♪ ♪ >> Crossley: WELCOME TO "BASIC BLACK".

SOME OF YOU ARE JOINING US ON OUR BROADCAST, AND OTHERS OF YOU ARE JOINING US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

I AM CALLIE CROSSLEY, HOST 0 OF "UNDER THE RADAR," 89.7.

TONIGHT, MAKING HISTORY, KAMALA HARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

WE LIKE YOU ARE DEALING WITH THE EFFECTS OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND ARE TAKING PRECAUTIONS.

WE ARE WORKING WITH HIMMED STAFF, AND OUR GUESTS ARE JOINING US REMOTELY.

TEARS AND CHEERS DURING THIS WEEK'S INAUGURAL CEREMONY INSTALLING PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS.

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS IS A TRIPLE FIRST, THE FIRST BLACK, THE FIRST SUITE ASIAN, AND THE FIRST WOMAN TO HOLD THE OFFICE.

SHE BECOMES VICE PRESIDENT AS COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE SUFFERING THE RAVAGES OF A LIFE-THREATENING VIRUS, UNDER ATTACK FROM REENERGY APOLOGIZED WHITE SUPREMACISTS AND LOSING GROUND IN A DOWN ECONOMY.

WITH SO MUCH AT STAKE, HOW DO PEOPLE OF COLOR CELEBRATE HER HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT BUT ALSO HOLD HER ACCOUNTABLE?

>> JOINING US, DR. YVONNE M. SPICER, MAYOR OF FRAMINGHAM, AND THE CITY'S VERY FIRST MAYOR WHEN THE TOWN TRANSITIONED TO A CITY IN 2018.

JENEE OSTERHELDT, CULTURE COLUMNIST FOR THE "BOSTON GLOBE" AND CREATOR OF THE MULTIMEDIA SERIES, A BEAUTIFUL RESISTANCE.

AND RADHA NATARAJAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW ENGLAND INNOCENCE PROJECT.

WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU.

>> SO I WILL START THIS WAY.

WHAT DID EACH OF YOU FEEL AT THE MOMENT THAT VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS TOOK THE OATH?

I WILL START WITH YOU, YVONNE.

>> I CAN'T TELL YOU THE SENSE OF PRIDE, THE JOY, I VACILLATED BETWEEN SMILING AND CRYING AT THE SAME TIME, AND, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I KNEW THE ANCESTORS WERE WATCHING, ALL OF THE ANCESTORS WERE CLAPPING AND CHEERING HER ON, AND ALL OF US AROUND THE COUNTRY, WOMEN, YOU KNOW, AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN, ASIAN WOMEN, ALL SO THAT THEY EMBODIES AND WE ARE JUST THRILLED AND I KNOW I FELT SUCH A SENSE OF PRIDE, A REAL GREAT DAY.

>> Crossley: RAD NAAH RADHA?

>> SO THE FIRST THING I FELT WAS I WISHED JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR BRO ANNOUNCED HER NAME CORRECTLY.

HAVING GONE THROUGH A LIFETIME OF HAVING YOUR NAME MISPRONOUNCED AND KNOWING THAT THAT WAS AN ISSUE FOR KAMALA HARRIS, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME, AND I WANTED TO SEE THAT.

AND IT STILL WHEN SHE SPOKE AND SHE TOOK THE OATH, IT WAS -- IT WAS HARD TO FEEL.

>> Crossley: JENEE?

DO YOU WANT TO PICK UP?

>> WELL, IT WAS -- THERE WERE SO MANY THINGS AT THE SAME TIME.

LIKE I WAS EXCITED.

I WAS ALSO STRESSED BECAUSE I WAS ON DEADLINE.

I WAS LIKE TRYING TO REPORT EVERYTHING AND KEEP MY NOTES, BUT LOOK AT HER OUTFIT ALSO I DID THE OH SHE CAME TO PLAY.

SO MANY, MANY FEELINGS.

