♪ >> NEXT ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM, THE CHAUVIN TRIAL, WHAT'S AT STAKE AND WHAT'S AT PLAY.

OUR ROUNDTABLE WEIGHS IN ON THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL'S HIT IN POLITICS AND CIVIL RIGHTS, AND RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES AS APRIL FOCUSES ON AUTISM ACCEPTANCE.

STAY WITH US!

♪ >> HELLO EVERYONE, I'M DEBORAH HOLT-NOEL, WELCOME TO BLACK ISSUES FORUM.

AS THE SECOND WEEK WINDS UP IN THE TRIAL OF EX COP DEREK CHAUVIN, STRIKING WORDS FROM MINNEAPOLIS POLICE CHIEF MEDARIA ARRADONDO INTRODUCED AN UNHEARD OF CRACK IN THE BLUE WALL OF SILENCE.

>> CLEARLY WHEN MISTER FLOYD WAS NO LONGER RESPONSIVE AND EVEN MOTIONLESS TO CONTINUE TO APPLY THAT LEVEL OF FORCE TO A PERSON, PRONED OUT, HANDCUFFED BEHIND THEIR BACK, THAT IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM IS ANYTHING THAT IS BY POLICY, IS NOT PART OF OUR TRAINING AND IT IS CERTAINLY NOT PART OF OUR ETHICS OR OUR VALUES.

>> HOW DOES THIS TESTIMONY IMPACT THE TRAJECTORY OF THIS TRIAL?

I'D LIKE TO WELCOME JESSE MCCOY SUPERVISING ATTORNEY FOR DUKE CIVIL JUSTICE CLINIC.

JESSIE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US HERE ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM.

INDEED, HOW SIGNIFICANT IS IT THAT THIS POLICE CHIEF GAVE TESTIMONY THAT MIGHT IMPLICATE ONE OF HIS OWN POLICE OFFICERS?

>> THIS IS VERY SIGNIFICANT.

I THINK ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS ALWAYS EXPRESS IS THERE'S THIS PUSH TO SAY THERE ARE GOOD COPS AND WE KNOW ABOUT THE BLUE WALL OF SILENCE, WE KNOW THAT OFTEN TIMES IT IS NOT VERY POPULAR FOR AN OFFICER TO TESTIFY.

BUT IN THIS CASE, WE HAVE NOT JUST ANY OFFICER, BUT A CHIEF AND SOMEONE WHO HAS RISEN THROUGH THE RANKS VERY SUCCESSFULLY TESTIFYING AGAINST OFFICER CHAUVIN TO SAY THAT HE HAD NO TRAINING NO EXPERIENCE AND NO NEED TO APPLY THE KIND OF PRESSURE THAT HE NEEDED THAT HE DID TO GEORGE FLOYD.

>> CAN YOU SHARE WITH US IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS AT STAKE IN THE OUTCOME OF THIS TRIAL?

WE'VE GOT THE DEFENSE ARGUMENT AND THEN WE'VE GOT THE PROSECUTION'S ARGUMENT.

WHAT ARE THOSE ARGUMENTS AND WHAT'S AT STAKE?

>> SO WHAT'S AT STAKE IN THIS TRIAL IS VERY DEEP.

I LOOK AT IT FROM A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT LEVELS.

I THINK AT THE MOST BASIC LEVEL WE'RE LOOKING AT THE RECOGNITION OF THE VALUE OF BLACK LIFE, WHICH IS KIND OF WHAT THIS ENTIRE CASE SPURNED LAST SUMMER.

WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN OUR SYSTEM OF POLICING IN GENERAL TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT WE ACTUALLY ARE DOING WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO, AND WHETHER OR NOT WHEN OFFICERS STEP OUT OF LINE FROM WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO, THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY DEGREE OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

ULTIMATELY I THINK THAT THE PIT IN YOUR STOMACH THAT YOU FEEL WHEN YOU SEE THE AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE, I CALL IT, THERE'S EYEWITNESSES FOR DAYS, THERE'S MEDICAL EXAMINERS THERE ARE DOCTORS, THERE'S OTHER OFFICERS TESTIFYING.

IN MY EXPERIENCE I HAV NOT SEEN THE WORK WITH THIS MANY WITNESSES TAKING PART AND IF ALL OF THIS PLUS SOME VIDEO DOESN'T RENDER A CONVICTION, THEN I THINK THE CONCERN FOR THE COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BE THAT OUR LIVES DON'T MATTER.

