>> JUST AHEAD ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM, PRESIDENT BIDEN'S SPEECH AT MOREHOUSE, MORE SYMBOLISM, OR IMPACT?

THE KING FAMILY TAKES PASS ON CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAY, AND THE US MINT RELEASES THE MAYA ANGELOU COIN.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT ALL.

STAY WITH US.

♪ WELCOME TO BLACK ISSUES FORUM.

I'M DEBORAH HOLT NOEL.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, A BIG SPEECH ABOUT VOTING RIGHTS BY PRESIDENT BIDEN, SURROUNDED BY ALL THE BLACK CULTURAL-HISTORICAL SYMBOLISM HE COULD MUSTER.

SITUATED ON THE GROUNDS OF MOREHOUSE COLLEGE, BLACK STUDENTS PROPPED UP IN THE BACKGROUND, IN THE "“CRADLE OF CIVIL RIGHTS"” AS HE NAMED IT, BRINGING STRONG WORDS IN DEFENSE OF PROPOSED VOTING RIGHTS LEGISLATION: >> TODAY, WE CALL ON CONGRESS TO GET DONE WHAT HISTORY WILL JUDGE.

PASS THE FREEDOM TO VOTE ACT.

[APPLAUSE] PASS IT NOW IT WOULD GET DARK MONEY OUT OF POLITICS.

CREATE FAIR DISTRICT MAPS AND ENDING PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING.

IT'S ALSO TIME TO PASS THE JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ADVANCEMENT ACT.

[APPLAUSE] I'VE BEEN HAVING THESE QUIET CONVERSATIONS WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FOR THE LAST 2 MONTHS, I'M TIRED OF BEING QUIET!

[APPLAUSE] YOU MIGHT SAY A LOT OF FOLKS ARE TIRED; SOME CHOSE NOT TO SHOW UP FOR THE SPEECH.

THE STORY CONTINUES.

AFTER BIDEN WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA, HE HEADED TO CAPITOL HILL TO MEET WITH SENATE DEMOCRATS ON THE ISSUE AND STRATEGIZE ON FILIBUSTER RULES, BUT BEFORE HE EVEN ARRIVED, SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA OF ARIZONA MADE A SPEECH ON THE SENATE FLOOR TO REEMPHASIZE HER UNCHANGED POSITION ON TOUCHING THE FILIBUSTER.

>> OUR COUNTRY'S DIVISIONS HAVE NOW FUELED EFFORTS IN SEVERAL STATES THAT WILL MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR AMERICANS TO VOTE, AND UNDERMINE FAITH THAT ALL AMERICANS SHOULD HAVE IN OUR ELECTIONS AND OUR DEMOCRACY.

THESE STATE LAWS HAVE NO PLACE IN A NATION WHOSE GOVERNMENT IS FORMED BY FREE FAIR AND OPEN ELECTIONS.

THE STATE LAWS WE SEEK TO ADDRESS ARE SYMPTOMS OF A LARGER MORE DEEPLY ROOTED PROBLEM FACING OUR DEMOCRACY.

THE DIVISIONS THEMSELVES WHICH HAVE HARDENED IN RECENT YEARS, AND THAT COMBINED WITH RAMPANT DIS-INFORMATION TO PUSH TOO MANY AMERICANS AWAY FROM OUR BASIC CONSTITUTIONAL VALUES.

I SHARE THE CONCERNS OF CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATES AND OTHERS I'VE HEARD FROM IN RECENT MONTHS ABOUT THESE STATE LAWS.

I STRONGLY SUPPORT THOSE EFFORTS TO CONTEST THESE LAWS IN COURT, AND TO INVEST SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES INTO THE STATES TO BETTER ORGANIZE AND STOP EFFORTS TO RESTRICT ACCESS AT THE BALLOT BOX, AND I STRONGLY SUPPORT, AND WILL CONTINUE TO VOTE FOR LEGISLATIVE RESPONSES TO ADDRESS THE STATE LAWS, INCLUDING THE FREEDOM TO VOTE ACT AND THE JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ADVANCEMENT ACT THAT THE SENATE IS CURRENTLY CONSIDERING.

AND WHILE I CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THESE BILLS, I WILL NOT SUPPORT SEPARATE ACTIONS.

THAT WORSTEN THE UNDERLYING DISEASE OF DIVISION INFECTING OUR COUNTRY.

