- TONIGHT ON LOVE AND RESPECT: PART TWO OF MY CONVERSATION WITH TYLER PERRY.

- ONE THING MY FATHER GAVE TO ME IS THE MAN HAD THE MOST STUPID WORK ETHIC I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.

RAIN, SLEET, SNOW, HURRICANES, LIGHTNING, HE WAS GOING.

EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T SPEAK, HE GETS A CHECK EVERY MONTH.

I BOUGHT HIM A HOUSE IN SAINT CAROL BECAUSE HE...

I'M GIVING HIM EXACTLY WHAT HE GAVE ME.

- RIGHT.

- FINANCIALLY, WE WERE NEVER HUNGRY AND THE LIGHTS WERE NEVER OFF, RIGHT?

SO I GIVE HIM THAT.

COMING FROM THAT PLACE, WATCHING HIS WORK ETHIC, I DEFINITELY HAVE THAT 'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF MAN I WOULD HAVE BEEN HAD I SEEN A MAN THAT DIDN'T WORK.

- [MIKE] MORE WITH TYLER PERRY COMING UP RIGHT NOW.

- LOVE AND RESPECT WITH KILLER MIKE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY: - REGINA APPROACHES THE ALL-ELECTRIC CADILLAC LYRIQ.

IT'S A SUNNY DAY.

- NAH, A STORMY DAY.

(THUNDER ROARS) - CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYS - MM MMM, BRASS BAND.

NEW ORLEANS ♪♪ - SHE DRIVES HANDS-FREE ALONG THE COAST.

- MAKE IT PALM SPRINGS.

CADILLAC IS GOING ELECTRIC.

IF YOU WANNA BE BOLD, YOU HAVE TO GO OFF SCRIPT.

- EXPERIENCE THE ALL-ELECTRIC CADILLAC LYRIQ.

♪♪ ♪♪ - YOUR MOVIES PRESENT A LOT OF TIMES PROBLEMS THAT WE'VE ALL FACED.

AND DO YOU USE YOUR ART AS A FORM OF EXAMPLE OR AS A FORM OF THERAPY FOR POOR AND WORKING-CLASS PEOPLE MAY NOT GET TO A THERAPIST, BUT AFTER YOU WATCH A TYLER PERRY MOVIE AND YOU GET TO THE END AND YOU SEE CICELY TYSON AT THE END OF IT, YOU SEE THE WHOLE FAMILY COMING TOGETHER.

YOU SEE MAYA ANGELOU, YOU START TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE SHOULD HAVE A FAMILY REUNION, WE'VE BEEN SEPARATED AS A FAMILY TOO LONG, WE NEED TO GET THERE.

THAT'S A TRUE STORY.

THAT'S HAPPENED TO ME AND MY SISTER WAS LIKE, WE NEED TO GET THE FAMILY TOGETHER.

SO DO YOU DO THAT PURPOSEFULLY?

OBVIOUSLY YOU DO IT PURPOSEFULLY, BUT DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE HEALING PROPERTIES THAT YOUR MOVIES HAVE.

- YEAH, IN THE BEGINNING FOR SURE.

LIKE THE FIRST 10 MOVIES I THINK WERE ABOUT MY MOTHER'S SUBCONSCIOUSLY JUST ABOUT WHAT SHE HAD WENT THROUGH AND WANTING BLACK WOMEN TO KNOW YOU'RE WORTHY.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT UP WITH IT, IT'S OKAY.

AND, YEAH, I INTENTIONALLY WANTED IT TO BE THAT FIRST BECAUSE ESPECIALLY THE STAGE PLAYS.

MAN, FOR ME, THE ONLY REASON TO SIT THERE, TO DO AS WELL AS I'VE DONE.

AND JUST TO GO OUT ON TOUR IS, FINANCIALLY IT WASN'T A WIN, BIG WIN.

YOU KNOW WHAT IT WAS WAS I GET TO SIT WITH THE PEOPLE AND TALK AND IT'S THOSE LAST 10-15 MINUTES OF THE PLAY THAT ARE MY FAVORITE WHEN MEDEA CAN SIT THERE AND TALK ABOUT ANYTHING AND THE AUDIENCE IS PIN QUIET BECAUSE THAT'S THE THERAPY MOMENT FOR ME.

THAT'S THE MOMENT WHERE I'M PLANTING THE SEEDS.

THAT'S THE MOMENT WHERE I SEE THE SHIFT CHANGE, MAN.

'CAUSE I WOULD WATCH PEOPLE COME IN.

COUPLES BE APART FROM EACH OTHER LIKE THIS AND COME IN WITH ATTITUDES AND NOT HOLDING HANDS.

GOD, SOMETIMES FROM THE DRESSING ROOM, I LOOK OUT AT THEM, WALKIN' TO THEIR CARS - YEAH.

WHEN THEY'RE COMING IN OR WALK IN WHEN THEY'RE LEAVING.

- YEAH.

AND THE DIFFERENCE IS AMAZING.

JUST THE LAUGHTER AND THE JOY.

THAT I'M HEARING OUTSIDE THE WINDOW.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

- THAT'S ME AND SHANA WHEN WE ARGUE ABOUT BEING LATE.

- YEAH.

AND THEN SHE CREEP TO THE SIDE AND HAVE A PRAYER WITH ME BEFORE WE DO THIS, - YEAH.

AND THEN WE NOT ARGUING NO MORE AND I LEAVE JUST THANKFUL I HAVE A WIFE, - YUP.

- EVEN IF SHE TAKES A LITTLE LONGER, SOMETIMES.

- (CHUCKLES) THAT'S RIGHT.

- DON'T TELL HER I SAID, I DON'T WANT NO BEEF.

- NO, IT WON'T BE ON TV.

- YOU ARE FROM A CITY OF IN RAP, WE CALL IT HUSTLERS.