>> LET'S GET DOWN TO WHAT IT IS THAT THE DEFENSE IS TRYING TO CONVINCE THE THE JURY OF AND WHAT THE PROSECUTION IS TRYING TO SAY.

NOW WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF TESTIMONY ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF DRUGS IN GEORGE FLOYD'S SYSTEM.

WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO SAY?

>> SO WHAT THE DEFENSE WAS INITIALLY TRYING TO DO WAS THEY WERE INITIALLY TRYING TO ESTABLISH THAT THERE WAS A REASON FOR THE NEED TO EXERCISE FORCE.

THE HARD PART IS THAT EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD HAS SEEN THE VIDEO.

SO WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO IS THEY HAVE TO CONTRADICT THE VIDEO BY GIVING YOU ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT THE VIDEO MAY NOT PICK UP.

ONE SUCH PIECE OF INFORMATION IS IF THEY ARE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY SHOW THE JURY THAT HE WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF SOME KIND OF DRUG THAT MAY BE THAT INFLUENCE CREATED A SITUATION WHERE HE BECAME COMBATIVE OR HE BECAME AGGRESSIVE, SO AS THE OFFICER, THAT WOULD GIVE RISE TO THE OFFICERS BEING ABLE TO EXERT A GREATER DEGREE OF FORCE.

HOWEVER, HOW WHAT WE ALSO KNOW IS THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO I HAVE DEALT WITH DRUG-RELATED ISSUES.

THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ARRESTED OR AT LEAST BEEN CONFRONTED WITHOUT BEING MURDERED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND WE ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE POLICE WERE INITIALLY CALLED FOR AN ALLEGED FORGERY OR A COUNTERFEIT $20 BILL THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE INVESTIGATING.

SO THE FACT THAT THIS RISES TO THE LEVEL OF A MURDER WHILE IN POLICE CUSTODY IS SOMETHING THAT STRAYS VERY FAR FROM THE NORM.

>> SO EITHER WAY THIS OUTCOME IS WHAT DOES THAT SAY FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT THE FAULT WAS THE POLICE OFFICERS AND EITHER WAY IT GOES WHAT DOES IT SAY FOR PEOPLE WHO SAY GEORGE FLOYD WAS KILLED INTENTIONALLY?

>> WELL THE HARD PART ABOUT THIS CASE IS AGAIN, WE'VE ALL SEEN THE VIDEO AND I KNOW VIDEO ISN'T THE END ALL BE ALL WHEN IT COMES TO COURT EVIDENCE, >> THAT'S CERTAINLY IS WHAT THE DEFENSE IS SAYING IS THAT YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE VIDEO HERE.

BUT WHAT YOU DON'T SEE, IS WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE THE VIDEO AND THE CONDITION OF GEORGE FLOYD ON THE INSIDE.

THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE NOT SEEING.

>> WELL, THE INTERESTING THING IS THEY PRESENTED ENOUGH VIDEO TESTIMONY, THEY BEING THE STATE, PRESENTED ENOUGH VIDEO TESTIMONY THAT WE'VE COVERED THIS INCIDENT FROM THE FIRST INTERACTION WITH GEORGE FLOYD AND POLICE, WE'VE GOT IT FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES AND DIFFERENT STREET CORNERS WITH DIFFERENT OFFICERS BODY CAMS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE SOMETHING VERY TELLING WE HAD SEVERAL, ABOUT NINE EYE WITNESSES.

PEOPLE OF VARIOUS AGES AS YOUNG AS 9 WHO NOW HAVE TO CARRY THAT TRAUMA OF SEEING ANOTHER HUMAN BEING MURDERED IN FRONT OF THEM INTO THEIR FUTURE.

AND SO FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS TESTIFIED, THEY HAVE CONTRIBUTED PRETTY CONSISTENT INFORMATION IN SUPPORT OF THE STATE'S POSITION.

AND SO WE HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT THE DEFENSE DOES IF ANYTHING IF THEY DECIDE TO PUT OFFICER CHAUVIN ON THE STAND TO TESTIFY, I DOUBT THEY WILL.

BUT WE HAVE TO SEE KIND OF WHAT THE THEORY IS GOING TO BE.

