#RolandMartinUnfiltered - Shanquella Robinson,TSU's Enrollment Questioned, Health & Holidays,White NE Cop Harasses Black Woman

Starting point is 00:00:00 This is an iHeart Podcast. Thank you. I'm out. Folks, Black Star Network is here. Hold no punches! I'm real revolutionary right now. Black crowd. Support this man, Black Media. He makes sure that our stories are told. Thank you for being the voice of Black America, Roller. Stay Black. I love y'all.

Starting point is 00:01:17 All momentum we have now, we have to keep this going. The video looks phenomenal. See, there's a difference between Black Star Network and Black-owned media and something like CNN. You can't be Black-owned media and be scape. It's time to be smart. Bring your eyeballs home. You dig? សូវបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបា� Să ne vedem la următoarea mea rețetă! សូវបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបានបា� Să ne urmăm în următoarea mea rețetă. Today is Monday, November 21st, 2022, coming up on Roland Martin Unfiltered,

Starting point is 00:03:46 streaming live on the Black Star Network. She went to Mexico with friends and ended up dead. She said Quilla Robinson's funeral took place on Saturday. I'll talk to the co-founder of Until Freedom, Tamika Mallory, who has been in close contact with the Robinson family about this international mystery. Is the Republican State Center in Tennessee really mad about the number of black students

Starting point is 00:04:08 who are choosing to attend Tennessee State University over predominantly white institutions in Tennessee? Wait till we show y'all what took place at a state hearing where he was just flabbergasted at why black students are choosing to go to Tennessee State. President Dr. Glenda Glover, she did handle that. We'll also talk to National Alumni President of Tennessee State about this.

Starting point is 00:04:31 Shaw University is requesting a DOJ investigation into the traffic stop by South Carolina deputies who conducted a drug search on their students heading to Atlanta last month. A black woman caught in a Nebraska cop dumping trash on her car. She'll be here to tell us about the months of torment she experienced until she caught him in the act on camera.

Starting point is 00:04:52 Plus, we're in our third pandemic holiday season. This year, COVID is accompanied by the flu and RSV. We'll get some tips on how to stay healthy during this season, this holiday season. All right, y'all, it's time to bring the funk. A rolling mark, unfiltered on the Black Star Network. Let's knowing. Putting it down from sports to news to politics, with entertainment just for kicks.

Starting point is 00:05:30 He's rolling. Yeah, yeah. It's Uncle Roro, yo. Yeah, yeah. It's Rolling Martin. Yeah, yeah. Rolling with rolling now. Yeah, yeah. He's broke, he Rollin' now Yeah, yeah, yeah

Starting point is 00:05:46 He's funky, he's fresh, he's real The best you know, he's Rollin' Martell Now Martell Mexican authorities opened an investigation into the mysterious death of Shanquilla Robinson. On Thursday, Mexican prosecutors announced they opened this investigation. Robinson was on a birthday celebration with a group of friends from Charlotte in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where she was found dead. Robinson's family has sought information about how their daughter died 24 hours

Starting point is 00:06:26 after arriving in Mexico. A viral video showed what appears to be Robinson being brutally beaten by a woman in a hotel room as a couple of men videotape and actually comment while it's happening. Robinson's friends initially told her parents she died of alcohol poisoning. However, the Mexican Secretariat of Health autopsy report doesn't mention alcohol at all.

Starting point is 00:06:51 It found she suffered severe spinal cord injury and atlas luxation. And it shows that it took about 15 minutes between her injury and death. Folks, hundreds gathered on Saturday to show their respects for Shankwila Robinson's funeral at Macedonia Baptist Church. Tamika Mallory, co-founder of Until Freedom, attended Shankwila's funeral and has been in close contact with Robinson and family.

Starting point is 00:07:16 She joins us right now. This is really an absolutely strange case, Tamika, because she supposedly travels with friends. Her mother says that one of the gentlemen, who Shu Shankul has known for a number of years, was in constant contact with the family after they got back

Starting point is 00:07:35 until the autopsy report came out. Now, all of a sudden, he stopped calling. Yeah, until the video came out, actually. I think it was right around that time that he stopped calling. Yeah, until the video came out, actually. I think it was right around that time that he stopped calling. And it's really not that strange, Roland. It's very clear that everyone on that trip

Starting point is 00:07:54 knows about what happened to Shankwilla. Shankwilla, excuse me. It's very clear. They're all very aware of what took place, and they made up a story about the alcohol poisoning. And I think it is really, really horrific that they would show up at her mom's house. It wasn't just the young man who was supposed to be her best friend. But in fact, the woman who you see attacking her in the video also showed up at her mom's house.

Starting point is 00:08:23 They brought back the her luggage with her clothes in it and some showed up at her mom's house. They brought back her luggage with her clothes in it and some other things from her purse and gave it to her family with the story about the alcohol poisoning, when in fact they knew that she had sustained injuries to her neck and her spinal cord that really basically ended her life. They knew exactly what happened and no one has come forward to tell the full story. But somehow these videos are leaking and I want to assume that it is a person

Starting point is 00:08:53 who knows that, you know, the truth needs to be told about what happened to Shankwella. And clearly, I mean, these were... What's sickening, these were so-called friends. Right. Right. They were supposed to be her friends. You mean, these were... What's sickening, these were so-called friends. Right, right. They were supposed to be her friends. You know, these are people that she had been around,

Starting point is 00:09:11 especially the best friend, this young man. I believe his name is Khalil. He had been on trips with her family. He'd been on family trips with her. She'd been on trips with his mom. They knew one another for several years. He was not a stranger to their family at all. And, you know, as he visited, mom and dad described, or at least mom describes, that, you know, he was in her home breaking a sweat when asked

Starting point is 00:09:39 different questions about this, the specific details of what took place that evening or that day. He also, you know, was just, he looked unwell. And one would think that maybe it's because his best friend died. But now after we see the video and his mom, I mean, her mom is able to recognize the voice in the video and it sounds like him saying, are you going to fight back? Are you going to do something for yourself? So this seemed to be a joke, and probably until it wasn't funny anymore.

Starting point is 00:10:12 Again, so the funeral takes place. The FBI there in Charlotte, they also are now involved. Yeah, so the FBI at first, the State Department, put out a statement based upon, of course, what the Mexican authorities released to them, which is that in and of itself, because we should certainly be waiting for a medical examiner's report before making a statement about whether, whatever the case may be with this particular person or with a victim or a person who has died in any way. And so they didn't do that. They put out their statement prematurely. And of course, now that the video is out, it has changed things. In addition to that, the social media, as you know, does its own job. And so before even the video details,

Starting point is 00:11:14 people were questioning what happened to her. Then the video drops and people started tagging me saying, you know, have you seen this? Pay attention. Even close friends and family of mine reached out to say, you know, no, you got? Pay attention. Even close friends and family of mine reached out to say, you know, no, you got a lot of things going on, but this situation seems really, really serious and it needs our attention. So that night, maybe about two or three o'clock in the morning, Tiffany Lofton, who you have on the show often, she and I had done a full investigation and we were very clear that something more than the story that had been told to her family had actually happened. So we reached out, found her family the next day.

Starting point is 00:11:52 They, at that time, were struggling. They didn't have anything. It had been several weeks. It took them time to get their daughter's body back. They paid $6,000 to do that. Her father, Mr. Robinson, describes this process of looking for his daughter by calling every number possible in Mexico, trying to locate her remains. They still don't have all of her possessions. And so as we found out that they needed support, we went right into organizing mode. We started sharing information, asking people to contact the ambassador to Mexico and the United States. Also reach out to the State Department, the FBI, and people by hundreds of thousands of people. We know for sure because we've been tagged in the videos. I mean, in the post that people have posted and

Starting point is 00:12:46 shared and phone calls and emails being made to support her because so many people have really been rocked by this. It's really just such a sad story. And after several days, including, of course, and first and foremost, the parents being very, very, very, very intentional and not giving up on ensuring that the authorities look at this situation a little bit closer. And with all of that pressure put together, they decided more has happened here and there needs to be a full investigation. So with that, in terms of one of the things I saw one of your posts as well, your father, her father talked about paying for her funeral and a GoFundMe was created. And several professional athletes have also stepped up to pay for those expenses. Right. Share those details with us. Yeah. So, you know, when I was talking with her family and we found out that, you know, six thousand dollars again had been spent on the getting her remains back to the U.S. But then also, of course, there were funeral expenses. Reverend Jamal Bryan and others were calling saying, what can we do? How can we help? And so we decided to help them start

Starting point is 00:14:06 a GoFundMe that is directly, all the resources go directly to their family. Her sister, Quila, she is the one who is managing the GoFundMe for her mom. And when we heard of all the expenses and also understanding that there will be more expenses associated with legal fees. Of course, they will need to travel if there is going to be a trial that takes place in Mexico. We don't know all of those details at this time. They have had a very good conversation with Attorney Ben Crump just to kind of see sort of what are some of their options and also to know that there are legal representatives and lawyers and otherwise that are ready, willing, and able to step in to support them. And I have to also give a shout out to attorney Sue Ann Robinson, who really has been

Starting point is 00:14:58 helping to work with the family as a representative and as a colleague of Ben Crump's. And so we decided that we should start the GoFundMe. We set it up. And dad was very, very, you know, he's a very proud man. I've come to love Mr. Robinson and the way in which he speaks. If you see him do interviews, you'll know what I mean. You know, and he was like, I don't need GoFundMe. I don't need any of that for my daughter. He's proud.

Starting point is 00:15:24 He's like, I will take care of whatever it is, whatever I have to do. But we convinced him that there are people around the world who want to be supportive and that he should allow his family to set up this GoFundMe. And of course, Kyrie Irving, you know, our other brother, my son, he reached out to Kyrie and just let him know what was going on. Kyrie didn't even say anything. So we didn't know whether he reached out to Kyrie and just let him know what was going on. Kyrie didn't even say anything. So we didn't know whether he was going to support or not. But as soon as the GoFundMe went live, it must have been two hours after I posted it, Kyrie donated $65,000.

Starting point is 00:15:59 I think there is another basketball player named Kimball Walker, who also donated $20,000. Coach Stormy and her colleagues. I mean, people really poured out. But everyday folks gave anywhere between $20, some people $5, all the way up to, you know, in my case, I gave $500. The comedian Little Rel. I mean, everybody stepped up to try to support this family. So now they are over $350,000. We'll probably try to get it to at least a half a million.

