July 2, 2024 • 59 mins
This week on Black Perspective, dive into the true history of Juneteenth and the current state of the fight for Black freedom with Amber Payton. Discover an inspiring bike program transforming lives in NYC in our Community Spotlight. Celebrate the end of Black Music Month with violinist Dame Esco, and stay informed with Andrea Coleman's special report on gun safety in the Black community.
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(00:00):
It's Sunday, June thirtieth, andtoday we continue our look at the true
history behind the Juneteenth Holiday and wherethe fight for black freedom stands today.
We shine our community spotlight this weekon an amazing bike program that's making a
difference in New York City, andour summer long awareness campaign on the importance
of gun safety in the black communitycontinues this week with another special report from
(00:24):
news anchor Andrea Coleman. These storiesand more are coming your way on today's
program. Welcome to the Black Perspective. I'm your host, Mike Island.
Welcome to the Black Perspective, aweekly community affairs program on the Black Information
Network featuring interviews and discussions on issuesimportant to the black community. Goods Sunday
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to everyone, and welcome to anotheredition of The Black Perspective on the Black
Information Network. Earlier this week,President Biden and former President Donald Trump took
center stage at CNN's Atlanta headquarters fortheir first presidential debate. US commentator Rolleran
Martin shares his reflections on the contest. Nineteen eighty four. Rev. Jesse
Jackson Senior said this during his speechat the Democratic National Convention. I would
(01:08):
rather have FDR in a wheelchair thanReagan on a horse. That to me
applies when it comes to Joe Bidenand Donald Trump. I watched the Thursday
debate. Was Joe Biden sharp asattack? Absolutely not? He had an
off night. He swed the doubtsof people who say that he's not up
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to the task. But I alsolisten to Donald Trump. I listen to
the more than thirty lies this mantold in that ninety minute debate. I
listen as this man repeatedly lied,repeatedly made things up, and he was
awful, and not once that theCNN moderators correct that man on his massive
(01:55):
lies. So you now have toask the question, do you want a
liar in the White House? Doyou want somebody who makes things up in
the Oval office? Do you wantsomebody who does not have the temperament to
actually lead? If you want tojudge Donald Trump and judge Joe Biden,
you judge the four years of DonaldTrump, where you had a significant number
(02:19):
of people work for him, whogot fired, who left, who resigned.
There are forty right now, thereare forty former Donald Trump officials who
will not support his reelection. Theman's own vice president Mike Pince is not
endorsing him. What more do youneed to know when the very people that
(02:45):
work with that man will not endorsehim for a second term. They know
him better than any of us.They know that he is grossly unfit for
the Oval office. This, folks, is not a hart choice. I'll
take an old Joe Biden over anold lion Donald Trump. I'm Olind Martin
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on the Black Information Network. Besure to stay with the Black Information That
Worked for more coverage of the twentytwenty four presidential election, and visit binnews
dot com for all the latest electionnews. There's a new program in New
York City that is making a wayfor some where there was no way,
and oddly, it begins with bicycles. The Black Information That Works Vanessa Tyler
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takes us for a ride. Ever, consider riding a bike in New York
City. It's estimated there are sixhundred and ten thousand bike trips completed every
day in the Big Apple, andlike many cities around the country, biking
is becoming the preferred way to getaround. But what if you can't ride,
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maybe never learned, or it's beenso long you feel unsure bike New
York can get you steady again.The reprogram helps New Yorkers safely pedal around
people and traffic. Jeremy Lockett,the senior manager of Community Engagement and Equity
Programs for Bike New York, joinsme with more. Jeremy, welcome,
(04:15):
Thank you so much for having us, Thank you so much. Good to
be here. As I mentioned,you helped teach New Yorkers how to bike
safely. Tell me how that's done. Definitely, definitely. So. One
thing that Bike New York is verywell known for is teaching people how to
learn how to ride a bike forfree. Throughout New York City. We
teach thousands of thousands of people everyyear how to bike. We do it.
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I would say we've mastered the wayof safely being able to teach,
whether you are a young kid toan adult, We've been able to master
how to teach someone in about twoto three hours how to learn how to
ride a bike. So now you'rebreezing through riding a bike, exercising save
in the environment, not spending ongas or are they ever increasing? Transit
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fairs and bike riders are joining agrowing group on two wheels. I'm always
blown away by how many people usethese city bikes, the demand for bike
mechanics, the expansion of I wouldsay bike share, micromobility, It's huge.
Bike New York also pedals for asocial justice cause. Let's talk about
that. Awesome, awesome, Yeah, I'll share with you. This is,
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you know, one of the biggestreasons why you know, I love
being at Bike New York. Ialways ask myself and I ask my team,
you know what gets you up inthe morning, and bike Path certainly
does that for me. Bike Pathis a bike mechanic training program. I
will retrain those that are formally incarcerated, formerly justice system involved, to become
bike mechanics after four weeks the BikePath program. Who knew tools that could
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fix a bike could fix a life? Well, the door of opportunity opened
and Helen Wright walked right in.Helen, welcome, Thank you, thank
you. How did you hear aboutbike New York. You know it's funny.
I cain it on a post onthe wall, and I called immediately
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and they gave me an appointment tocome in and start. Never knew nothing
about a bike before, but nowI get fixed bike. Not only can
Helen write repair bikes after being instate prison. Bike New York's Bike Path
program has helped repair her well.Helen, how long were you away and
how tough was it to re entersociety? Doorge closed in my shade.
(06:28):
I would have a job for acouple of months, then they would see
I had a record. I wouldlose my job. With this program,
you know, I worked continuously.I'm glad to say, what has this
done for your life and for thelives of your loved ones. They're proud
of me, and it makes mefeel good, you know, because it
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took me a little long again inlife to get myself settled. But I'm
here now and and my kids areproud of me. What does that make
you feel like to have your childrenproud of you? Well, you don't
even know. I feel so goodgetting up every day, going to work,
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calling my daughter and you know,how you doing my I'm fine,
I'm trying from work. I cally'all later. You know, I can
talk with them, you know,because they all work, so I feel
like I'm part of the family now. And the reason why I'm so grateful
for this program is because people likeme convicted feelings. I'm not afraid to
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say you know need this type ofthing because doors closing our face all the
time. You know, a lotof jobs won't hire us. And bike
Path is a place that gives usfree training, you know, not free
training, paid training, and thenguarantees us a job and motivated. And
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he and I stay in touch withjerally. You know, I'm always telling
him thank you, thank you,thank you, because I have had a
job paying you, Like Jeremy Lockettof Bike New York says, the pay
is good. Those that successfully completethe program, the fifty hour course,
they are guaranteed a job offer asa bike mechanic at Motivate and so that
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you know, one of the amazingbenefits is the competitive wage. They are
union eligible. They are paid twentyfive dollars and twenty five cents an hour.
They're paid weekly. Bike New Yorkgraduates are hired at Motivate. The
company Motivate fixes all the tens ofthousands of city bikes throughout the city New
Yorkers hop on. To get aroundto Jeremy, this is personal. He
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knows what it's like to have aloved one in the criminal justice system with
no way out. It can destroya family. So when I grew up.
I was with my mother, Iwas with my siblings. We would
be visiting my father while he wasincarcerated, and just sort of the ripple
effects that it had on our familyunit. You know, soon after that,
I was in foster care. Fromthere, I was luckily always stayed
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with my siblings, you know,luckily was in a new family. But
this to me, having you know, lived experience and seeing and asking folks
on day one when they come intoour class, why are you here today?
I usually hear from the men andwomen that I want to change my
life, I want to affect mychildren's lives, and I want a different
future for them. You know.There's one one gentleman that he called me
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the other day and he graduated fromour program last year and he was ultimately
rehired to work at Motivate this year, and so, you know, he
was asking me for other suggestions aboutwhat can you do to expand his career,
and I was like, listen,you know, it's phenomenal that they
rehired you. You crushed it,you really did well. And he shared
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with me that one of the thingsthat has really affected him and motivated him
is that you know, now beinga bike mechanic for his second year.
He earlier in his life he wasrated from his son. He hasn't seen
this son in thirteen years. Andnow after you know, gameful employment and
being able to you know, get, you know, some things sorted away.
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He's looking to re meet up withhis son in the near future.
Helen Wright knows what it's done forher, a new path in her life
in the rapidly growing field as abike mechanic. And finally, is there
a message you want to give toothers out here like yourself needing a break?
(10:30):
Well, I would tell him justnever give up, because I never
gave up. I've had so manydifferent positions and then I ran into the
white one. Well, I'll nevergive up. I'll always try to make
my life better. Helen Wright,thanks for keeping New Yorkers peddling along.
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I loved it when I seed himout there a line on the bike that
I might have fixed. The needfor bike mechanics is also still growing,
so we're all for it. Butit's having huge impacts, whether it's again
you know, you're a single parent, whether you are living in a homeless
shelter. For the folks that wesee coming to this program are leaving it
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way more successful in other entities intheir life. Well, how can our
listeners get involved and learn more?If anyone has a specific inquiry, we
are more than happy to fill that, whether it's reaching out to us at
info at bike dot NYC. JeremyLockett, Bike New York, see you
on the bike path. The companyMotivate is looking to expand the bike mechanics
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job opportunity for the formerly incarcerated toother cities nationwide. Thanks Vanessa for your
report. When the nation commemorated theone hundred and fifty fifth anniversary of Juneteenth,
a day that marks the emancipation ofenslaved African Americans in the United States,
the NAACP reflected on the progress madetoward racial equality and the work still
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ahead. In an exclusive interview,Viin News anchor Amber Payton spoke with members
of the Virginia Chapter of the NAACPabout the significance of June tenth, its
impact on the black community, andthe ongoing struggles for justice and equality in
America. Thanks Mike. Today I'mjoined by two members of the Virginia Chapter
of the NAACP. I have historianand Virginia State Conference in Double ACP Education
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Chair doctor Amy Tillerson Brown, andalso Virginia State Conference in Double ACP Political
Action Chair Gayleen Connointant. Today weare discussing the importance behind June teenth,
which is a now federally recognized holidayand has been for a few years now,
which means a lot of people willget that day off going forward.
However, it's more than just anotherday off of work. So we're going
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to explore the history behind Juneteenth andthe importance as it has that it has
today. And I'm going to startwith you, Gayleen, what role does
June teen play today in celebrating AfricanAmerican culture and history within our community.
Well, we know that Juneteenth isknown as Freedom Day, you know,
for African Americans, and we knowthat back in eighteen sixty five is when
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enslaved Africans found out that they werefree two years after the Emancipation of Proclamation.
And in today's time, it remindsus that systemic racism still exists.
Yes, it also reminds us thatthe importance is why we need to go
and vote, because we are stillfighting some of the same fights that was
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fought back then. And it's importantthat we really move forward and make sure
that we get engaged and understanding issuesand expecting our community. Juneteenth resonates all
of that importance of being engaged andwhat we need to do to move our
to move our people forward. Iagree, I do agree, and doctor
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Amy, I know as the educationchair, education can be something that you
are very passionate about. So Ido have a question specifically for you.
How does the NAACP believe Juneteenth cancontribute to educating younger generations about the history
of slavery and the ongoing fight forequality? Okay, thank you. The
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history of Juneteenth is part of animportant history of the larger freedom struggle in
the United States, and since itsfounding in nineteen oh nine, the NUBACP
as an organization has been a keycontributor to this freedom struggle. So highlighting
the nuanced history of Juneteenth is importantto explain why this fight for equity continues
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to exist. Black men, womenand children had waited too long for freedom
and they were elated when Union troopsarrived in Galveston June nineteenth, eighteen sixty
five and read General Order Number three. And so the NAACP is quite dedicated
to remembering this history. And it'sthose nuances of that history, right though,
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those little freedom being contested territory whichkeeps the naacp uh and and all
citizens who uh are all citizens whobelieve in racial equity committed to this to
this fight. Uh huh. Andyou know, doctor Amy, when I
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say that this day is more thanjust a day off or citizens, and
that we should know the history behindthis day, I want to thank you
for that answer in walking us throughthe timeline, because that is what we're
looking for. Oh good, well, I hope you see that you know
the fact that when slaves were freed, even when even when Granger comes to
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Galveston and says you are now free, we still are left with the uh,
with the with uh figuring out orexplaining actualizing what this freedom actually mean
meant then and what it continues tomean now. Because when you're talking about
systemic and structural racism, that's notsomething that came about in twenty twenty.
