MY NAME IS CANDY AND I AM A NURSING ASSISTANT.

I LOVE THE MIRACLES THAT WE SEE.

IT'S OF REWARDING THE FAMILIES WE GET TO HELP.

THEY PUT THEIR CHILD IN OUR HANDS.

WE HAVE TO BE THERE TO SUPPORT THEM AND TAKE CARE OF THEM.

TO DELIVER HEALTH WITH CARE.

♪ >> TONIGHT ON RYLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> FROM DAY ONE, SHE WAS A DISASTER CREDIT IF YOU ASKED MY PARENTS, FROM DAY ONE I WAS A DISASTER.

SHE NEEDED SOMEONE TO LOVE.

THAT'S THE WAY SHE WAS ABLE TO SHINE.

>> TAKEN AS THE PAPERS LONGEST SERVING AND MOST PROMINENT WRITER.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN AT THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL HOW LONG?

>> ETHIC IT WAS THE FDR ADMINISTRATION.

I DON'T HOW THAT HAPPENED.

I CAME HERE IN 1976 AND THEY MADE ME A COLUMNIST A FEW YEARS LATER AT AGE 26.

IT WAS FAR TOO SOON.

♪ >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> RHODE ISLAND STATE POLICE HAVE A UNIQUE UNIT OF CANINES.

OUR FIRST STORY TONIGHT IS ABOUT ONE OF THOSE ELITE MEMBERS.

RUBY WAS AN 11-YEAR-OLD PUP WHO RECEIVED APPLAUSE FROM PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.

SADLY LAST WEEK, RIGHT BEFORE WE WERE TO GO TO AIR, SHE SUDDENLY BECAME ILL AND HAD TO BE EUTHANIZED.

WHEN WE FOUND HER A FEW WEEKS AGO, SHE WAS STILL HARD AT WORK.

HER STORY WAS IMPLAUSIBLE.

SHELTER DOG WHO GOT A LEASE ON LIFE WHEN SHE STARTED WORKING WITH THE STATE POLICE AND A NEW PARTNER.

RUBY IS ALWAYS ON DUTY.

WITNESS THE EVIDENCE.

SHE IS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE RHODE ISLAND STATE POLICE K-9 UNIT.

VERY ACTIVE.

>> SHE DOESN'T STOP.

THERE IS NO OFF SWITCH.

>> THE HARD-WORKING 11-YEAR-OLD MIX IS WIRED TO PROTECT AND SERVE.

SHE STARTED OUT IN THE PEN.

>> I'M NOT TAKING YOU ANYWHERE, BUT I WILL GIVE YOU A TREAT.

>> HER TAIL BEGAN HERE IN 2011 AT THE SPCA IN EAST PROVIDENCE WHERE THE VOLUNTEER WAS CALLED IN TO TEACH HER SOME MANNERS.

MUCH LIKE SHE IS DOING WITH THIS PUPPY.

>> WHAT WAS IT ABOUT HER THAT MADE HER UNADOPTABLE?

>> COUNTER SURFING, BITING THE LEASH, NEVER STOPPING.

SHE KEPT MOVING THE ENTIRE TIME.

WAY TOO BUSY FOR MOST PEOPLE.

>> YOU SAW SOMETHING IN HER.

>> YOU COULD SEE THE WHEELS TURNING.

SHE WAS REALLY SMART.

SHE WAS LIKE IN YOUR BEST FRIEND COME TAKE ME HOME.

>> SHE WAS ADOPTED THEN RELINQUISHED EVERY TIME.

>> HOW MANY TIMES WAS SHE BROUGHT BACK?

>> FIVE.

SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE EUTHANIZED THAT DAY.

>> MIRACULOUSLY, RUBY RECEIVED AN 11TH HOUR PARDON FROM DEATH ROW.

THE SHELTER LEARNED THE STATE POLICE NEEDED SOME NEW BLOOD IN THE DEPARTMENT.

>> YOU NEVER PICTURED HER AS A SERVICE DOG.

