HOST: I AM TORI BEDFORD.

IF HE FIGURES ARE CALLING ON THE STREET TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO PUBLIC HOUSING.

I WILL SPEAK WITH THE ORGANIZATION BEHIND THE PUSH ABOUT WITH THE EXTRA FUNDING WOULD GO TOWARD.

CALLIE JOINS ME ON HOW COMMUNITIES ARE FIGHTING BACK AGAINST THE BOOK BANS.

AND FINALLY A CUBAN-AMERICAN SHARES HER STORY FROM THE STAGE.

♪ PUBLIC HOUSING IS A LIFELINE FOR THOUSANDS OF MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS FOR WHOM THE RISING COST OF HOUSING AS OPPOSED OTHER OPTIONS OUT OF REACH, BUT FOR MANY PUBLIC HOUSING GUNS ARE THE CATCH, MICE, BOLD, BROKEN WINDOWS AND DOORS, AND AN APARTMENT COMPLEX IN SOUTH LAST FALL THE ELEVATOR WAS OUT FOR NEARLY TWO WEEKS, STRANDING DISABLED RESIDENTS IN THEIR HOMES.

FAITH LEADERS ARE ENCOURAGING BEACON HILL TO INCREASE ITS PUBLIC HOUSING BUDGET BY 70% AS THE GREATER BOSTON INTERFAITH ORGANIZATION LAID OUT IN AN OPEN LETTER TO OFFICIALS.

I AM JOINED BY REVEREND STANFIELD AND STATE SENATOR.

LET’S TALK ABOUT HOW THIS LETTER CAME ABOUT.

YOU HAVE BEEN ON THIS FIGHT FOR A LONG TIME.

IF YOU WANT TO GIVE A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF WHAT YOU LAID OUT IN THE LETTER AND WHAT WAS THE IMPETUS AND PUTTING IT TOGETHER.

>> BURNS IS PROBABLY THE BETTER WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE LETTER SINCE HE IS ONE OF THE PASTORS WHO SIGNED IT.

>> WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT A COUPLE OF YEARS.

WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOUSING BECAUSE WE OPERATE OUT OF THE VALUES OF A DIFFERENT FAITH TRADITIONS AND THOSE OF THE CONCERNS WE HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE IN THE PEWS, AND WE HAD SOME LEGISLATION WE WERE WORKING ON AND FELT THAT IT WAS TIME TO ADD TO OUR CLERGY VOICES TO THE POLITICAL WORK WE DO AND PUT IT IN THE MIX, SO THE LETTER WAS CREATED IN A SHORT PERIOD AND HAD 150 SIGNATORIES.

TORI: THERE HAVE BEEN STATEWIDE EFFORTS TO INCREASE HOUSING STOCK JUST IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING THIS CONTRIBUTES TO THAT?

>> THE BIG PUSH FOR THE LETTER’S HELP TO GET SENATE AND HOUSE LEADERSHIP TO GET THE LEGISLATION THROUGH OVER THE FINISH LINE IS WE LIKE TO KEEP SAYING, AND AS YOU MENTIONED IT HAS BEEN A DEEP CAMPAIGN, A LONG CAMPAIGN AND TIME TO GET THAT OVER.

TORI: SENATOR EDWARDS, YOU WROTE A PIECE IN THE BOSTON GLOBE EMPHASIZING THE NEED NOT JUST FOR MORE HOUSING STOCK BUT FOR EQUITY TO BE EMPHASIZED.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THAT IS IMPORTANT?

>> IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE TAKE THIS MOMENT AND FUNDING COMING THROUGH, $4.1 BILLION, AND SAY THIS IS THE TIME TO BUILD BUT ALSO THE TIME TO REFLECT ON HOW WE GOT HERE, THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH UNITS WERE EVERYBODY, THEY ARE UNAVOIDABLE, WE HAVE HIGHLY RACIALLY SEGREGATED HOUSING.

THAT WE HAVE LOWER HOMEOWNER RATES AMONGST PEOPLE OF COLOR.

THESE ARE NOT JUST ACCIDENTS.

