>> AHEAD ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM, REFLECTIONS ON THE INAUGURATION LIKE NO OTHER.

EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT SET THE TONE OF THE NEW ADMINISTRATION AND A LOOK AT HOW AGENDA PRIORITIES FOR BLACK AMERICA ARE POISED IN THESE FIRST DAYS.

STAY WITH US.

♪ >> HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR BLACK ISSUES FORUM.

I'M DEBORAH HOLT-NOEL.

THREE WEEKS INTO THE NEW YEAR AND WE HAVE A NEW PRESIDENT, BUT RECENT EVENTS HAVE REVEALED THE ENORMITY OF THE TASK AHEAD - RACIAL HEALING AND NATION BUILDING.

LET'S TALK ABOUT IT, I LIKE TO WELCOME TO OUR PANEL ACTIVIST AND ARTIST BREE NEWSOME BASS BRETT CHAMBERS OF NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY AND WTVD JOURNALIST, TIM PULLIAM.

AND TIM I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU, FIRST OF ALL WELCOME.

SO GLAD TO HAVE ALL 3 OF YOU HERE, LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT THAT INAUGURATION.

WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE SPEECHES, THE SPEAKERS, THE ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP, WHATS THE OVERALL TONE THAT YOU RECEIVE FROM THAT TIM?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME DEBORAH.

IT WAS DIVERSE, IT WAS UNITED, AND IT WAS VERY PEACEFUL.

BUT DEBORAH IT WAS ALSO VERY UNCONVENTIONAL, BECAUSE YOU DID NOT HAVE THE OUTGOING PRESIDENT PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AT THE INAUGURATION, AND I THINK THAT ALSO SET A TONE FOR THE WORK THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IN TRYING UNITE THIS COUNTRY.

YOU KNOW 74 MILLION AMERICANS VOTED FOR FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SO THEY HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD TO TRY TO GET THOSE PEOPLE ON BOARD AND ON TO THEIR POLICIES.

>> AND PERHAPS THAT WAS THE ENORMITY THAT PEOPLE WERE SENSING.

BREE, WHAT DID YOU SEE CULTURALLY SPEAKING?

>> I AGREE, I THINK THAT AFTER EVERYTHING THAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN THROUGH I WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WATCHING FIRST THING IN THE MORNING JUST TO MAKE SURE IS THE FORMER PRESIDENT ACTUALLY GOING TO LEAVE, BECAUSE I MEAN OBVIOUSLY THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH TENSION AROUND THAT AND I THINK IT WAS KIND OF IMPORTANT TO HAVE A KIND OF LIKE RESET MOMENT.

AT THE SAME TIME I THINK THAT THERE IS STILL SUCH A MAGNITUDE OF CRISES CONFRONTING US.

AS MUCH AS YOU KNOW THE POLITICAL MESSAGE WOULD NATURALLY BE ABOUT UNITY, I THINK THAT WE ALSO HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE HOW DEEP AND LONGSTANDING A LOT OF THESE DIVISIONS ARE AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE THE GREATEST CHALLENGE OF THESE COMING NEXT YEARS.

>> AND BRETT WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT IT THROUGH A POLITICAL LENS, WHAT DID YOU SEE?

WHAT DID YOU TAKE AWAY?

>> WELL ONE OF THE BIG THINGS I SAW WAS PEOPLE LOOKED A LITTLE BIT MORE RELIEVED ON BOTH SIDES.

IT WASN'T JUST THE DEMS, IT WAS THE REPUBLICANS.

EVERYBODY LOOK CALM.

EVERYBODY LOOKED -- THEY WERE LOOKING AT EACH OTHER'S COLLEAGUES -- IT'S KIND OF LIKE OBAMA SUMMED IT UP WHEN THEY HAD THE 3 PRESIDENTS TOGETHER, WHEN HE SAID YOU KNOW WE CAN STILL DISAGREE, BUT WE CAN STILL GO ABOUT DOING OTHER THINGS AND WE HAVE THE COMMONESS AND I THINK THAT WAS THAT THE TONE THAT I SAW ON THE STAGE THAT THE POLITICS RIGHT NOW, OF THE DAY, THIS SEEMED LIKE EVERYBODY WAS JUST RELIEVED THAT WE HAVE A DIFFERENT TONE.