DID YOU BELIEVE IN HER?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I KNEW SHE WOULD HAVE A GOOD PLACE SOMEWHERE WHERE SHE HAD A JOB AND A RELATIONSHIP.

SOMEONE IS GOING TO TAKE THE TIME WITH HER TO DO THINGS WITH HER, WORK WITH HER, SPENT THE TIME.

I KNEW SHE COULD THRIVE IN THAT SORT OF ENVIRONMENT.

SHE IS A MIX OFTWO HURTING BREEDS.

--HERDING BREEDS.

THEY NEED A JOB WITH A PERSON.

>> HER PERSON TURNED OUT TO BE STATE CORPORAL DAN O'NEILL.

HE SAID HE UNDERSTOOD HIS NEW PARTNER BECAUSE HE WAS A LOT LIKE HER.

>> FROM DAY ONE, SHE WAS AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER.

IF YOU ASK MY PARENTS FROM DAY ONE I WAS AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER.

[LAUGHTER] SHE NEEDED SOMEONE TO LOVE HER.

THAT'S THE WAY SHE WAS ABLE TO SHINE.

I MIGHT BE THE MOST -- I MIGHT NOT BE THE MOST ATHLETIC OR BE ABLE TO RUN THE FASTEST OR BE THE MOST ACADEMIC, BUT I WILL GIVE YOU 100% EVERY TIME.

>> TURNED, GOOD GIRL.

>> GIVING IT THEIR ALL TO PASS THE EXAM AND GET TO THE K-9 UNIT MEANT DRILLS.

>> EVERY DAY WE WOULD COME OUT HERE AND DO SOMETHING TO GET ALL OF HER ENERGY.

>> FINALLY, THEIR CAREERS WERE UNLEASHED.

RUBY ROSE FROM UNDERDOG TO TOP DOG.

SHE MADE THE TEAM AND CORPORAL O'NEILL REALIZED HIS DREAM OF BEING ON THE K-9 FORCE.

>> RUBY IS A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH.

>> THE BEST OF THE BEST.

>> NETFLIX MADE A MOVIE ABOUT THE DYNAMIC DUO.

RESCUED BY RUBY.

AS REENACTED, RUBY AND CORPORAL O'NEILL WERE ASSIGNED THE CASE OF A LIFETIME.

FIND A 17-YEAR-OLD BOY.

HE HAD BEEN MISSING FOR 36 HOURS AND HIS PARENTS FEARED THE WORST.

AS THE MOVIE PORTRAYS IT, IT CAN'T COMPARE TO WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.

>> WE WERE OUT SEARCHING FOR HOURS.

IT'S HOT.

SHE GETS TO THIS RIDGE AND BOOM, GONE.

SHE GOES RIGHT DOWN THE HILL.

THEN SHE TAKES A RIGHT.

I RUN DOWN THE HILL AND COME AROUND AND THERE'S BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

UNLIKE OH MY GOD AND THEIR ATTACHED TO LEGS AND I CAN SEE A YOUNG BOY ATTACHED.

SHE IS SITTING OVER HIM LOOKING DOWN AT HIM.

I'M LIKE GOOD GIRL.

PLEASE PLEASE.

SHE LOOKS AT ME AND STARTS BARKING.

I'D LIKE GOOD GIRL.

I LOOK AT HIM AND I CAN STILL FEEL IT TODAY.

UNLIKE PLEASE PLEASE.

HIS HANDS ARE STIFF AND HE HAS STUFF ALL OVER HIS MOUTH AND IN HIS NOSE AND EARS, HIS EYES WERE SHUT.

I'M LIKE OH NO, PLEASE.

I PUT MY FINGERS ON HIS NECK AND I'M LIKE OH MY GOD I CAN FEEL A PULSE.

HE'S ALIVE.

I GET ON MY RADIO.

SHE STARTS LOOKING EVERYTHING.

SHE'S LITERALLY TRYING TO REVIVE HIM.

I DIDN'T TRY TO DO IT -- I DIDN'T TELL HER EITHER.

