>>> TONIGHT, JUSTICE IS SERVED.

THE FOOD BANK AND THE CITY'S LEGAL COMMUNITY JOIN FORCES TO FEED OVER 1 MILLION HUNGRY NEW YORKERS.

THEN, MUHAMMAD ALI FLOATED LIKE A BUTTERFLY AND STUNG LIKE A BEE IN THE RING, BUT WHAT WAS HE LIKE AT HOME?

HIS DAUGHTER TALK ABOUT GROWING UP WITH THE GREATEST AS "METROFOCUS" STARTS RIGHT NOW.

♪ >>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS," WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD, AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

>>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, FILOMEN M. D'AGOSTINO FOUNDATION, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, AND BY -- >>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

I'M RAFAEL PI ROMAN.

WE'RE IN THIS CASING A FOOD CRISIS HERE IN NEW YORK CITY WORK OVER 1 MILLION NEW YORKERS CURRENTLY FACING FOOD INSECURITY.

FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS, FOOD BANK FOR NEW YORK CITY HAS BEEN WORKING TO END HUNGER IN THE FIVE BOROUGHS BY PROVIDING HEALTHY MEALS TO NEW YORKERS AND BY ATTEMPTING THE ADDRESS THE STRUCTURAL ISSUES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO FOOD INSECURITY.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THE EFFORTS TO COMBAT FOOD INSECURITY AND WIN THE LARGER WAR AGAINST HUNGER ARE LESLIE GORDON, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF FOOD BANK FOR NEW YORK CITY, AND LARRY STROMBEL.

THEY'RE WITH US AS PART OF OUR CHASING THE DREAM INITIATIVE ON POVERTY, JUSTICE, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN AMERICA.

WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU HEAR WITH US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING WITH US.

DELIGHTED TO BE IN YOUR COMPANY.

>> THANK YOU.

SO, LISTEN, BEFORE WE GET INTO THE WORK THAT BOTH OF YOU DO AT AND FOR THE FOOD BARK, LET'S TALK ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY ITSELF.

WHAT IS FOOD INSECURITY, AND JUST HOW BAD IS THE PROBLEM IN NEW YORK CITY?

>> SURE.

SO RAFAEL, NEW YORK CITY'S GOT A POPULATION OF ABOUT 8.4 MILLION PEOPLE GIVE OR TAKE, AND 1 IN 6 STRUGGLE TO GET ENOUGH NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO EAT TO LIVE THEIR BEST LIFE, AND TO GO THROUGH REALLY DAILY ACTIVITIES, KIDS TO BE ABLE TO BE AT THEIR PRODUCTIVE BEST TO BE IN SCHOOL, MOMS AND DADS TO HAVE THE ENERGY TO GO TO WORK DURING THE DAY, OLDER AMERICANS TO GO THROUGH THEIR DAYS.

SO AT FOOD BANK FOR NEW YORK CITY WE STAND IN THE GAP AND AT THE READY 365 DAYS A YEAR TO MAKE SURE ACCESS TO GOOD NUTRITIOUS FOOD AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT FOOD IS AVAILABLE ON NEARLY EVERY STREET AND IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD ACROSS THE FIVE BOROUGHS.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY, IT'S AN UMBRELLA TERM.

IF WE'RE TO UNPACK THAT, QUICKLY IT'S A SET OF DIMENSIONS THAT CAUSE MACHINE TO NOT HAVE ENOUGH NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO EAT.

SO IT'S UNDER EMPLOYMENT, UNEMPLOYMENT, COULD BE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, GENERAL HEALTH ISSUES, HOUSING CHALLENGES.

THERE'S REALLY A CONTINUUM OF TH THINGS.

COULD BE ACCESS AT A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY.

30% TO 40% OF OUR HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ARE FOOD INSECURE, DON'T HAVE ENOUGH GOOD NUTRITIOUS FOOD.

>> WHY ARE SO MANY PEOPLE IN NEW YORK CITY?

THOSE ARE THE REASONS WHY PEOPLE BECOME FOOD INSECURE.