THERE WERE POLICY DECISIONS MADE BY CLINICAL PEOPLE TO IMPLEMENT REDLINING, TO REFUSE TO ALLOW FOR MULTIFAMILY ZONING, DECIDE THAT SOME PEOPLE WOULD BE CLOSE TO WORK AND OTHERS WILL BE MAKING A 2, 3 HOUR COMMUTE.

ALL OF THESE WERE CONSCIOUS DECISIONS AND AS WE GO TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE WE HAVE TO DO SO WITH AN EYE TOWARD EQUITY.

TORI: IN 2022 177 COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE ZONING OF THE MBTA WERE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THE ZONING REGULATIONS TO BUILD WAREHOUSING.

THERE HAS BEEN A TON OF PUSHBACK ABOUT THAT, AND NOT JUST FROM COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE SAID THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COME UP BUT MY COLLEAGUE RECENTLY WROTE A PIECE ABOUT HOW THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF SOME OF THESE COMMUNITIES, LEADERS FEAR THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THINGS LIKE SEWAGE SYSTEMS BY BUILDING MORE MULTIFAMILY HOUSING, THAT IT WILL OVERWHELM THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

AS THE STATE COME BEGIN SPEED BUMPS LIKE THAT, AND HOW ARE THOSE SMALLER DETAILED ISSUES BEING APPROACHED?

>> I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT THE NBTA LAWS PEOPLE ARE OFTEN TIME CONCERNED ABOUT OUR PLANNING LAWS.

THEY REQUIRE THAT THE CITY AND TOWN PLAN FOR ADDITIONAL UNITS.

THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT THEY STARTED BUILDING THEM IMMEDIATELY.

THERE WAS A LOT OF FUNDING FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO PUT SHOVELS IN THE DIRT, SO IT IS REALLY A MATTER OF AN EXERCISE FOR CITIZEN TALENTS TO IMAGINE AND ENVISION TOGETHER SOME MORE DENSITY IN CERTAIN AREAS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THAT IS FIRST AND FOREMOST.

IN TERMS OF RESOURCES NECESSARY, THAT WILL PUSH THEM TO ENGAGE IN A BACK-AND-FORTH WITH THE STATE, SAYING WE HAVE DONE OUR PART, BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN RESOURCES WE NEED IN ORDER FOR THIS VISION TO COME TO FRUITION.

WE NEED THE MONEY, INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS, CHAPTER 97 FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOLS.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THESE THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS VISION COMES TO FRUITION, SO THIS IS A FIRST STEP.

THIS IS NOT A MOMENT WHERE WE SHOULD BE SAYING NO BUT HOW CAN WE COME TOGETHER TO DO AND BUILD THAT FUTURE.

TORI: AS THESE ISSUES COME UP THE ATTITUDE HAS TO BE HOW CAN WE OVERCOME THEM?

THESE INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES ARE ASKING FOR MORE RESOURCES.

IN THE LETTER, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE HOMES ACT, WHICH HAS BEEN PASSED THROUGH VARIOUS COMMITTEES AND WOULD GIVE $4.1 BILLION TOWARD THE CREATION OF NEW HOUSING.

WHAT IS YOUR GOAL WITH THAT?

>> THERE ARE TWO MAJOR PIECES THAT HAVE BEEN A PART OF OUR CAMPAIGN FROM THE BEGINNING.

THAT ONE IS THE PUBLIC HOUSING PIECE, AT 1.6 BILLION DOLLARS FOR PUBLIC HOUSING TO GO AFTER YEARS OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, AND THAT IS WHAT YOU NEED SUCH A LARGE NUMBER.

THE OTHER PIECE HAS BEEN THE REVENUE GENERATION STUDY, WHICH IS A STATE TRANSFER FEE.

WE ARE IN A HOUSING CRISIS, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY WE HAVE GOT TO BUILD MORE UNITS.

IF WE ARE NOT BUILDING MORE UNITS, THEN YOU WILL NOT IMPACT THIS CRISIS, AND THE QUESTION COMES UP WHERE IT THE REVENUE COME FROM?

A REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TOWNS AS A LOCAL OPTION.

THAT THEY CAN CHOOSE TO OPT IN OR OPT OUT, BUT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO RAISE REVENUE THAT THEN GOES INTO AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST.

YOU CAN USE THE TRUST FOR FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS.