MY BOSS WAS LIKE YEAH AND I WAS LIKE I GOT HIM.

THEN WE SEE THE CHIEF OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY'LL COME THROUGH THE WOODS.

THEY WERE SO HAPPY.

THEY TURN HIM OVER AND THEY PUT THEM ON THE BACK WARD AND HE STARTED TO OPEN HIS EYES.

I WAS STARTING TO CRY BECAUSE RUBY YOU DID EXACTLY WHAT I TOLD YOU TO DO.

IT WAS AWESOME.

YOU HAVE THIS DOG THAT SAVED HIS LIFE.

>> THE CORPORAL WAS GIVEN THE JOY OF TELLING THE BOY'S MOTHER THE NEWS.

>> IT WAS THE WORST DAY THEN ONE OF THE POLICE HAVE DRUG HIM -- HAD COME UP.

SHE SAID WE GOT THEM.

>> WAIT?

RUBY FOUND THE TEENAGE SON OF PERFORMER CHAMPION?

YES, IN A TWIST STRANGER THAN FICTION, THE DOG WHOSE LIFE SHE SPARED HAD JUST SAVED HER YOUNG SON.

>> SHE KNEW HE WAS ALIVE.

I DIDN'T, THAT'S WHY SHE KEPT BARKING.

>> COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED.

SOBBING, THE WHOLE THING.

IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE.

>> I THINK IS GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT.

MY SEARCH AND RESCUE DOG FOUND YOUR SON.

SHE STARTS TO CRY.

SO I STARTED TO CRY.

SHE GOES DO YOU KNOW A DOG NAMED RUBY?

>> THEY HAD NEVER MET BEFORE.

>> I SAID THAT WAS THE DOG THE JUST SAVED YOUR SON'S LIFE.

>> SHE STARTED TO CRY EVEN MORE.

I WAS LIKE IT'S RUBY.

>> SHE SAID THANK YOU THANK YOU.

>> SHE SAID THANK YOU FOR SAVING MY SON.

I SAID DON'T THANK ME, THANK RUBY.

YOU NEVER GIVE UP ON HER AND THIS IS HER WAY OF SAYING THANK YOU.

>> WHAT WENT THROUGH YOUR HEAD AT THAT MOMENT?

>> THIS IS LIKE A DIVINE INTERVENTION.

THERE WAS A REASON WHY I'VE DONE EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE.

THERE'S A REASON WHY I AM HERE, WHY I HAVE THIS DOG IS BEEN DRIVING ME CRAZY FOR SIX YEARS.

THERE'S A REASON WHY -- THERE'S A REASON FOR EVERYTHING.

>> IN 2000 18, SHE WAS CHOSEN AS THE AMERICAN HUMANE SOCIETIES SEARCH AND RESCUE HERO OF THE YEAR IN A POSH CEREMONY.

>> THIS PRODUCER COMES UP TO ME AND HANDS ME A BUSINESS CARD.

HE SAYS YOU'RE A GREAT GUY, THIS IS AN AWESOME STORY, I WANT TO MAKE A MOVIE ABOUT YOU.

>> THE MOVIE HAS BEEN VIEWED BY MILLIONS AND IT'S ONE OF THE MOST-WATCHED NETFLIX THIS YEAR.

THE PAIR HERE FROM VIEWERS ALL OVER THE WORLD.

>> IF YOU DON'T GIVE UP, YOUR DREAMS WILL COME TRUE.

IT SHOWS THAT IF YOU DON'T GIVE UP ON A DOG, THEY CAN CHANGE YOUR WORLD.

>> THE SAME CAN BE SAID OF RUBY WHO DIDN'T GIVE UP ON HUMANS BANK.

-- HUMANS.

>> SHE WAS A DOG AND SHE BECAME A TROOPER.

BUT SHE DOESN'T GET A PENSION.

SHE GETS THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE I WILL FOREVER GIVE TO HER.

THANK YOU.

>> WE HAVE NO DOUBT CORPORAL O'NEILL MADE GOOD ON HIS PROMISE TO RUBY.

