>> TONIGHT ON "RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY," MICHELLE: JIM VINCENT HE HAS HELPED FURTHER THE MOVEMENT AND WORKED WITH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE, FOR THE NAACP.

>> WE CANNOT HAVE A DICTATORSHIP FOR BLACK PEOPLE.

THAT IS NOT DEMOCRACY.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EQUALITY, THAT MEANS I HAVE A CHANCE TO COMPETE AGAINST YOU.

>> THE BLACK MAN IN THE WHITE MAN ARE ALREADY SEPARATED.

THE FACT YOU HAVE SECOND-CLASS CITIZENSHIP AS A POLITICAL SEPARATION.

BLACK PEOPLE ARE THE LAST HIRED AND FIRST FIRED HIS ECONOMIC SEPARATION.

YOU HAVE DISCRIMINATION, SOCIAL SEPARATION.

ALL WE ARE ASKING THAT AMERICA PRACTICE WHAT IT PREACHES OR PREACH WHAT IT PRACTICES.

♪ MICHELLE: GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY."

I AM MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

WE EXPLORE RACISM TONIGHT AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO FIGHTING RACISM IN ALL ITS INSIDIOUS FORMS.

WE WILL DO A REWIND OF A 1961 INTERVIEW WITH ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL FIGURES OF THE 20TH CENTURY.

WE BEGIN WITH A LOOK AT THE OLDEST CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION IN THE COUNTRY, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE, KNOWN AS THE NAACP.

IT WAS FOUNDED BY WHITE AND BLACK ACTIVISTS IN 1909 IN RESPONSE TO ONGOING VIOLENCE AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE.

TODAY THE NAACP HAS MORE THAN 2000 CHAPTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SINCE 2010, JIM VINCENT HAS LED THE NAACP'S PROVIDENCE BRANCH.

WE SAT DOWN FOR AN INTERVIEW HIS CAREER AND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HELP LEAD THE ORGANIZATION DURING THE PIVOTAL TIME IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> ONE DAY YOU ARE LIVING HAPPILY, GOING TO CUB SCOUTS AND THOSE THINGS.

SOMEBODY KNOCKED ON YOUR DOOR AND SAYS YOU HAVE TO MOVE.

WE ARE TEARING YOUR BLOCK DOWN.

IT IS CALLED EMINENT DOMAIN.

MICHELLE: JIM VINCENT GREW UP ON THE SOUTH END OF BOSTON.

HE IS THE OLDEST OF FOUR SIBLINGS.

HIS PARENTS WERE CAPE VERDEAN IMMIGRANTS.

WHEN HE WAS A TEENAGER HIS NEIGHBORHOOD WAS TORN DOWN.

HE DID NOT KNOW IT AT THE TIME BUT THE KNOCK ON THE DOOR WOULD HAVE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON HIS LIFE.

JIM: WE HAD NO POWER AT THE TIME.

WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT OUR OPTIONS WERE OTHER THAN TO MOVE.

MICHELLE: HIS FAMILY MAY HAVE NOT HAD POLITICAL CLOUT BACK IN THE 1960'S, BUT HE HAS COME A LONG WAY FROM HIS HUMBLE UPBRINGING.

FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS, HE'S BEEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP'S PROVIDENCE BRANCH, AND UNPAID POSITION THAT HELPED MAKE HIM A TRUSTED SOURCE FOR STATE LEADERS ON ISSUES OF RACE AND EQUITY.

LONG BEFORE VINCENT WAS LEADING A CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION HE WAS WATCHING THE MOVEMENT UNFOLD.

YOU CAME OF AGE DURING THE CIVIL-RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

DID YOU REALIZE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT?

JIM: AT THE TIME I DIDN'T.

I REMEMBER MARTIN LUTHER KING BEING ASSASSINATED AND THE SADNESS OF THAT.

I REMEMBER THE RIOTS IN 100 CITIES OVER THE SUMMER AFTER THAT.

IT DID NOT REALLY DAWN ON ME THE IMPACT TO ME PERSONALLY UNTIL I WAS BEING CALLED INTO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE TO TALK TO COLLEGE RECRUITERS.