YOU CAN USE THE TRUST TO INVEST IN A MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

IT SO THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT IF WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THE TOOLS AND APPLY THEM TO A CRISIS THAT WE ARE IN.

TORI: A RECENT BOSTON FOUNDATION TO THE REPORT FOUND THAT RATES OF HOMELESSNESS AND THOSE IN MASSACHUSETTS AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS, THAT THOSE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN SKYROCKETING.

THEY DO A POINT IN TIME COUNT VIA THE NATIONAL HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AND I THINK LAST YEAR IN 2023 THERE WERE A TOTAL NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS, AND I THINK THIS IS A POINT IN TIME COUNT OF JUST OVER 19,000, AND 13,000 WORD FAMILIES --W ERE FAMILIES.

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DO NOT BILL THIS?

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DO NOT ACCOMMODATE THIS CRISIS OF SO MANY PEOPLE ARE ON THE BRINK OF BECOMING HOMELESS?

>> WE ARE SEEING SOME OF THAT WITH THE CURRENT CRISIS, AND THERE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO THROUGH DIRECT SERVICE RIGHT NOW THROUGH THE PROCESS.

A LOT OF THE INSTITUTIONS, 50 CHURCHES, SYNAGOGUES, A LOT OF THAT IS BEING DONE IN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES, SHELTER, FOOD.

WE HAVE A BED SET UP IN OUR CHURCH TO ACCOMMODATE A FAMILY, BUT WE NEED SOMETHING SYSTEMIC, AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE THINKING OF RIGHT NOW.

WE FOCUS ON PUBLIC HOUSING BECAUSE THESE ARE RESOURCES, IT IS A PRECIOUS RESOURCE THAT THE STATE ALREADY OWNS BUT IN MANY CASES CANNOT USE BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT TAKING CARE OF IT, SO THE BOND BILL IS LET’S TAKE CARE OF THIS, WHICH IS ONE PIECE OF A PUZZLE BUT AN IMPORTANT PIECE.

TORI: THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE BEYOND BUILDING, PRODUCING NEW HOUSING IS FALLEN APART.

I AM WONDERING WHAT YOU ARE HEARING, YOU MENTIONED FROM THE CLERGY AND THE PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITIES AND THE PEOPLE YOU SEE A CHURCH, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THEM ABOUT THEIR HOUSING CONDITIONS?

>> ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES IS THE ABILITY TO LOSE THIS DREAM OF OWNING A HOME ONE DAY.

I AM SO BUSY PAYING RENT THAT I CANNOT ENVISION SAVING THE KIND OF MONEY THAT IS NECESSARY TO BUY A HOME IN MASSACHUSETTS, AND ONE OF THE DOWNSIDE THAT WE WILL SEE IS PEOPLE LEAVING MASSACHUSETTS TO GO TO OTHER PLACES SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO OWN A HOME ONE DAY.

THAT IS STILL A DREAM OF MANY PEOPLE, THE DREAM OF HOMEOWNERSHIP AND THE WEALTH THAT YOU CAN START TO BUILD HAVING A HOME IS AN OPPORTUNITY.

>> AND I WILL SAY JUST THIS MORNING A FEW HOURS AGO I HEARD FROM A PARISHIONER, AND TO LANDLORD IS SELLING.

SHE IS PETRIFIED SHE CANNOT STAY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND SHE HAS A DECENT MIDDLE INCOME AND SHE TAKES CARE OF TWO KIDS AND HER MOTHER LIVES WITH HER, AND SHE HAS NOW PETRIFIED SHE WILL NOT END A PLACE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IN SOUTH BOSTON OR IN BOSTON, AND HER CHILDREN ARE IN BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ETC., SO IT IS A REAL ISSUE FOR PASTORS AND EVERYBODY DAY TODAY.

TORI: SENATOR EDWARDS, YOU ARE THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSING COMMITTEE.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

HOW DO WE AMELIORATE THIS IMMEDIATELY?

>> THERAPY IN SEVERAL MAJOR STEPS THE STATE LEGISLATURE OF MADE WITH GOVERNOR BAKER LOWERING THE THRESHOLD TO ALLOW FOR MULTIFAMILY ZONING, AND ALSO NOW WE HAVE FUNDING WITH THE BOND BILL AND A LOT OF POLICIES AS MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY.