WHY ARE THERE SO MANY OF THEM IN NEW YORK CITY?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT'S INTERESTING IS IF I THINK ABOUT THE LAST COUPLE YEARS DURING THE PANDEMIC ERA THAT SHONE A BRIGHT LIGHT ON THIS STUBBORN PROBLEM OF FOOD INSECURITY, IT MAKES IT SEEM AS THOUGH IT DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE COVID.

AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS IS THAT A REALLY HIGH NUMBER, CLOSE TO 20% OF OUR NEIGHBORS IN THIS GREAT CITY HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING FOR DECADES.

AT THE HEART OF IT, IT'S A SYSTEMS PROBLEM.

IT'S LACK OF ACCESS AND EQUITY TO RESOURCES, SOME POPULATIONS HAVE.

IT'S LAWS.

IT'S UNDEREMPLOYMENT.

MORE RECENTLY WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH HIGH RATES OF INFLATION.

SO FOR EXAMPLE THE COST OF FOOD HAS DWGONE UP PRETTY PRECIPITOUSLY, ALMOST 20% YEAR ON YEAR.

IF YOU'VE GONE OUT AND YOU HAPPEN TO LIKE EGGS, IT'S A GREAT SOURCE OF PROTEIN.

YOU BUY A CARTON OF EGGS THESE DAYS COULD BE AS MUCH AS 8 BUCKS.

RENT HAS GONE UP.

SINCE DECEMBER OF 2022, THE RENT HAS GONE UP JUST ABOUT 15%.

SO THERE'S THIS CONVERGENCE OF VERY STUBBORN ISSUES THAT ARE COMING AT PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING ON LOW INCOMES.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO CON CONTEXTUALIZE WHO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THESE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS.

IT'S OLDER AMERICANS ON LIMITED INCOMES.

IT'S MOMS AND DADS WHO ARE OUT THERE EVERY DAY, HAVE FULL-TIME JOBS, SOMETIMES TWO AND THREE JOBS.

IT'S COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO ARE ON A FABULOUS JOURNEY TO SELF-ACTUALIZE AND LIVE THEIR BEST LIFE WHO DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ACCESS TO FOOD.

IT'S KIDS IN YOUR SCHOOL SYSTEM WHO WHEN SCHOOL IS NOT IN SESSION DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE ACCESS TO THREE SOLID MEALS A DAY.

>> LARRY, I PROMISE I'M GOING TO GET TO YOU IN ONE SECOND, BUT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR LESLIE.

YOU TALK ABOUT INFLATION.

ISN'T THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, S.N.A.P., ISN'T THAT INDEXED TO INFLATION?

>> THE S.N.A.P.

HADN'T BEEN ADJUSTED UNTIL THE RECENT PANDEMIC ERA IN DECADES, IN FACT.

AND IN SOME WAYS IT'S TIED TO MINIMUM WAGE AND WHAT WAS CONSIDERED LIVING INCOME FOR A FAMILY, WHICH IS ABOUT $24,000 A YEAR.

IMAGINE LIVING IN NEW YORK CITY ON $24,000 A YEAR.

AND IT'S SUPPLEMENTAL, AS INDICATED IN THE NAME.

SO THE INTENTION THERE IS NOT FOR IT TO FILL EVERY NEED FOR THREE MEALS A DAY.

>> AND YOU TALKED ABOUT THE COVID PANDEMIC.

THAT'S WHEN YOU CAME IN.

YOU CAME IN AT THE HEIGHT OF THE COVID PANDEMIC WHEN THINGS WERE REALLY BAD, ESPECIALLY FOR SOMEONE WITH YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES.

HOW DOES OUR SITUATION NOW COMPARE TO WHERE IT WAS AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE RIGHT, I LANDED HERE IN MARCH OF 202 THE GOOD NEWS IS, FOOD BANK WORSE MADE FOR THIS.

NEW YORKERS CAN COUNT ON US WHEN THEY'RE NEEDED, AND WE ROSE VERY QUICKLY TO INCREMENTALLY INCREASE.

IN 2021 WE DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 140 MILLION MEALS ACROSS -- >> YOU DOUBLED -- IN YOUR TENURE YOU DOUBLED THE AMOUNT OF MEALS I READ.