LET'S GET OUR PANEL'S TAKE ON ALL OF THIS.

I WANT TO WELCOME ATTORNEY JESSICA HOLMES, POLITICAL ANALYST STEVE RAO, AND PROFESSOR LAMESHIA WHITTINGTON OF ADVANCE CAROLINA.

WE OPEN UP WITH YOU STEVE, WHAT DO YOU HEAR SENATOR SINEMA SAYING?

>> WELL, I MEAN FIRST OF ALL I AM DISAPPOINTED IN HER POSITION ON JUST STICKING TO HER GROUND AND NOT CHANGING THE FILIBUSTER RULES.

YOU KNOW I THINK LIVING IN HEAVEN, THE FILIBUSTER FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN FAVOR OF IT, ARE TO ENCOURAGE COMPROMISE AND NEGOTIATION SO WE CAN HAVE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION, BUT THAT SIMPLY ISN'T BEING DONE.

SHE SAYS THAT WE'RE DIVIDED AND I THINK IT'S NOW TIME FOR THE SENATE TO JOIN A PRESIDENT AND UNITE AROUND VOTING RIGHTS AND YOU KNOW FILIBUSTER COMES FROM THE WORD FREEBOOTER, WHICH IS ACTUALLY REMINDS US OF PIRATES OBSTRUCTING SHIPS AND IN THIS CASE I THINK WERE OBSTRUCTING THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

I WOULD CHALLENGE SENATOR SINEMA THAT THE FILIBUSTER UNDER SENATOR MCCONNELL WHEN HE WAS THE MAJORITY IN THE SENATE WAS USE 92 TIMES MUCH OF IT WHEN OBAMA WAS PRESIDENT TO BLOCK LEGISLATION.

IT WAS ALSO USED DURING THE 1900 LATE LATE 1960'S, 1900'S, WHEN YOU KNOW THEY WERE BLOCKING CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION SO I THINK THAT THE FACT THE MATTER IS NOW IS THE TIME FOR US TO CHANGE THE RULES OUR AMENDED FILIBUSTER PROCESS.

SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO GET A SUPER MAJORITY EVERY TIME.

WE HAVE A CRISIS IN AMERICA AND I'LL END WITH THIS; THAT YOU KNOW, THE FACT IS THAT WE HAVE THE VOTING RIGHTS THAT THEY WE'RE FIGHTING FOR WITH EARLY VOTING, MAIL-IN VOTING.

THOSE KINDS OF YOU KNOW EFFORTS PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING BUT THE OTHER FACT THAT WE DON'T TALK A LOT ABOUT IN THE MEDIA IS THE THE EFFORT TO HURT AMERICAN DEMOCRACY BY AFFECTING THE OUTCOMES OF ELECTIONS SO HAS SENATOR SINEMA IS SPEAKING ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE OR WHEREVER SHE'S SPEAKING, SHE NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT STATES LIKE GEORGIA ARIZONA ARE CHANGING THE LAWS MOVING POWERS AWAY FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EXAMPLE IS THERE ARE 2 REPUBLICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL.

SO THEY CAN AFFECT THE OUTCOMES OF THE ELECTION SAID THE THEY GOT A CHANCE TO ELECTORAL COLLEGE RESULTS.

SO THAT FOR SO WE CAN'T LEAVE IT TO THE COURTS SENATOR.

WE NEED FEDERAL REFORM AND YOU NEED TO STEP UP AS A SENATOR AND JOIN JUST LIKE LYNDON JOHNSON BACK THEN WHEN THEY PASSED THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.

PRESIDENT JOHNSON HAD TO GET MEMBERS OF HIS OWN PARTY, SOUTHERN DEMOCRATS TO JOIN WITH THEM.

>> OK, LET ME GET JESSICA IN HERE ON THIS.

WHAT DID YOU HEAR KRYSTEN SINEMA SAYING?

>> I'LL START WITH AGREEING WITH HER ON ONE POINT; THAT THERE IS A DISEASE OF DIVISION IN THIS COUNTRY.

