>> Announcer: MAJOR FUNDING FOR "CHAT BOX" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY FUEL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY AND SMART HEAT NJ.

THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

NJM INSURANCE GROUP, SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY INSIDER NJ, A POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE NETWORK DEDICATED TO NEW JERSEY POLITICAL NEWS.

INSIDER NJ IS COMMITTED TO GIVING SERIOUS POLITICAL PLAYERS AN INTERACTIVE FORUM FOR IDEAS, DISCUSSION, AND INSIGHT.

ONLINE AT INSIDERNJ.COM.

♪ >>> WELCOME TO "CHAT BOX," I'M DAVID CRUZ.

LATER IN THE MONTH, WE'LL HAVE A DOCUSERIES ON THE ORIGIN OF STEREOTYPES ABOUT BLACK MEN.

BUT WE START TODAY WITH OMICRON AND COVID.

ARE WE NEAR A CHANGE OF STATUS?

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THAT IS THE STATE'S HEALTH COMMISSIONER, J JUDY.

GREAT TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> DO YOU REALLY NEED NO INTRODUCTION?

HOW OFTEN DO PEOPLE RECOGNIZE YOU IN, LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE SUPERMARKET OR IN THE NIGHTCLUB?

>> NIGHTCLUB?

EVERYBODY'S VERY RESPECTFUL.

I DO SEE PEOPLE STARE, BUT THEY'RE PRETTY RESPECTFUL.

>> NOT SO MUCH AT THE NIGHT CLUB?

>> NOT SO MUCH.

>> DID THIS TURN OUT TO BE A MORE HIGH-PROFILE JOB THAN YOU EVER EXPECTED IN I GUESS THAT GOES WITHOUT SAYING, RIGHT?

>> IT REALLY DOES.

I STARTED THIS JOB IN THE FIRST WEEK IN AUGUST OF 2019, AND IN FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS, WE STARTED MONITORING WHAT WAS GOING ON IN WUHAN.

I DON'T THINK ANY OF US COULD HAVE IMAGINED WHAT WAS IN FRONT OF US.

I CERTAINLY DIDN'T.

>> THERE SEEMS TO BE OPTIMISM SURROUNDING THE PANDEMIC.

SO, THE GOOD NEWS IN THE NUMBERS LED TO THIS SCHOOL MASK MANDATE BEING LIFTED, EFFECTIVE NEXT MONTH.

WHY NEXT MONTH?

>> WHY NEXT MONTH?

WE'RE PREDICTING THAT THE WHOLE STATE WILL BE IN MODERATE DISEASE PROGRESSION AND SOME GOING OVER TO LOW-RISK.

SO, AS THE RISK DECREASES THROUGH THE STATE, WE'RE VERY COMPACT STATE, WE'RE ONE OF, I THINK, THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED STATE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF MOVEMENT UP AND DOWN IN OUR STATE.

SO, AS WE GET EVERYONE INTO A MODERATE OR LOW-RISK SITUATION, IT GETS SAFER AND SAFER AND SAFER.

>> A LOT HAS BEEN MADE ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE CDC IS STILL RECOMMENDING MASKS IN SCHOOL.

WHY NOT FOLLOW THEIR LEAD ON THIS?

>> THE CDC HAS A RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WHOLE NATION.

SO THEY'RE LOOKING, WHEN THEY PUT SOMETHING OUT, THEY'RE NOT SAYING YOU CAN RELEASE MASKING IN THE NORTHEAST BECAUSE WE GOT HIT FIRST IN THE OMICRON SURGE AND WE'RE ALL COMING DOWN AND THE THINGS ARE LOOKING BETTER.

BUT NOT IN, YOU KNOW, ARIZONA.

SO, THEY NEED TO PUT FORTH DIRECTIVES THAT ARE RESPONSIVE TO WHAT THEY'RE SEEING IN THE WHOLE -- IN EVERY STATE.

>> THOSE WHO CRITICIZE THE ADMINISTRATION SAY YOU SEND MIXED MESSAGES.