>> YEAH, WE DID, WE DID.

WHAT IS VERY UNFORTUNATE, AND THIS IS WHERE FOCUS LIKE LARRY AND THE INCREDIBLE CAMPAIGN HE HELPS THE MOBILIZE EVERY YEAR WITH JUSTICE SERVED COMES IN.

THE NEED IS NOT RECEDING.

IT MORE THAN DOUBLED DURING THE PANDEMIC ERA.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ONLINES AND VISITING FOOD PANTRIES AND SOUP KITCHENS AND SHELTERS ACROSS YOUR GREAT CITY ARE NOT RECEDES.

IN FACT, THEY REMAIN AT A PANDEMIC ERA HIGH, FRANKLY RELATED TO THE THINGS WE JUST TALKED ABOUT.

SO HIGH RATES OF INFLATION, RISING COST OF FOOD.

IT'S A DIRE SITUATION, NOT TO BE UNDERSTATED.

AND WE'RE GRATEFUL TO FOCUS LIKE LARRY AND HIS PEERS AND COLLEAGUES ACROSS OUR CITY IN THE LEGAL SECTOR WHO REALLY MOBILIZE THEMSELVES ONCE A YEAR TO VOLUNTEER TO ADVOCATE AND TO DONATE.

>> IS LET'S TALK TO LIRRY TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

YOU KNOW, LARRY, THE FOOD BANK, AMONG OTHER THINGS, RELIES ON GENEROUS DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE YOUR OWN LAW FIRM.

FIRST OF ALL, GIVE US THE NAME OF YOUR LAW FIRM AND TELL US ABOUT ITS SPECIAL CONNECTION TO THE FOOD BANK.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU.

I'M A PARTNER AT THE LAW FIRM, A GLOBAL LAW FIRM, THE OLDEST CONOUSLY RUN LAW FIRM IN THE UNITED STATES, FOUNDED OVER 240 YEARS AGO.

WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE WORK AND SERVE, AND OUR CONNECTION WITH FOOD BANK GOES BACK TO THE VERY BEGINNING.

ONE OF MY PARTNERS, GREAT COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND WHO HAS SINCE PASSED ON, WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDING PARTNERS, ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF FOOD BANK AND HELPED TO ORGANIZE IT AS A NONPROFIT 40 YEARS AGO.

AND THAT WAS JUST AN INDICATION OF THE SPIRIT HERE AT OUR FIRM AND MANY, MANY OTHER FIRMS AND LAWYERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO WANT TO BE BETTER CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE LIVE.

>> TALK ABOUT THE INITIATIVE THAT YOU STARTED, JUSTICE SERVED.

WHAT EXACTLY IS IT?

WHAT DOES IT DO?

>> SURE.

SO, THROUGH MY ROLE HERE AT THE FIRM, I GOT TO KNOW FOOD BANK AND AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION AND MADE DONATIONS AND THOUGHT, I JUST LIKE THE SUPPORT, THE WORK THESE GREAT PEOPLE ARE DOING.

BUT THEN I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEER ONE TIME AT THE BRONX WAREHOUSE, AND THAT WAS A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE FOR ME.

YOU KNOW, I'M A LAWYER.

I WORK HERE IN THIS OFFICE.

YOU SEE THE BOOKS.

LAWYERS ARE USED TO BEING IN COURTROOMS, WORKING WITH CLIENTS AND CONFERENCE ROOMS.

AND I WAS GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEER AT THE BRONX WAREHOUSE.

I WENT UP THERE WITH A NUMBER OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE AS WELL AS ONE OF THE LAWYERS FROM ONE OF OUR CLIENTS.

AND TOGETHER WE WENT UP THERE AND WALKED INTO THIS 90,000 SQUARE FOOT WAREHOUSE STOCKED FLOOR TO CEILING WITH FOOD TO FIGHT HUNGER IN NEW YORK CITY, AND IT WAS OVERWHELMING, AND WHAT REALLY UNDERSCORED IT FOR ME WAS THAT THE PERSON WHO WAS GIVING US THE TOUR OF THE WAREHOUSE TOLD US WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT WAS REALLY JUST ENOUGH TO FEED NEW YORK FOR A FEW DAYS.