MICHELLE: AS THE MOVEMENT GAINED GROUND, IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS BEGIN ACCEPTING MORE STUDENTS OF COLOR.

HIS SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL, DARTMOUTH COLLEGE MADE VINCENT AN OFFER HE SAYS HE COULD NOT REFUSE.

JIM: HERE I AM RIGHT AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME AT 17 HITTING AN OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME.

IN MY LUCKY?

MY PARENTS ARE IMMIGRANTS BUT I'M GETTING A CHANCE, ONE GENERATION, TO GO TO ONE OF THE BEST SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY REALLY ON THE BACKS AND SHOULDERS OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

I HAVE TO MAKE SOMETHING OF MYSELF.

I FELT A PROFOUND SENSE OF HAVING TO GET BACK.

JUST GIVE BACK.

-- TO GIVE BACK.

IT WAS NEW FOR THE FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATION.

THERE WAS SOME TENSION.

THEY WERE NOT USED TO HAVING THAT MANY BLACK PEOPLE ON CAMPUS, AND NOT THAT USED TO THAT MANY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS.

THERE WERE SOME CULTURE CLASHES AND SOME ANXIETY.

WE FOUGHT THROUGH IT.

WE WERE THE FIRST PIONEERS IN TERMS OF BLACK STUDENTS GOING THROUGH THOSE KIND OF SCHOOLS.

WE KNEW IF WE DIDN'T MAKE IT, OUR LITTLE BROTHERS AND NEPHEWS AND NIECES AND OTHERS WOULD NOT HAVE A CHANCE.

WE HAD TO SUCCEED.

MICHELLE: FOUR YEARS LATER, VINCENT GRADUATED AND WENT ON TO PURSUE A MASTERS DEGREE IN CITY PLANNING.

JIM: I COULD KNOCK IT A JOB IN PHILADELPHIA.

I WAS GOING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL.

I PUT A RESUME UP IN BOSTON.

I WAS ABLE TO GET THE JOB.

IT WAS THE BOSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, THE SAME AGENCY THAT KNOCKED ON THE DOOR EIGHT YEARS EARLIER AND SAID YOU HAVE TO LEAVE.

IT WAS A FULL CIRCLE.

THEY GAVE ME MY FIRST JOB.

I APPRECIATED IT.

I WANTED TO SENSITIZE THE AGENCY TO THE PEOPLE THEY WERE AFFECTING.

MICHELLE: BEING BACK HOME IN BOSTON WAS CHALLENGING FOR VINCENT.

JIM: I REMEMBER GROWING UP AND FEELING THE RACISM IN BOSTON.

PEOPLE KNEW THAT YOU COULD NOT GO TO CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE YOU WERE NOT WELCOME AND YOU WOULD GET CHASED OUT OR BEAT UP.

I CANNOT ESCAPE IT.

IT WAS THE 1970'S AND THE 1980'S.

MICHELLE: VINCENT SAYS HE FELT THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN HELD HIM BACK PROFESSIONALLY.

JIM: I WAS NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT.

I SAID I'LL GET BACK TO MY COMMUNITY BUT AT SOME POINT I DON'T WANT TO GROW TO BE AN OLD, BITTER MAN IN MY CITY.

AFTER THE 1980'S I SAID I WOULD LEAVE.

MICHELLE: MOVING TO THE OCEAN STATE WAS NOT AT THE TOP OF HIS LIST.

JIM: I WAS TRYING TO GO TO CHARLOTTE OR ATLANTA BUT I COULD NOT GET ANYTHING.

THE ONLY PLACE IT OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY WAS PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

I SAID THIS HAS TO BE A SIGN OF SOMETHING.

LET ME JUST DO THIS AND SEE WHERE IT TAKES ME.

30 YEARS LATER, IT HAS TAKEN ME HERE.

>> NO JUSTICE.

>> NO PEACE.

MICHELLE: VINCENT IS WATCHING HIS COUNTRY RECKONED WITH RACIAL INJUSTICE.