BUT SEEING A BLACK WOMAN UP THERE A BLACK WOMAN FROM -- A BLACK WOMAN OF THE DIVINE 9, YOU KNOW, AKA OLD SYSTEM FIRST, IS JUST, SHE BROUGHT SO MANY THINGS WITH HER AND THEN TO HAVE THURGOOD MARSHALL'S BIBLE ON TOP OF HER OTHER MOTHER AND ALL OF US WHO GREW UP IN BLACK COMMUNITIES AND BROWN COMMUNITIES LIKE KNOW HOW AWESOME IT IS TO HAVE THE THE NEIGHBORHOOD AUNTIE TO HAVE THAT BIBLE TOO, I JUST FEEL LIKE SHE BROUGHT A LOT OF -- AS COMPLICATED AS A WOMAN SHE IS, SHE BROUGHT US WITH HER -- AND IT WAS VERY INTENTIONAL IN HER CHOICES FROM THE BLACK DESIGNER TO TWO YOUNG BLACK DESIGNERS, PUERTO RICAN DESIGNER WHO DID THE PEARLS, I MEAN, EVERYTHING WAS SO INTENTIONALLY DONE TO BRING US WITH HER.

>> Crossley: CHRISTOPHER JOHNS, I THINK ROGER JOHNS IS THE BLACK DESIGNER, JUST -- >> YES, AND SERGIO GARB.

>> Crossley: GIVE THE SHOUTOUT TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE.

SO ALL OF US IN THIS CONVERSATION, I AM GOING INCLUDE MYSELF HAVE BEEN FIRST AND ONLY SOMEWHERE.

SO WE KNOW THAT EXPERIENCE.

RADHALY START WITH YOU.

WHAT CAN SHE DEPUTY LEVEL BEING FIRST AND ONLY?

>> I MEAN, I THINK SHE KNOWS VERY WELL WHAT IT MEANS TO BE FIRST ..

IT IS ALL OF OUR HOPES ARE IN HER AND I THINK SHE DOES SUCH A GREAT JOB OF BRINGING ALL OF US WITH HER, AND AT THE SAME TIME, SHE IS GOING TO BE NIT-PICKED EVERY SINGLE THING SHE DOES IS GOING TO BE WATCHED.

IT IS SORT OF THIS ELEVATION OF HER AS AN IDEAL WITH -- WHICH YOU CAN'T EVER -- THAT NO PERSON CAN EVER MEET.

AND I THINK SHE IS FRANKLY USED TO THAT BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN THE FIRST SO MANY TIMES AND I THINK SHE DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB OF BEING ABLE TO HOLD THAT, HOLD ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND KNOWING THAT THAT IS COMING.

>> JENEE?

>> I AGREE.

SHE HAS BEEN THE FIRST MANY TIMES BEFORE, LIKE I AM SURE ALL OF US TALKING TODAY HAVE BEEN IN MANY BLACK AND BROWN WOMEN HAVE BEEN THE FIRST AND ONLY IN THE ROOM SO MANY TIMES.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE STEAKS ARE HIGH AND THE CRITICISM IS HIGHER, I MEAN, ANY MISTAKE SHE MAKES WILL BE TEN TIMES WORSE AS SOMETHING THAT A MEDIOCRE WHITE MAN DOES.

YOU KNOW?

DOWN TO I MEAN, THE -- COVER, ANYTHING SHE DOES IS GOING TO, THE VOGUE COVER, ANYTHING SHE DOES IS GOING TO BE AMPLIFIED AND JUST PICKED APART IN EVERY SINGLE WAY IS ALMOST, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU BLACK WOMAN IN THE SPOTLIGHT LIKE THAT, THEY TRY TO STRIP AWAY YOUR HUMANITY, TO YOUR POINT.

SHE -- EVERYTHING SHE DOES NOW IS BECAUSE SHE IS LIKE THIS SUPERHUMAN TO SOME AND SUPER VILLAIN TO OTHERS AND THAT, I THINK SHE IS USED TO IT, BUT I ALSO THINK NONE OF US TOTALLY -- I MEAN WE ARE STILL HUMAN, SO YOU KNOW, I JUST HOPE THAT THE PEOPLE AROUND HER CONTINUE TO SUPPORT HER AND LEVERAGE HER AND I THINK WE CAN HOLD HER ACCOUNTABLE BUT ALSO POINT IT OUT WHEN THINGS ARE CLEARLY SEXIST AND RACIST.