AND YOU KNOW, AND OTHER PLACES THEY CALL THEM ENTREPRENEURS.

THEY CALL THEM GRINDERS.

BUT PEOPLE WHO I'VE SEEN COME FROM YOUR CITY AS BIG AS MASTER P AND BABY AND SLIM AS MODESTLY BIG WAS STILL VERY BIG AS PEOPLE LIKE MY PERSONAL FRIENDS, CURRENCY AND BIG FREDA.

YOU GUYS HAVE AN AMAZING WORK ETHIC AND HAVE MADE THIS CITY BETTER, BUT THAT WORK ETHIC, COULD YOU TALK ABOUT DEVELOPING THAT WORK ETHIC.

- COMING FROM NEW ORLEANS, YOU HAD TO HUSTLE TO SURVIVE, RIGHT?

IF YOU'RE GONNA MAKE IT THERE YOU HAD TO SO I THINK THAT MENTALITY OF BOSS, THAT MENTALITY THAT LEADER, THAT MENTALITY OF, OF GETTING IT DONE, MAKING IT HAPPEN TRULY COMES FROM THE VERY CULTURE OF THE CITY, RIGHT?

- YEAH.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS "LAISSEZ LE BON TEMPS ROULER", YOU KNOW, "LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL" IT IS WORK AND GET IT DONE.

AND ONE THING MY FATHER GAVE TO ME IS THE MAN HAD THE MOST STUPID WORK ETHIC I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE, RAIN, SLEEP, HURRICANES, LIGHTNING.

HE WAS GOING, AT SUN UP TO SUN DOWN.

WHAT I CAN SAY ABOUT HIM IS, AND THIS, I GIVE HIM, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T SPEAK, HE GETS A CHECK EVERY MONTH.

I BOUGHT THE HOUSE AND HE'S TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE HE I'M GIVING HIM EXACTLY WHAT HE GAVE ME AND FINANCIALLY WE WERE NEVER HUNGRY AND THE LIGHTS WERE NEVER OFF.

RIGHT.

SO I GIVE HIM THAT AND I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT HE DID, HE STILL MADE SURE I HAD FOOD ON THE TABLE, RIGHT.

- YEAH.

- SO COMING FROM THAT PLACE, WATCHING HIS WORK ETHIC, I DEFINITELY HAVE THAT.

'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF MAN I WOULD HAVE BEEN HAD I'D SEEN A MAN THAT DIDN'T WORK THAT WAS LAYING HOME ON THE COUCH ALL THE TIME, YOU KNOW?

SO YEAH.

- IT'S AMAZING THAT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE PATHOLOGY AND FORGIVE.

IT'S AMAZING THAT YOU CAN TAKE THE WORK ETHIC AND THE GOOD FROM.

IT'S AMAZING THAT YOU CAN KEEP THE FAMILY NAME AND MAKE SURE THAT LINEAGE, SAY YOU ARE TRULY A BIBLICAL-LIKE CHARACTER.

I REFUSE TO LET THE SHOW GO ON WITHOUT YOU.

- DON'T CATCH ME ON FRIDAY NIGHT - HEY, HEY!

(BOTH LAUGHING) - HEY, SAUL WAS SAUL BEFORE HE WAS PAUL.

- THAT'S THE TRUTH.

- (CHUCKLING) HE HE DID A LOT OF SINNING AND KILLED A LOT OF CHRISTIANS BEFORE HE HELPED SAVE THE WORLD.

BUT I JUST HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BECAUSE SO MANY TIMES IN OUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND PRAISE OF WHO, YOU KNOW, I FEEL GOD IS A BLACK WOMAN, BUT WHAT COMES TO A BLACK WOMAN IS JUST AS HOLY.

BLACK MEN DESERVE THAT.

- YEAH - WE DESERVE AN EXAMPLE LIKE YOU AND EVEN IN NOT TALKING AND STILL HONORING YOUR FATHER, LIKE THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, HONOR, YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER, LOTS OF WAYS TO HONOR.

THAT'S A VERY HONORABLE THING, SO JUST THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT.

'CAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF BROTHERS ARE OUT THERE RIDDLED WITH GUILT.

'CAUSE THEY WALKED AWAY FROM THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DIDN'T DO WHAT THEY DID AND KEEPING FOOD IN THE REFRIGERATOR AND A ROOF OVER ONE'S HEAD.

AND YOU ARE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT A BLACK MAN CAN BE FIGHTING THROUGH THE ODDS, FORGIVING OTHERS FORGIVING ONESELF AND PUSHING.

- I APPRECIATE IT, THANK YOU.

- YOU MAKE THIS ECONOMY BETTER, YOU AND THE FORMER MAYOR, KASIM REED BROKERED A DEAL, CORRECT TO BE HERE.

- YES.

- YOU UNDERSTAND THAT BEING IN ATLANTA, ADDING TO THIS ECONOMY MAKES FOR A STRONGER ECONOMY.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO THAT CONCLUSION?

WAS IT JUST COMMON SENSE?

LIKE THE OLD FOLKS SAY, "IT'S JUST COMMON SENSE."

WAS IT A DARE?

WITH YOU AND KASIM TO SAY, WE'RE GONNA DARE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, WE'RE GONNA TRY AND WHAT COULD OTHER PEOPLE LEARN FROM THE MOVE YOU MADE?

- LISTEN, I WAS OUT, I CALLED KASIM TO SAY, I'M LEAVING, I'M MOVING TO DOUGLASVILLE.

I BOUGHT SOME PROPERTY OUT THERE.

I WAS GONNA BUILD THE STAGE - YOU WAS GON LEAVE THE CITY?

- I WAS GONNA LEAVE THE CITY.

I WANT IT BECAUSE ONLY, THE ONLY REASON BECAUSE I WANTED LAND A LOT OF SPACE - YEAH.

