>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON": ANOTHER DAY OF HEADACHES AND WEBSITE CRASHES AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF NEWLY ELIGIBLE PEOPLE RUSHED TO SIGN UP FOR A VACCINE IN MASSACHUSETTS, BUT OVERALL THE STATE'S MANAGED TO RECOVER SOME FROM THE "F" GRADE IT GOT LAST WEEK FROM THE HARVARD BELFER CENTER'S GRAHAM ALLISON.

HE JOINS ME WITH AN UPDATE.

PLUS, A LOOK AT THREE GENERATIONS OF BOSTON'S METCO PROGRAM IN THE NEW DOCUMENT "CODESWITCHING: RACE AND IDENTITY IN THE SUBURBAN SCHOOLHOUSE."

THE FILM'S CO-PRODUCER, A FORMER METCO STUDENT, JOINS ME.

THEN, LATER, A FEW VIRTUAL MEETING TIPS PEOPLE APPARENTLY STILL NEED, DESPITE 11 MONTHS ON ZOOM.

AND, FINALLY, SOME OF WHAT YOU'VE BEEN SENDING IN.

>>> WHEN GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER ANNOUNCED THE STATE WAS EXPANDING VACCINE ELIGIBILITY YESTERDAY, HE WARNED THERE WOULDN'T BE ENOUGH APPOINTMENTS FOR ALL ONE MILLION PEOPLE 65 AND OLDER, OR WITH TWO CO-MORBIDITIES, TO REGISTER RIGHT AWAY.

BUT WHEN IT CAME TO TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES, BAKER ASSURED EVERYONE THE STATE WAS READY.

>> Governor: I THINK THE WEBSITE WILL BE IN GOOD SHAPE FOR THIS.

>> Braude: AS IT TURNED OUT, HE WAS WRONG.

THE WEBSITE CRASHED, SHOWING VARIOUS ERROR MESSAGES FOR HOURS AND DELAYING THE NEW APPOINTMENTS FROM BEING ADDED TO AT LEAST SOME MASS VACCINATION SITES UNTIL AFTER NOON.

AND WHEN THE GOVERNOR JOINED US TODAY ON "BOSTON PUBLIC RADIO," HE WAS FRUSTRATED, AS WELL.

>> Governor: MY HAIR'S ON FIRE ABOUT THE WHOLE THING.

I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW PISSED OFF I AM.

PEOPLE DID A LOT OF WORK, BUT CLEARLY THEY DIDN'T DO ENOUGH.

I'M GOING TO WORK VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> Braude: THERE WERE ALSO SEVERAL REPORTS OF PEOPLE GETTING DISCONNECTED FROM THE STATE'S VACCINE CALL CENTER THIS MORNING.

ALL IN ALL, THE WHOLE THING FELT A LOT LIKE SHADES OF THE ROLLOUT FOR THE 75 AND OLDER VACCINES.

AND, AS STATE REP BILL DRISCOLL TWEETED THIS MORNING, "THE LIST OF QUESTIONS FOR THE VACCINE ROLLOUT OVERSIGHT HEARING GETS LONGER BY THE DAY."

THE REPRESENTATIVE IS REFERRING THERE TO A SERIES OF HEARINGS STATE LEGISLATORS ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY TO LOOK INTO WHAT'S GONE WRONG IN THE STATE'S ROLLOUT AND WHAT THE PLANS ARE TO FIX IT, WITH THE FIRST HEARING SET A WEEK FROM TODAY, BEFORE A JOINT COMMITTEE.

SEEMS A BIT LATE TO ME, BUT NEVERTHELESS.

OF COURSE, GOVERNOR BAKER HAS BEEN WORKING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE TOP COMPLAINTS, INCLUDING ADDING ASTHMA TO THE STATE'S LIST OF QUALIFYING CO-MORBIDITIES YESTERDAY AND LAYING OUT A NEW PLAN TO REACH PEOPLE IN THE MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.

AND WHILE CASE RATES AND DEATHS HAVE GONE DOWN, VACCINATION RATES HAVE GONE UP, PUTTING MASSACHUSETTS IN 24th PLACE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN AT LEAST ONE DOSE OF THE VACCINE PER CAPITA, UP FROM 42nd LAST WEEK.