FROM THEIR QUESTIONING SO FAR IT SEEMS TO TRY TO DIMINISH OFFICER CHAUVIN'S ACTIONS BY TRYING TO SOMEHOW VILLAINIZE GEORGE FLOYD, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW SUCCESSFUL THAT IS RIGHT NOW.

>> WELL, THE OUTCOME IS YET TO COME.

JESSE MCCOY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> LIKE IT OR NOT, SPORTS, POLITICS, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ARE INEXTRICABLY LINKED.

LAST WEEK GEORGIA PASSED NEW VOTER LAWS THAT DREW CRITICISM FROM 72 BLACK EXECUTIVES AND NEARLY 200 COMPANIES.

THEY SAID THE NEW LAWS IMPOSE NEEDLESS RESTRICTIONS TO THE BALLOT BOX, ESPECIALLY FOR BLACK VOTERS.

A DAY LATER, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL DECIDED TO PULL THE ALL-STAR GAMES OUT OF ATLANTA, AND THE MOVE HAS DRAWN PRAISE AND CRITICISM.

JOINING US RIGHT NOW IS THIS WEEK'S ROUND TABLE I'D LIKE TO WELCOME PATRICK HANNA, HEAD OF THE CORPORATE ROUNDTABLE FOR THE NATIONAL BLACK CAUCUS OF STATE LEGISLATORS, ADDUL ALI, CHAIRMAN OF NORTH CAROLINA CONSERVATIVE VOICES, AND LA'MESHIA WHITTINGTON WITH ADVANCE CAROLINA.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

LET ME JUST START WITH YOU, ADDUL.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE DECISION OF THE MLB WHO STRUCK OUT, WHO WON, WHO THAT A HOME RUN IN THIS DECISION IN YOUR OPINION?

>> SO I THINK YOU KNOW FIRST AND FOREMOST I DON'T THINK THEY CONSIDERED THE IMPACT TO BLACK BUSINESSES IN ATLANTA AND THE BOOM THAT THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN.

WE'RE ALREADY YOU KNOW SUFFERING THROUGH PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS SO I DON'T THINK THEY REALLY THOUGHT THIS ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND THE IMPACT THAT IT WAS GOING TO HAVE ONE BLACK BUSINESSES AND FROM WHAT I'M HEARING ON THE GROUND A LOT OF FOLKS JUST WANT TO WATCH BASKETBALL, THEY WANT TO WATCH BASEBALL, THEY WANT TO WATCH FOOTBALL.

THEY DON'T WANT THEIR POLITICS IN THEIR SPORT, SO FOR ME WHERE I SAID I THINK IT'S JUST AN ALL AROUND STRIKEOUT BAD MOVE.

>> WELL, WHAT'S PARTICULARLY INTERESTING IS THE FACT THAT STACY ABRAMS WHO IS A STRONG ADVOCATE CERTAINLY A VOTING ACCESS AND VOTER RIGHTS SHE HAS COME OUT TO SAY EVEN THOUGH SHE RECOGNIZES AND APPRECIATES THE MLB'S MOVE, SHE IS HOPING THAT THEY'LL CHANGE THEIR MIND REVERSE THAT DECISION BECAUSE IT DOES DAMAGE BLACK BUSINESSES IN HER OPINION LA'MESHIA WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT?

>> WE HAVE TO RELY ON THE VOICES OF THE COMMUNITY WHERE THE IMPACT LIES THE MOST, AND SO WITH THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND PROXIMITY IN ATLANTA, DECATUR, NORCROSS, AND OTHER AREAS OF PROXIMITY TO THE STADIUM WILL BE IMPACTED THEN WE HAVE TO SIDE WITH THE VOICES OF THE IMPACTED.

WE'VE SEEN THAT ACROSS THE NATION DIFFERENT FEELINGS ON BOTH SIDES RIGHT, THE FACT THAT THIS IS A PREDOMINANT INDUSTRY WHERE VIEWERS ARE MOSTLY CONSERVATIVE IN THEIR POLITICS LEANING.

MOST OF THE PLAYERS PROFESSIONALLY ARE MOSTLY WHITE NOT BLACK, ONLY 8% OF THE PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS IN MLB ARE BLACK.