THERE IS A TRANSFER FEE, 80 YEARS AS A RIGHT.

THERE ARE 25 PIECES OF LEGISLATION ATTACHED TO THE FUNDING, SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE AS WE LEARN THE LESSONS WE SHOULD HAVE LEARNED WHEN IT CAME TO HOW WE GOT HERE AS I MENTIONED IT WITH REDLINING, THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP, ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS ARE FOOTPRINTS FOR US TO SAVE IF WE ARE GOING TO GO FORWARD AND INVEST $4.1 BILLION IT WILL BE FOR A FUTURE MORE INTEGRATED, OR EQUITABLE, AND A FUTURE WHERE THE DREAM OF HOMEOWNERSHIP IS NOT DEAD.

TORI: SENATOR EDWARDS, PHIL, AND THE REVEREND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

REQUEST TO BAN BOOKS ARE AT A 20 YEAR HIGH, AND HERE AT SEVERAL LIBRARIES IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE TAKEN CONTROVERSIAL TITLES OFF THEIR SHELVES.

ALL OF THESE EFFORTS ARE FISHING -- FACING PUSHBACK FROM STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND AVID READERS INCLUDING CALLIE CROSSLEY.

WE ARE SEEING -- I WAS PROVIDED THIS LIST OF SCHOOLS THAT HAVE REMOVED OR RESTRICTED BOOKS IN MASSACHUSETTS AS OF JANUARY 7, 2024.

THEY ARE ALL PREDOMINANTLY WHITE SCHOOLS.

AND ACROSS THE NATION WE HAVE SEEN LIBRARIANS AND TEACHERS GET FIRED FOR FIGHTING BACK AGAINST THESE KIND OF BANS.

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS PUSH, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A WAR RIGHT NOW ABOUT BANNED BOOKS NOT JUST IN EDUCATIONAL CLIMATES BUT EVERYWHERE.

>> THERE IS NOT BEEN A BIG ENOUGH FOR EXCEPT THE LAST YEAR WHEN THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF PUSHBACK AGAINST BANS OR ATTENDS MPTS TO BAN.

PUBLIC LIBRARIANS HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN MY LIFE IN TERMS OF EXPANSION AND IN GENERAL OPENING ME UP TO OTHER WORLDS, SO THE FACT THAT SOMEBODY WOULD BAN SOME BOOKS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL INTO MY GROWTH AND I KNOW HOW INSTRUMENTAL THEY WILL BE TO THE GROWTH OF OTHER YOUNG STUDENTS PARTICULARLY BECAUSE THE FIGHT IS REALLY ABOUT -- A LOT OF BANNED BOOKS ACROSS THE BOARD, BUT THE FIGHT IS ABOUT THE SOUL OF YOUNG READERS, AND THE EFFORT BEING PUT INTO IT AND THE REASON YOU MENTIONED THOSE DISTRICTS WERE MOSTLY WHITE IS BECAUSE THE TARGETED BOOKS ARE LGBTQ AND/OR BY AUTHORS OF COLOR OR CONTENT BY LGBTQ AUTHORS OR AUTHORS OF COLOR.

THAT IS BEEN THE FOCUS.

TORI: WHY IS THAT?

>> SOME PEOPLE THINK THE LGBTQ BOOKS ARE PORNOGRAPHIC.

THE OTHER PART IS THEY THINK THE PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO ARE WRITING OUR WOKE, FOR GOD SAKE AND HAVE AN AGENDA, WHEN ACTUALLY WHAT THEY ARE WRITING ABOUT IT AT BOTH OF THOSE CAMPS ARE LIVED EXPERIENCES WHICH HAVE VERY MUCH A CONNECTION TO STUDENTS, AND I JUST WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT FOR ME WITH THE SCHOOL LIBRARIANS AND PUBLIC LIBRARIANS KNOWING THAT I WAS A CHILD OF COLOR WHO COULD HAVE BENEFITED AND DID BENEFIT FROM HAVING BOOKS THAT CELEBRATE ME EVEN BY AUTHORS THAT WERE NOT BIPOC, SO ONE OF MY FAVORITE STORIES WHEN I WAS A KID WAS TO BE LONG SUCKING -- WAS PIPPY LONGSTOCKING BECAUSE SHE WAS DIFFERENT AND I FELT DIFFERENT.