>> Crossley: YVONNE.

>> YOU BOTH HIT IT ON THE NAIL BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE A WOMAN OF COLOR, AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN AND CERTAINLY BEING THE FIRST, I AM THE FIRST MAYOR OF MY CITY, AND EVERYTHING YOU SAID HAS COME TO FRUITION, BUT I THINK THE SAVING GRACE IS I THINK WITH AGE COMES FURTHER GROUNDING AND WISDOM AND KNOWING WHO YOU ARE AND WHO YOU ARE.

CERTAINLY PROPELS YOU IN THIS JOB AND YOU DO ANTICIPATE THE CRITICISM, BUT I ALSO SAY HAVING THAT SUPPORT NETWORK AROUND YOU BECOMES CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AND YOU KNOW THAT SHE DOES HAVE, YOU KNOW, AN AKA, SHE HAS GOT A WHOLE ARMY BEHIND HER AND SO I LOOK AT IT AS IT COMES WITH THE JOB, IT ALSO IS A VERY DIFFICULT JOB AT A VERY DIFFICULT TIME, A CRITICAL TIME, AND YOU ARE RIGHT, EVERY STEP OF THE WAY SHE IS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, WATCHED, JUDGED AND, YOU KNOW, AND WE JUST NEED TO BE THERE TO SUPPORT HER AND SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT BIDEN IN THEIR LEADERSHIP BECAUSE I THINK WE ARE AT A RECKONING TIME IN THIS COUNTRY AND I THINK IT CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE LEVERAGING THE POWER OF BLACK WOMEN.

>> Crossley: SO LET'S BREAK DOWN THIS INTENTION SCRUTINY YOU HAVE ALL SAYING SAID IS COMING HER WAY AND COMING HER WAY INTENSELY.

RADHA, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED WAS, HERE SHE IS, SHE IS A SYMBOL OF A GROUP, ALL OF US, BUT YET SHE IS AN INDIVIDUAL, SO RIGHT AWAY, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE IN TROUBLE BECAUSE JUST BREATHING YOU ARE GOING TO UPSET SOMEBODY OR NOT DO THE RIGHT THING, SO I AM CLEAR ABOUT, OR MAYBE I AM NOT CLEAR, AND YOU SHOULD SAY, AS A WAY OF ANSWERING THE SECOND PART OF THIS QUESTION, WHICH IS WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FROM THE RACIST, THAT IS HOW DO YOU EXPECT THAT TO COME?

BUT THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF EXPENSE SCRUTINY AND NOT SOME KIND THINGS SAID TO HER FROM THE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

AND WHAT DO YOU EXPECT THAT TO LOOK LIKE?

SO RADHA, THE I AM STARTING WITH YOU.

>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK WE NEED SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON WHAT THE RACIST ARE GOING TO SAY ABOUT HER.

I THINK WE ALREADY KNOW THAT.

I THINK WE.

>> ALREADY SEEN THAT.

LET'S NOT EVEN SPEND TIME ON THAT.

>> Crossley: OKAY.

>> I THINK WHAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT IS, YOU KNOW, SO SHE HOLDS -- SHE HAS -- SHE MAKES US FEEL THAT THINGS ARE POSSIBLE AND THAT IS HOW LONG, RIGHT?

JUST THAT FEELING OF KNOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL OF OUR MULTICULTURAL FAMILIES, OUR DAUGHTERS, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE IS HOPE FOR US, THERE IS POSSIBILITY.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, SHE HAS A HISTORY WHERE THE POLICIES THAT SHE ENDORSED AND THAT SHE PRESIDED OVER AS A DISTRICT ATTORNEY, AS AN ATTORNEY GENERAL, HARMED COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

BUT I THINK THE POINT, I THINK ONE THING THAT IS IMPORTANT, RIGHT NOW WE ARE TRIPLE A TIED AND I AM NOT SURE WHEN WE WILL FEEL READY TO NOT JUST -- TO COME OUT OF THE TRAUMA AND ACTUALLY HOLD HER ACCOUNTABLE, I THINK WE HAVE TO DO THAT, I THINK WE OWE IT TO HER AND TO ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES TO DO THAT, BUT I THINK IT MIGHT BE HARD TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE JUST FEEL A SENSE OF RELIEF THAT WE NEED, WE NEED THAT JOY RIGHT NOW.