>> YEAH, AND BACK TO YOUR POINT BREE, WHEN YOU CONSIDER WHAT'S BEFORE US THE RACIAL HEALING AND SO FORTH WHAT I WAS FOCUSED ON OR WHAT KIND OF STOOD OUT TO ME WAS THE LINEUP OF ENTERTAINMENT AND JUST HOW SOLID EVERYTHING WAS IN THE PLANNING OF EVERYTHING AND I LOOK AT KAMALA HARRIS.

THE BRAND NEW VICE PRESIDENT WHO EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT, ALL OF THESE MANY FIRSTS, AND ABSOLUTELY WEEK THAT NEEDS TO BE APPLAUDED.

BUT WHAT ALSO DO WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON WHAT DOES HER PRESENCE DO IN TERMS OF A MESSAGE ABOUT BLACK WOMEN AND ABOUT THE THE TASK BEFORE US WITH RACIAL HEALING?

>> YEAH, I MEAN REPRESENTATION OF COURSE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AND I WOULD ADD TO THE SIGNIFICANCE OF KAMALA HARRIS.

THAT ELECTION IN GEORGIA, I MEAN THAT WAS A VERY SIGNIFICANT STATEMENT, YOU KNOW.

IN A LOT OF WAYS I THINK WE'RE PICKING UP FROM THE RECONSTRUCTION ATTEMPT THAT WAS MAKING OVER 100 YEARS AGO IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE CIVIL WAR, BUT WHILE REPRESENTATION IS IMPORTANT, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT POLICY.

THAT'S GOING TO BE THE REAL STRUGGLE LIKE HOW IS THIS TRANSLATING TO A CHANGE IN MATERIAL CONDITIONS FOR THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE?

HOW DOES KAMALA HARRIS'S PRESENCE THERE TRANSLATE INTO POLICY CHANGES FOR BLACK WOMEN AND BLACK PEOPLE MORE BROADLY IN THIS COUNTRY?

>> JUST HOURS AFTER PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE, HE GOT THE BALL ROLLING ON HIS PLAN TO BUILD BACK BETTER.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST ONE I'M SIGNING.

>> THE 46TH PRESIDENT HIT THE GROUND RUNNING, SIGNING MORE THAN A DOZEN EXECUTIVE ORDERS AFTER HE WAS SWORN-IN -- AND SEVERAL MORE THE FOLLOWING DAY.

SOME OF THEM REVERSED ACTIONS OF THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.

OTHERS LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR SOME OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S TOP PRIORITIES, WHICH INCLUDE UNITING THE NATION.

>> WE CAN DO THIS IF WE OPEN OUR SOULS, INSTEAD OF HARDENING OUR HEARTS.

IF WE SHOW A LITTLE TOLERANCE AND HUMILITY.

>> THE ORDERS WILL END THE TRAVEL BAN THAT IMPACTED MAINLY MUSLIM COUNTRIES; PAUSE CONSTRUCTION ON THE SOUTHERN BORDER WALL; AND RAMP UP TESTING AND VACCINATION FOR COVID 19.

IN RELATION TO THE PANDEMIC - EVICTIONS ARE NOW BANNED THROUGH AT LEAST MARCH - AND PAYMENTS ARE FROZEN FOR FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS.

>> MILLIONS OF JOBS HAVE BEEN LOST.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF BUSINESSES CLOSED.

A CRY FOR RACIAL JUSTICE, SOME 400 YEARS IN THE MAKING, MOVES US.

THE DREAM OF JUSTICE FOR ALL WILL BE DEFERRED NO LONGER.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN IS ALSO USING THESE ORDERS TO ADDRESS RACIAL EQUITY - WITH ONE OF THEM ASKING FEDERAL AGENCIES TO REVIEW THEIR PROGRAMS AND ACTIONS THROUGH THE LENS OF EQUITY.

THAT SAME ORDER ALSO REVERSES PREVIOUS RULES THAT WERE SET TO LIMIT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION TRAINING FOR BOTH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND ITS CONTRACTORS.

>> WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU TAKE FROM THAT?

THE FACT FIRST OF ALL THAT HE SAT DOWN AND DID THIS ON DAY ONE.

DURING THE INAUGURATION AND THE KINDS OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT HE DECIDED TO SIGN ON TO?