SOMETIMES YOU DEFAULT TO THE CDC GUIDANCE AND THEN OTHER TIMES, YOU DON'T.

IS THAT FAIR?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE ACTUALLY GOTTEN AHEAD OF THE CDC GUIDANCE.

I DON'T RECALL ANY OTHER TIME THAT WE DID.

WE'RE EITHER AT THE CDC GUIDANCE.

SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN THAT IN SOME RESPECTS, WE'RE EVEN MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN CDC.

BUT WE HAVE NEVER BEEN LESS RESTRICTIVE.

>> CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH HOW A DECISION LIKE MASKING IN SCHOOLS GETS MADE?

WHO MEETS AND WHO DECIDES?

IS THERE LIKE A VOTE IN THE ROOM?

>> IT'S -- IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A VOTE, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY A DISCUSSION.

>> WHO'S IN IT?

WHO'S IN THE ROOM FOR THAT?

>> OUR COMMUNICABLE DISEASE SERVICE, OUR STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST, HEAD OF OUR COMMUNICABLE DISEASE SERVICE, AND THEIR TEAM ALWAYS WEIGHS IN.

THEY PUT OUT THE TALLY SCORES.

THEY LOOK AT PROGRESSION OVER TIME.

I MEET WITH THEM EVERY WEEK ON WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY, AND SOMETIMES OUR MEETINGS ARE AN HOUR, AN HOUR AND A HALF.

EVERY DAY, I'M SPEAKING TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

EVERY WEEK, TO THE GOVERNOR, AND ACTUALLY, IN THE SURGE, WE SPOKE EVERY DAY, AND THAT'S ALL THE INPUT THAT WE GET AS A GROUP.

AND THEN THE SENTINEL QUESTION IS ALWAYS ASKED, WHAT'S THE SAFEST COURSE THAT WE CAN TAKE RIGHT NOW THAT REALLY MEASURES THE RISKS AND THE BENEFITS OF THE DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING?

>> YOUR DEPARTMENT GATHERS DATA AND DISCUSSIONS THE SITUATION, AND DO YOU SEND A RECOMMENDATION, THEN, TO THE GOVERNOR?

>> YEAH, WE ARE CONSTANTLY IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, WITH, FOR EXAMPLE, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, DCF, DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, RIGHT NOW, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE BEING RELEASED.

THE NUMBER OF DISCUSSIONS THAT GO BACK AND FORTH EVERY DAY, STARTING AT 7:00 IN THE MORNING AND SOMETIMES ENDING AT 7:00 OR 8:00 AT NIGHT, FROM TEAMS OF PEOPLE HERE WITH THE OTHER STATE DEPARTMENTS AND WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, IT'S A CONSTANT SHARING OF IDEAS, THOUGHTS, INFORMATION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> IT'S ONE LONG MEETING THAT HAS GONE ON FOR TWO YEARS, ESSENTIALLY.

>> THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT, YES.

>> I GOT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THESE FOCUS GROUPS THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK.

HOW MUCH INVOLVEMENT DID YOU HAVE IN THAT?

DID YOU SIT IN ON THOSE?

>> WELL, WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL STAKEHOLDER CALLS, AND THEY RANGE EVERYWHERE FROM SPECIFIC ASSOCIATIONS TO FACEBOOK LIVE.

PRESENTATIONS.

AND I DO A LOT OF THEM.

DR. FISHER, DR. MARGARET FISHER, A SPECIAL ADVISOR TO US AND A PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST, SHE DOES A LOT OF THEM, AND WE -- WE'VE DONE ALMOST A THOUSAND DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

>> BUT THOSE SOUND LIKE TOWN HALL-TYPE MEETINGS AS OPPOSED TO FOCUS GROUPS, WHICH IS WHAT THE "TIMES" REPORTED THIS WEEK.

ARE YOU SAYING THE PURPOSE OF THESE MEETINGS WAS TO INVOLVE STAKEHOLDERS?