SO WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT AN INDUSTRY THAT HAS CHOSEN SUCH AN HISTORICAL REVOLUTIONARY BOYCOTT, IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE AN INDUSTRY THAT FINALLY IS GETTING BACK TO THE VERY BASE THAT WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED THIS VERY BILL.

SO IT DOES GO TO SAY NATIONALLY, AND FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY WE CAN SAY WITHOUT BEING IMPACTED THIS IS HELPFUL RIGHT, THIS IS HISTORIC, THAT SUCH A BOYCOTT IS HAPPENING BECAUSE IT SHOULD BE ON THE BURDEN OF THE OPPRESSOR AND NOT THE OPPRESSED TO HAVE TO SUFFER THROUGH NOT SEEING THEIR FAVORITE INDUSTRY.

BUT IF THIS IMPACTS BLACK COMMUNITY WE NEED TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK NOT JUST AT THE HISTORIC SYMBOLISM.

BUT WE NEED TO SEE HOW IT REALLY IMPACTS BUSINESSES BLACK BUSINESSES ON THE GROUND AND RALLY BEHIND OUR FOLKS TO SUPPORT THEM.

>> PATRICK WAS THIS A HOME RUN OR STRIKEOUT?

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN IT COMES TO BUSINESSES TAKING A STAND FIRST OF ALL THE 72 EXECUTIVES WHO SIGNED THAT LETTER AND THEN FOLLOWING THAT NEARLY 200 COMPANIES.

TAKING A STAND TO TRY TO INFLUENCE POLITICS.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT TAKING THAT STAND AND ABOUT THE RECENT DECISION OF THE MLB?

>> YES, IT'S A GOOD QUESTION AND I THINK IT REALLY AS YOU JUST HEARD FROM OUR PREVIOUS 2 SPEAKERS IS THAT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK.

THE IRONY IN THIS IS WE ARE IN A TRANSFORMATIONAL PERIOD IN OUR COUNTRY.

THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME WE'VE SEEN THIS WE REMEMBER THIS THING CALLED HOUSE BILL 2 HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA WHEN THE ALL-STAR GAME WAS TAKEN OUT OF NORTH CAROLINA AS A RESULT OF THAT BILL.

SO THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAPPENED, SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE SHORT MEMORIES, BUT I THINK THAT GEORGIA'S BENCHMARKING OFF OF WHAT HAPPENED HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE HERE BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL BLACK CAUCUS OF STATE LEGISLATORS, STATE REPRESENTATIVE BILLY MITCHELL FROM THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

AND SO SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FROM A STANDPOINT OF HOW THIS IMPACTS THE BLACK COMMUNITY IS REALLY ABOUT SPONSORSHIP.

IT'S BIGGER THAN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND WHAT LOCAL BUSINESSES OR HOW THEY ARE IMPACTED NOT THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE OR SHOULD BE BUT THAT'S REALLY HOW THEY LOOK AT THIS FROM THE STANDPOINT OF CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS AND A LOT OF THE COMPANIES ARE UNDER IMMENSE PRESSURE, PRESSURE FROM THEIR EMPLOYEES.

YOU KNOW WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CORPORATE VALUES AND THIS SOCIAL NETWORK COMMUNITY WE HAVE TODAY, A LOT OF YOUNG EMPLOYEES WANT TO KNOW WHERE COMPANY STAND AS RELATES TO VOTING RIGHTS AND ISSUES THAT MAY NOT BE GERMANE TO THE CORE VALUE TO THE CORE BUSINESS OPERATIONS.

SO IT'S A UNIQUE TIME FOR CORPORATE AMERICA TO LEAN IN THIS SPACE BUT I THINK SOME OF THOSE THINGS WE'RE SEEING IN GEORGIA WITH MLB IS DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO WHAT WE WITNESSED HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

>> ABSOLUTELY AND YOU'RE RIGHT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE TODAY ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT THEIR BUSINESS IS POLITICS ARE.

ADDUL, WHERE DO YOU SEPARATE THE INTEREST IN ENSURING DEMOCRACY FROM BUSINESS?

SURELY DEMOCRACY IS A BUSINESS INTEREST.

>> I THINK CAPITALISM IS DEFINITELY A BIG PART OF THAT AND LOOK AS A CONSERVATIVE I'M PRO CAPITALISM.

