>> EVERY PATIENT THAT I CARE FOR IS LIKE TAKING CARE OF MY OWN CHILD.

I AM A NURSING ASSISTANT AT LIFESPAN.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR 10 YEARS.

I LOVE THE MIRACLES THAT WE SEE.

IT IS SO REWARDING.

THE FAMILIES THAT WE GET TO HELP, THEY PUT THEIR CHILD IN OUR HANDS.

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

DELIVERING HEALTH WITH CARE.

♪ DAVID: TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> WHAT THEY DEVELOPED IS ONE THAT IS RACIALLY AND SEXUALLY BIASED.

DAVID: SO CALLED CRITICAL RACE THEORY, WHAT THEY CONSIDER TO BE WOKE IDEOLOGY INVADING SCHOOLS.

WHY ARE PEOPLE FREAKING OUT?

>> THE SHIFT INTO ACTUALLY NMING US IS DAYS -- SYSTEMIC RACISM MAKES PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE.

>> MY PARENTS HAD A COTTAGE AND THE NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR, THEY WOULD GO OUT AND GET THEIR NEWSPAPER AT THE SAME TIME.

AND THEY WOULD SAY HI NEIGHBOR TO EACH OTHER.

SO HE DECIDED TO INCORPORATE THAT, SO IT BECAME HI NEIGHBOR.

>> THERE WAS A TEACHER AND I REMEMBER SITTING ON HER LAP AND I REMEMBER SOMETHING HAPPENED.

AND I BLACKED OUT.

I CANNOT RECALL WHAT HAPPENED.

♪ PAMELA: GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I'M PAMELA WATTS.

DAVID: I'M DAVID WRIGHT.

WHAT SHOULD WHICH OUR KIDS ABOUT RACE AND RACISM?

THE RECENT MASS SHOOTING IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK HAS SHOWN HOW URGENT THE QUESTION IS.

THE YOUNG SHOOTER CLAIMED HE WAS MOTIVATED BY A RACIST IDEOLOGY CALLED WHITE REPLACEMENT THEORY THAT HAS BEEN TRUMPETED BY RIGHT WING POLITICIANS.

THOSE SAME FORCES HAVE BEEN RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY OR CRT, AN ACADEMIC APPROACH THAT TEACHES KIDS ABOUT SYSTEMIC RACISM IN OUR SOCIETY.

CONSERVATIVES ACCUSED TEACHERS OF BRAINWASHING KIDS, PROGRESSIVES ACCUSE THE CONSERVATIVES OF WANTING TO WHITEWASH THE CURRICULUM.

IT IS A BATTLE FOR THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE, TAKING PLACE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HERE IN RHODE ISLAND.

>> COME IN PLEASE.

DAVID: AT GILBERT MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THE WEST END OF PROVIDENCE, NICOLE HAS HER HANDS FULL.

>> DO YOU HAVE THE APPLICATION?

YET IT FAST.

DAVID: 92% OF HER STUDENTS ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED.

96% ARE MINORITIES.

GILBERT HAS LONG BEEN ONE OF THE LOWEST PERFORMING SCHOOLS IN THE STATE.

THE DOCTOR IS TRYING TO CHANGE THAT.

>> THIS IS A ONE STAR SCHOOL AND OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE THIS A TWO OR THREE START SCHOOL IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

TO DO THAT WE HAVE TO STAY FOCUSED.

DAVID: IT'S AN UPHILL BATTLE.

THE BUILDING ITSELF, CRUMBLING AFTER DECADES OF NEGLECT.

OF THE STUDENTS SAY WHEN IT RAINS, THAT HOLE IN THE CEILING OF THE AUDITORIUM DRIPS WATER.

>> DOES CONFLIC HAVE TO BECOME VIOLENCE?

DAVID: ON THE DAY WE VISITED A GROUP OF STUDENT LEADERS IN THE AUDITORIUM WERE TAKING PART IN A TRAINING SESSION.

THE TOPIC?

NONVIOLENT TOPIC -- CONFLICT RESOLUTION BASED ON THE WORKS OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.. >> TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE WANTED TWO DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT THEY STILL WORKED TOGETHER TO GET WHAT THEY BOTH WANTED.