HE SAYS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT HE FEELS PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO CIVIL-RIGHTS ISSUES.

JIM: THERE IS A LOT OF AWARENESS NOW IN TERMS OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE ALLIES.

WE HAVE SEEN MEMBERSHIP.

MICHELLE: THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF SOUL-SEARCHING AS A COUNTRY FOLLOWING THE DEATHS OF GEORGE FLOYD, BREONNA TAYLOR AND MANY MORE.

WHAT HAS BEEN LIKE TO LEAD A CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION DURING THIS TIME?

JIM: IT'S BEEN INTERESTING TO SAY THE LEAST.

SAD.

IT TOOK ALL THESE DEATHS TO FINALLY AT ATTENTION OF THE COUNTRY.

THERE WERE ALWAYS PEOPLE THAT COULD EXPLAIN IT AWAY.

EVERY SINGLE CASE WAS EXPLAINED AWAY.

YOU CANNOT EXPLAIN THIS AWAY.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

THESE PEOPLE COMPLAINING, THEY HAVE BEEN TELLING US THE TRUTH.

THERE IS POLICE BRUTALITY.

THERE ARE PEOPLE GETTING MURDERED.

THIS IS TRUE.

MICHELLE: HE RECENTLY SERVED ON A SENATE TASK FORCE THAT EXAMINES THE LAW OFFICERS BILL OF RIGHTS.

THE GROUP RECOMMENDED POLICE CHIEFS BE ALLOWED TO SUSPEND OFFICERS WITHOUT PAY FOR UP TO 14 DAYS.

THEY CURRENTLY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO SO FOR TWO DAYS.

VINCENT BELIEVES A MORE AGGRESSIVE APPROACH SHOULD BE TAKEN.

WHY DO YOU THINK LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS BILL OF RIGHTS SHOULD BE ABOLISHED?

JIM: IT HAS GONE TOO FAR IN PROTECTING OFFICERS THAT HAVE DONE WRONG DOING.

IF WHAT HAPPENED IN ANY LAPIS -- MINNEAPOLIS HAPPENED IN PROVIDENCE BY GEORGE FLOYD BEING MURDERED, THE CHIEF COULD GIVE THE OFFICER IS A TWO-DAY UNPAID SUSPENSION.

THAT'S IT.

THERE IS NO CHIEF IN RHODE ISLAND THAT CAN FIRE ANY POLICE OFFICER IN RHODE ISLAND.

MICHELLE: VINCENT'S FOCUS ON ADVOCATING FOR SEVERAL ISSUES HE HOPES WILL HELP TACKLE SYSTEMIC RACISM.

JIM: WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT $15 MINIMUM WAGE.

THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE SOURCE OF INCOME DISCRIMINATION WHERE LANDLORDS IN RHODE ISLAND CAN DISCRIMINATE AGAINST SOMEONE BECAUSE OF THEIR SOCIAL INCOME.

-- SOURCE OF INCOME.

DISABILITY INCOME, SOCIAL SECURITY, WHERE THEY HAVE A SECTION EIGHT CERTIFICATE.

THEY CAN BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.

THERE ARE 14 STATES FOR YOU CANNOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST PEOPLE.

MICHELLE: THROUGHOUT RHODE ISLAND AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY VINCENT SAYS PEOPLE NEED TO RECKON WITH WHITE PRIVILEGE.

JIM: WE CAN'T HAVE A COUNTRY WHERE THERE IS DEMOCRACY FOR WHITE PEOPLE BUT A DICTATORSHIP FOR BLACK PEOPLE.

THAT IS NOT DEMOCRACY.

YOU TALK ABOUT EQUALITY, THAT MEANS I HAVE A CHANCE TO COMPETE AGAINST YOU.

I'M NOT SURE YOU REALLY WANT THAT BECAUSE I THINK YOU ENJOYED AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE.

I'M NOT SURE YOU WANT TO GET RID OF THAT UNFAIR ADVANTAGE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE DEMOCRACY SOUNDS GOOD BUT WHEN THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD YOU PUT MY QUALIFICATIONS VERSUS YOURS FOR THAT JOB AND I MIGHT GET IT.

