>> WELCOME TO GBH NEWS ROOTED.

I’M YOUR HOST, PARIS ALSTON.

A HISTORIC SUMMER IN BOSTON WITH FAME ALL AROUND.

THE ESSENCE HCBU KICKOFF, THE FIRST MATCH OFF IN AND 55 YEARS.

WE SPOKE TO THE ESSENCE CHIEF CONTENT DIRECTOR AND DIRECTOR OF SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT.

AFTER AN INCREDIBLE CAREER IN JOURNALISM, INCLUDING AN ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATION, GBH’S OWN CALLIE CROSSLEY INDUCTED INTO THE BLACK JOURNALISTS HALL OF FAME.

>> WE WERE DETERMINED TO TELL A SEMINAL STORY FOR THE COUNTRY ABOUT THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN A WAY THAT HAD NOT BEEN ADDRESSED WITH THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE.

THERE WERE NO ON-AIR HISTORIANS, JUST THOSE VOICES AND DOCUMENTED EXPERIENCES.

PARIS: WE CATCH UP WITH HER AND HEAR HIGHLIGHTS OF HER CAREER AS WELL AS WHAT IT MEANS TO HER TO HAVE THIS HONOR.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO LOOK TOO FAR TO FIND BLACK EXCELLENCE IN BOSTON AND THESE GUESTS PROVE IT SO LET’S START THE SHOW P LET’S DIVE IN.

MICHELLE, ESSENCE MAGAZINE IS SYNONYMOUS WITH CELEBRATING BLACK EXCELLENCE OF WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR ESSENCE TO BE PART OF THIS HISTORIC EVENT?

MICHELLE: WHEN THINGS LINE UP IN AN AMAZING WAY, BOSTON IS CELEBRATING 55 YEARS AND CAN YOU BELIEVE ESSENCE MAGAZINE HAS 55 YEARS SUPPORTING BLACK EXCELLENCE?

IT MADE SENSE FOR US TO PARTNER WITH THESE AMAZING SCHOOLS, WITH JOHN AND DEREK TO AMPLIFY THIS IMPORTANT MESSAGE AND IT IS NOT LOST ON "ESSENCE" THAT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO SHINE A LIGHT ON WHAT EXCELLENCE LOOKS LIKE SO WE ARE EXCITED WE ARE DOING THAT AND MY DAUGHTER GOES TO HARVARD SO WE ARE PROUD OF HOW HARVARD HAS STOOD UP TO NARRATIVES AND CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD TODAY.

PARIS: THAT IS WONDERFUL.

JOHN, WHAT HAS RESPONSE BEEN LIKE FROM BLACK LOCALS IN BOSTON?

JOHN: PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RECEPTIVE TO IT.

I KNOW THERE IS DIFFERENT INFORMATION OUT THERE.

THE FIRST TIME IN ALMOST 55 YEARS AND H CBU GAME --HCBU GAME HAS BEEN PLAYED IN BOSTON.

THERE HAVE NOT BEEN TWO HCBU’S THAT PLAYED SINCE.

THE ALIGNMENT SHE SPOKE OF, 55 YEARS OF CELEBRATING "ESSENCE" AND THE GAME MADE SENSE TO PARTNER ON.

BOSTON IS RESPONSIVE AND EXCITED.

PEOPLE CAN’T WAIT TO GET TO THIS GAME TO EXPERIENCE THE CULTURE.

I SAID THE AIR WILL SMELL DIFFERENT INSIDE OF BOSTON.

PARIS: I’M HOPING THAT MEANS SOMEBODY WILL BE COOKING SOME GOOD RIBS.

[LAUGHTER] TAILGATE.

JOHN: ONE OF THE THINGS SO RICH, EVEN THE MARCHING BANDS ARE COMING UP.

THIS WILL FEEL LIKE A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE ALL AROUND FOR US AND WE ARE EXCITED.

BOSTON DESERVES THIS.

PARIS: MICHAEL BIVENS WILL HAVE INVOLVEMENT AND WHAT IS HIS ROLE?

JOHN: MICHAEL BIVENS HAS BEEN A MAJOR PART OF THIS ENTIRE CELEBRATION.

WE HAVE GIVEN HIM A CHANCE TO RAISE HIS HAND AND HE SAID HE WANTED TO CHAIR THE HOST COMMITTEE AND LEVERAGES SOCIAL CAPITAL TO RAISE THE PROFILE OF WHAT WE ARE DOING IN BOSTON.