SO, YOU KNOW ANY MOVE THAT MAKES SOUND SENSE FOR BUSINESS ON THE GROUND IS GOOD.

BUT I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE IRONY OF TAKING THAT FROM GEORGIA AND PUTTING IT INTO COLORADO WHOSE LAWS ARE SIMILAR IF NOT MORE AIR FINGER QUOTE RESTRICTIVE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST AGAIN I THINK IT'S A BAD IDEA TO SET THE PRECEDENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO IMPACT POLICY OVER SOMETHING YOU KNOW THAT WE DEFINITELY, AT LEAST FROM WHAT I'M SEEING THE VOTER LAWS WHERE THEY'RE MOVING THE GAME ARE SIMILAR.

SO I JUST I DON'T SEE HOW THIS HAS A POSITIVE IMPACT.

WHO ARE THEY SELLING THIS TO IS THE QUESTION.

WHO IS THIS FOR?

LIKE I SAID IN THE BEGINNING A LOT OF FOLKS JUST WANT TO WATCH THEIR SPORTS.

THEY DON'T REALLY WANT THE POLITICS IN THEIR SPORTS.

I'M A BIG BASKETBALL FAN, AND I DON'T LIKE POLITICS IN MY BASKETBALL.

SO IT'S A FINE LINE THAT HAS TO BE DRAWN, BUT I AGREE WITH THE BROTHER SAID, COMPANIES, ESPECIALLY WORKERS WANT TO KNOW WHERE THEIR COMPANY STAND ON THESE ISSUES.

SO IN THAT REGARD, I THINK THEY KNOW NOW WHERE MLB STANDS ON THIS ISSUE.

>> THEY CERTAINLY DO AND YOU KNOW YOU DON'T LIKE YOUR POLITICS WITH YOUR SPORTS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF TIMES IT COMES ALONG WITH IT AND RIGHT NOW.

BIG NEWS IN ACC SPORTS LAST WEEK UNC BASKETBALL COACH AND HALL OF FAMER ROY WILLIAMS ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT.

4 DAYS LATER HISTORY WAS MADE WITH THE NAMING OF HUBERT DAVIS AS HIS REPLACEMENT, AND THE FIRST BLACK HEAD COACH OF THE MEN'S BASKETBALL PROGRAM.

IT'S IN ITS 111 YEAR HISTORY.

AT HIS FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE HE ADDRESSED A REPORTER'S QUESTION ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HIM HOLDING THAT DISTINCTION AS A FIRST.

>> IT IS SIGNIFICANT, STEVE IT'S SIGNIFICANT THAT AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND I'M THE HEAD COACH HERE.

IT'S SIGNIFICANT.

I KNOW THAT IN TERMS OF DIVISION ONE HEAD COACHES ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY, ONLY 26% OF THE HEAD COACHES FOR DIVISION, ONE MEN'S BASKETBALL ARE COMPROMISED BY MINORITIES, SPECIFICALLY AFRICAN-AMERICANS I KNOW THAT IT IS SIGNIFICANT THAT I'M FOURTH AFRICAN-AMERICAN HEAD COACH IN ANY SPORT IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, I'M VERY PROUD TO BE AFRICAN-AMERICAN BUT I'M ALSO VERY PROUD THAT MY WIFE IS WHITE.

AND I'M VERY PROUD THAT MY 3 BEAUTIFUL UNBELIEVABLE KIDS ARE A COMBINATION OF BOTH OF US.

>> WELL, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT HE RECOGNIZES THE SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPORTANCE OF BEING THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN IN THIS POSITION, PATRICK.

HOW IMPORTANT WOULD YOU SAY IS THIS IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT WHO IS IN LEADERSHIP IN MEN'S BASKETBALL AND IN SPORTS RIGHT NOW.

>> WELL FIRST OF ALL, LET'S JUST SAY CONGRATULATIONS COACH DAVIS.

I MEAN I THINK THE WEEKEND ALL GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THAT HE HAS JUST ACHIEVED BECAUSE IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW A COACH TO LEAD AT THE UNIVERSITY'S BASKETBALL TEAM THAT EVERYONE KNOWS AROUND THE WORLD.

BUT I THINK THE REALITY IS LET'S FIRST OF ALL TAKE A STEP BACK.

DOES HE HAVE THE SKILLS AND CAPABILITIES TO DO THE JOB?