HOW MUCH OF IT WAS INTENDED TO JUSTIFY OR CREATE A POLICY OF, LIKE, SAY, KIDS REMOVING THEIR MASKS IN SCHOOL?

>> YEAH, IT'S A COMBINATION.

WE HAVE HAD FOCUS GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S BEEN WITH PRIMARILY STAKEHOLDERS TO GET THEIR INPUT, TO HELP US MAKE FINER AND BETTER DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THEM.

DURING THE SURGE, THE BEGINNING OF THE SURGE, WE HAD MEETINGS WITH THE CEOs OF OUR HOSPITALS.

WE HAVE WEEKLY MEETINGS AND FOCUS GROUPS WITH LONG-TERM CARE.

THE ASSOCIATION LEADS AND ALSO THE OWNERS AND MANAGERS OF LONG-TERM CARE.

THEY'RE STANDING.

YOU CAN CALL THEM FOCUS GROUPS.

WE MET WITH FUNERAL DIRECTORS, THE HEAD OF THE FUNERAL DIRECTORS WHEN WE WERE ANTICIPATING THE SURGE BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTIES WE HAD IN THE PAST.

TELL US WHAT YOU NEED.

TELL US WHAT THE PROBLEMS YOU'RE SEEING.

WE ALSO MET WITH LARGE ASSOCIATIONS TO ADVISE THEM NOT ONLY ARE WE GOING TO SEE A SURGE, BUT THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE 30% OF YOUR STAFF WILL BE OUT SICK.

SO, YOU HAVE TO PREPARE TO BE ABLE TO CARRY OUT YOUR ESSENTIAL WORK.

THESE ARE ALL ONGOING MEETINGS.

>> SO, MOVING FROM PANDEMIC TO ENDEMIC IS WHAT WE'RE HEARING NOW.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> WELL, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT ENDEMIC, WHICH IS THAT WE'LL NEVER GO DOWN TO ZERO.

WE WILL HAVE A LOW LEVEL OF DISEASE.

LET'S LEARN FROM THE PAST.

I THINK IT WAS MARK TWAIN WHO SAID, HISTORY DOESN'T REPEAT ITSELF, BUT IT RHYMES.

LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE 1918 FLU EPIDEMIC, PANDEMIC, THAT LOOKED VERY MUCH LIKE WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH, WITH COVID.

THEY SAW SURGES OVER TIME.

IT WASN'T -- THEY SAW A SURGE IN 1918, THEY SAW IT IN 1919, 1920.

AND WE'RE STILL LIVING WITH SOME ASPECT OF THE SPANISH FLU.

THAT'S WHAT WE EXPECT TO SEE WITH COVID.

BUT WE ARE SO MORE PREPARED TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THOSE SURGES.

WE CAN SEE THEM COMING AS WE LOOK AT OUR TALLY SCORES.

WE CAN SEE THEM COMING.

WE CAN SEE WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO EMERGENCY ROOMS FOR, AND WE CAN PREPARE LIKE WE DID FOR THIS LATEST SURGE AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL SEE JUST A LOW LEVEL OF DISEASE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS AND GET TO WHAT WE CALL OUR NEW NORMAL.

>> AND THE REALITY THERE IS THAT THAT'S SOMETHING NEW, RIGHT?

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MONITOR COVID FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

>> LIKE WE DO EVERY OTHER COMMUNICABLE DISEASE?

>> RIGHT.

>> YEAH.

COVID IS JUST PUT ON THE LIST.

>> SO, WE'RE GOING TO BE LIVING WITH THIS VIRUS FOREVER?

NOW, KIDS AND VACCINATIONS, THE CDC HAS OR I FORGOT WHICH -- WHICH COMPANY IT WAS THAT WANTED TO GET APPROVALS TO VACCINATE, YOU KNOW, TODDLERS.

THAT'S GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT PART OF GETTING THROUGH THIS, YEAH?

>> YES.

WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT KIDS SHOULD GET VACCINATED.