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When George, it's this history,it's this continuum that we really have to
register and see the loopholes in tounderstand why clearly this fight continues, the
struggle and I like the way,and I like the way you said that
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the Africans were free when they touchedthe soil. Yes, that's a powerful
that's a powerful statement. It reallyis a powerful statement, because you know,
they were like, they were fighting. They were fighting. As soon
as they hit the soil, theywas fighting. I mean, we always
see that's the environmental justice started then, right then, back then, you
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know, with sixty ninety, that'sour environmental justice started right there and there,
as soon as they hit the soon. Yeah, lived in like five
minutes from my house. Yeah.Absolutely, And and you know even here
I go, even with the GeneralOrder number three, as progressive as the
language was at the beginning, youknow, now you can enter into contracts
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with your master. There was alsocaveat near the end that said, but
we want you to be quiet,right, we don't want you running to
union lines. Now, why wouldthey take care to say that, because
of what we've already known that hundredsof thousands, upward of two hundred thousand
enslaved Africans were running into these unionlines as soon as the Civil War started,
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and much of it was right aroundwhere Miss Gayeen is from, right,
yeah, Yeah, And even thishistory of June teenth, Right,
whild Biden, This is after that'simportant to remember, right when people are
marching through the streets COVID no vaccinemasking up, not just to protest police
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brutality in George Floyd's death, butthey were able to connect this with the
larger struggle against systemic instructural racism.And then it's June twenty twenty one,
the following year that June teenth isrecognized as a national holiday. What I
think is important for everyone to remember, especially black folks, you know,
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continuing in this tradition of building ourown communities, Blacks and Galveston started celebrating
juneteenth June eighteen sixty six. Right, Opal Line, who had been a
major forerunner to make this a stateholiday in Texas, had been in the
struggle in the nineteen seventies. Sonineteen twenty one, the United States recognized
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what black folk had known for youis, right, that we were free,
that we were human, and thatwe were bound and determined to realize
all the promises of the Constitution,with full awareness of the fact that it
was a pro slavery document. Right. And so that's been the story of
African American life. I think inthese United States of America, making a
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way out of noway, always agitatingfor better, even if we don't realize
it in our lifetime. That hasbeen something that we're really considerate about when
we're thinking about how we're going topave the way for generations to come.
And that's why education is so criticallyimportant. And we will continue this very
relevant conversation with historian and Virginia StateConference in DOUAACP Education Chair, doctor Amy
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Tillison Brown, and Virginia State Conferencein Double ACP Political Action Chair Galen Conointon.
Next Sunday on the Black Perspective,I'm Amber Payton on the Black Information
Network. Thanks Amber, and aswe close out the final Sunday in the
month of June, here's one lastHappy Juneteenth greeting to everyone in the black
community. And now let's check inwith Gracie Award winning news journalist Esther Dillard
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for this week's edition of The ColorBetween the Lines. I'm Ester Dillard on
the Black Information Network, chatting withwriters and authors who offer an added perspective
for our listeners. This is theColor between the Lines. On this edition
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of The Color between the Lines,we're talking with a motivational coach and successful
businesswoman by the name of doctor SonyaStribling. She is a retired US Army
major and former battle captain and shealso runs a nine figure business that is
called P three University. She's hereto talk to us about her latest book
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called From the Battle to the Boardroom, The Infinite Desire to Win. A
Woman's Journey to Infinite Success in life, business, and career. Welcome Doctor
Stribling to the bin. Thank youso much for having me. I'm excited
to have this conversation on this veryplatform. So I'm ready for this one.
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I started reading your book and itwas really really captivating, a personal
story that really touched my heart.You wrote about how you were the youngest
of twelve children. Your dad hada second grade education, your mom had
a third grade education, your familywas a sharecropper family, and you had
a lot of traumas in your life. Your dad was run out of the
out of town by a family thatused to I guess he worked for.
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And then one of the other thingsthat really stood out for me was that
you had your first child at fifteenyears old. And that's just some of
the major details I just wondered,with all that trauma and all those challenges
you faced in your early life,was that the reason why you wrote this
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book or was there something else?Well, I would say with all those
things, when you were saying,I'm like, well, that's a lot
for anybody to go through. Butthe reason for the book was, I
would say a combination of a coupleof things. One was because the life
that I had prior in my childhoodand all of that. But the second
reason, honestly was because I knewthere were people, especially women, that
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were out there that needed from azero to a hero story. Shall I
say? Well, in the bookyou also talk about how success is not
just having a map, but alsohaving the right mindset. Please talk about
the things that trip people up whenit comes to both those areas, both
the mind and the mind and themap. Oh yeah, the map in
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itself. I was just thinking backwhen we went away from maps. You
remember that, You remember how weused to get around pulling up a map,
and now you just pull it upon your phone. And there's necessarily
not a need for a physical map, but I believe there's still one needed
for the mindset. Mapping and thethings that you want. Mindset trips up
a lot. But most people wetalk about I hear it all the time.
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You go to social media, they'retalking about mindset. They talk about
a thing, But most people arenot really showing you how to use a
mindset map or how to shift yourmindset to have the type of things that
you want, or have the lifestylethat you deserve, or having the loving
relationship that you really desire. Andso when you think about mindset, what
is the thing that needs to beshifted in your mind that is keeping you,
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let's say, stagnant or keeping youon this pathway to not taking you
to a level of success. Sowhen we talk about mindset shift, what
is the very thing that holds youback? That's the first thing you have
to identify. And then thinking aboutwhat is the life that you want?
And so this roadmap once you identifythe mindset that is needed, and what's
the roadmap or the game plan toget you to the life or the lifestyle
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or the relationship that you desire.I love how you brought out the fact
that the battlefield and the boardroom andthe connections and you talk about this in
the book and how it's different differentthan what most people kind of imagine.
I've wondered if you could just kindof explain what your battlefield and boardroom mean
(24:23):
in your book. I'm glad youasked me that question because I was just
talking to a gentleman today and hewas going through it and he assumed,
because he was military, that hethought he knew what it was about.
And I was like, no,let me explain just a little bit.
Those who actually read closely to thecover in the back, they understand a
little bit more. But when wetalk about and the reason why I titled
it from the Battlefield to the Boardroombecause it was more not just my story,
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it's a story of many of us. And when I say battlefield,
it's the things that you went throughin your life, whether it's childhood,
neglect or abuse, and those thingsand the battlefield that you may be on
right now. And that battlefield whatis the thing that has you in a
place where you're unhappy? Where isthe battlefield? Is the things that are
happening to you right now that mayhave you unhappy. And when I talk
(25:08):
about boardroom, it's not corporate America. It's not going into this boardroom where
there are chairs, you know,the big chairs, and you got the
CEO. Who are the vps atthe round table. A boardroom is a
place where you get to de signyour level of success, whether it's your
life, your career, and yourbusiness. A boardroom is where you get
to pull the biggest chair up tothe table, your table that you're creating,
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and you get to make a decisionof how you want your life to
be. And so that's why Icall it from the battlefield to the boardroom.
Yes, is it a play onof my twenty one years in the
military, three combat tours who includeIraq, Yes, it does, But
it's the battlefield that we all findourselves and we all have a battlefield story.
And some that are listening right nowmay be on their battlefield right now.
(25:52):
But I just wanted to share thatthere's a way that you can go
from your battlefield to your boardroom.You get to design that room, not
a physical room, what's that placeand space and your heart and your mind
of where you desire to be,where you're happy and you're fulfilled. For
those of you who are just joiningus, I'm Esther Dillar with the Black
Information Network, and we're speaking withmotivational speaker and businesswoman doctor Sonya stribbling about
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her new book, From the Battlefieldto the Boardroom, The Infinite Desire to
Win, a Woman's Journey to InfiniteSuccess in life, business, and career.
At the end of the chapters,you have homework for folks, and
I love that because homework is wherea lot of the good stuff happens,
deep inner work for readers, whatwould you say are the most challenging things
(26:41):
that people that you've coached say arefor them? You know, I laugh
because when we say, I'll saylife work, homework, or I would
say alignment work. And what theassignments at the end of each chapter is
doing to give you, to giveyou the opportunity to do or recap on
the chapter, but I also givesyou an alignment assignment, like just one.
(27:02):
I was just going through just amoment ago, and I started chuckling
at like what I asked them todo? That I can't believe I asked
that. It is just thinking abouthow you got to where you are.
What are some things that have youunhappy? Are there some people you need
to apologize too, or there aresome people that you need to forgive and
having you sit down and do thealignment work to help you align to the
life that you want. And Idid that specifically because I didn't want this
(27:26):
to be just like another book.You know, there's so many books that
are out there, but I believethere are very few that are written in
this caliber to really help especially women, take their lives to the next level
their life, their career, andtheir business. And so those alignment assignments
is really to help you come intoa place in a space where you get
to do a I would say,a gut check to really start looking at
(27:48):
what is it that I need toshift and change in my life? Because
what got you to where you areright now is definitely not going to get
you to the place where you wantto be unless you make the shifts,
unless you come into agreement and toan alignment of hey, how did I
get here? And furthermore, howdo I get out of this place?
How do I get off this battlefield? And so that was the reason I
wrote it in that way. Andsome people may what have heard so far
(28:12):
as there is some people are likethey appreciate it, Like you made me
think it wasn't just me reading thewords on the paper, But it made
me think about what do I needto do? What do I need to
do right now? Those are thekind of navigational plans and game plans that
need to be written. And it'sagain, it's not just another book.
It is really a new roadmap forus to be better people. And guess
(28:34):
what was the most difficult exercise foryou, doctor Stripling? Oh man,
that very first one coming to grips. So how did I get here?
Let's just be real. Every singlechapter has an alignment assignment, that very
first one. That's why it's firstbecause some time sometimes we don't. It's
like going into a mall. Iknow, it hasn't been a long time
(28:56):
since I been in the mall,but the last time I was there,
I was like, okay, oh, there's a particular story that I'm looking
for and I've never been in thisplace before. So guess what I had
to do. I had to goto the map, the digital map they
have up. It's like, okay, and it says you're here. That
was the first assignment. Identify whereyou are. It's a discovery phase.
Where are you right now? Andthen you have to look on the map
(29:18):
to figure out where I want togo. I want to go to an
Emen markets or wherever the place maybe. But in order to do that,
I have to read the map andit tells me what steps and where
to go. Is it upstairs,is it on the third level, It's
I'm on the first floor and goingthrough that. So that was challenging for
me, and honestly, I haven'tbeen able to go through the book and
not get emotional because it's a realjourney, not just for me. I
think about the clients I've had theopportunity to help them build their next level
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speaking and business career to six andseven figures and knowing that they're the first
millionaires in their family and they don'thave to Rob Peter to pay Paul.
I get emotional because I remember thejourney I went through in order for me
to help someone else go through thatvery journey to help them have a better
business, a bigger business, ora better life. You mentioned in your
(30:02):
book that folks need a good coach, some need a good Therapists are extremely
different. To explain why you focusedon that and why did you think that
was so important to make the distinction, Yeah, it's twofold because I get
asked all the time, Oh,okay, doctor Sonia, how do I
(30:23):
find my right mentor or my coach? And a lot of times when I'm
listening to them, what they're askingfor is really someone A counselor and coaching
and therapy are two different things.A therapist is a person who helps you
with your past per se. Ithelps you identify where you are. They
help you identify where you are andhelp you get to your next level and
(30:45):
start dealing with what the problem reallyis. When you come over to this
world of coaching, we help youfuture pace where you are right. If
I'm a life coach, I'm helpingyou future pace what you want your life
to look like. If I'm abusiness coach, I'm helping you future pace,
but you want your business to lifeversus having a therapist. All I
imagine when I was I'm a reformlicensed clinical, faith based counselor, and
(31:07):
I remember my white couch having conversations. That's not what I do anymore because
now I'm thinking about the future versusdealing with the past. That's the big
difference that I really want people,and I made sure it was something that
was upfront and personal in the bookbecause there are people right now they're looking
for people to help them, andthey think they need a coach, But
the truth be told, they mayneed a coach, but they also need
(31:29):
therapy, professional help. There's nothingto be ashamed of. It is absolutely
needed, especially what's going on withthe world right now. I can't even
imagine what is happening in the worldand people not seeking out professional help to
help deal with Remember the pandemic.But we all went through being isolated from
your family birthdays, you spent aloan, being in a house, especially
(31:51):
if you were single or even ifyou were married. You're not accustomed to
being in the house with your spouseevery day, all day, all the
time. And you had to knowyour life because you remember that, You're
like, wait a minute, holdon, I know I like him,
I realize and learned a lot aboutmyself doing that time. And so I
wanted to make sure that people understandtherapy is something that is much needed in
(32:12):
this world based on what we dealwith, but so is coaching because there
is so much to cover and solittle time. Please tell listeners your main
message that you hope that they willget from the book, that you can
go from your battlefield to your boardroom. But you have to one have a
strategic plan to do that. TheDiscovery phases having a game plan to get
to your next level live career orbusiness. There is a way to do
(32:36):
that. There are times that youhave to find a navigator, you have
to find a mentor you have tofind someone to help you lead the way
or that will lead the way andhelp you get there. And that's the
only thing that my prayer is forthose who read the book who engolf themselves
in what's taking place, but reallywant that next level live career and business.