AND I THOUGHT, I CAN'T GO BACK TO MY DAY JOB AND KEEP DOING WHAT I WAS DOING WITH THAT KIND OF THING GOING ON AROUND ME IN A CITY I LOVE SO MUCH.

I GREW UP IN AND AROUND NEW YORK AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> LARRY, OTHERS WOULD HAVE GONE IN THERE, SEEN THE SAME THINGS YOU DO AND WOULD NOT HAVE REACTED, WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THAT KIND OF EFFECT ON THEM AS IT DID ON YOU.

WHY DID IT HAVE THAT EFFECT ON YOU?

>> I THINK IT WAS THE IMPACT OF THE NEED AND REALIZE THERE ARE GREAT PEOPLE AT FOOD BANK WHO ARE WORKING DAY IN DAY OUT TO SERVE THIS NEED.

AND AS MUCH AS I GREW UP HERE IN NEW YORK, IT'S SOMETHING I WANTED TO DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

BUT I'M A LAWYER.

THIS IS MY DAY JOB.

THIS IS WHAT I DO.

SO I THOUGHT LONG AND HARD, HOW COULD I MAKE A DIFFERENCE DOING WHAT I DO, AND I SAID, I KNOW LAWYERS.

I HAVE LOTS OF CLIENTS AND KNOW LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD FEEL THE SAME WAY I DO IF I GAVE THEM A CHANCE.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

NEW YORK IS A GREAT CITY.

THERE ARE LOTS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES IN NEW YORK.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THING WE LOVE ABOUT NEW YORK.

THERE ARE MANY LAWYERS HERE IN NEW YORK.

AND FOR THOSE OF US WHO FEEL THE SAME AS I DO, FOOD IS A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF LIFE, AND A LOT OF US CAN RELATE TO FOOD INSECURITY AS A VISCERAL LEVEL.

AND I HAVE JUST FOUND THAT WHEN YOU GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO SEE WHAT FOOD BANK DOES, TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE PEOPLE ON THE FRONT LINE, AND PROVIDE SOMETHING THAT HAS SUCH A MEANINGFUL IMPACT TO THEM, IT JUST -- IT'S A KIND OF EXPERIENCE THAT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD AND MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT GIVING AND YOU GET MORE OUT OF IT THAN YOU GIVE.

>> LESLIE, WE HAVE LESS THAN TWO MINUTES LEFT BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

THE FOOD BANK PROVIDES THINGS OTHER THAN FOOD, RIGHT?

IT HELPS NEW YORKERS NAVIGATE OR COMPLEX TAX SYSTEM.

WHEN DID IT GET INVOLVED IN THAT?

>> WE HAVE HAD A LONG LEGACY AND PROUD COMMITMENT TO MAKING SURE THAT NOT ONLY DID PEOPLE HAVE GOOD NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR TODAY, BUT ALSO TO HELP LIFT THEM MORE PERMANENTLY OUT OF A POSITION OF HAVING TO REGULARLY VISIT A FOOD PANTRY OR SOUP KITCHEN.

AND SO INCREDIBLY, US A JUST SHARED, WE'RE ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST TAX PREPARATION ORGANIZATIONS.

TAX SEASON IS IN FULL SWING FOR FOOD BANK AT NEW YORK CITY AND ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

WE HELP LOW-INCOME NEW YORKERS PREPARE THEIR TAXES.

YOU MIGHT ASK YOURSELF, A FOOD BANK AND TAXES?

HOW DOES THAT GO TOGETHER?

AND HOW IT WORKS IS ONE OF THE BEST POVERTY FIGHTING MEASURES IN THE UNITED STATES IS SOMETHING CALLED EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT.

AND SO WE HELP PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT WONDERFUL PROGRAM, WHICH ALSO REWARDS PEOPLE FOR WORKING AND FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN.

AND THE AVERAGE RETURN IS SOMETHING ABOUT $1,800 CASH, WHICH IS TRANSFORMATIONAL.