PARIS: HE IS LIKE OUR SNOOP DOGG OF THE OLYMPICS.

JOHN: WE NEED MIKE.

AND ALL THE OTHER GUYS.

PARIS: 100%.

ROBBIE, BOBBY, RICKY, MIKEY AND RALPH.

MICHELE: AND JOHNNY.

PARIS: MICHELE, BOSTON DOES NOT HAVE AN HBCU AND HAS NOT BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF BLACK CULTURE FOR SOME IN THIS COUNTRY BUT IN BOSTON WE KNOW THERE IS A ROBUST BLACK COMMUNITY GROWING AND THRIVING.

WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR "ESSENCE" TO PICK THIS CITY FOR ONE OF ITS GAMES?

MICHELE: I’M HONORED THE GUYS REACHED OUT TO US THROUGH OUR CEO OF SUNDOWN MEDIA GROUP KIRK MCDONALD BECAUSE I ALWAYS SAY EVERYTHING HAPPENS ON TIME AND IT IS ON TIME FOR THIS NARRATIVE.

YOU WILL BE SURPRISED.

ONE THING I SEE THROUGH MY DAUGHTERTAYLOR’S EYES, SHE SAT ON THE BLACK WOMEN OF HARVARD BOARD, SET ON DIFFERENT COMMITTEES THAT DEAL WITH EVERY B ISSUES AND THEY ARE EXCITED WE WILL BRING THIS EXPERIENCE TO THEM SO I WOULD SAY IT IS A QUALITY GROUP OF YOUNG FOUTS, EXECUTIVES, LEADERS, SOME OF MY HOME GIRLS LIVE THERE.

BOSTON IS SURPRISING.

IT HAS A BIGGER BLACK COMMUNITY THAN PEOPLE THINK AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO PULL EVERYONE TOGETHER.

THE MOVEMENT WAS NOT CHANGED BY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, IT WAS CHANGED BY A FEW WHO HAD THE VISION AND DETERMINATION AND EXECUTION TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

WE WILL SEE THINGS HAPPENING AFTER THIS WEEKEND.

PARIS: ABSOLUTELY.

IS THIS MEANT TO BE A ONE-TIME EVENT OR CAN YOU SEE A LARGER PARTNERSHIP?

MICHELE: 100%.

WE UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO RAISE THE NEXT GENERATION AND FOR LEADERS TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS.

ONE THING WE HAVE DONE WELL IS THE "ESSENCE" FESTIVAL OF CULTURE.

IT IS OUR PARTNERSHIP OF A MINI FESTIVAL IN BOSTON.

IF YOU THINK OF THE DOLLARS WE BRING, THE BLACK BUSINESSES WE ARE ELEVATING, THE BLACK STUDENTS WE ARE BRINGING TOGETHER, IT HAS A LOT OF POWER AND WE KNOW HOW TO DO THIS WELL AND HAVE THE RIGHT PARTNERS.

THIS SHOULD BE THE FIRST OF MANY.

PARIS: I LOVE HOW YOU SAID ESSENCE FEST WAS A LITTLE THING.

[LAUGHTER] MICHELE: $350 MILLION EVERY YEAR TO THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS.

PARIS: SO A PROVEN TRACK RECORD.

JOHN: WE CAN’T WAIT TO BRING SOME OF THAT TO BOSTON.

PARIS: JUST SOME CONTEXT I HAVE THIS NORTH CAROLINA SURE NOT BECAUSE I’M AN AGGIE, BUT MY PARENTS WENT THERE, I HAVE A LOT OF FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WENT THERE AND I GREW UP IN GREENSBORO 15 MINUTES AWAY SO IT IS A TESTAMENT TO HOW HBCU CULTURE SPREADS OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING, HOW ARE YOU HOPING THIS GAME WILL EDUCATE NEW ENGLANDERS IN BOSTON AND BEYOND ON HBCU CULTURE?

JOHN: ONE THING YOU BRING UP IS THE BUSINESSES IMPACTED.

WE ARE ACTIVELY MAKING SPACE TO ENSURE LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE PRESENT EVEN DURING TAILGATE AND PREGAME.

THERE WILL BE SPACES FOR AUSTIN-BASED BUSINESSES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE -- BOSTON-BASED BUSINESSES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE.