AND THOSE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE HELPED RAISE THE STATE'S GRADE QUITE LITERALLY.

LAST WEEK A HARVARD PROFESSOR GAVE THE STATE AN "F" FOR ITS ROLLOUT, CITING HIGH DEATH RATES AND A STUMBLING EFFORT TO GET SHOTS IN ARMS.

NOW THE STATE IS GETTING A "C" IN THAT SAME ANALYSIS.

I'M JOINED BY THE MAN BEHIND THOSE REPORT CARDS, GRAHAM ALLISON, FORMER ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, THE FOUNDING DEAN OF HARVARD'S KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT, AND FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY'S BELFER SENATOR FOR SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, WHERE HE'S NOW A PROFESSOR.

>> Braude: GRAHAM ALLISON, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU.

>> Braude: SO, WE OBVIOUSLY IMPROVED WEEK TO WEEK, WHAT DID WE DO DIFFERENTLY IN THE LAST WEEK THAN WHAT WE DID BEFORE?

>> I HAVE NOT REALLY MADE A DETAILED STUDY, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.

I THINK THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT GOVERNOR BAKER IS TAKING MORE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE RESULTS.

OUR PURPOSE IN PUTTING TOGETHER THIS REPORT CARD WAS TO TRY TO HELP US IN A MORE INTELLIGIBLE FASHION TO SEE HOW MASSACHUSETTS IS DOING RELATIVE TO THE 49 OTHER STATES THAT ARE FACING A QUITE SIMILAR PROBLEM.

IT WASN'T WITH ANY -- IT WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE, CALLING THE FACTS, YOU KNOW, FACTS, BUT RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

IN MASSACHUSETTS, A NUMBER OF DEATHS PER CAPITA IS OUT OF SIGHT COMPARED TO MANY OTHER STATES.

THOSE ARE HUMAN BEINGS, MANY OF THEM OUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES OR COLLEAGUES, WHO ARE NOT WITH US ANYMORE.

AND THE PIECE THAT I THINK IS THE MOST PAINFUL IS -- HAS BEEN THE FRUSTRATION, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE CLIP YOU DID, ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE'S 300,000 DOSES ON THE SHELF RIGHT NOW, TODAY, RATHER THAN IN PEOPLE'S ARMS.

DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE?

NO, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW -- > SO I THINK THE NOTION OF THE GOVERNOR AND THEN HIS TEAM TAKING PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR RESULTS AND WILLING TO BE JUDGED BY THE RESULTS IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING MORE OF.

AND I WOULD SAY, RUN, CHARLIE, RUN.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, GRAHAM ALLISON, IF I CAN JUST PUT UP THAT COMPARATIVE CHART AGAIN, LOOKING AT VACCINATIONS PER CAPITA, YOU SAID WE WENT FROM 22nd TO 24th, AND THE GOVERNOR SAYS FROM THE C.D.C.

DATA -- IN TERMS OF VACCINATIONS PER CAPITA, THAT WE'RE ALREADY UP TO NINTH, REGARDLESS OF WHO IS RIGHT, THAT IS A DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENT.

IT SEEMS TO ME, YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW WHAT WENT WRONG BEFORE YOU FIGURE OUT HOW TO IMPROVE.

WE HAVE A GOVERNOR WHO WAS A FORMER HEALTH CARE EXECUTIVE, FROM ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST STATES IN THE COUNTRY, JUST ABOUT THE BEST HOSPITAL SYSTEM IN AMERICA, IF NOT THE WORLD, SO WHAT FELL APART, GRAHAM ALLISON, DO YOU KNOW?

>> IT, FIRST, DUMBFOUNDS ME.

THIS IS NOT MY NORMAL TOPIC.

I'VE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD ON CHINA, AND A LOT OF COLLEAGUES HAVE JOINED THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

BUT THE IDEA THAT A STATE THAT HAS GREAT COVERAGE WITH RESPECT TO HEALTH CARE -- SO WE HAVE 90 PLUS PERCENT, THE TOP OF THE COUNTRY, HOSPITALS, TOP OF THE COUNTRY, WEALTH PER CAPITA, TOP OF THE COUNTRY, COULD BE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RANKING IN MOST OF THESE RELATIVE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS, SO IT IS BEFUDDLING.