It's all about coming from your battlefieldand going into your boardroom. And
(32:59):
I'll with this, if you didn'tcome from a wealthy family, and sure
a wealthy family comes from you.And that does not just mean financial,
is emotional, it's spiritual, it'srelational and financial. It's time for us
to put in the work and it'stime for us to do it now.
Wow. Well, thank you doctorStribling for joining us on the BIM.
Thank you for having me. Wellthat's it for this edition of The Color
(33:22):
Between the Lines. The book isfrom the battlefield to the boardroom. The
Infinite Desire to win a woman's journeyto infinite success in life's business and career.
I'm mister Dillard for the Black InformationNetwork. Doug Davis wraps up Black
(33:45):
Music Month with a very special guest. If you've been listening to The Black
Information Network over the past day orso, you may have heard Doug talk
to a black violinist who continues tochange lives through his love for music.
Doug take it away. Hey,thanks Mike. This is Doug Davis and
we're putting the breaks in our weeklysegment entitled Your Black Business to touch on
(34:05):
the rich history of our music andits influence on American culture. June is
Black Music Month, and joining meis Damian Escobar, also known as Dame
Mesco. He's renowned for his eclecticblend of musical styles, incorporating classical,
jazz, pop, R and B, and hip hop and do his performances.
Born in nineteen eighty six in Jamaica, Queens, New York, he
(34:27):
started playing the violin at the ageof eight and became the youngest student accepted
into the prestigious Juilliard School of Musicat the age of ten. Please welcome
to the Bin and Your Black Business. The one and only if I can
say it, Dame Mesco, what'sup, brother? How are you?
Wow? I love that angel Man. Grateful, appreciate you, Happy to
(34:47):
be here with you. Likewise,Man, happy to have you here as
well. I've got a host ofquestions for you. You don't hear of
too many black violinists. Share withthe audience some of the big things that
you've done so far in your lifeat such a young age. It's pretty
you know. I'm grateful, man, like I've performed for you know,
three US president, you know,from Clinton to Barack to Georgia Bush.
(35:12):
I mean, you know, wonEmmy Awards, NAACP Image nominations, you
know. I mean it's the countlesstickets, the countless records. Have we
heard you want any hip hop songs? No, man, I never agree
to do that. People were like, oh, Man, like, wow,
you overnight success. No man,this is twenty one years in the
megan you know, because I neverwanted to take the easy route. My
(35:32):
thing was I needed to be witha standalone as my own entity. I
knew at a young age, andI say a young age in a music
business. If I go and justdo a collaboration with Kanye West, where
I'm the back of violinists for him. How can I sell that product?
I can't get Kanye to tour withme on his hit song, that's his
song, you know, So howdoes that work for me? You know?
So obviously that would have been theeasy route. And they are artists
(35:55):
that have done that, right,but where are they now? You know?
So for me it took a lotlonger. But it was so important
for me to establish my sound asa solo voice, as a single voice.
And when I did that and Ifinally had that breakthrough, you know,
it's something that I have, Iown that, you know. So,
I mean, you know, nowat this stage of my career,
(36:16):
I can't collaborate with hip hop artists. I can't collaborate with different singers because
I'm now a standalone enity in myown right word, Let's talk about that
breakthrough share sure? You know?So I have two careers. I had
two careers of music, you know, which I'm lessing enough to have.
I had a very successful career ofmy brother for ten years in music.
(36:37):
He and I we did some incrediblethings together and you know that's who I
were Miami Awards with We were inMexico Talent, that's stars. We did
it all and we disbanded in twentytwelve. And you know, just brief
history. You know, I'm fromJamaica, Queens and New York. There
is no financial literacy that comes outof Jamaica, Queens, New York.
(36:58):
Right when I was growing up,right, you know, so, twenty
one years old, made my firstmillion dollars with my brother. When the
group disbanded, I didn't realize thatwe were spending like crazy. You come
from where I come from. Theonly thing that you want is the thing
you couldn't have that you dreamed of, right, you know. So like
a lot of black athletes, entertainers, artists, you get the money,
(37:20):
you spend it. And when wedisbanded, I went from living in a
million dollar condo in Brooklyn to sweepingon the subways. I mean all in
a matter of a year's time fromdisbanding man, And I'll tell you it
was the greatest and worst moment inmy life. I didn't realize in that
moment it was the going to endup being the greatest gift in my life.
(37:44):
At that moment, but I remembersitting in the welfare office because I
had my daughter, you know,she was five at the time. My
son was just born. I neededto be able to take care of my
kids. Somehow I didn't have anymore money. I remember sitting in the
welfare office, my brother and I. We had a McDonald's commercial here,
and that McDonald's commercially came on TVin the welfare office, and I felt
(38:04):
absolutely horrible. But I realized thatwhen God wants you to grow, he
makes you very uncomfortable. And Iwas so uncomfortable man. And I remember,
you know that year, this istwenty twelve. By the end of
the year, I found the confidenceto pick my violin back up after disbanding,
and I said to myself, I'mgoing to bet on myself. You
(38:25):
know. I started to work inreal estate, which is a very short
lived career. My supervisor told meone time. She said to me,
Damien, I don't care who youused to be, but if you're gonna
work here, you gotta follow myrule. And that term used to be
I remember sitting on the E traingoing back to Jamaica Queens that day,
and that term used to be stuckwith me. I said to myself that
(38:46):
I really want to be known asa guy that used to be this thing.
I'm like, nah, I stillhave a lot less than the tank.
Wow. And I remember picking myviolin back up and starting all over,
dude, and started my second career, which I'm happy to have now.
Man, that's beautiful. Sounds likethat Will Smith movie, The Pursuit
of happiness. You just you don'tgive up, you know what I'm saying.
(39:08):
And it's funny how you know,struggle can really shape a person's character.
Now you're even more humble, right, You're even more beautiful in God's
eyes, you know, and sonow you can do so much more.
Man, I am so happy foryou. That's just a beautiful story right
there. If I can segue justa bit. You know, it is
Black Music Month, and it's thetime when we reflect on the contributions of
(39:31):
black artists to the cultural fabric ofAmerica. What does this month mean to
you personally and professionally? And thenthe second part of that question is why
the violin? What possessed you towant to pick up a violin and be
the man you are today with thatbeautiful instrument? You know what. It's
(39:52):
a great question and my one answerkind of saw Folk Black Music Month.
What it means to me the momentto celebrate the incredible black artists that came
for me that payaway. You know. I'm a product of R and B,
like soul music, That's what I'velistened to growing up in the house.
That's my mom playing Shaka Khan,you know, Whitney Houston, TeV
Wonder like Motown, you know.And for me, I couldn't sing,
(40:15):
man, you know, so whenI heard the violin i first heard it,
I'm like, well, that's theclosest thing to a voice. You
know. I don't want to makemy violin sound like any other things violin
is. I wanted to be ableto sing like Arepa and Whitney, right,
you know. So I took tothe violin for that reason, and
I played it in my practiced sohard because I just wanted to be able
to make it sing man. Andwow, you know, I'm super grateful
(40:38):
to be able to do that.Yeah, that is that is truly truly
beautiful. Man. Let's talk aboutyour identity in music. In what ways
has your identity as a black artistinfluenced your musical style and messages that you
want to convey through your performances.I mean, I think it comes through,
you know, like like what Irepresent as a person, you know,
(40:59):
I mean it's like inclusivity, selflove, being present, being with
people, trying to be in themoment right Like we live in a fast
paced world, you know. Whenpeople come to my concerts, it's really
a moment to excel and I hearthings like you no, thank you for
that moment, thank you for thatescape. It's an escape, you know,
from whatever stressing you out, andit's really healing and therapeutic, not
(41:21):
only to me but people that cometo see me, But it's just as
healing for me as well. Youknow. I think that's what people get
in my music. They can feelthat love that is transferred love, you
know, between humans many That's beenthe greatest gift. Tell us about your
new music project and tour, sure, I mean new album Gemini. I
am a Gemini. I want todo something different this year. I wanted
(41:42):
to give a gift away. Youknow, people think their birthday is all
about receiving gifts. I wanted todo the opposite and share a gift because
I'm grateful to have that get Ireceive that, so I want to give
it away. July July fifth andsixth, I'm doing album released concert in
Oakland at Yoshi Super Intimate. Man, you're gonna be at Yo. She's
a Yo. Yeah. Man,Hold on, wait a minute, dude,
(42:07):
I'm going to be in San Franciscoduring that time because July sixth is
my birthday. Man. I gottacome through family, I gotta come through.
Man. I'm sorry, but Ijust had to do a quick pause
on the interview, right, I'mlike, oh no, he goes,
Okay, I'm sorry. Back tothe interview, Back to the interviewers.
(42:28):
So back to the tour, right, No, not not no efficient tour
this year. I'm doing a fulltour next year. Got you know this
year, you know, it's justdropping the album. I wanted to see
these like multi market actuations playing thealbum, you know. So it's just
kind of spot day successful things thisyear. The full album, the full
tour teams up next year, bothAmerican and European tour. I understand you're
(42:52):
a chief music officer, Yes,indeed, man, So it's just I'm
a Gemini for the two sides ofGemini. You know, you know,
I love creating music and I've beenin brand communications, which a lot of
people don't know about. I don'tshare it. I don't really co mingle
it to This is kind of likethe first time I'm doing that. But
I've been in brand communications for thepast four years and I've had a beautiful
(43:14):
journey in this space. You know. I'm low with chief music officer from
one of the largest holding companies calledHawbai. How can we follow you online
everything, dame Esco. Just trytop my name and Damien Escobar. Go
on Google type and black guy withthe violin, I show up, Damian
Escobar a dame Esco. It's beena pleasure. Brother. New albums out
entitled Gemini Guaranteed to Hit your Soul, Get your stream on. This is
(43:36):
Doug Davis on The Black Information Networkand The Black Perspective. According to the
National Institute on Minority Health and HealthDisparities, approximately five Black youth between the
ages of one and nineteen die byfirearms every day. As we continue a
series of special reports on the importanceof gun safety and preventing unintentional shootings by
children and teens, The Black InformationThat Works Andrea Coleman talks with a noted
(44:00):
black psychologist about children and guns.Well, Mike, we spoke with doctor
H. Gen Wright as part ofbi In's lock it in Stored gun safety
awareness campaign. Lock it in Storedencourages gun owners to keep firearms out of
the reach of children to help preventunintentional shootings, especially among Black children ages
five and younger and teens. Arecent study showed accidental shootings increased among both
(44:23):
groups last year. Doctor Wright asan author at junct professor at Temple University
in Philadelphia, as well as ahighly sought after speaker. In this segment
of our interview with him, heprovides insight into the thinking of young children
and offers guidance to parents who ownguns on conversations they can have with their
children about the dangers of firearms.Doctor Wright, thank you for joining us.
(44:46):
Now you have established a distinguished careerin clinical and forensic psychology. If
you will tell us a little bitabout both fields. Well, the clinical
piece is really about understanding human behavior, how the brain works, how these
things my body and spirit intersect,if you will, for the human organism.
(45:07):
And so most people think of clinicalpsychology, they think of counseling or
therapy, and certainly it is that, but it's much more than that as
well. It's also having an understandingabout human behavior, what that looks like,
and wondering how we can really useapplications so scientific. We call it
the scientists practitioner model, if youwill, how we use science and practice
(45:30):
to really bring together research and bestpractices to help human beings perform and live
at their absolute best. The forensicside of that is really how what I
just shared and individuals that find themselvesand challenges with behavior health challenges. Usually
mental health, mental illness, Ishould say, and substance use disorder,
but there could be traumatic brain injury, it could be personality disorders and challenges
(45:53):
like that. But really it's aboutthose individuals that have behavioral health challenges and
how they intersect with the legal system. So that is not just criminal justice,
although most people think of it thatway. The legal system also involves
the civil side of things. Soyou may be having a mental health crisis
(46:14):
and end up being an impatient facility, so that is something that is legal
because you may have been involuntarily committed, but you didn't break law certainly,
so it's not criminal, but it'sstill legal. Or you may be in
a child custody situation with a partner. Again, not a criminal matter,
but certainly a legal matter. Nowwe're talking about unintentional shootings among children ages
(46:37):
five and younger. What draws achild that young to a firearm? Well,
at the age that you're talking abouttwo or three years old, what
doesn't draw their attention? Right,you've been on this planet for two or
three years. Everything is near,everything is curiosity. Everything is I must
touch it, pick it up,put it in my mouth, look at
it, play with it, dosomething with it. That's something novel.
