>> JUST AHEAD ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM, CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP THROUGH A MORE DIVERSE TEACHER WORKFORCE, THE SURVIVAL OF BUILD BACK BETTER AFTER PASSAGE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, AND HOW WE'RE FEELING ABOUT JUSTICE AS AHMAUD ARBERY'S ACCUSED KILLERS STAND TRIAL.

♪ WELCOME TO BLACK ISSUES FORUM.

I'M DEBORAH HOLT-NOEL.

WHILE LEGISLATORS AND STAKEHOLDERS GO BACK AND FORTH OVER WHAT IT WOULD TAKE FUNDING WISE TO FINALLY PROVIDE ALL NORTH CAROLINA KIDS, THE SOUND BASIC EDUCATION THEY DESERVE AND HELP CLOSE THE RACIAL ACHIEVEMENT GAP, WHAT CONSIDERATION IS BEING GIVEN TO ANOTHER FACTOR THAT COULD IMPACT PERFORMANCE AND CLOSE THE GAP THAT IS A RACIALLY AND CULTURALLY DIVERSE TEACHER WORKFORCE.

I'D LIKE TO WELCOME ONE OF OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES FOR WHOM THIS IS A SUBJECT OF PRIORITY.

REPRESENTATIVE ZACK HAWKINS IN DISTRICT 31 IN DURHAM.

REPRESENTATIVE HAWKINS THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.

THIS IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR ME.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I CLAIM TO CLING TO, AND SOMETHING I BELIEVE CAN TRANSFORM A LOT OF THE ONLY OF THE TEACHING FORCE, BUT OF THE STUDENTS.

I WAS ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS WHO HAD MY FIRST BLACK TEACHER IN 3RD GRADE AND IT MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD, AND SO I HOPE WE CAN PROVIDE THAT FOR STUDENTS IN NORTH CAROLINA.

>> THAT'S AMAZING.

MY 3RD GRADE TEACHER MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN MY CAREER AS WELL.

SECOND GRADE I WAS VERY FORTUNATE BECAUSE I HAD A BLACK FIRST GRADE, SECOND GRADE, AND 3RD GRADE TEACHER, AND I LOOKED AT THESE TEACHERS KIND OF LIKE MY OWN MOTHER AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE IMPACT OF IT WAS, BUT IT SURELY HELPED TO HAVE THAT SUPPORT.

HOW MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE CAN SEEING TEACHERS ACTUALLY WHO MIRROR YOUR OWN IMAGE MAKE IN THAT PERFORMANCE BASED ON WHAT YOU'VE BEEN RESEARCHING AND TALKING ABOUT FOR SO LONG?

>> SURE THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND SO WHAT THE SCIENCE SAYS, WHAT THE RESEARCH SAYS, IS THAT THE EARLIER THAT STUDENTS HAVE A TEACHER OF COLOR IN THE CLASSROOM AND THE MORE THEY HAVE THROUGHOUT THEIR MATRICULATION K - 12, IT INCREASES THEIR ABILITY TO GRADUATE AND THEIR ABILITY TO GO TO COLLEGE.

AND SO THIS IS JUST CONSISTENT.

AND SO NOT ONLY ON DO WE SEE THAT STUDENTS OF COLOR BENEFIT, BECAUSE OF COURSE, AS YOU READ IN MANY MANY ARTICLES, YOU'LL FIND THAT EVEN WHEN STUDENTS OF COLOR THAT ARE HIGH ACADEMIC AIG GIFTED AND TALENTED WILL COME THROUGH THE LESS THEY HAVE TEACHERS OF COLOR OF THE LESS THEY ARE RECOGNIZED FOR THOSE TYPES OF ACHIEVEMENTS.

THE MORE TEACHERS OF COLOR, THE MORE STUDENTS OF COLOR THAT ARE RECOGNIZED FOR THOSE, OF COURSE THAT DOES SOMETHING FOR THEIR ACADEMIC BOOST, THEIR CONFIDENCE AND THEIR ABILITY TO GRADUATE IN COLLEGE AND SO I WAS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER AND I CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE WHEN MY STUDENTS SAW ME COME INTO THAT CLASSROOM AND WHAT IT MEANT FOR THEM.

AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO IN THE LEGISLATURE, WE MAY HAVE HEARD OF THE DRIVE TASK FORCE WHICH IS A DIVERSITY EDUCATION TASK FORCE THE GOVERNMENT PUT TOGETHER, IT OUTLINES AND MIRRORS A LOT OF WHAT IS IN LEANDRO ABOUT WHAT WE SPECIFICALLY NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN INCREASE THE TASK FORCE, WE CAN INCREASE THE TEACHING PROFESSION.