I'VE LOOKED AT A COUPLE OF THE STATES THAT HAVE DONE BETTER.

IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A STRANGE EXAMPLE, I'M TALKING TONIGHT TO THE FELLOW, DR. MARSH, WHO LIVES IN WEST VIRGINIA.

YOU THINK WEST VIRGINIA, WHAT?

WEST VIRGINIA HAS DONE ALMOST TWICE AS WELL AS WE HAVE IN GETTING DOSES FROM THE SHELF TO THE ARM.

NOW HOW CAN THIS BE?

>> Braude: WELL, IF I MAY INTERRUPT YOU, LET ME TALK ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA FOR A SECOND.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WEST VIRGINIA HAS, WHICH I'M SURE YOU KNOW, IT HAS A CENTRALIZED PRE-REGISTRATION SYSTEM, WHERE EVERYBODY IN THE STATE REGISTERS, AND THEN THE STATE REACHES OUT TO YOU AND TELLS YOU WHERE TO GO.

EVERY MEMBER OF THE MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, WITH THECEPTION OF RICHIE NEIL, SIGNED A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR SAYING, WE NEED THAT HERE.

IT SEEMS IT WOULD BE A STRESS REDUCER FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

>> YOU BET.

>> Braude: WOULD IT BE A GREAT IM IMPROVER?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE ARE FIVE OTHER CRITERIA, INCLUDING HOW FRUSTRATED PEOPLE BECOME TRYING TO GET TO THE LABYRINTH AND MAZE TO GET AN APPOINTMENT.

MY WIFE PROBABLY SPENT 15 HOURS GETTING OUR FIRST APPOINTMENT.

SO IN THE NORMAL WORLD, A RESTAURANT OR A HOSPITAL, OR IN WEST VIRGINIA, IT IS CENTRAL.

THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.

I THINK WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT WHAT HAPPENS IN OTHER STATES, ADAPTING THEM TO OUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES.

AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING THIS -- I THINK, ULTIMATELY, IN THE WEST VIRGINIA CASE, THE GOVERNOR PICKED A PERSON HE HAS CONFIDENCE IN AND HE IS A KNOWN DELIVERY PERSON.

THIS FELLOW GETS UP EVERY DAY, AND EVERY LINK IN THE CHAIN THAT IS NOT WORKING, HE GOES AND FINDS OUT WHAT IT IS, WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, WHAT IS THE OBSTACLE?

>> Braude: BY THE WAY, IN FAIRNESS TO THE GOVERNOR, NOT ONLY HAS HE IMPROVED -- AND HIS ADMINISTRATION -- ON YOUR REPORT CARD, BUT ACCORDING TO THE C.D.C.

DATA THAT I HOOKED AT THIS MORNING, WE HAD A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT, PARTICULARLY IN THIS VACCINATION PER CAPITA, MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I WANT TO STEP BACK, IF I CAN, AND LOOK AT THE FUTURE.

EVERY REPORT I'VE READ, GRAHAM ALLISON, SUGGESTS THAT BOTH IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN MOST INDIVIDUAL STATES, WE HAVE SUFFERED FROM A DECADE OF NEGLECT WHEN IT COMES TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE.

YOUDO YOU THINK WE HAVE LEARNED FROM THIS AND WE'LL BE READY FOR THE NEXT PANDEMIC, JUST AS WE WERE NOT READY FOR THIS ONE?

>> I HOPE AND PRAY SO.

THIS IS NOT THE LAST PANDEMIC, OF THAT YOU CAN BE SURE.

BUT THAT HAS BEEN SAID EACH DECADE FOR THE LAST FOUR DECADES.

I THINK THIS ONE MAY HAVE RIVETED OUR ATTENTION ENOUGH.

I THINK THE BIDEN TEAM HAS GOT THE IDEA THAT WE MAKE THIS AS THE OCCASION FOR PREPARING FOR THE NEXT ONE.

IF WE DID, THAT WOULD BE TO EVERYBODY'S GOOD FORTUNE.

>> Braude: LET ME TAP INTO SOME OF YOUR PRIMARY EXPERTISE.