DAVID: THIS PROGRAM IS ONE OF SEVERAL WAYS GILBERT STUART IS TRYING TO REENGAGE STUDENTS, BY INVITING THEM INTO A DEEPER CONVERSATION ABOUT DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION.

>> IT HELPS TO SOLVE CONFLICT.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND TO TELL KIDS THAT HEY, IT'S OK THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND THAT YOU DO NOT GET ALONG WITH THEM RIGHT AWAY.

DAVID: SHE HAS ADDED 20 NEW TEACHERS OF COLOR.

AT THE SCHOOL OFFERS SOCIAL JUSTICE CLASSES IN EVERY GRADE.

>> STARTED OFF AS AN EIGHTH-GRADE CLASS, BUT NOW WE HAVE ONE IN EVERY GRADE LEVEL.

IT'S A PLACE WHERE KIDS CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT THEY WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY.

WANT TO HEAR FROM THEM, WHAT DID THEY THINK THE SOLUTIONS ARE.

A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT ADULTS TALK ABOUT, IF YOU LISTEN TO THE KIDS, A LOT OF TIMES, THEY HAVE SOME OF THE GREATEST SOLUTIONS TO THINGS THAT ADULTS ARE FIGHTING OVER.

>> I THINK THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE GOING REALLY FAR OFF COURSE.

DAVID: RHODE ISLAND REPRESENTATIVE PATRICIA MORGAN TAKES A VERY DIFFERENT VIEW.

>> AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HEAR HOUSE BILL 75 39 BY REPRESENTATIVE MORGAN GOOD REPRESENTATIVE MORGAN.

DAVID: SHE HAS INTRODUCED A SERIES OF BILLS AT THE RHODE ISLAND STATE HOUSE DESIGNED TO STEAL -- STEER SCHOOLS AWAY FROM WHAT SHE SEES AS AN OBSESSIVE LOCUS ON RACE AND RACISM.

>> NO CHILD SHOULD BE ACCUSED OF BEING INHERENTLY RACIST OR SEXIST OR OPPRESSED OR OPPRESSIVE WRITTEN BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE.

BECAUSE OF THEIR SKIN COLOR.

WE HAVE FORGOTTEN WHAT THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION IS AND TO ME, THAT IS PREPARING CHILDREN FOR SUCCESSFUL ADULT LIVES.

DAVID: IN A DIVERSE SOCIETY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

DAVID: A MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

>> BUT THE BUILDING BLOCKS ARE THE SAME, RIGHT?

READING, WRITING, COMPREHENSION, KNOWLEDGE BASE.

DAVID: MORGAN SAYS SINCE STATE STANDARDS CHANGED IN 2019, SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE ARE ADOPTING MISGUIDED CURRICULUM.

>> WHAT THEY HAVE DEVELOPED IS ONE THAT IS RACIALLY AND SEXUALLY BIASED.

AND BY THAT, I MEAN ALL OF THE OLD TEXTBOOKS, THEY ARE GONE.

AND INSTEAD, WHAT HAS COME INTO CLASSROOMS IS ACTIVIST LITERATURE.

IT IS NOT LITERATURE THAT GIVES CHILDREN THE FULL SPECTRUM OF WHAT AMERICAN SOCIETY IS.

IT IS CENTERED ON BLACK AND HISPANIC CULTURE OR EXPERIENCE, SO THAT IS WHAT MAKES IT ACTIVIST.

DAVID: SHE INSISTS THESE NEW CURRICULUM AMONG OTHER THINGS SHAME WHITE KIDS AND PATRONIZE MINORITY KIDS BY FOCUSING TOO MUCH ON THE HISTORY OF RACISM IN AMERICA.

>> I'M A BLACK CHILD.

I GO FOR THE MORNING, I LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND I SAY I AM BLACK.

I CAN NEVER GET AHEAD.

BECAUSE I'M A VICTIM.

SKIN COLOR, NO MATTER HOW HARD I WILL -- WORK.

IF I LOOK AT YOU AND SAY YOU'RE AN OPPRESSOR, IS THAT FAIR?

DAVID: NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

>> ARE YOU OPPRESSING?

TELL ME.

THIS NINE-YEAR-OLD BY THEIR VERY PRESENCE ARE TO BE JUDGED AND RESPECTED AS INDIVIDUALS, NOT MEMBERS OF AN IDENTITY GROUP DAVID: MORGAN, A REPUBLICAN, HAS PLENTY OF FIREPOWER IN HER CORNER.