(46:57):
You don't see that thing every daythat age, right. And so if
they happen to be watching TV orlooking at, you know, a phone
or something. I don't know howold children are now when they get their
first phone, but I see alot of toddlers with phones. They're in
the stroller, right, they're inthe car seat, and they got a
phone. So they may be seeingpictures or movies or videos that involve a
(47:17):
weapon. So there may be acuriosity. But if you see one in
person laying on the table, oryou know, you see something peeking out
over the shelf and you kind ofsee, well, what is that?
And you don't know what that is, and you climb up on a couple
of boxes to discover what it is. There's a natural curiosity, is what
I'm saying. And there is thatcuriosity. It's not because it's a gun.
They don't know what it is necessarily, but they know it's something different.
(47:39):
They know it's something they've never seenbefore. They don't see this laying
around on a regular basis, Andif they do, that's even a more
problem. Because of the age groupand the developmental stage that the child is
in, They're going to be curiousabout anything that they can get their hands
on. So how might this curiosityyoung children have lead to an unintentional shooting.
Anywhere that there is a unlocked firearmin a space easy to reach by
(48:04):
children, you're going to have thatsituation. Most people that are gun owners
understand, they've taken classes, theyknow the rules, they know they're supposed
to do. Now they don't alldo it. You're supposed to have the
gun without ammunition. You're supposed tohave it separate. Most people say,
well, what's the use of havinga gun or a firearm if the ammunition
is separate from the firearm. IfI need the weapon, I have to
go find a weapon, then Ihave to go find an ammunition, and
(48:25):
then I have to put them together. By that time it's a problem.
So that's one of the excuses thatI've heard from people in terms of why
they don't do that. But thatis an excuse having the gun accessible to
children, right, putting it underthe bed is not going to work.
Obviously, putting it in your draweris not a solution. Most of the
time, you're supposed to have andthis can be delivered to you when you
purchase your firearm. You have alock box, you have a lock on
(48:49):
the trigger, you have an abilityto find a space in your home if
that's where you keep it that yourchildren cannot get to it. So when
you say why is this on therise, I think it comes from nekelace
pure and simple gun owners, firearmowners who have not followed the letter of
the law in terms of being aresponsible gun owner and having their weapon available
and accessible to children, who donot understand really the power in their hand
(49:14):
and they pick up a weapon.Again, they watch so much things on
TV and so many video games andthings like that they may not even know
that it's real that when you pullthat trigger, when you do that thing
that you think you're playing, thatthat person is not getting up again.
So there is an unrealistic understanding ofwhat the firearm can and will do.
And you also all have to understandthe developmental stage of children. Right A
(49:37):
six year old is not at thesame developmental stage as a three year old,
who is not at the same developmentalstage as a ten year old or
a twelve year old, etc.Etc. So, when young children come
upon a weapon or find themselves inthat situation, they do not have the
developmental level or the cognitive ability toprocess exactly what they're doing. And that
is something that I think has loston people sometimes sometimes we treat children like
(50:00):
little adults, and they're not developmentally, cognitively, physically, they are not
the same as adults. And sowhen they come upon a weapon that is
available, accessible, and they dowhat children do, they're curious, they're
experimenting, and then you end uphaving tragedies that you can't come back from.
So at what age does a youngchild begin to understand the dangers of
(50:20):
a gun and the kind of injuryare harm they can inflict on people.
So it's difficult to choose a specificage, what I would say is when
your child is old enough to askquestions, that is the age that they
should be given answers. And soI think that parents can be intentional about
talking to children about any matter ofthings, not just guns and violence,
but anything that you want to talkabout. A lot of parents, for
(50:44):
instance, avoid the topic of sexand sex education until that person is a
teenager, and some kids never getthat talk right because the parents are uncomfortable
with the discussion. Some people don'tsit down and talk to their children about
racism and the realities of being blackin America, not because they don't think
it's real, because they don't knowwhat to say. A lot of parents
don't have discussions with their children abouta drug use or alcohol consumption, not
(51:06):
because they're not concerned, but becausethey're uncomfortable with the topic and they don't
need to say. And so alot of topics are avoided that children need
to learn and hear about because theparents or the caregiver, the primary caregiver
is either uncomfortable or doesn't feel qualifiedto have a conversation about it. And
so, in terms of violence andguns and what the gun can do,
and the danger of it. Thatconversation should happen as early as the caregiver,
(51:30):
the parent believes that child understanding isI would say that three years old,
and uh, wild wife pick three. Because children are fairly cognitive,
they pretty much understand danger. Youknow, when we tell children don't run
across the street to get the ball, we say that multiple times. We
have to repeat it because you knowchildren and children when we talk about don't
(51:51):
touch the hot stove, you know, you have to repeat it because they
may not get it. You know, it's like it doesn't look hot because
it's not a red burner, andthen they find out, of course,
my oh god, it's hot.Right, So those are the kind of
ages that we're telling children about otherdangers, right, stranger danger. We're
having that conversation early when mommy anddaddy going to the store. You stay
close, you stay with me,you stay where I can see you.
(52:12):
That is teaching children about potential dangerbeing in public and not being snatched up.
So why not have those conversations aboutguns and about violence and some of
those other topics that I mentioned.So I can't give you an age,
but I can say if you're havingthose conversations about other dangers, then that's
probably the right age to also havethe conversation about guns and gun violence,
(52:34):
and what might a parent or guardiansay to a two or three or four
year old about the dangers of gunsthat can help the child understand that they're
not something to play with. Ibelieve you should be very direct. A
lot of times caregivers try to airon the side of baby talk or trying
to dumb it down to a kid. Children are smarter than we give them
credit for, right, especially nowadayswith the television and the phones and having
(52:57):
access to information, more information thanwe ever had them, you know,
when we were their age. Sohaving an age appropriate conversation is having an
understanding of Again, what is yourchild capable of understanding? What conversations have
you had with them in the past. They go to daycare, you have
certain things you want them to doand certain things you want them to understand,
and what they need to be responsiblefor so that they can tell you
(53:17):
if someone touches you in an inappropriateway, and then you explain to tell
mommy or daddy. Right, youdon't have to give them the great details
of you know, abuse and sexand all that which you have to say
is you keep it at the developmentallevel of no one should be touching you
in a certain way, right,and then you explain what that is and
you point it out and you letthem know. Children are smart. You
do the same thing when you're talkingabout I gave you the example about the
(53:40):
touching the hot stove, not todo it, not running across the street.
We have ready examples. And soyou can talk to a child and
say, hey, you know,have you heard of a gun? You
know what a gun is? Andmost children they're calling them you know,
yeah, yeah, Well, andyou can show them pictures, right,
you can show them something I wouldnot show them the you know the way
obviously the picture and say you knowwhat this is and they will answer that.
(54:02):
If they don't, then you explainit. Right. You can have
a conversation. Let me tell youwhy mommy or daddy are having this conversation.
You know, there's a lot goingon around us, and I want
you to be safe these instruments andyou can call it whatever is an age
appropriate if your child are not safein everyone's hands. Right now, you
don't want to get too deep andget too intellectual. About it. You
want to keep it very simple.This is not a toy, very clear,
(54:24):
very direct. This is not atoy. This can hurt you.
Don't play with this. If youever see one, if you ever find
one, don't play with it.Go get an adult, point it out
and let them know that you foundthat. It's in the bush, it's
in the park, wherever it isyou saw it, right, don't pick
it up, don't touch it,report it to an adult. And so
you can have those kind of conversations. If you are a parent that has
(54:46):
a gun in the home, thenyou can be a little more direct and
say, now, mommy or daddyor whoever the primary caregiver is, we
have these things in our home forprotection, and we want to protect you.
That's our only goal is to makesure you are safe and you are
sound. If you ever see onelaying around, do not touch it,
do not pick it up, rightbecause this in the wrong hands can hurt
(55:07):
you. You are not old enoughto understand what this can do. Again,
you have to know your child.I'm just throwing things out there,
but you have to know your child. And so a child at three year
old, you're going to say ita certain way a child at six years
old, you can say a littlemore and give a little more example in
detail. So it really does comedown to the developmental level of your child.
And I must also end with thisthat just because your child is a
(55:30):
certain age doesn't mean they have thatparticularly age approprienness. So there is a
range of understanding at a developmental period. And so not all six year olds
are the same, just like notall three year olds are the same,
just like all ten year olds arenot the same. You have to know
your child. You have to knowthe child that you're dealing with, so
that you know what level, whatmental level they're on, what their experiences
(55:52):
are in the community. Children comingfrom inner city may have a different environment,
may have a different maturity level thanchildren who are coming from subverb children
are coming from a rural environment likewhere I grew up. You know,
we have a different understand We sawguns all the time because we were real
people used to go hunting. Iremember having my class in third grade would
be missing because it was deer season. Right, So depending on the environment
(56:14):
you grew up in, well,depending on what you're understanding and your capacity
to understand the message of what gunsdo and the danger of having guns now
for her. Correctly, you brieflysaid that you don't show the child the
actual weapon, but show them apicture of a gun instead. Should a
child know where a gun is kept, and should they even know there was
a gun in the home? Andagain, I use those examples because how
(56:38):
children are different and our caregivers aredifferent. Growing up on a farm in
a real area, it's going tobe a little different in terms of how
you have that conversation than someone growingup in suburbia where hopefully you're not really
shooting deer that kind of thing.So growing up in one environment is going
to dictate something different. When Isaid show the picture, that's coming from
(57:00):
an environment where you really don't wantthe child seeing the gun, handling a
gun, and but just knowing whata gun looks like. Growing up where
I grew up in a rural community, children know where guns are. They
see them all the time that they'reon the truck with you know, or
they're out in the field. They'retaught at an early age how to use
a gun. So you're going tohave a different conversation with that child.
Right growing up in inner city,you may have to have that conversation because
(57:23):
the parent in the home has agun, has a weapon, and so
you may have to have not thesame conversation as you would as somebody growing
up in a rural area where huntingis prevalent and legal, but because of
the child may come across something inthe environment that you did not count on,
so hopefully not in your home.So no, I do not recommend
you know doing that, and that'swhy I said, showed the picture.
(57:43):
But you have to know your child, right that second part of your question,
should they know there's a gun ina home? I think that also
depends on the comfortability of the parentor the caregiver and knowing their child,
because depending on the age of thechild, they may need to know,
right, But do they need toknow where it is? Do they need
to know any of those things?I really defer to the caregiver in their
particular environment. And that's why Igave you the scenario of the three different
(58:06):
environments that one might need to consider, because one, the prevalence of gun
ownership in certain environments and also theneed and so that is important. Again,
I don't want to try to makean ironclad rule or a blanket statement
across the board. But you haveto know your child, you have to
know the environment that you're raising themin, and you have to know what
are the consequences for providing that levelof knowledge and experience. Oh we thank
(58:30):
doctor Wright for his insight and expertiseand coming up next week on the Black
perspective, any person, not justchildren, but any person who injures self
or someone else accidentally by either playingwith a weapon or not knowing the weapon
was loaded, or whatever it wasthat led to the shooting, They're going
to be impacted. They're going tobe traumatized. We'll continue our conversation with
(58:52):
doctor Wright as he sheds light onthe psychological impact unintentional shootings have on all
involved. He'll also talk abouts andguns, another group that's experiencing a rise
in accidental shootings. Learn more aboutBion'slocket and Stored gun safety awareness campaign at
binnews dot com. I'm Andrea Colemanon the Black Information Network and that's our
(59:15):
program for this week. For moreon these stories, listen to the Black
Information Network on the free iHeartRadio appor log onto binnews dot com for all
of the latest news impacting the blackcommunity. Also be sure to follow us
on social media at Black Information Networkand on x at black Info Net.
I'm Mike Island, wishing everyone agreat Sunday. Be sure to tune in
(59:37):
next week at this time for anotheredition of the Black Perspective right here on
the Black Information Network
It's Sunday, June thirtieth, andtoday we continue our look at the true
history behind the Juneteenth Holiday and wherethe fight for black freedom stands today.