TO THINK I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO READ THAT OR SOME OTHER KID WHO IS A WHITE KID COULD NOT READ ABOUT EXPERIENCES BY KIDS OF COLOR OR OTHER PEOPLE WRITING ABOUT THAT, NOT ONLY IS IT ANTI-AMERICAN, IT IS JUST DISGUSTING AND SCARY, AND YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WHEN THEY COME FOR YOU IN THESE COUNTRIES, THEY WANT TO SHUT DOWN INFORMATION THEY STARTED WITH THE NEWS BUSINESS, AND THEN THE SECOND STEP IS THAT THE LIBRARIES, BECAUSE IF YOU CAN SHUT UP INFORMATION OR THE EXPANSION OF THESE IDEAS, THEN THERE YOU GO.

I AM CELEBRATING RUPAUL OF DRAG RACE FAME FOR GETTING OUT THERE WITH A RAINBOW BOOK BUS.

I AM CELEBRATING THE LIBRARIANS WHO HAVE SUED AND WON IN CASES WHERE THEY HAVE CLAIMED TO BE DISCRIMINATORY CASES BECAUSE OF THE CHOICES THEY MADE FOR STUDENTS IN THE LIBRARIES.

TORI: TALKING ABOUT RUPAUL’S BUS TOUR, RUPAUL IS A PARTNER IN A PUBLISHING FIRM THAT SUPPORTS THESE BANNED BOOKS OR BOOKS FROM AUTHORS OF COLOR AND LGBTQ SUBJECTS AND HAS BEEN A HUGE PROPONENT OF THIS, AS SAID THEY SENT EDUCATION, AND KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND I THINK WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT AND YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A KID IS THERE IS AN AGENDA.

THAT WORD AGENDA IS SUCH A SINISTER WORD, BUT IT REALLY IS ABOUT SUPPLYING SOMETHING TO A KID WHERE THEY FEEL SEEN WHEN NOTHING LIKE THAT EXISTS, WHEN YOU FEEL SO DIFFERENT AND YOU READ SOMETHING AND YOU FEEL VALIDATED BY.

IT COMES WITH AN ACCEPTANCE THAT THERE ARE KIDS ON THE LGBTQ SPECTRUM.

>> THOSE WHO WERE NOT WANT TO READ ABOUT IT.

TORI: IT IS NOT JUST FOR THEM BUT SO THAT EVERYONE CAN CREATE AN ACCEPTANCE, SO MAYBE IT IS A REFUSAL OF ACCEPTING THOSE THINGS.

THE RUPAUL THING IS INTERESTING BECAUSE IT DRAG QUEENS AND LIBRARIANS WHO HAVE BOTH BEEN SUBJECT TO CENSORSHIP OF TEAMED UP AND JOINED FORCES ON SO MANY DIFFERENT PLATFORMS.

THIS IS A CLIP OF A LUSCIOUS BAND DRAG QUEEN STORYTIME.

A DRAG QUEEN WHO DOES A SERIES ON YOUTUBE FOR KIDS WHERE SHE WILL JUST READ CHILDREN’S BOOKS.

>> WHAT’S UP, EVERYBODY.

THIS IS LUSCIOUS BANNE DBOOK STORYTIME.

IN EACH EPISODE, ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE QUEENS RECOMMENDS A CHILDREN BOKO HAS BEEN BANNED OR CHALLENGED IN THE UNITED STATES IN ORDER TO STAND WITH THE EDUCATORS AND LIBRARIANS WHO ARE FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT TO KEEP CENSORED STORIES ON SCHOOL AND LIBRARY SHELVES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

TORI: THAT IS THE CORNBREAD EPISODE, BUT FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT, THERE IS BEEN SO MUCH PUSHY ABOUT THIS.

>> I JUST MET THE PRESIDENT OF THE JEWISH ALLIANCE FOR LAW AND SOCIAL ACTION, AND THEY ARE FIGHTING ON THREE RENTS.

AT THEIR FIGHTING BOOK BANS BY HAVING A BOOK CLUB.

THE NESTA BOOK IS MARCH 27.