>> IF YOU OBJECT TO THE CURRENT OBSESSION WITH RACE, THE ONE SUBJECT NO NORMAL PERSON WANTS TO OBSESS OVER, THEN YOU YOURSELF ARE OBSESSED WITH RACE AND MUST BE STOPPED BECAUSE YOU ARE DANGEROUS THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE SAYING.

DAVID: CONSERVATIVES INCLUDING TUCKER CARLSEN HAVE BEEN SOUNDING ALARM BELLS AHEAD OF THE MIDTERMS.

>> WHY?

>> IT CONTRADICTS EVERYTHING MARTIN LUTHER KING FOUR.

IT IS HATRED, MARXIST IDEOLOGY, AND IT PLACES THE CHILD OF A LOOP OLD OF OPPRESSION FEELING LIKE A VICTIM.

I CANNOT STAND LIKE THAT.

DAVID: DENOUNCING CRITICAL RACE THEORY, WHAT THEY CONSIDER TO BE WOKE IDEOLOGY INVADING SCHOOLS.

>> WHAT DOES CRITICAL RACE THEORY MEAN?

WHAT IS IT?

>> SENATOR, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS AN ACADEMIC THEORY THAT IS ABOUT THE WAYS IN WHICH RACE INTERACTS WITH VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS.

>> I GET DEATH THREATS OVER IT.

YES.

DAVID: JENNIFER TEACHES AT BARRINGTON HIGH SCHOOL.

>> I TEACH NINTH AND 11TH AND 11TH GRADE COURSE IS ADVANCED PLACEMENT LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION.

DAVID: HOW DOES RACE FACTOR INTO YOUR TEACHING CURRICULUM?

>> HEAVILY.

IN A LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION, IT IS A RHETORIC STUDY.

SO EVERYTHING WE READ IS NONFICTION.

WE STICK WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD THE CURRICULUM IS DESIGNED AROUND FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE TOPICS AND ONE IS RACE.

DAVID: IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT POPULATION OF KIDS THAN AT GILBERT STUDENT MIDDLE AND THAT IS NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE OLDER IN HIGH SCHOOL.

BARRINGTON IS NOT THE MOST DIVERSE COMMUNITY IN THE WORLD.

>> NOT EXACTLY WHAT WERE KNOWN FOR.

DAVID: IS CRITICAL RACE THEORY A FACTOR IN WHAT YOU TEACH?

>> IT IS NOT NECESSARILY A FACTOR.

DAVID: IS IT AN APPROACH THAT YOU USE?

>> I DID NOT KNOW WHAT CRITICAL RACE THEORY WAS UNTIL PEOPLE STARTED TALKING ABOUT IT BEING BAD AND THEN I REALIZED THAT I KIND OF TEACH CRITICAL RACE THEORY, BUT IT IS MORE ABOUT MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES.

SO WHEN WE GET INTO THE RACE UNIT, WE START BY WHAT OUR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH RACE, AS AN INDIVIDUAL, THE STUDENTS TALK ABOUT IT, THEY DO REFLECTION.

WE WATCH TED TALKS.

DAVID: >> >> TED TALKS LIKE THIS ONE.

I WENT THROUGH A MENTAL SHIFT IN MY PERCEPTION OF LITERATURE.

I REALIZED THAT PEOPLE LIKE ME, GIRLS WOULD SKIN THE COLOR OF CHOCOLATE, WHOSE KINKY HAIR COULD NOT FORM PONYTAILS COULD ALSO EXIST IN LITERATURE.

>> I GIVE THEM SETS OF TEXTS THAT THEY PICK FROM.

THEY COULD CHOOSE TO READ A HOPE IN THE UNSEEN, WHICH IS ABOUT A YOUNG MAN GROWING UP IN D.C. WHO IS A YOUNG MAN OF COLOR IN A REALLY ROUGH SCHOOL.

HE WANTS TO GO TO BROWN UNIVERSITY.

AND IT IS HIS STORY AND THE KIDS LOVE IT BECAUSE HE GETS TO BROWN AND THEY HEAR ABOUT THEIR STREET AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

WHAT THEY THEN COME BACK TO THE TABLE WITH HIS A READING JOURNAL, WHERE THEY KEEP TRACK OF WHAT STANDS OUT TO THEM WITH -- WHAT THEY ARE CONFUSED BY, WHAT THEY WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT.