YOU MIGHT NOT BE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

MICHELLE: WHEN YOU LOOK AT 2020, WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF AS YOU WORK WITH THE NAACP?

JIM: OUR ORGANIZATION AND MYSELF AS PRESIDENT, OUR PROUDEST MOMENT IS WHEN MELISSA LONG TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE AS THE FIRST BLACK PERSON OR PERSON OF COLOR TO BE NOMINATED AS A JUSTICE ON THE RHODE ISLAND SUPREME COURT.

WE BELIEVE THE JUDICIARY SHOULD BE REFLECTIVE OF THE STATE.

WE NOW HAVE MAYBE SEVEN OR EIGHT JUDGES OF COLOR OUT OF 90, APPROXIMATELY 90.

THAT IS NOT REFLECTIVE OF THE STATE'S POPULATION WHICH IS 30% COLOR.

MICHELLE: HOW A SOCIETY BETTER SERVED WHEN YOU HAVE MORE JUDGES OF COLOR?

JIM: HE GIVES THE POPULATION MORE CONFIDENCE THERE IS FAIRNESS IN THE SYSTEM.

THEY SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED.

SECOND, THE FACT THAT THESE JUSTICES COLLABORATE.

THEY TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES OF THE DAY.

WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE THEY CAN BRING THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCE TO THE CONVERSATION, IT WILL HELP MAKE THOSE JUSTICES MAKE A BETTER DECISION.

MICHELLE: VINCENT DREAMS OF THE DAY WHEN THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP IS CLOSED.

TODAY HOMEOWNERSHIP IS A POSSIBILITY FOR ALL BLACK RHODE ISLANDERS.

THE DAY WHEN STUDENTS OF COLOR ARE PERFORMING WELL IN PROVIDENCE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE ROAD TO GET THERE, HE SAYS, IS A LONG ONE.

JIM: THESE WILL NOT BE DEALT WITH IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS OR YEARS.

SEVERAL YEARS.

IT'LL WILL PROBABLY TAKE A DECADE OR TWO.

I SEE MYSELF WORKING JUST AS HARD ON THESE ISSUES AS I AM NOW.

MICHELLE: VINCENT IS COMMITTED TO HIS VOLUNTEER WORK WITH THE NAACP, EVEN ON COLD AND SNOWY DAYS.

HE DOES HAVE A WORKING FULL-TIME AS THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH OFFICER FOR THE RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITY.

WHEN VINCENT REFLECTS BACK ON HIS 69 YEARS OF LIFE HE SAYS HE FEELS PROFOUNDLY BLESSED AND LUCKY.

JIM: THE SYSTEM SAYS ONLY A COUPLE OF YOU CAN MAKE IT.

MOST OF IT IS BY DESIGN.

I WILL NOT MAKE IT.

THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO MAKE IT.

IT IS EQUALITY WE TALK ABOUT.

I THINK ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE AND I SAY I HAVE TO KEEP FIGHTING FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY NEVER HAD A CHANCE.

AS LONG AS I'M ALIVE AND BREATHING, I AM FIGHTING FOR THEM.

♪ MICHELLE: NEXT, WE GO BACK TO 1961 IN PROVIDENCE WHEN MALCOLM X CAME TO TOWN FOR THE SECOND TIME THAT YOUR.

SOME MONTHS EARLIER, HE SPOKE AT BROWN UNIVERSITY.

THIS TIME HE SAT DOWN WITH A LOCAL REPORTER FOR A WIDE-RANGING INTERVIEW, ABOUT THE NATION OF ISLAM SLAVERY, AND HIS BELIEF IN THE SEPARATION OF THE RACES.

OUR THANKS TO DEBBIE PRI TV AND THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY FOR SHARING THIS INTERVIEW WITH US.

MALCOM X: THE MUSLIMS IN AMERICA HAVE OUR ANNUAL CONVENTION IN CHICAGO EVERY YEAR.