EXPOSURE IS A BIG DEAL.

ROXBURY COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS PREDOMINANTLY BLACK, HISTORIC.

GIVES YOU 100 YEARS OF CREDIBILITY.

RCC HAS BEEN AROUND 50 YEARS.

NOT QUITE AN HBCU YET THOUGH LORD WILLING OVER THE NEXT 50 YEARS WILL BECOME WHAT WILL BE RECOGNIZED AS AN HBCU IN BOSTON.

RCC IS 95% TO 96% BLACK IN TERMS OF ITS STUDENT BODY BUT IS A PREDOMINANTLY BLACK INSTITUTION.

THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS AROUND SATELLITE CAMPUSES DEEPENING RELATIONSHIPS WITH RCC, BOSTON HILL SO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES KNOW THEY CAN MATRICULATE THOUGH BOSTON IS THE EDUCATION HUB OF THE WORLD ARGUABLY AND WE HAVE AMAZING INSTITUTIONS HERE.

HBCU’S ARE AN OPTION AND SHOULD BE A CONVERSATION AT THE DINNER TABLE.

BEING ABLE TO EXPOSE YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE CULTURE, THE LOOK AND FEEL, THE SELF-LOVE AND AWARENESS OF WHAT IT MEANS TO ATTEND AN HBCU AND THE AFFIRMATION THAT COMES WITH SEEING YOURSELF REPRESENTED IN A POSITIVE LIGHT ON A CONSISTENT BASIS, THIS IS NOT A MOMENT BUT A MOVEMENT AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

PARIS: I KNOW WE SAID THERE WAS THE 55 YEAR GAP BETWEEN THE FIRST HBCU GAME IN BOSTON AND THIS ONE HAPPENING NOW.

WE ALSO KNOW HOWARD HAS COME TO PLAY HARVARD MANY TIMES AND THERE HAS BEEN THE ECOSYSTEM OF THE TAILGATE, THE AFTER PARTY AND SIDE EVENTS SUPPORTING THIS GAME.

WHAT CAN ATTENDEES LOOK FORWARD TO?

WILL THERE BE PERFORMANCES, I HAVE GOTTEN LINKS TO SO MANY PARTIES AND I’M SO OVERWHELMED.

JOHN: WE HAVE LOCAL PERFORMANCES, NATIONAL PERFORMANCES.

THE WHOLE WEEKEND WILL BE FULL OF ACTIVITIES.

BECAUSE OF OUR PARTNERS LIKE "ESSENCE," CASHAPP VISA AND MEET BOSTON WE CAN BRING THIS TO LIFE.

WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

ON SUNDAY WE HAVE A GOSPEL CONCERT FEATURING -- POSSIBLE CONCERT FREE IN THE PAVILION.

SATURDAY THE TAILGATE, SOME LOCAL ARTISTS.

JOHN: TJ CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF 106.

WE HAVE SOME SURPRISES.

WE CAN’T LET THE FULL CAT OUT OF THE BAG.

JUST PULL UP, HAVE A GOOD TIME, PREPARE YOURSELVES ACCORDINGLY.

WEAR YOUR COLORS.

IF YOU ARE GREEK, WEAR YOUR LETTERS.

IF YOU WENT TO AN HBCU WEAR YOUR ’NALIA.

EXPERIENCE LOVE IN A SAFE SPACE AND BRING THE CULTURE.

PARIS: MICHELE, WHAT ARE THINGS BEHIND THE SCENES YOU CAN SHARE WITH US AS TO WHAT WENT INTO PLANNING THIS.

MICHELE: A LOT WENT INTO PLANNING.

WHEN WE SHOW UP PLACES WE LIKE TO MAKE IT A BIG CONTENT STUDIO.

THOUGH WE ARE IMPACTING THE CITY OF BOSTON AND WILL COVER LOCAL BUSINESSES THERE, THINK OF ESSENCE ALONE AND OUR FAMILY OF MEDIA COMPANIES AND PLATFORMS, WE REACH ABOUT 50 MILLION PEOPLE A MONTH.

THAT MEANS WE CAN CAPTURE CONTENT, STORIES, AND BRING THIS TO SO MANY PEOPLE GLOBALLY WHICH IS EXCITING ABOUT THE POWER OF CONTENT SO WE HAVE PUT A LOT OF PREPARATION INTO THIS MEANING WE WILL MAKE SURE OUR SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM IS ON THE GROUND.