- AND I COULDN'T FIND LAND IN THE CITY.

HE SAID, WELL, HAVE YOU THOUGHT OF FORT MCPHERSON?

I HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PLACE.

SO HE SAID, - YEAH.

- JUST COME AND TAKE A LOOK.

I DROVE AROUND AND I WAS LIKE, OKAY, I GET IT.

THIS IS BIGGER THAN ME, I GOT TO TAKE THIS, TAKE THIS ON.

SO THAT'S HOW THAT HAPPENED.

BUT IN THE UNDERSTANDING OF ALL OF IT, MAN, WHAT I WAS REALLY SIMPLY JUST TRYING TO DO.

AND WHAT I TELL EVERYBODY IS IF YOU'RE STARTING A BUSINESS OR WORKING FOR SOMEONE ELSE, OWNERSHIP WILL DICTATE EVERYTHING.

WHAT DECISION YOU MAKE, HOW YOU MAKE IT.

SO MY MAIN FOCUS WAS OWNERSHIP.

AND I TELL YOU IF OWNERSHIP IS THE ROOTS OF THE TREE, EVERYTHING ELSE WHERE THE TRUNK AND THE BRANCHES #AND ALL THE OTHER STUFF IN THE LEAVES THAT CHANGE AND FALL, IT ALL CAME FROM THAT.

SO WHAT I'M EXPERIENCING IS LIVING FROM THE DECISIONS OF MAKING SURE THAT I OWNED EVERY PLAY, EVERY MOVIE, EVERY EVERYTHING EVER TO EVERY TELEVISION SHOW SO THAT I COULD BE IN A POSITION WHERE I COULD HELP CHANGE AN ECONOMY.

SO THAT WAS MY PURPOSE HERE.

IT'S JUST OWNERSHIP.

- SO ALL INTERSECTS.

YOU LOOK AT MAYNARD.

WELL, I GO TO A WHITE MAYOR FIRST.

WILLIAM HARTSFIELD GAVE DELTA 50 YEAR CONTRACTS.

SO DELTA COULD BE HERE, BECOMES A HUB.

FIRST BLACK MAYOR SAYS 29% OF CONTRACTING AND BUSINESS WITH THE CITY HAS TO BE BLACK.

- YEAH.

- YOU START TO BUILD OUT A BLACK ENCLAVE ON THE WEST SIDE AS EARLY AS 1948.

ALL THAT LEADS TO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AN OWNER TO CALL A MAYOR, BOTH BLACK MEN, BOTH OF THEM AROUND THE SAME AGE AND SAY, "HEY MAN, I'M GONNA LEAVE AND GO TO DOUGLASVILLE" THEY GOT A LOT OF LAND.

- HE SAID, "NO, NO, NO, NO, I CAN'T LET YOU DO THAT."

- I LET THE BRAVES GO, BUT I AIN'T LETTING TYLER PERRY GO.

- THIS WAS AROUND THAT SAME TIME.

(BOTH CHUCKLING) - YEAH, THE BRAVES JUST LEFT.

YOU KNOW, THIS MIGHT BE THE TIME TO JUST MAKE THAT CALL TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS, HE SAID "NO, NO, NO.

WE'RE NOT LETTING THAT HAPPEN" SO YEAH.

- AND KEEPS YOU IN THE CITY BY MAKING SURE THAT YOU GET FORT MAC - HMM - AND FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND, WHEN YOU HEAR OUTKAST RAP ABOUT EAST POINT COLLEGE PARK, THIS IS WHERE THEY RAPPIN ABOUT.

- THIS IS LITERALLY IN THE CITY.

SO CHILDREN GET TO DRIVE BY ON A HIGHWAY NAMED FOR ARTHUR LANKFORD, WHO WAS A FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE, A BLACK MAN.

- HMM - AND YOU GET OFF THAT HIGHWAY ON THE TYLER PERRY STUDIOS AS AN EXIT.

AND THEN YOU GET TO COME HERE.

- THAT'S SOMETHING.

- THIS IS THE TYPE OF INSPIRATION THAT MY IMAGINATION USED TO DREAM ABOUT READING EBONY AND READING JET.

HOW DID READING EBONY AND JET AFFECT YOU IN TERMS OF YOUR DREAMS AND HOW DID YOU OVERCOME DOUBTS?

BECAUSE WITH PAIN, WITH ANGUISH AND WITH FAILURE COMES DOUBT.

- YEAH, YEAH.

- HOW DID YOU BECOME WALKING BLACK HISTORY AND OVERCOMING THOSE DOUBTS?

- WALKING BLACK HISTORY, OKAY.

- THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE.

- THAT, I APPRECIATE THAT MAN.

- AMERICAN HISTORY - SEV, THANK YOU, SEVEN YEARS OF THE SHOW.

FAILING.

EVERY YEAR I PUT IT UP, IT WOULDN'T WORK UNTIL I GOT TO HERE TO ATLANTA, WENT TO 14TH STREET PLAYHOUSE, THEN WENT TO THE FOX AND WENT TO THE TABERNACLE AND IT ALL STARTED TO WORK, RIGHT?

- REALLY?

- OH YEAH.

YEAH MAN, I CAME HERE WAS GONNA DO, AT THE 14TH STREET PLAYHOUSE.

I HAD SAVED ALL MY MONEY, RENTED IT, THOUGHT PEOPLE WOULD SHOW UP.

I WAS DOWNSTAIRS IN THE BASEMENT.

IT'S THE SCAT PLAYHOUSE NOW.

BUT DOWN IN THE BASEMENT, 200 SEAT, 30 PEOPLE SHOWED UP.

LOST EVERYTHING I HAD THEN WENT TO, EVERY YEAR I PROMOTED ONE OF THESE JUNKIES, TWISTED PROMOTED BUT AGAIN MAN, I GOT SOME MONEY.

