
moving forward
in insuring that
we're addressing
it from a public
health aspect.
>> Do Biko Baker, what is
happening, what is
your perspective
there that we need
to know here at a
national level?
>> You know I'm
going to say the
first one, I appreciate
you all
having me on.
First of all we have to
know that Milwaukee and
Wisconsin have been a
battle ground for voting
rights since Scott
walker was governor.
They've been working for
years to make it harder
for us to vote.
I don't know if you paid
attention we voted in
COVID at record rights.
We love to vote here.
That's why they
are doing that.
A lot of times we don't
want to talk about
Milwaukee and the
negligent gift.
We have brothers who can
get us out of the mud, a
shout out to Gee's
Clippers not only
providing place $for
us to get our haircut,
party or find a
partner or two and
party.
If we can make Milwaukee
follow the lead
that feel like JD
in a Atlanta where
they saw their own
culture and owned it,
believed in their own
art and culture, I
believe we can turn all
that stuff around.
I'm asking the Biden
Campaign and Kamala
Harris to invest in
black artists and black
entrepreneurs, we
will solve our own
problems when
they do that.
>> I'm going to jump
in too, for the
last question,
when you look at
what JD was just
talking about with
Atlanta, how they
created their own
infrastructure,
their little petri
dish of the world,
a place and destination
where
all of us want to
live.
It's an
example of when we
organize and stand
together, if I get
a arrested in
Atlanta.
I know he can call JD and
he can call somebody
who can
help me out.
>> 100%.
>> 100%.
Right.
For us conversations
like this are so
important.
I'm so glad that I've
gotten to meet you
brothers on this call.
I want to be able to use
my platform and jump off
and you know hit a
couple of million people
on int sta gram and
Twitter and be able to
mobilise as much
as we can.
We're not saying that
Atlanta can fix all the
problems in the world,
the fact there is a
level of accountability
I think is very
important in the steps
in getting things done.
That's why I'm really
excited about this
campaign in particular.
They have a plan for
black America.
It's a broad plan with a
lot of different points
that addresses HPCUs, it
addresses our health
crisis, and all of those
things are going to help
us to get to
what we need.
So that's why I'm fully
supporting it, and again
I'm just so happy to be
able to jump on the line
with you guys and use my
platform in any way I
can to reach out
especially the young
people so we can
mobilise and get to the
polls and do the mail-in
ballots and get this
other guy out of office.
>> Thank you fellas,
thank you so much.
Before we go further I
wanted to address
Jermaine question.
I think Anthony Davis
will probably be best.
What I can say - I'm
just speaking of Kenosha
and the make up.
What I can say is
Kenosha is the last city
that you go through
before you hit Chicago.
It's about 40 minutes
from - 35 to 40 minutes
south of Milwaukee.
What is the make-up,
Davis in terms of
African-American?
>> By population we have
around about 100,000.
8% is African-American.
That is it.
>> I didn't know it
was na much.
I thought it was much
more than that.
>> Everybody thought it
was much more than that.
8%.
>> (Laughs).
Wow.
>> I believe when all
the factories went
away that we had here a
lot of folks left here,
a lot of jobs left
here.
8%.
>> Thank you.
>> That is why I needed
to know not the country,
I just needed
to know that.
You know.
I needed to know.
>> You got to remember
that Wisconsin was
a state that we
only lost last go
around by a few.
Mandela can probably
tell us a
little bit more,
we only lost
Wisconsin by about
15, 20, 30,000
votes.
It wasn't a lot.
All the votes in Kenosha
or Milwaukee we
can find those votes.
You've got to realise
when we talk about
Hillary Clinton's race
she lost this race by
90,000, 100,000 people.
It was 30,000 votes
in Michigan, I
previous.
We know
black churches,
Bible way not
Bible way, new
birth in Atlanta
has 25,000 members.
What we have
to do, I want
to be extremely clear.
On reverse statistics, I
hate doing when I speak
you have to understand
it, 96%
of black women
supported Hillary
Clinton in 2016
but 13% of black
men voted for
Donald Trump.
I hear Dr Baker's
point.
That's what I'm talking
about, right?
When people ask me
why am I supporting Joe
Biden, it's clear
for me.
You have a black equity
plan that we
can hold you
accountable for,
we have a black
agenda we can hold
you accountable
for, a black
female VP, we are
going to get
a black Supreme
Court Justice ment
these are tangible
things that we are
talking about.
When you watch the
RNC, I have to
watch it for work,
you forgive me.
When you watch the
RNC the only thing
I know about black
folk is Herschel
talker Dan Scott,
who can talk and
not arrest the
killers of Brianna
Taylor and criminality.
That's all they
know about this.
We are going to
give them criminal
justice reform ahh
a pardon.
No-one
to Dr Baker's
point is talking
aboutist willing
up African-American
small businesses
like Joe is.
No-one is talking
about going to
school with a first
class education, no-one
is talking about
the fact many of
us live in cities
with infrastructure
that is falling
apart, no clean
water, Flynn ain't
the only one.
We want criminal
justice reform.