I HAVE MY BEST AND BRIGHTEST SPORTS PERSON ON THE GROUND, MY SPORTS PRODUCER.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT LIVES ON BECAUSE WE WILL AMPLIFY THIS ACROSS EVERY PLATFORM WHERE OUR COMMUNITY LIVES, LOVES AND PLAYS.

THAT IS THE MOST EXCITING.

PARIS: I HAVE TO ASK BOTH OF YOU WHO ARE YOU ROOTING FOR TO WIN?

IS THIS A CONTROVERSIAL QUESTION?

MICHELE: I’M ROOTING FOR THIS COMMUNITY TO WIN.

PARIS: [LAUGHTER] GOOD ANSWER.

MICHELE: EVERYBODY IS WINNING.

A-GAME IS A GAME BUT WHEN THE COMMUNITY WINS BECAUSE WE ARE DOING SOMETHING AMAZING AND SHINING A LIGHT ON OUR BEST AND BRIGHTEST, THERE ARE NO LOSERS.

JOHN: SHE IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

PARIS: Y’ALL TRYING TO MAKE NO ENEMIES TODAY.

I GOT IT.

JOHN: I’M ROOTING FOR MOREHOUSE COLLEGE.

I WANT IT TO BE A GOOD GAME, I WANT MOREHOUSE TO BE VICTORIOUS.

MICHELE: NOT THAT YOU WENT THERE WERE ANYTHING.

[LAUGHTER] JOHN: I WANT MY BOYS TO GET THIS DONE.

PARIS: HE IS LIKE, IT WILL BE A WIN FOR THE COMMUNITY EITHER WAY.

JOHN: I WANT THE COMMUNITY TO WIN.

I WANT MOREHOUSE TO WIN THE FOOTBALL GAME.

PARIS: STRAIGHT UP ANSWER.

LASTLY FOR EACH OF YOU, WHAT LEGACY DO YOU HOPE THIS EVENT LEAVES BEHIND FOR BOSTON?

MICHELE: FOR ME, AND JOHN AND I WILL LET YOU HAVE THE FINAL WORD, FOR ME ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE WHEN YOU PARTNER AND UNDERSTAND IT DOES TAKE PARTNERSHIP, ALIGNMENT, MORE THAN ONE PERSON, ENTITY OR VISION TO MAKE SOMETHING GREAT HAPPENED.

NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE UNLESS WE HAD NEW EDITION, MIKE AND ESSENCE STEPPING IN AND YOU INTERVIEWING US FOR THIS PRESS RELEASE AND THE PEOPLE COMING IN.

WHEN WE COME TOGETHER WE CAN DO ANYTHING.

THERE IS NOT ONE LAW, ADMINISTRATION, NOTHING CAN STOP THE POWER WHEN WE COME TOGETHER AND THAT IS THE LAG -- THAT IS THE LEGACY I WANT TO LEAVE.

JOHN: I WANT BOSTON TO HAVE A NEW NARRATIVE.

BOSTON IS DESERVING OF A NEW NARRATIVE.

THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SAFE HAVEN FOR FOLKS.

WHEN THE AMERICAN POPPED OFF THE FIRST PERSON KILLED IN BEHALF OF THIS NATION WAS A BLACK MAN.

WHEN PEOPLE FOUGHT FOR THEIR FREEDOM OF THIS COUNTRY, IT WAS BLACK PEOPLE WITH THE 54TH REGIMENT COMING OUT OF BOSTON.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT PLACES WE COULD OWN PROPERTY IT WAS OFF THE COST -- OFF THE COAST OF BOSTON, THE ISLAND.

OFF OF OAK BLUFFS IS WHERE PEOPLE STARTED.

THERE IS SO MUCH RICHNESS ON THIS SOIL.

I WANT PEOPLE NOT FROM HERE TO SEE THAT AND RESPECT IT.

AND I WANT PEOPLE WHO ARE FROM HERE TO TAKE MORE PRIDE IN IT.

KIDS WHO LIKE ME GREW UP ON BLUE HILL AVENUE AND SEE THEMSELVES GOING TO COLLEGE FOR THE FIRST TIME, SEE THEMSELVES REPRESENTED IN THE COLLEGIATE RANKS BECAUSE THEY SAW THEMSELVES DIFFERENTLY, OR MORE THAN ATHLETE.

SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN EXPOSED TO MARCHING BAND CULTURE AND DO NOT REALIZE THEIR MUSIC, GIFTS AND TALENTS CAN TRANSLATE TO A COLLEGIATE SCHOLARSHIP.

I WANT THEM TO BE ENCOURAGED THIS WEEKEND AND FAMILY MEMBERS AND PARENTS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ATTEND RESPECTIVE HOMECOMINGS REALIZE WE BROUGHT HOME COMING TO THEM.

EXCITED FOR ALL WE ARE ABLE TO DO AND WE KNOW THIS IS JUST BEGINNING.

PARIS: JOHN BORDERS AND MICHELLE MICHELE GHEE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TO TALK TO US ABOUT THIS CELEBRATION OF HISTORY, CULTURE AND COMMUNITY.

WE KNOW IT IS THE BEGINNING OF MORE MOMENTS LIKE THIS IN BOSTON.

WELCOME TO WGBH NEWS ROOTED WHERE WE CELEBRATE BLACK INTELLECT, CULTURE AND JOY.

WE ARE HONORING A TRUE ICON IN JOURNALISM WHO WAS ALSO A FAMILIAR FACE.

A STORYTELLER, TRUTH TELLER AND NOW A HALL OF FAMER.

PLEASE WELCOME THE LEGENDARY CALLIE CROSSLEY, RECENTLY INDUCTED INTO THE BLACK JOURNALIST HALL OF FAME.

CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE BACK AT YOUR OWN STOMPING GROUND?

I KNOW WE HAD YOU FOR THE OSCARS ROUNDTABLE BUT IT IS JUST ME AND YOU THIS TIME.

CALLIE: IT IS GOOD.

STILL GETTING OVER THE HALL OF FAME PIECE OF THAT INTRODUCTION.

PARIS: TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT WHAT THIS HONOR MEANS TO YOU.

CALLIE: IT SIGNIFIES THE JOURNEY I HAVE BEEN ON IN MY CAREER.

I WAS ABLE TO IN MY REMARKS GIVE CREDIT TO PEOPLE WHO HELPED OR INSPIRED ME ALONG THE WAY.

AS I SAID TO THE AUDIENCE AT THE TIME, I’M FROM THE ONE AND ONLY BLACK REPORTER ERA WHERE THERE WAS JUST ONE AND ONLY AND MOST OF THE NEWS ROOMS I WAS IN, SADLY THAT IS TRUE IN SOME PLACES, BUT THAT WAS THE DEAL WHEN I WAS COMING UP.

TO GO TO MY FIRST CONVENTION AND SEAL THESE PEOPLE IN ONE ROOM, PROBABLY JUST 100 THE FIRST TIME I WENT AND THEY TURN OUT TO BE MENTORS AND SUPPORTS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN AND NOW TO BE HONORED BY THAT PEER GROUP IS SOMETHING.

PARIS: REMIND US HOW YOU GOT YOUR START IN JOURNALISM.

CALLIE: I TALKED MY WAY IN IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

MY FATHER SAID I HAD TO HAVE A JOB.

AND IF YOU DON’T HAVE ONE IN THREE MONTHS I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A PAPER ROUTE.

NOBODY KNOWNS -- KNOWS WHAT THAT MEANS.

HE SAID IF YOU WANT TO BE A WEALTHY GRAD WITH A PAPER ROUTE, THAT IS ON YOU.

2.5 MONTHS IN BECAUSE I MESSED AROUND, I GOT DESPERATE AND WENT DOWN TO THE LIBRARY.

NO GOOGLE THEN.

I RESEARCHED EVERYTHING AND CAME UP WITH AN ARGUMENT TO HAVE THE JOB.

THE DIRECTOR HAD IGNORED ME BECAUSE I HAD NO EXPERIENCE.

I WENT FOR THE TOP GUY IN THE STATION AT NEWS, GOT MY WAY IN ON A FRIDAY BEFORE THE NEWS SHOW SO THE DIRECTOR WOULD BE OCCUPIED.

AND BEFORE THE SECRETARY FOR THE GENERAL MANAGER WENT HOME ASKED IF I COULD SEE HIM.

SHE SAID NO, YOU DON’T HAVE AN APPOINTMENT.