IF WE LOOK AT OUR 5 TO 11-YEAR-OLDS, WE'RE ABOUT 38% ARE VACCINATED.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT 12 TO 17-YEAR-OLDS, IT REALLY JUMPS UP.

SO, WE'RE HOPING TO INCREASE VACCINATION RATES OF 5 TO 11s AND WE'RE PREPARING FOR 6 MONTHS TO 4 YEARS.

IN FACT, I'LL BE TALKING TO THE PEDIATRICIANS IN SORT OF A FOCUS GROUP.

WHAT DO THEY NEED TO STEP UP THEIR VACCINATION RATES OF SIX MONTHS TO FOUR YEARS?

WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO IF WE HAVE BIG MEGA SITES JUST FOR PEDIATRICS?

HOW DO WE CALL UPON THE PEDIATRICIANS AND THE PEDIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONERS TO BE ON SITE TO GIVE PEOPLE A HIGH DEGREE OF COMFORT THAT THEIR CHILDREN WILL BE SUPERVISED WHILE WE'RE GETTING THEM VACCINATED.

SO, WE HAVE BIG PLANS COMING.

>> IS THERE EVER GOING TO BE A TIME WHERE GETTING VACCINATED IS NOT SO FRAUGHT?

BECAUSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GETTING A FLU SHOT, THERE'S NO OUTCRY ABOUT PEOPLE SAYING, OH NO, I'M NOT GOING TO GET A FLU SHOT.

ARE WE EVER GOING TO GET TO A POINT WHERE GETTING INOCULATED AGAINST COVID IS JUST YOUR CHOICE AND YOU'RE NOT AUTOMATICALLY KILLING PEOPLE BY NOT GETTING VACCINATED?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

WE DO -- YOU DO KNOW RIGHT NOW, FROM BIRTH TO 18 YEARS OF AGE, THERE'S ABOUT 16 VACCINATIONS THAT ARE REQUIRED.

WE DON'T HEAR MUCH ABOUT THAT, DO WITH E?

WE?

FROM BIRTH TO 2 YEARS, THE PARENTS WILL TELL YOU, THEY'RE CONSTANTLY BRINGING THEIR CHILDREN TO BE IMMUNIZED.

I BELIEVE WE WILL GET THERE.

I HAVE TO SAY, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A LOT OF PUSHBACK AND WE SEE IT IN NEW JERSEY, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE AS MUCH PUSHBACK AS SOME OTHER STATES.

GENERALLY, I THINK PEOPLE, 90% HAVE GOTTEN AT LEAST ONE DOSE.

76%, 77%, ALMOST 80% ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

WE'RE SEEING MOVEMENT NOW WITH BOOSTERS, ALTHOUGH IT'S LOWER THAN WE WOULD LIKE.

THERE WERE ABOUT 52% HAVE GOTTEN BOOSTED.

THOSE NUMBERS ARE REALLY SIGNIFICANT, WHICH TELLS ME THAT THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY ARE PAYING ATTENTION.

THEY'RE DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR THEM, THEIR LOVED ONES, THEIR COMMUNITY.

WE'RE IN THE TOP TEN IN STATES IN TERMS OF OUR VACCINATION RATES.

>> SO, I SAW THIS FANCY MAGAZINE SPREAD OF YOU ON NJ.COM WITH A COOL, GLAMOROUS PICTURE OF YOU, TALKING ABOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP OF THIS DEPARTMENT OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.

YOUR CRITICS, YOUR FUTURE PLANS, SO, WHAT DOES JUDY PERSICHILLI DO AFTER THIS, AND WHEN IS AFTER THIS BEGIN?

>> WELL, LET ME START WITH, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO AFTER THIS?

I HOPE I GET A COUPLE NIGHTS' SLEEP AND THEN I'LL DECIDE.

I'VE NEVER LEFT A MISSION AT ANY JOB I'VE EVER HAD.

I'VE NEVER LEFT AN ORGANIZATION IN WORSE SHAPE THAN WHEN I GOT THERE AND I HAVE ALWAYS WORKED ON MAKING SURE THAT THINGS ARE STABLE AND IN BETTER SHAPE, AND I OWE THAT TO THE STATE.