THAT'S SAID, WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT 19 STATES AND COUNTING ACTING LAWS THAT WOULD INHIBIT VOTING RIGHTS -- SEE WE LIKE TO THINK OF YOU KNOW, VOTING RIGHTS AS BEING - WELL, YOU KNOW TIME TO GET IN THE WAY, OF VOTING RIGHTS AS BEING UNAMERICAN.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY, VOTER SUPPRESSION IS ABOUT AS AMERICAN AS APPLE PIE ABOUT AS AMERICAN AS HOT DOGS AT BASEBALL GAMES, AT ONE POINT IN THIS COUNTRY, VOTING RIGHTS DIDN'T APPLY TO US AS BLACK PEOPLE.

AT ONE POINT VOTING RIGHTS DIDN'T APPLY TO US AS WOMEN.

THE REALITY IS THAT WE HAVE TO PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS IN THIS COUNTRY AND THE REALITY IS THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE HAD TO DO THAT.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS FROM THE BIDEN SPEECH WAS THIS QUOTE, THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO VOTE IS THE RIGHT FROM WHICH ALL OTHER RIGHTS FLOW.

AND THAT IS OUR REALITY AND I AGREE WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN, I AGREE WITH THE DEMOCRATIC POSITION IN THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY, AND SO WHILE I AGREE WITH HER ON THAT ONE POINT THAT THERE IS THE DISEASE, IN TERMS OF ALL OF US COMING TOGETHER, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET UNITY AT THIS POINT REPUBLICANS HAVE SHOWN THAT, SO AT THIS POINT, WHETHER IT'S BREAKING THE FILIBUSTER, OR WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE AT CONGRESS AT THIS POINT IT'S TIME TO PUT UP OR SHUT UP.

>> WELL, LA, I WANT TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK TOO BECAUSE WHAT I HEARD FROM SENATOR SINEMA WAS A DISINTEREST IN MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS FEDERAL POLICY WITH REGARD TO VOTING RIGHTS.

AND YET SHE'S SAYING THAT SHE WANTS TO ATTACK THE DISEASE OF DIVISION, BUT MY QUESTION BECOMES, 'WHAT ARE YOU DOING SENATOR SINEMA TO SOW ACCORD, TO BUILD BRIDGES?

WHAT DID YOU HEAR IN WHAT SHE SAID?

>> THAT'S RIGHT SO I HEARD AS YOU SAID ALREADY DEB.

2 DIFFERENT ELEMENTS HERE, THAT ARE CONTRASTING AN OXYMORON.

ONE, SINEMA WANTS TO FIGHT FOR VOTING RIGHTS AS SHE SAYING TO FIGHT FOR HEALING OF OUR NATION BUT IN CONTRAST, WON'T DO WHAT IT TAKES AND WHAT IT REQUIRES IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH SUCH A FEAT.

SO WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES WHAT DOES SHE MEAN IN TERMS OF DISEASE?

AND THE FILIBUSTER WASN'T A DISEASE WHEN IT WAS USE JUST A COUPLE MONTHS AGO LAST YEAR IN ORDER TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING, AND THE FILIBUSTER WASN'T A DISEASE THEN.

THE FILIBUSTER THAT'S THE DISEASE OR THE ACTION AND THE CHANGE IN ORDER TO RECTIFY VOTING RIGHTS ACT IS THAT THE DISEASE?

IS IT A DISEASE TO PROTECT BLACK AND BROWN AMERICANS, BECAUSE THAT IS THE DEBT CEILING AT THIS POINT THAT NEEDS TO BE RAISE THE CAPITAL OF OUR VOICES IN ENSURING THAT OUR VOTE HAS THE FULL POWER THAT'S WHAT AT RISK.

SO WHAT I REALLY HAVE TO ASK IS WHAT DOES SHE MEAN BY THE DISEASE?

IS IT THE FILIBUSTER OR IS IT THE ACTUAL PASSAGE OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT WHICH WILL ALLOW FOR FAIR VOTING FOR ALL AMERICANS.

>> ABSOLUTELY AND NOW CHUCK SCHUMER IS VOWING TO BRING THE VOTING RIGHTS ISSUE TO THE HOUSE FLOOR FOR AN OPEN DEBATE.

ONCE AND FOR ALL, LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A LOST CAUSE.

WHAT EFFECT CAN A DEBATE HAVE AT THIS POINT STEVE?

>> THEY JUST TO CONTINUE DEBATE ON HOW WE GET LEGISLATION PASSED CORRECT DEB?