AND SO I REALLY THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

I HOPE THIS IS SOMETHING ALL NORTH CAROLINIANS CAN GET BEHIND BECAUSE WITH THE TEACHER SHORTAGE ACROSS THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES WE CAN GET A RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A DIVERSE WORKFORCE THAT IS TALENTED AND ABLE TO TAKE ALL THE BIG JOBS THAT ARE COMING INTO OUR STATE.

>> LET'S DIG INTO THAT TASK FORCE IN SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS A LITTLE BIT.

WHAT SPECIFICALLY CAN BE DONE POLICY WISE, LEGISLATIVE WISE TO INCREASE THE TEACHER WORKFORCE, THE DIVERSITY AMONG TEACHERS THERE?

>> YES, A GOOD QUESTION AND SO SOME OF IT IS REALLY CLEAR AND IT HELPS EVERYONE.

IN NORTH CAROLINA WE STILL HAVE THE MOST BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS IN THE COUNTRY.

STATES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY COME TO US FOR OURS.

OF COURSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GIVING MORE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES AND MORE FINANCIAL SUPPORT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN TAKE THAT TEST AND BE MORE CERTIFIED.

THE MORE DIVERSED TEACHING THAT CLASS IS, THE BETTER IT IS FOR ALL OF US.

SECOND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PAYING TEACHES ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

I WOULD DARE SAY IN THE TOP 10 OF ALL STATES.

THAT OF COURSE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE MORE TEACHERS IN GENERAL BUT MORE TEACHERS OF COLOR.

I WOULD SAY CERTAINLY YOU HAVE TO INVEST AND GROW YOUR OWN PROGRAM.

WE HAVE SO MANY TA'S AND VETERANS THAT I WANT TO GET INTO THE TEACHING PROFESSION.

WE ALL KNOW THE TA THAT HAS BEEN IN THE CLASSROOM OVER 10 YEARS THAT KNOWS EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY HAS INVESTED.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT FOR HIM OR HER WE'RE GIVING THEM A LITTLE BIT OF SUPPORT SO THEY CAN GO GET THAT OTHER THAT REMAINING TWO YEARS OF THEIR DEGREE AND THEY CAN BE A CERTIFIED TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOM.

THOSE ARE PEOPLE THAT WILL STAY, INVEST, AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

THE OTHER PIECE OF COURSE THAT I THINK IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL, IS MAKING SURE THAT WE HELP WITH, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH THE TASK FORCE IS THAT WE LOOK AT THE PIPELINE IN GENERAL AND HELP OUR LOCAL LEAs UNDERSTAND WE'RE TO GO GET THE MOST TALENT.

WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LIKE WE HAVE DONE SO FAR, I'M SO EXCITED THAT THE TEACHING FELLOWS PROGRAM, SOMETHING THAT WE THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE A POLICY DECISION WE FILED BILLS AROUND IT, BUT THE UNC SYSTEM AND THE TEACHING FELLOWS COMMISSION ADDED TWO HBCUs AND ONE MSI TO THE TEACHING FELLOW LIST.

THAT MEANS THAT ABSOLUTE GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO POUR MORE RESOURCES INTO PLACES WHERE WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE DEDICATED TO EDUCATING STUDENTS, SPECIALLY STUDENTS OF COLOR.

SO THOSE ARE JUST A FEW.

>> AND IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF POLICIES THAT WILL BENEFIT THE TEACHING PROFESSION, THE POOL OF TEACHERS OVERALL AND BROADLY, BUT REALLY KEYING IN ON WHY THE DISPARITY I WOULD SAY EXIST.

THERE'S SO MANY STUDENTS OF COLOR IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND THERE ARE VERY FEW TEACHERS OF COLOR IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

SO EVEN IF EVERYONE GETS PAID MORE AND THESE POLICIES GET TO APPLY TO ALL TEACHERS AND THEY'RE ALL VALUABLE.

THE QUALIFIED TEACHERS ARE ALL VALUABLE AND DESERVE TO BE PAID, HOW WILL WE GET MORE TEACHERS OF COLOR IN THAT CLASSROOM?

WHAT'S REALLY STANDING IN THE WAY RIGHT NOW?

>> AND THAT'S WHAT WE DISCOVERED IN THE DRIVE TASK FORCE THAT IT REALLY IS A LARGE NUMBER OF AREAS THAT GET INTO THE WAY.

ALL OF WHICH I THINK WE CAN REMOVE BUT NOTHING REPLACES THE ACTUAL RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.