I SAT THERE AND TRIED TO PONDER MY NEXT MOVE AND HE CAME OUT OF HIS OFFICE.

SINCE I DID MY RESEARCH ANNUITY LOOKED LIKE I SAID I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU.

HE SAID OK. MAYBE HE WAS BORED.

[LAUGHTER] I GOT TO HIS OFFICE DID A WHOLE SPIEL.

HE SAID SLOW DOWN, YOUR INSIDE NOW.

FROM THERE HE CALLED THE NEWS DIRECTOR, GOT ME AN AUDITION FOR A PART-TIME JOB.

THEN I WAS PART-TIME FOR THREE MONTHS AND THEN FULL AND THEN I WAS OFF.

PARIS: WHEN DID YOU KNOW?

AT WHAT POINT DID YOU KNOW YOU ARE ANSWERING YOUR CALLING?

CALLIE: IN HIGH SCHOOL I WROTE A COLUMN FOR THE NEWSPAPER, THE FIRST BLACK PERSON TO HAVE A COLUMN IN THE NEWSPAPER AT MY SCHOOL.

THAT STARTED GETTING JOURNALISM JUICES FLOWING.

DID SOME OF THAT WORK IN COLLEGE BUT NOT MUCH.

WAS MORE AND MORE INTERESTED.

DID NOT DO AN INTERNSHIP WHICH IS VITAL NOW FOR ANYBODY AND I WISH I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY.

JUST STUCK TO IT AND WAS FORTUNATE TO USE ALL THOSE SKILLS OF STRATEGY TO GET MYSELF IN THE DOOR AND LEARNED ON THE PEOPLE OF MEMPHIS.

THANK YOU PEOPLE OF MEMPHIS BECAUSE I’M SURE THOSE EARLY STORIES WERE A LITTLE -- [LAUGHTER] PARIS: I’M SURE THEY ARE ALL PROUD OF YOU.

MANY FOLKS MAY KNOW YOU HAD A PROLIFIC CAREER AT GBH AND BEYOND.

YOU ARE THE HOST OF UNDER THE RADAR WITH CALLIE CROSSLEY AND FORMERLY HOSTED BASIC BLACK BEFORE WE REIMAGINED IT INTO "GBH NEWS ROOTED."

WOULD HAVE BEEN YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN YOUR CAREER AT GBH?

CALLIE: SO MANY.

ENJOYED INTERACTING WITH ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAD -- THAT I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW.

YOU LEARN SO MUCH FROM PEOPLE, EVEN THOSE WERE NOT NAMES.

IN TERMS OF STORIES, I JUST DID A STORY LAST YEAR, AN HOUR ON KIND OF BLUE, MILES DAVIS’ ICONIC ALBUM.

STILL ONE THAT INSPIRES PEOPLE TODAY WHICH IS WHY WE DID THE STORY.

THAT WON AN AWARD.

AFTER GEORGE FLOYD’S DEATH DID A POWERFUL HALF-HOUR HERE ON WHAT WAS THEN BASIC BLACK TALKING ABOUT THAT MOMENT IN TIME, WHAT IT MEANT.

AND BOTH A FUN AND SUBSTANTIVE CONVERSATION ON THE MOVIE "BLACK PANTHER" AND WHAT IT MEANT IN TERMS OF REPRESENTATION AND THEMES OF BELONGING AND HOME.

THE KIND OF CONVERSATION YOU COULD HAVE WITH GREAT GUESTS AND I ENJOYED THAT.

PARIS: ONE OF THE BIGGEST MOMENTS OF YOUR CAREER WAS WHEN YOU WROTE, PRODUCED AND DIRECTED TWO EPISODES OF THE 1987 AWARD-WINNING "EYES ON THE PRIZE."

HOW’D YOU REFLECT ON THAT MOMENT TODAY?

CALLIE: IT IS THE SEMINAL PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE AND REMAINS SO.

WE WENT AT IT WITH EVERYTHING WE HAD, WERE DETERMINED TO TELL A SEMINAL STORY FOR THE COUNTRY ABOUT THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN A WAY THAT HAD NOT BEEN ADDRESSED WITH VOICES OF THE PEOPLE.

THERE WERE NO ON-AIR HISTORIANS JUST THOSE VOICES AND DOCUMENTED EXPERIENCES AND IT WAS POWERFUL FILMMAKING, POWERFUL AND THE FINAL RESULT OF IT.