I OWE IT TO NEW JERSEYANS, AND I OWE IT TO THE GOVERNOR, WHO ASKED ME TO DO THIS JOB.

SO, I CAN'T PREDICT WHEN THAT'S GOING TO BE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING I THINK ABOUT ALMOST EVERY DAY.

AND I, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S -- APPARENTLY I'M NOT VERY GOOD AT RETIREMENT.

BUT I THINK IT'S TIME FOR ME TO RETIRE AT SOME POINT AND I DO HAVE SOME THINGS IN MY MIND, BOARDS THAT I DROPPED OFF OF THAT I REALLY WANT TO CONTINUE MY VOLUNTEERISM.

THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.

>> PLUS, I HAVE TO SAY, THERE IS A REMARKABLE STORY TO BE TOLD OF THE PROCESS THAT YOU WENT THROUGH FROM, WHAT, BEING ON THE JOB TWO WEEKS, FOUR WEEKS, BEFORE THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN AND HOW YOU GOT THROUGH IT AND CAME OUT ON THE OTHER END IN NEW JERSEY.

I MEAN, THERE'S A GOOD STORY IN THERE.

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S A STORY THAT HAS LEGIONS OF PEOPLE WITH ME.

ONE OF THE MYTHS, AND I WORKED IN TRENTON A LONG TIME AT ONE OF THE HOSPITALS, WAS THAT, OH, YOU KNOW, GET A JOB AT THE STATE, YOU WON'T WORK HARD.

NOT TRUE.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN OR WORKED WITH SUCH HARDWORKING PEOPLE THAT WERE SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER WITH ME, PARTICULARLY IN THE BEGINNING.

SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, IN OUR OFFICES, FROM 7:00 IN THE MORNING UNTIL 8:00, 9:00 AT NIGHT.

AND I HAVE NEVER WORKED WITH MORE HARDWORKING PEOPLE.

THEY ARE SUCH PUBLIC SERVANTS, AND JUST LOOKING AT THAT, WHAT I HAVE GAINED FROM THEM IS UNBELIEVABLE DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO THEM BUT I HAVE GAINED SUCH RESPECT FOR PUBLIC SERVICE IN NEW JERSEY.

>> ALL RIGHT, GOOD HIGH NOTE TO END ON.

HEALTH COMMISSIONER JUDY PERSICHILLI, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU ALWAYS, DAVID.

>> AND YOU STILL HAVE TO LOOK HARD FOR IT SOMETIMES, BUT IMAGES OF BLACK PEOPLE, BLACK MEN PARTICULARLY, ARE STARTING TO REFLECT REALITY A LITTLE MORE.

BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND A BLACK STEREOTYPE WITHOUT LOOKING TOO FAR.

A NEW DOCUSERIES ON DISCOVERY PLUS LOOKS AT THE ORIGINS OF BLACK MALE STEREOTYPES IN AMERICA.

ONE OF THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS OF THE SHOW IS KRISTEN V. CARTER AND SHE JOINS US NOW.

HEY, GOOD TO MEET YOU.

WELCOME.

>> NICE TO MEET YOU TOO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO, ALL OF OUR GUESTS WHO ARE NEWARK NATIVES, WE GOT TO CHECK THEIR NEWARK BONA FIDES.

SO, WHERE DID YOU GROW UP IN NEWARK?

DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL IN NEWARK AS WELL?

>> YES.

I WENT TO UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL BEFORE I WENT TO A BOARDING SCHOOL, ACTUALLY, SO SHOUTOUT TO NEWARK.

I'M SUPER EXCITED AND PROUD TO BE A NEWARK NATIVE FOR SURE.

>> ANOTHER THING YOU DON'T -- YOU ALSO DON'T SEE IS FEMALE EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS, AND YOU SEE EVEN LESS BLACK FEMALE EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS.

HOW HAS THAT BEEN CHANGING IN THE INDUSTRY, IF AT ALL?