BECAUSE FOR THE TEACHERS THAT WE HAVE GOT TO DO WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO TO KEEP THEM.

AND SO WHAT WE FIND IS THAT SOMETIMES, TEACHERS OF COLOR HAVE SAID, AND WE FOUND OUT THROUGH THE DRUG TASK FORCE.

THEY NEED MENTORSHIP.

THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND WITH THE PIPELINE IS FOR THEM TO MOVE UP IF THEY WANT TO BECOME, WHAT'S THE PROCESS FOR THEM TO BECOME AN AP?

WHAT'S THE PROCESS FOR THEM TO BECOME A PRINCIPAL?

HOW CAN THEY TAKE ON A LARGER ROLE, HOW CAN THEY BECOME A BETTER TEACHER?

HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THOSE RESOURCES AND TRAINING ARE AVAILABLE?

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ABSOLUTELY KEEP GOING THAT WE HAVE.

TO THE EARLIER POINT THAT YOU MADE, OVER 50% WELL OVER 50% OF THE STUDENTS IN NORTH CAROLINA CLASSROOMS, ARE OF COLOR.

ABOUT 20% OF THE TEACHERS ARE OF COLOR.

WHEN I WAS AT SOUTHERN HIGH SCHOOL IN DURHAM.

IN DURHAM COUNTY IN GENERAL ABOUT 70 TO 80% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE OF COLOR.

AND IT DOESN'T MATCH UP WITH THE TEACHERS OF COLOR AND SO WHAT IT REALLY ALSO BOILS DOWN TO IS THE ABILITY TO RECRUIT, AND THAT'S WHY THE NC TEACHING FELLOWS PIECE IS SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, AND AGAIN GOING BACK TO THE FACT THAT SOME HUMAN RESOURCES FOLKS AROUND THE STATE AND THE LEAs ARE NOT CLEAR ABOUT HOW TO RECRUIT DIVERSE TALENT.

WHERE DO WE GET THEM FROM?

HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A DIRECT LINE SO THEY UNDERSTAND WHERE TO GET THAT TALENT.

AND IT DOES BOIL DOWN TO PAY BECAUSE PEOPLE THAT GO TO SCHOOL, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO GET A MASTER'S DEGREE THEY WANT TO BE REWARDED FOR THAT.

THEY WANT TO SHOWN THAT THEY'VE INVESTED TIME ENERGY AND THEIR INTELLECT INTO GROWING THEIR CRAFT.

THEY WANT TO BECOME A BETTER TEACHER.

THEY WANT TO GO A TEACHER THAT CAN EXCITE YOUNG MINDS FOR THE FUTURE AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COMPENSATE THEM FOR THAT BECAUSE THE REWARD IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WILL TAKE US REALLY REALLY FAR AND OF COURSE AGAIN I WANT TO HONE IN ON THIS, IS RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF THOSE TEACHERS IS SOMETHING THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST BARRIERS THAT WE FOUND ON THE TASK FORCE.

>> WITH THAT RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION I I WOULD IMAGINE THAT'S IMPACTING WHAT HAPPENS AT THE POINT OF HIRE BECAUSE SAY YOU HAVE THE QUALIFIED TEACHERS COMING IN THERE ARE THEY GETTING HIRED?

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THAT HIRING POINT?

IS THERE ANY POLICY THAT CAN IMPACT THAT?

>> SURE AND THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO COME DOWN TO OUR LOCALS SCHOOL BOARDS, AND THAT'S WHERE THE LEAs, LOCAL EDUCATION GROUPS HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT THEIR EDUCATIONAL DIVERSITY GOALS ARE.

AND OF COURSE THAT STARTS WITH ADMITTING THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THE TYPE OF TEACHER WORKFORCE, THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF THE THE STUDENTS YOU TEACH.

AND SO WERE CONSISTENTLY MEETING, WE DID WRAP UP IN THE END OF THE DECEMBER 2020 ALL OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT WE NOW HAVE ACTION PLANS, AND ACTION COMMITTEES WITHIN THE TASK FORCE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONSISTENTLY WORKING NOT ONLY TO HELP MOVE FORWARD THE POLICY, BUT SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO TO CONNECT AS CLOSE TO THE GROUND AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE A LOT OF IT, NO PUN INTENDED, IS ABOUT EDUCATION AND IT REALLY DOES BOIL DOWN TO ONE OF THE PIECES THAT WE DID RECOMMEND AND WE'RE HOPING THAT WE CAN GET SOME TRACTION ON THE NEXT FEW TERMS IS HAVING A DASH BOARD, AND THAT NOT ONLY IS A DASHBOARD STATEWIDE, THAT SORT OF TELLS US WHERE WE ARE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS COLOR WE HAVE VERSUS THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS OF COLOR THAT WE HAVE, BUT THEN BREAKING THAT DOWN TO THE COUNTY LEVEL AND THE DISTRICT LEVEL SO THAT THEY CAN BE NO DENYING THAT WE NEED TO DO IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN AREAS.