AND THEY MEET IN GROUPS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY'VE LEARNED.

DAVID: IT DOES NOT SOUND THAT DIFFERENT FROM AN ENGLISH CLASS WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL EONS AGO.

I REMEMBER READING AN VISIBLE MAN BY ELLISON, AMAZING WRITER WHO IS WRITING ABOUT RACE AND IDENTITY AND HOW HE FEELS INVISIBLE.

>> CORRECT.

DAVID: WHY ARE PEOPLE FREAKING OUT?

>> I THINK THE SHIFT INTO ACTUALLY NAMING SYSTEMIC RACISM AND SAYING IT IS A PART OF OUR HISTORY AS A COUNTRY MAKES PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE.

DAVID: THERE IS A SENSE THAT AT LEAST PART OF WHAT PEOPLE OBJECT TO IS THE IDEA THAT TEACHERS ARE PRESENTING AN UNFLATTERING VIEW OF AMERICA.

UNPATRIOTIC.

POP QUIZ.

THOMAS JEFFERSON, WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR OUR KIDS TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT HIM?

>> HE WAS A FOUNDING FATHER, HE WAS THERE AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR COUNTRY.

HE SET IT ON THE COURSE FOR US TO BE A DEMOCRACY.

THERE WAS NEVER BEFORE THAN A DEMOCRACY.

IN THE WORLD.

DAVID: THE FACT THAT HE WAS A SLAVE OWNER, RELEVANT OR NOT RELEVANT IN YOUR VIEW?

>> YOU KNOW, LISTEN, HE WAS A SLAVE OWNER.

WAS THAT THE ONLY THING HE IS?

IS THAT WHY WE SHOULD BE DISPARAGING HIM AND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS?

DAVID: I'M NOT SAYING DISPARAGING, BUT UNDERSTANDING HIS AMBITIONS HAD LIMITS.

>> WE CAN DEFAME HIS MEMORY, THAT IS FINE IF THAT IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT.

AND I GUESS THAT IS WHAT I THINK IS DESTRUCTIVE.

BECAUSE HE DID SO MUCH MORE.

DAVID: ASK THAT SAME QUESTION TO JENNIFER.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO TEACH OUR KIDS ABOUT THOMAS JEFFERSON?

>> THE FACTS.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN YOU CANNOT TAKE A PERSON AND JUST SAY OK, I'M ONLY GOING TO LOOK AT THIS PART OF HIM OR HER.

OR THEM.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE PERSON.

DAVID: WARTS AND ALL.

>> YES.

WE'RE FOCUSING ON THE WARTS AND NOT ON THE GOODNESS OF AMERICA.

>> IF YOU CONSTANTLY GIVE KIDS THESE LARGER THAN LIFE FIGURES WHO NEVER MADE A MISTAKE, THAT IS NOT REAL.

HALF OF LIFE IS LEARNING HOW TO RECTIFY THE GOOD WITH THE BAD.

UNFORTUNATELY, WITH THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO PUSH THIS IDEOLOGY, THIS NARRATIVE, THERE IS NO REDEMPTION.

THERE IS NO REDEMPTION FOR AMERICA.

DAVID: JUST AS YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT IDEOLOGY INFECTING THE CURRICULUM, ISN'T IT POSSIBLE THAT THE REACTION TO IT ALSO POLITICIZED IS THE CURRICULUM IN AN UNHEALTHY WAY FOR OUR KIDS?

I MEAN OUR KIDS ARE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE, RIGHT?

>> SO WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST?

THAT I ALLOW THIS RACIALIZED AND SEXUALIZED CURRICULUM TO GO UNCHALLENGED?

>> IF THAT BILL, THE LATEST BILL PASSED, I DO NOT KNOW -- WE WOULD HAVE TO COMPLETELY RESTRUCTURE ADVANCED PLACEMENT LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE.

AND PULL OUT WHOLE UNITS OF INSTRUCTION.

IF WE CANNOT TALK ABOUT RACE, THAT IS A UNIT OF STUDY.

SO WE WOULD HAVE TO REFRAME THE WHOLE THING, WHICH CAN BE DONE.

BUT IT WILL BE TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE STUDENTS.