>> Crossley: YVONNE SPICER, RADHA MAKES AN INTERESTING POINT.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS TO BE QUITE CRITICAL OF HER, IN TERMS OF HER PROCESS YOU TOMORROW PAST THAT WAS AN ISSUE WHEN SHE WAS CAMPAIGNING FOR PRESIDENT, BUT AS .. RADHA SAYS WE ARE AT A TIME OF EXTREME TRAUMA TOO BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE OTHER STUFF I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW.

SO HOW DO WE THEN BEGIN TO HOLD HER ACCOUNTABLE OR DO WE AS DO WE GIVE HER A MOMENT?

YOU KNOW, WELL, SHE IS GOING TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR SURE, NO MATTER WHAT, BUT I DO AGREE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE THOSE -- THE OPPOSITION AND ADVERSARIES TOO MUCH AIRTIME BECAUSE THE WORK THAT IS AHEAD OF HER IS SO IMPORTANT AND THERE IS SO MUCH HEALING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND BRIDGING THE DIVIDE AND SO WE ARE FOCUSING OUR ENERGY ON MOVING THE NEEDLE FORWARD AND BRIDGING THE DIVIDE AND I DO BELIEVE THE ABILITY TO LISTEN, THE ABILITY TO HEAR, NOT ONLY THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF HER BUT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ADVERSARIES, AND LISTENING VERY CAREFULLY AND I BELIEVE SHE HAS THAT POWER AND THAT ABILITY BECAUSE JUST LOOKING AT HER LIFE, YOU KNOW, IT IS A CROSS-SECTIONAL OF PEOPLE, RACES, CULTURES, AND SHE CAN BRIDGE THAT DIVIDE AND I WANT TO GIVE HER A FAIR SHOT AT DOING THAT.

>> Crossley: JENEE?

>> I GUESS I FEEL A LITTLE BIT -- I DON'T THINK ANY ONE PERSON CAN BRIDGE THE DIVIDE.

I THINK IT IS BY A COLLECTIVE ACTION THAT HAS TO BE TAKEN AND I THINK -- I THINK NO ONE IS RUNNING AWAY FROM HER PROSECUTORIAL PAST, I FEEL LIKE WHEN SHE WAS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT ..

IT WAS NATIONALLY DISCUSSED AND THEN WHEN SHE BECAME THE VP PICK, IT WAS NATIONALLY DISCUSSED AND ON INAUGURATION DAY, YOU KNOW, ANY NUMBER OF ABOLITIONISTS AND ACTIVISTS SPENT MOST OF THE DAY TALKING ABOUT IT MORE, SO I ACTUALLY DON'T THINK THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND THE ACTIVIST COMMUNITY HAVE SIDE AWAY FOR HOLDING HER ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF SINCE IT HAS BECOME A POSSIBILITY SHE WOULD BE IN THE WHITE HOUSE ON SOME LEVEL OR ANOTHER.

I DO THINK THAT WE CAN HAVE JOY IN SELL, AND CELEBRATE AND ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT BOTH OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS, THEY ARE NOT RADICAL PROGRESSIVES AND FOR ME I DON'T THINK IT IS ABOUT SAYING LOOK AT ALL OF THESE TERRIBLE THINGS YOU DID, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.

LIKE IT IS NOT LIKE -- LIKE SHE KNOWS WE KNOW -- IT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED.

FOR ME, SHE IS HERE NOW.

SHE IS IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND SO IS HE.

SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO COLLECTIVELY KEEP THEM TO DELIVERING WHAT THEY PROMISED?

HOW ARE WE GOING TO KEEP THEM FROM WRITING BAD CHECKS OF EQUITY, JUSTICE AND LIBERATION?