Starting point is 00:16:32 And then at that point, they probably will make the decision to take it down. So, you know, there's somebody who created one four days ago called Justice for Sean Quillen Robinson trying to raise $20,000. for days ago called Justice for Sean Queller Robinson, trying to raise $20,000. And so, folks, everybody who's watching, this is not the one for the family. That's right. And so hopefully the family can contact GoFundMe to have this taken down.

Starting point is 00:16:59 Only $146 has been given to it, but this is not the one, folks. So do not, if you see Justice for Seanillen Robinson, that is not the official one. This is the official one right here that Quillen Long organized. That one has raised $358,304 of a goal of $350,000. And so if you look, and also, folks, if you look on here again, there's a there is a there is another one. Like I say, then there's a looks like they're actually as we see here, there are two others, two others here to make a statement. And that and I think thankfully GoFundMe reached out through our brother, Michael Blake.

Starting point is 00:17:48 He had them to reach out to us to make sure that everything is straight with the account. And so I will reach out to them to let them know. But that brings up another point, because, you know, that's not unusual that people start additional pages. People try to steal money from victims' families. But also, they started Instagram pages in her mother's name, in Salamandra Robinson. They started an Instagram page and have been sharing information that actually has not been confirmed at this point, which is that the friend stole $10,000 from Shankwella since she died. They don't know that. The family does not know that. Also, we saw swirling that the woman attacking Shankwella is actually a trans woman. We don't know that at all. In fact, Taquilla, when I spoke with her, she doesn't believe that that's accurate. So, you know, there's information out there that people will share for whatever reason,

Starting point is 00:18:50 whether it's clickbait and or to actually steal resources from this family. It doesn't, it sounds like something that's so horrific, but people do it. And, you know, folks should just be real careful. I'm going to post the actual pages of her family and make sure that people have the pages that they should be following. And as you said, this particular GoFundMe that was started by Quilla Long is the official page, the official GoFundMe for her family. All right, then. Tamika, certainly keep us up to date on what happens in this case. And we definitely would. The family, if they want to

Starting point is 00:19:32 come on, they certainly are welcome. We got to keep this out there because the reality is, and this is why I say this all the time, and people, I love these people who are like, oh, man, you're always talking about yourself. Here's the deal.

Starting point is 00:19:47 If Shankwella was named Lisa and was white, it is undeniable, if you look at the case of that missing white woman, I mean, every network, every newspaper, they have folks assigned to it. There is no way in the world a white woman ends up dead. In fact, national media has been all over

Starting point is 00:20:10 those four white folks in Idaho, roommates who got killed. And it's crazy how this story has been totally ignored. This is why black-owned media matters. Being able to drive this out there because when black folks come up missing

Starting point is 00:20:25 or come up dead we get ignored by mainstream white media and we gotta make sure that we're putting this story and we're keeping it out there until justice is actually served. Yeah I won't I'm not going to get into a long thing about that because I might call

Starting point is 00:20:42 out some of our friends that are on TV who also didn't cover the story over this last week. I think it's actually despicable. But that's what happens when you don't have control over your show. Absolutely. So thank you, Roland. Thank you for helping us. And there have been,

Starting point is 00:20:58 you know, I think Dateline NBC did something on Instagram and there's been a few things here and there. Of course, the Griot and some of our other Black-owned networks and pages, of course, you know, our blogs. But nonetheless, it's not getting the Natalie Holloway type of press, which it should be at this point. Those individuals who know the story of what happened to Shunquilla Robinson should not be able to walk to a store.

Starting point is 00:21:29 They should not be able to go anywhere at all. They should be in a position that if anyone sees them, they will be called out and the police will be called so that they can be picked up immediately. And what happens is when you don't have mainstream media covering these cases, people are able to hide in what they believe is the darkness. But I don't think this is going to go on much longer. I will say that the local media in Charlotte and in North Carolina,

Starting point is 00:21:57 several reporters have gone to the addresses of the individuals, like different people have been sharing the addresses online, which I do not think you should do. So let me just say, I do not suggest that anyone share people's addresses because if something happens at that address, you will be maybe connected to it and we don't want to see that happen.

Starting point is 00:22:19 But when these reporters went to those addresses, they knocked on the doors. No one is answering. Many of the places, there's no one home because they've been staking out the, you know, residences. So at my son so much. But if I find out, which I know he would never be, because if he does something in this realm, I'm going to kill him before anybody else can get to him. But nonetheless, if he was involved in something like this, understanding what this family is going through, I would make sure that he goes forward and tells the truth about what took place.

Starting point is 00:23:03 And I think all families and anybody, friends or whomever, who knows about this situation should make sure that if you are harboring one of these individuals, that they turn themselves in and report what took place in that house. All right. Tamika Ballard, we appreciate it. Thanks a lot. Thank you. My pound, Dr. Amakongo Dabingainga, professorial lecturer, School of International Service, American University. Also, Georgia State Representative

Starting point is 00:23:29 Renita Shannon and Nola Haynes. She, of course, with Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. Glad to have all three of you here. I mean, this is just mind-boggling that a group of friends going to Mexico, celebrating

Starting point is 00:23:46 birthday one, ends up being killed and the others are completely silent. Stories are all over the place. And this is just, I mean, this causes, you know, this raises the alarm for a lot

Starting point is 00:24:02 of people, Nola, who take trips with friends, and these were so-called longtime friends. And they're clamming up, now not talking to the family members. I mean, this is just all around an absolutely weird, strange story. It absolutely is. And, you know, firstly, I definitely want to thank Tamika Mallory and everyone involved for everything that they do, especially, you know, you raised the point that it's not, you know, all over national media. So if it's not for I literally found out about it on Instagram, you know, from the black blogs, I think it was all hip hop dot com that that was reporting on it. And I'm an avid news watcher, and I haven't seen it. And so it's, you know, one of those situations where, you know,

Starting point is 00:24:51 because of Black media that this story is getting the attention, you know. But another point that's really, you know, troubling to me is because we live in a moment where everyone has their cameras out and everything is entertainment, you know, it really worries me about some of the lengths in which people will go to to create entertainment. It was something interesting that Tamika said, that maybe it was a joke at first, but then it turned into something else. And that really, really, that scares me. It scares me because, you know, we've had people die,

Starting point is 00:25:25 falling off cliffs and falling off like really extravagant kind of buildings from trying to do it for the gram. And I'm just very, very worried about the lengths in which people will go to, to possibly create entertainment. Now, we do not have all the facts yet about this beautiful young woman who lost her life in her college years. But one of the things that's really insidious here is the way in which recording everything at all times for entertainment factors into this. And I really think that that's an area in which it deserves a lot of attention, it deserves a lot of research, because this do-it-for you know, because this do it for the Graham kind of lifestyle

Starting point is 00:26:06 that everyone has kind of bought into is part and parcel of the problem, too. That was the case, Omokongo. You're sitting here, you're watching that video, and you have someone else who's also recording the video, and they're commenting as if it's a WWE match, as if it's, you know, it's a, you know,

Starting point is 00:26:29 a UFC match, a boxing match. And I'm like, if you're friends, you're just going to stand there and record it? You're literally not going to say, what the hell, y'all don't stop it? I mean, that's nuts. And that also goes to what Dr. Haynes was saying as well, that this was planned.

Starting point is 00:26:46 There was some aspect of this that was staged. You don't just automatically pull your phone out unless you know something's going to go down or you're witnessing something already in the act. And this is being part of that culture. It's sort of like when people, you know, back in the day before the cell phone cameras and everything, someone would be standing on a building and instead of trying to talk them down, everybody's just like, jump, jump, jump. And now we're just living that like a million times over. And so to see that, it really reflects a level of just disgust in terms of where we are in terms of our society and our mentality. But two other things that come to mind with what you're doing with the story tonight, Roland, and how many of us have been talking about it. No one better be out there saying that black people only care about crime against black people when white people do

Starting point is 00:27:28 something like racist or hate crime. We care about all of our people. We care about all of our family. And we don't care who the perpetrators are. We're going to fight for justice for them, period. And then the second thing I want to say is to Khalil. Khalil, if you are listening or watching in any way, shape, or form, do the right thing. You've been with this family. You've traveled with this family. You know what's going on. You need to man up and you need to handle this because this is all this family has is a video like this that might have been taken by you. We don't know. But this is the time for you to stop hiding, get out there and do the right thing

Starting point is 00:28:06 now and get ahead of this, just like the rest of Black America is doing right now to support their sister and their family. You who are closer to the family than any of us, get out there and do the right thing today. Renita, these stories are not related,

Starting point is 00:28:22 but I can't help but think about them. And so we're talking about this case out of what took place in Mexico. Well, over the weekend, there was a shooting on a campus involving a University of New Mexico player. And a second person has now been arrested in that case. And actually, the shooting took place at the University of New Mexico, but the basketball player was at New Mexico State University. What's crazy about this story is he was

Starting point is 00:28:49 lured to the campus by a couple of women. He gets there. These other folks jump him. Shots are fired. He happened to be carrying a weapon, and he kills a guy

Starting point is 00:29:05 who, Brandon Travis, who of course tried to come after this player, Mike Peek. They've arrested 19 year old Jonathan Smith in connection to the shooting. They left Brandon Travis dead

Starting point is 00:29:21 and Mike Peek, again, a gunshot to his leg. In addition, it says police said Travis had conspired with a 17-year-old girl to lure Peek to campus as the Aggies were slated to play New Mexico on Saturday night. Travis and the girl conspired to lure Peek to the UNM campus and jump him as retribution for a fight that involved Pete, Travis Smith, and another individual named Eli. Now, I'm reading this because, again, when you see this story here,

Starting point is 00:29:51 I mean, it is as if these people, you know, let's all go to Mexico, and we're gonna come back alive, and she's gonna be dead. We don't know motive, but the fact of the matter is, how in the hell do you arrive in Mexico, and 24 hours later, one of you are dead? And then the other four are not talking. And you even deliver her luggage to the parents?

Starting point is 00:30:16 Yeah, see, and this is what, to Nola's point, the thread that ties both of these stories together is people in advance deciding that they're going to do harm to someone and then making a plan of action for that to happen. With the Shankwella story, that to me, those look like real punches, so I doubt that this was some sort of staged joke, but it does make me wonder if those who were recording knew that this other person had an issue with Shankwella and knew that that person was about to assault her.