>> YEAH, WELL I THINK THAT YOU KNOW IT LOOKS LIKE -- >> [DEB INTERRRUPTS] THEY'RE THEY'RE BRINGING THIS TO THE FLOOR IN A WAY I THINK THAT MAYBE WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS JUST SHOWING, 'HEY WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT WE SAID WE WOULD WHICH IS BRING IT TO THE FLOOR, WE KNOW THAT IT DOESN'T STAND A CHANCE IN - [MAKES BLEEP SOUND] >> YEAH, WELL I THINK YEAH, WELL FIRST OF ALL I THINK IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO DEBATE SO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CAN HEAR YOU KNOW THE REASONS FOR HAVING THE VOTER RIGHTS LEGISLATION BOTH THE FREEDOM TO VOTE ACT THE JOHN LEWIS ACT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS IF WE KNOW THAT THIS BILL WILL NOT PASS, BASED ON WHAT SENATOR SINEMA HAS JUST SAID AND SENATOR MANCHIN IS AGREEING WITH HER, THEN I THINK THE ONLY OTHER OPTION IS TO CONVINCE REPUBLICANS AND OTHER DEMOCRATS ARE TO GET TO THAT 60 VOTE MAJORITY, WHERE THEY CAN PASS SOMETHING, AND THEY MIGHT BE GOING BACK TO THE TABLE AND SAYING OKAY, YOU KNOW, SENATOR MCCONNELL HAS SAID HE AGREES WITH REFORMING THE ELECTORAL ACT OF 1867.

SENATOR MANCHIN HAS AGREED ON CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF VOTER ID.

IF WE COULD COME TO SOME KIND OF AGREEMENT THEN WE COULD GET SOMETHING ON THE TABLE THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE WHICH IS VOTING RIGHTS FOR US, YOU KNOW VOTER REGISTRATION MAIL-IN VOTING, ENDING PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE FEDERAL LAWS TO PREVENT THE STATES THAT ARE JUST INCREASING EVERY DAY ON CHANGING OUR LAWS FOR DISENFRANCHISING VOTERS BUT ALSO AFFECTING THE OUTCOMES OF ELECTIONS.

SO WE'RE HEADED DOWN A SCENARIO IN 4 YEARS IF THIS DOESN'T CHANGE AND DONALD TRUMP DOES RUN FOR PRESIDENT, UNLESS A THERE'S A 2 AND A HALF OR ONE PERCENT VARIANCE IN SOME OF THESE SWING STATES, THE STATES COULD AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION AND POLITICIANS SHOULD NOT BE AFFECTING OUR DEMOCRACY, IT SHOULD BE THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, A GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE.

>> AND THAT IS THE THREAT.

TO DEMOCRACY.

>> THREAT TO DEMOCRACY.

>> THAT IS ONE OF THE MAJOR THREATS TO DEMOCRACY.

STEVE THANK YOU.

HERE WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF ALL STATES CELEBRATING FOR THE 22ND YEAR, THE BIRTHDAY OF REVEREND DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR, A MAN WE REMEMBER FOR HIS LEADERSHIP IN SHEPHERDING THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND REALLY ALL OF AMERICA THROUGH THE END OF RACIAL SEGREGATION AND INTO ITS PROMISE OF EQUAL REPRESENTATION, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND EQUAL TREATMENT TODAY, THE JOURNEY CONTINUES, BUT THE MLK DAY OF SERVICE CELEBRATION WILL NOT BE ON THE AGENDA FOR THE KING FAMILY BY THEIR OWN CHOICE DOCTOR BERNICE KING EXPLAINS.

>> SO LET ME BE CLEAR FROM THE OUTSET.

THAT WE WILL BE COMMEMORATING THE KING HOLIDAY AND WE ARE ENCOURAGING ALL OF YOU TO CONTINUE YOUR COMMEMORATIONS AS WELL.

HOWEVER, IF VOTING RIGHTS IS STILL HANGING IN THE BALANCE BY THE KING HOLIDAY ON 1/17/2022, THEN WE, MEANING ALL OF US, MUST COLLECTIVELY USE THEIR USE COMMEMORATIONS AND OUR PLATFORMS ON THAT PARTICULAR DAY TO DO WHAT DOCTOR KING WOULD DO.

MY FATHER WOULD SPEAK IN A WAY TO ENSURE THAT THIS NATION LIVES UP TO ITS PROMISE OF DEMOCRACY BY PUTTING PRESSURE ON OUR UNITED STATES SENATE TO BYPASS THE FILIBUSTER.