We shine our community spotlight this weekon an amazing bike program that's making a
difference in New York City, andour summer long awareness campaign on the importance
of gun safety in the black communitycontinues this week with another special report from
(00:24):
news anchor Andrea Coleman. These storiesand more are coming your way on today's
program. Welcome to the Black Perspective. I'm your host, Mike Island.
Welcome to the Black Perspective, aweekly community affairs program on the Black Information
Network featuring interviews and discussions on issuesimportant to the black community. Goods Sunday
(00:44):
to everyone, and welcome to anotheredition of The Black Perspective on the Black
Information Network. Earlier this week,President Biden and former President Donald Trump took
center stage at CNN's Atlanta headquarters fortheir first presidential debate. US commentator Rolleran
Martin shares his reflections on the contest. Nineteen eighty four. Rev. Jesse
Jackson Senior said this during his speechat the Democratic National Convention. I would
(01:08):
rather have FDR in a wheelchair thanReagan on a horse. That to me
applies when it comes to Joe Bidenand Donald Trump. I watched the Thursday
debate. Was Joe Biden sharp asattack? Absolutely not? He had an
off night. He swed the doubtsof people who say that he's not up
(01:30):
to the task. But I alsolisten to Donald Trump. I listen to
the more than thirty lies this mantold in that ninety minute debate. I
listen as this man repeatedly lied,repeatedly made things up, and he was
awful, and not once that theCNN moderators correct that man on his massive
(01:55):
lies. So you now have toask the question, do you want a
liar in the White House? Doyou want somebody who makes things up in
the Oval office? Do you wantsomebody who does not have the temperament to
actually lead? If you want tojudge Donald Trump and judge Joe Biden,
you judge the four years of DonaldTrump, where you had a significant number
(02:19):
of people work for him, whogot fired, who left, who resigned.
There are forty right now, thereare forty former Donald Trump officials who
will not support his reelection. Theman's own vice president Mike Pince is not
endorsing him. What more do youneed to know when the very people that
(02:45):
work with that man will not endorsehim for a second term. They know
him better than any of us.They know that he is grossly unfit for
the Oval office. This, folks, is not a hart choice. I'll
take an old Joe Biden over anold lion Donald Trump. I'm Olind Martin
(03:06):
on the Black Information Network. Besure to stay with the Black Information That
Worked for more coverage of the twentytwenty four presidential election, and visit binnews
dot com for all the latest electionnews. There's a new program in New
York City that is making a wayfor some where there was no way,
and oddly, it begins with bicycles. The Black Information That Works Vanessa Tyler
(03:29):
takes us for a ride. Ever, consider riding a bike in New York
City. It's estimated there are sixhundred and ten thousand bike trips completed every
day in the Big Apple, andlike many cities around the country, biking
is becoming the preferred way to getaround. But what if you can't ride,
(03:52):
maybe never learned, or it's beenso long you feel unsure bike New
York can get you steady again.The reprogram helps New Yorkers safely pedal around
people and traffic. Jeremy Lockett,the senior manager of Community Engagement and Equity
Programs for Bike New York, joinsme with more. Jeremy, welcome,
(04:15):
Thank you so much for having us, Thank you so much. Good to
be here. As I mentioned,you helped teach New Yorkers how to bike
safely. Tell me how that's done. Definitely, definitely. So. One
thing that Bike New York is verywell known for is teaching people how to
learn how to ride a bike forfree. Throughout New York City. We
teach thousands of thousands of people everyyear how to bike. We do it.
(04:35):
I would say we've mastered the wayof safely being able to teach,
whether you are a young kid toan adult, We've been able to master
how to teach someone in about twoto three hours how to learn how to
ride a bike. So now you'rebreezing through riding a bike, exercising save
in the environment, not spending ongas or are they ever increasing? Transit
(04:56):
fairs and bike riders are joining agrowing group on two wheels. I'm always
blown away by how many people usethese city bikes, the demand for bike
mechanics, the expansion of I wouldsay bike share, micromobility, It's huge.
Bike New York also pedals for asocial justice cause. Let's talk about
that. Awesome, awesome, Yeah, I'll share with you. This is,
(05:20):
you know, one of the biggestreasons why you know, I love
being at Bike New York. Ialways ask myself and I ask my team,
you know what gets you up inthe morning, and bike Path certainly
does that for me. Bike Pathis a bike mechanic training program. I
will retrain those that are formally incarcerated, formerly justice system involved, to become
bike mechanics after four weeks the BikePath program. Who knew tools that could
(05:43):
fix a bike could fix a life? Well, the door of opportunity opened
and Helen Wright walked right in.Helen, welcome, Thank you, thank
you. How did you hear aboutbike New York. You know it's funny.
I cain it on a post onthe wall, and I called immediately
(06:04):
and they gave me an appointment tocome in and start. Never knew nothing
about a bike before, but nowI get fixed bike. Not only can
Helen write repair bikes after being instate prison. Bike New York's Bike Path
program has helped repair her well.Helen, how long were you away and
how tough was it to re entersociety? Doorge closed in my shade.
(06:28):
I would have a job for acouple of months, then they would see
I had a record. I wouldlose my job. With this program,
you know, I worked continuously.I'm glad to say, what has this
done for your life and for thelives of your loved ones. They're proud
of me, and it makes mefeel good, you know, because it
(06:53):
took me a little long again inlife to get myself settled. But I'm
here now and and my kids areproud of me. What does that make
you feel like to have your childrenproud of you? Well, you don't
even know. I feel so goodgetting up every day, going to work,
(07:13):
calling my daughter and you know,how you doing my I'm fine,
I'm trying from work. I cally'all later. You know, I can
talk with them, you know,because they all work, so I feel
like I'm part of the family now. And the reason why I'm so grateful
for this program is because people likeme convicted feelings. I'm not afraid to
(07:39):
say you know need this type ofthing because doors closing our face all the
time. You know, a lotof jobs won't hire us. And bike
Path is a place that gives usfree training, you know, not free
training, paid training, and thenguarantees us a job and motivated. And
(08:00):
he and I stay in touch withjerally. You know, I'm always telling
him thank you, thank you,thank you, because I have had a
job paying you, Like Jeremy Lockettof Bike New York says, the pay
is good. Those that successfully completethe program, the fifty hour course,
they are guaranteed a job offer asa bike mechanic at Motivate and so that
(08:24):
you know, one of the amazingbenefits is the competitive wage. They are
union eligible. They are paid twentyfive dollars and twenty five cents an hour.
They're paid weekly. Bike New Yorkgraduates are hired at Motivate. The
company Motivate fixes all the tens ofthousands of city bikes throughout the city New
Yorkers hop on. To get aroundto Jeremy, this is personal. He
(08:46):
knows what it's like to have aloved one in the criminal justice system with
no way out. It can destroya family. So when I grew up.
I was with my mother, Iwas with my siblings. We would
be visiting my father while he wasincarcerated, and just sort of the ripple
effects that it had on our familyunit. You know, soon after that,
I was in foster care. Fromthere, I was luckily always stayed
(09:07):
with my siblings, you know,luckily was in a new family. But
this to me, having you know, lived experience and seeing and asking folks
on day one when they come intoour class, why are you here today?
I usually hear from the men andwomen that I want to change my
life, I want to affect mychildren's lives, and I want a different
future for them. You know.There's one one gentleman that he called me
(09:28):
the other day and he graduated fromour program last year and he was ultimately
rehired to work at Motivate this year, and so, you know, he
was asking me for other suggestions aboutwhat can you do to expand his career,
and I was like, listen,you know, it's phenomenal that they
rehired you. You crushed it,you really did well. And he shared
(09:48):
with me that one of the thingsthat has really affected him and motivated him
is that you know, now beinga bike mechanic for his second year.
He earlier in his life he wasrated from his son. He hasn't seen
this son in thirteen years. Andnow after you know, gameful employment and
being able to you know, get, you know, some things sorted away.
(10:09):
He's looking to re meet up withhis son in the near future.
Helen Wright knows what it's done forher, a new path in her life
in the rapidly growing field as abike mechanic. And finally, is there
a message you want to give toothers out here like yourself needing a break?
(10:30):
Well, I would tell him justnever give up, because I never
gave up. I've had so manydifferent positions and then I ran into the
white one. Well, I'll nevergive up. I'll always try to make
my life better. Helen Wright,thanks for keeping New Yorkers peddling along.
(10:50):
I loved it when I seed himout there a line on the bike that
I might have fixed. The needfor bike mechanics is also still growing,
so we're all for it. Butit's having huge impacts, whether it's again
you know, you're a single parent, whether you are living in a homeless
shelter. For the folks that wesee coming to this program are leaving it
(11:11):
way more successful in other entities intheir life. Well, how can our
listeners get involved and learn more?If anyone has a specific inquiry, we
are more than happy to fill that, whether it's reaching out to us at
info at bike dot NYC. JeremyLockett, Bike New York, see you
on the bike path. The companyMotivate is looking to expand the bike mechanics
(11:33):
job opportunity for the formerly incarcerated toother cities nationwide. Thanks Vanessa for your
report. When the nation commemorated theone hundred and fifty fifth anniversary of Juneteenth,
a day that marks the emancipation ofenslaved African Americans in the United States,
the NAACP reflected on the progress madetoward racial equality and the work still
(11:54):
ahead. In an exclusive interview,Viin News anchor Amber Payton spoke with members
of the Virginia Chapter of the NAACPabout the significance of June tenth, its
impact on the black community, andthe ongoing struggles for justice and equality in
America. Thanks Mike. Today I'mjoined by two members of the Virginia Chapter
of the NAACP. I have historianand Virginia State Conference in Double ACP Education
(12:18):
Chair doctor Amy Tillerson Brown, andalso Virginia State Conference in Double ACP Political
Action Chair Gayleen Connointant. Today weare discussing the importance behind June teenth,
which is a now federally recognized holidayand has been for a few years now,
which means a lot of people willget that day off going forward.
However, it's more than just anotherday off of work. So we're going
(12:41):
to explore the history behind Juneteenth andthe importance as it has that it has
today. And I'm going to startwith you, Gayleen, what role does
June teen play today in celebrating AfricanAmerican culture and history within our community.
Well, we know that Juneteenth isknown as Freedom Day, you know,
for African Americans, and we knowthat back in eighteen sixty five is when
(13:05):
enslaved Africans found out that they werefree two years after the Emancipation of Proclamation.
And in today's time, it remindsus that systemic racism still exists.
Yes, it also reminds us thatthe importance is why we need to go
and vote, because we are stillfighting some of the same fights that was
(13:26):
fought back then. And it's importantthat we really move forward and make sure
that we get engaged and understanding issuesand expecting our community. Juneteenth resonates all
of that importance of being engaged andwhat we need to do to move our
to move our people forward. Iagree, I do agree, and doctor
(13:52):
Amy, I know as the educationchair, education can be something that you
are very passionate about. So Ido have a question specifically for you.
How does the NAACP believe Juneteenth cancontribute to educating younger generations about the history
of slavery and the ongoing fight forequality? Okay, thank you. The
(14:15):
history of Juneteenth is part of animportant history of the larger freedom struggle in
the United States, and since itsfounding in nineteen oh nine, the NUBACP
as an organization has been a keycontributor to this freedom struggle. So highlighting
the nuanced history of Juneteenth is importantto explain why this fight for equity continues
(14:39):
to exist. Black men, womenand children had waited too long for freedom
and they were elated when Union troopsarrived in Galveston June nineteenth, eighteen sixty
five and read General Order Number three. And so the NAACP is quite dedicated
to remembering this history. And it'sthose nuances of that history, right though,
(15:03):
those little freedom being contested territory whichkeeps the naacp uh and and all
citizens who uh are all citizens whobelieve in racial equity committed to this to
this fight. Uh huh. Andyou know, doctor Amy, when I
(15:26):
say that this day is more thanjust a day off or citizens, and
that we should know the history behindthis day, I want to thank you
for that answer in walking us throughthe timeline, because that is what we're
looking for. Oh good, well, I hope you see that you know
the fact that when slaves were freed, even when even when Granger comes to
(15:52):
Galveston and says you are now free, we still are left with the uh,
with the with uh figuring out orexplaining actualizing what this freedom actually mean
meant then and what it continues tomean now. Because when you're talking about
systemic and structural racism, that's notsomething that came about in twenty twenty.