WHILE ANY PUP WILL HAVE A TOUGH TIME REPLACING HER, BEFORE SHE DIED, SHE WAS HELPING TO TRAIN HER REPLACEMENT.

ANOTHER SHELTER DOG.

>> THE RHODE ISLAND STATE POLICE PUT OUT A STATEMENT SUNDAY AFTER RUBY PAST SAYING SHE BECAME A SYMBOL OF HOPE FOR ALL SHELTER DOGS SHOWING THE WORLD WHAT SHELTER DOG CAN DO WHEN GIVEN LOVE AND THE CHANCE TO SHINE.

NOW WE TURN TO SOMEONE WHO IS BROUGHT US HIS PERSPECTIVE ON THE TOP STORIES OF RHODE ISLAND FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES.

HE JOINED THE STAFF OF THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL IN 1976.

HE HAS BEEN A COLUMNIST, SOMEONE WHO WRITES IN HIS OWN VOICE.

HE HAS BEEN A KEEN OBSERVER OF THE STATES EVOLUTION FOR NEARLY HALF A CENTURY.

HE IS ONE OF THE LONGEST SERVING NEWSPAPER COLUMNISTS.

WE SAT DOWN WITH HIM ON THE EVE OF A NEW HONOR.

>> THIS WEEK, YOU GO BEHIND BARS.

>> MY UPCOMING INDICTMENT.

>> I HEREBY INDUCT YOU MARK PATINKIN.

>> THIS MONTH, HE BECAME ONE OF THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE RHODE ISLAND HERITAGE HALL OF FAME.

HIS OWN NEWSPAPER FLUBBED THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

>> I PAST CAUGHT UP TO ME.

>> THE HEADLINE IS SUPPOSED TO SAY HE WILL BE INDUCTED THIS WEEKEND.

>> IT SAID HE WILL BE INDICTED THIS WEEKEND.

MY OWN NEWSPAPER, SO IT HAS TO BE ACCURATE.

>> HE THE PAPERS LONGEST SERVING AND PROMINENT WRITER.

>> I THINK IT WAS THE FDR ADMINISTRATION WHEN I STARTED.

IT'S BEEN 45 PLUS YEARS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENED.

I CAME HERE IN 1976 AND THEY MADE ME A COLUMNIST A FEW YEARS LATER AT AGE 26 WHICH WAS FAR TOO SOON.

I DON'T KNOW HOW I'VE SURVIVED, BUT I'VE BEEN AT IT THAT LONG.

>> THEN THERE'S RHODE ISLAND.

♪ >> HE IS ONE OF THE LAST MAN STANDING IN A PROUD TRADITION OF AMERICAN JOURNALISM.

NOW ONE RHODE ISLANDER TOLD US THE STATE FEELS LIKE RODNEY DANGERFIELD.

NO RESPECT.

>> THE COLUMNIST IS THE GRIZZLED VOICE.

40 YEARS AGO WHEN ABC NEWS DID A STORY ABOUT THE BIGGEST LITTLE STATE IN THE UNION, WHO DID THEY TURN TO?

>> RHODE ISLAND DECLARED INDEPENDENCE TWO MONTHS BEFORE JULY 4.

NO ONE NOTICED LONG BEFORE THE BOSTON TEA PARTY, WE BURNED DOWN OUR BRICKS -- A BRITISH TEXT SHIP.

>> THE RARE GUY HAS HAD ESSENTIALLY THE SAME JOB SINCE HIS 20'S AND IT'S A GREAT JOB.

FOCUSING ON THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THIS PLACE.

MARK PATINKIN IMPROVIDENCE IS THAT GUY.

>> I WOULD NEVER PURSUE -- PUT MYSELF IN THAT COMPANY.

I GREW UP IN CHICAGO.

>> THERE'S A SPECIAL KIND OF THERE.

>> THERE AREN'T A LOT OF COLONISTS LEFT.