IF WE WERE UNABLE TO CONTROL A CORONAVIRUS AND IT'S NATURAL SPREAD, WE WERE UNABLE TO CONTROL THE UNNATURAL SPREAD OF ANOTHER VIRUS, NAMELY THE SOLAR WINDS ACT, HOW SUSCEPTIBLE ARE WE TO A BIOLOGICAL ATTACK NOT LED BY THE VIRUS ITSELF, BUT LED BY A PUTIN, FOR EXAMPLE?

THAT'S WHAT WORRIES ME MOST, FRANKLY.

AM I RIGHT TO BE WORRIED?

>> AGAIN, YOU'RE RIGHT IN THE BULL'S EYE.

ANY ADVERSARY OF THE U.S. WHO HASN'T LEARNED FROM THIS MISERABLE PERFORMANCE OF THE COUNTRY -- I'D START WITH WASHINGTON, BUT ANYONE WHO HASN'T LEARNED FROM THAT, THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY VULNERABLE COUNTRY, IN WHICH ALL I HAVE TO DO IS PRODUCE A PATHOGEN, WHICH IS NOT THAT HARD TO DO GIVEN GENETIC ENGINEERING, AND THEN RELEASE IT IN A DOZEN CITIES IN THE U.S., AND WATCH WHAT HAPPENS.

IN A YEAR -- THERE IS A REPORT OUT TODAY THAT WE SAW A ONE-YEAR REDUCTION IN THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF ALL AMERICANS IN THE PAST YEAR.

THAT HAPPENS IN AFRICA, YOU KNOW, IN A POOR, DEVELOPING COUNTRY WHERE PEOPLE REALLY ARE STRUGGLING.

THAT'S NOT AMERICA.

AND THAT'S NOT THE AMERICA THAT WE WANT.

I THINK THAT'S WHY ANOTHER REASON THAT FOR STATES THAT START WITH SO MANY ADVANTAGES, LIKE OURS, WE SHOULD BE MODELS OF THE WAY WE WANT TO BE, OR THE WAY WE THINK OF OURSELVES IN EFFICIENTLY DEALING WITH ISSUES LIKE THIS.

>> Braude: GRAHAM ALLISON -- >> LET ME START WITH A PIECE OF GOOD NEWS -- CAN I JUST OFFER ONE PIECE OF GOOD NEWS.

>> Braude: SURE.

>> HOW IN THE WORLD IS THERE A VACCINE AVAILABLE TODAY THAT WAS DEVELOPED AND CREATED IN ABOUT FIVE MONTHS, WHEREAS THE AVERAGE VACCINE TOOK 10 YEARS.

THE ANSWER IS SOME COMPANIES WORKED VERY HARD, AND THE FEDS DID A GOOD JOB, THAT "OPERATION WARPED SPEED" FOR FINANCING IT, SO THINGS THAT HAPPEN USUALLY IN 10 YEARS, BECAUSE IT IS AN EMERGENCY, HAPPENED IN ONE YEAR.

THANK GOD.

I WOULD SAY THERE IS A LESSON FOR ALL OF US THERE.

>> Braude: WELL, THE LESSON I'LL TAKE FROM THAT, JUST LIKE A CLOCK -- A BROKEN CLOCK IS RIGHT TWICE A DAY, DONALD TRUMP WAS RIGHT ONCE IN FOUR YEARS, AND HE FUNDED THOSE EFFORTS.

GOOD FOR HIM.

GRAHAM ALLISON, THANK YOU.

SINCE THE MID-'60s, THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL FOR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY, BETTER KNOWN AS METCO, BUSED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS OF COLOR FROM BOSTON TO AFFLUENT, PREDOMINANTLY WHITE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE.

THE GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACADEMIC SECRETARY AND HELP DIVERSIFY DISTRICTS THAT ARE STILL DEEPLY SEGREGATED TODAY.

BUT, AS A FEW DOCUMENTARY SHOWS, THE PROGRAM HAS ITS DOWNSIDES, TOO.

>> PEOPLE HAVE ALL THESE STEREOTYPES ABOUT US, LIKE THEY'D START A BEAT AND EXPECT YOU TO RAP, BUT THAT JUST WASN'T ME.

>> WHEN I'M OUT IN WESTON, I TRY TO MAKE SURE I SPEAK AS WELL AS I CAN BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE "THAT BLACK."