AND TO ME THAT IS NOT SO MUCH ABOUT SAYING AND YOU DID THIS, THIS, AND THIS TEN YEARS AGO, IT IS ABOUT SAYING HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SHOW ME AS OUR CONGRESSWOMAN, ANNA PRESLEY SAYS, POLICY IS A LEVELING -- AND HOW ARE YOU DOING TO DO THAT AND A HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THAT WITH OUR LITTLE VOTES, OUR EVERY DAY VOTES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN WHO IS REPRESENTING REPRESENTING US AND MAKING SURE POWER IS DEMOCRATIZE SOD THAT TO ME IS WHAT ACCOUNTABILITY WILL LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD.

>> Crossley: SO LET ME PICK UP ON THAT, JENEE, AND A ASK YOU DO RESPOND TO, THIS AND EVERYBODY ELSE.

ALL OF YOU SAID IN SOME FASHION THAT THE MISTAKE MADE WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS -- PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS THE AWE OF THE HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT AND FEELING AS THOUGH, WHOO, HE GOT THERE, THAT IS BIG ENOUGH, AND THEN HOT DOING THE COLLECTIVE FOLLOW-UP THAT JENEE SAYS IS SO IMPORTANT.

SO WHAT -- WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING TO SEE THAT MEASURES THERE IS COLLECTIVE FOLLOW-UP AND SOME -- A RESPONSE TO THAT COLLECTIVE FOLLOW-UP?

JENEE, I WILL START WITH YOU.

WHAT CAN THOSE IN THE COLLECTIVE DO SO AS NOT TO BE AWED BY THE MOMENT AND GET DISTRACTED BY THAT AND CONSIDER THAT TO BE THE ACHIEVEMENT?

>> PART OF IT IS LIKE LOVE HER THE WAY YOUR FAMILY LOVES YOU.

YOUR FAMILY LOVES YOU BUT THEY DON'T HESITATE TO CHECK YOU.

CHECKING SOMEONE IS A LOVE LANGUAGE, SO PART OF IT IS THAT, AND THEN THE OTHER PART OF IT IS, WHAT HAPPENED IN GEORGIA?

LIKE WE CAN'T JUST LOOK AWAY AND SAY, WELL, IT IS FIXED, BECAUSE IT IS NOT FIXED.

IT WAS NEVER FIXED, IT IS INFINITELY BROKEN AND IT JUST PASSES ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION, SO DO THE LITTLE VOTES, VOTE, YOU KNOW, WHO IS ON YOUR SCHOOL BOARD?

WHO IS THE SHERIFF?

WHO IS THE MAYOR?

LIKE THINGS THAT I DON'T THINK WE ALWAYS CIVICALLY ENGAGE AND RECOGNIZE IN ALL OF THESE -- TOO BUY GROCERIES AND -- AND THOSE THAT TYPE OF COLLECTIVE POWER IS HOW WE SHIFT THE POWER IN DC, TO ME.

>> Crossley: RADHA, HOW DO WE EXPRESS THE FACT THAT WE ARE HOLDING HER ACCOUNTABLE COLLECTIVELY?

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY YOU SEE IT HAPPENING.

>> I MEAN I CERTAINLY THINK WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN TERMS OF MOVEMENT, IN TERMS OF GRASS ROOTS ORGANIZATIONS IN TERMS OF PEOPLE IN THE STREET SAYING WHAT WE NEED AND NOT STOPPING AND KNOWING, YOU KNOW, IT IS NOT EVEN THAT IT IS BROKEN, IT IS THAT IT WAS INTENDED TO BE THIS WAY, RIGHT?

AND THAT THAT IS WHAT -- WE NEED A COMPLETE TRANSFORMATION, BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT KAMALA HARRIS AND SHE REALLY DOESN'T REPRESENT THE TRANSFORMATION, NOT LIKE THAT, AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, TO JENEE'S POINT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE NOW IN THE ADMINISTRATION WHO DO BELIEVE IN TRANSFORMATION, MORE THAN SHE DOES, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE WHO BELIEVE THAT IS THERE ARE PEOPLE LOCALLY AND DISTRICT ATTORNEYS THAT WE CAN HOLD ACCOUNTABLE, THERE ARE, YOU KNOW -- SO THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO IN OUR COMMUNITIES BUT I WILL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WHILE WE DO KNOW HER PAST AND WE CAN'T KEEP HARPING ON THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T I DON'T KNOW THAT SHE IS REALLY -- I DON'T THINK THAT SHE IS REALLY EVENED UP TO THOSE THINGS AND I THINK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION AND HEALING I THINK SHE NEEDS TO SEE AND RECOGNIZE THE HARM THAT WAS -- THAT SHE REALLY DID PRESIDE OVER.