I SEE MY ROLE AS TRYING TO CARRY ON THE LEGACY OF THE STRONG LOCAL VOICE IN THE NEWSPAPER THAT BRINGS SOME PERSONALITY TO THE PAGE THAT HAS A POINT OF VIEW THAT WILL MAYBE TALK ONE DAY ABOUT CORRUPTION IN POLITICS THAN THE NEXT DAY ABOUT HOW MY KIDS DRIVE ME CRAZY.

I WOULD SAY THAT MY OTHER ROLE AS JOURNALIST AND REPORTER IS TO COVER THE TURF AND THE MEASURE WOULD BE I HOPE I HAVE SUCCEEDED TO COVER THE STORY OF RHODE ISLAND THE LAST 40 YEARS.

HOW THE ARISTOCRATS, NEIGHBORS, CHARACTERS, INSTITUTIONS, THE LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGED.

>> HE IS ONE CONSTANT IN FOUR DECADES OF CHANGE.

A KEEN OBSERVER OF CHANGING TRENDS.

>> HAVE COME IN FOR A PIERCING.

>> I'M GETTING MY TONGUE PIERCED.

>> IT'S FUN TO PLAY WITH IT.

IT'S LIKE HAVING HARD CANDY.

>> I HAVE TO GET SOME WORK DONE AND I WILL SOON AS I FIGURE OUT HOW TO CRUISE THE INTERNET.

>> HE IS ALSO TRAVELED THE WORLD.

HE WAS A FINALIST FOR A PULITZER PRIZE IN A SERIES OF COLUMNS ABOUT VIOLENCE.

MOST OF HIS FOCUS HAS BEEN RIGHT HERE IN RHODE ISLAND.

>> THE CITY ITSELF IS CHANGED.

>> IT WAS YOUR CLASSIC KIND OF STRUGGLING FADING INDUSTRIAL TOWN WHEN I CAME HERE IN THE MID-70'S.

I REMEMBER THE BILTMORE WAS SHUTTERED.

IT WAS A GRIM PLACE DOWNTOWN.

>> IN MANY WAYS, RHODE ISLAND HASN'T CHANGED AT ALL.

>> THERE'S AN INFERIORITY COMPLEX.

WE ARE BOSTON OR NEW YORK.

THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE FEELING OF DO WE MEASURE UP?

I THINK THERE'S MORE OF AN INCLINATION OF PEOPLE TO BE ACCEPTING.

>> WHEN HE FIRST JOINED THE NEWSPAPER, IT FILLED THIS BUILDING.

NOW THE EDITORIAL STAFF OCCUPIES ONE HALF OF ONE FLOOR.

>> LIKE ALL NEWSPAPERS, WE ARE STRUGGLING TO ADJUST TO THE TIMES.

WE ARE NOT WHAT WE USED TO BE.

WE GET A LOT OF READERS TELLING US IT'S NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE WE ARE A SCRAPPY TEAM DOING OUR BEST.

THE MOST BASIC FUNCTION OF A NEWSPAPER OR ANY ORGANIZATION IS BEING A WATCHDOG.

HOLDING POWER TO ACCOUNT.

THERE'S NOT AS MUCH OF THAT.

WE USED TO BE IN EVERY TOWN COUNCIL, SCHOOL COMMITTEE, HOLDING POWER TO ACCOUNT AND THE ADVERTISING AND SUBSCRIBER DOLLARS AREN'T THERE TO SUPPORT IT ANYMORE.

>> BACK IN THE DAY, PROVIDENCE HAD A SPLIT PERSONALITY.

ON COLLEGE HILL THERE WAS BROWN UNIVERSITY AND ON FEDERAL HILL, THERE WAS THE NEW ENGLAND MAFIA.

>> THERE'S NO WAY AROUND THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A MOBSTER PROVIDENCE AND WE RAN BOSTON.

IT'S INTERESTING THAT I THINK RHODE ISLANDERS GET A SHIVER OF PRIDE TO KNOW THAT WE WERE SO PROMINENT IN THAT CATEGORY THAT OUR MOB WAS BIGGER THAN THE BOSTON MOB.