>> THERE WAS A POINT WHERE IT WAS LIKE HAVING TWO FATIMAS.

IT WOULD BE LIKE A WEIRD DISCONNECT, LIKE I DON'T FIT IN EITHER SPOTS.

>> Braude: I'M JOINED BY ITS CO-PRODUCER, MIKE MASCOLL, CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND C.E.O.

OF LEV MEDIA GROUP, AND THE MAN WHOSE VOICE YOU HEARD A MOMENT AGO, RICHARD SETTLES.

THEY BOTH PARTICIPATED IN THE METCO PROGRAM AT LEXINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> Braude: MIKE AND RICHARD, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> IT'S A PLEASURE.

>> Braude: MIKE, CAN I START WITH YOU FOR A SECOND?

THE DOWNSIDE, WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN A SECOND.

BUT THE BENEFITS, ON BALANCE, WAS METCO THE RIGHT THING FOR YOU IN RETROSPECT?

>> WELL, I'M STILL GOING THROUGH THE METCO EXPERIENCE, SO OVERALL, YEAH, IT WAS THE RIGHT EXPERIENCE FOR ME.

I CAN'T SPEAK FOR EVERYONE ELSE.

BUT FOR MYSELF, I GOT THE MOST OUT OF IT, YES.

>> Braude: WHY?

HOW?

>> WELL, I WAS EXPOSED TO A DIFFERENT WORLD, A WORLD PROBABLY A LITTLE MORE COMPLEX THAN JUST THE INNER CITY THAT I GREW UP IN.

HERE I AM AS AN ADULT, 55 YEARS OLD, AND I'M ABLE TO NAVIGATE IN SPACE THAT A LOT OF FOLKS AREN'T ABLE TO NAVIGATE.

AND THAT COMES FROM MY EDUCATION AND ROOTS, WHICH KIND OF SET THE FOUNDATION.

>> Braude: RICHARD, WAS IT THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOU?

>> I THINK SO.

MY ENTIRE FAMILY HAD GONE THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND THEY HAVE SEEN THE BENEFITS.

BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO BE EXPOSED TO A DIFFERENT GROUP THAN I NORMALLY WOULD HAVE.

IT HELPED ME NAVIGATE MORE OF THE LIFE AS I PROGRESSED AND GOT OLDER.

>> Braude: YOU KNOW, RICHARD, YOUR CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR UNCLE, WHO IS ALSO A METCO GUY, REALLY JUST JUMPED OFF THE SCREEN.

I DON'T THINK HE SAID THIS TO YOU IN THE FILM, BUT HE SAID IT TO SOMEBODY ELSE, HE TALKED ABOUT ALL OF THE WAYS IT BENEFITED HIM THROUGH LIFE.

HE SAID MATTER OF FACTUALLY, HE SAID, EVEN WHEN I WAS INCARCERATED, IT WAS EASIER FOR ME BECAUSE OF MY EXPERIENCE IN METCO.

DID THAT COMMENT SURPRISE YOU, OR NOT?

>> IT DIDN'T REALLY SURPRISE ME.

JUST AT A YOUNG AGE, I WAS EXPOSED TO THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS.

CODE-SWITCHING TEACHES YOU HOW TO DEAL WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE.

IT IS A SKILL IF YOU PICK IT UP VERY EARLY AND USE IT IN EVERYDAY SITUATIONS, AND PROBABLY GETTING AROUND THAT SITUATION HELPS.

SO IT WASN'T A SURPRISE TO ME.

>> Braude: MIKE, WHAT IS CODE-SWITCHING FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW?

>> WITHOUT GETTING INTO THE TECHNICAL TERMS, IT IS JUST ALTERNATING YOUR BEHAVIOR, ALTERNATING YOUR LANGUAGE, AND CULTURAL MOORES AS YOU MOVE THROUGH DIFFERENT SPACE.

SURVIVAL.

>> Braude: THAT, TO ME, WAS WHAT I TOOK AWAY MOST FROM THE FILM, WAS THAT ALL OF YOU -- I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN SAY ALL OF YOU -- THOSE IN THE FILM WHO EXPERIENCED METCO METCO ESSENTIALLY HAD THEIR FOOT IN BOTH WORLDS, AND IT SEEMED LIKE THEY WERE NOT ACCEPTED IN EITHER.