>> WELL TO ME, THERE'S 2 LEGISLATIVE POLICIES ALSO THAT HE IS SENDING TO CONGRESS IMMIGRATION REFORM, AND THIS CORONAVIRUS PACKAGE.

BUT GETTING BACK TO YOUR EXECUTIVE ORDERS, THE MASK MANDATE.

HE'S SENDING A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT HE WANTS AMERICANS TO BE HEALTHY AND HE'S TRYING TO GET THESE NUMBERS UNDER CONTROL.

REINSTATING DACA.

AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE IMPACTED.

BLACK PEOPLE ARE IMPACTED BY DACA.

SO THIS IS A MESSAGE THAT DIVERSITY MATTERS THAT WE SEE YOU AND WE WANT YOU TO BE A PART OF THIS COUNTRY, SO THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT HE HAS SIGNED IS TRYING TO SHOW INCLUSION.

>> CONSIDERING WHAT WAS SIGNED, WILL AFRICAN AMERICANS, WILL THE BLACK AGENDA KIND OF BE LIFTED UP IN ALL THAT HAPPENED IN THAT VERY FIRST DAY?

LET ME DIRECT THAT QUESTION TO YOU BRETT.

>> IT'S NOT JUST THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER, IT'S THAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT -- WHEN YOU LOOK AT REVEREND BARBER'S PLAN, THERE ARE 14 POINTS TO IT.

EACH ONE OF THOSE IS GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY NATIONAL POLICIES.

THE POLICIES THAT ARE DIRECTED TO THE BLACK AGENDA ALSO IN FACT NOT JUST TO 81 MILLION PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR HIM, BUT THE 74 MILLION PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE POINTS I THINK PRESIDENT BIDEN IS TRYING TO MAKE, IS THAT THESE POLICIES AFFECT ALL OF US.

AND YES THERE ARE SOME THINGS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY FOR SOME ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT RIGHT NOW, THE BIG CHALLENGE AND THE BIG ONE IN FRONT OF HIM IS THE OVERALL ECONOMY AND ALSO THE CORONAVIRUS IMPACT AND THE PANDEMIC.

>> ABSOLUTELY AND BREE WHEN YOU CONSIDER WHAT GOT SIGNED AND THOSE PRIORITIES, IS HE ON TARGET?

>> I'D SAY YES, HOWEVER, LIKE HOUSING IS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT I AM REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT SO OF COURSE WE'RE REALLY GLAD TO SEE THAT MORATORIUM GET EXTENDED, AND I THINK THAT GETTING DIRECT RELIEF TO PEOPLE RIGHT NOW IS SO, SO NECESSARY, AT THE SAME TIME I THINK WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE TO PUSH FOR MORE.

I THINK THAT THE REALITY AGAIN IS THAT THE MAGNITUDE OF THE ECONOMIC CRISIS IS SO VAST AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND COMMUNITIES WERE IN CRISIS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

SO WHAT THE PANDEMIC DID WAS IT JUST MADE EVERYTHING EXPONENTIALLY WORSE.

SO BEYOND LIKE THESE IMMEDIATE, YOU KNOW PLANS FOR DIRECT RELIEF WE'RE REALLY GOING TO NEED TO LOOK AT SOME STRUCTURAL LONG-TERM CHANGE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE REALLY ABLE TO STABILIZE.

>> TIM WHEN WE CONSIDER THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT WERE SIGNED ON INAUGURATION DAY, TOGETHER WITH WHAT'S BEEN PROPOSED IN THAT 1.9 TRILLION DOLLAR PACKAGE, ARE WE SEEING A TARGETING OF ECONOMIC ISSUES THAT WILL KIND OF SHOOT OFF TO IMPACTING THOSE RACIAL DISPARITIES THAT ARE OUT THERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT EXTENDING THE MORATORIUM ON FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS 'TIL SEPTEMBER, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO HIT BLACK MILLENNIALS, BENEFIT BLACK MILLENNIALS WHO NEED TO SAVE MONEY WHO ARE FACING HARD TIMES WHO WANT TO BUY A HOME.

THE STIMULUS CHECKS.

THE $1400.

THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT OF WORK THAT WE NEED THAT MONEY.