IMMA PUT YOU UP OVER HERE.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

I DO THE SHOW WITH THEM.

DIDN'T MAKE ANY MONEY ONCE A YEAR.

AND THEN WE GOT A CHANCE TO DO THE HOUSE OF BLUES.

BUT AT THAT TIME I WAS DONE, I WAS COMPLETELY DONE.

I WASN'T GONNA GO THROUGH IT ANYMORE.

I WASN'T GONNA SUFFER ANYMORE.

I'D HAD IT.

AND I DID THAT ONE LAST SHOW.

THAT SHOW SOLD OUT.

IT WAS MARCH IN 1998, FREEZING AND THERE WERE PEOPLE AROUND THE CORNER TRYING TO GET IN THE PLACE.

- WOW.

- AND THEN I WENT TO THE FOX, SOLD OUT 4,500 SEATS THERE.

BUT ALL OF YOU TALK ABOUT FAIRIES.

ALL OF THOSE MOMENTS LEADING UP TO IT WERE MAKING THE CHOICE OF, DO I KEEP THIS JOB THAT'S PAYING ME LIKE MY MOTHER SAID $370 A WEEK AND GET SOME BENEFITS OR DO I LEAVE TO GO PURSUE MY DREAM?

SO EVERY TIME I LEFT, I FELT LIKE, AM I MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION?

- YEAH.

- WHAT A MOMENT IF THIS DOESN'T WORK AND THEY NEVER WORKED.

I THOUGHT I WAS FAILING EVERY TIME UNTIL I REALIZED THAT EVERY ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WAS BUILDING ME FOR WHERE I AM NOW.

SO THEY WERE ALL CHARACTER BUILDING.

THEY WERE ALL PREPARING ME TO BE ABLE TO RUN THIS.

YOU KNOW, I'M SO GLAD I DIDN'T GET IT ALL AT ONCE.

I'M GLAD I STRUGGLED AND WENT BACK AND FORTH AND HAD TO FIGURE THINGS OUT BECAUSE MAN, I'D PROBABLY BE A MESS RIGHT NOW.

- YOU HAD TO LEARN TO BE FRUGAL.

- YEAH.

- HAD TO LEARN TO BE RESPONSIBLE.

- SMART, TAXES.

- YEAH ABSOLUTELY.

- THINGS THAT BLACK FOLKS, WE DIDN'T, TAXES.

I'M LIKE, WAIT A MINUTE.

YOU MEAN I CAN'T GO TO H AND R BLOCK THIS YEAR AND I MADE $100 MILLION?

NO, YOU CAN NOT GO TO H AND R BLOCK, YEAH.

- H AND R BLOCK THIS YEAR.

- NOT THIS YEAR, YEAH.

- YOU HAVE OVERCOME YOUR DOUBTS BEAUTIFULLY AND YOU'VE INSPIRED OTHERS.

PEOPLE THAT HAVE EVEN WORKED IN YOUR TRAJECTORY NOW ARE STILL AROUND THE INDUSTRY HELPING OTHER PEOPLE.

IT'S AMAZING TO ME THE SPIRIT OF GIVING THAT YOU HAVE.

AT YOUR 2021, JANE HIRSHFIELD ACCEPTANCE SPEECH YOU SAID THIS, STAND IN THE MIDDLE, MEET PEOPLE AT THEIR HUMANITY, REFUSE TO HATE.

- YEAH.

- I WANNA SAY THAT AGAIN.

- YEAH.

- STAND IN THE MIDDLE.

IT MEANS YOU'RE NOT EXTREME ON EACH SIDE.

- YEP.

- MEET PEOPLE AT THEIR HUMANITY.

SO EVEN IF I DISAGREE WITH YOU, I'M GONNA FIND THE PLACE YOU'RE HUMAN AT.

- RIGHT.

- AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE A CONVERSATION AND WE'RE GONNA DO FILL SOME BUILDING THERE AND REFUSE TO HATE.

- RIGHT.

- THAT'S WHAT I'M STILL WORKING.

I GOT A COUPLE OF PEOPLE I HATE I'M TRYING EVERYTHING, ALL RIGHT?

- YOU KNOW MAN.

- REFUSE TO HATE.

WHAT DOES THE TERM LOVE AND RESPECT MEAN TO YOU?

- BASICALLY ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU SAID, BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOVE SOMEONE, YOU WILL DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

YOU MAY NOT BE UNDERSTAND.

YOU MAY NOT AGREE.

BUT YOU CAN MEET IN THE MIDDLE TO HAVE CONVERSATION.

AND THAT'S ALSO THE RESPECTING OF PEOPLE, RIGHT?

RESPECTING THE VERY HUMANITY THAT WE ALL SHARE.

TO SEE SOMEONE AND BE ABLE TO PUT YOURSELF IN THEIR SHOES, THAT'S LOVE AND RESPECT.

- ABSOLUTELY.

- WHOEVER THEY ARE, BE IT THE AFGHANS WHO ARE TRYING TO FIND HOMES OR GET OUT OF THE COUNTRY AT ONE POINT OR MEXICAN OR HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS TRYING TO GET IN, BUT JUST TAKE A MOMENT AND PUT YOURSELF IN THEIR SHOES.

DOES THAT MEAN THAT EVERY RULE GOES OUT OF THE WINDOW?

NO BUT WHAT IT DOES MEAN IS THAT YOU HAVE THE CAPACITY AND THE EMPATHY TO BE A HUMAN ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND, TO SHOW THEM THE LOVE AND THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE.

- ABSOLUTELY.

- YEAH.

- THAT'S AMAZING.

THAT DEFINITELY IS ONE OF MY, I'VE TOLD THIS STORY BEFORE I TELL IT A LOT AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.

MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A SHARECROPPER YOUNG, WORKED FOR A WHITE FAMILY THAT WAS POOR THEMSELVES.