IS THAT A TYPICAL EXPERIENCE, DO YOU THINK, MIKE?

>> SURE.

THE CHALLENGE THAT COMES WITH THAT IS YOU'RE NOT GIVEN ENOUGH AMPLE TIME IN EITHER WORLD TO SOLIDIFY RELATIONSHIPS THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO.

YOU'RE SPENDING 12-HOUR DAYS IN ONE COMMUNITY AND SEEING YOUR HOME FRIENDS ON THE WEEKEND.

THERE IS JUST NOT ENOUGH TIME.

SO THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT THAT, YES.

>> Braude: RICHARD, YOU WERE NOT THE ONLY PERSON IN THE FILM WHO MENTIONED A SIMILAR SORT OF THING.

BUT WHAT CAME CLEAR IS THE ONE EXCEPTION TO BEING CLOSE TO FULLY ACCEPTED IN THE SUBURBAN SETTINGS, PREDOMINANTLY WHITE, IS IF YOU'RE A GUY AND YOU'RE A STAR ATHLETE.

YOU WERE ONE OF THE STAR ATHLETES.

AND YOU DECIDED -- THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE THING -- YOU DECIDED TO GIVE UP BASKETBALL, WHERE YOU APPEARED TO HAVE GREAT SKILLS, AND PROBABLY WOULD HAVE GAINED MORE ACCEPTANCE, FOR SOMETHING MY DAUGHTER LOVES, WHICH IS MANGA AND ANAMAY, WHICH IS CARTOONS, BUT NOT KID CARTOONS.

WAS THAT A HARD DECISION FOR YOU, KNOWING YOU MAY MEET WITH LESS ACCEPTANCE BY EMBRACING SOMETHING THAT MATTERED TO YOU?

>> THAT WAS NEVER REALLY A CONCERN.

I WAS VERY ADEPT AT CHANGING MY BEHAVIORS IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

IT WAS SOMETHING I'D BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN SINCE I FIRST WENT INTO THE PROGRAM.

AS FAR AS STOPPING BASKETBALL, I JUST -- I JUST DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR IT, YOU KNOW.

THE ANAMAY, THAT WAS A PASSION.

>> Braude: I WANT TO PLAY, RICHARD, A LITTLE SOMETHING YOU SAID TO YOUR UNCLE RON IN THE FILM.

HERE IT IS.

>> I REALLY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY MADE ALL THESE RULES.

MY PARENTS MADE IT VERY CLEAR THERE IS PROBABLY NO REASON THAT I SHOULD BE IN LEXINGTON UNLESS I'M IN SCHOOL OR MAKING UP A TEST OR SPORTS.

>> BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU DO BECAUSE YOU KNOW IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, THEY'RE COMING TO GET YOU.

>> Braude: HOW HARD WAS IT TO ADHERE TO YOUR FATHER'S SUGGESTION, RULE, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT?

>> FOR THE MOST PART, I THINK I DID PRETTY GOOD.

DID I OCCASIONALLY STAY OUT TO HANG OUT WITH SOME FRIENDS, OF COURSE, SAYING I WAS DOING SOME HOMEWORK.

BUT UNDERSTAND WHERE HE WAS COMING FROM, THE ERA HE GREW UP IN, HE SAW A LOT.

HE THOUGHT IF I WAS IN A SITUATION, BASED ON WHERE I WAS, IF SOMETHING WERE TO GO WRONG, EYES WOULD BE ON ME.

>> Braude: YOU LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT, RICHARD, IN CASE YOU HASN'T NOTICED, FROM WATCHING THE FILM -- >> YEAH, I GOT MY HAIR CUT.

>> Braude: YOU LOOK GOOD.

YOU LOOK GOOD IN BOTH SETTINGS, I SHOULD SAY.

MIKE, IF SOMEONE SAID TO YOU, WHERE DID YOU SPEND YOUR YOUTH, WOULD YOU ANSWER ROXBURY AND DORCHESTER, OR WOULD YOU SAY LEXINGTON?

WHAT WOULD YOUR ANSWER BE?

>> I WOULD SAY I SPENT IT ON A SCHOOL BUS, ALL RIGHT?