>> QUICKLY, HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT.

PEOPLE WATCHING US ARE INTERESTED, LESLIE, WHAT SHOULD THEY DO?

30 SECONDS.

>> FIND YOURSELF IN OUR MISSION AT FOOD BANK FOR NEW YORK CITY.

YOU CAN DONATE, ADVOCATE, VOLUNTEER.

VISIT US AT FOODBANKNYC.ORG AND OF COURSE LAW FIRMS AND LAWYERS CAN BECOME PART OF JUSTICE SERVED.

WE'LL HAVE TO END IT THERE.

THANKS, YOU GUYS FOR THE WORK YOU DO AND FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> OUR PLEASURE.

♪ >>> ATHLETE, ACTIVIST, ICON, THE GREATEST -- FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION MUHAMMAD ALI WAS ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

FROM HIS CHILDHOOD IN THE SEGREGATED SOUTH TO HIS FINAL FIGHT WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE, MUHAMMAD ALI NEVER BACKED DOWN.

HE REFUSED TO FIGHT IN VIETNAM, HE BECAME A SYMBOL OF THE ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT AND DEFENDER OF CIVIL RIGHTS.

AS THE GREATEST, HE WAS A BOXER OF UNDENIABLE TALENT AND COURAGE, AND IN THE RING, ONLY ALI COULD FLOAT LIKE A BUTTERFLY AND STING LIKE A BEE.

WHAT WAS ALI LIKE AT HOME AS A FATHER AND HUSBAND?

THE ANSWERS CAN BE FOUND IN "AT HOME WITH MUHAMMAD ALI", A MEMOIR OF LOVE, LOSS, AND FORGIVENESS, WRITTEN BY HIS YOUNGER DAUGHTER AND BASED ON 80 HOUR OF VOICE RECORDING A DAD LEFT FOR HIS DAUGHTER.

HANNAH, WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THIS IS REALLY AN AMAZING CLE COLLECTION OF STORIES YOU WERE ABLE TO TELL ABOUT YOUR FATHER.

WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION TO DO THIS BOOK?

>> I HAD A FEW.

THERE WAS A SITUATION WITH MY FATHER BEING -- I ALWAYS SAY HE BELONGED TO THE WORLD.

PEOPLE LOVED HIM AND ARE SHARING STORIES ABOUT HIM, AND ASKING QUESTIONS.

A QUESTION WE GET THE MOST IS, WHAT WAS HE LIKE AS A HOME?

WAS HE REALLY THAT BOASTFUL AND BRAGGADOCIOUS?

SO I WANTED TO SHARE THAT SIDE OF MY FATHER.

I WANTED TO SHARE A LOT OF THE STUFF I WAS LEARNING AS I WAS LISTENING TO THE AUDIO RECORDINGS HE GAVE ME THAT HE MADE IN THE '70s.

I LEARNED A LOT FROM THOSE.

I WANTED TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION, SHARE MY MOTHER'S STORY, THEIR RELATIONSHIP, AND HER RELATIONSHIP WITH MY FATHER.

>> WHAT I THOUGHT WAS SO INTERESTING WAS THAT HE -- WELL, MAYBE NOT INTERESTING.

OF COURSE, IT WOULD FIT WITH THE CHARACTER, HE HAD THE FORESIGHT TO MAKE AUDIO RECORDINGS, THAT HE THOUGHT, IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT SOME OF THESE ARE PRESERVED FOR TIME.

>> YEAH, SEE, MY FATHER -- PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THIS, BUT HIS GREATEST -- IN HIS MIND, HIS GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT WAS BEING A FATHER.

HE LOVED BEING A FATHER.

HE ALWAYS SAYS HE'S THE DADDY TO THE WORLD.

WANTED TO BE THE WORLD'S FATHER.

HAD AS HOME BODY.

HE LOVED BEING AT HOME.

HE COULD SIT IN HIS OFFICE FOR HOURS AT A TIME AND BE HAPPY, ON THE TELEPHONE TALK.

HE THOUGHT THESE LITTLE FLEETING MOMENTS WE TAKE FOR GRANT READY SO BEAUTIFUL, AND HE WANTED TO PRESERVE THAT.