THEN THEY ARE PUSHING FOR LEGISLATION SPONSORED BY OUR LOCAL STATE HOUSE GUYS AND WOMEN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ENSURE THERE IS NOT THE KIND OF DISCRIMINATION GOING ON AFFECTING LIBRARIANS, PARTICULARLY, AND THEN THE THIRD THING THEY ARE DOING IS SETTING UP A PROJECT IN TULSA OKLAHOMA TO CREATE A PRIVATE LENDING LIBRARY BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF BOOKS HAVE BEEN BANNED, SO THE STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO BOOKS THAT HAVE THUS FAR BEEN BANNED FROM PUBLIC AND SCHOOL LIBRARIES.

THAT THERE ARE SO MANY EXAMPLES HAPPENING NOW.

THE LIBRARY ORGANIZATION SET UP AN ORGANIZATION CALLED UNITED AGAINST THE BOOK BANS.

700 ATTEMPTS TO BAN BOOKS ALL LAST YEAR, AND MASSACHUSETTS IS FOURTH IN THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF ATTEMPTS TO BAN BOOKS.

TORI: ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING WHILE WE ARE ANTICIPATING IN A FEW DAYS THE RELEASE OF THIS DOCUMENTARY BUTTERFLY IN THE SKY ABOUT LEVAR BURTON, AUNTIE HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY AND ADVOCATE FOR READING AND EDUCATION AND AGAINST BANNED BOOKS.

>> THEY RELEASED IT IN 2020 TWO FOR THE TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL, BUT THIS IS THE MOMENT WHERE THEY FELT LIKE IT IS TIME TO BRING IT OUT AGAIN TO TALK ABOUT THE JOY OF READING, AND THAT WAS THE POINT OF READING RAINBOW.

WE JUST HAD NATIONAL READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY.

GOVERNOR HEALY TOOK PART IN THAT.

THERE ARE ALL OF THESE ATTEMPTS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ON TOP OF IT, AND PARENTS, IF YOU WANT YOUR KID NOT TO READ A CERTAIN BOOK, THAT IS ON YOU.

STOP MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE REST OF OUR KIDS TO READ IT.

TORI: A LOT OF THOSE KIDS WILL SEE, I WANT TO READ THOSE BANNED BOOKS.

>> THE DIGITAL PUBLIC LIBRARY IS MAKING IT FREE TO GO ONLINE AND YOU WILL GET FREE PUBLIC ACCESS.

TORI: WHEN ANNA WAS SIX YEARS OLD SHE LEFT HER HOME TOWN OF HAVANA, CUBA TO MAKE A NEW LIFE IN NEW ENGLAND.

SHE SHARED DETAILS OF HER LIFE AND THE COMPLICATED EMOTION SHE FELT BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE FAMILY’S MOVE TO THE UNITED STATES.

WE BRING YOU THE STORY NOW AS PART OF A PARTNERSHIP.

>> NOVEMBER 19 67, I WAS SIX YEARS OLD.

I LIVE IN CUBA, A WORKING-CLASS SUBURB OF HAVANA.

FOUR GENERATIONS OF MY FAMILY LIVE ALL AROUND ME.

WINDOWS AND DOORS ARE ALWAYS OPEN TO.

MOST OF THE ADULT TO WORK IN FACTORIES NEARBY, AND WHILE THEY ARE WORKING THE ABUELAS, THE GRANDMOTHER’S WATCH OVER US, AND THEY ARE REALLY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT DOING SOMETHING BAD ONE OF THEM SHOWS UP AND RUNS EVERYTHING, BUT SOMETHING REALLY WEIRD IS HAPPENING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND I CANNOT FIGURE IT OUT.

EVERY NOW AND THEN A FAMILY DISAPPEARS OVERNIGHT.

THE ADULTS SAY, THEY FLEW AWAY TO FLORIDA, WHATEVER THAT IS.

I AM JUST NOT SURE WHAT IS GOING ON, BUT I KNOW THAT THOSE DISAPPEARANCES ARE CONNECTED SOMEHOW TO THE SOUND OF A MOTORCYCLE COMING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

MY PARENTS ARE NOT QUITE HAPPY, AND I REALIZE THAT SOMETHING IS GOING ON WITH THEM AS WELL.