[LAUGHTER] >> BECAUSE I SPENT AMPLE TIME ON THE SCHOOL BUS.

THAT'S WHERE I SPENT IT.

HONESTLY, I SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME IN LEXINGTON BECAUSE I WAS INVOLVED IN SPORTS, AND I HAD EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY.

IF WE HAD LATE GAMES ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, I STAYED FOR THE WEEKEND.

>> Braude: WE SHOULD SAY IN THE FILM, IT IS QUITE CLEAR, VIRTUALLY EVERY KID WHO WAS A METCO KID TALKED ABOUT GETTING UP AT 5:00 IN THE MORNING AND GETTING TO THE BUS AT 5:30 OR 5:45.

MIKE, IF A FRIEND WITH YOUNG KIDS CAME UP TO YOU AND SAID, I'M THINKING OF URGING MY KID TO BE A METCO KID, WHAT WOULD YOUR RECOMMENDATION BE?

>> FIRST I WOULD SAY IT DEPENDS.

IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER OR NOT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THE LONG GAME IS.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE EXPOSED.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME HARDSHIPS ALONG THE WAY.

BUT IF THEY HAVE TEFLON SKIN AND THEY CAN STICK IN FOR THE LONG RUN, IT'S GOING TO HAVE A BENEFIT.

IT IS NOT FOR EVERYONE, THOUGH, I WILL SAY THAT.

>> Braude: HOW ABOUT YOU, RICHARD?

WHAT WOULD YOUR ADVICE BE, QUICKLY, IF YOU CAN?

>> I WOULD AGREE IT IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY.

AND I WOULD URGE TOWARDS IT, AS LONG AS THEY UNDERSTAND, THE CHILD AND THE PARENT, THAT IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY AND A PRIVILEGE.

AND IF THEY USE IT RIGHT, IT CAN YIELD SOME VERY GOOD RESULTS.

>> Braude: RICHARD AND MIKE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THE FILM IS TERRIFIC.

I URGE EVERYBODY TO WATCH IT TONIGHT.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU.

THE FILM, AGAIN, IS "CODESWITCHING: RACE AND IDENTITY IN THE SUBURBAN SCHOOLHOUSE."

YOU CAN WATCH IT TONIGHT AT 9:00, RIGHT HERE ON GBH 2.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, AND OTHER WAYS TO WATCH, HEAD TO.

www.codeswitchingmovie.co m. 11 MONTHS INTO THE PANDEMIC, THE ZOOM BURNOUT IS REAL.

UNFORTUNATELY, FOR MANY OF US IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE ERA OF MILLION-MEMBER-ONLINE MEETINGS THAT SHOULD BE E-MAILS WILL BE OVER ANY TIME SOON.

BUT, CLEARLY, SOME PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN A LITTLE LAX ABOUT THE RULES OF ZOOM ETIQUETTE, LIKE THE ATTORNEY WHO JOINED A COURT HEARING FOR HIS CLIENT LOOKING LIKE A CAT.

>> MR. PONTON, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE A FILTER TURNED ON IN THE VIDEO SETTINGS.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO -- >> WE'RE TRYING TO -- CAN YOU HEAR ME, JUDGE?

>> I CAN HEAR YOU.

I THINK IT'S A FILTER.

>> I'M HERE, LIVE.

I'M NOT A CAT.

>> I CAN SEE THAT.

>> Braude: LUCKILY FOR THAT LAWYER, THE VIDEO WENT VIRAL ON THE SAME DAY AS THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL STARTED.

AND, AS N.Y.U.

LAW PROFESSOR RACHEL BARKOW TWEETED: "IMAGINE APPEARING IN A COURT PROCEEDING AS A KITTEN AND HAVNG TO DECLARE THAT YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY A CAT, AND STILL NOT CRACKING THE TOP TWO WORST LAWYER PERFORMANCES THAT RECEIVED NATIONAL ATTENTION THAT DAY."

THEN THERE WAS THE CASE OF REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN TOM EMMER, WHO JOINED A HOUSE COMMITTEE MEETING UPSIDE DOWN LAST WEEK, PROMPTING THIS AWKWARD EXCHANGE: >> DURING COVID-19, WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT OUR NATION'S SOLE PROPRIETORS AND SMALLEST OF SMALL BUSINESSES RECEIVE TIMELY -- >> WILL THE GENTLEMAN SUSPEND?