>> DO YOU MISS BUDDY?

>> YES HE'S A GREAT STORY.

HE BELONGS TO THE PANTHEON OF AMERICAN POLITICIANS.

THIS OUTRAGEOUSLY HEIGHTENED PERSONALITY.

>> THE MUDDY -- THE MAYOR WAS GOOD COPY.

>> THE MYTH WE KNOW.

THE GUY, YOU MET AND INTERACTED WITH.

>> ONE WAY TO CAPTURE BUDDY THERE ARE SOME ANYWAYS TO TALK ABOUT HIM.

THIS ONE WAS THE MORNING OF HIS TRIAL.

HIS SECOND TRIAL FOR CORRUPTION WHERE HE THOUGHT HE COULD BE HEADING FOR JAIL.

IT WAS WITH A CROWD OF REPORTERS AND PUSHED THROUGH WHERE HE WAS EATING AT THE BILTMORE HOTEL AND HE MOTIONED TO ME.

HE SAID JOIN ME FOR BREAKFAST.

HIS LAWYER WAS KINDA FREAKING OUT WHAT IS A JOURNALIST DOING HERE WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TRIAL STRATEGY?

HE WANTED TO BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT.

>> THOSE WERE BANNER YEARS FOR THE MAFIA HERE AND RHODE ISLAND.

>> IT WASN'T KIND OF LIKE THE GODFATHER MOVIE WHERE IT WENT FROM ONE TO THE OTHER.

SHOULD I SAY THAT ON THE AIR?

IS THERE STILL ENOUGH RISK AROUND HERE, HE CERTAINLY WASN'T HIS FATHER.

>> IS THE MOB GONE?

>> IT'S MOSTLY GONE.

>> MOSTLY GONE, BUT THIS IS STILL RHODES ISLAND.

>> IS THIS PLACE ANYMORE CORRUPT MAN CHICAGO, OF THE CITIES THAT WE KNOW WHERE CORRUPTION IS RAMPANT?

>> IS IT MORE CORRUPT?

ABSOLUTELY.

COME ON.

WHY DO YOU THINK I'M STUCK -- I STUCK AROUND AS A JOURNALIST?

>> I GOOGLE YOU AND IT DOESN'T SAY WHERE YOU'RE BORN.

IS IT A DIRTY SECRET?

>> IT'S NOT A DIRTY SECRET THAT I GREW UP IN CHICAGO.

EVEN THOUGH I WAS IN CHICAGO FOR 18 YEARS AND I'VE BEEN IN RYLAND FOR 45 YEARS, -- RHODE ISLAND FOR 45 YEARS, I CONTINUE TO BE HUMBLE AND WELL AWARE THAT I AM NOT TRUE NATIVE AND I HAVE TO HAVE SOME HUMILITY AROUND THAT BECAUSE I CAN'T CLAIM NATIVE ROOTS.

>> A COUPLE OF GENERATIONS FOR THAT RIGHT?

>> I THINK YOU DO.

YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT WHERE YOU WENT TO GRAMMAR SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL LOCALLY.

>> IS THAT PART OF RHODE ISLAND'S CHARM OR A BARRIER TO SUCCESS?

>> IT IS THE CHARM.

YOU GO TO SOME STATES, A STATE LIKE FLORIDA, 50% OF THE PEOPLE WERE NOT BORN THERE OR MORE.

IT WAS FOUNDED TO ESCAPE FROM THE STRICT INTOLERANCE OF MASSACHUSETTS.

WE ACCEPT THAT THIS IS A REFUGE OF PEOPLE TRYING TO FIND A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN BE THEMSELVES WITHOUT HAVING TO SHOW THEIR -- TO TAKE A BLOOD TEST.

>> HE DID TAKE A BLOOD TEST, IF HE DID THE RESULTS MIGHT SURPRISE YOU.

>> ARE YOU RELATED TO MANDY PATINKIN?

>> PEOPLE OFTEN ASK HIM IF HE IS RELATED TO ME.