>> Crossley: YVONNE, HOW WOULD YOU ADD TO THAT?

YOU KNOW, I WILL SAY THAT A LOT OF THIS WORK DOES HAPPEN AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, AND WE DID LEARN A LOT THROUGH GEORGIA.

THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE IN EACH EARN AND HOW ONE VOTE CAN MATTER, ASK JULIA MEJIA, THESE ARE THINGS THAT I THINK COLLECTIVELY AS A COMMUNITY WE CAN'T GO BACK IN THE CORNER AND NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS.

AND AS A LOCAL LEADER, THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS.

I CAN HAVE A GREAT INITIATIVE BUT IF I DON'T HAVE THE PEOPLE PUSHING THAT INITIATIVE ALONG WITH ME, IT MAKES IT A LOT MORE DIFFICULT.

AND COLLECTIVELY, I THINK I LOOK AT THIS ADMINISTRATION AND FIRST OF ALL I CERTAINLY AGREE THAT HAVING MANY VOICES AND DIVERSE VOICES IN THAT CABINET AND VOICES THAT I KNOW ARE FORMER MAYORS WHO I KNOW ARE BOOTS ON THE GROUND PEOPLE, THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT -- HOW TO MOVE THIS WORK COLLECTIVELY, AND THAT IS ALL OF US WORKING IN OUR INDIVIDUAL STATES, OUR CITIES, OUR TOWNS, THAT'S HOW SOMETHING HAPPENED.

WE CAN HAVE THE POLICY COMING OUT OF WASHINGTON BUT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE ON THE GROUND IS UP TO THE LOCAL LEADERS.

AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

AND THAT IS ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER SO THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, HOLD TRUE TO THE PROMISES AROUND ECONOMIC RECOVERY, FIRST AND FOREMOST, GETTING THIS VIRUS UNDER CONTROL, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO IMPACT EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, EVERYTHING WE DO IN THIS COUNTRY, AND WE JUST HAVE TO BE REAL CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO IMPLEMENT IT COLLECTIVELY.

>> Crossley: SO FAIR OR NOT BECAUSE OF WHO SHE IS, I AM GOING GUESS THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME EXPECTATION OF HER TO SPEAK TO CERTAIN ISSUES IN WAYS THAT OTHER FOLKS IN THAT BOGS HAVEN'T.

AND WE CAN THINK OF HER AS TRANSFORMING THAT VICE PRESIDENTIAL SLOT IN A WAY THAT HAS NEVER BEEN BEFORE BECAUSE SHE IS BRINGING AS YOU ALL POINTED OUT EARLIER, ALL OF HERSELF INTO THE ROLE.

SO IN THE TRANSFORMATION, WHAT WOULD YOU -- HOW WOULD YOU LIKE THE HER TO SEE IT TRANSFORMED OTHER THAN SHE WILL HAVE TO DO SOME OFFICIAL DUTIES?

BUT REALLY IN TERMS OF PUSHING POLICY AND MAKING HER VOICE HEARD IN A LARGER WAY INSIDE, WITH THE REST OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO MAKE CHANGE, HOW DO YOU THINK THAT SHE COULD DO THAT, JENEE?

>> I DON'T THINK CAM LA IS QUIET, SO KAMALA IS QUIET ..

SO I THINK KAMALA IS VERY CAPABLE OF MAKING HER VOICE HEARD, AND SHE SHOWED US DURING THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES THAT SHE IS NOT AFRAID TO HOLD BIDEN ACCOUNTABLE IN ANY WAY SO THAT'S NOT A CONCERN FOR ME AT ALL.