AND INSTEAD OF TAKING THE KING HOLIDAY OFF, THEY SHOULD MAKE IT A DAY ON TO PASS THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.

>> LA I WANT TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS.

>> I THINK IT IS A PROLIFIC STAND FOR THE KING FAMILY TO TAKE A DAY THAT COMMEMORATES THEIR FATHER, A LEGACY, RIDE THE HONOR AND EVEN THE PAIN THE FAMILY SUFFERED MANY YEARS, THROUGH CURRENT DAY TODAY AND THE LOSS OF THEIR FATHER WHO WAS A ICON TO US BUT AGAIN, THEIR PATRIARCH AND I'LL SHRINK A RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL OF US TO SAY WE ARE NOT COLLECTIVELY FREE WHEN IT COMES TO DEMOCRACY IN THE VISION FOR ALL.

OUR VOTING RIGHTS HAVE BEEN UNDER ATTACK AS ATTORNEY HOLMES ALREADY STATED, 19 STATES ALREADY PASSED ANTI VOTER LAWS, VOTER SUPPRESSION.

THAT WAS IN RESPONSE TO 2020 THE MOST AMERICANS VOTING IN HISTORY, AND THAT RESPONSE WAS TO LITERALLY SUPPRESS OUR VOTE IT IS PUNISHMENT, AND SO IN THIS RESPONSE IT IS POWERFUL.

AND WE ALSO HAVE TO KNOW THAT MANY OF OUR PEOPLE IN BLACK COMMUNITIES WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE CLASSISM, MANY OF US WILL STILL BE WORKING ON DOCTOR KING'S DAY, MANY OF US ARE NOT OFF.

THERE FOLKS WHO WILL STILL BE DRIVING BUSES ON DOCTOR KING'S DAY.

SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE BOTH WAGE WORKERS WHICH IS WHAT DOCTOR KING FOUGHT FOR HIS POOR PEOPLE CAMPAIGN WHICH WAS IN COORDINATION WITH THE POOR PEOPLE'S CORPORATION WAS A MARCH AND LEADING UP TO HIS ASSASSINATION THAT WAS FOR SANITATION WORKERS FOR THE POOR PEOPLE OF AMERICA, THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THAT THAT WAS ALSO IN ADDITION TO HIS VISION.

SO THIS CALL TO ACTION FOR OUR SENATORS TO TRULY HONOR DOCTOR KING'S MEMORY TO TRULY HONOR THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE EXTENSION TO ACTUALLY QUELL A REBELLION AND UPRISING.

THAT'S WHY THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT WAS PASSED IN THE WAKE OF HIS ASSASSINATION.

SO THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION FOR US TO REALLY POWERFULLY SAY WE SEE YOU IN THE SENATE, THIS IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

LET'S AMPLIFY THIS DAY IN HIS HONOR TO SAY THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HE FOUGHT FOR PRIOR TO HIS ASSASSINATION - THE PEOPLE.

>> ABSOLUTELY THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT REMINDER BECAUSE IF WE TAKE A LOOK AT JUST LIKE YOU SAID WHY THIS ACT WAS NECESSARY IN THE FIRST PLACE ALL OF THE INTIMIDATION THAT'S WHAT IT WAS FOR IT HERE WE HAVE NOW CONTINUING TO STAND ON THE GROUNDS THAT IF THE SECTION OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT WAS REENACTED, THEN VOTING RIGHTS WOULD BE PROTECTED BUT BUT THAT SECTION THAT WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT IS ABOUT PRECLEARANCE AND JESSICA I WANT TO ASK YOU WILL THAT PRECLEARANCE CLAUSE YOU THINK HAVE TO REMAIN FOREVER?

IS THERE NO HOPE THAT DEMOCRACY WILL ACTUALLY BE FREE OPEN AMD CLEAR FOR EVERYBODY UNLESS WE HAVE YOU KNOW, SOMEONE WATCHDOGGING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WATCHDOGGING THESE STATES?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, I BELIEVE THAT AS LONG AS THERE IS VOTING RIGHTS IN THIS COUNTRY, THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO BE PROTECTED, AND OUR HISTORY HAS SHOWN US THAT.