Starting point is 00:30:44 And so, again, as Nola mentioned, just the threat of everything being recorded, because that's what gets a lot of views, and then that can get you on Worldstar, hip-hop, and these other places, that, I think, is the common thread between both of these stories. This tragedy is really sad. Again, just like the other panelists have said, I have to this day have only seen information about Shankwella on Instagram. I've not seen it on, you know, any sort of national news. I've not even seen it on other social media platforms. And so we as a black community have got to make our voices heard to get justice for Shankwella. But also another thing that needs to be done that I have not heard mentioned yet is that this incident happened in Mexico, which means Mexican authorities have jurisdiction to investigate this case. But we as black Americans and everybody who cares about Shankola and her family, which everyone should, need to put pressure on the United States government to put pressure on the Mexican government to take this seriously and really find out what happened. Because, you know, obviously the U.S. cannot control the investigation,

Starting point is 00:31:45 but what you typically see happen when something happens to an American in another country, especially particularly if they are white, is that the United States government makes it clear from the beginning, we want a real investigation, we want real answers, and we will continue to watch for those answers, and we want them in an expedient time. And so that is something that I'm not seeing happen yet as far as calls, but I think that that is one of the strongest things that we all can do for Shankuela's family. Indeed, indeed. All right, folks, hold tight one second. We come back. We're going to talk about a white state senator in Tennessee. Y'all, he is just befuddled,

Starting point is 00:32:29 befuddled at this explosion of student enrollment at Tennessee State University. And he's concerned because they're not going to the other predominantly white institutions in Tennessee. And he's not happy. Wait till we show you what actually happened in a state hearing that even had the Tennessee State President, Dr. Glenda Glover, pretty much laughing like, dude, are you serious?

Starting point is 00:32:52 We'll talk with the alumni president of Tennessee State University next on Rolling Rock Unfiltered, right here on the Black Star Network. Download the Black Star Network app, all platforms, Apple phone, Android phone, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Xbox One, Samsung

Starting point is 00:33:08 Smart TV. Also, support our Bring the Funk fan club. Your dollars make it possible for us to do what we do, for us to be able to travel around this country. We got some things coming up, folks, that are going to be this weekend, the Bayou Classic in New Orleans. We're going to be in Georgia

Starting point is 00:33:23 next week, covering the Warnock U.S. Senate runoff. We're going to be in Tulsa on Tuesday for an event dealing with the survivors of the race massacres. Their quest for compensation. And so a lot of things happening. SWAT Championship in Jackson, Mississippi. And so your dollars allow us to be able to do what we do. Check in money orders. Go to PO Box 57196, Washington, Mississippi. And so your dollars allow us to be able to do what we do. Check in money orders. Go to PO Box 57196, Washington, DC, 20037-0196.

Starting point is 00:33:51 Cash App, Dollar Sign, RM Unfiltered. PayPal is RMartin Unfiltered. Venmo is RM Unfiltered. Zelle, Roland at RolandSMartin.com. Roland at RolandMartinUnfiltered.com. We'll be right back. Is it just me? Or does it feel like we've been here before?

Starting point is 00:34:17 The whole country's finished voting and only us left. You'd think Herschel Walker would want to explain what he'd do in the Senate if he actually wants to represent Georgia. Instead, he repeats the same lies, trying to distract from what we all know is true about him. But I think Georgians will see his abs for what they are. Don't you? I'm Rafael Warnock, and yes, we're doing this again. That's why I approve this message. I'm Deborah Owens, America's Wealth Coach, and my new show, Get Wealthy, focuses on the things that your financial advisor and bank isn't telling you, but you absolutely need to know.

Starting point is 00:34:53 So watch Get Wealthy on the Black Star Network. Next on The Black Table with me, Greg Carr. We welcome the Black Star Network's very own Roland Martin who joins us to talk about his new book, White Fear, how the browning of America is making white folks lose their minds. The book explains so much about what we're going through in this country right now and how as white people head toward becoming a racial minority, it's going to get,

Starting point is 00:35:26 well, let's just say even more interesting. We are going to see more violence. We're going to see more vitriol. Because as each day passes, it is a nail in that coffin. The one and only Roland Martin on the next Black Table, right here on the Black Star Network.

Starting point is 00:35:50 Hi, I'm B.B. Winans. Hi, I'm Kim Burrell. Hi, I'm Carl Painting. Hey, everybody, this is Sherri Shepherd. You're watching Roland Martin Unfiltered, and while he's doing Unfiltered, I'm practicing the wobble. Alright, folks. Last week, Tennessee State University had to explain to a Senate committee

Starting point is 00:36:31 about the school's lack of housing for the number of its new students. Now, they've had the explosion of new students attending the university. Now, during that hearing, Republican state Senator Todd Gartenheier literally questioned Dr. Glenda Glover choosing to go to Tennessee State and ignoring the predominantly white institutions in Tennessee? Watch this. When we go to the chancellor at UTC and say, why aren't you recruiting more black students to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga? And they're all going to TSU.

Starting point is 00:37:31 You know, are we doing a disservice to all the other universities on trying to recruit African-American students and minority students because y'all have made such an aggressive promise to these students to come there that they're bypassing and get the same education. I mean, I'm trying to figure out, in my mind, all of a sudden 2,000 students out of the blue decided, no pun intended, but called us the color of the school. Why did they come to TSU? Was it the aggressive marketing campaign or was it because... It was the high standards

Starting point is 00:38:11 of TSU, the quality education they're going to get at TSU. Yeah, the reputation of the folks who've been there. We had, you know, and the people who are there now, I have some people come because of the ban. I mean, we like people to come because of programs. But I hear students who tell me,

Starting point is 00:38:28 I want to go to teach because of the Ritz-Carlton band. Who, by the way, I'm going to throw this in, who, by the way, just today got voted to be nominated for a Grammy Award. Two Grammy Awards. Our Ritz-Carlton bands. So, and that's

Starting point is 00:38:43 one of the reasons. And, you know, you said it's almost like I'm punishing them or blaming them. We're not blaming them. We're happy. I just make the point that we did do some aggressive marketing. I say aggressive marketing. That means that we started meeting students where they are. We had more digital marketing because, you know,

Starting point is 00:39:02 students live in a digital world. Prior to COVID, they lived in a digital world. COVID just pointed out to so many others that they lived in a digital world. But because they're choosing TSU, I mean, that's a great thing. Let's keep it as a great thing and not that it's taken away from UTC because for years they took away from TSU and went to other places. So we're happy they're coming back home. I'm curious if Garten Heyer has ever asked the president of the University of Tennessee, why are all of these white kids showing up in Knoxville? Is it because of the aggressive marketing tactics that they're using in Knoxville?

Starting point is 00:40:05 Is it because their football team was ranked in the top five before getting blown out this weekend by South Carolina? What? What? Oh, my God. What? What? What's going on here? The dude literally was just shocked and astounded that black students are making a choice to attend Tennessee State University as opposed to the other white schools in Tennessee. Charles Galbraith Jr. is the president of the Tennessee State University National Alumni Association. He joins us right now. I mean, Charles, you heard Dr. Glover like,

Starting point is 00:40:50 I can imagine Dr. Glover going, did this fool just actually say that? And you hear her laughing, and this guy sees it as a problem, as opposed to saying, wow, this is is awesome the record enrollment at one of our state universities uh our hbcu here in tennessee state hey this is a great thing no he literally has a problem with it yeah it's pretty unfortunate good evening to you brother martin and thank you so much for having me on your show tonight. I joined thousands of alumni and just joining our esteemed President Dr. Glover and just saying how just outlandish the comment was.

Starting point is 00:41:34 We represent alumni and students who are brilliant, students who become top sellers, students who become top leaders in the communities. And we are trailblazers in every field when it comes to music, when it comes to sports, when it comes to business, when it comes to technology. And so to question why these brilliant and bright students would come to Tennessee State University, it blows my mind. And of course, we are the blue and white in Nashville, Tennessee, Tennessee State University. And so to hear us being spoken of as out are the blue and white in Nashville, Tennessee, Tennessee State University. And so to hear us being spoken of as out of the blue when we've been founded since 1912 and been, that was like, Oh my God, they're just out of the blue.

Starting point is 00:42:16 Like amazing. Like boy, Negro just popped up everywhere and just started showing up in that. I mean, it was like, dude, are you serious? But see, this is also what happens when you have white political folks, and let's also be clear, okay? This state also owes Tennessee State $500 million.

Starting point is 00:42:41 Yes, sir. For being underfunded. And so here's my issue. You know, they're questioning Tennessee state over its housing issues. How about y'all send the five hundred million and we're not going to have a dorm problem? Absolutely. The funding is what is necessary so we can talk about things that they're throwing out there. They're throwing out the audits. They're throwing out the lack of dorm and the lack of housing. Of course, we did have the issue where we had to request further funding for hotels. That's something that

Starting point is 00:43:16 is common amongst other schools that are going through that boom in their first-year students as well. But what we're finding is if we had the funding, we wouldn't have these issues. We could have proper dormitories. We could have the proper resources for these students that we're expecting. And that, to me, but see, again, to me, what is insulting, there is no way this white state senator

Starting point is 00:43:41 would dare question the president of the University of Tennessee and asking, oh my goodness, if you've got a record freshman class, how dare you? Why are they choosing Tennessee and not the other PWIs in Tennessee? He would never do that. It's amazing to me because this is the largest class that we've had at Tennessee State University. First year students, 3,567 students. And what is just amazing to me is that for years they've wanted enrollment to increase. And so now we have an increased enrollment and their statements that they're making about that as well. So, you know, it's one of those situations where we want to continue to recruit top quality students

Starting point is 00:44:29 to Tennessee State University, students who want to go to a university that can nourish them, a place where people look like them, a place where they can go and they can show their brilliance and not have to deal with some of the inequities of society, but they still are having to deal with that as a system. And so that's what we're facing now. It's just, to me, it's just crazy that the tone that he used, just the, he just, and he's simply incredulous he's just like oh my goodness and

Starting point is 00:45:07 why are they choosing Tennessee State over these other schools well guess what maybe what you should be asking Garten Hire to those other schools what the hell are y'all not doing what are your recruiting practices have you created an environment

Starting point is 00:45:24 that's comfortable and welcoming to black students at those other universities? Have you put the resources in in creating multicultural services centers? And what else are you happening here as opposed to, oh, Tennessee State, what are y'all doing? You just got folks out of