>> I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS WRONG OR RIGHT IN THIS CONVERSATION, I THINK EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN PERSPECTIVE.

I CAN ONLY SPEAK FROM MY PERSPECTIVE HAVING BEEN IN SCHOOLS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

IT IS OUR JOB TO EMPOWER STUDENTS, NO MATTER WHAT COLOR THEY ARE, WHETHER THEY ARE BLACK, WHITE, SPANISH, MALE, FEMALE, DOES NOT MATTER.

WE DO NOT WANT ANY STUDENT TO FEEL THAT THEY ARE VICTIMIZED.

DAVID: ONE THING BOTH SIDES AGREE ON IS THAT A GOOD EDUCATION IS THE BEST WAY TO GIVE KIDS OF ALL RACES THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY NEED TO SUCCEED.

AND IF WE AS A SOCIETY SHARE DR. KING'S DREAM, WE STILL HAVE SOME WORK TO DO.

>> I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND I THINK PEOPLE DID NOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH, THAT IF WE KEEP DOING WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, THE SAME RESULT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

DAVID: EIGHTH GRADER NAYAK TOLD US THE FUTURE DEPENDS ON GETTING THIS RIGHT.

>> GILBERT STUART IS DOING GOOD THINGS AND WE NEED TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THAT.

WE NEED MORE HELP.

PAMELA: NOW WE BRING YOU A PORTION OF A RHODE ISLAND PBS ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY BY CONTRIBUTE IN PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR DOROTHY DAKIN BREAKING GOOD EXPLORES THE ESCALATION OF THE INCARCERATION OF WOMEN AND SEE UNITED STATES, SINCE THE WAR ON DRUGS WAS DECLARED BACK IN THE 1980'S.

TONIGHT, WE HEAR STORIES FROM TWO NEW ENGLAND WOMEN WHO SPENT YEARS BEHIND BARS AND HAVE TURNED THEIR LIVES AROUND.

>> OUR STORIES ARE PART OF A LARGER PICTURE.

THIS IS WHY THIS WORK IS SO IMPORTANT.

WE MADE HISTORY THIS YEAR.

WE LAUNCHED OUR FIRST SUBSIDIZED HOUSING PROGRAM THAT HOUSED 18 FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS.

AND PROVIDED THEM HOUSING VOUCHERS, TWO MEET WITH THEIR FAMILIES AFTER INCARCERATION.

>> ANY TIME MY PHONE RINGS, IT IS NOT GOOD NEWS.

THIS IS NOT EASY TO DO.

BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO REUNITE A CHILD, A MOM, A DAD, AND THAT IS SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN HOMELESS FOR 10, 20 YEARS, IT MAKES IT ALL WORTH IT.

I GREW UP IN FOX PERRY, MASSACHUSETTS.

I HAD A BLESSED CHILDHOOD.

I GREW UP IN A MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILY I CANNOT COMPLAIN.

WE HAD A GOOD UPBRINGING, HONOR ROLL STUDENT.

I ALWAYS HAD GOOD GRADES, MY CONDUCT WAS AWFUL.

I ENDED UP GETTING INTO FIGHTS IN HIGH SCHOOL A LOT AND ME AND MY FRIENDS WOULD ALL SKIP SCHOOL.

WE WOULD GO TO MY HOUSE AND WE WOULD SMOKE WEED.

AND DRINK.

MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH DRUGS WAS WHEN I WAS 13 AND SO, YOU EXPERIMENT WITH THINGS THAT ARE VERY RISKY WHEN YOU ARE AT THAT AGE.

>> EVERYONE SAY NEW BEGINNINGS.

>> 1, 2, 3.

NEW BEGINNINGS.

>> THIS IS A LONG TIME COMING.

WHEN WOMEN COME BACK INTO COMMUNITIES THAT THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A HOME TO COME TO.

THAT THEY HAVE THE DIGNITY AND PEACE AND LOVE AND SUPPORT THEY DESERVE, AND THAT WE ARE TAKING CARE OF OUR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

SO WE HAVE TODAY WITH THE NEW BEGINNINGS GRAND OPENING, A SAFE SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO.

WE ARE THANKS AND LOVE AND ADMIRATION TO STACY BORDEN.

>> I AM THE 11TH CHILD OF 12.