IN THAT WAY THE STATE, THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, LEGISLATORS CAN THEN STEP IN EVEN FURTHER ONCE WE HAVE THAT DATA.

>> REPRESENTATIVE HAWKINS THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT TEACHER DIVERSITY, I WANT YOU TO STICK WITH US AS WE MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT TOPIC.

>> THANK YOU.

>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN PREPARES FOR A NATIONWIDE VICTORY LAP TO PROMOTE THE PASSAGE OF THE 1.2 TRILLION DOLLAR ROADS BRIDGES AND BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN, 13 REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED IN FAVOR OF IT.

WE'RE CERTAINLY NEEDED IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT 6 DEMOCRATS VOTED AGAINST IT.

JOINING THE CONVERSATION I WANT TO WELCOME ATTORNEY JESSICA HOLMES AND POLITICAL ANALYST STEVE RAO.

REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING WITH US.

JESSICA FOR MONTHS NOW IT'S BEEN SAID THAT THIS BILL HAD BIPARTISAN FAVOR AND THAT THE DEMOCRATS WHO THREATENED TO VOTE DOWN THE BILL HELD TO THEIR PROMISE WAS THIS A GOOD DECISION FOR THE REASONS THAT THEY SAID.

>> I'LL FIRST START BY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT YES INDEED THIS WILL BE A VICTORY LAP FOR PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN.

ON THIS COMING MONDAY, HE WILL SIGN INTO LAW THE LARGEST FEDERAL INVESTMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN MORE THAN A DECADE IN A BIPARTISAN INITIATIVE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GOOD JOBS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR PORTS AND OUR TRANSPORTATION AND IMPROVEMENT IN OUR SUPPLY CHAIN.

YES, THERE WERE SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS, SEVERAL DEMOCRATS WHO VOTED AGAINST IT.

WHAT I WOULD SAY TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS IS THAT SOMETIMES PERFECT CAN BE THE ENEMY OF GOOD.

IN THE END, THIS IS A GOOD DEAL NOT JUST FOR PROGRESSIVES, NOT JUST FOR MODERATES, NOT JUST FOR REPUBLICANS, BUT THIS IS A GREAT DEAL FOR AMERICANS.

WE ALL KNOW THAT THE SHIFT TO VIRTUAL SCHOOL AND LEARNING THAT WE HAD KIDS PULLING UP AT A MCDONALD'S IN ORDER TO LEARN.

SO THIS ISN'T JUST A WIN FOR THE JOE BIDEN PRESIDENCY, THIS IS LITERALLY A WIN FOR EVERYONE IN THE COUNTRY.

AND WHILE WE DIDN'T GET EVERYONE ON THE LEFT AND EVERYONE ON THE RIGHT, EVERYONE ON THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT AND IN BETWEEN WILL ACTUALLY BENEFIT FROM THE PASSAGE OF THIS LAW.

>> WELL, WHAT DID NOT COME ALONG WITH THIS WAS THAT SECOND INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN AND STEVE, WHAT WAS AT RISK FOR OR WHAT IS AT RISK FOR LEGISLATORS WHO VOTED AGAINST THEIR PARTY?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS A RISK.

I MEAN I THINK WITH REPUBLICANS, LET'S START WITH THE REPUBLICANS.

THERE'S ALWAYS OBVIOUSLY THREATS OF CONSERVATIVES COMING IN FROM THE RIGHT TO QUESTION IN A PRIMARY FOR REPUBLICANS SO, YEAH, I DEFINITELY THINK IT WILL BE INTEREESTING TO SEE MOVING FORWARD IF THESE REPUBLICANS ARE PRIMARY FOR THE 2022 ELECTIONS.

THEY COULD BE DAMAGING WELL, TIME WILL TELL AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO HOLD THEM BACK FROM MOST LIKELY SUPPORTING THE 1.75 TRILLION DOLLAR SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE.

IN TERMS OF DEMOCRATS LIKE SENATOR JOE MANCHIN, MANCHIN CONTINUES TO FIGHT THESE BILLS BASED ON YOU KNOW CITING REASONS FOR INFLATION, HE'S AGAINST TAX CREDITS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES FOR UNION-MADE ELECTRIC VEHICLES, CHARGING STATIONS, BECAUSE HE THINKS THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS.