IN NORTH CAROLINA SINCE MARCH, THERE'S BEEN ONE POINT, NEARLY A MILLION UNEMPLOYMENT, BENEFITS FILED IN CLAIMS, SO IT'S NECESSARY THERE'S FOOD, SECURITY AND THERE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF PACKAGE, THERE'S THE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, CHILDCARE, FAMILY, MONEY FOR SCHOOLS, SO YES, IT'S GOING TO HELP THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

>> LET ME JUST ECHO - TIM POINTED OUT A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT POINTS, BUT ONE OF ONE THINGS THAT, I'M STILL CONCERNED ABOUT ESPECIALLY FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY, BUT FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES, IS THE LACK OF SUPPORT FOR THE MUNICIPALITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, BECAUSE IF THEY HAVE A HUGE TAX SHORTFALL, A LOT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME PEOPLE WORK FOR THE STATE OR WORK FOR AGENCIES THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THE STATE.

INCLUDING MYSELF.

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL'S A STATE UNIVERSITY.

THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM IS IMPACTED BY TAX REVENUE SO WE NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING IN THERE ABOUT THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES.

ALL THE GOODS AND SERVICES THAT WE DEPEND ON THE STATE FOR NEEDS TO BE IN THERE.

THAT'S BEEN THE BIG FIGHT BETWEEN THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS THE BIG DIFFERENCE.

THEY CAN AGREE ON MOST OF THE REST OF IT, BUT THE SUPPORT FOR LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES HAS TO BE ADDRESSED, IT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED NOW.

>> ISN'T THAT SOMETHING THAT REALLY IS UP TO THE LOCAL LEGISLATURES?

BREE?

>> BUT SEE THE THING IS I THINK BRETT RAISES A REALLY INTERESTING POINT.

IF WE DON'T HAVE THE TAX MONEY.

SO LIKE FOR INSTANCE, THE PAST YEAR WITH HOUSING FOR INSTANCE, LIKE WE HAVE BEEN DEPLETED.

OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN DEPLETED BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF A FEDERAL ASSISTANCE, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT JUST ON THAT HOUSING ISSUE ALONE, YOU KNOW THIS PACKAGE, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN IS PROMISING LIKE 25 BILLION DOLLARS IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE, AS OF DECEMBER YOU'VE GOT FAMILIES NATIONWIDE LIKE 70 BILLION DOLLARS BEHIND IN BACK RENT, SO SO AGAIN LIKE YOU'RE SEEING LIKE HOW MUCH OF A GAP THERE IS THERE.

AND FRANKLY WE'RE TAPPED OUT.

WE'RE TAPPED OUT AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL.

SO WE'RE REALLY GOING TO NEED NOT JUST THAT DIRECT CASH RELIEF, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RESTRUCTURE A LOT OF THINGS.

I THINK THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS REALLY EXPOSED A LOT OF STRUCTURAL FAILURE IN HOUSING AND HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION, AND THAT KIND OF IN MY VIEW IS THE LONGER TERM WORK THAT THAT REALLY HAS TO BE UNDERTAKEN.

>> AND TIM, YOU KNOW FOCUSING ON THE BLACK AGENDA ONCE AGAIN.

YOU'VE OUTLINED BIDEN'S OUTLINE THROUGH THOSE EXECUTIVE ORDERS THROUGH HIS 1.9 TRILLION DOLLAR PLAN, SEVERAL THINGS THAT YOU HAD MENTIONED ALSO EARLIER WITH THE ECONOMIC RESCUE PLAN THAT $1400 STIMULUS CHECK COMING OUT SPECIFIC FUNDING FOR CORONAVIRUS TO REALLY ATTACK THAT, WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN?

AND KEY ALSO IS A LIFT, AN INCREASE OF MINIMUM WAGE TO $15 AN HOUR.

WE KNOW THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOCAL FIGHT FOR AS WELL.

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN FOR THIS TO TO REALLY BECOME A REALITY?

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO HAVE BE A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THIS ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS.

WITH THE FACT THAT THERE'S A SLIM MAJORITY BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS IN BOTH HOUSES IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE INCUMBENT ON VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS TO REALLY SEAL THE DEAL ON A LOT OF THESE POLICIES.

BUT AGAIN IT'LL HAVE TO BE CONGRESS WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE PRESIDENT TO MAKE THESE THESE PARTIES A REALITY.

THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.