We want to have a
sense of black
power.
I do not
want to scare
white people,
black power is
equal opportunity,
educational
opportunity, we
can be self-sufficient
and rebuild our
own communities.
I didn't mean to
piggyback off your
entire point I agree
with it, you
hit every note which
is important
to make sure we
understand why
people should vote.
Man deal la probably
knows
better than us,
shout us man.
I
don't know if - I
hear you, Terrence
down there is
sacrificing me, he
looked a little
fresh.
>>
(Laughs)
>> Let's bring the
lieutenant governor in.
>> I was about to
introduce him.
>> Absolutely.
>> Welcome.
>> I appreciate it map.
I have to jump in a
second, I've got
to do RNC response
stuff.
Honestly man
at the moment
I'm actually just
getting off the
road from Kenosha.
I had a chance to
go down there and
talk to some community
members,
had a chance
to speak to the
family on the
phone, man.
This stuff, dude,
is challenging.
Wisconsin is a
tough place to -
like was mentioned
it is ranked
consistently as
the worst place
where to raise a
black child.
They're the statistics
we are
fighting.
If you live here this
isn't a surprise,
it didn't just happen
when Donald
Trump got elected
police brutality
didn't start with
Jacob Blake or
George Floyd or
Hamilton, these
are longish use in
Wisconsin.
I talk to many people I
see Jamal, Biko,
Gee, I can't see
all the cues only
see nine.
Forgive me if I didn't
mention you.
The
fight that we are
in right now it's
multi-layered.
Without the economic
piece it's going to be
very difficult for
us to bounce back
from COVID-19 or
from - if we do
get the full reckoning
that we
deserve when it
comes to criminal
justice reform.
Police reform
is an issue of
criminal justice
reform.
I make the point before
a person goes to a
prison they're
in a courtroom.
Before they're in a
courtroom they have an
encounter with a
police officer.
Sometimes that
encounter is too
often that encounter
is bad
and too often that
encounter we see
people charged,
getting the
trumped up
charges, so many
people can get
away in a neighborhood
three
miles away.
These are experiences
most of us have
had if we haven't
had those on this
call we are one
degree away from
the interactions.
It's important for us
leaders especially from
the top, we are
reminded all the
time leadership starts
at the top.
I agree with that.
We have to make sure
even electing Joe Biden
we have to recognize
it's step one.
I'm all in.
I have endorsed the
campaign for Biden
everywhere I go.
Recognising that's
the step one.
I know we have a much
better chance of holding
Biden accountable than
we do with the current
occupant of the
White House.
That means a whole lot.
At least Joe Biden has
been responsive to the
things that people are
calling out for.
If you look at Joe Biden
in Iowa where he is now
with some of the
positions he has taken
with the platform that
has developed over those
months, it's something
we should be - something
we should be encouraged
by.
In no way is November
3 the end.
We have to keep on
going after that.
I think even with
more intensity.
Because we have more of
a chance to get our
agenda heard.
I keep repeating the
same thing in the wake
of COVID-19.
In the wake of uprising
for racial justice the
worst thing we can do
is not demand enough
justice.
That is all across the
board at every level.
I'm not sure how much of
the conversation - I'm
not sure how much of
this I repeated, I could
have said the same exact
things, it's getting on.
That is actually
the news calling.
I do have to log off
unfortunately.
But it's real good
to see you.
I hate I couldn't stay
the whole time.
I definitely hope we are
able to connect later.
>> Without a doubt.
Thank you, thank you
Mandela, appreciate it
lieutenant governor.
Gee, I think our time
is running out.
>> I've got one question
before we leave.
I have a question for
Gee in the barbershop
and JD.
Terrence, I don't know
Terrence probably had to
cook dinner, Terrence
is a real
domesticated man.
With biscuits and
flipping the
wings.
Terrence you're back.
All
three of you, 15
seconds or less, I
know Trey will get
mad at me for
doing this.
We have a black woman
on the team.
We haven't talked
about that.
We have Kamala Harris
on this ticket.
They've been dragging
her through the mud on
the right.
Some of the brothers on
the left have been doing
it.
How do we a - I'll
start with JD.
I was joking at
the beginning - I
wasn't really
joking, the best
female rap of
all-time.
You have been a role
mode until your
personal life,
your private life
and professional
live.
Gee you're
in a barbershop
every day.
I'm
not going to call
brother Davis, you
have seasoning on
you.
I want to talk
about how do
we protect - we
are making history
again, how do we
protect this black
woman running for
VP, how do we
raise our voices
to tell her something we
should be doing,
Jamal and Dr Baker
as well?
>> I
guess I nafrng
that real quick, I
feel like we have
to, she talks to
us.
She has spoken to me,
spoken to a couple
of other people.
She talks to people she
wants to hear what we
have to say.
I feel like one of the
things that I keep
hearing from the streets
and the younger people
and people of my
age bracket, they
want to know how
she feels about
her past and how
she has taken her
past into this.
I think it's crazy
because people
don't - only
during election
$do we try to make
sure that the
person that we are
electing is as
right as they can
possibly be from
birth to the time
that they start
going into the
White House.