NOT VERY NICE TO THE BOYS OR GIRLS.

FOUND A LETTER YEARS LATER OF THAT WOMAN THANKING MY GRANDMOTHER FOR HELPING HER WHEN THE KIDS HAD ESSENTIALLY MOVED NORTH AND ABANDONED HER.

FLIPPED OUT ALL MY CRAZY RADICAL.

YOU KNOW, YOU READ ONE RADICAL BOOK AS A KID, YOU BLACK EMPOWERMENT.

WHY WOULD YOU HELP THE WHOLE WHITE FOLKS?

- YEP.

- SHE LITERALLY LOOKS AT ME AND SAYS THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER.

- YEAH.

- AND I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW DEEP OF A COMMENT THAT WAS 'CAUSE YOU, THE PATHOLOGY AND YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TAUGHT, YOU KNOW.

- RIGHT.

- AND THOSE WEREN'T NEGRO CHILDREN, THOSE WERE KNICKERS.

- YEAH.

- THOSE WEREN'T CHILDREN, THOSE WERE LABOR.

AND THAT HAS INFORMED ME TO THIS DAY HOW TO BE EMPATHETIC TO PEOPLE.

SO MY MEDEA THANKFULLY TAUGHT ME THAT YOUNG AND MORE PEOPLE LEARNING THAT WE CREATE MORE TALENT PERIODS.

THAT'S AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING ANSWER TO WHY AND WHAT LOVE AND RESPECT MEAN.

YOU KNOW I APPRECIATE IT.

THE TYLER PERRY FOUNDATION IS LOVE AND RESPECT ON STEROIDS.

I'VE HEARD STORIES OF MR. PERRY DURING TIMES OF DISASTER CALLING THE LOCAL WALMARTS OR GROCERY STORES.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN THERE NOW?

WE'VE GOT ABOUT 300 FOLKS IN HERE.

THIS MR. TYLER PERRY EVERYBODY'S STUFF IS ON ME.

YOU HAVE FOUND CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO HELP PEOPLE IN TIMES OF NEED.

WHERE OTHER PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT, YOU WERE PUTTING TOGETHER A 30 PAGE HANDBOOK.

WHEN EVERYBODY WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET TRUCKS THERE, YOU WERE CALLING, BUYING OUT STORES.

IS THAT INFORMED BY BEING POOR AND WHEN YOU ASK YOURSELF, AND WHAT MAKES YOU CONTINUE TO DO THAT WORK WHEN OTHER PEOPLE ARE JUST TURNING TO A GOVERNMENT SAYING, WHY AREN'T YOU HELPING LIKE?

- WELL, ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BEING ABLE TO PUT YOURSELF IN SOMEBODY ELSE'S SHOES, I'VE BEEN THERE.

THERE WAS A WOMAN WAS TO GOD I COULD FIND HER.

PROBABLY EVERY BUNCH OF WOMEN GONNA SAY IT WAS ME AT THIS POINT.

BUT I REMEMBER BEING IN WINN-DIXIE AND THERE WAS SOMETHING CALLED A BIG 60 COOKIES AND THEY WERE LIKE 79, 80 CENTS, IF I COULD PROBABLY RECALL AND THAT WAS MY MEAL FOR THE WEEK AND I DIDN'T HAVE, I KNEW I HAD CHANGED AND I KNEW I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH OF THEM STANDING THERE IN THE LINE.

THERE'S A LINE OF PEOPLE.

IT'S ON BUFORD HIGHWAY, A LINE OF PEOPLE BEHIND ME AND I'M TRYING TO FIND THE MONEY AND SHE SAYS, GO AHEAD BABY, I'LL GET IT.

AND SHE JUST HAD THE MOST COMPASSIONATE IN HER EYES.

I COULD BARELY LOOK AT HER.

THOSE KINDS OF MOMENTS, THEY ALWAYS SIT WITH ME WHEN I SEE PEOPLE STRUGGLING AND SUFFERING.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I GO INTO MY KITCHEN AND I OPEN THE DRAWER AND I TAKE OUT A FORK, MAN, THAT'S A HUGE MOMENT FOR ME BECAUSE AS A KID, WHEN I OPENED THAT DRAWER, THE RATS WOULD RUN UP MY ARM.

SO I CLEARLY UNDERSTAND AND HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE.

AND I PROBABLY HAVE TO SAY THIS, WHICH MAY NOT SOUND SO GREAT, BUT I PROBABLY AT THIS LEVEL OF SUCCESS BECAUSE OF WHERE I CAME FROM, I WAS RUNNING SO DAMNED HARD TO GET AWAY FROM IT.

SO WHEN I SEE SOMEBODY IN NEED SOMEBODY IN WALMART OR SOMEBODY STRUGGLING, OR SOMEBODY THAT'S GOT KIDS STUFF FOR LAYAWAY, OR YOU KNOW, AT AT THESE WALMARTS AND THINGS, OKAY, WHAT CAN I DO HERE IN THESE MOMENTS?

LIKE THANKSGIVING AROUND DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE FED 5,000 PEOPLE.

MAN, THE WHOLE CARS WERE LINED UP FOREVER.

AND I GOT A CALL SAYING, YOU SHOULD COME TAKE A DRIVE.

I DROVE AROUND AND I, EVERY STREET WAS BLOCKED AND I WAS JUST LIKE, THE NEED IS SO GREAT.

I CAN'T DO IT ALONE BUT THIS IS WHAT I CAN DO.

- YEAH.

- AND IF EVERYBODY WOULD JUST DO WHAT THEY CAN DO, - YEAH.

- YOU KNOW, IF IT'S, EVEN IF IT'S ONE SLICE OF BREAD, IT'S ENOUGH.

- YEAH, WHO'S YOUR COUNSEL?

WHO DOES TYLER GET TO LEAN ON IN JUGGLING THESE THINGS?