RIGHT?

REGARDLESS OF WHETHER HE'S BLACK OR WHITE, IS HE QUALIFIED?

HE PLAYED IN THE NBA FOR OVER 10 YEARS.

HE IS A FORMER U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM PLAYER AND GUESS WHAT HE'S BEEN ASSISTANT COACH SINCE 2012, SO I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE DIDN'T SEE HIM ON THE SIDELINES FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS, BUT IT'S NOT LIKE HE JUST CAME OUT OF NOWHERE, SO I THINK WE NEED TO FIRST RECOGNIZE, WE NEED TO CONGRATULATE HIM, WE NEED TO SUPPORT HIM, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE RECOGNIZE HE DOES HAVE THE SKILLS AND CAPABILITIES TO DO THE JOB AND HE IS RECOGNIZING THE HISTORICAL MOMENT THAT HE HAS JUST ACHIEVED SO ALL THOSE THINGS CONSIDERED, HUBERT, CONGRATULATIONS WE'RE PROUD OF YOU.

AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY CAN DO TO SUPPORT YOU JUST LET US KNOW.

>> ABSOLUTELY AND ADDUL I THINK YOU WOULD PROBABLY AGREE IT'S THE QUALIFICATION AND PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW BASKETBALL KNOW THAT HE'S PRETTY MUCH BEEN GROOMED FOR THIS.

>> BUT LOOK I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW PROUD AT LEAST I AM OF THE FACT THAT HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA WE'RE CONTINUING TO BREAK BARRIERS LIKE THAT, I MEAN, ALL POLITICS ASIDE THIS TELLS EVERY AFRICAN AMERICAN BASKETBALL PLAYER, KID THAT WANTS TO BE A COACH THAT THEY CAN DO IT, THEY CAN ACHIEVE IT, AND THEY CAN LIVE OUT THEIR DREAMS AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT HE POINTED OUT HE'S IN A BIRACIAL RELATIONSHIP.

YOU CAN STILL BE ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE IN OUR CAUSE AND LOVE WHO YOU LOVE AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

SO LIKE THE BROTHER SAID CONGRATS TO THE COACH.

>> CONGRATULATIONS AND IT DID RAISE EYEBROWS WHEN HE MADE THAT STATEMENT, BUT I THINK THAT WHAT YOU STATED ABOUT KIND OF THE INTENTION BEHIND PUTTING THAT OUT THERE IT GOT A LITTLE MUDDIED.

LA'MESHIA DO YOU REMEMBER HEARING THE COMMENT?

>> OH YES, I MEAN, THE BLACK COMMUNITY, WE PRIVATELY ARE TORN BETWEEN OUR FEELINGS OF CELEBRATION OF HISTORY BEING MADE AND ALSO JUST WANTING A MOMENT NOT TO BE DILUTED.

I AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS STATEMENTS AROUND COACH DAVIS' ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CONGRATULATIONS TO A LONG TRAJECTORY AS A STUDENT.

WHAT HE ACCOMPLISHED WITH 2 ACC CHAMPIONSHIPS AT UNC.

HE'S COMING BACK TO HIS ROOTS.

SO IT'S PROLIFIC TO SEE THAT HE'S HOME.

BUT LET'S LOOK AT SYSTEMATIC INEQUALITIES.

SYSTEMIC INEQUALITIES SAYS THAT ONLY 4 BLACK COACHES IN THE HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA HAVE BEEN OVER MAJOR UNC SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

HE'S THE FIRST UNC CHAPEL HILL.

OKAY, THE HISTORY IS WHAT IS ELEVATED HERE THAT IT IS ALREADY INEQUALITY THAT HE'S THE FIRST ALREADY A BURDEN THAT HE HAS TO BEAR AND NOW IT'S THE ARGUMENT OF RACIAL IDENTITY.

POLITICS, TO SAY IS HE QUALIFIED FOR THE JOB, YES, BUT THEN TO THAT STATEMENT THAT HAS OUR COMMUNITY TORN, I KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT PRIVATELY, BUT HERE'S THE THING WE DON'T DISREGARD OF THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING AND RECOGNIZING YOUR WIFE YOUR CHILDREN BUT THAT MOMENT WAS ECLIPSED BY TRAUMA.