GOING BACK TO PRESIDENT BIDEN'S SPEECH IN ATLANTA, WHERE WE ALL SAW THE PHOTO OP OF HIM STANDING NEXT TO THE MEMORIAL OF MARTIN LUTHER KING AND CORETTA SCOTT KING, I DON'T NEED WORDS IN ATLANTA.

I NEED TO WORK IN DC.

I DON'T NEED HIM TO STAND NEXT TO THIS MEMORIAL.

I NEED HIM TO STAND UP FOR THE VALUES THAT DOCTOR KING LIVED AND DIED FOR.

SO AS TO BRINGING THESE ACTS TO THE FLOOR FOR DEBATE TO ME THOSE ARE JUST MORE WORDS.

AT THIS POINT WE NEED WORK.

>> I HEARD THAT THANK YOU JESSICA.

WE'RE TALKING IN MANY WAYS TODAY ABOUT DEMOCRACY, FREEDOM AND RIGHTS.

SOME THINGS ARE SYMBOLIC AND OTHERS ARE ACTIONS WITH IMPACT AND EFFECT.

THIS WEEK, ANOTHER SYMBOL OF INCLUSION THE MAYA ANGELOU QUARTER.

IT'S THE FIRST COIN DESIGNED AND SHIPPED OUT BY THE U.S. MINT IN THE AMERICAN WOMEN QUARTERS PROGRAM OVER 11,000 NAMES WERE SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION, THIS YEAR, 5 COINS WILL BE RELEASED.

THE OTHER WOMEN TO BE HONORED OUR DOCTOR SALLY RIDE.

WILMA MANKILLER, NINA OTERO WARREN AND ANNA MAY WONG.

STEVE THIS WAS ANNOUNCED HAS A GREAT HONOR, BUT SOME BALKED AT THE IDEA OF BLACK WOMEN BEING ON THE MONEY AND ALSO ABOUT THE FACT THAT THESE WOMEN APPEAR ON THE BACK OF THE COIN, THE TAIL.

WHAT'S YOUR TAKE?

>> WELL, YEAH, I MEAN THAT DID STRIKE ME WHEN I WHEN I HEARD THE NEWS ABOUT BEING ON THE TAIL OUT, BUT YOU KNOW, I'LL BE FINE WITH IT BEING THAT THE FRONT OF THE COIN, BUT I REALLY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A BIG FAN AND INSPIRED BY MAYA ANGELOU AND I THINK THERE'S IT'S SO APPROPRIATE TO HAVE A BLACK WOMEN THERE ARE OTHER BLACK WOMEN THAT WOULD BE SUITABLE FOR THE HONOR WORTHY OF THE HONOR.

BUT THIS WAS A WOMAN WHO INSPIRED US THROUGH HER WORDS.

HER FAVORITE POEM OF MINE WAS "RISE" WHERE SHE SAID YOU KNOW, 'I AM THE DREAM I AM THE HOPE OF THE SLAVE" AND GAVE THE BLACK AMERICAN SELF ESTEEM AND HOPE WHICH YOU KNOW WE ACTUALLY NEED TODAY THROUGH ALL THE DIVISION THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH YOU KNOW, AND WE JUST SPOKE ABOUT DOCTOR KING AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMEMBER THAT THESE GREAT LEADERS.

HOW THE LIVED, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY LIVED LIVES OF ACTION.

GETTING OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONES AT A TIME WHEN WHAT THEY WERE SAYING OR DOING WASN'T POPULAR AND EVEN GANDHI WHO INSPIRED DOCTOR KING, MY GREAT GRANDFATHER FOUGHT IN THE FREEDOM MOVEMENT IN INDIA.

WE OFTEN FORGET THAT THESE LEADERS DID THINGS TO CHANGE OUR SOCIETY.

WHEN THEY WERE UNPOPULAR AND SO FOR THAT THEY'RE AMERICAN HEROES.

AND I THINK IT'S PERFECTLY FAIR AND LEGITIMATE AND RIGHT.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THAT COIN AND SEEING MAYA ANGELO ON THE COIN.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S ON THE TAILS ON THE COIN.

>> IT IS A BEAUTIFUL RENDERING.

I MEAN I'VE SEEN JUST PICTURES OF THE COIN AND I FIND IT STRIKING.

JESSICA.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS CRITICISM AND ABOUT THE COIN ITSELF?

>> AT THIS POINT OUR COUNTRY I'LL TAKE PROGRESS WHEN WE CAN GET IT.