THEY HAD APPLIED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY, AND THEY HAD APPLIED FOR THEIR EXIT PAPERS THREE YEARS BEFORE NOT KNOWING IF OR WHEN THEY WOULD EVER GET THEM.

THEY HAD SUPPORTED THE REVOLUTION IN THE 1950’S LIKE MOST WORKING-CLASS CUBANS, BUT AFTER THE REVOLUTION IS TODAY GETTING THE RESTORE DEMOCRACY THEY HAD HOPED FOR THEY GOT RATIONED BOOKS, PROPAGANDA, REPRESSION, AND EXECUTIONS ON LIVE TV, SO SOMEWHERE IN THE MID-1960’S THEY SAID COME HELL OR HIGH WATER WE ARE GETTING OUT OF CUBA, SO ONE NIGHT I AM THAT MY NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE WHO LIVES DOWN THE STREET WITH US AND I AM CHASING CHICKENS.

SHE HAD THESE SKINNY HENS, AND I HEARD A MOTORCYCLE COMING IN TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I WENT TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

I TAKE OFF AROUND THE CORNER AND IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE IS A HUGE MOB, AND ON THE SIDEWALK IS AN ENORMOUS MOTORCYCLE.

INSIDE OF MY FATHER IS SITTING AT THE KITCHEN TABLE AND IS ANSWERING QUESTIONS THIS GOVERNMENT GUARD IS ANSWERING -- ASKING HIM.

MY MOTHER IS RUNNING AROUND PACKING A SUITCASE, AND OVER HERE IS MY GRANDMOTHER WHO LIVES WITH US.

AND SHE IS HOLDING MY BABY BROTHER IN A DEATH GRIP SHAKING AND CRYING.

I GO OVER AND I AM SHAKING AND CRYING, AND I AM ASKING QUESTIONS BUT NOBODY EVER TELLS KIDS ANYTHING, BUT THE GUARD NOTICES ME AT THAT POINT.

GIRL, COME OVER HERE.

IS IT TRUE THAT YOU WANT TO LEAVE YOUR HOUSE AND YOUR FRIENDS AND NEVER COME BACK?

AND MY MOTHER AND MY GRANDMOTHER AND MY FATHER ANSWER FOR ME.

SI, SI.

IN NO TIME WE ARE OUT ON THE STREET, AND I LOOK IN THE GUARD IS LOCKING THE FRONT DOOR AND CEILING IT SHUT WITH A BANNER THAT YEARS LATER I FIND OUT REED’S PROPERTY OF THE REVOLUTION.

HE TELLS US TO BE AT THE AIRSTRIP IT 9:00 TOMORROW MORNING AND WE FLED TO THE UNITED STATES.

WE SPEND THE NIGHT OF MY UNCLES APARTMENT AND PEOPLE START TO SHOW UP TO SAY GOODBYE.

GREAT GRANDFATHER ALL KINDS OF RELATIVES AND MY FIRST GRADE TEACHER.

I LOVE HER, BUT I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH HER IN THAT SETTING.

MY MOTHER COMES OVER AND SAYS, ANITA, YOUR TEACHER WAS VERY BRAVE TO COME HERE TONIGHT.

SHE CAME TO THE HOUSE OF A FAMILY, IT MEANS WERE, AND THAT IS WHAT THE GOVERNMENT CALLED PEOPLE LIKE US LEAVING CUBA.

SHE WAS BRAVE, AND I WANT YOU TO BE BRAVE.

MAKE YOURSELF BRAVE AND GO AND SAY GOODBYE.

SO I MAKE MYSELF BRAVE, SO I GO OUT AND SHE IS KNEELING IN FRONT OF ME AND TEARS ARE FALLING DOWN HER FACE, AND I LOSE IT.

EVERY BIT OF CONFUSION AND FEAR JUST EXPLODES, AND I WILL NEVER FORGET THE FEELING.

IT WAS LIKE I WAS GOING TO FLOAT AWAY.

IT FELT LIKE I WAS GOING TO LIFT UP AND GO AWAY.

THE NEXT NIGHT IT IS 8:00 AT NIGHT AND WE ARRIVE AT THE AIRPORT AS INSTRUCTED WITH 200 OTHERS ALL AROUND AND LOTS OF LITTLE KIDS, AND AT FIRST IT IS A BLAST BECAUSE WE ARE PLAYING AND RUNNING AROUND AND GETTING DIRTY.