AND I YOU KNOW SENATOR SINEMA AS WELL SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER JOE MANCHIN WOULD HAVE A RISK OF LOSING IN A RED STATE WEST VIRGINIA.

BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT ANY DEMOCRAT THAT DOESN'T SUPPORT THIS, MY ANALOGY WOULD BE, AND I AGREE WITH JESSICA HOLMES, I MEAN IF YOU'RE PLAYING A FOOTBALL GAME AND YOU CAN SCORE A FIELD GOAL TO PUT POINTS ON THE BOARD YOU'RE GOING TO KICK THE FIELD GOAL.

SO I SAY KICK THE FIELD GOAL INITIATE THIS MAJOR INVESTMENT AND WE CAN COME BACK AND DO THE SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE.

THE FACT THE MATTER IS THAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT AMBITION, AND ALSO EXECUTION.

I ALSO HAVE CONCERNS OF THE RISING COST OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN AMERICA AND HOW QUICKLY WE CAN GET THESE PROJECTS DONE.

>> AND IT'S ALSO A MATTER OF WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VICTORY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND THE FACT THAT IT COULD BE SAID THAT THOSE WHO VOTED AGAINST PARTY WERE VOTING FOR THE COUNTRY.

REPRESENTATIVE HAWKINS, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT THIS VOTE MEANS FOR FOR THE SUCCESSFUL PACKAGE -- THE SUCCESSFUL PASSAGE OF THE NEXT PACKAGE THE BUILD BACK BETTER PLAN?

>> YEAH, THANK YOU FIRST FOR AND INCLUDING ME WITH THESE AMAZING COLLEAGUES, AND I THINK WHAT IT MEANS FOR FOLKS WE KNOW FIRST IN NORTH CAROLINA, NO NORTH CAROLINA, GOP MEMBER VOTED FOR THIS WILL PROBABLY VOTE FOR ANY FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE BILLS.

BUT THE THING THAT'S MOST IMPORTANT FOR ME IS WHAT'S IN IT AND HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

IF YOU START TALKING ABOUT 7 BILLION DOLLARS FOR ROADS, 911 MILLION FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, 100 MILLION FOR BROADBAND, I MEAN YOU HAVE TO ME YOU HAVE TO GO AND MAKE THAT CASE TO SOMEONE WHY YOU VOTED AGAINST THAT.

OUTSIDE OF THE TRIANGLE AREA AND SOME OF THE MORE POPULOUS AREAS.

NORTH CAROLINA IS LOSING POPULATION, WHICH MEANS THEY'RE LOSING OPPORTUNITY AND SO THE ABILITY TO INVEST IN THIS WAY SHOULDN'T PUSH EVERYONE OVER THE EDGE.

EVERYONE HAS THEIR POLITICAL REASONS FOR NOT DOING SO.

BUT THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING, AND THING THAT I THINK JOE BIDEN AND THOSE WHO VOTED FOR THIS BILL, THEIR LEGACY WILL BE THAT TRANSFORMED AMERICA VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT THE NEW DEAL DID ALMOST A 100 YEARS AGO.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SAID IS THAT AS FAR AS THE MESSAGE BEING PUT OUT THERE ON THIS SECOND PIECE OF LEGISLATION, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH CLARITY PERHAPS ON EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS GOING TO DO.

IT'S JUST BEING CALLED THE SOCIAL BILL, THE BUILD BACK BETTER.

JESSICA, WHAT CAN YOU SHARE ABOUT WHAT'S IN THAT PLAN AND HOW IT WOULD BENEFIT NORTH CAROLINIANS.

>> WELL FOR STARTERS, I'LL NOTE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A LACK OF CLARITY, GETTING DOWN TO SORT OF LAY PERSONS REGARDING EXACTLY WHAT'S IN THIS BILL.