JUST TO HAVE CAPTURED THE HISTORY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LONG GONE NOW EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT THAT LONG AGO IS SOMETHING.

I HAVE OFTEN FELT THAT I’M IN THESE SPACES AND YOU ARE BECAUSE OF THE SACRIFICE OF THOSE PEOPLE.

TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DOCUMENT WHAT THEY DID AND THAT HISTORY REMAINS AMAZING AND I FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT.

IT ALSO CREATED A HISTORY OF ITS OWN BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN NOMINATED IN THE DOCUMENTARY FEATURE CATEGORY AS A RESULT OF THE NOMINATION FOR THE OSCARS.

PARIS: INCREDIBLE, CONTINUING TO BREAK THEIR EARS.

I’M GLAD YOU MENTIONED HOW WITHOUT THOSE PEOPLE YOU WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN THE SPACES YOU WERE.

I WOULD NOT BE WHERE I AM NOW.

WITHOUT YOU I WOULD NOT BE HERE SO THANK YOU FOR PAVING THE WAY.

WE ARE EXISTING IN THIS MOMENT WHERE THE CONTENT OF "EYES ON THE PRIZE" IS BEING ATTACKED, ERASED, DISMANTLED.

HOW ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT THAT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE IN THE FACE OF THOSE THREATS?

CALLIE: I’M FEELING SADDENED AND ANGERED.

WITH REGARDS TO "EYES ON THE PRIZE," IT IS ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND LIBRARIES, QUOTED BY HISTORIANS EVERYWHERE, SO IT WILL BE HARD TO PULL ALL OF IT OUT SO THAT IS GOOD.

BUT, THE FUNDAMENTAL STORYTELLING OF THAT AND THE WAY WE TOLD IT, COULD BE A TIME WHERE THERE IS NOT THE GENERAL ACCESS YOU WANT AND IT IS SO SHOCKING TO KNOW THE REAL HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY WOULD BE COVERED UP OR ERASED.

IT TOOK THIS LONG TO GET TO THE POINT WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE THINGS THAT ARE UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT THEY ARE ALSO TRIUMPHANT IN WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.

THAT IS THE STORY OF AMERICA FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ENDED UP HERE.

IT IS REALLY SCARY.

WE HAVE TO BE ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF PROTECTING THAT HISTORY, KEEP TELLING THOSE STORIES, SHARING STORIES, KEEP THE HISTORY ALIVE, WHICH IS HOW I ENDED MY COMMENTS AT THE HALL OF FAME CEREMONY.

WE HAVE TO KEEP MISSION FOCUSED AND EYES ON THE PRIZE.

PARIS: WHAT DO YOU HOPE THIS NEXT GENERATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS DO TO UPHOLD THE?

-- THAT?

CALLIE: IT WILL BE ROUGH BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BE THE REMINDERS.

WE AND PEOPLE BEFORE ME, THE GENERATION I ADMIRED WHERE THE UNCOVERERS.

THERE WERE A LOT THAT HAD NOT BEEN DISCUSSED.

BUT IT HAD BEEN UNCOVERED, WE HAVE DOCUMENTED IT, WE HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION, NOW YOU HAVE TO BE THE REMINDERS.

THE CONSTANT REMINDERS.

THE WAY TO DO THAT IS TO PUT ALL OF WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY IN THE CONTEXT OF THOSE EVENTS BECAUSE WE CAN LOOK CLEARLY AND SEE THERE IS A LARGER CONTEXT FOR IT AND YOU ARE LIVING AT NEW.

YOU GET TO BE THE REMINDERS AND TORCHBEARERS TO CONTINUE TO PASS THIS ON.

PARIS: IT IS A BIG RESPONSIBILITY I DON’T TAKE LIGHTLY BUT IT IS NECESSARY.

AIN’T NOTHING TO REMIND SOMEBODY.

[LAUGHTER] ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK I CAN TAKE THAT ON.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING YOU TIME AND AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS, WISDOM AND CONTINUING TO PAVE THE WAY.

CALLIE: THANK YOU.

PARIS: THIS IS "GBH NEWS ROOTED" AND THAT IS IT FOR THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF THE SHOW.

STAY FAMOUS, INSPIRED, ROOTED AND STAY TUNED.

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