HE KNOWS THAT ABOUT HIMSELF.

HE'S TELLING ME CONSTANTLY, YOU'RE GOING TO BE SO GLAD I THOUGHT OF IT.

I'M SO HAPPY I'M HISTORY CONSCIOUS.

IT'S SO GOOD I KNOW TO THINK ABOUT THIS AND PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE.

WE ALL WISH WE HAD TAPES WHEN WE WERE YOUNG.

I'M DOING THIS BECAUSE I LOVE YOU.

LIFE IS SO BEAUTIFUL AND SO SHORT, AND HE WANTED TO CAPTURE THOSE MOMENTS TO PASS.

>> I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT FOR OUR AUDIENCE TO HEAR THEM.

THIS IS YOU AND YOUR DAD SINGING "THIS IS DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE."

>> I LOVE THIS ONE.

>> LET'S HAVE OUR SINGING LESSON.

YOU READY?

>> YEAH.

♪ THIS IS DADDY SINGING TO THE ONE I LOVE ♪ ♪ EACH NIGHT BEFORE YOU GO TO BED, MY BABY ♪ >> SO, ONE OF THE THINGS I FIND SO INTERESTING IS THAT OFTEN TIMES WHAT LITTLE THE PUBLIC KNOWS ABOUT A SPORTS FIGURE IS WHAT WE READ THROW THE SPORTS PRESS.

WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO MAKE SURE THIS WAS A CHANCE TO ACTUALLY SHOW THE HUMAN BEING BEHIND, THE IN SOME WAYS, THE MAN YOUR FATHER WAS, BUT IN SOME WAYS THE CHARACTER HE WAS P PLAYING FOR THE PRESS?

>> YES, BECAUSE MY FATHER WAS OUTGOING.

HE KNEW HOW TO MARKET HIMSELF AND SELL TICKETS.

HE WAS ALSO TRYING TO PROMOTE BLACK LOVE FOR SELF-PRIDE, SAYING I AM THE GREATEST.

BUT HE WAS ALSO VERY HUMBLE.

WHAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IS UP UNTIL HIS LAST DAYS HE WOULD -- DO PEOPLE STILL REMEMBER ME?

HE WAS EXCITED TO KNOW HE WAS STILL MAKING NEWS.

DADDY, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

YES, PEOPLE REMEMBER YOU.

>> AND IT WAS GENUINE.

HE KNEW HE WAS GREAT.

BUT HE NEVER TOOK IT FOR GRANTED AND HE WAS ALSO VERY HUMBLED BY IT AND HE NEED PEOPLE'S LOVE AND ATTENTION LIKE HE NEEDED AIR TO BREATHE.

HE GAVE THAT BACK TENFOLD.

A DOOR WAS ALWAYS OPENED.

IT WAS A NORMAL CAR INSURANCE TO COME HOME AND FIND HOMELESS FAMILIES THERE.

IT WAS A NORMAL CAR INSURANCE FOR HIM TO PICK THEM UP AND PUT THEM IN THE BACK OF A CAR.

WHEN WE WERE EATING AND SOMEBODY WAS REFUSED SERVICE, THEY'D EAT WITH US.

I'M TALKING ABOUT HOMELESS PEOPLE ON THE STREETS WHO NEVER HAD A BATH IN I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG.

HE WOULD HUG THEM.

I KNOW THIS WAS GRAPHIC.

BUT EVEN AS A LITTLE GIRL, HE MADE ME FEEL SO LOVED.

I WOULD BE 5, 6 YEARS OLD, PEE THE BED.

HE'D GIVE ME KISSES.

DADDY, I PEEED!

HE'D STAY RIGHT THERE.

YOU FELT SO LOVED.

THERE WAS NEVER A TIME HE WOULD SEND YOU AWAY OR PUT YOU OUT, AND I WAS AN ANNOYING LITTLE GIRL, SO SOME OF THOSE TAPES -- HE'S ON THE PHONE TALK ABOUT HOSTAGES IN IRAN, AND I'M LIKE, I WANT TALKY.