I'M TRAVELING AROUND THE COUNTRY FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEEING THE GROUPS GOING BY CARAVAN ARE PROPERLY ORGANIZED AND PROPERLY INFORMED.

REPORTER: IS THERE A MOSQUE IN PROVIDENCE?

MALCOM X: YES.

MEETINGS ARE HELD EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY NIGHT.

REPORTER: WE NEVER HEAR ANYTHING FROM THEM.

HOW COME?

MALCOM X: THEY BELIEVE THE ONLY WITH A BLACK MAN'S CONDITION CAN BE CORRECTED IN AMERICA, POLITICALLY, SOCIALLY, ECONOMICALLY AND OTHERWISE IS IF WE DO IT OURSELVES.

OUR RELIGION TEACHES US AND GIVES US THE INCENTIVE, THE INGENUITY, THE KNOW-HOW TO SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM WHITE SOCIETY AND TRY TO DO FOR OURSELVES AND OUR OWN SOCIETY WHAT THE WIGHTMAN HAS DONE FOR HIMSELF AND HIS KIND IN HIS SOCIETY.

MANY OF THE SO-CALLED NEGRO INTEGRATIONISTS THANK IT IS OUR GREATEST NOW THAT IT APPEARS THEY ARE JUST ABOUT TO MAKE IT TO THE PROMISED LAND OF INTEGRATION.

THEY THINK WE ARE ALMOST TRAITORS TO STEP IN AND SAY WE DON'T WANT INTEGRATION.

REPORTER: HE SAID SEPARATION INSTEAD OF SEGREGATION.

CAN THIS BE ACCOMPLISHED?

MALCOM X: THE BLACK MAN IN THE WHITE MEN ARE ALREADY SEPARATED.

THE FACT YOU HAVE SECOND-CLASS CITIZENSHIP AS POLITICAL SEPARATION, YOU HAVE BLACK PEOPLE LAST HIRED AND FIRST FIRED HIS ECONOMIC SEPARATION.

THE FACT YOU HAVE DISCRIMINATION IS SOCIAL SEPARATION.

ALL WE ARE ASKING, SINCE SEPARATION IS PRACTICED ALTHOUGH NOT PREACHED, WE ARE ASKING AMERICA PRACTICE WHAT IT PREACHES OR PRE-TWITTER PRACTICES.

UP TO NOW THE WHITE COMMUNITY BENEFITS, AND IS THE SOLE BENEFACTOR FROM THE FORM OF SEGREGATION THAT EXISTS.

WE WANT IT SEPARATE SO THE BLACK MAN CAN BE BENEFITED AS WELL AS THE WHITE BE BENEFITED.

WE THINK IT WILL SOLVE THE RACE PROBLEM.

THIS IS JUST.

GET DOES NOT INVOLVE HYPOCRISY.

IS RECOGNIZING FACTORS AS THEY ARE AND THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

REPORTER: ALREADY FOR TOTAL SEPARATION WHERE YOU WANT YOUR OWN STATE?

MALCOM X: WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THAT TOTAL SEPARATION IS THE ONLY WAY TO SOLVE THE RACE PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY.

REPORTER: DO YOU SPEAK AT ALL ON ANYTHING OF A POLITICAL NATURE?

MALCOM X: IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU MEAN BY POLITICS.

WE ARE A RELIGIOUS GROUP THAT IS RELIGIOUSLY MOTIVATED.

IN OUR RELIGION WE ARE TAUGHT WE SHOULD HAVE FREEDOM, JUSTICE AND EQUALITY.

SOME PEOPLE PLACE FREEDOM AND JUSTICE AND EQUALITY IN A POLITICAL CATEGORY.

JUST AS MOSES IN THE BIBLE, HIS ENTIRE MESSAGE WAS A MESSAGE OF SEPARATION AND FREEDOM FOR HIS PEOPLE.

DESPITE THE FACT HE WAS SEEKING FREEDOM FOR HIS PEOPLE IN A LAND FOR HIS PEOPLE, MOSES IS NEVER REPRESENTED BY ANYONE OTHER THAN AS A RELIGIOUS LEADER.