>> AND ONCE AGAIN THAT THEME OF UNITY REALLY COMING THROUGH.

IT CAN'T BE SEPARATE IT SOUNDS LIKE BREE BECAUSE WHERE THERE DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE PRESSURE AND TARGETING ON THE BLACK AGENDA AND THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BRING ABOUT EQUITY FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES, REALLY THE POLICIES THAT ARE GOING OUT OR ALONG ECONOMIC LINES.

>> I THINK WE HAVE TO REMEMBER WHAT JUST HAPPENED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WE'VE GOT PEOPLE SITTING IN CONGRESS WHO JUST TRIED TO OVERTHROW THE ELECTION, YOU KNOW, SO YOU KNOW I THINK THE REALITY IS THAT DEMOCRATS PROBABLY HAVE A TWO-YEAR WINDOW REALISTICALLY TO DO AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND I WOULD ADD INTO THAT VOTING RIGHTS IS GOING TO BE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS MCCONNELL ALREADY SIGNALING YOU KNOW A DESIRE TO OBSTRUCT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE RIGHT.

THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO PREVENT US FROM HAVING A FAIR ELECTION.

SO WE MIGHT JUST HAVE LIKE A TWO-YEAR WINDOW TO GET SOME VERY IMPORTANT LEGISLATION THROUGH.

SO I THINK AS MUCH AS DEMOCRATS CAN DO WITH THAT MAJORITY, EVEN IF THEY DON'T GET MUCH SUPPORT FROM REPUBLICANS IS CRUCIAL.

>> AND BRETT YOU KNOW WHAT BREE SAYING KIND OF REMINDS ME OF SORT OF THE ALERT THAT I'M HEARING WITHIN CONVERSATIONS EVEN AS PEOPLE ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WHAT WAS WITNESSED IN THE INAUGURATION.

WE KNOW THAT THOSE THOSE VOTERS ARE STILL OUT THERE WHO DO NOT I BELIEVE THAT THAT THE ELECTION WAS VALID.

>> YES, WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO DON'T BELIEVE -- THAT GOES BACK TO THAT THING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.

PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT INFORMATION.

SO WE DON'T HAVE A COMMON SOURCE WE DON'T HAVE ANY KIND OF REFERENCE POINT.

AND SO THERE'S A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE TARGETED INFORMATION TO THEM THAT TELLS HIM THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE TOLD.

AND SO THAT'S THE ONE THING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AT SOME POINT, BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO GO BACK TO ONE OF THE PLACES THAT MOST PEOPLE AGREE WHETHER NO MATTER WHICH OF THE INFORMATION SOURCES YOU LOOK AT.

ONE THING PEOPLE TEND TO BE OKAY WITH IS INFRASTRUCTURE, BECAUSE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN CRUMBLING FOR DECADES.

THE LAST, I DON'T KNOW, FOUR OR FIVE ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE SAID THEY WILL ADDRESS INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND IT SEEMS TO BE THE ONE THING, THAT AT LEAST THEY GIVE LIP SERVICE TO, AND THAT MAY BE THE ONE PLACE THEY CAN AGREE ON THAT'S WHERE THEY CAN SUPPORT TO HELP WITH THE ECONOMY BECAUSE WE CAN GET SOME PEOPLE BACK TO WORK IF WE GO AHEAD AND DO SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PIECES.

IT FITS IN WITH WHAT BIDEN'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND WHEN HE WAS EVEN WITH OBAMA ABOUT CLEAN ENERGY AND THAT -- BECAUSE CHINA IS AHEAD OF US ON THAT.

WE HAVE BRIDGES THAT ARE FALLING APART.

THAT IS GOING TO IMPACT NEIGHBORHOODS, THE ROADS, THE PIPES.

YOU CAN DRIVE IN ANY ANY OF THE CITIES AND THEY'RE HAVING TO PULL UP PIPES THAT ARE OVER A 100 YEARS OLD, SO INFRASTRUCTURE IS THE ONE PLACE THAT CAN ALSO IMPACT OUR ECONOMY AND BOTH SIDES CAN SAY LOOK THIS IS THE ONE VICTORY WE DID TOGETHER AND THEY CAN GO HOME AND TELL THEIR CONSTITUENTS LOOK WHAT WE DID OR LOOK WHAT I DID.