WHO'S THE PERSON THAT, OR WHO ARE THE PEOPLE?

- YEAH, I CALL TD JAKES A LOT SPIRITUALLY, FOR SPIRITUAL ADVICE AND HE GIVES ME A LOT THAT I NEED TO JUST UNDERSTAND LIFE, GOD, FAITH, MOVING ON, MOVING THROUGH THIS.

- YEAH.

- AND OPRAH MAN.

OPRAH IS LIKE, FOR ME I WOULD SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW THIS AND THIS IS GOING ON.

SHE'S LIKE, OH, I WENT THROUGH THAT IN '83.

HERE'S WHAT YOU DO THIS AND THIS, YOU KNOW?

SO HAVING PEOPLE LIKE THAT, THAT I COULD REACH OUT TO WHO'S, WHO ARE OLDER WHO WALKED AHEAD OF ME, THAT IS REALLY HELPFUL.

AND CICELY TYSON WHO DIED IN JANUARY - THAT WAS THE DAY.

- WAS A HUGE MENTOR TO ME.

SOMEBODY I LOVE DEARLY.

AND JUST TO HAVE THAT LEVEL OF WISDOM, CRAZY.

- YEAH.

- AND I SAT WITH HER AND SIDNEY POITIER AND BERNIE CASEY AT MY HOUSE MANY YEARS AGO AND JUST LISTENED.

- YOU ARE THE REDEMPTION IN MANY WAYS TO ANOTHER ONE OF MY HEROES.

HER NAME WAS ZORA NEALE HURSTON - YEAH.

- AND ZORA NEALE HURSTON WROTE BOOKS IN THE WAY THAT THE PEOPLE WHO RAISED LET'S TALK.

- YEP.

- AND WHEN I READ HER BOOKS, I ALMOST TEARFUL BECAUSE I CAN HEAR THE VOICES OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS FROM NORTH FLORIDA, SOUTH GEORGIA, ALABAMA.

AND IN HER TIME SHE WAS SHUNNED - YEP.

- AND SHUNNED BY OTHER PEOPLE WHO WERE MY HEROES, COUNTEE CULLEN, LANGSTON HUGHES.

- A NEW VERSION OF THE DARK EAGLES - ABSOLUTELY.

- YEAH.

- THEY WOULD SAY VERY UGLY THINGS.

AND SHE DIED IMPOVERISHED IN A VAN GOING LIKE WAY BECAME MORE POPULAR AFTER HER DEATH.

AND I FEEL LIKE LAID AWAY FOR PEOPLE LIKE TONY MORRISON, LIKE BELL HOOKS, - FOR SURE.

- LIKE ALICE WALKER.

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO BE DOWNED BY PEOPLE YOU LOVE?

- YEAH.

- TO BE VINDICATED IN BUSINESS AND ART BY THE AUDIENCE ACCEPTING IT AND THEN EMBRACING THOSE PEOPLE ABSENT OF HATE?

ON THE NIGHT HERE, I SAW PEOPLE STUDIO'S NAMED FOR THE SAME PEOPLE THAT WAS TALKING AND WHAT IS DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO BE TO ME THE SUCCESS STORY OF THE OTHER SIDE OF WHAT PEOPLE LIKE ZORA ENDURED?

- YEAH, YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS?

IT'S I WAS ALWAYS CLEAR OF THE DESTINATION.

I WAS ALWAYS CLEAR OF THE END GAME.

I WAS ALWAYS CLEAR WHERE I WAS GOING.

- YEAH.

- SO YEAH, WHEN YOU HEAR THAT AND THE ARROWS AND THE SHOTS, IT HURT - YEAH.

- BUT IT DIDN'T MATTER BECAUSE I KNEW I HAD TO FOCUS.

I HAD TO GET THERE AND I KNEW I HAD TO KEEP SUPER SERVING THE NICHE.

I HAD TO KEEP SUPER SERVING US BECAUSE WE WERE MY SOUL AND STILL OUR SOUL SUPPORT.

SO I HAD TO KEEP GIVING US EVERYTHING WE NEEDED SO THAT I CAN GET TO THIS PLACE.

I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GONNA BE OWNING A ARMY BASE.

IT WAS ONCE A CONFEDERATE ARMY BASICALLY, - EXACTLY.

- BUT I KNEW THAT I WAS WORKING TOWARDS SOMETHING.

AND TELL PEOPLE ANYONE WHO HAS A DREAM AND A VISION, WHEN YOU KIND OF HEAR THOSE THINGS, PEOPLE ONLY SHOOT AT THE DEER THEY SEE.

- YEAH.

- SO IT'S OKAY.

JUST KEEP YOUR FOCUS.

THAT WAS MY THING, TO KEEP MY FOCUS.

SO HOW COULD I BE MAD OR ANGRY OR BOASTFUL WHEN WERE, I'M GONNA SAY COME LET'S CELEBRATE TOGETHER.

LET'S, LET'S HAVE A GOOD TIME BECAUSE HERE'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO.

- THERE'S A FAMOUS POEM BY ONE OF THE MEN, AGAIN, WHO I'VE CONSIDERED A HERO, BUT WAS NOT KIND AND, WAS NOT ENCOURAGING OF HIS AURA, AND IT'S "WHAT HAPPENS TO A DREAM DEFERRED?"

BY LANGSTON HUGHES.

AND HE'S LIKE DOES IT SHRIVEL UP LIKE A RAISIN, JUST FADE AWAY?

BUT YOU ARE A DREAM CONFIRMED.

AND I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU, WHAT DREAMS REMAIN AFTER THIS CONFIRMATION?

WHAT, WHAT DREAMS STILL PUSH MR. PERRY?