Starting point is 00:45:39 the blue. And this is no different. Look what just happened to North Carolina A&T. They got fined $2 million by the state because, oh, you went over the cap of students coming from out of the state. So you trying to tell me

Starting point is 00:45:56 that they would have fined the University of North Carolina $2 million? See, all of this is a direct result of the resurgence and the interest that people are showing in HBCUs because it's hard for people to understand this here, when we start advocating, we need our kids to go to HBCUs, I keep challenging alumni, are y'all giving? Are you helping the university lobby for more resources? So it's one thing to say we need, oh, go Tennessee State, but Tennessee State has to have the infrastructure. I keep telling people, there are 107

Starting point is 00:46:48 HBCUs in the United States. They have about 230,000 students. There are 1.6 million black students who go to PWIs. If 10% of the black students choose to go to leave a PWI

Starting point is 00:47:04 and go to an HBCU, HBCUs literally cannot handle the infusion of students because of the infrastructure. They simply don't have it. So we've had dorm issues at Florida A&M, Tennessee State, Texas Southern and Houston, other places, because when you have an explosion of growth, you've got to be able to put them somewhere,

Starting point is 00:47:29 and if you don't have the facilities on campus, guess what? You've got to put them in hotels or apartments or other places. That's what Tennessee State is facing, and so it's a bad problem resulting from a good problem, but the lawmakers should be saying, how are we going to get the $500 million in the hands of Tennessee State for the infrastructure? That's what should be

Starting point is 00:47:52 happening. Absolutely. You know, and the growing pains need resources. The growing pains, when we are going through this huge growth, and there's a variety of reasons for the growth. You know, they speak of the HBCU renaissance, and we know of ambassadors such as our band and some of the head football coaches. But what is more important is that we have the star power, but we also need

Starting point is 00:48:14 the funding. And so, yeah, we do need alumni to give, and we do need people to be aware of our needs so that they can fund our needs, so that we can continue to produce top students in the country so that we can continue to put out quality students so that they can impact the world. Absolutely. Charles Garber, Jr., we certainly appreciate it. Thanks a lot. Thank you. Go back to my panel here. Renita, I mean, this, I'm just, I mean, you're a state representative. I'm sitting here going, dude, are you serious? See, this also reminds me of the white guy in Minnesota.

Starting point is 00:48:49 Guys, let me know if y'all found that video. I know we did it before, where the white trustee of a university in Minnesota was questioning the university president by saying, oh, we have too much diversity. Basically, why we got all these black people at our schools when we pretty much are a white state? I mean, if anybody needs to understand

Starting point is 00:49:12 why I wrote this, these stories are why I wrote this. They are literally like, where are these black people coming from? What the hell is going on? Yeah. So watching that video, my blood pressure doesn't even raise because it is representative of every single committee meeting I've been in serving in the Georgia House of Representatives at the state level. So all of my committee meetings look the same way. And I bet that if he talked to that senator, he probably would not even understand what people are complaining about in his comments.

Starting point is 00:49:47 What I will point out to folks who are watching your show is the professionalism of Dr. Glover. Because I'm sure a lot of people probably thought, why did she just ask him had he lost his mind? Why didn't she just check him? And that's because the main job of... That would have qualified for this mother segment. I'm sorry. Exactly. It does. It absolutely qualifies. But this is not her first time

Starting point is 00:50:10 being a witness in front of the committee, you can tell. And so lawmakers, their main job they have to do if they don't do anything else is to figure out and vote on the state budget. And so what Dr. Glover knows is that this person, as idiotic as he may be, is the senator, and he decides the funding. And although HBCUs typically are not able to receive state scholarships, the state still does give money to HBCUs. So that's why she responded that way, trying to educate his ignorance. But you can see that it's a master class in trying to hold it together so that her university does not lose funding. But you can see that it's a master class in trying to hold it together so that her university does not lose funding. But it's also a very special type of trauma

Starting point is 00:50:49 that Black witnesses do endure. Now, somebody else on the committee could have gotten him together. I don't know if there are Democrats on that committee. I don't know if there are Black people on that committee. As far as like other lawmakers, I would hope that they weren't just sitting there and letting all this nonsense go on, because I know that I never did in committee. We will. I threw down. So I hope that they did not leave Dr. Glover just hanging out there with no response to this person's ignorance. And the thing here, I mean, look, the reality, the reality here, Omicongo, she couldn't go off because remember, she's a Tennessee state is a state institution. So she is a public employee. And so she has to be in the good graces of this committee because at the end of the day, you're dealing with funding. But I'm sure they were in the car laughing at this fool for that kind of comment. But but we're seeing this repeatedly. What we're seeing are white people not understanding why are black

Starting point is 00:51:46 people making these choices? Because frankly, black folks have been uncomfortable in white spaces. And then now what you're seeing is you're seeing individuals' choice. And again, I'm making the same comparison. I guarantee you, this man

Starting point is 00:52:02 would have never questioned the president of the University of Tennessee by asking, why are all these white kids showing up in Knoxville? That's right. That's right. Yeah, it had me thinking. I felt like I was watching a episode of Dave Chappelle and keeping it real goes wrong because I felt like Dr. Glover had two choices and, you know, she did the right choice, you know, based on everything Representative Shannon was saying. And people have to really understand that people are going to the, you know, our kids are going to these schools because of what you're saying. And look at all of the hate crimes that have been on the rise since Trump took office.

Starting point is 00:52:38 And Black people are still the number one target. A lot of folks are tired of that. A lot of our kids who are going into these schools that are majority white high schools, they're tired of being the person to have to explain things for black people every time something happens. My three kids are in schools that are predominantly white as well. And now two of them are in high school. They're considering, you know, Howard as well as Harvard. But let's also be mindful of the fact that another reason why people, our young kids are considering these schools is because the profile of so many of them have risen with people like vice president kamala harris felicia rashad going to go into howard tony c coast nicole hannah jones but also remember

Starting point is 00:53:15 we got three very prominent black people who are pursuing trump to the ends of the earth letitia james howard university i believe fanny Willis is Howard University. Bennie Thompson, I believe, is Tougaloo. So, I mean, everywhere you turn, you are seeing people who are coming out of the HBCU experience who are doing incredible things in sports, in entertainment, in business, in law, in education. And that's also attracting people, our young people to these schools.

Starting point is 00:53:40 So I'm very happy to see it as somebody who spent, you know, my earlier years at Morehouse College as well. You see what Deion Sanders is doing as well. So they need to happy to see it as somebody who spent, you know, my earlier years at Morehouse College as well. You see what Deion Sanders is doing as well. So they need to be ready for this resurgence. And really, at the end of the day, I got a good laugh out of that. But for all of our kids who are considering going into these schools, keep going. Keep

Starting point is 00:53:56 going hard. And remember, you don't got to explain yourself to any of them. Keep doing your thing. Well, here's what's interesting, Nola. I just, again, I asked the question, and again, so this is interesting. So this was 2021. Go to my iPad, Henry. Record number of voles begin fall semester at UT.

Starting point is 00:54:19 This is last year, y'all. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, total enrollment is on track to be the largest on record, topping 31,000 students as new and returning vols start the 2021 fall semester. A huge factor in that growth comes from a

Starting point is 00:54:35 record-breaking undergraduate enrollment of approximately 25,000 students. More than 5,900 new first-year students making up the largest first-year cohort on record and marking a 23% increase in new first-year enrollment over the past five years. Now, Noah, that was last year. That was last year. What about this year? Oh my God! Guess what? The University of Tennessee welcomes

Starting point is 00:55:12 a record-breaking number of first-year students. Not the 5,900 last year, but 6,785 new students. Oh, my goodness. Look at this quote. I am so proud of all our volunteers and the work they did to get here. Whether they are a new student or returning student,

Starting point is 00:55:37 UT Chancellor Donde Plowman said in a news release, we believe in them and are invested in their success. UT is a university on the rise, and we're seeing that people all over the country want to be part of what's happening here on Rocky Top. Nola, I can guarantee you Chancellor Plowman was not questioned by saying, where are these people coming out of the blue

Starting point is 00:56:02 coming to Knoxville? So my ears heard something different listening to that. As you know, I went to a PWI for undergrad. I grew up on HBCU campus. I grew up in HBCU environment in New Orleans. My daddy worked at Xavier. Everybody named mama thought I was going to Xavier, but it didn't happen. So I have two points on this. So while I was also an undergrad at UCLA, I always worked in an administrative role. So what I heard in that question is you are messing with our state funded dollars when it comes to DEIA,

Starting point is 00:56:37 because I don't know Tennessee state law when it comes to higher education. But some of these schools get paid for these black and brown bodies on campus. So I'm wondering how much of his question had to do with you're interrupting, you know, with our state funding here versus a genuine curiosity. I could be completely wrong, but that's what I heard in that question. And I also, you know, and I also thought, you know, Dr. Glover, she handled it very well, but honey, that chuckle at the beginning had me chuckling

Starting point is 00:57:06 because she was like, okay, you tried it today. You tried it today. I'm gonna keep it cute though, you tried it today. And then my second thing that I wanna say about these resurgence of going to HBCUs, which I'm so happy to see, and I'm happy that we're talking about infrastructure, but another point is safety. Just today, it's not necessarily related to black students, but just today, you know, Georgetown sent out an email aboutBCUs, there are a lot of people representing. It looks really lit to be there.

Starting point is 00:57:45 The bands are awesome. The community is awesome. But this issue of safety and wanting to be around people that look like you, you know what I mean, that come from similar backgrounds than you. You know, I can tell you in my Ph.D. program, there was a litany of trauma. There was even a situation where this one woman was convinced that black people smelled. She even had the nerve to give me soap for my birthday. But I'm not gonna go there. What I'm saying is it's the safety element, too.

Starting point is 00:58:12 That would've been an ass-whooping. Oh, that would've been... Hashtag team, whip that ass, would've showed up. I did not know that's why she gave it to me until a year later. I said she did what? Because I know what I smell like, honey. Trust me. Anyway, so the safety component is very important to this, too.

Starting point is 00:58:30 And to my sister, it's water. I'm drinking water and nothing in this cup. Stop. So that's all I have to say. Yeah, all right. Yeah, OK. What? We know you from New Orleans.