IT'S THE ONE PLACE THEY CAN GET A BIG WIN FOR BOTH SIDES RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT THAT ON THE TABLE AND PUT ON IT EARLY BEFORE THE OBSTRUCTIONISTS TAKE CONTROL.

>> ANOTHER AREA WHERE TOGETHERNESS IS REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO COME IN AND WIN OUT AND UNITY AND INCLUSION ARE QUICKLY BECOMING THE YEAR'S TOP BUZZWORD SO FAR, BUT THE FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE ISN'T ON BOARD WITH HOW ARE WORKING TO GET THERE.

MIKE POMPEO GENERATED SOME CONVERSATION TUESDAY WHEN HE TWEETED QUOTE, "WOKE-ISM MULTICULTURALISM, ALL THE ISMS "THEY'RE NOT WHO AMERICA IS THEY DISTORT OUR GLORIOUS FOUNDING AND WHAT THIS COUNTRY IS ALL ABOUT."

I WANT TO OPEN UP WITH YOU BREE WHAT DO WE HEAR THROUGH ALL OF THAT.

>> I MEAN IT'S THE LOUDEST DOG WHISTLE, CLEARLY.

YOU KNOW I THINK POMPEO IS CLEARLY SIGNALING A DESIRE TO RUN FOR OFFICE, HE'S TRYING TO MAYBE INHERIT TRUMP'S BASE BY YOU KNOW USING VERY LOADED LANGUAGE.

I THINK "WOKE" AT THIS POINT MAY BE ONE OF THE MOST ABUSED TERMS, IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN RECENT YEARS.

>> WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

TO EDUCATE FOLKS, WHAT DOES "WOKE" MEAN?

>> YES, SO WOKE, YOU KNOW, WE STARTED SAYING STAY WOKE YEARS AGO, AND THE WHOLE THING THAT BROUGHT IT ABOUT WAS TRYING TO BRING ATTENTION TO POLICE BRUTALITY, BECAUSE WE HAD A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT POLICE VIOLENCE FOR DECADES.

WHAT CHANGED IN RECENT YEARS WAS JUST THE PREVALENCE OF VIDEO CAPTURING IT, YOU KNOW, AND SO THAT KIND OF BECAME THE HASHTAG "STAY WOKE".

AND NOW IT IS USED PEJORATIVELY SO THAT'S A VERY RACIALLY LOADED TERM.

ANYTIME PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT WOKE-ISM, OF COURSE HE SAID MULTICULTURALISM, IT'S VERY RACIALLY LOADED LANGUAGE AND TO IMPLY THAT SOMEHOW ESSENTIALLY RACIAL JUSTICE AND MULTICULTURALISM ARE AT ODDS WITH THE FOUNDING IDEAS OF THE COUNTRY IS WHITE SUPREMACY AND IT'S AS MUCH AS YOU CAN SAY WHITE SUPREMACY WITHOUT ACTUALLY USING THOSE TERMS AND IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT'S WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO SIGNAL TO THE BASE.

>> TIM, ARE WE AT A LEVEL OF ASPIRATION NOW WHERE WE ARE FORTIFIED TO GO FORWARD AND PUSH FOR THE KINDS OF CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE RIGHT NOW?

>> I THINK THAT THERE'S ALWAYS POSSIBILITY RIGHT AND THERE'S ALWAYS HOPE.

I DO HAVE CONCERN.

I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH REPUBLICANS BLACK REPUBLICANS HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA, THERE'S A NEW GROUP BEING FORMED IN NORTH CAROLINA CONSERVE BLACK CONSERVATIVE COALITION AND THEY STILL BELIEVE THAT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ECONOMIC POLICIES HELPED BLACK PEOPLE AND THEIR WHOLE MISSION IS TO TRY TO GET BLACK INDEPENDENCE AND UNAFFILIATED VOTERS ON BOARD WITH YOU KNOW THAT MESSAGE AND POLICIES FOR THE NEXT ELECTION CYCLE.

SO I'M HOPEFUL WITH THIS DIVERSE CABINET THAT WE HAVE, WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION THAT WE'LL SEE POLICIES AND THAT THAT WILL TURN TO LEGISLATION AND THAT CONGRESS WILL WORK TOGETHER.