HE'S NEVER CALLED A POLITICAL LEADER.

ARE PEOPLE IN AMERICA ARE IN THE SAME CONDITION AS MOSES FOUND HIS PEOPLE IN.

THE HONORABLE ELIJAH MOHAMMED IS A MODERN COUNTERPART.

WE LOOK UPON HIM AS A MAN OF GOD, MESSENGER OF GOD AND A RELIGIOUS MAN IN THE SAME LIGHT AND CATEGORY AT THE SAME LEVEL WITH MOSES.

REPORTER: I WAS THINKING BASICALLY OF THE PRESENT CONGO SITUATION IN THE BLUE OVERTONES.

DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENT ON THE SITUATION?

MALCOM X: WHATEVER THE CONGO PROBLEM, ANGOLA PROBLEM, NIGERIA PROBLEMS ARE DISCUSSED IN THE UNITED NATIONS, RACISM IS AT THE BOTTOM OF ALL.

IT IS THE PROBLEM YOU CAN'T IGNORE IN AMERICA AND WE AS MUSLIMS CAN IGNORE IN AMERICA BECAUSE AS THESE DARK COUNTRIES NEITHER INDEPENDENCE AND THEY EMERGE AND RISE IT IS CAUSING A FALL OF THE EUROPEAN NATIONS AS THEY BECOME STRONGER ECONOMICALLY.

THE EUROPEAN NATIONS BECOME WEAKER ECONOMICALLY.

IT HAS NECESSITATED CREATING THIS COMMON MARKET OR NEED FOR A COMMON MARKET BY EUROPEANS WAS CREATED BY THE FREEDOM OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE AFRICAN NATIONS AND THE ASIAN NATIONS.

ALTHOUGH ISLAM IS OUR RELIGION AND WE ARE RELIGIOUSLY MOTIVATED, WE CANNOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT RACISM IS NOT A LIEN AMERICA BUT ALSO ON A WORLDWIDE BASIS, AN INTERNATIONAL BASIS.

REPORTER: YOU MENTIONED LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE LAST APRIL THAT YOUR GROUP WAS NOT A VIOLENT GROUP.

BUT YOU WENT ON FROM THERE.

CAN YOU REPEAT THIS?

MALCOM X: WE ARE NOT A VIOLENT GROUP IN THIS SENSE.

THE HONORABLE ELIJAH MUHAMMAD TEACHES US NEVER TO BE THE AGGRESSOR AND RESPECT AND RECOGNIZE AND OBEY LAW AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

HE TEACHES US ALWAYS TO BE IN THE RIGHT RELIGIOUSLY.

THEN HE TEACHES US IF WE ARE EVER ATTACKED, WE HAVE THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT TO DEFEND OURSELVES.

ANY ACT OF VIOLENCE THAT MUSLIMS HAVE EVER BEEN INVOLVED IN HAS ALWAYS BEEN A REACTION TO AN AGGRESSIVE ACT COMMITTED AGAINST US.

WE DON'T ENDORSE PASSIVE RESISTANCE.

WE DON'T ENDORSE NONVIOLENCE.

WE DON'T ENDORSE ANY KIND OF PEACEFUL SUFFERING.

WE DON'T ENDORSE ANYTHING THAT IS EVER DEEMED BY MARTIN OF THE KING THAT HAS A TENDENCY TO STRIP AND DISARM OUR PEOPLE AT A TIME WHEN SEGREGATIONIST IN THE SOUTH ARE NOT DISARMED.

WE THINK IT IS WRONG TO TEACH BLACK PEOPLE IN AMERICA TO BE NONVIOLENT AT A TIME WHEN SOMEONE IS NOT TEACHING THE WHITE MEN IN AMERICA ALSO TO BE NONVIOLENT.

REPORTER: ANY RECENT INCIDENTS?

MALCOM X: NOT TO RECENT.

WE HAD A SITUATION IN MONROE, LOUISIANA.

OUR RELIGIOUS SERVICES WERE INVADED BY THE POLICE WHO WERE TRYING TO STOP THE SPREAD OF ISLAM IN MONROE, LOUISIANA BY FRIGHTENING THE SO-CALLED NEGROS .