Starting point is 00:58:41 Anyway, I told y'all, remember that we showed y'all the video of the white trustee where he was literally questioning, what's up with all these black people? I mean, I'm going to play this, but y'all thought I was joking. Y'all go ahead and play the video. Go ahead. Is it possible that at Morris we've become too diverse? Is it possible all from a marketing standpoint? For instance, Chancellor, I've received a couple letters, two actually, from friends whose children are not going to go to Morris because it is too diverse, let's say, a campus.

Starting point is 00:59:23 They just didn't feel comfortable there. Is that at all possible in the specific of morris that would become too diverse uh for you know for for a student to attend so basically you got a couple of letters from some white racists who their white kids did not feel comfortable going to a campus that had a lot of black people. That's it. When you say they didn't feel comfortable because it's too diverse, what in the hell is too diverse?

Starting point is 00:59:55 Ain't like the university was 75%, 50% black. But I told y'all, white fear, how the brownie of America is making white folks lose their minds. This example, an example in Tennessee. All right, y'all, got to go to a break. We come back. More of Roland Martin unfiltered on the Black Star Network

Starting point is 01:00:17 as we... I'm still... What? Steve just came out the blue. Oh, my God. What's going on here? All right, y'all, we come back. So black woman in Omaha trying to figure out

Starting point is 01:00:30 why is trash constantly on my car? So she set up her own video surveillance to find out a white cop was behind it. We'll talk to her next on Roland Martin Unfiltered on the Black Star Network, folks. Download the Black Star Network app. All platforms, Apple phone, Android phone, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV,

Starting point is 01:00:55 Xbox One, Samsung Smart TV. Also please, support us. Your dollars make it possible for us to do what we do when you join our Marina Funk fan club, folks. Again, look, it's real simple. This show costs. And so our goal is to get 2,000 of our fans contributing at least 50 bucks for the year.

Starting point is 01:01:16 That'll raise $100,000 this month. You can do so by giving to, send a check of money, order the PO Box 57196, Washington, D.C. 20037-0196. Cash app is Dollar Sign, RM Unfiltered. PayPal is RMartin Unfiltered.

Starting point is 01:01:34 Venmo is RM Unfiltered. Zelle is Roland at RolandSMartin.com. Roland at RolandMartinUnfiltered.com. And then let me thank... All of them folks who actually sent in children. And I'm so grateful for that. And I'm so grateful for the support of the people who sent in children. And I'm so grateful for the support of the people

Starting point is 01:02:09 who sent in children. And I'm so grateful for the support of the people who sent in children. And I'm so grateful for the support of the people who sent in children. And I'm so grateful for the support of the people who sent in children. And I'm so grateful for the support of the people

Starting point is 01:02:21 who sent in children. And I'm so grateful for the support of the people who sent in children. And I'm so gratefulett, all of them folks who actually sent in checks and money orders. Thanks a bunch. I'll be right back. Is it just me or does it feel like we've been here before? The whole country's finished voting and only us left. You'd think Herschel Walker would want to explain what he'd do in the Senate if he actually wants to represent Georgia. Instead, he repeats the same lies, trying to distract from what we all know

Starting point is 01:02:56 is true about him. But I think Georgians will see his abs for what they are. Don't you? I'm Rafael Warnock, and yes, we're doing this again. That's why I approve this message. On the next A Balanced Life with me, Dr. Jackie, we meet Ricky Fairley. She was given a death sentence by her doctor 11 years ago. But for Ricky, giving up was not an option. She declared war on her disease,

Starting point is 01:03:19 turned her entire life upside down, and won the battle. I know that God left me here to do this work. And when you talk about faith, faith is what got me through. I mean, I had to relinquish my faith and give my life to God and say, okay, God, what have you got for me? And he gave me my purpose. And that's why I'm here. Her amazing story of strength, balance, and survival

Starting point is 01:03:42 here on A Balanced Life with Dr. Jackie on Blackstar Network. When you talk about blackness and what happens in black culture, we're about covering these things that matter to us, speaking to our issues and concerns. This is a genuine people-powered movement. There's a lot of stuff that we're not getting. You get it. And you spread the word. We wish to plead our own cause to long have others spoken for us. We cannot

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Starting point is 01:04:28 $50 this month. Waits $100,000. We're behind $100,000. So we want to hit that. Your money makes this possible. Checks and money orders go to P.O. Box 57196. Washington, D.C. 20037-0196. The Cash App is Dollar Sign RM Unfiltered.

Starting point is 01:04:44 PayPal is R. Martin Unfiltered. Venmo is RMUnfiltered. Zelle is Roland at RolandSMartin.com. We're all impacted by the culture, whether we know it or not. From politics to music and entertainment, it's a huge part of our our lives and we're going to talk about it every day right here on The Culture with me Faraji Muhammad only on the Black Star Network. I am on screen and I am representing what a black man is to the entire world that's going to see this and this might be the only black man, a representation of a black man that they see.

Starting point is 01:05:28 Right. So I am responsible for how they see black men. And it's my responsibility to, if I am not playing an upstanding, honorable, someone with a strong principle of moral core, to make sure that this character is so specific that it is him, not black men. And I wish that more actors would realize

Starting point is 01:05:53 how important their position is as an actor, as an actor of color playing people of color on screen. Because there are people that see us all over the world in these different images that we portray, and not everyone knows black people to know. Yes. That's not all. Hey, I'm Antony Smith. Hey, I'm Arnaz Jane. Hi, this is Cheryl Lee Ralph,

Starting point is 01:06:37 and you are watching Roland Martin, unfiltered. I mean, could it be any other way? Really, it's Roland Martin. Alright, folks. Oh, what it means to be black in this country. Check this out. A sister in Omaha, Nebraska says a now-former cop deliberately put trash on her car repeatedly. Now, folks, someone had been dumping trash on

Starting point is 01:07:15 Quintesha Valentine's car, okay, since the summer. Okay, let me say this again, y'all. Since the summer. So what did she do? She couldn't figure out what was going on. So she set up a camera to catch the culprit. To her surprise, it was a cop.

Starting point is 01:07:38 William Cleaves. He was caught on video dumping trash on her vehicle. He resigned from the Omaha Police Department after being cited for criminal mischief. Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmader. This is his statement right here. Todd Schmader, I'm sorry. Officer Cleese has completely disrupted the peace and the sense of safety for Ms. Valentine. His actions are not indicative of the values of the hardworking women and men

Starting point is 01:08:11 of the Omaha Police Department. His conduct is unbecoming of an officer and warrants his removal from the OPD. Hmm. Really? She and her attorney, Jonas, right now. Shea Olapole, Jonas, right now. Glad to have both of you here.

Starting point is 01:08:32 So, first of all, we have... I'm trying to understand this here. What was the deal? First of all, were y'all living in the same area? Did y'all have a run-in? Did of all, were y'all living in the same area? Did y'all have a run in? Did you notice, dude? Why? Why were you being single out? I am not aware of why I was targeted. I've had literally one interaction with Officer Cleese and that was in the halls of seeing him come inside.

Starting point is 01:09:08 And to my knowledge, that's when I realized he was an officer by him having his, you know, uniform on. Okay, so you say in the halls. So were y'all living in the same apartment complex? Yeah, so we was living in the same apartment complex. Okay, so you live in the same apartment complex. You see this guy one time. And so was this happening every night?

Starting point is 01:09:30 Were you walking out to your car every morning and seeing trash on your car? And what kind of trash are you talking about? I mean, was it like literally food contents and just being dumped all over your car? Yes, this would be dumpster garbage, literally from the dumpster right across from my car. This man would go get trash out of the dumpster to dump on my car. There would be his lunch sitting on top of my car, just neatly propped of someone's lunch

Starting point is 01:10:00 just sitting on top of my car. I moved in maybe about January of the beginning of this year and it's been going on for like six months after living there. This was like every day? This was like a periodic time. Like it would be, sometimes it would be a few times a night. Sometimes it'll be periodic to where it's like once a week, it's just here and there, but it's been going

Starting point is 01:10:26 on for months. Wow. Okay, so this is going on for months and all of a sudden you said, look, man, I gotta figure out what's going on. So you set up video surveillance. Take me through that. Yes. So after

Starting point is 01:10:40 having the puncture in my tire and scratches on my car, dents on my car, and eggs thrown at my car, this time I was just like, you know, somebody is clearly stalking me, someone's watching me. And that's when I decided to put up a surveillance camera of my own. So I propped this surveillance into my home, into my home, um, facing my vehicle, and any, really, other vehicles as well. Um... However, uh, yes, there were, there were, you know, like, on-site cameras, but...

Starting point is 01:11:16 Okay, so you set up a camera in your, in your place, pointed at your car, and how long did it take for you to discover who was doing it? It took me some months. It finally took me, like, over what, six months now

Starting point is 01:11:35 to figure out, like, who's been doing this. I did, you know, tell my the management of the apartments, like, you know, someone is watching. So you told, so, so, Vividia froze there. Uh, I'm gonna bring in, uh, her

Starting point is 01:11:54 attorney here. I'm sorry, I think you came back. Sorry, you froze there. I can hear you. So you told your apartment management and, what, they did nothing? So, with the eggs and a flat tire, that's when I was just, you know,

Starting point is 01:12:09 in mud shambles. Just pretty much scared for my life because this person is, I don't know, trying to get me stopped or whatnot. So yes, I took it. I brought it to their attention. I emailed the hire manager. I went down there. I spoke with them. I spoke with them on the phone. Of course, they told me that they cannot show me surveillance because of you know retaliation or

Starting point is 01:12:30 whatnot however you know they just told me you know make a police report and our cameras can't see your car they can't see the dumpster can't really see any of the cars it's more so pointing down as to where if someone was to walk in, then they can see them like at the door. But yeah, they just advised that maybe I just don't park in that spot anymore. However, it's literally right in front of the apartment.

Starting point is 01:12:56 Wow, that is absolutely crazy. Shay, I mean, again, listening to this, you're just like, I can't believe this actually happened. And so when we discovered that it was him, what then happened? And did he quit or was he fired? So the reality is the Omaha Police Department put him on a paid administrative leave.

Starting point is 01:13:29 And in doing so, they opened an internal affairs investigation and had scheduled an interview with him. Prior to that interview occurring, he tendered his resignation, which they accepted. And therefore, he resigned. He didn't get fired. At this point in time, he still has his credentials to go and work for any other police department if he wants in, say, Nebraska. Now, the reality is, can he and will he? We don't know.