I'M SORRY, MR. EMMER, ARE YOU OKAY?

>> I AM.

>> YOU'RE UPSIDE DOWN, TOM.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX THAT.

>> IS THIS A METAPHOR?

>> Braude: CERTAINLY FEELS LIKE IT.

BUT TO HELP KEEP YOU FROM BECOMING THE INTERNET'S NEXT PUNCHING BAG, I'D LIKE TO SHARE A FEW TIPS.

FIRST, IT'S BEEN DUBBED THE NEW "REPLY ALL," AND I COULDN'T AGREE MORE.

WHEN YOU'RE JOINING A CALL, MUTE YOURSELF ON ENTRY; IT'S JUST COMMON DECENCY.

NO ONE NEEDS TO HEAR YOU BLOW YOUR NOSE OR EAT THAT CRUNCHY BAG OF CHIPS.

CLICK THAT LITTLE MICROPHONE AND SPARE US THE SOUNDS OF YOUR BODILY FUNCTIONS.

IN RELATED ADVICE, TURN OFF YOUR CAMERA IF YOU HAVE OTHER BUSINESS TO ATTEND TO.

WE ALL HEARD THE STORY OF POOR JENNIFER, WHO TOOK HER LAPTOP TO THE BATHROOM AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND I WON'T EVEN GET INTO THE WHOLE JEFFREY TOOBIN THING.

BUT, ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU'RE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT OR THE HOST OF THE MEETING, DON'T TURN OFF YOUR CAMERA.

IT'S RUDE, AND NO ONE WANTS TO STARE AT A BLACK SCREEN OR HAVE TO LOOK AT A WAY-TOO-CHEERY CORPORATE HEADSHOT WHILE YOU'RE TALKING, ALTHOUGH IF IT'S A GOOD PICTURE OF YOUR DOG, THERE MIGHT BE AN EXCEPTION.

NEXT, A REMINDER THAT IF YOUR KID USED YOUR COMPUTER FOR A ZOOM BIRTHDAY PARTY, KNOW IT'S PROBABLY SHOWING UP IN YOUR NEXT MEETING, TOO, DEPENDING ON YOUR SETTINGS.

THAT'S HOW THE CAT LAWYER GOT INTO TROUBLE.

THEN, THERE'S THE CHAT FUNCTION.

QUADRUPLE CHECK THAT YOU'RE SENDING YOUR SNIDE MESSAGES ABOUT THE BOSS PRIVATELY, NOT TO THE WHOLE GROUP.

OR BETTER YET, SAVE IT FOR TEXT MESSAGES.

AND, LASTLY, IF YOU FIND YOUR MEETINGS ARE LACKING A CERTAIN JE NE SAIS QUOI, TRY INVITING A LIVE GOAT -- SERIOUSLY!

THE CRONKSHAW FOLD FARM IN ENGLAND HAS RECENTLY LENT OUT THEIR GOATS TO MAKE SPONTANEOUS APPEARANCE IN VIDEO MEETINGS.

WONDER IF THEY'D CONSIDER SENDING ANY ACROSS THE WATER FOR A TV SHOW HERE?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

E-MAIL US, TWEET US, OR SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS.

AND, FINALLY TONIGHT, A BIT OF WHAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN SENDING IN.

BETSY SAYS SHE'S BEEN TAKING PICTURES THROUGH THE SKYLITE ABOVE HER DESK THROUGHOUT THE SEASONS SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED BUT IS NOW READY FOR A NEW VIEW.

AREN'T WE ALL, BETSY?

AND RICHARD SENT IN THIS PAINTING HE WORKED ON OF THE LATE JOHN LEWIS.

VERY IMPRESSIVE.

IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US, PLEASE SEND IT TO US AT THE ADDRESSES ON YOUR SCREEN.

THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW FOR "BEAT THE PRESS."

I'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.

THANKS FOR WATCHING, STAY SAFE, AND STAY TUNED NEXT FOR THE LATEST IN OUR ONGOING GBH NEWS SERIES "COVID AND THE CLASSROOM."

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org