>> I THINK THAT DIVERSITY JUST WITH GENDER AND RACE HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, INCREASING, SO DEFINITELY THERE ARE MORE AND MORE FEMALE EXECUTIVES.

I'M VERY PROUD TO BE AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ON THIS PROJECT.

IT'S BEEN A LABOR OF LOVE FOR EVERYBODY, AND I AM JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO EVERYONE SEEING THIS SHOW.

SO, JUST HAVING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OVERSEEING THIS SERIES, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR OTHER AMAZING EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS, AND JUST MAKING SURE IT IS AS HEARTFELT AND WARM AS IT IS EDUCATIONAL.

WE'RE JUST REALLY, REALLY EXCITED FOR THE PREMIER ON SATURDAY.

>> IT'S CALLED "PROFILED: THE BLACK MAN."

IT'S A FOUR-PART SERIES, AND YOU BREAK IT DOWN INTO WHAT I FELT WAS LIKE THE FOUR BASIC FOOD GROUPS OF BLACK STEREOTYPES.

SO, I WANT TO GO THROUGH THEM WITH YOU.

EPISODE ONE IS, BLACK MEN ARE DANGEROUS.

>> YES.

SO, THAT PARTICULAR EPISODE IS ALL ABOUT TACKLING THAT STEREOTYPE, GETTING TO THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF WHERE THAT STEREOTYPE CAME FROM AND THEN ALSO SHEDDING LIGHT ON THE TRUTHS, HOW, YOU KNOW, SOCIETY HAS DEALT WITH BLACK MEN AND PERCEIVED BLACK MEN AND THEN WHAT ARE THE STORIES, WHAT ARE THE PROFILE PIECES THAT WE HAVE FOR BLACK MEN WHO HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS STEREOTYPE AND THEN ALSO SHATTERED IT BY LIVING THE LIVES THAT THEY LEAD?

SO, I'M REALLY, REALLY EXCITED AND PROUD OF THAT EPISODE IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE IT'S VERY INTENSE, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, VERY EDUCATIONAL AND INSPIRING AS WELL.

WE GET TO SEE THREE PROFILE PACKAGES OF DIFFERENT MEN WHO HAVE ENGAGED WITH THAT STEREOTYPE, WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF THAT STEREOTYPE, ACTUALLY, AND THEY'VE GONE ON TO REALLY TRIUMPH IN THEIR LIVES.

>> AT THE CORE OF ALL OF THIS IS MEDIA, RIGHT?

MEDIA PERCEPTIONS OF BLACK MEN AS DANGEROUS.

WE STILL SEE IT TODAY EVEN THOUGH THERE'S BEEN SOME EVOLUTION OF BLACK CHARACTERS IN TELEVISION AND FILM.

WE'LL GET TO THAT IN A SECOND.

BUT YOU STILL ALWAYS SEE THAT, THE DANGEROUS BLACK MAN.

>> YOU DO.

AND SO, WE'RE REALLY HOPING THAT EVERYONE ENGAGES WITH THIS IN A WAY THAT THEY'RE NOT JUST WATCHING BUT THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT HOW THEY HAVE PERCEIVED BLACK MEN AND ALSO HOW THEY CAN BE AN ACTION AROUND CHANGING THIS PERCEPTION SO THAT BLACK MEN ARE SEEN AS LOVING, CARING LEADERS, ALL OF THAT.

SO, YEAH, DEFINITELY MEDIA HAS HAD A DEFINITE IMPACT ON IT, BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH THIS STEREOTYPE DIFFERENTLY.

>> "ABSENT FATHERS," BLACK MEN ARE ABSENT FATHERS.

>> YEAH, SO, THAT STEREOTYPE, WE BASICALLY CHOSE FOUR PERVASIVE STEREOTYPES THAT WE THOUGHT WERE REALLY LARGE AND INSIDE THE COMMUNITY AND THIS IS NOT ONLY BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S HISTORICAL BUT ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE ENGAGED WITH IN OUR PERSONAL LIVES AS WELL, REALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE CHANGING THE NARRATIVE BY SHARING THE STORIES OF BLACK MEN WHO ARE PRESENT, WHETHER THEY'RE IN THE HOME OR NOT, WHETHER THEY'RE COPARENTING OR NOT, SO WE GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THREE AMAZING EXAMPLES OF BLACK MALE FATHERHOOD WITH D.J.