WE ARE IN OUR BEST CLOSE, BUT THEN THERE IS NOTHING TO EAT WHEN WE GET HUNGRY, AND THERE IS NO PLACE TO SLEEP WHEN WE GET TIRED, AND THERE IS CRYING AND FINALLY EVERYONE FALLS ASLEEP ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.

ALL NIGHT LONG OVER THE LOUDSPEAKERS NAMES ARE CALLED OUT, AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS HARASSING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LEAVING AND THEY ARE SCARING THEM TELLING THEM ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT WILL KEEP THEM THERE, BUT WE GET OUT AND THE NEXT MORNING WE GET ON THE PLANE AND RIGHT BEFORE WE TAKE OFF TO GET TENDING COMES DOWN THE AISLE AND SPRAYS US WITH DISINFECTANT, AIR FRESHENER, I DON’T EVEN KNOW.

IT MUST’VE FELT LIKE A SLAP IN THE FACE TO EVERYONE WHO WAS THERE.

NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS WE SPEND AND THE REFUGEE PROCESSING CENTER OUTSIDE OF MIAMI.

WE GET BOOTS, CODES, HATS, WE GET PUT ON A PLANE AND SOMEHOW WE END UP IN NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, BUT I AM FASCINATED BECAUSE THERE IS NO TALLER THAN I AM AND ICICLES HANGING AND I HAVE A BRAND-NEW TEACHER TO LOVE , AND AT NIGHT WE GET TO WATCH GILLIGAN’S ISLAND AND LEARN MORE ENGLISH, AND OUR FAVORITE SHOW IS THE BIG EARED ONCE WHICH YOU GUYS CALL STAR TREK.

AND MY PARENTS HAVE NEW JOBS AT A RUBBER BOOT FACTORY, BUT I AM VERY WORRIED BECAUSE I KEEP FINDING MY MOTHER IN A DARK ROOM IN THE HOUSE CRYING.

MOMMY, WHAT IS THE MATTER?

I HAVE A HEADACHE, BUT I KNOW SHE DOES NOT HAVE A HEADACHE, AND MY GRANDMOTHER DOES NOT STOP CRYING FROM THE MOMENT SHE WAKES UP UNTIL THE MOMENT SHE FALLS ASLEEP.

AT NIGHT I CAN FEEL HER SHAKING AND WHEN I PUT MY ARM AROUND HER SOMETIMES SHE STOPS AND WE FALL ASLEEP LIKE THAT, AND I HAVE MY OWN ISSUES AT NIGHT TOO.

THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME IN MY LIFE I AM HEARING VOICES.

THEY ARE COMING OUT OF NOWHERE AND I CANNOT SLEEP.

THEY COME INTO WAVES, THEY ARE ANGRY AND PIERCING, AND I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE SAYING.

I COVER MY EARS BUT I STILL HEAR THEM, AND I DID NOT TELL ANYBODY EVER THAT STORY, AND I GUESS I WAS TRYING TO BE BRAVE.

THE ONE THING THAT DOES MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY IN THE HOUSE WHEN WE GET A LETTER FROM HAVANA FROM THE OLD WOMEN WHO NEVER FORGOT US, AND I HAVE THOSE LETTERS NOW.

THEY HAVE BEEN FOLDED AND UNFOLDED SO MANY TIMES THAT THEY ARE LIKE KLEENEX.

IT SOMETIMES THE OLD WOMEN ARE SAYING NOTHING IMPORTANT, A LITTLE OF THIS OR THAT, BUT EVEN IF IT IS A BAD EVENT THEY ARE ALWAYS OPTIMISTIC SOMEHOW, AND I IMAGINE THAT IN EVERY LINE OF EVERY LETTER THEY ARE SENDING US A MESSAGE, AN UNWRITTEN MESSAGE, MAKE YOURSELF BRAVE.

TORI: YOU CAN CATCH STORIES FROM THE STAGE IN PERSON NEXT WEEK AT THE WOMEN IN ACTION EVENT.

HAD TO GBH.ORG/EVENTS.

THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

I AM TORI BEDFORD.

GOOD NIGHT.