MY CONCERN IS HOW GOOD OF A LISTENER WILL SHE BE WHEN IT COMES TO LISTENING TO COREY BUSH, TO AYANNA PRESSLEY, TO AOC, TO THE MANY, YOU KNOW, LIBERATORS WHO WE HAVE ELECTED, YOU KNOW, HOW WILL SHE REACH HER ARMS OUT TO HER SISTERS?

AND THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO KNOW AND I ALSO -- HOW WILL JOURNALISTS TREAT HER IS SOMETHING I AM THINKING ABOUT, AND THE ONLY WAY WE CAN HOLD HER ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PAST IS IF JOURNALISTS ASK HER THE RIGHT QUESTION WHEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, WHEN WE SEE THE NEXT BIG DEEP PROFILE HOPEFULLY WITH ESSENCE OR SOME AMAZING BLACK MEDIA, YOU KNOW, WILL SHE BE WILLING TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND HER LISTENING EARS WILL THEY MAKE IT TO BIDEN?

WILL THEY MAKE IT, YOU KNOW, TO POLICY?

AND THAT IS WHERE MY MIND IS KIND OF AT.

>> Crossley: YVONNE.

>> YOU KNOW, I JUST HAVE COME -- I JUST COME BACK TO THERE IS A LOT RIDING ON HER SHOULDERS, A LOT RIDING ON THOSE SHOULDERS AND A LOT TO UNPACK AND YES, WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR HISTORY BUT ALSO TOO TRYING TO TAKE COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCES AND HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD?

LIKE WE ALL HAVE DEALT WITH SOME REALLY HORRIFIC THINGS OVER THE LAST I WOULD SAY TEN MONTHS, ESPECIALLY, AND COLLECTIVELY AS A COUNTRY AND WE HAVE BEENS ASSAULTED AND WE HAVE TO ALSO GO THROUGH OUR OWN GRIEVING PROCESS BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T EVEN BE GOWN DEAL WITH THAT, BUT ONCE AGAIN, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COLLECTIVELY LOOK AT WHAT HAS BEEN DONE AND HOW DO WE DO BETTER?

WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE DOING BETTER?

WHAT IS IT GOING TO LOOK LIKE?

WHAT IS IT GOING TO FEEL LIKE?

AND ARTICULATING THAT IN A WAY THAT IT IS CRYSTAL CLEAR AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

AND I LOOK AT FUTURE LEADERS TOO.

HOW WILL WE LAY THE FOUNDATION?

ARE FOR KNOWS THAT WILL COME BEHIND US?

YOU KNOW, THE WONDERFUL AMANDA GORMAN HERE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR ALL OF THESE FUTURE LEADERS AND, YOU KNOW, AND I JUST SAY, I AM GIVING HER SOME SPACE TO KIND OF GET HER FEET INTO POSITION AND THEN BEING ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR VOICES ARE HEARD AND LISTEN TO AND PUT FORTH IN A WAY THAT CAN BE REALIZED IN ACTIONABLE STEPS THAT CAN HAPPEN ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.

>> Crossley: NOW, YOU BELIEVE THAT SHE CAN TRANSFORM THE ROLE OF VICE PRESIDENT JUST BECAUSE OF WHO SHE IS, JUST BECAUSE, THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AND WHY DO YOU SAY THAT?

YOU KNOW, I SAY IT BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL, WHEN YOU ARE THE FIRST AND THERE IS NO ROAD MAP, YOU GET TO CREATE IT THE WAY YOU NEED IT AS FIRST WOMAN EVER TO BE IN THIS SEAT, AND COMING WITH SUCH A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE IN HER LIFE TOO, YOU KNOW, SHE GETS TO BRING ALL OF THAT WITH HER SO I THINK SHE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE AN INFLUENCE AND AN INFLUENCER ACROSS ALL, DIFFERENT DIVISIONS, YOU KNOW, THE CABINET BUT ALSO THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FEDERAL PROCESS HERE TOO, SO I JUST -- YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK DO SHUT -- I DON'T WANT TO PUT TOO MUCH ON HER SHOULDERS BUT I DON'T WANT HER TO BE SHORT-CHANGED, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE TRADITIONALLY THE VICE PRESIDENT'S ROLE IS ONE THAT IS -- IS BEHIND THE PRESIDENT.