LIKE YOU ARE A DREAM CONFIRMED, YOU'RE NOT A DREAM DEFERRED, YOU'RE NOT A SAD STORY, YOU'RE NOT AN ALMOST COULDA, YOU'RE NOT AN UNSUNG.

YOU ARE A DOMINATOR, YOU ARE A LEADER, YOU ARE A VISIONARY.

WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR DREAM CONFIRMED NEXT?

- WOW, THE DREAM CONFIRMED, THAT'S, THAT'S A WHOLE, - COME ON, GIVE IT TO ME NOW.

- THAT WAS STRONG, WRITE THAT.

- MY MAN.

- WRITE THAT WHOLE THING, ANSWER HIM.

YEAH.

FOR, FOR ME LOOKING AT ALL OF THIS, I, I'M, AT THIS POINT RIGHT NOW, IT'S EVERYTHING IS ABOUT MY SON, WHATEVER HE WANTS TO DO, YOU KNOW, IF HE WANTS TO COME AND BE IN THE BUSINESS, I JUST WANT HIM TO BE AN INCREDIBLE MAN, RIGHT?

THAT'S MY DREAM NOW.

JUST BEING AN INCREDIBLE MAN, 'CAUSE I FEEL LIKE I'VE DONE ALMOST EVERYTHING THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO, I KNOW THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE LEVELS TO, TO THE GAME FOR ME, BUT I'VE DONE ALMOST EVERYTHING I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO.

SO NOW IT'S VERY MUCH ABOUT, OKAY, WHO'S NEXT?

'CAUSE I'M CONSTANTLY LOOKING.

I THINK IT WAS CICELY TYSON IN THE MOVIE GOING, ARE YOU THE ONE?

ARE YOU THE ONE?

'CAUSE SHE WAS LOOKING THROUGH ALL THESE BLACK CHILDREN TRYING TO FIND A, WHO'S THE NEXT ONE.

YEAH, WHO, I'M LOOKING FOR THOSE KIDS, WHO ARE, WHO ARE SPECIAL AND DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE AND HAVE BEEN OSTRACIZED AND CRITICIZED, HAVE GONE THROUGH SOME HELL AND, REALLY WANTED TO COME UP AND SAY, HEY, OKAY, YOU, WE HAVE THIS KINSHIP.

HERE WE ARE, LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT I'VE LEARNED.

LET'S TAKE THIS AND RUN.

'CAUSE MAN, I CALLED ALL OF THESE KIDS, MAN, IN THEIR THIRTIES, THIS ONE WHO'S NOMINATED FOR THIS, AND THIS ONE WHO'S JUST DID THIS, THIS ONE, I WAS LIKE, HEY, COME SIT DOWN, LET'S TALK.

DON'T EVEN GET PHONE CALLS BACK.

I KID YOU NOT.

AND JZ AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS, HE SAID, MAN, I GET IT.

AND I'M LIKE, WHAT IS IT?

HE SAID, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY THINK WE WANT SOMETHING FROM THEM.

ALL WE'RE TRYING TO DO, IS PASS ON THE KNOWLEDGE, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT END UP BEING IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU'RE WAITING FOR SOMEBODY TO GIVE YOU A JOB, WHEN YOU'RE 45 AND 50 AND THE CAREER IS NOT SO HOT.

SO MY WHOLE THING RIGHT NOW IS PASSING IT ON.

- YOU ARE A SHINING EXAMPLE FOR BROTHERS.

AND I THINK THAT A LOT OF TIMES IN OUR COMMUNITY, THERE'S A LOT OF FOCUS ON FIXING OUR COMMUNITY.

AND FREDERICK DOUGLAS SAID IT'S EASIER TO BUILD STRONG CHILDREN THAN IT IS TO REPAIR BROKEN MEN.

AND OUR MEN ARE TERRIBLY BROKEN BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN ROBBED THROUGH THE DRUG WAR AND THE PRISON SYSTEM.

WE'VE BEEN ROBBED BY THE PATHOLOGY OF VIOLENCE AND HARDNESS AND THE INABILITY TO SHOW SENSITIVITY.

WE'VE BEEN ROBBED OF THE TRUST OF ONE ANOTHER BECAUSE OF BAD DEALINGS, YOU AND PEOPLE LIKE J ARE SHINING EXAMPLES.

I REMEMBER HIM SAYING TO ME THAT NIGHT, LIKE, MAN, Y'ALL DIDN'T TELL ME THAT LINE WAS LIKE THIS.

I SAY, CAUSE YOU WERE IN COLLEGE PARK WITH JERMAINE.

(TYLER LAUGHS) YOU SHOULDN'T BE HANGING OUT WITH HIM, NOW THAT YOU KNOW, WE EXPECT YOU NOT TO COME DOWN HERE.

AND JERMAINE'S INVITED EVERYONE TO LIVE HERE, IF WE WANT TO BE COOPERATING.

GIVE ME SOME ADVICE THAT THE BROTHERS NEED TO CREATE MORE OF THESE TYPES OF LEADERS ON A MICRO LEVEL.

- THE FIRST THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT THERE'S POWER IN, IN NUMBERS, RIGHT?

THERE'S SO MUCH POWER IN US COMING TOGETHER.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE AN INDIVIDUAL, WANTS TO STAND UP HERE.

I CANNOT, I CAN'T MESS WITH THIS, THAT HE SAID THIS.

AND HE SAID, IF YOU START GETTING INTO THIS ONE SAID, THIS OR THIS ONE SAID THAT, OR SOMEBODY'S TOLD YOU, THIS PERSON SAID THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO MISS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WHEN WE COME TOGETHER, MAN, IT'S LIKE DYNAMITE, EXPLOSIVE, INCREDIBLE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER.

THAT'S WHY I'M LIKE TALKING TO YOU AND J AND CHARLEMAGNE AND JUST, JUST THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE ME GO, WOW, THESE GUYS ARE INCREDIBLE THINKERS.