So I feel like whatever
people have heard
and whatever people
think about
her I wanted to
hear what someone
had to say about
it on this call as
well.
You know, the feeling
that people have about
her arresting
black and brown
people then
anybody in that
conversation that
I continue to keep
hearing, I feel
like at some point
once that is addressed
I feel
like she will be
in a better space
with those that
don't - you know that
are anyway saying and the
people that you say are
dragging her through the
mud.
I mean all the
other stuff,
other past is her past.
I feel like we have to
make sure - why her
past has to be
super clean.
You can't forecast going
to the White House, you
know what I'm saying.
That aren't something
that we wake up in the
morning and say that
is going to happen.
You know we live life
the way that we live.
We have to be able to
understand it at this
point it's time for her
to change whatever it is
that people we don't
like or whatever it is
that we want to see, we
help her get to that
space.
>> The Terrence?
You're on mute, brother.
Terrence you're on mute.
>> I'm piggybacking
right off of what JD
just said, man.
You have these
conversations now for
whatever reason
especially online
everybody believes
they're a political
science major, everybody
believes they know so
much about politics all
of a sudden, but
politics is - it's
a very dirty
business, and in
order to excel a
lot of times have
you to reach across
the aisle
and things are done.
For me it's
not as much of a
focus on her
record, because
right now we're at
a pivotal point in
our country, we
know what we have
in office.
We know the guy in
the office is not
talking to us.
If you've been
watching Harris
over the past
couple of months.
You know she's been
knee deep in
the fight for us,
knee deep in Black
Lives Matter, knee
deep in vocalizing
how she feels
about all of these
things.
I feel very confident
in my fernl
conversations with
her that what we
are going to say --
personal conversations.
What we will see in the
White House is a person
who is our advocate.
What you asked earlier
a joint part of the
problem her being a
black woman in
particular, me as a
black man I want to make
sure I'm letting it be
known I support that, I
want that.
I was raised by a black
woman most of my life.
The heads of network
have been black women
who have supported me,
producers who have given
me opportunities.
I can't wait to have a
black woman in the
second most powerful
position in the country
and hopefully soon we'll
have one in the most
powerful position.
As black men I think
it's important that we
sup pourt our
black women.
It's morn that we
vocal lies it.
She will need us and
black people more than
ever, everybody else is
going to try to rip her
apart.
I think it's important
for her to know that
brack black men we
have her back.
We support her, again
not giving any excuse
$for anybody's past
record which all has to
be addressed.
In the movement forward
we have to do as a
country we need people
who are willing to have
the conversations.
You said earlier they
are talking to us, they
are talking to us, more
than we can say to
anybody in the
administration right
now.
I'm mappy we are sitting
at the table with them
-- happy.
We have events
like this.
We are holding them
accountable.
With snore h Harris I'm
fully on board and
rocking with her.
>> Let me jump on board.
As black men we have to
protect blam women at
all costs.
I -- black women
at all costs.
I don't care what
anybody else.
We have to make sure we
have black women's back
no matter what.
They are depending on
us, black women for so
long have done the
right thing.
Getting out there and
voting, making sure
their families vote.
It's up to us to get
there with them to make
sure we are on
the right path.
I will say this about
Senator Harris, we have
been talking about
her record.
There is a lot of
misinformation and
disinformation out here
right now around her
record.
Whether it be her
championing re-entry
programs to make sure
that people can get back
into their lives and
live their lives.
Whether it's having
lunch implicit bias
programs as
Attorney-General, or
having the bureau of
children's justice
to focus on children's
civil
rights or open
pattern and
practice investigations
into areas of the
police departments
when there were
complaints of
excessive force.
Not only has she
been right on the
front lines but
she has been doing
the work it will
take for communities all
around.
She gets it.
She absolutely gets it.
That's why she
is the right
choice.
That's why the
Biden-Harris
ticket is the
right choice.
I wanted to say that
first and foremost
we have to protect
black women at all
costs and tell the
story about why
the ticket is
best.
Gear, sorry
I had to jump in
there and talk.
They're telling me
we have to turn it
down.
I want to give you the
opportunity to close it
out.
People who are listening
if you want to get
involved in the campaign
text AFEM
to 30330, text
AFEM to 30330 to
learn about the
next shop program,
how to make it
happen one day for
small businesses
for the sisters.
We have so much
programming that
is available, text
AFAM A-F-A-M.
I
want to pass it to
the host.
Thank you for the panel.
I want to pass it
to the host to
close it out.
>> You, Trey,
and Terrence J
took the words
right out of my
mouth.
We must protect
our women.
Must pro effect them.
For my closing remarks,
Joe Biden believes
that we're in a
battle for the
soul of this
nation.
He
believes that we
make this moment
one for action and
finally deliver on
much needed and
overdue reforms to
dismantle systemic
racism.
He ha ace plan
and vision to
build back better
than before, to
bring everyone,
everyone, everyone
along.
Thank you all for joining
in.
Thank you all
for the input.
Thank you all that
came to listen.