HANNAH, PLEASE BE QUIET.

TOUGH HOUSEKEEPER CHIMING IN, DO YOU WANT ME TO COME GET HANNAH?

LET ME KNOW IF SHE'S IN THE WAY.

GIVE ME SOME TOFFEE!

HE NEVER SENT ME AWAY.

I HAD THAT FEELING AND THE TAPES VALIDATED IT.

I KNEW IT.

>> THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS.

SO MUCH OF THE BOOK IT FEEL LIKE GOING WITH YOU THROUGH AN OLD FAMILY PHOTO ALBUM.

USUALLY WHEN THERE'S DISTANCE FOR ANY MEMBER, YOU LOOK BACK AND THERE'S MEMORIES OF THE TIME AND PLACE AND PEOPLE YOUR PARENTS WERE AS YOU GREW AS ADULTS.

WHAT WAS IT, ASIDE FROM THE TOFFEE STORY, WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT STOOD OUT TO YOU THAT YOU WERE LIKE, I ALMOST COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT THAT?

>> YES, SO ITHINGS I LEARNED AN DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT.

I NEVER SAW MY PARENTS ARGUING.

AND I DON'T REMEMBER -- I COMPLETELY BLOCKED OUT MOVING AND THE LAST NIGHTS AT THE HOUSE, ALL OF THAT.

I WAS 10 YEARS OLD.

I SHOULD HAVE SOME MEMORY.

I JUST REMEMBER MY PSYCHOLOGIST AT THE TIME WHO I WAS SENT TO GO SEE BECAUSE I WAS STRUGGLING WORRYING ABOUT MY FATHER SO MUCH TELLING ME, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR PARENTS' DIVORCE?

I BLANKED OUT.

MY MOTHER, ME AND LAYLA COULD GO TO HER AND SAY, YOU BOTH LIKE MOVIES, YOU BOTH LIKE PICKLES?

SHE MET HIM WHEN SHE WAS 18, SO SHE WAS JUST COMING INTO HER OWN AND LIVED A LONG LIFE WITH HIM, INFIDELITIES.

EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE GOOD FRIENDS.

THEY DISCOVERED THE LETTERS HE WROTE TO HER, AND SHE NEVER SAW THEM.

SO I LEARNED ABOUT THAT.

AND ALSO AS I WAS COMING HOME WITH ALL THESE NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS AND REMEMBERING LITTLE BITS OF HISTORY, I WAS LEARNING MORE, AND SOME THINGS WERE INACCURATELY REPORTED LIKE USUALLY HAPPENS.

I WOULD GO TO MY MOM AND WE TALK IT THROUGH.

SO IT WAS BORN ON ITS OWN AS I WAS WRITING SBIRKT I WAS LEARNING AS I WAS WRITING TRYING TO SHARE THE STORY WITH EVERYONE.

IT WAS OVERWHELMING AND I HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TELL THE THREE STORIES COHESIVELY THAT WOULD MAKE PEOPLE INTERESTED AND INCLUDE ME IN A MEMOIR THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT FAMILY.

IT'S A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR MYSELF.

I CONSIDER IT MY GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW I GOT THROUGH.

>> THAT'S SOMETHING REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.

FREQUENTLY, ESPECIALLY IF A CHILD OF A CELEBRITY WHO WANTS TO MAINTAIN THAT CELEBRITY'S AURA OF THEIR LEGEND, ET CETERA, MAYBE THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE STILL IN THE HOUSE WE'RE GOING TO KEEP TO OURSELVES IS HOW PEOPLE WOULD APPROACH IT, BUT YOU SPOKE ABOUT EVERYTHING.

>> I DID.

IF THERE ARE SECRETS I'M NOT EXPOSING THEY'RE JUST NOT MINE TO TELL.

THIS IS NOTHING THAT WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE MY FATHER LOOK BAD.

IT'S STUFF THAT REALLY IF THEY KNEW HE WOULD LOOK A LOT BETTER, BUT THEY'RE -- I ADDRESS THAT SOMETIMES, SOME OF THESE AREN'T MINE TO TELL, BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT MY DAD, IT'S ABOUT HIM PROTECTING OTHER PEOPLE.