HEY, SPIKE, HOW COULD I, HOW COULD I HOLD, HOLD SOMETHING AGAINST SOMEBODY WHO, WHO HAS SO MUCH TO TEACH ME.

AND IF YOU START GETTING PAST ALL OF THE THINGS OF, LIKE YOU SAID THIS, I DON'T, NO, THERE'S SOMETHING TO LEARN HERE.

YOU KNOW, BE HUMBLE ENOUGH.

BE KIND ENOUGH TO SAY, OKAY, I DON'T AGREE WITH YOU, BUT LET'S, LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.

LET ME TRY TO HEAR YOUR SIDE.

AND I USED THAT EXAMPLE, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED WITH HE AND I, HE CAME TO, HE, I DID AN INTERVIEW WITH OPRAH AND I USED THE EXAMPLE OF ZORA NEALE HURSTON AND THEN LANGSTON HUGHES.

- OH WOW.

- HE, HE SAW IT, CALLED ME UP, AND SAID, I'M COMING DOWN TO ATLANTA TO SEE YOU.

FLEW DOWN TO ATLANTA, CAME TO MY HOUSE AND WE SAT DOWN AND WE HAD A CONVERSATION.

- YOU AND SPIKE?

- ME AND SPIKE, YEARS AGO.

THAT WAS IT, IT WAS OVER.

HE KNEW MY SIDE OF IT, I KNEW HIS, AND HE GOT IT AND I UNDERSTAND HIS, RIGHT?

SO THAT'S WHAT I, IF WE, AS BLACK MEN COULD JUST NUMBER ONE, LEARN TO TAKE CARE OF OUR HEALTH.

- YES.

- OUR, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO, BEFORE WE CAN GET INTO ANY OF THAT, WE JUST GOT TO UNDERSTAND OUR WORTH, WHAT WE'RE WORTH, WHAT WE BRING TO THE TABLE, HOW SPECIAL WE ARE, HOW SPECIAL WE ARE TO OUR WOMEN, HOW SPECIAL WE ARE TO OUR CHILDREN AND THE POWER OF THAT.

AND ALSO BE ABLE TO FORGIVE OURSELVES WHEN WE SCREW UP.

- YEAH.

- RIGHT?

YEAH.

THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WOULD BE THE GREATEST ADVICE, BUT I COULD REALLY BREAK THAT DOWN IN CHAPTER, BOOK, CHAPTER, VERSE SO, SO MAYBE ONE DAY I'LL DO THAT.

- I'LL WRITE THE FORWARD.

- LET'S DO IT.

I'LL NEED YOU FOR MORE THAN THAT.

- DEFINITELY THAT YOU ARE.

- MAYBE ALL OF US WRITE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE THINK.

- I THINK THAT'S A GENIUS IDEA.

I'M DOWN, I THINK YOU ARE, YOU ARE, WHAT MY GRANDPARENTS WOULD SAY WHEN I WAS YOUNG, DON'T EMBARRASS, MAKE YOUR PEOPLE PROUD.

A VERY BIG PART OF THE REASON THAT I'M PROUD OF THIS SHOW, IS BECAUSE I, LIKE YOU, BELIEVE THE PEOPLE IN TELEVISION WERE REAL.

AND I GREW UP IN AN ALL BLACK ENCLAVE, DIDN'T KNOW MANY WHITE FOLKS.

FRED ROGERS WAS, THE PEOPLE ON SESAME STREET, ELECTRIC COMPANY.

SO I KNEW THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T LOOK LIKE ME, THAT UNDERSTOOD THE WORLD AS I DID, I KNEW THAT I SHARED COMMON VALUE.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATED THE PEOPLE ON TELEVISION AND I UNDERSTOOD THE POWER OF TELEVISION.

I REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF MEDIA AND TELEVISION AND HOW WE CAN TRANSFORM OUR COMMUNITY.

I'VE SEEN AND BEEN IN FAMILY GATHERINGS, WHEN YOUR MOVIES HAVE BEEN PUT ON.

I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THE PRIDE THAT BLACK PEOPLE, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE ECONOMIC BOOM THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT TO THIS CITY FOR NOT JUST BLACK PEOPLE.

I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH KASEEM AND MAKING SURE THAT A FORMER CONFEDERATE FORT IS NOW A PLACE 'CAUSE CONFEDERACY WAS BUILT UPON THE PREDICATION OF THESE PEOPLE AT BEATS AND DESERVE TO WORK FOR US.

OWNING THIS FORT IS SIGNIFICANT IN A WAY THAT SHOUTING AT FLAGS IS NOT.

PROVIDING JOBS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE OFTEN DESCENDANTS OF THE CONFEDERACY AND DESCENDANTS HAVE SLAVES, DESCENDANTS OF SLAVERY, IS A NOBLE AND JUST THING TO DO.

I THINK YOU'RE AN AMAZING MAN.

I LOOK FORWARD TO GROWING A FRIENDSHIP AND A MENTORSHIP RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU, I HOPE.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU FOR COMING ON LOVE AND RESPECT TODAY, THANK YOU, MR. PERRY.

- ABSOLUTELY BROTHER, ANYTHING FOR YOU, MAN.

(BOTH TALKING) - LOVE AND RESPECT, WITH KILLER MIKE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY, - REGINA APPROACHES THE ALL-ELECTRIC CADILLAC LYRIQ.

IT'S A SUNNY DAY.

- NO, A STORMY DAY.

- CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYS.

- HM-HMM, BRASS BAND.

NEW ORLEANS.

♪♪ - SHE DRIVES HANDS-FREE, ALONG THE COAST.

- MAKE IT PALM SPRINGS.

CADILLAC IS GOING ELECTRIC.

IF YOU WANT TO BE BOLD, YOU HAVE TO GO OFF SCRIPT.

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♪♪ ♪♪