DAMAGE, WHO COPARENTS KENDRICK RANSOM, WHO IS AN AGRICULTURIST AND OWNS FAMILY LAND AND TWO LGBT DADS WHO HAD TWO CHILDREN THROUGH SUR SUR GOSY SO WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT BLACK FATHERHOOD.

>> AND FATHERHOOD IS SOMETHING THAT IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, WHEN CRITICS WANT TO PUT BLACK MEN IN A BOX, OR THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN A BOX, THEY ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE ABSENT FATHER, THE ABSENCE OF THE NUCLEAR FAMILY.

YET, SO MANY BLACK FAMILIES TOGETHER, VIBRANT, LOVING, AND YOU DON'T SEE THAT ENOUGH.

>> YOU DON'T SEE THAT ENOUGH, AND SO THAT'S WHY AS SOON AS WE GET INTO THE EPISODE, WE START BREAKING DOWN THE STATISTICS.

WE BREAK THAT DOWN IMMEDIATELY.

WE GET INTO THE MEAT AND POTATOES OF THE TRUTH, AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO ADDRESS SOME MYTHS.

SO, WE'RE REALLY, REALLY EXCITED FOR PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT THAT STEREOTYPE DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE IT'S SIMPLY NOT TRUE.

SO WHEN YOU SEE THE PERCENTAGES AND YOU SEE THE INFORMATION, I'LL BE VERY EXCITED FOR FOLKS TO SEE THE TRUTH IN WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING WITH BLACK FATHERHOOD.

>> AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS A GREAT PART OF THIS PROGRAM IS THAT YOU DO, YOU SAY, WELL, HERE'S THE STEREOTYPE AND HERE IS THE REALITY AND THAT GOES THROUGH TO MEN DEVALUING BLACK WOMEN, FOR INSTANCE.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> LOVING -- BLACK LOVE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU SEE A LOT ON SO-CALLED MAINSTREAM TELEVISION OR FILMS.

>> YEAH.

I THINK WE'RE SEEING MORE BLACK LOVE.

I THINK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF CONTENT CREATORS WHO ARE REALLY INTENTIONAL ABOUT SHOWING BLACK LOVE AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANTED TO DO.

WITH THIS PARTICULAR STEREOTYPE, WE WANTED TO ADDRESS HEAD-ON, INTERRACIAL RELATIONSHIPS, COLORISM, HOW MEDIA HAS PERCEIVED BLACK WOMEN AND THEN HOW BLACK MEN HAVE PERCEIVED BLACK WOMEN THROUGH THE MEDIA.

THAT WAS JUST VERY, VERY INTERESTING FOR US TO DO A DEEP DIVE IN TERMS OF THE RESEARCH BEHIND IT AND SO, I THINK OUT OF THE FOUR EPISODES, THAT WILL BE THE ONE THAT BLACK TWITTER WILL BE TALKING A LOT.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION AROUND IT.

SO, YEAH, DEFINITELY PROUD OF THAT EPISODE AS WELL.

>> AND THEN THE LAST EPISODE IS, BLACK MEN DON'T CRY.

>> YEAH.

SO, WE WANTED TO TAKE A LOOK AT BLACK MALE VULNERABILITY.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IN THE COMMUNITY, WE'VE OFTEN HEARD, BLACK MEN ARE EMOTIONALLY UNAVAILABLE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AND SO WE REALLY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT BEHIND BLACK MEN DON'T CRY AND THEN THINK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, THERAPY, BLACK LOVE, WE GET INTO EVERYTHING SO I'M EXCITED FOR EVERYBODY TO SEE HOW WE'VE BROKEN DOWN ALL FOUR EPISODES.