BUT ALSO GOING BACK TO ACKNOWLEDGING THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, AND TALKING ABOUT THE NATIONAL POLITICAL LANDSCAPE WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN VIRGINIA WHAT HAPPENED IN NEW JERSEY, MY MESSAGE TO DEMOCRATS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL IS THAT WE BETTER GET SOME CLARITY REAL QUICK BECAUSE WE STARTED WITH A BILL THAT SEEMED TO HAVE A MUCH LARGER NUMBER AND WE KEEP WHITTLING IT DOWN AND WE ADD THINGS BACK LIKE YOU KNOW THE POSSIBILITY OF PAID LEAVE, NOW QUITE FRANKLY WHO KNOWS WHAT'S REALLY IN THE BILL BECAUSE YOU KNOW IT SEEMS LIKE IT CHANGES EVERY OTHER DAY, SO MOVING FORWARD ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JOE BIDEN WILL NEED TO DO IS GET THAT CLARITY DOWN TO EVERY DAY AMERICANS SO WE KNOW HOW IT NOT ONLY IMPACTS THE COUNTRY BUT PEOPLE RIGHT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

>> ABSOLUTELY AND AS FAR AS OUR OWN COMMUNITY IS CONCERNED I THINK WE HAVE JUST ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT I'M GONNA LET THAT BE SHARED BETWEEN YOU STEVE AND REPRESENT OF HAWKINS.

WHAT IS IN THIS FOR NORTH CAROLINIANS BECAUSE SOME WOULD ARGUE THAT ALL OF THIS MONEY IS GOING TO THE THE NORTHERN STATES INTO BIG CITIES AND SO FORTH BUT YOU KNOW WHAT CAN OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES, LOOK FORWARD TO STEVE.

>> WELL FIRST OF ALL BROADBAND.

65 BILLION GOING INTO BROADBAND AND UPGRADING OUR WATER SYSTEMS AND PROVIDING FOR CLEAN WATER.

BUT BROADBAND IN RURAL NORTH CAROLINA.

A CRITICAL, AND REPRESENT HAWKINS WOULD AGREE WITH ME ON THAT, PROVIDING THE ABILITY FOR EDUCATION.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

WE ALL WANT TO DRIVE MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLES WE SIMPLY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CHARGING STATIONS.

I WANT TO BUY AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE, BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW I WOULD FIND THE NEXT CHARGING STATION EVEN IN MY OWN TOWN OF MORRISVILLE.

SO I THINK THAT THOSE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS AND THEN YOU KNOW, OF COURSE YOUR OTHER INVESTMENTS WOULD BE CHILD CARE TAX CREDIT CREDITS HEALTH CARE, YOU KNOW REDUCING PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES, THOSE ARE ALL IN THE SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND ALL, BUT I WENT WITH THIS, I MEAN THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS FOR THE LAST FEW DECADES AMERICAN ECONOMY HAS ONLY BEEN GROWING WITH TAX CUTS AND MOST OF THE FEDERAL SPENDING HAS BEEN ON SOCIAL PROGRAMS.

NOW WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST OVER ONE PERCENT OF OUR GDP IN RESEARCH IN INNOVATION, IN INFRASTRUCTURE >> SO THANK YOU STEVE, I'M SORRY TO CUT YOU OFF BUT I WANT TO GET REPRESENTATIVE HAWKINS IN ON THIS QUESTION.

>> I AGREE ON A LOT OF WHAT STEVE SAID AND WHAT THAT TRANSLATES TO IS THE ABILITY FOR A JOBS TO BE CREATED MILLIONS OF JOBS TO BE CREATED.

PEOPLE THAT CAN MAKE LIVING WAGES AND HAVE THEM TRANSFORMED THE FAMILIES.

SECONDLY, BUSINESS.

THESE ARE A LOT OF CONTRACTS THAT WILL COME THROUGH DOT, THAT WILL COME THROUGH SOME OF OUR AREAS AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EQUITY TO BE DISPLAYED BY MAKING SURE THAT WOMEN AND MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES HAVE THEIR PIECE OF THE PIE WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY AND SO I REALLY THINK THAT EVERYTHING HE SAID WAS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT WITH ALL THE NUMBERS, WHAT WE NEED TO BOIL IT DOWN TO EVERYDAY TERMS SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW IT CAN TRANSFORM THEIR LIFE.

IF WE DON'T DO THAT, THEN THAT IS A FAILURE OF THE PEOPLE THAT THIS BILL WAS WRITTEN ON IF WE CAN'T TRANSLATE IT AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE CAN TALK ABOUT IT AT THE KITCHEN TABLE TO SAY WHAT AND HOW THIS DEMOCRAT JOE BIDEN HAS DELIVERED TO THEM.

>> DEFINITELY LOOKS LIKE A DECISION THAT'S GOING TO BENEFIT PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

SINCE EARLY THIS MONTH, THE NATION HAS WATCHED AS DETAILS UNFOLD SURROUNDING THE SHOOTING DEATH OF THE UNARMED 25-YEAR-OLD AHMAD ARBERY IN GEORGIA.