Starting point is 01:13:59 But Omaha Police Department was very quick to determine that he was not on the clock during the incident for which he got caught. But that doesn't mean that he wasn't actually on the clock. We don't know when he was on the clock in any of the other times. So he resigns and he was charged. Was he found guilty? At this point in time, his charges have just been cited. He has not been to court yet. He is, in fact, if you look into the justice system in Nebraska, you won't even find his charge even being filed yet.

Starting point is 01:14:40 Generally, it takes quite a bit of time, about a month and a half. But at this point in time, he is scot-free, and all he's facing is a misdemeanor. Wow, that's just absolutely crazy. Just absolutely crazy. Quetisha, I take it since he was outed, you haven't had any issues since? I haven't had any issues since? I haven't had any issues. Wow. This is, I mean, it just, it's just crazy. I mean, Shay, this is a perfect example of, again, what happens when you just try to live

Starting point is 01:15:16 while Black in America. Unfortunately, this is, this is an incident that, you know, it's got caught, right? It's a matter of somewhat like, you know, George Floyd, where if it wasn't on video, you know, we're not going to be able to have the voice and be heard and people held accountable. But for Kortesha's, Ms. Valentine's efforts to find the culprit herself by videotaping, we still wouldn't know. We would still be going about life and having a police officer not being held accountable and being able to

Starting point is 01:15:55 circumvent the law simply because he wears a badge. Unbelievable, unbelievable. Kortesha, I hate that you had to go through this, but great for you to set that video camera up and bust him in the act. Last question for you, when you did videotape him, was he actually wearing his uniform when he was doing this? He was not wearing his uniform when

Starting point is 01:16:17 he did this. I was just aware that it was a resident because he was able to park into the apartment complex's garage. So once I realized it was someone that lived here, I just pretty much just waited it out until they walked inside and then that's when I confronted Mr. Cleese. And so when you confronted him, is this the video here of you confronting him? Yes, it is. Guys, do we have the audio up? There's no audio? Okay.

Starting point is 01:16:48 So you confronted him, and then you followed him to his door. So what did he say to you when you confronted him? Mr. Cleese didn't say anything. He just, as you see, gave me a sign, and he walked inside his apartment. Mm-hmm. Boy, racists will be who they are. Uh, look, we appreciate it. Quetisha, thanks a lot. Uh, Shea,

Starting point is 01:17:09 thank you so very much. Uh, let us know what happens with this case if he's actually brought to justice. Absolutely. All right. Thanks a lot. Thank you. I mean, damn. I'm a Congo. Can we... I just want to explain to people. It's hell being black in America. Damn. We just trying to live and this fool here wants to dump trash on a Congo. Can we... Explain to people. It's hell being black in America.

Starting point is 01:17:26 Damn, we just trying to live, and this fool, he wants to dump trash on a car. Puncture time. Yo. All right, man. I'm glad you had that video at the end because he got a little taste of his own medicine. A small taste. But, you know, you wear that shirt that says vote like a black woman,

Starting point is 01:17:42 and these stories we're talking about tonight, you know, sister after sister having to advocate and fight for themselves with this society just going against them in every way, shape, or form. And it's so frustrating, you know, for the work that we do and that we talk about in this community to really support

Starting point is 01:17:58 our sisters and uplift them. There should be no way in hell she should have to deal with something like that. And I'm sorry, but I'm hoping that they are also pursuing some type of legal action with the apartment complex. This is what, some type of garage that you have to have access to to get in there, as she was saying? So they clearly knew who was doing it,

Starting point is 01:18:15 and they're gonna say they can't give access to the footage, and they also can't confront him in any way, shape, or form. So is there some type of complicity going on? Or they just didn't give it to them because she was a Black woman? In some way, shape, or form. So is there some type of complicity going on? Or are they just going to give it to him because she was a Black woman in some way, shape, or form? She needs to be going after them as well because she needs to get paid. And then lastly, I am so tired of seeing issues with these officers, whether it's larger cases like these murders that are happening or situations like this where they're just allowed to resign. They need to be fired. This is another reason why we need to go hard in 2024

Starting point is 01:18:45 to make sure we get enough senators and people in the House as well to get this George Floyd policing bill passed so this guy can't go anywhere in the country and still be a cop. Um, I... I mean, what in the hell can you say, Nola?

Starting point is 01:19:02 I mean, this is the type of stuff, again, that we have to deal with over and over and over and over again, just trying, just to live and walk around and stuff. And folk just want to make it difficult because we are Black. Absolutely. And, you know, the first thing that comes to my mind is her safety. You know, I'm in a security space, and this is really unfortunate because, you know, the first thing that comes to my mind is her safety. You know, you know, I'm in a security space.

Starting point is 01:19:26 And this is really unfortunate because, you know, in a time where there are people really trying, you know, to have these conversations about how can we make relationships, you know, among law enforcement and the communities better. And then you have a situation like this. You know, you have a situation where someone's personal security is being invaded. You are stalking someone. You are traumatizing someone. You are terrorizing someone at their home. And that that is like a really different form of this. Right. Because this is intimate. This is private. This is inside a secured facility where there are cameras. And, you know, she isn't being protected where she lives. I'm also very curious about the demographic in that where she's living.

Starting point is 01:20:13 Are there other black people that live there? Are they also feeling threatened? Have they also gone through similar situations? I am very concerned about her safety. And I'm also irritated because she probably yet again has to take in her own hands, her own personal safety. And that is not cheap, but I am worried because he is a cop. And, you know, if there's going to be some sort of retaliation involved with this, but this is just one of those kinds of demoralizing situations where it's like, yes, we are just trying to live, you know, like, I don't know any Black person that wakes up in the morning and say,

Starting point is 01:20:45 how can I mess with others? How can I mess with white people today? I don't know anybody who does that. We really just want to live our lives in peace and in safety. And as a woman, you know, this makes me feel a way because it's like, okay, this is a law enforcement person, you know, who has access to her private residence

Starting point is 01:21:04 in terms of where her car is parked. And, you know, who has access to her private residence in terms of where her car is parked. And, you know, to all the women out there, you know, we are definitely living in very, very interesting times. And please be careful. You know, if you're able to, please put up security measures if you're able to. And, you know, I wonder if there's something that even needs to be started with some of these movements, you know, that cater to women's issues around our safety, because these sorts of situations are increasing and this is a problem. I am very, very, very worried for her safety and other women out there too. Well, it is just, I mean, it's crazy when you see this particular story here.

Starting point is 01:21:41 All right, folks, got to go to break. And understand, folks, about 30 minutes, I'm going to be, we'll have a simulcast. I'm going to be on Joy and Reed's show, The Readout, right here. We'll be simulcasting on Bowling Mountain Unfiltered with Blackstar Network and MSNBC. And so look forward to that. And so more on our show when we come back,

Starting point is 01:21:59 including today's Black and Missing. Support us in what we do. Download the Blackstar Network app, folks. All platforms, Apple phone, Android phone, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Xbox One, Samsung Smart TV. Also, support us at Bring The Funk Fan Club. You can, every dollar you give goes to support this show.

Starting point is 01:22:17 Check your money orders. Go to PO Box 57196, Washington, D.C. 20037-0196. Cash app, dollar sign, RM Unfiltered. PayPal is RMartinUnfiltered. Venmo is

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Starting point is 01:22:36 How the Browning of America is Making White Folks Lose Their Minds. Available at all bookstores online as well. Download it from Audible or you can order it from your favorite

Starting point is 01:22:44 black bookstore. We'll be right back. Don't wait til November 8th, we can vote today, y'all. Early vote started this week. We're on Savannah State University's campus. We'll be dorm storming today, giving out treats for everyone. We hope to see everyone at the polls when it comes to the race. If you believe we got power, let them know.

Starting point is 01:23:14 Make some noise. Put a fist up. I need to see a fist in the air because we got power. Come on, you put it up. Come get your shirt. We're out here in the streets of Savannah, Georgia. James, do not forget to go vote! I got you!

Starting point is 01:23:30 If we vote, the right people in. We can make a change. We can get these resources in our community. I am a woman and it is important that we have the say-so of what we want to do with our bodies. We're concentrating on entrepreneurism, providing young people with resources and training that they need in order to change their trajectories. We want black down. Democracy is on the ballot. Voting rights is on the ballot. Voting suppression is on the ballot. I am most passionate about those three combined because they all impact each other.

Starting point is 01:24:10 Savannah is my home. I care about my community and I care about representation in my community. Our voices are still going to be heard no matter what kind of obstacles try to come up against us to stop us from voting. We're still going to be standing our ground. I see the effort that's being made to keep our communities from voting. So that makes me realize it's even more important because if it wasn't important, they wouldn't be fighting to make sure we could vote. This doesn't stop this year. If it wasn't important, they wouldn't be fighting to make sure we couldn't vote.

Starting point is 01:24:47 This doesn't stop this year. This is a forever movement. We're going to exert our power as a people. Walking our rightful place. We're going to change our communities, fight for our communities, and build our communities. Hey, what's up everybody? It's Godfrey, the funniest dude on the planet. Hi, I'm Israel Houghton. Apparently the other message I did was not fun enough.

Starting point is 01:25:21 So this is fun. You are watching... Roland Martin, my man, Unfiltered. Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org All right, folks, another winter season. COVID is still an issue, but now we're talking about flu and this RSV thing. What the hell?

Starting point is 01:25:56 I know a number of people who have been hospitalized. People have really been knocked out because of this severe cold that's been going around, also leading to bronchitis and other issues as well. And so how do we prepare ourselves when it comes, what about shots? I mean, people have been acting a fool since we did with COVID. Oh, I want to get vaccinated. People are already complaining when it comes to flu shots, things along those lines. But the reality is, trust me, you don't want to get sick. Like I said, you know, I know some folks, they have been knocked on their behind

Starting point is 01:26:30 with this new cold out since two, two and a half, three weeks. It is real. And so let's talk about it right now with our Fit, Live, Win segment. We're, of course, trying to keep you all focused and healthy as well. And so joining us right now to talk about is good alpha man. Glad to have him here. As always, breaking these things down, Dr. Charles, first of all, an associate professor at Rutgers University School of Communication and Information as well. So glad to have him on the show. Is it Centio? Just pronounce the last name, Doc.