(16:17):
When George, it's this history,it's this continuum that we really have to
register and see the loopholes in tounderstand why clearly this fight continues, the
struggle and I like the way,and I like the way you said that
(16:37):
the Africans were free when they touchedthe soil. Yes, that's a powerful
that's a powerful statement. It reallyis a powerful statement, because you know,
they were like, they were fighting. They were fighting. As soon
as they hit the soil, theywas fighting. I mean, we always
see that's the environmental justice started then, right then, back then, you
(17:00):
know, with sixty ninety, that'sour environmental justice started right there and there,
as soon as they hit the soon. Yeah, lived in like five
minutes from my house. Yeah.Absolutely, And and you know even here
I go, even with the GeneralOrder number three, as progressive as the
language was at the beginning, youknow, now you can enter into contracts
(17:22):
with your master. There was alsocaveat near the end that said, but
we want you to be quiet,right, we don't want you running to
union lines. Now, why wouldthey take care to say that, because
of what we've already known that hundredsof thousands, upward of two hundred thousand
enslaved Africans were running into these unionlines as soon as the Civil War started,
(17:47):
and much of it was right aroundwhere Miss Gayeen is from, right,
yeah, Yeah, And even thishistory of June teenth, Right,
whild Biden, This is after that'simportant to remember, right when people are
marching through the streets COVID no vaccinemasking up, not just to protest police
(18:08):
brutality in George Floyd's death, butthey were able to connect this with the
larger struggle against systemic instructural racism.And then it's June twenty twenty one,
the following year that June teenth isrecognized as a national holiday. What I
think is important for everyone to remember, especially black folks, you know,
(18:33):
continuing in this tradition of building ourown communities, Blacks and Galveston started celebrating
juneteenth June eighteen sixty six. Right, Opal Line, who had been a
major forerunner to make this a stateholiday in Texas, had been in the
struggle in the nineteen seventies. Sonineteen twenty one, the United States recognized
(18:57):
what black folk had known for youis, right, that we were free,
that we were human, and thatwe were bound and determined to realize
all the promises of the Constitution,with full awareness of the fact that it
was a pro slavery document. Right. And so that's been the story of
African American life. I think inthese United States of America, making a
(19:21):
way out of noway, always agitatingfor better, even if we don't realize
it in our lifetime. That hasbeen something that we're really considerate about when
we're thinking about how we're going topave the way for generations to come.
And that's why education is so criticallyimportant. And we will continue this very
relevant conversation with historian and Virginia StateConference in DOUAACP Education Chair, doctor Amy
(19:47):
Tillison Brown, and Virginia State Conferencein Double ACP Political Action Chair Galen Conointon.
Next Sunday on the Black Perspective,I'm Amber Payton on the Black Information
Network. Thanks Amber, and aswe close out the final Sunday in the
month of June, here's one lastHappy Juneteenth greeting to everyone in the black
community. And now let's check inwith Gracie Award winning news journalist Esther Dillard
(20:11):
for this week's edition of The ColorBetween the Lines. I'm Ester Dillard on
the Black Information Network, chatting withwriters and authors who offer an added perspective
for our listeners. This is theColor between the Lines. On this edition
(20:37):
of The Color between the Lines,we're talking with a motivational coach and successful
businesswoman by the name of doctor SonyaStribling. She is a retired US Army
major and former battle captain and shealso runs a nine figure business that is
called P three University. She's hereto talk to us about her latest book
(20:59):
called From the Battle to the Boardroom, The Infinite Desire to Win. A
Woman's Journey to Infinite Success in life, business, and career. Welcome Doctor
Stribling to the bin. Thank youso much for having me. I'm excited
to have this conversation on this veryplatform. So I'm ready for this one.
(21:21):
I started reading your book and itwas really really captivating, a personal
story that really touched my heart.You wrote about how you were the youngest
of twelve children. Your dad hada second grade education, your mom had
a third grade education, your familywas a sharecropper family, and you had
a lot of traumas in your life. Your dad was run out of the
out of town by a family thatused to I guess he worked for.
(21:45):
And then one of the other thingsthat really stood out for me was that
you had your first child at fifteenyears old. And that's just some of
the major details I just wondered,with all that trauma and all those challenges
you faced in your early life,was that the reason why you wrote this
(22:06):
book or was there something else?Well, I would say with all those
things, when you were saying,I'm like, well, that's a lot
for anybody to go through. Butthe reason for the book was, I
would say a combination of a coupleof things. One was because the life
that I had prior in my childhoodand all of that. But the second
reason, honestly was because I knewthere were people, especially women, that
(22:29):
were out there that needed from azero to a hero story. Shall I
say? Well, in the bookyou also talk about how success is not
just having a map, but alsohaving the right mindset. Please talk about
the things that trip people up whenit comes to both those areas, both
the mind and the mind and themap. Oh yeah, the map in
(22:51):
itself. I was just thinking backwhen we went away from maps. You
remember that, You remember how weused to get around pulling up a map,
and now you just pull it upon your phone. And there's necessarily
not a need for a physical map, but I believe there's still one needed
for the mindset. Mapping and thethings that you want. Mindset trips up
a lot. But most people wetalk about I hear it all the time.
(23:14):
You go to social media, they'retalking about mindset. They talk about
a thing, But most people arenot really showing you how to use a
mindset map or how to shift yourmindset to have the type of things that
you want, or have the lifestylethat you deserve, or having the loving
relationship that you really desire. Andso when you think about mindset, what
is the thing that needs to beshifted in your mind that is keeping you,
(23:36):
let's say, stagnant or keeping youon this pathway to not taking you
to a level of success. Sowhen we talk about mindset shift, what
is the very thing that holds youback? That's the first thing you have
to identify. And then thinking aboutwhat is the life that you want?
And so this roadmap once you identifythe mindset that is needed, and what's
the roadmap or the game plan toget you to the life or the lifestyle
(23:59):
or the relationship that you desire.I love how you brought out the fact
that the battlefield and the boardroom andthe connections and you talk about this in
the book and how it's different differentthan what most people kind of imagine.
I've wondered if you could just kindof explain what your battlefield and boardroom mean
(24:23):
in your book. I'm glad youasked me that question because I was just
talking to a gentleman today and hewas going through it and he assumed,
because he was military, that hethought he knew what it was about.
And I was like, no,let me explain just a little bit.
Those who actually read closely to thecover in the back, they understand a
little bit more. But when wetalk about and the reason why I titled
it from the Battlefield to the Boardroombecause it was more not just my story,
(24:47):
it's a story of many of us. And when I say battlefield,
it's the things that you went throughin your life, whether it's childhood,
neglect or abuse, and those thingsand the battlefield that you may be on
right now. And that battlefield whatis the thing that has you in a
place where you're unhappy? Where isthe battlefield? Is the things that are
happening to you right now that mayhave you unhappy. And when I talk
(25:08):
about boardroom, it's not corporate America. It's not going into this boardroom where
there are chairs, you know,the big chairs, and you got the
CEO. Who are the vps atthe round table. A boardroom is a
place where you get to de signyour level of success, whether it's your
life, your career, and yourbusiness. A boardroom is where you get
to pull the biggest chair up tothe table, your table that you're creating,
(25:30):
and you get to make a decisionof how you want your life to
be. And so that's why Icall it from the battlefield to the boardroom.
Yes, is it a play onof my twenty one years in the
military, three combat tours who includeIraq, Yes, it does, But
it's the battlefield that we all findourselves and we all have a battlefield story.
And some that are listening right nowmay be on their battlefield right now.
(25:52):
But I just wanted to share thatthere's a way that you can go
from your battlefield to your boardroom.You get to design that room, not
a physical room, what's that placeand space and your heart and your mind
of where you desire to be,where you're happy and you're fulfilled. For
those of you who are just joiningus, I'm Esther Dillar with the Black
Information Network, and we're speaking withmotivational speaker and businesswoman doctor Sonya stribbling about
(26:15):
her new book, From the Battlefieldto the Boardroom, The Infinite Desire to
Win, a Woman's Journey to InfiniteSuccess in life, business, and career.
At the end of the chapters,you have homework for folks, and
I love that because homework is wherea lot of the good stuff happens,
deep inner work for readers, whatwould you say are the most challenging things
(26:41):
that people that you've coached say arefor them? You know, I laugh
because when we say, I'll saylife work, homework, or I would
say alignment work. And what theassignments at the end of each chapter is
doing to give you, to giveyou the opportunity to do or recap on
the chapter, but I also givesyou an alignment assignment, like just one.
(27:02):
I was just going through just amoment ago, and I started chuckling
at like what I asked them todo? That I can't believe I asked
that. It is just thinking abouthow you got to where you are.
What are some things that have youunhappy? Are there some people you need
to apologize too, or there aresome people that you need to forgive and
having you sit down and do thealignment work to help you align to the
life that you want. And Idid that specifically because I didn't want this
(27:26):
to be just like another book.You know, there's so many books that
are out there, but I believethere are very few that are written in
this caliber to really help especially women, take their lives to the next level
their life, their career, andtheir business. And so those alignment assignments
is really to help you come intoa place in a space where you get
to do a I would say,a gut check to really start looking at
(27:48):
what is it that I need toshift and change in my life? Because
what got you to where you areright now is definitely not going to get
you to the place where you wantto be unless you make the shifts,
unless you come into agreement and toan alignment of hey, how did I
get here? And furthermore, howdo I get out of this place?
How do I get off this battlefield? And so that was the reason I
wrote it in that way. Andsome people may what have heard so far
(28:12):
as there is some people are likethey appreciate it, Like you made me
think it wasn't just me reading thewords on the paper, But it made
me think about what do I needto do? What do I need to
do right now? Those are thekind of navigational plans and game plans that
need to be written. And it'sagain, it's not just another book.
It is really a new roadmap forus to be better people. And guess
(28:34):
what was the most difficult exercise foryou, doctor Stripling? Oh man,
that very first one coming to grips. So how did I get here?
Let's just be real. Every singlechapter has an alignment assignment, that very
first one. That's why it's firstbecause some time sometimes we don't. It's
like going into a mall. Iknow, it hasn't been a long time
(28:56):
since I been in the mall,but the last time I was there,
I was like, okay, oh, there's a particular story that I'm looking
for and I've never been in thisplace before. So guess what I had
to do. I had to goto the map, the digital map they
have up. It's like, okay, and it says you're here. That
was the first assignment. Identify whereyou are. It's a discovery phase.
Where are you right now? Andthen you have to look on the map
(29:18):
to figure out where I want togo. I want to go to an
Emen markets or wherever the place maybe. But in order to do that,
I have to read the map andit tells me what steps and where
to go. Is it upstairs,is it on the third level, It's
I'm on the first floor and goingthrough that. So that was challenging for
me, and honestly, I haven'tbeen able to go through the book and
not get emotional because it's a realjourney, not just for me. I
think about the clients I've had theopportunity to help them build their next level
(29:41):
speaking and business career to six andseven figures and knowing that they're the first
millionaires in their family and they don'thave to Rob Peter to pay Paul.
I get emotional because I remember thejourney I went through in order for me
to help someone else go through thatvery journey to help them have a better
business, a bigger business, ora better life. You mentioned in your
(30:02):
book that folks need a good coach, some need a good Therapists are extremely
different. To explain why you focusedon that and why did you think that
was so important to make the distinction, Yeah, it's twofold because I get
asked all the time, Oh,okay, doctor Sonia, how do I
(30:23):
find my right mentor or my coach? And a lot of times when I'm
listening to them, what they're askingfor is really someone A counselor and coaching
and therapy are two different things.A therapist is a person who helps you
with your past per se. Ithelps you identify where you are. They
help you identify where you are andhelp you get to your next level and
(30:45):
start dealing with what the problem reallyis. When you come over to this
world of coaching, we help youfuture pace where you are right. If
I'm a life coach, I'm helpingyou future pace what you want your life
to look like. If I'm abusiness coach, I'm helping you future pace,
but you want your business to lifeversus having a therapist. All I
imagine when I was I'm a reformlicensed clinical, faith based counselor, and
(31:07):
I remember my white couch having conversations. That's not what I do anymore because
now I'm thinking about the future versusdealing with the past. That's the big
difference that I really want people,and I made sure it was something that
was upfront and personal in the bookbecause there are people right now they're looking
for people to help them, andthey think they need a coach, But
the truth be told, they mayneed a coach, but they also need
(31:29):
therapy, professional help. There's nothingto be ashamed of. It is absolutely
needed, especially what's going on withthe world right now. I can't even
imagine what is happening in the worldand people not seeking out professional help to
help deal with Remember the pandemic.But we all went through being isolated from
your family birthdays, you spent aloan, being in a house, especially
(31:51):
if you were single or even ifyou were married. You're not accustomed to
being in the house with your spouseevery day, all day, all the
time. And you had to knowyour life because you remember that, You're
like, wait a minute, holdon, I know I like him,
I realize and learned a lot aboutmyself doing that time. And so I
wanted to make sure that people understandtherapy is something that is much needed in
(32:12):
this world based on what we dealwith, but so is coaching because there
is so much to cover and solittle time. Please tell listeners your main
message that you hope that they willget from the book, that you can
go from your battlefield to your boardroom. But you have to one have a
strategic plan to do that. TheDiscovery phases having a game plan to get
to your next level live career orbusiness. There is a way to do
(32:36):
that. There are times that youhave to find a navigator, you have
to find a mentor you have tofind someone to help you lead the way
or that will lead the way andhelp you get there. And that's the
only thing that my prayer is forthose who read the book who engolf themselves
in what's taking place, but reallywant that next level live career and business.