I TOO AM A FAN OF MAYA ANGELOU WHO IS A MEMBER OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY INCORPORATED.

UP WITH FOUNDERS DAY APPROACHING I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY APPROPRIATE TIME TO MENTION THAT.

>> DELTA'S FOUNDER'S DAY WAS JUST YESTERDAY.

SEE HOW YOU DO?

[DEB LAUGHS] >> I KNOW IT'S ABOUT MY SISTERS, MY SORORS IN DELTA SIGMA THETA, FOR YOUR FOUNDERS DAY AS WELL, BUT I'LL TAKE PROGRESS WHERE YOU CAN GET IT.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT AS A BLACK WOMAN, I'M SEEING HER FACE ON THAT COIN WHETHER IT'S THE HEAD OR THE TAIL, MAKES ME NO DIFFERENCE, I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE THIS PROGRESS IN THIS COUNTRY.

WHERE YOU HAVE A WOMAN OF COLOR A WOMAN THAT I CAN RELATE TO ON OUR COIN AND AS COUNCILMAN RAO MENTIONED, I TOO AM ALREADY SIGNED UP ON THE U.S. MINT WEBSITE TO RECEIVE THAT COIN AS WELL.

>> LA WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE CRITICISM ABOUT THE HONOR OF MAYA ANGELO AND OTHER WOMEN BEING ON THIS COIN?

>> SO PART OF OUR MOVEMENT FOR THE LAST FEW GENERATIONS HAS BEEN TO DISMANTLE CONFEDERATE STATUES SYMBOLISM OF A WAR AND TERROR AND LOSS OF YEARS PAST.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SAY WHAT WILL REPLACE SUCH SYMBOLISM TO HONOR OUR OWN PEOPLE TO HONOR OUR OWN ELDERS WHERE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE CAN PASSED OUT THE TRADITION OF POET MAYA ANGELOU WHAT IS A TRADITION THAT WE CAN PASS DOWN OUR PEOPLE WHAT ARE OUR IMAGES AND SO WHILE WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE U.S. MINT, WHILE WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR CONGRESS TO IDENTIFY WE CAN IDENTIFY OURSELVES.

THIS IS STILL A MOMENT TO CELEBRATE THIS ON A NATIONAL PLATFORM ON THE NATIONAL LANDSCAPE.

POET MAYA ANGELOU WAS A PART SHE WAS A COORDINATOR FOR THE SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE AND WITH DOCTOR KING, SHE PUT PEN TO ACTUALLY COORDINATE THE POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN, WHAT I MENTIONED BEFORE THAT LED TO THE MARCH FOR POOR PEOPLE ON WASHINGTON, WHAT LED TO THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT IN THE WAKE OF THIS ASSASSINATION, SHE HELPED TO PLAN THAT CAMPAIGN SO WE TALK ABOUT A POET WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT A CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS WERE TALKING ABOUT TONY NOMINATED GRAMMY-AWARD WINNING PULITZER PRIZE AWARD NOMINEE.

WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THESE ARE OUR ELDERS AND THAT'S WHERE THE RESPECT STARTS PARTS OF ANY DISSIDENTS FROM BACK I DON'T HAVE TIME TO HEAR THAT.

>> WELL STATED.

AND YOU KNOW IT'S A CRITICISM OUT THERE AND IT REMINDS ME OF THE CRITICISM THAT'S COMING FROM BLACK COMMUNITIES AND AND FROM DEMOCRATS ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS INCLUDING BIDEN'S SPEECH INCLUDING HOW HE'S DOING TO REPRESENT VOTING RIGHTS AND TO PUSH FOR VOTING RIGHTS AS THESE MESSAGES COME OUT THIS THESE CRITICISMS COME OUT HOW DO YOU THINK THAT IMPACTS VOTERS IN THE END DO YOU THINK IT BODES WELL FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTION TO HAVE A MESSAGE OUT THERE THAT IS NOT SUPPORTIVE OF THIS CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION HOW DO YOU THINK THAT THAT BODES OR HELPS IF AT ALL?

STEVE?.

>> WELL, I THINK IT DOES NOT HELP US AS WE GO INTO FUTURE ELECTIONS AS AMERICANS THAT WE HAD A PRESIDENT WHO IS NOW CALLING US TO COME TOGETHER AND FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY OVER AUTOCRACY, THAT IT'S TIME FOR US TO HEAL THE WOUNDS, THE NATION AND THAT THIS IS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE.