Starting point is 01:27:12 Centio. Centio. Got it. Just want to make sure there. All right. So first of all, I'm going to deal with COVID in a second. But this RSV, I mean, like I say, I know some people, they have gotten really sick. I mean, lethargic. I mean, knocked I say, I know some people, they have gotten really sick. I mean, lethargic. I mean, knocked on their behinds. These are people who are like fitness folks who really got taken to them that started off thinking it was sort of like allergies or something, and then it just evolved, evolved. So explain, what's this new thing going around? So basically, since the beginning of the pandemic,

Starting point is 01:27:47 we have been trying to figure out how this virus mutates and how it affects different people. As we probably have seen from the news, there are seemingly a continuous stream of different variants that we need to worry about, and that is just the nature of these viruses. So to your point, Brother Martin, yes, there are different variances.

Starting point is 01:28:09 And as we come together during the holiday season, especially as with the flu, as we come together and we're inside more often and we're around each other more often, the chances of these variants to spread and mutate increases. So it's still something that we certainly need to take seriously, even as we come out of the social distancing and strict requirements

Starting point is 01:28:30 that we all went through back in 2020. You know, this is, again, we're dealing with, obviously, still dealing with COVID and people who don't want to take the additional boosters with COVID, don't want to take a flu shot. So walk folks through what that means if they choose not to do this, because with this RSV, I'm seeing a dramatic increase in hospitalizations and doctors warning folks, don't play with this. This is not anything to be playing around with. Definitely.

Starting point is 01:29:07 I mean, we all have our autonomy over our bodies, and we also have some responsibility of putting others at risk, especially as we, many of us, will gather with family and friends for this upcoming holiday season this week, as well as in about a month for the new year and Christmas in Kwanzaa. We have to be cognizant of what other people's status may be and also what their risk tolerance may be. There are people among us that aren't necessarily older adults who are immunocompromised, who have heightened sort of risk. And if they do catch COVID, they have more risk

Starting point is 01:29:47 of poor outcomes. So it's just something that we need to be cognizant of each other's risk tolerance and try to understand where people's beliefs may be, even at this point, right? As you mentioned, Brother Martin, there are people who are still maybe hesitant, maybe vaccine hesitant, or maybe hesitant when it comes to boosters. And it's something that we just need to discuss and get out there, especially if we're going to convene inside with each other during the holiday season. Let's do with questions from my panel. I'll first start with Omokongo. Dr. Sintia, thank you for the work that you're

Starting point is 01:30:27 doing in educating us on these issues. I want to know, in addition to the recommendations for the vaccines and the shots as well, are there also dietary things that people can be doing? I see when some of these things come up, people talk about, well, if you had more vitamin D and more vitamin C and there's different type things, more water. Are there other things that people can do that can also help them and help them keep themselves safe this season? Thank you. I appreciate the question. I'm an information scientist by my doctoral training and I'm also a social worker. So I kind of deal with health information and how it can get to folks and what happens to it when it does get to different people, as well as how to deal with some of the social aspects of this.

Starting point is 01:31:11 And you're exactly right. It's an excellent point. I was on the CDC site earlier today preparing for this conversation with you all. And as you might imagine and guess, keeping fit and being healthy is a wonderful protective measure against chronic conditions and to help prevent both the onset and the progression of chronic conditions. So, making sure that your mental health is in order, that you're relaxing and finding opportunities to

Starting point is 01:31:42 cope with life stressors, making sure that you're sleeping appropriately, making sure that you're sleeping appropriately, making sure that you're eating healthy. These are all things that we've probably known. Most of us have heard all of our lives, move more, sit less, drink plenty of fluids. Also, there's tobacco use and what kind of damage that can cause. So the things that we've probably grown up with

Starting point is 01:32:02 in terms of tips and guidelines for living healthy lives, much still true. And we must continue to be diligent about taking care of ourselves and each other because the healthier we are, the more we can stave off and the higher the chances that we can stave off both infection and then if we do get it, the progression of the disease. Renita? Yes, thanks, Dr. Cintia, for your advice on these issues. I've got a very specific question for you. After having COVID, it seems like, and I've talked to a lot of people who kind of experience the same thing, and these are all folks who were vaccinated, but after having COVID, it seems like any respiratory infection is a lot harder

Starting point is 01:32:44 to recover from, just any kind of like any respiratory infection is a lot harder to recover from, just any kind of respiratory issues, just like a lot harder and a lot more difficult to recover from after you have had COVID at any point during the pandemic. Do you have any advice, or is this what you're seeing? And also, do you have any advice of how people should maybe change up, switch up what they do for respiratory infections? Because I would say pre-COVID, most people just sort of got a couple of days of rest and just waited for it to went away and it wasn't a big deal. But now every respiratory infection, it seems like it's a very big deal if you've ever had COVID.

Starting point is 01:33:13 DR. And I thank you. Thank you for that question. And I look at the reports, as many of us do, in terms of once someone gets COVID, what happens afterwards and what are they more at risk for? And yes, we seem to see patterns in reinfection and other respiratory infections that folks may be more prone to getting after COVID. And then of course, we have long COVID, which we're still trying to understand. Long COVID in adults as well as long COVID in children.

Starting point is 01:33:44 And I have colleagues who are looking at that and trying to understand more of adults as well as long COVID in children. And I have colleagues who are looking at that and trying to understand more of that as well. One thing that I do want to emphasize, and I'm not a virologist, I'm an information scientist who does research in health equity, but we researchers are continually trying to understand the world around us. And sometimes our research and our findings and our understanding of that world around us doesn't keep up with the demand to get answers. So please keep in mind that we researchers do this work to try to understand and figure out what may be going on under certain conditions and why are certain people perhaps more prone to both catching and then having poor outcomes from conditions. So there's still a lot of COVID that we don't know.

Starting point is 01:34:28 We've certainly learned a lot in the last two years and we have made huge strides, especially considering previous respiratory infections and other diseases. We've made huge strides in understanding and then treating developing vaccines, et cetera. However, we're still learning, especially when it comes to long COVID and then reinfections. We're still trying to work that out.

Starting point is 01:34:52 The CDC is a wonderful website and resource to try to look at what current information we know now and continue to keep ourselves updated on it because we are still very much learning. Nola? Thank you so much, Dr. Santillo, for your work. understand, you know, why these asking and answering these questions are very important. And having lost over a dozen people in my family due to COVID in Louisiana, this is something that is very near and dear to me. So I have more of an immediate question since it's the holiday season. Do we yet know, when we're talking about respiratory infections, I know that there is maybe not causation, but correlation between the consumption of alcohol and the increase in respiratory problems.

Starting point is 01:35:49 I'm very curious. Do you think it's a good idea to maybe consume a little less over this holiday season? And I think about that as my fallback is usually giving alcoholic gifts for the holidays because it's sophisticated and simple. But I am really, really curious about this correlation between the consumption of alcohol, especially around the holiday season. Is that something smart to do or should we think about maybe not, you know, consuming as much? Thank you. Thank you for the question. And I don't want to mess with folks who might be on your gift list. But I do want to point out again that drinking water and drinking plenty of fluids is important. And really one of the harms of alcoholic or drinking in excess are the calories, so that you're consuming calories when you're drinking hard liquor, you're drinking beer, and that is something that will also contribute to poor health and could contribute to poor health. As far as direct linkages, and you mentioned it well in

Starting point is 01:36:51 terms of correlation or causation, I haven't seen specific data that looks at or that articulates a link between alcohol consumption and increased risk. However, if we look at other respiratory infections and other health conditions, it might do us all some good to rethink kind of what we drink and how much in terms of when we're consuming and how much we're consuming. Right then.

Starting point is 01:37:20 Doc, we certainly appreciate it. Thanks a lot. Again, just trying to keep people safe and get them to understand, don't play around with COVID. Don't don't keep to keep wearing your mask. Keep washing your hands. Keep doing those things. But also this this RSV is not me. That cold is no joke. And again, doing those things also helps keeping folks from being impacted by that cold by RSV. All right. Thank you.

Starting point is 01:37:47 Thanks so much. Appreciate it. All right, folks, got to go to break. We come back black and missing and also we'll tell you about Shaw University. They want the DOJ to investigate their students being stopped on a bus. We'll be talking about that right here. Roland Martin unfiltered on the Black Star Network. Back in a moment. Hatred on the streets.

Starting point is 01:38:04 A horrific scene, a white nationalist rally that descended into deadly violence. On that soil, you will not replace us. White people are losing their damn lives. There's an angry pro-Trump mob storm to the U.S. Capitol. We're about to see the rise of what I call white minority resistance. We have seen white folks in this country who simply cannot tolerate black folks voting. I think what we're seeing is the inevitable result of violent denial.

Starting point is 01:38:34 This is part of American history. Every time that people of color have made progress, whether real or symbolic, there has been what Carol Anderson at Emory University calls white rage as a backlash. This is the wrath of the Proud Boys and the Boogaloo Boys. America, there's going to be more of this. There's all the Proud Boys, guys. This country is getting increasingly racist in its behaviors and its attitudes because of the fear of white people. The fear that they're taking our jobs, they're taking our resources, they're taking our women. This is white fear. On the next A Balanced Life with me, Dr. Jackie, we meet Ricky Fairley. She was given a death sentence by her doctor 11 years ago.

Starting point is 01:39:30 But for Ricky, giving up was not an option. She declared war on her disease. Turned her entire life upside down and won the battle. I know that God left me here to do this work. And when you talk about faith, faith is what got me through. I mean, I had to relinquish my faith and give my life to God and say, okay, God, what have you got for me? And he gave me my purpose, and that's why I'm here.

Starting point is 01:39:54 Her amazing story of strength, balance, and survival here on A Balanced Life with Dr. Jackie on Blackstar Network. Hey, yo, peace world. What's going on? It's the love king of R&B, Raheem Devon. Hey, I'm Qubit. Omega the Qubit Shuffle and the Wham Dance. What's going on?

Starting point is 01:40:13 This is Tobias Trevelyan. And if you ready, you are listening to and you are watching Roland Martin, Unfiltered. filter. Folks, today is Black and Missing. We've told you about twice. October 2021, January of this year, 14-year-old Shantarika Robinson-Pike was last seen in Chicago, Illinois on July 30th, 2021.

Starting point is 01:40:52 The five-foot, two-inch, 140-pound teenager has black hair and brown eyes. She has been missing now more than, I mean, literally almost 18 months, folks. If you have any information on Shantarika's whereabouts, please call the Chicago Police Department at 312-747-8274, 312-747-8274. North Carolina Shaw University has stand-behind claims of racial profiling when South Carolina deputies pulled over a bus carrying students to Georgia last month.