It's all about coming from your battlefieldand going into your boardroom. And
(32:59):
I'll with this, if you didn'tcome from a wealthy family, and sure
a wealthy family comes from you.And that does not just mean financial,
is emotional, it's spiritual, it'srelational and financial. It's time for us
to put in the work and it'stime for us to do it now.
Wow. Well, thank you doctorStribling for joining us on the BIM.
Thank you for having me. Wellthat's it for this edition of The Color
(33:22):
Between the Lines. The book isfrom the battlefield to the boardroom. The
Infinite Desire to win a woman's journeyto infinite success in life's business and career.
I'm mister Dillard for the Black InformationNetwork. Doug Davis wraps up Black
(33:45):
Music Month with a very special guest. If you've been listening to The Black
Information Network over the past day orso, you may have heard Doug talk
to a black violinist who continues tochange lives through his love for music.
Doug take it away. Hey,thanks Mike. This is Doug Davis and
we're putting the breaks in our weeklysegment entitled Your Black Business to touch on
(34:05):
the rich history of our music andits influence on American culture. June is
Black Music Month, and joining meis Damian Escobar, also known as Dame
Mesco. He's renowned for his eclecticblend of musical styles, incorporating classical,
jazz, pop, R and B, and hip hop and do his performances.
Born in nineteen eighty six in Jamaica, Queens, New York, he
(34:27):
started playing the violin at the ageof eight and became the youngest student accepted
into the prestigious Juilliard School of Musicat the age of ten. Please welcome
to the Bin and Your Black Business. The one and only if I can
say it, Dame Mesco, what'sup, brother? How are you?
Wow? I love that angel Man. Grateful, appreciate you, Happy to
(34:47):
be here with you. Likewise,Man, happy to have you here as
well. I've got a host ofquestions for you. You don't hear of
too many black violinists. Share withthe audience some of the big things that
you've done so far in your lifeat such a young age. It's pretty
you know. I'm grateful, man, like I've performed for you know,
three US president, you know,from Clinton to Barack to Georgia Bush.
(35:12):
I mean, you know, wonEmmy Awards, NAACP Image nominations, you
know. I mean it's the countlesstickets, the countless records. Have we
heard you want any hip hop songs? No, man, I never agree
to do that. People were like, oh, Man, like, wow,
you overnight success. No man,this is twenty one years in the
megan you know, because I neverwanted to take the easy route. My
(35:32):
thing was I needed to be witha standalone as my own entity. I
knew at a young age, andI say a young age in a music
business. If I go and justdo a collaboration with Kanye West, where
I'm the back of violinists for him. How can I sell that product?
I can't get Kanye to tour withme on his hit song, that's his
song, you know, So howdoes that work for me? You know?
So obviously that would have been theeasy route. And they are artists
(35:55):
that have done that, right,but where are they now? You know?
So for me it took a lotlonger. But it was so important
for me to establish my sound asa solo voice, as a single voice.
And when I did that and Ifinally had that breakthrough, you know,
it's something that I have, Iown that, you know. So,
I mean, you know, nowat this stage of my career,
(36:16):
I can't collaborate with hip hop artists. I can't collaborate with different singers because
I'm now a standalone enity in myown right word, Let's talk about that
breakthrough share sure? You know?So I have two careers. I had
two careers of music, you know, which I'm lessing enough to have.
I had a very successful career ofmy brother for ten years in music.
(36:37):
He and I we did some incrediblethings together and you know that's who I
were Miami Awards with We were inMexico Talent, that's stars. We did
it all and we disbanded in twentytwelve. And you know, just brief
history. You know, I'm fromJamaica, Queens and New York. There
is no financial literacy that comes outof Jamaica, Queens, New York.
(36:58):
Right when I was growing up,right, you know, so, twenty
one years old, made my firstmillion dollars with my brother. When the
group disbanded, I didn't realize thatwe were spending like crazy. You come
from where I come from. Theonly thing that you want is the thing
you couldn't have that you dreamed of, right, you know. So like
a lot of black athletes, entertainers, artists, you get the money,
(37:20):
you spend it. And when wedisbanded, I went from living in a
million dollar condo in Brooklyn to sweepingon the subways. I mean all in
a matter of a year's time fromdisbanding man, And I'll tell you it
was the greatest and worst moment inmy life. I didn't realize in that
moment it was the going to endup being the greatest gift in my life.
(37:44):
At that moment, but I remembersitting in the welfare office because I
had my daughter, you know,she was five at the time. My
son was just born. I neededto be able to take care of my
kids. Somehow I didn't have anymore money. I remember sitting in the
welfare office, my brother and I. We had a McDonald's commercial here,
and that McDonald's commercially came on TVin the welfare office, and I felt
(38:04):
absolutely horrible. But I realized thatwhen God wants you to grow, he
makes you very uncomfortable. And Iwas so uncomfortable man. And I remember,
you know that year, this istwenty twelve. By the end of
the year, I found the confidenceto pick my violin back up after disbanding,
and I said to myself, I'mgoing to bet on myself. You
(38:25):
know. I started to work inreal estate, which is a very short
lived career. My supervisor told meone time. She said to me,
Damien, I don't care who youused to be, but if you're gonna
work here, you gotta follow myrule. And that term used to be
I remember sitting on the E traingoing back to Jamaica Queens that day,
and that term used to be stuckwith me. I said to myself that
(38:46):
I really want to be known asa guy that used to be this thing.
I'm like, nah, I stillhave a lot less than the tank.
Wow. And I remember picking myviolin back up and starting all over,
dude, and started my second career, which I'm happy to have now.
Man, that's beautiful. Sounds likethat Will Smith movie, The Pursuit
of happiness. You just you don'tgive up, you know what I'm saying.
(39:08):
And it's funny how you know,struggle can really shape a person's character.
Now you're even more humble, right, You're even more beautiful in God's
eyes, you know, and sonow you can do so much more.
Man, I am so happy foryou. That's just a beautiful story right
there. If I can segue justa bit. You know, it is
Black Music Month, and it's thetime when we reflect on the contributions of
(39:31):
black artists to the cultural fabric ofAmerica. What does this month mean to
you personally and professionally? And thenthe second part of that question is why
the violin? What possessed you towant to pick up a violin and be
the man you are today with thatbeautiful instrument? You know what. It's
(39:52):
a great question and my one answerkind of saw Folk Black Music Month.
What it means to me the momentto celebrate the incredible black artists that came
for me that payaway. You know. I'm a product of R and B,
like soul music, That's what I'velistened to growing up in the house.
That's my mom playing Shaka Khan,you know, Whitney Houston, TeV
Wonder like Motown, you know.And for me, I couldn't sing,
(40:15):
man, you know, so whenI heard the violin i first heard it,
I'm like, well, that's theclosest thing to a voice. You
know. I don't want to makemy violin sound like any other things violin
is. I wanted to be ableto sing like Arepa and Whitney, right,
you know. So I took tothe violin for that reason, and
I played it in my practiced sohard because I just wanted to be able
to make it sing man. Andwow, you know, I'm super grateful
(40:38):
to be able to do that.Yeah, that is that is truly truly
beautiful. Man. Let's talk aboutyour identity in music. In what ways
has your identity as a black artistinfluenced your musical style and messages that you
want to convey through your performances.I mean, I think it comes through,
you know, like like what Irepresent as a person, you know,
(40:59):
I mean it's like inclusivity, selflove, being present, being with
people, trying to be in themoment right Like we live in a fast
paced world, you know. Whenpeople come to my concerts, it's really
a moment to excel and I hearthings like you no, thank you for
that moment, thank you for thatescape. It's an escape, you know,
from whatever stressing you out, andit's really healing and therapeutic, not
(41:21):
only to me but people that cometo see me, But it's just as
healing for me as well. Youknow. I think that's what people get
in my music. They can feelthat love that is transferred love, you
know, between humans many That's beenthe greatest gift. Tell us about your
new music project and tour, sure, I mean new album Gemini. I
am a Gemini. I want todo something different this year. I wanted
(41:42):
to give a gift away. Youknow, people think their birthday is all
about receiving gifts. I wanted todo the opposite and share a gift because
I'm grateful to have that get Ireceive that, so I want to give
it away. July July fifth andsixth, I'm doing album released concert in
Oakland at Yoshi Super Intimate. Man, you're gonna be at Yo. She's
a Yo. Yeah. Man,Hold on, wait a minute, dude,
(42:07):
I'm going to be in San Franciscoduring that time because July sixth is
my birthday. Man. I gottacome through family, I gotta come through.
Man. I'm sorry, but Ijust had to do a quick pause
on the interview, right, I'mlike, oh no, he goes,
Okay, I'm sorry. Back tothe interview, Back to the interviewers.
(42:28):
So back to the tour, right, No, not not no efficient tour
this year. I'm doing a fulltour next year. Got you know this
year, you know, it's justdropping the album. I wanted to see
these like multi market actuations playing thealbum, you know. So it's just
kind of spot day successful things thisyear. The full album, the full
tour teams up next year, bothAmerican and European tour. I understand you're
(42:52):
a chief music officer, Yes,indeed, man, So it's just I'm
a Gemini for the two sides ofGemini. You know, you know,
I love creating music and I've beenin brand communications, which a lot of
people don't know about. I don'tshare it. I don't really co mingle
it to This is kind of likethe first time I'm doing that. But
I've been in brand communications for thepast four years and I've had a beautiful
(43:14):
journey in this space. You know. I'm low with chief music officer from
one of the largest holding companies calledHawbai. How can we follow you online
everything, dame Esco. Just trytop my name and Damien Escobar. Go
on Google type and black guy withthe violin, I show up, Damian
Escobar a dame Esco. It's beena pleasure. Brother. New albums out
entitled Gemini Guaranteed to Hit your Soul, Get your stream on. This is
(43:36):
Doug Davis on The Black Information Networkand The Black Perspective. According to the
National Institute on Minority Health and HealthDisparities, approximately five Black youth between the
ages of one and nineteen die byfirearms every day. As we continue a
series of special reports on the importanceof gun safety and preventing unintentional shootings by
children and teens, The Black InformationThat Works Andrea Coleman talks with a noted
(44:00):
black psychologist about children and guns.Well, Mike, we spoke with doctor
H. Gen Wright as part ofbi In's lock it in Stored gun safety
awareness campaign. Lock it in Storedencourages gun owners to keep firearms out of
the reach of children to help preventunintentional shootings, especially among Black children ages
five and younger and teens. Arecent study showed accidental shootings increased among both
(44:23):
groups last year. Doctor Wright asan author at junct professor at Temple University
in Philadelphia, as well as ahighly sought after speaker. In this segment
of our interview with him, heprovides insight into the thinking of young children
and offers guidance to parents who ownguns on conversations they can have with their
children about the dangers of firearms.Doctor Wright, thank you for joining us.
(44:46):
Now you have established a distinguished careerin clinical and forensic psychology. If
you will tell us a little bitabout both fields. Well, the clinical
piece is really about understanding human behavior, how the brain works, how these
things my body and spirit intersect,if you will, for the human organism.
(45:07):
And so most people think of clinicalpsychology, they think of counseling or
therapy, and certainly it is that, but it's much more than that as
well. It's also having an understandingabout human behavior, what that looks like,
and wondering how we can really useapplications so scientific. We call it
the scientists practitioner model, if youwill, how we use science and practice
(45:30):
to really bring together research and bestpractices to help human beings perform and live
at their absolute best. The forensicside of that is really how what I
just shared and individuals that find themselvesand challenges with behavior health challenges. Usually
mental health, mental illness, Ishould say, and substance use disorder,
but there could be traumatic brain injury, it could be personality disorders and challenges
(45:53):
like that. But really it's aboutthose individuals that have behavioral health challenges and
how they intersect with the legal system. So that is not just criminal justice,
although most people think of it thatway. The legal system also involves
the civil side of things. Soyou may be having a mental health crisis
(46:14):
and end up being an impatient facility, so that is something that is legal
because you may have been involuntarily committed, but you didn't break law certainly,
so it's not criminal, but it'sstill legal. Or you may be in
a child custody situation with a partner. Again, not a criminal matter,
but certainly a legal matter. Nowwe're talking about unintentional shootings among children ages
(46:37):
five and younger. What draws achild that young to a firearm? Well,
at the age that you're talking abouttwo or three years old, what
doesn't draw their attention? Right,you've been on this planet for two or
three years. Everything is near,everything is curiosity. Everything is I must
touch it, pick it up,put it in my mouth, look at
it, play with it, dosomething with it. That's something novel.