AND I WILL NAME IT AS A PROFESSOR AND SOMEONE WHO STUDIES INEQUALITIES, THE TRAUMA OF NOT BEING ABLE TO HOLD THAT HISTORY IN PLACE AND BE THE FIRST, BE THE FOURTH, BUT HAVING TO ECLIPSE IT BY NOT JUST SAYING THANK YOU TO THE WIFE, THANK YOU TO HIS CHILDREN, IS JUST SAYING THAT IN THIS MOMENT, HIS CHILDREN WITH MIXED IDENTITIES COULD ALSO SEE THE CELEBRATION OF BLACKNESS IN THIS MOMENT AND WHY WAS THAT MOMENT ECLIPSED THAT WE HAVE THOSE QUESTIONS.

WE SUPPORT HIM WE'RE BEHIND HIM, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE HIM HERE, BACK.

TO LEAD US INTO THE NEXT ACC CHAMPIONSHIPS.

>> WELL STATED.

LA'MESHIA WHITTINGTON ADDUL ALI, PATRICK HANNAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> APRIL IS AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH.

IT'S A SHIFT FROM THE TERM "“AUTISM AWARENESS"” TO HELP FOSTER CHANGE AND INCLUSIVITY FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY AUTISM.

JOINING US NOW IS A RALEIGH MOM WITH AN ADULT SON WHO WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM AT AGE 3.

PEBBLES FARRAR, WELCOME TO BLACK ISSUES FORUM.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME DEBORAH.

>> PEBBLES WHEN YOU FIRST DISCOVERED THAT YOUR CHILD HAD AUTISM, WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT SERVICES WERE AVAILABLE TO YOU AND YOU KNOW, HOW DID YOU DISCOVER THIS?

>> DEFINITELY THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I BELIEVE EARLY DETECTION IS DEFINITELY A STRATEGY AND PROVIDING THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE REMEDIATIONA AND SUPPORT.

SO FOR HIS AGE HE WAS ACTUALLY UNDER 3 YEARS OF AGE, IT WAS THE EARLY INTERVENTION NC INFANT PROGRAM THAT YOU CAN GO TO AND THEY WILL HELP KIND OF FROM BIRTH TO 3 YEARS OF AGE, THEY WILL DIAGNOSE THE CHILD BASED OFF OF THE DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES AND BASED OFF OF THEIR PERFORMANCE OR LACK THEREOF OR DEFICIENCIES THEY WILL FIRST CLASSIFY THE CHILD AS BEING DEVELOPMENTALLY DELAYED.

UNTIL THEY BECOME AGE OF 10, IS WHEN THEY DO THE OFFICIAL DIAGNOSIS OF AUTISM SOMEWHERE ON THE SPECTRUM IF THEY CONTINUE TO HAVE PERVASIVE SYMPTOMS.

>> WELL AS YOU SAID, EARLY DIAGNOSIS IS KEY AND THERE'S ACTUALLY SOME RESEARCH FROM THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH HAS SHOWN THAT BLACK CHILDREN ARE 19% LESS LIKELY AND HISPANIC CHILDREN, 65% LESS LIKELY THAN WHITE CHILDREN TO BE DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM.

HOW DOES MANAGING A SON OR DAUGHTER WITH AUTISM PLAY OUT DIFFERENTLY PERHAPS FOR FAMILIES OF COLOR PEBBLES?

>> ESPECIALLY I CAN SPEAK TO THIS WITH A LOT OF CLARITY.

JUST LOOKING BACK AND REFLECTING, FOR ME AS A BLACK MOM AND MY HUSBAND, I BELIEVE IF IT WASN'T FOR EARLY DETECTION, AND JUST ME BEING UNAWARE, NOW AT THIS TIME I WAS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER AND I WAS TRAINED IN EARLY EDUCATION AS WELL SO I WAS ABLE TO DETECT THE EARLY MILESTONES OF WHEN MY CHILD WAS MISSING THOSE MILE MARKERS.

SO FOR THAT AWARENESS, I THINK THAT WAS BUILT INTO MY EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND, BUT NOT EVERYONE HAS THAT TRAINING SO IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE DEPENDING ON IF THAT CHILD IS IN AN EARLY PRESCHOOL PROGRAM AND EARLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THOSE TEACHERS ARE DETECTING DIFFICULTIES IN THAT CHILD REGARDING IF IT'S THEIR SOCIAL BEHAVIOR, THE BEHAVIOR OR THE INTELLECT OR THEIR SPEECH ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE.