DADDY LIVED LIKE AN OPEN BOOK.

THERE'S NOTHING THE WORLD WILL FIND OUT ABOUT HIM THAT HE DIDN'T SHOW TO THE WORLD IN THAT REGARD.

BUT HIS -- I THINK JUST HOW WE ARE AT HOME AND AROUND THE HOUSE AND THE STRUGGLES HE WAS DEALING WITH AND THE WORRIES AND CONCERNS HE HAD-A HUMAN BEING LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE AND HE WASN'T AFRAID TO SHARE IT OR SHOW IT.

HE WOULD CRY.

HE DIDN'T BOOHOO, BUT TEARS WOULD FALL.

HE'D SEE A HOMELESS FAMILY AND CRY.

A LOT OF MEN ARE AFRAID TO SHOW THEIR EMOTIONS AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT TRUE STRENGTH IS BEING ABLE TO OWN AND IT EXPRESS IT AND BE COMFORTABLE WITH ALL YOUR EMOTIONS, AND THAT'S HOW MY FATHER WAS.

HE WAS AFFECTIONATE, OPEN WITH EVERYTHING AND, IN THE BOOK I TRIED TO SHOW THAT SIDE OF HIM, BECAUSE HE WAS STRUGGLING WITH A LOT.

IF HE SHOULD COME BACK AND FIGHT LA LARRY HOLMES.

HE KNEW SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT ABOUT HIS HEALTH.

THEY THOUGHT HE HAD PARKINSON'S SYNDROME, BUT IT WAS A DISEASE.

HE WAS FIGHTING HIS LAST FIGHTS, HE HAD PARKINSON'S.

PEOPLE THOUGHT HE'S OLDER AND MATURE.

WHEN HE SLOWED DOWN IT WAS LIKE HE WAS TALKING AT A REGULAR SPEED, BUT REALLY HE WAS SLOWING DOWN.

THEN IT GOT TO THE POINT YOU COULDN'T DENY IT.

EVEN AS A GIRL, I'D SEE HIM STUMBLE, SLEEPING ON THE COUCH OR OUTSIDE ON THE PORCH, AND WOKE UP IN THE MORNING BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO DISTURB ANYONE AND RING HIS DOORBELL IF HE LOST HIS KEYS, SO DADDY WOULD SLEEP ON THE SOFA OUTSIDE.

HE HAD THIS WEIRD THING ABOUT NOT WAKING PEOPLE.

THE SOMEONE WAS TAKING A NAP HE'D -- SHH!

WE'D BE WAITING FOR A FLIGHT IN THE PRIVATE ROOM, AND HE'D TELL US TO SHH IF HE CEASE SOMEONE REST.

HE HAD A THING.

AND SHARING HIS FOOD.

IF HE WAS EATING HE'D HAND YOU FOOD FROM HIS PLATE.

WHEN WE'D BE EAT AT RESTAURANTS, HE'D HAD PRESIGNED AUTOGRAPHED, TOOTHPICK IN HIS MOUTH AND PASSING THEM OUT AT A TABLE.

THANK YOU, MUHAMMAD ALI.

HE DIDN'T WAIT.

HE WAS SO DOWN TO EARTH.

THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN'T SHARE HIM ARE THE WORLD HE BELONGED TO AND GAY HIMSELF TO FULLY.

SOME THINGS IN THERE WERE PERSONAL BUCK I THOUGHT, MY DAD LIVED HIS LIFE LIKE AN OPEN TOOK.

THE WORLD WAS FAMILY TO HIM.

>> I THINK THAT'S A WONDERFUL NOTE TO LEE IT ON, BECAUSE THAT I THINK ENCAPSULATES WHAT WAS STORY WAS.

I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME.

THIS WAS A GREAT BOOK, AND IT'S SUCH, AGAIN, A DIFFERENT LOOK AT A MAN THAT WE ALL THINK THAT WE KNOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, FILOMEN M. D'AGOSTINO FOUNDATION, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, AND BY -- JANET PRINDLE SEIDLER,