(46:57):
You don't see that thing every daythat age, right. And so if
they happen to be watching TV orlooking at, you know, a phone
or something. I don't know howold children are now when they get their
first phone, but I see alot of toddlers with phones. They're in
the stroller, right, they're inthe car seat, and they got a
phone. So they may be seeingpictures or movies or videos that involve a
(47:17):
weapon. So there may be acuriosity. But if you see one in
person laying on the table, oryou know, you see something peeking out
over the shelf and you kind ofsee, well, what is that?
And you don't know what that is, and you climb up on a couple
of boxes to discover what it is. There's a natural curiosity, is what
I'm saying. And there is thatcuriosity. It's not because it's a gun.
They don't know what it is necessarily, but they know it's something different.
(47:39):
They know it's something they've never seenbefore. They don't see this laying
around on a regular basis, Andif they do, that's even a more
problem. Because of the age groupand the developmental stage that the child is
in, They're going to be curiousabout anything that they can get their hands
on. So how might this curiosityyoung children have lead to an unintentional shooting.
Anywhere that there is a unlocked firearmin a space easy to reach by
(48:04):
children, you're going to have thatsituation. Most people that are gun owners
understand, they've taken classes, theyknow the rules, they know they're supposed
to do. Now they don't alldo it. You're supposed to have the
gun without ammunition. You're supposed tohave it separate. Most people say,
well, what's the use of havinga gun or a firearm if the ammunition
is separate from the firearm. IfI need the weapon, I have to
go find a weapon, then Ihave to go find an ammunition, and
(48:25):
then I have to put them together. By that time it's a problem.
So that's one of the excuses thatI've heard from people in terms of why
they don't do that. But thatis an excuse having the gun accessible to
children, right, putting it underthe bed is not going to work.
Obviously, putting it in your draweris not a solution. Most of the
time, you're supposed to have andthis can be delivered to you when you
purchase your firearm. You have alock box, you have a lock on
(48:49):
the trigger, you have an abilityto find a space in your home if
that's where you keep it that yourchildren cannot get to it. So when
you say why is this on therise, I think it comes from nekelace
pure and simple gun owners, firearmowners who have not followed the letter of
the law in terms of being aresponsible gun owner and having their weapon available
and accessible to children, who donot understand really the power in their hand
(49:14):
and they pick up a weapon.Again, they watch so much things on
TV and so many video games andthings like that they may not even know
that it's real that when you pullthat trigger, when you do that thing
that you think you're playing, thatthat person is not getting up again.
So there is an unrealistic understanding ofwhat the firearm can and will do.
And you also all have to understandthe developmental stage of children. Right A
(49:37):
six year old is not at thesame developmental stage as a three year old,
who is not at the same developmentalstage as a ten year old or
a twelve year old, etc.Etc. So, when young children come
upon a weapon or find themselves inthat situation, they do not have the
developmental level or the cognitive ability toprocess exactly what they're doing. And that
is something that I think has loston people sometimes sometimes we treat children like
(50:00):
little adults, and they're not developmentally, cognitively, physically, they are not
the same as adults. And sowhen they come upon a weapon that is
available, accessible, and they dowhat children do, they're curious, they're
experimenting, and then you end uphaving tragedies that you can't come back from.
So at what age does a youngchild begin to understand the dangers of
(50:20):
a gun and the kind of injuryare harm they can inflict on people.
So it's difficult to choose a specificage, what I would say is when
your child is old enough to askquestions, that is the age that they
should be given answers. And soI think that parents can be intentional about
talking to children about any matter ofthings, not just guns and violence,
but anything that you want to talkabout. A lot of parents, for
(50:44):
instance, avoid the topic of sexand sex education until that person is a
teenager, and some kids never getthat talk right because the parents are uncomfortable
with the discussion. Some people don'tsit down and talk to their children about
racism and the realities of being blackin America, not because they don't think
it's real, because they don't knowwhat to say. A lot of parents
don't have discussions with their children abouta drug use or alcohol consumption, not
(51:06):
because they're not concerned, but becausethey're uncomfortable with the topic and they don't
need to say. And so alot of topics are avoided that children need
to learn and hear about because theparents or the caregiver, the primary caregiver
is either uncomfortable or doesn't feel qualifiedto have a conversation about it. And
so, in terms of violence andguns and what the gun can do,
and the danger of it. Thatconversation should happen as early as the caregiver,
(51:30):
the parent believes that child understanding isI would say that three years old,
and uh, wild wife pick three. Because children are fairly cognitive,
they pretty much understand danger. Youknow, when we tell children don't run
across the street to get the ball, we say that multiple times. We
have to repeat it because you knowchildren and children when we talk about don't
(51:51):
touch the hot stove, you know, you have to repeat it because they
may not get it. You know, it's like it doesn't look hot because
it's not a red burner, andthen they find out, of course,
my oh god, it's hot.Right, So those are the kind of
ages that we're telling children about otherdangers, right, stranger danger. We're
having that conversation early when mommy anddaddy going to the store. You stay
close, you stay with me,you stay where I can see you.
(52:12):
That is teaching children about potential dangerbeing in public and not being snatched up.
So why not have those conversations aboutguns and about violence and some of
those other topics that I mentioned.So I can't give you an age,
but I can say if you're havingthose conversations about other dangers, then that's
probably the right age to also havethe conversation about guns and gun violence,
(52:34):
and what might a parent or guardiansay to a two or three or four
year old about the dangers of gunsthat can help the child understand that they're
not something to play with. Ibelieve you should be very direct. A
lot of times caregivers try to airon the side of baby talk or trying
to dumb it down to a kid. Children are smarter than we give them
credit for, right, especially nowadayswith the television and the phones and having
(52:57):
access to information, more information thanwe ever had them, you know,
when we were their age. Sohaving an age appropriate conversation is having an
understanding of Again, what is yourchild capable of understanding? What conversations have
you had with them in the past. They go to daycare, you have
certain things you want them to doand certain things you want them to understand,
and what they need to be responsiblefor so that they can tell you
(53:17):
if someone touches you in an inappropriateway, and then you explain to tell
mommy or daddy. Right, youdon't have to give them the great details
of you know, abuse and sexand all that which you have to say
is you keep it at the developmentallevel of no one should be touching you
in a certain way, right,and then you explain what that is and
you point it out and you letthem know. Children are smart. You
do the same thing when you're talkingabout I gave you the example about the
(53:40):
touching the hot stove, not todo it, not running across the street.
We have ready examples. And soyou can talk to a child and
say, hey, you know,have you heard of a gun? You
know what a gun is? Andmost children they're calling them you know,
yeah, yeah, Well, andyou can show them pictures, right,
you can show them something I wouldnot show them the you know the way
obviously the picture and say you knowwhat this is and they will answer that.
(54:02):
If they don't, then you explainit. Right. You can have
a conversation. Let me tell youwhy mommy or daddy are having this conversation.
You know, there's a lot goingon around us, and I want
you to be safe these instruments andyou can call it whatever is an age
appropriate if your child are not safein everyone's hands. Right now, you
don't want to get too deep andget too intellectual. About it. You
want to keep it very simple.This is not a toy, very clear,
(54:24):
very direct. This is not atoy. This can hurt you.
Don't play with this. If youever see one, if you ever find
one, don't play with it.Go get an adult, point it out
and let them know that you foundthat. It's in the bush, it's
in the park, wherever it isyou saw it, right, don't pick
it up, don't touch it,report it to an adult. And so
you can have those kind of conversations. If you are a parent that has
(54:46):
a gun in the home, thenyou can be a little more direct and
say, now, mommy or daddyor whoever the primary caregiver is, we
have these things in our home forprotection, and we want to protect you.
That's our only goal is to makesure you are safe and you are
sound. If you ever see onelaying around, do not touch it,
do not pick it up, rightbecause this in the wrong hands can hurt
(55:07):
you. You are not old enoughto understand what this can do. Again,
you have to know your child.I'm just throwing things out there,
but you have to know your child. And so a child at three year
old, you're going to say ita certain way a child at six years
old, you can say a littlemore and give a little more example in
detail. So it really does comedown to the developmental level of your child.
And I must also end with thisthat just because your child is a
(55:30):
certain age doesn't mean they have thatparticularly age approprienness. So there is a
range of understanding at a developmental period. And so not all six year olds
are the same, just like notall three year olds are the same,
just like all ten year olds arenot the same. You have to know
your child. You have to knowthe child that you're dealing with, so
that you know what level, whatmental level they're on, what their experiences
(55:52):
are in the community. Children comingfrom inner city may have a different environment,
may have a different maturity level thanchildren who are coming from subverb children
are coming from a rural environment likewhere I grew up. You know,
we have a different understand We sawguns all the time because we were real
people used to go hunting. Iremember having my class in third grade would
be missing because it was deer season. Right, So depending on the environment
(56:14):
you grew up in, well,depending on what you're understanding and your capacity
to understand the message of what gunsdo and the danger of having guns now
for her. Correctly, you brieflysaid that you don't show the child the
actual weapon, but show them apicture of a gun instead. Should a
child know where a gun is kept, and should they even know there was
a gun in the home? Andagain, I use those examples because how
(56:38):
children are different and our caregivers aredifferent. Growing up on a farm in
a real area, it's going tobe a little different in terms of how
you have that conversation than someone growingup in suburbia where hopefully you're not really
shooting deer that kind of thing.So growing up in one environment is going
to dictate something different. When Isaid show the picture, that's coming from
(57:00):
an environment where you really don't wantthe child seeing the gun, handling a
gun, and but just knowing whata gun looks like. Growing up where
I grew up in a rural community, children know where guns are. They
see them all the time that they'reon the truck with you know, or
they're out in the field. They'retaught at an early age how to use
a gun. So you're going tohave a different conversation with that child.
Right growing up in inner city,you may have to have that conversation because
(57:23):
the parent in the home has agun, has a weapon, and so
you may have to have not thesame conversation as you would as somebody growing
up in a rural area where huntingis prevalent and legal, but because of
the child may come across something inthe environment that you did not count on,
so hopefully not in your home.So no, I do not recommend
you know doing that, and that'swhy I said, showed the picture.
(57:43):
But you have to know your child, right that second part of your question,
should they know there's a gun ina home? I think that also
depends on the comfortability of the parentor the caregiver and knowing their child,
because depending on the age of thechild, they may need to know,
right, But do they need toknow where it is? Do they need
to know any of those things?I really defer to the caregiver in their
particular environment. And that's why Igave you the scenario of the three different
(58:06):
environments that one might need to consider, because one, the prevalence of gun
ownership in certain environments and also theneed and so that is important. Again,
I don't want to try to makean ironclad rule or a blanket statement
across the board. But you haveto know your child, you have to
know the environment that you're raising themin, and you have to know what
are the consequences for providing that levelof knowledge and experience. Oh we thank
(58:30):
doctor Wright for his insight and expertiseand coming up next week on the Black
perspective, any person, not justchildren, but any person who injures self
or someone else accidentally by either playingwith a weapon or not knowing the weapon
was loaded, or whatever it wasthat led to the shooting, They're going
to be impacted. They're going tobe traumatized. We'll continue our conversation with
(58:52):
doctor Wright as he sheds light onthe psychological impact unintentional shootings have on all
involved. He'll also talk abouts andguns, another group that's experiencing a rise
in accidental shootings. Learn more aboutBion'slocket and Stored gun safety awareness campaign at
binnews dot com. I'm Andrea Colemanon the Black Information Network and that's our
(59:15):
program for this week. For moreon these stories, listen to the Black
Information Network on the free iHeartRadio appor log onto binnews dot com for all
of the latest news impacting the blackcommunity. Also be sure to follow us
on social media at Black Information Networkand on x at black Info Net.
I'm Mike Island, wishing everyone agreat Sunday. Be sure to tune in
(59:37):
next week at this time for anotheredition of the Black Perspective right here on
the Black Information Network
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