MANY WILL REMEMBER THAT 2/23/2020 THIS YOUNG BLACK MAN WAS CHASED DOWN IN A SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD BY AN OLDER WHITE MAN AND HIS SON WHO HAVE CLAIMED THAT HE LOOKED LIKE SOMEONE SUSPECTED OF A RECENT SERIES OF BREAK-INS.

VIDEO OF THE ENCOUNTER WAS CAPTURED AND CIRCULATED ON SOCIAL MEDIA PROBABLY MOST DISCOMFITING FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY REGARDING THIS TRIAL IS THE JURY SELECTED WHICH INCLUDES ONLY ONE BLACK JURIST.

JESSICA WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY ABOUT THE MAKEUP OF THE JURY AND FAIRNESS FOR BOTH SIDES REPRESENTED?

>> WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A JURY OF 12 INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PEERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

IN THIS INSTANCE, THE REALITY IS THAT THE LEGAL STANDARD IS THAT THESE 12 INDIVIDUALS MUST COME TO A UNANIMOUS DECISION OF GUILT AND THE GOVERNMENT, OR RATHER THE PROSECUTION MUST PROVE THAT THE CRIME WAS COMMITTED BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT.

WHAT I LIKE IN THIS SITUATION WHEN I WATCHED THE VIDEO FOOTAGE IS MR. ARBERY RUNNING AWAY.

THESE 3 INDIVIDUALS ACTING LIKE A SLAVE PATROL, GOING AFTER A RUNAWAY SLAVE AND EXPECTING THEM TO STOP AT HIS COMMAND.

THEY LITERALLY HUNTED THAT MAN DOWN LIKE HE WAS A RUNAWAY SLATE OR IN TODAY'S TERMS LIKE HE WAS A DOG WHO'S LIFE DIDN'T MATTER.

SO ONE OF THE CONCERNS OF MANY IN THIS CASE IS THE FACT THAT OF A COMMUNITY, A COUNTY THAT'S COMPRISED OF ABOUT 26% PEOPLE OF COLOR PEOPLE WHO ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN, OF 12 JURORS, THERE'S ONLY ONE PERSON WHO WAS BLACK.

EVEN THE JUDGE ACKNOWLEDGED THERE APPEARED TO BE INTENTIONAL DISCRIMINATION ON THE SIDE OF THE DEFENDANTS TO MAKE SURE THERE WEREN'T MANY BLACK PEOPLE ON THIS JURY.

>> AND THAT JUDGE'S ASSESSMENT REALLY HAS NO IMPACT.

HE HAS NO INFLUENCE OR POWER TO EVEN CHANGE THAT.

HE JUST SORT OF MADE A RECOGNITION, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH DIFFERENCE THAT'S GOING TO MAKE, BUT STEVE WHAT ARE YOUR TAKE AWAY -- >> UNFORTUNATELY, THE LEGAL STANDARD IS THAT THE JUDGE -- AS LONG AS THERE IS A LEGITIMATE OR JUSTIFIABLE REASON THESE INDIVIDUAL JURORS WERE DISMISSED, THEN THERE'S NOTHING THE JUDGE CAN DO ABOUT IT.

>> STEVE WHAT ARE YOUR TAKE AWAYS SO FAR, AND WHAT DO YOU THINK THE OUTCOME WILL BE IN TERMS OF HOW WEIGHTY IT IS IN REFERENCE TO, OR RATHER IN COMPARISON SAY TO THE DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL?

>> THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT TRIAL.

I MEAN LET'S GO BACK TO THE FACT THE MATTER IS A BLACK MAN AHMAUD ARBERY WAS JOGGING IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND WAS SHOT.

BECAUSE HE WAS SUSPECTED.

SUSPECTED.

I REPEAT SUSPECTED OF BURGLARY, AND SO YOU KNOW FIRST OF ALL I AM CONCERNED ABOUT ONLY HAVING ONE BLACK JUROR.

I THINK IT DOES NOT REPRESENT WHAT A JURY SHOULD MAKE UP IN A COMMUNITY THAT'S PREDOMINATELY WHITE BUT 26% BLACK MINORITIES IN THAT TOWN IN THAT REGION AND I THINK THAT IT DOES AFFECT THE OUTCOME AND I THINK THAT THE OTHER THING IS I WILL SAY IS SYSTEMIC RACIAL BIAS THERE WAS TESTIMONY THIS WEEK THAT YOU KNOW SOMEONE HE SAW AHMAUD ARBERY IN FRONT OF A HOME WITHOUT A TOOL BELT.