BUT AGAIN IT GOES BACK TO THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE 74 MILLION PEOPLE VOTED FOR FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

THEY ARE OUT THERE.

YOU HAVE TO TRY TO GET THEM ON BOARD, AND I'M HOPEFUL.

I THINK A LOT OF US ARE HOPEFUL.

>> IT'S DEFINITELY TIME FOR HOPE.

BRETT CAN YOU KIND OF PUT INTO A FRAMEWORK WHAT'S HAPPENING?

WHERE WE ARE?

YOU KNOW TIM MENTIONED A GROWING SECTOR OF AFRICAN AMERICAN REPUBLICANS OUT THERE AND PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO VARIOUS IDEOLOGIES.

BUT HOW IS THE COMING TOGETHER GOING TO REALLY HAPPEN WHEN WE KNOW WHAT THE ISSUES ARE OUT THERE?

>> TIM IS RIGHT, IS AND THIS IS THIS NOT A NEW GROUP, I MEAN THERE'S A NEW GROUP OF YOUNGER REPUBLICANS.

BUT THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A WHOLE A BIG GROUP OF OLD BLACK REPUBLICANS AND THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE UP UNTIL 1964 BLACK PEOPLE VOTE REPUBLICAN.

>> AND A VERY CONSERVATIVE GROUP.

A CONSERVATIVE MINDED GROUP.

>> YES, AND BLACK PEOPLE IN GENERAL HAVE BEEN CONSERVATIVE MINDED, THAT'S WHAT GOT US TO THE POINT THAT WE WERE.

BUT IN 1964 THAT'S WHEN THEY SIGNED THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL, AND IT WAS KIND OF A FLIP.

BUT THE TO ADDRESS THE OTHER PARTY OF YOUR POINT, ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK THAT'S REALLY BEING OVERLOOKED IS SOMETHING CALLED THE INDEPENDENTS, THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T REGISTER AS DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS.

AND THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE A BIG SWING VOTE RIGHT THERE.

SO YOU HAVE THE 74 MILLION PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP WHICH INCLUDED SOME INDEPENDENTS, AND YOU HAVE THESE CONGRESSMEN, BOTH IN THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE WHO ARE SUPPORTING AND TRYING TO FIGHT FOR THOSE VOTES BECAUSE THAT'S A LARGE BLOC OF VOTES, SO THEY WANT TO GET THOSE VOTES.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO CATER TO THOSE PEOPLE.

THEN YOU HAVE 81 MILLION PEOPLE WHICH ALSO INCLUDED A LOT OF INDEPENDENCE AND BLACKS AND YOU KNOW ALL THE DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHICS THAT ARE BEING CATERED TO BY THE DEMS BUT HERE'S THE THING.

EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO GET THEIR AGENDA PASSED.

AND WHEN YOU SEE A BLACK AGENDA, THERE'S MORE THAN ONE BLACK AGENDA.

>> WELL, THAT'S TRUE AS WELL, EXACTLY.

>> SO IT'S JUST HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THOSE DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCIES TO SEE THE COMMON GROUND BEFORE WE START FIGHTING OVER THE FRAGMENTS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THAT?

BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME BIG CORE COMMON GROUND THINGS WE REALLY NEED TO FIGHT FOR.

>> ABSOLUTELY CONTINUING CONVERSATIONS AND DEBATE AND JUST REALLY THAT NEED TO COME TOGETHER, BUT YOU KNOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT NATIONAL TOPICS TO HEAR SOMETHING HITTING A LITTLE CLOSER TO HOME THIS WEEK.

DURHAM BECAME ONE OF THE FIRST CITIES IN OUR STATE TO GIVE PEOPLE LEGAL PROTECTION AGAINST HAIR DISCRIMINATION.

THE NEW RULES BLOCK DISCRIMINATION BASED ON ANY HAIR STYLE TEXTURE OR TYPE THAT'S HISTORICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH RACE.

THE MOVE WAS PART OF A BROADER NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE AND DURHAM LEADERS HOPE OTHER CITIES AND COUNTIES IN THE STATE WILL FOLLOW THEIR LEAD.

I'M GOING TO GO TO YOU BREE BECAUSE WHEN I READ ABOUT THE ARTICLE,I MUST SAY YOU KNOW ARE PEOPLE STILL GETTING FIRED IN HAVING TO PAY CONSEQUENCES FOR THEIR HAIRSTYLE CHOICES, PARTICULARLY BLACK WOMEN?