[LAUGHTER] IT DRIVES THEM CRAZY.

HE'S WALKING DOWN THE SIDEWALK AND PEOPLE SAY WAIT A MINUTE, ARE YOU RELATED TO THE COMBATANTS -- THE COLUMNIST?

HE IS MY FIRST COUSIN.

HE GOT ALL OF THE TUNE GENES.

>> MANDY PATINKIN MAY CLAIM THE STAGE, BUT MARK HAS THE PRINTED PAGE.

>> HOW LONG WILL YOU KEEP DOING IT?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I FIND MYSELF INCREASINGLY ALONE AMONG MY PEERS.

RIGHT NOW, I LIKE LAYING THE GAME.

IT'S NICE TO HAVE A JOB WHERE YOU CAN WRITE WHATEVER YOU WANT A DATE.

>> FINALLY TONIGHT, LYLAH ALPHONSE COMMENTARY ON THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING TEACHING OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY OR CRT AS IT HAS BECOME KNOWN.

>> YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THEM AT MEETINGS ACROSS THE STATE.

PEOPLE WHO USE THEIR THREE MINUTES DURING THE OPEN COMMENTARY TIME TO RAIL AGAINST CRT.

EVEN IF IT ISN'T ON THE AGENDA.

IT'S A HOT TOPIC.

RECENTLY, A SITTING STATE REPRESENTATIVE TOOK TO TWITTER TO BLAME CRT FOR THE LOSS OF HER BLACK FRIEND SAYING SHE WAS SURE THE ONLY THING SHE HAD DONE WITH BE WHITE.

AT A RECENT SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING, SOME PARENTS SAID THE SILENT PART OUT LOUD.

CRT AND THE EQUITY AUDIT WOULD FOCUS ON RACE, DEFAME OUR NATIONAL HERITAGE AND CAUSE CHILDREN TO HATE THEIR COUNTRY FOUNDATION.

ACCORDING TO ANALYSIS SINCE JANUARY 2021, DOZENS OF BILLS INTENDED TO RESTRICT TEACHING ABOUT RACISM AND SEXISM HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED IN 37 STATES.

14 STATES HAVE IMPOSED BANDS AND RESTRICTIONS.

IT'S NO COINCIDENCE THESE WERE AFTER THE URGENT CALLS FOR RACIAL JUSTICE IN 2020.

CRT IS ONLY TAUHT IN ONE SCHOOL AND RHODE ISLAND, THE ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW.

CRT IS A SPECIFIC GRADUATE-LEVEL CURRICULUM THAT EXAMINES THE INTERSECTION OF RACE, HISTORY, AND AMERICAN LAW.

WITH THE PEOPLE AT THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND THE SITTING CONGRESSWOMAN OR RAILING AGAINST IS NOT CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

THEY'RE UPSET AND UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT THE VERY REAL PARTS OF U.S. HISTORY THAT CAST THEIR RACE IN A NEGATIVE LIGHT.

THEY ARE PROJECTING THEIR OWN FEARS AND BIASES ON OUR TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS.

YOU CAN'T DISCUSS DESEGREGATION WHILE GLOSSING OVER THE POWER STRUCTURE MADE SEGREGATION POSSIBLE.

YOU CAN'T ADEQUATELY TEACH THE 13TH, 14TH, OR 15TH AMENDMENTS OF THE CONSTITUTION WITHOUT EXPLAINING THE THREE FIT COMPROMISE AND WHY IT WAS MADE.

A DESTINY THAT DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE HOW WHITE SETTLERS DISPLACED INDIGENOUS POPULATIONS IS INCOMPLETE.

REFUSING TO DISCUSS RACISM MIGHT MAKE SOME PARENTS WILL BETTER.

-- FEEL BETTER.

IGNORING PART OF OUR HISTORY MAKES IT EASIER TO REPEAT IT.

>> THAT'S OUR BROADCAST THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE TO SEE ALL OF OUR STORIES.

OR YOU CAN LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST ON ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE AUDIO STREAMING PLATFORMS.