SEVEN BROTHERS, FIVE GIRLS.

GROWING UP WAS AMAZING.

IT WAS JUST MAGICAL.

ON THE OTHERS, DYSFUNCTIONAL.

MY TWO OLDER BROTHERS WERE DRUG ADDICTED AND IN A LOT OF TROUBLE.

POLICE WERE ALWAYS CALLED AND THEN THERE WAS ME, WHO WAS PROBLEMATIC.

ALWAYS HIGH.

I WAS 11 WHEN I FIRST STARTED SMOKING MARIJUANA AND I WAS 12 OR 13 WHEN I FIRST SNIFFED COCAINE.

MY BROTHERS WERE SELLING IT.

IT WAS MORE LIKE THE LIFESTYLE.

I WAS SUFFERING, BECAUSE THERE WAS A TEACHER AND I REMEMBER SITTING ON HER LAP AND I REMEMBER SOMETHING HAPPENED.

AND I BLACKED OUT.

I CANNOT RECALL WHAT HAPPENED.

BACK IN HINDSIGHT NOW, I FEEL LIKE SOMETHING HAPPENED SEXUALLY.

I FEEL LIKE THAT IS WHEN MY EARLY CHILDHOOD TRAUMA CAME FROM.

I STARTED BEING A PROBLEMATIC CHILD, I WAS WITHDRAWING.

I REALLY COULD NOT ACCELERATE IN SCHOOL.

I JUST FELT SO NOT CONFIDENT IN MY COMPANY ENGINE LEVEL WAS NOT GOOD.

ONCE I GOT TO JP HI, IT WAS DRUGS.

I STARTED POPPING MESCALINE AND MICRO DOTS AND SNIFFING PERCOCET.

ALL OF THESE YEARS LATER, I NEVER KNEW THAT I EVEN EXISTED AND THAT IS JUST HOW MY LIFE WENT.

NOT FEELING LIKE I EVEN EXISTED.

I JUST FLOATED AND MY SENIOR YEAR, I WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED.

AND THAT TOOK ME OVER THE EDGE.

I DID NOT KNOW HOW TO ASK PLANE THIS TO ANYBODY.

I DID NOT KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ASSAULT OR YOUNG ADOLESCENT SEXUAL ASSAULT.

I DID NOT KNOW WHAT MENTAL ILLNESS WAS.

AND SO, I STARTED DRUGGING IT HEAVILY AND IT WAS CAUSING PROBLEMS IN OUR HOUSEHOLD.

EVENTUALLY I STARTED RUNNING AWAY AND STAYING OUT AND GETTING MYSELF IN TROUBLE, UNTIL MY FIRST INCARCERATION IN 1982.

DAVID: ARE THINGS TO DOROTHY DICKEY.

YOU CAN SEE THE FULL DOCUMENTARY ON RHODE ISLAND PBS JUNE 17 AT 8:00 P.M.. WE NOW TURN TO A STORY ABOUT A LEGENDARY LOCAL BEER AND ITS ROLLER COASTER HISTORY.

ONE THAT SPANS MORE THAN 130 YEARS.

THAT BELOVED RUE OF COURSE AS OUR OWN AT NARRAGANSETT BEER, RHODE ISLAND PBS AND DIRECTOR JOHN SMITH HAVE BEEN METICULOUSLY RESEARCHING THE STORY OF NARRAGANSETT BREWING COMPANY TO PUT FORWARD THE DEFINITIVE ACCOUNT OF THE BEER MAKER, FOLLOWING ITS EARLY ROOTS, ITS RISE IN POPULARITY, MASSIVE PRESENCE IN THE STATE AND THE COMPANY'S NEAR DEMISE AFTER BREWING OPERATIONS WERE UPROOTED TO THE MIDWEST.

AND FINALLY, ITS RESURGENCE AND RETURN TO RHODE ISLAND.

HERE IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE ORIGINAL PRODUCTION TITLED HI, NEIGHBOR.

>> BY THE EARLY 1930'S, NARRAGANSETT WAS STILL IN OPERATION, BUT A LACK OF SHOW.

>> BY ABOUT 1931, THEY NEEDED TO REALLY MODERNIZE THE FACILITY.

RING IT UP TO SNUFF IF IT WAS GOING TO SURVIVE AFTER THE PROHIBITION.

>> TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, NARRAGANSETT MANAGEMENT SOUGHT OUT HELP HIM RUDOLPH EVAN JUNIOR.

A VETERAN WITHIN THE NEW ENGLAND BREWING INDUSTRY.

>> RUDOLPH THE SECOND WOUND UP WITH I THINK FIVE OR SIX SEPARATE RHUE REIS MOST OF WHICH WERE IN FALL RIVER MASSACHUSETTS.

HE WAS AN INVESTOR, A CAPITALIST IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD, WHO WAS ACQUIRING SILVER MINES OUT WEST.

HE OWNED THE RIGHTS TO COLLECT ALL OF THE TOLLS OFF OF THE MOUNT HOPE BRIDGE.

HE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN SOMEBODY WHO WAS ABLE TO TURN ALMOST ANYTHING HE TOUCHED INTO MONEY.

>> RUDOLPH JUNIOR AGREED TO THE PROPOSAL, ASSUMING FULL CONTROL OF THE COMPANY AS PRESIDENT AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD.

>> HE PROVIDED THE SMARTS, THE KNOW-HOW, AS WELL AS THE FINANCIAL BACKING IN ORDER TO GET THE BREWERY UP TO SPEED, SO THAT WHEN PROHIBITION ENDED, IT WAS ABLE TO GO FULL FORCE AND THE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE MARKET.

>> ON DECEMBER 5, 19 33, THE 21ST AMENDMENT WAS RATIFIED, USHERING A NEW ERA FOR AMERICAN ALCOHOL PRODUCTION.

EARLIER THAT SAME YEAR, WITH REPEAL ON THE HORIZON, NARRAGANSETT COLLECTIVELY CONVERTED ITS MAIN WATER SUPPLY FROM THE ARTISAN WELLS TO THE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED SCITUATE RESERVOIR.

>> WHEN YOU PULL WATER FROM A POND OR NATURAL SOURCE, THAT WATER QUALITY FLUCTUATES QUITE A BIT THROUGHOUT THE SEASONS AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

THE WATER AMOUNT IN THE RESERVOIR IS VERY STEADY, IN TERMS OF ALL OF ITS PARAMETERS.

COLOR, PH, BACTERIA, NUTRIENTS, SO FROM A MANUFACTURING POINT OF VIEW, HAVING THAT CONSISTENCY IS VERY IMPORTANT.

>> ACCESS TO THE RESERVOIR, ALONG WITH NEEDED FACILITY UPGRADES, HELPED TO DRASTICALLY INCREASE PRODUCTION.

BY THE SUMMER OF 1934, THE BREWERY WAS PRODUCING MORE THAN 7.5 MILLION BOTTLES OF BEER A MONTH A FEW YEARS LATER, THE CAMPUS EXPANDED AGAIN WITH THE PURCHASE OF THE TROLLEY BARN ON CRANSTON STREET.

WHICH WOULD BE USED AS A WAREHOUSE.

THE 30'S WAS ALSO THE START OF NARRAGANSETT'S GREATEST MARKETING ERA, LED BY THE NEWLY HIRED JACK HALEY.

>> HE USED TO SAY -- AND I THINK OF THIS EVERY TIME I SEE AN AD ON TELEVISION, THE BEST ADS ARE ONES THAT YOU REMEMBER WHAT THE AD IS ABOUT.

OR WAS IT ADVERTISING FOR A SMALL COMPANY IN STONINGTON CONNECTICUT.

AND WHAT WITH ANOTHER COMPANY, AND THE 1933, 1 WITH NARRAGANSETT.

AND BECAME THEIR ADVERTISING MANAGER, THEY CALLED IT.

>> BY THE MID-1930'S, HALEY INTRODUCED THE RANDS LEGENDARY CALL TO ACTION, INSPIRED BY A DAILY ROUTINE.

>> MY PARENTS HAD A LITTLE COTTAGE TOWN AND HIS NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR, THEY WOULD GO OUT AND GET THE NEWSPAPER AT THE SAME TIME.

AND THEY WOULD SAY HI NEIGHBOR TO EACH OTHER.

SO HE DECIDED TO INCORPORATE THAT IN HIS AD.

SO IT BECAME HI NEIGHBOR.