WE NEEDED AN EPISODE PER STEREOTYPE BECAUSE WE WANTED TO BE AS THOROUGH AS POSSIBLE AND SO YEAH, I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR VIEWERS BEING INSIDE THE CONVERSATION, NOT JUST WATCHING BUT REALLY THINKING ABOUT HOW THEY HAVE INTERACTED WITH THESE STEREOTYPES AND HOW THEY ARE GOING TO ALSO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE JUST IN THEIR OWN ACTIONS AND LIVES.

>> WHO DEFINES BLACKNESS IF NOT BLACK PEOPLE?

YOU KNOW, AND I WAS JUST THINKING, JUST IN TERMS OF FILM, FROM MELVIN VAN PEEBALES TO SPIKE LEE TO JORDAN PEELE, EACH ONE OF THOSE MADE A BIG JUMP IN TERMS OF DEFINING BLACKNESS.

WHERE ARE WE TODAY, DO YOU THINK, IN DEFINING BLACKNESS?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK THAT WE HAVE A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO DEFINE BLACKNESS.

I DON'T THINK THAT WE ARE A MONOLITH.

I THINK THAT BLACKNESS IS DIVERSE, AND SO I THINK YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT IN THE PROFILE PIECES THAT WE SELECT AND PROFESSIONAL THE BLACK MAN, AND ALSO, JUST THE DIFFERENT VANTAGE POINTS THAT WE HEAR FROM OUR CELEBRITY COMMENTATORS WHO TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH THE STEREOTYPE AS WELL.

SO, I THINK THAT WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO SHOW BLACKNESS IN ALL ITS FORMS, AND I'M REALLY, REALLY EXCITED FOR MORE CONTENT CREATORS, MORE WOMEN, MORE MEN, MORE EXECUTIVES TO JUST CONTINUE TO TELL THEIR STORIES, BECAUSE WE NEED EVERYBODY'S STORIES IN ORDER TO SHOW THAT BLACKNESS IS DIVERSE.

>> JUST IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN OUT THERE IN TERMS OF FILM AND TELEVISION IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, I WROTE A FEW DOWN OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

BEAUTIFUL LOVE STORIES LIKE "IF BEAL STREET COULD TALK," SOME OF THE STUFF LIKE THAT, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE MORE OF ON COMMERCIAL TELEVISION OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT SOME OF THESE STREAMING SERVICES LIKE DISCOVERY PLUS ARE ABLE TO DO?

>> YES.

I THINK THERE IS NOT ONLY AN OPPORTUNITY BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S A CALL FOR DIFFERENT DISTRIBUTORS TO SHOWCASE BLACKNESS IN ALL FORMS, AND I THINK THEY'RE DOING THAT.

SO, I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR THE FUTURE OF FILM AND TELEVISION, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, THE URBAN STORIES.

THERE'S BLACK LOVE.

THERE'S COMING OF AGE.

THERE'S EVEN, YOU KNOW, YOUNG PEOPLE IN TECH.

THERE'S YOUNG PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK ABOUT RAISING DEION ON NETFLIX AND JUST DIFFERENT TITLES, THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO JUST CONTINUE TO SHOW BLACKNESS IN ALL FORMS.

I'M REALLY, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>> THE SERIES IS CALLED "PROFILED: THE BLACK MAN."

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER KRISTEN CARTER, NEWARKER WITH US TODAY.

GOOD TO MEET YOU, KRISTEN.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

REALLY, REALLY EXCITED AND PROUD TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THAT'S "CHAT BOX" FOR THIS WEEK.

THANKS ALSO TO JUDY PERSICHILLI.

YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON TWITTER, @DAVIDCRUZNJ AND BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS AND LIVE STREAMS OF OTHER IMPORTANT EVENTS.

FOR ALL THE CREW OVER HERE, I'M DAVID CRUZ.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>> Announcer: MAJOR FUNDING FOR "CHAT BOX" WITH DAVID CRUZ IS PROVIDED BY FUEL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY AND SMART HEAT NJ.

THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

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