I SEE THIS AS MORE OF A PARTNERSHIP WORKING ALONGSIDE THE PRESIDENT.

>> Crossley: RADHA, WHAT DO YOU SAY?

>> I MEAN, I THINK THAT DEFINITELY BEING A FIRST SHE DOESN'T HAVE THE ROAD MAP, BUT IN ADDITION I THINK THAT BIDEN HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR HE WANTS HER TO BE A PARTNER.

I THINK THAT -- I DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS A SECRET, I THINK IT IS VERY CLEAR AND I THINK THEY HAVE BEEN UNIFIED, BUT ONE HUGE DIFFERENCE HERE IS THAT SHE IS GOING INTO A 50-50 SENATE SO SHE IS GOING TO HAVE A ROLE THAT IS BIGGER AND WE ARE GOING TO SEE HER VOICE THERE IN A WAY THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE.

SO I THINK THE CONTEXT, BOTH WITH THE PRESIDENT, THAT SHE IS THE VICE PRESIDENT TO, AS WELL AS THE SENATE IS GOING TO MAKE SURE AND HER BEING A FIRST AND WHO SHE IS AS A PERSON, WE ARE GOING HEAR FROM HER AND I THINK WE SHOULD AND I AM GLAD WE WILL.

>> Crossley: WHAT THE THE ONE WITH THING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE HER DO NOW IN THESE EARLY 100 DAYS THAT YOU WILL SEE HER DO AND SAY, UH-HUH, OKAY, GOOD.

RADHA, I AM TALKING TO YOU, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS MY THING, SO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY, DAY ONE, WORK ON AND SUPPORT REVOKING WHICH IS PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM BEING ABLE TO GO BACK TO COURT AND GET THEIR CONVICTIONS OVERTURNED.

SO CRIMINAL JUSTICE, MASS INCARCERATION IS WHAT I WANT HER TO FOCUS ON.

>> Crossley: JENEE.

>> I ACTUALLY AGREE.

I THINK HER STARTING WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE WILL BE A WAY OF HER TAKING ACCOUNT FOR HER ROLE IN THE THINGS THAT HAVE DISPROPORTIONATELY HURT HER PEOPLE, OUR PEOPLE.

SO THAT TO ME WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD SHOW OF FAITH AND A SHOW OF LIGHT THAT'S WHO I WAS AND THIS IS WHO I AM GROWING INTO.

>> Crossley: YVONNE?

>> I HAVE GOT TO GO BACK TO MY MAIN BASE AND THAT'S EDUCATION.

BECAUSE TRULY, WHEN CHILDREN AND PARTICULARLY CHILDREN OF COLOR WILL GIVEN THOSE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO BE EDUCATED AND TO HAVE EQUITABLE, EQUITABLE EDUCATION IN THIS COUNTRY, WE CAN AVOID A LOT OF OTHER ELSE SUCH AS POOR HEALTHCARE, INCARCERATION, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT LIMIT PARTICULARLY BLACK AND BROWN CHILDREN, SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME ENERGY PUT INTO DOLLARS FOR EDUCATION, QUALITY TEACHING, ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO BE TEACHERS, TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM AND ESPECIALLY LOOKING IN AREAS OF STEM EDUCATION, SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH AND BUILDING PATHWAYS FOR OUR CHILDREN TO HAVE BRIGHTER FUTURES THAN THEY ARE HAVING RIGHT NOW.

>> Crossley: WELL IT LOOKS LIKE THE STEM THING IS DEFINITELY HAPPENED BECAUSE THE EMPHASIS IS ON SCIENCE NOW AS THE FIRST WAY OF DEALING WITH THE COVID CRISIS.

SO YOU MAY HAVE YOUR WISH EARLIER THAN ANYBODY ELSE, YVONNE.

>> I AM HOPING.

>> Crossley: THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THAT'S END OF OUR BROADCAST AND THE END OF OUR SHOW.

THANKS TO ALL OF OUR GUESTS THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

STAY WITH US AS WE CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

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