IT'S ONE THAT DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS IN THE PAST AS PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID IN A SPEECH.

PRESIDENT NIXON PRESIDENT GEORGE HW BUSH PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH OTHER REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTS HAVE SUPPORTED VOTER RIGHTS LEGISLATION, SO I THINK THAT IT'S NOT A GOOD MESSAGE WHEN WE JUST SAY WELL WE HEAR YOU WE'RE NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT I THINK THE TIME IS TO TO DO IT NOW AND I KEEP GOING BACK TO LYNDON JOHNSON, BUT THAT WAS A PROUD MOMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY WHEN HE LED THE EFFORTS AT A TIME WHEN IT WASN'T POPULAR TO PUSH THROUGH VOTING RIGHTS LEGISLATION AND CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION WHERE WE'D EVEN BE FURTHER BACK TODAY IF WE DIDN'T HAVE HIM DO THAT.

SO I HOPE YOU KNOW I THINK THAT'S THE ANSWER DEB IS THAT WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PUT OURSELVES BACK IN A POSITION FOR HOPE FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT OUR DEMOCRACY IS ONE IT'S A REPUBLIC.

IT'S AN INSPIRATION TO MILLIONS AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.

AND WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT, WE CAN KEEP IT AS A BEACON OF HOPE FOR ALL UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

IT'S IN OUR HANDS.

>> JESSICA, I WANT YOUR FEEDBACK BECAUSE STEVE HAS MENTIONED LYNDON JOHNSON HE EARLIER HE MENTIONED GANDHI AND THESE ARE CHARACTERS WITH FLOSS IF YOU READ THE HISTORY.

AND YET THEY THEY MADE DECISIONS THAT THAT HELP IMPROVE DEMOCRACY AND IMPROVE THINGS FOR FOR ALL PEOPLE.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE DIVISIONS RIGHT NOW AND THE MESSAGING OUT THERE.

AS WE AS WE APPROACH 2022 AT THE NEXT ELECTIONS.

>> THE DISEASE OF DIVISION IS ABSOLUTELY REAL AND IT PERMEATES IN JUST ABOUT EVERY ASPECT OF OUR SOCIETY.

WE'RE IN A COUNTRY WHERE THEY ARE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO STILL VERY MUCH BELIEVE IN THE BIG LIE.

WE'RE IN A COUNTRY WHERE RIGHT NOW I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU ALL, BUT I WAS BRACING MYSELF ON JANUARY 6TH HOLDING MY BREATH, WORRIED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AT OUR CAPITOL WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN OTHER STATES.

AND SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE VERY MUCH IN A VERY BROKEN PLACE IN OUR COUNTRY WHEN A VERY BROKEN PLACE WHEN IT COMES TO CONGRESS WHEN WE AS A COUNTRY WHEN OUR ELECTED LEADERS CAN'T AGREE THAT THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS SO PRECIOUS IN THIS COUNTRY THAT IT NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED AT THE STATE LEVEL.

BUT CERTAINLY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL SO THAT THEY ARE SOME TIME SO IT'S PEOPLE ALL THE STATE WHO ARE WORKING SO DILIGENTLY TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM THE POLLS POLLS OPEN IN JUST A FEW WEEKS HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

RIGHT NOW I WILL START AT SOME POINT AROUND FEBRUARY 24.

VERY SOON WE WILL HAVE PEOPLE GOING TO THE POLLS AND WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A MAIL-IN BALLOTS.

WE DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL EVER HAVE ALEXIE DAY AS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY.

THERE'S STILL SO MANY UNKNOWNS RIGHT NOW I WOULD AGREE THERE CERTAINLY IS THIS DISEASE OF DIVISION WE HAVE BEEN MUCH BROKEN AS A COUNTRY, I'M NOT SEEING A WAY OUT ANY TIME SOON AND GOING BACK TO THE CONCEPT OF PEOPLE JUST DEBATING OR BIDEN PREACHING WORDS.

>> [DEB INTERRUPTS] WELL, WHAT IT TAKES ABSOLUTELY IS PEOPLE PARTICIPATING, PEOPLE JUST PAYING ATTENTION AND PARTICIPATING.

JESSICA HOLMES I WANT TO THANK YOU.

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