>> OH ABSOLUTELY!

I MEAN 100%!

AND I THINK IT SHOULD GIVE EVERYONE PAUSE TO CONSIDER THAT WE ARE A 5TH OF THE WAY THROUGH THE 21ST CENTURY AND WE'RE STILL BEING POLICED FOR OUR HAIR, FOR THE HAIR THAT ACTUALLY GOES OUT OF OUR HEAD AS BLACK AMERICANS.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN THAT GOES STRAIGHT TO THE HEART OF STRUCTURAL RACISM AND THE WAYS THAT WE ARE POLICED AND CONSTANTLY DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, I'M GLAD TO SEE THIS IS BEING TAKEN UP WHERE AS AN ISSUE IN THE FACT THAT LEGISLATION IS BEING PASSED, BUT AGAIN WHEN YOU PUT THAT INTO CONTEXT WITH THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL SAYING, "IS RACE AN ISSUE IN THE COUNTRY?"

ARE PEOPLE MAKING COMMENTS LIKE POMPEO DID ABOUT MULTICULTURALISM?

I MEAN VERY CLEARLY THAT'S THE CASE OR ELSE THIS WOULD IT BE A DISCUSSION.

AND WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE TOO THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT DOES DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT BLACK WOMEN IN THIS SOCIETY.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN THAT JUST HAPPENED, IT'S BLACK WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN HIT THE HARDEST.

AND SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES HEAD ON I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO SWEEP IT UNDER THE RUG.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S A SINGLE BLACK WOMAN WHO IS WORKING WHO DOESN'T HAVE A STORY ABOUT HAIR IN THE WORKPLACE.

SO I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD.

>> AND TIM I JUST WANT TO KIND OF GO TO YOU BECAUSE YOUR FIELD IS A VERY VISIBLE FIELD AND YOU KNOW, I CAN CERTAINLY SPEAK TO IT, BUT I IMAGINE YOU HAVE COLLEAGUES WHO WOULD PROBABLY BE EXCITED ABOUT THIS COMING LEGISLATION.

>> OH ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN I HAVE COLLEAGUES THAT WEAR BRAIDS ON THE AIR.

BUT THERE WAS A PERIOD AND I KNOW DEBORAH, YOU CAN RELATE TO THIS THERE WAS A PERIOD IN OUR INDUSTRY WHERE YOU HAVE TO WEAR THE RELAXED HAIR, THAT YOU HAVE TO TAME IT, >> IT HAD TO BE STRAIGHT.

>> HAD TO BE STRAIGHT!

AND I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH COLLEAGUES THAT HAD TO GO AND MEET WITH THEIR BOSS TO SAY, "HEY, THIS IS HOW I WOULD LIKE TO WEAR MY HAIR.

IS THIS OK?"

SO I THINK THAT THIS GERMAN ORDINANCE IS GOOD, IT GOES INTO EFFECT IN JULY SO THAT EMPLOYERS CAN GET TIME TO PREPARE FOR THIS.

BUT IT JUST EMPHASIZES THE NEED FOR IT, ESPECIALLY -- THERE'S A DUKE PROFESSOR THAT DID RESEARCH ON THIS, AND SHE SAID THAT BLACK WOMEN ARE 1.5 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE SENT HOME BECAUSE OF THEIR HAIR.

ALL OF US HAVE BLACK MOTHERS AUNTS, COUSINS.

THIS IS A BIG ISSUE AND I CAN EVEN SPEAK TO MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

MY MOM, AT HER JOB SHE WEARS HEAD WRAPS.

BUT THAT BECAME AN ISSUE AT ONE POINT, BUT SHE HAD TO FIGHT TO CONTINUE TO WEAR THOSE HEAD WRAPS, SO THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.

AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE SEEING IT EXPAND IN NORTH CAROLINA.

>> ABSOLUTELY AN IMPORTANT ISSUE INDEED, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND ALL 3 OF YOU FOR COMING OUT.

I WANT TO THANK TODAY'S ROUNDTABLE BREE NEWSOME BASS, BRETT CHAMBERS, AND TIM PULLIAM.

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FOR BLACK ISSUES FORUM, I'M DEBORAH HOLT-NOEL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

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