SO FOR THE HISPANIC AND BLACK BLACK COMMUNITIES I WOULD SEE THIS IS BEING A BIG CONCERN BECAUSE OFTEN TIMES I THINK THE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES AND HOW WE RELATE AND HOW WE COMMUNICATE AND JUST BEHAVIORS AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BOYS AND GIRLS MAY CLOUD THAT PICTURE KIND OF HARD TO TEASE IT APART, EVEN THOUGH AUTISM IN ITSELF SHOULDN'T BE ANY DIFFERENT ACROSS THE MULTI CULTURAL GROUPS OR ETHNIC GROUPS IT PRESENTS ITSELF IN THE SAME WAY.

THERE IS A KNOWN DISPARITY WHEN IT COMES TO BEING DIAGNOSED AT AN EARLY AGE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.

>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE RESOURCES THAT YOU FOUND VALUABLE AND SOME THAT YOU APPEAR TO BE CREATING YOURSELF TO HELP OTHER FAMILIES WHO HAVE CHILDREN WITH AUTISM.

>> YES, SO DEFINITELY I HAD TO REALLY GO WITHIN DEEP, AT FIRST, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR RESOURCES TO OUTSOURCE.

LOOKING FOR SPEECH, LOOKING FOR BEHAVIORAL THERAPY AS YOU'RE LOOKING FOR DAY CENTERS OR PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE THE INTELLECTUAL STIMULATION, OF COURSE YOU HAVE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM YOU CAN GO THROUGH GET AN IUP INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN TO SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

YOU CAN GO THROUGH THE MEDICAID THE STATE WAY AND TRY TO GET ADDITIONAL FUNDING THROUGH THEIR INNOVATION WAIVER PROGRAM WHICH HAS A LONG WAITING LIST, REQUIRES DIFFERENT TESTING TO BE DONE, AND OFTENTIMES THE SLOTS ARE JUST NOT AVAILABLE THERE ARE CHILDREN WHO ARE WAITING UP TO 7 YEARS TO GET SOME OF THESE SERVICES, SO WHEN I START NOTICING THAT THERE WAS A COMMUNICATION DELAY WITHIN THE SYSTEM, I HAD TO START BEING INNOVATIVE MYSELF.

SO I START LEANING ON MY RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY MY CHURCH FAMILY.

MY CHILDREN WENT THERE, THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE SOCIALIZATION, THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE BEHAVIOR, THE CHILDREN THERE WE'RE INCLUSIVE.

THEY INCLUDED HIM IN THE PARTICIPATION OF ACTIVITIES.

I RELIED ON MY FAMILY I COMMUNICATED THE NEEDS THAT I HAVE AS A MOM.

I HAVE FRIENDS I HAD THEIR CHILDREN WE ALWAYS CREATED OPPORTUNITIES FOR PLAY DATES AND TIMES FOR SOCIALS SO REALLY SUBMERGED HIM IN THOSE ENVIRONMENTS.

I USED TO GET BEHIND HIM AND HELP HIM TO PLAY FUNCTIONALLY IF IT WAS BUILDING BLOCKS AND THIS GREY AND PINK.

>> PEBBLES I THINK THAT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU OUTLINED THAT YOU'VE DONE, I WOULD IMAGINE OTHER PARENTS CAN BORROW FROM THAT AS WELL AS SOME OF THE RESOURCES THAT YOU MENTIONED, AND I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT INFORMATION ONCE AGAIN.

PEBBLES FARRAR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

ONCE AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF TODAY'S GUESTS.

WE INVITE YOU TO REACH OUT TO US TWITTER OR INSTAGRAM USING THE HASHTAG "NC BLACK ISSUES".

YOU CAN ALSO FIND OUR FULL EPISODES ON PBSNC.ORG/BLACKISSUESFORUM OR LISTEN AT ANY TIME WITH OUR PODCAST SERIES ON APPLE ITUNES OR SPOTIFY.

I'M DEBORAH HOLT NOEL.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

♪ >> QUALITY PUBLIC TELEVISION IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF VIEWERS LIKE YOU WHO INVITE YOU TO JOIN THEM IN SUPPORTING PBSNC.