AND IT'S JUST A STATEMENT MADE WELL, YOU KNOW DOES THAT MEAN THAT HE MIGHT HAVE WANTED TO COMMIT A CRIME YOU SEE THAT'S RACIAL BIAS SOMETHING WE DON'T THINK ABOUT YOU SEE SOMEONE BLACK AND YOU ASSUME THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A CRIME AND THEN THE 3RD THING IS YOU KNOW I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT WHEN REVEREND SHARPTON OR OTHER BLACK LEADERS WANT TO COME AND SUPPORT THIS FAMILY, IT DOES COME ACROSS RATHER INSENSITIVE SAY WELL, WE DON'T WANT YOU DOING THAT AND SO I DO THINK THAT THIS VERDICT WILL BE LIKE A DEREK CHAUVIN VERDICT.

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IN A GENERATION WE ELECTED BARACK OBAMA THE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, WE'RE STILL HAVING THESE INCIDENTS HAPPEN, AND NO BLACK MAN OR WOMAN SHOULD EVER BE JOGGING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD AND BE AFRAID OF GETTING SHOT EVEN IF THEY'RE SUSPECTED THEY SHOULD BE BROUGHT IN FOR QUESTIONING.

>> I CAN'T IMAGINE RUNNING JOGGING, AND THEN ENCOUNTERING A TRUCK FOLLOWING ME, AND THEN BEING BLOCKED IN.

>> SHOULDN'T HAPPEN IN AMERICA OR ANY WHERE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE HAWKINS WHAT QUESTION OR ISSUE DO YOU THINK IS AT THE CENTER OF THIS ISSUE?

>> YEAH, I'M, A RUNNER.

AND SO IS STEVE AND SO ARE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT I KNOW THAT LOOK LIKE ME, AND SO IT DID SEND SHOCKWAVES BECAUSE THERE WAS NO DOUBT THAT AT ANY GIVEN POINT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ME OR SOMEONE WHO LOOK LIKE ME, SO THAT'S FRIGHTENING.

AND THE THING I WANT TO GO BACK TO IS JUST LIKE MANY PEOPLE DO YOU'RE WALKING INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD OR SOMEWHERE YOU'RE UNFAMILIAR WITH, YOU WANT TO TAKE IN THE SCENERY HE WAS LOOKING AT AN UNFINISHED HOME.

HOW MANY PEOPLE DO JUST THAT TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON THIS HOUSE, HOW IS IT MADE?

MAYBE I CAN GET SOME IDEA.

SOMETHING THAT EVERY AMERICAN ADMITTED TO WHEN THEY FOUND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.

AND THEN AS STEVE AND JESSICA SAID BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN, HE WAS HUNTED DOWN AND SO IN PLACES LIKE NORTH CAROLINA, YOU KNOW WHAT IT BASICALLY SAID THAT USE SELF-DEFENSE IF YOU ARE DEFENDING YOUR HOME DEFENDING YOUR FAMILY IN YOUR VEHICLE, SOMETHING THAT YOU OWN.

NONE OF WHICH THEY WERE.

THEY WERE ON A A PUBLIC STREET AND EXPECTED, AS JESSICA SAID, HIM TO STOP AT THEIR COMMAND, AND TO THINK THEY'RE GOING TO USE VIGILANTE JUSTICE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

THE ONE BLACK JUROR, IT'S AN INSULT.

BUT IF YOU LOOK OVER THE COURSE OF HISTORY.

THAT'S ONE THING THAT IS ALMOST A TONGUE IN CHEEK WITH MANY OF THESE KINDS OF CASES EVEN IF YOU GO BACK TO THE 1930'S AND 40'S, >> YEAH, NEEDLESS TO SAY EVERYONE WILL BE WATCHING VERY CLOSELY.

THE OUTCOME.

REPRESENTATIVE ZACK HAWKINS STEVE RAO, JESSICA HOLMES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INSIGHTS AND FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, >> THANK YOU.

>> I WANT TO THANK ALL OF TODAY'S GUESTS.

WE INVITE YOU TO ENGAGE WITH US ON TWITTER OR INSTAGRAM USING THE HASHTAG BLACK ISSUES FORUM.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND OUR FULL EPISODES IN FULL ON PBSNC.ORG/ BLACKISSUESFORM, OR LISTEN AT ANY TIME ON APPLE I TUNES, SPOTIFY OR GOOGLE PODCAST.

FOR BLACK ISSUES FORUM, I'M DEBORAH HOLT-NOEL.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

♪ >> QUALITY PUBLIC TELEVISION ISS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF VIEWERS LIKE YOU WHO INVITE YOU TO JOIN THEM IN SUPPORTING PBS NC.