THEY BROKE INTO OUR MOSQUE ARMED WITH RIGHT GUNS, NIGHTCLUBS, TEAR AND THINGS OF THAT SORT.

A FIGHT DID FOLLOW.

ALTHOUGH THE MUSLIMS DON'T BELIEVE IN CARRYING ANY ARMS WHATSOEVER, ALLAH BLESSED US TO HOSPITALIZE THE POLICE WHO IMMORALLY INVADED OUR SERVICES.

REPORTER: YOU HAVE A BOOK CALLED "ANTISLAVERY."

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS?

MALCOM X: IT WAS AUTHORED BY UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN PROFESSOR.

IT WAS PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN PRESS.

IT'LL COST YOU $20.

IN MY OPINION EVERY WHITE PERSON IN AMERICA AND BLACK PERSON IN AMERICA SHOULD READ THIS BOOK.

THEY WOULD GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE MACHINERY USED TO STRIP THE BLACK MAN WHO WAS BROUGHT TO THE WEST FROM THE EAST OF HIS CULTURE, HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, HIS CIVILIZATION AND RELEGATED TO THE ROLE OF AN ANIMAL.

IT TELLS HOW HE WAS DEHUMANIZED.

IT SPELLS OUT THE CRIME THAT WAS COMMITTED BY THE SLAVE TRADERS, THE SLAVE MAKER AND THE SLAVE MASTER, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONDITION AND RAISE PROBLEMS THAT EXIST IN AMERICA TODAY.

ONE OF THE BEST STATEMENTS IN THE BOOK IS THE PROFESSOR POINTS OUT SECOND-CLASS CITIZENSHIP IS NOTHING BUT A MODERN VERSION OF SLAVERY.

WHICH MEANS ACCORDING TO HIM, HIS DEFINITION, SLAVERY STILL EXISTS.

20 BLACK PEOPLE ARE STILL SLAVES.

THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION IN THE CIVIL WAR WERE FOUGHT FOR NOTHING.

BECAUSE IT WAS APPROACHING THE HEADER CRITICAL WAY, ALTHOUGH LINCOLN WAS FACED WITH A PROBLEM, ALL THE PRESIDENTS SINCE HIM ARE FACED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.

NO HONEST EFFORT HAS EVER BEEN MADE TO FOLLOW IT, ESPECIALLY BY POLITICIANS.

♪ MICHELLE: WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF RACIAL INCIDENTS IN 2020, INCLUDING THE DEATHS OF GEORGE FLOYD AND BREONNA TAYLOR AT THE HANDS OF POLICE OFFICERS, A RECKONING HAS BEEN TAKING PLACE AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE QUESTION ISSUES OF DISPARITY AND INEQUALITY.

IN OUR CONTINUING SERIES KIDS WANT TO KNOW, STUDENTS FROM WILLIAM E. TOLMAN HIGH SCHOOL ASK CARLON HOWARD FROM THE EQUITY INSTITUTE OF PROVIDENCE ABOUT SYSTEMIC RACISM AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO END IT.

>> I'M A SENIOR AT TOLMAN HIGH SCHOOL.

WHAT POLICIES CAN BE PUT IN PLACE TO CHANGE THE DYNAMIC OF RACIAL BIAS HAPPENING IN SCHOOLS ALL OVER RHODE ISLAND?

CARLON: THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT POSITIVE SOLUTIONS, I THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE BUILD A MORE DIVERSE PATHWAY INTO THE EDUCATION PROFESSION?

NOT JUST AS TEACHERS BUT ACROSS THE GAMUT.

POLICYMAKERS, ETC.

THE TRUTH IS YOU SEE MORE DIVERSITY IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS WHO ARE WORKING WITH STUDENTS AND BE DIRECTLY ENGAGED WITH STUDENTS.

AS WE GET MORE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, MORE FOLKS TO COME FROM DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES WHAT WE WILL SEE IS BY THE SHEER ACT OF EXPOSURE THAT WE SEE OVER TIME MANY OF THOSE PREJUDICES AND BIASES CAN BE ADDRESSED.

THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT'S THE ONLY SOLUTION BUT IT IS ONE THAT I'M INTERESTED IN MY ORGANIZATION AT EQUITY INSTITUTE.

MUCH OF THAT STARTS WITH CULTIVATING INTEREST IN YOUNG FOLKS AND LEVERAGING THE GREAT FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO BECOME THE LEADERS IN CLASSROOMS, AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, BEFORE SCHOOL PROGRAMS, LEGISLATION.

THEY ADD A CRITICAL RESPECT OFTEN MISSING.

>> I AM A SENIOR AT WILLIAM E. TOLMAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL.

THE QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU GUYS IS, WHY DO YOU BELIEVE RACISM AGAINST ASIAN PEOPLE IS SO NORMALIZED IN TODAY'S SOCIETY?

CARLON: THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF ASIAN AMERICANS IN OUR COUNTRY, THEY HAVE OFTEN BEEN OVERLOOKED IN TERMS OF THE RACIST ACTS OF VIOLENCE AND PREJUDICE THAT THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED AS A GROUP.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT DOES IT CONTINUE TO PERPETUATE AND SO OFTEN OVERLOOKED, YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE STEREOTYPE AROUND THIS MINORITY.

FOR MANY ASIAN AMERICANS THEY HAVE BEEN LABELED AS THIS MOB MINORITY.

NOT FOR ANYTHING THAT NECESSARILY SAID OR DID BUT BECAUSE THIS STEREOTYPE WAS WEAPONIZED AS A WAY TO COMPARE OTHER GROUPS, BLACK, BROWN GROUPS AND SAY, WHY CAN'T YOU BE LIKE ASIAN AMERICANS?

IT WAS NOT USED IN A WAY TO UPLIFT OR HIGHLIGHT ANYTHING THE ASIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IS NECESSARILY DOING AS MUCH AS IT WAS TO TEAR DOWN OTHER BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

WHAT CAUSED THIS STEREOTYPE -- WE HAVE SEEN FOLKS SAY THEY ARE GOOD.

THEY ARE DOING WELL.

THERE IS NO REASON TO WORRY ABOUT RACISM AGAINST THAT GROUP.

WE ARE NOW SEEING HOW THAT HAS BEEN PERPETUATED IN OUR MEDIA, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE INCREASED INCIDENCE OF RACIALIZED VIOLENCE AGAINST THIS GROUP.

>> I'M A SENIOR AT TOLMAN.

WHAT YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE IN ADDRESSING EQUITY SO AS A COMMUNITY WE CAN ACHIEVE A SENSE OF EQUALITY?

CARLON: SYSTEMIC RACISM IN OUR COUNTRY AS ITS RUTH IN BOTH A PERSONAL VIOLENCE AND STATE SANCTIONED VIOLENCE.

THAT IS WHY IT IS SO PERSISTENT.

THE SOLUTION OR APPROACH I BELIEVE IS MOST EFFECTIVE WHEN THINKING ABOUT TO ADDRESS THESE THINGS IS A POLITICAL FRAMEWORK CALLED TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE.

TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE LOOKS AT THE ROOT CAUSE OF ISSUES AND LEVERAGES THE COMMUNITY TO BOTH SUSTAIN AND CREATE SOLUTIONS TO MANY OF THE ISSUES WE SEE PLAGUING OUR COMMUNITIES.

IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY RELY ON STATE OR GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION, BUT AS A GROUND-UP APPROACH WHERE PEOPLE DRIVE THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT THESE ISSUES.

WHAT IS GREATER ABOUT THIS IS NOT ONLY DOES IT ADDRESS OR THEORETICALLY ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF ISSUES, IN THIS CASE SYSTEMIC RACISM, BUT PROPOSES NEW SOLUTIONS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

MICHELLE: OUR THANKS TO CARLON HOWARD AND THE STUDENTS FROM TOLMAN HIGH SCHOOL.

I AM MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.

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