♪ >> IN ADDITION TO HALEY'S TALENTS, THEY BRIEFLY EMPLOYED A DARTMOUTH COLLEGE CLASSMATE OF RUDOLPH JUNIOR'S SON, AND EAGER YOUNG ARTIST NAMED THEODORE GUYS A LEADER IN LIFE WOULD ADOPT THE NAME DR. SEUSS.

PAMELA: OUR THANKS TO JOHN SMITH AND YOU CAN SEE THIS RHODE ISLAND PBS ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY, HI NEIGHBOR RIGHT HERE ON RHODE ISLAND PBS ON MAY 25 AT 8 P.M..

FINALLY, LILA ALFONSE IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT COVID-19 AND THE NEW SURGE THAT IS UPON US.

LILA: CENTRAL FALLS SEEMS TO BE SERVING AS THE CANARY IN A COAL MINE WHEN IT COMES TO COVID IN RHODE ISLAND.

THE NUMBER OF INFECTIONS IS ON THE RISE.

AT SOME SITES, THE POSITIVITY RATING IS 25% PRETTY TINY CITY OF COURSE IS BY FAR THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED AREA OF OUR STATE, BUT WE NEED TO CONSIDER THE FACT THAT RHODE ISLAND IS THE THIRD MOST DENSELY POPULATED STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

IN THE HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS VIRUS COULD EASILY CLIMB IN OTHER PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN MID-MAY SAID RHODE ISLANDERS SHOULD EXPECT MODERATE INCREASES AND DECREASES IN COVID-19 INFECTION LEVELS OVER THE COMING MONTHS.

THAT INCLUDES THE SUMMER, WHEN TAKEN OUTSIDE AS A DIRECTIVE THAT IS EASIER TO FOLLOW.

BUT IT ALSO MEANS THAT LARGE GATHERINGS AND EVENTS COULD BECOME SUPER-SPREADER'S.

ESPECIALLY NOW THAT MASK MANDATES AND CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN LIFTED.

THIS MONTH, RHODE ISLAND HAD THE HIGHEST RATE OF COVID-19 CASES IN THE COUNTRY.

RHODE ISLAND IS ALSO THE STATE WITH THE HIGHEST VACCINATION RATE IN THE COUNTRY, WITH 83% OF RESIDENTS FULLY VACCINATED.

IF 83% SOUNDS HIGH, THAT IS BECAUSE IT IS.

BUT THAT HIGH PERCENTAGE MADE PEOPLE ASSUME MAGICAL HERD IMMUNITY WAS ACHIEVED IN COVID WAS OVER FOREVER, THAT IS OR THEY ARE MISTAKEN.

VACCINES DO NOT CONVEY ABSOLUTE IMMUNITY.

THEY OFFER PROTECTION AND WHEN DEALING WITH A NASTY VIRUS AND ITS MUTATIONS, THAT PROTECTION IS NOT PERFECT.

IT IS ENOUGH TO KEEP MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ALIVE, EVEN IF THEY GET SICK.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TOLD THE GLOBE THAT COVID-19 IS ENDEMIC DISEASE IN RHODE ISLAND.

WHEN A DISEASE IS ENDEMIC, THAT MEANS THAT IT IS REGULARLY FOUND IN A CERTAIN AREA OR AMONG A CERTAIN POPULATION.

IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT IT IS EXTREMELY MILD OR THAT WE CAN BE CMPLACENT ABOUT HOW WE COPE IT.

WE ARE IN A BETTER POSITION TO COPE NOW THAN WE WERE BEFORE, UNLIKE IN 2020 AND 2021, HEALTH PROVIDERS NOW HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF HOW TO TREAT IT.

AT HOME TESTING KITS ABOUND AND VACCINES ARE READILY AVAILABLE.

BUT THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU IS TO GET BOOSTED, WEAR A MASK AND YES, TAKE IT OUTSIDE.

DAVID: OUR THANKS TO LILA ALFONSE.

THAT IS OUR BROADCAST THIS EVENING, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M DAVID WRIGHT.

PAMELA: I'M PAMELA WATTS.

IT WILL BE NEXT -- BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER ADDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

UNTIL THEN, VISIT US ONLINE TO SEE ALL OF OUR STORIES AND PAST EPISODES RIPBS.ORG/WEEK.

OR LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST, AVAILABLE ON ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE AUDIO STREAMING PLATFORMS.

GOOD NIGHT.

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