Starting point is 01:41:22 The bus transporting 18 Shaw students and two staff advisors was traveling from Raleigh to Atlanta for a conference when a traffic stop took place on I-85 in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. Today's Shaw University President Dr. Paulette Dillard and other university leaders announced the university filed an official complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice to request an investigation into the Title VI and civil rights violations committed by the Spartanburg County and the Cherokee County,

Starting point is 01:41:51 South Carolina Sheriff's Officers. Dr. Dillard says Shaw University is keeping its tradition of fighting for what's right. For generations, Shaw University has led the charge for equality and equal justice under the law. From its legacy of leadership in the Jim Crow South, to being a pivotal place and historic site of groundwork during the Civil Rights Movement, and being the founding site for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, or SNCC. Shaw University has been at the forefront of the fight for justice, and Shaw University will continue to lead the charge. In 2020, Shaw University launched the Center for Racial and Social Justice in the wake of watching George Floyd being murdered at the hands of law enforcement officers, who once again overstepped their authority and violated an individual's rights. The Center for Racial and Social Justice was established to create awareness, to educate the public, and to demand accountability. That is what we are doing here today.

Starting point is 01:43:16 We are obligated and committed to stand up and speak up for those who are historically overlooked and underestimated. Because the laws of this nation should protect them too. Let's be clear. Racism is about power and systems. And just because there isn't a knee on someone's neck doesn't mean that no harm is being done. And just because someone greets you or smiles in your face doesn't mean that they are not still violating your rights. We tried to get Dr. Dillard on the show. We were told, quote, we heard back from the team late last night,

Starting point is 01:44:05 and the general counsel's legal team is not authorizing any one-on-one interviews with the media. When this changes, I'll reach out to you to provide an update. I mean, this is the sort of crap that, frankly, another HBCU had to experience, Renata, in Georgia as well. I mean, this is, I mean, being stopped on these highways. In one case, I forgot, it was, oh my goodness, was it Delaware State University, folks? When they were like, oh, we were checking for drugs on this bus. Come on.

Starting point is 01:44:40 Because one of the parts of this, the reason why they're asking for this to be investigated is because they are saying that, you know, they're asking the question, was it really legal to search everyone's property based on an illegal lane change or an issue with lane change? And so the question about illegal search and seizure is one that definitely needs to be continually looked at, because, consistently, we see across the country that that is the Fourth Amendment being violated against, Black folks' Fourth Amendment being violated, which deals with search and seizure, is something that we consistently see. So I am really glad to see this investigation. We know that the Supreme Court has in the

Starting point is 01:45:18 past held up that police officers can pretty much search for any reason, that as long as they believe that it's legitimate and things need to be searched, but we really need the Supreme Court to take a different view of this. And I really hope that cases like this can drive better outcomes in courts on the violation of the Fourth Amendment. And I'll hold tight one second.

Starting point is 01:45:36 I need to do an audio check with the folks at MSNBC. I'm going to be going live shortly with Joy Ann Reed. So folks, go ahead. MSNBC, can you hear me? Testing 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Thank you. Hello. This is the MS control room. Can you hear me? Hello, this is the MS control room. Can you hear me? 1212, can you hear me?

Starting point is 01:47:00 You can hear me? Okay, your mic is dead though, so somebody needs to open your mic up. So if you can hear me, give me a thumbs up please. Okay, so you hear me. Now your mic is dead, so they need to open your mic. I'm not hearing you at all now, I heard you before. I cannot hear you, sir. Whatever they did on your line, they mixed you out. I do not hear your mic. Yeah, it's a mix there in your place because we're sending the program and we're sending

Starting point is 01:48:04 my voice and I don't hear you at all now, sir. I spoke to a woman who said she was setting up... Okay, can you hear me now? Can you hear me now? Now I can hear you, yes. Got it. All right, now we got the audio straight.

Starting point is 01:48:17 Thank you. Don't touch anything. We're not going to touch anything. We got it. All right, folks. With just two weeks to go until a computer stop election, Democrats are pulling out all the stops. We're not going to touch anything. We got it. All right, folks. With just two weeks to go, Democrats are pulling out all the stops. Former President Barack Obama announced today that he will be here. Are you in the program okay?

Starting point is 01:48:33 Yes, I'm here just fine. Senator Raphael Warnock is fighting to hang on to that crucial Senate seat, while Republicans, on the other hand, are back to the usual tactics of trying to make it as hard as possible for Georgians to vote, hoping only their people can squeeze through the loopholes. Though so far, they're batting zero. Within the last couple of hours, a court of appeals shut down the state's attempt to overturn early voting this coming Saturday, which, by the way, is the only Saturday to cast a ballot before the election. And in most counties, it's the only option to vote on a weekend at all. Joining me now...

Starting point is 01:49:06 Here we go. Stand by. ...editor-at-large for The Bulwark, an MSNBC contributor... I'm going to start with you, because that decision to let people vote on Saturday, how crucial is that going to be in Georgia? Well, the decision is going to be extremely crucial because, well, first of all, let's understand the Republicans are going to take it even further. But if you look at what they did,

Starting point is 01:49:33 this is the only Saturday to vote. They were trying to limit it to Monday through Friday. And so more people are going to be off on Saturday. They deliberately changed the law after 2020. Runoff shortened from two months to one month. The deadline to register for the runoff was the day before the general election as opposed to after the fact. And so they knew exactly what they were doing by using this state law and Thanksgiving by saying, oh, no elections a couple of days after the holiday. This is the way Republicans try to narrowly use a law to be able to pick off voters because they understand more folks vote, they likely are going to lose. They don't want more people voting. And so they were still ticked off what happened

Starting point is 01:50:17 in 2020. You know, and Charlie, that to me sounds like a statement of weakness, to be honest with you. If you're confident, you don't try to make it harder for people to come vote on a Saturday, which is a convenient day. But this fight over who should come in and try to help poor Herschel Walker between the DeSantis camp, the Kemp camp, the Trump camp. I mean, Barack Obama's coming. President Obama's coming to help Warnock. What is going on on the other side? Well, Georgia has really become ground zero for the former president's status as the biggest loser. I mean, think about it. Not only did he lose Georgia in 2020, he managed to lose two Senate seats in 2021. You know, and it's kind of

Starting point is 01:50:59 ironic when you think about it that Donald Trump insisted he won Georgia, he won it bigly, and yet nobody wants him around, which is kind of an interesting tell. And it's an interesting pattern. He lost his presidency in Georgia, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Look what just has happened in all of those states, in fact you know MAGA candidates have managed to turn those states either either purple or more blue and this goes to your previous topic Republicans are looking at Donald Trump and they're seeing this guy is politically toxic he is a loser and for a party that has no conscience or principle that is what's driving their motivation right now but joy but you know what?

Starting point is 01:51:45 If you're Democrats, you can't worry about any of that. Frankly, they should be sending in President Barack Obama. They should be sending in Vice President Kamala Harris. They should be hitting not just Atlanta, but hitting Columbus, Savannah, Athens, hitting Statesboro, Swainsboro, looking at where folks were not voting. Because, again,

Starting point is 01:52:10 Kemp, they are utilizing the Kemp field operation. McConnell's folks are already paying for that. They do not want to lose this seat. So Democrats just can't bank on Obama coming to Georgia, excuse me, Atlanta. They got to hit those outlying areas, those rural areas to turn up black turnout there. And let me ask you, this is what I was going to ask you, Roland. I mean, not having Saturday voting was a big deal because in some of these counties, voting is only nine to five during the weekday. In Chatham County and other places, some places it's nine to six. Luckily in Fulton, it's seven to seven. But that means it's really hard for people who work every day to vote. So what are the real chances that Hershel Walker, they can't even do an interview by himself,

Starting point is 01:52:46 that has to be accompanied by a white elder statesman whenever he talks, could actually win? It's very real. It's down to two people. One of the dumbest people in America is sitting in the United States Senate right now who happened to be a former football coach, Tommy Tuberville, Alabama. I play the audio of him describing the Voting Rights Act. He literally is one of the dumbest people

Starting point is 01:53:08 you've ever seen. Hershel Walker could win. And so people can't play any games. There has to be massive turnout, and that's why the New Georgia Voter Project, that's why Black Voters Matter, that's why a number of groups, they're on the ground, they're doing lots of door knocking, because

Starting point is 01:53:24 too many of these, and I'll be clear, Democratic white strategists want to dump all the money on TV. No. You've got to be touching people on their doors because they're not watching television. They're not looking at digital ads. You've got to be touching them. And so that's why you're seeing more and more of these rallies. I'm going to

Starting point is 01:53:39 be on the ground beginning on Monday taking my show there, talking to black folks, getting people to understand why we must vote. And I'm real clear that idiot Walker should not even be near the United States Senate. So Warnock should be there. But Democrats cannot play around. Don't be comfortable because you got 50. You better try to get 51 because you're going to need that for the races in 2024. And I will go out on the exact note, Charlie, because, I mean, you have seen Republican voters willing to trade in, you know, a Doug Jones, a civil rights hero for Tuberville. You've seen

Starting point is 01:54:14 them willing to elect people like Marsha Blackburn, not exactly a rocket scientist, Sarah Palin. The taste level is different, let's just put it that way. So what is behind this idea of having someone like Warnock? I mean, not Warnock, of having someone like Herschel Walker, because it feels like they want a puppet. It doesn't seem like they want a scholar. Oh, no, they don't want a scholar. They just want a vote. It will be interesting to see what the motivation to vote now for Herschel Walker to, you know, sacrifice all of your principles to vote for a hypocrite, dumb candidate

Starting point is 01:54:47 like Herschel Walker when the control of the United States Senate is not in play. It was easier to rationalize when it was all about control. It will be less easy to do that. But absolutely, this is a razor-thin margin. I think it continues to be insane that you're even having a runoff, that there's even a remote possibility that Hershel Walker could be a United States senator. It's all about power. We can do a whole segment. I have Roland back on to talk about why there's runoff, because there's a reason for that, to make sure black people couldn't win.

Starting point is 01:55:15 Charlie Sykes, Roland Martin, thank you both very much. That is tonight's readout. All of it with Chris A. starts now. Roland, that was great. Thank you very much. You are clear from the readout. Have a good night. I appreciate it.

Starting point is 01:55:24 Thank you so very much. Let's now go back to our show, Roland Marquez. I want to pick up on that point we were just talking about there with my panel, Renita, Nola, and Omokongo. Republicans don't care how dumb Hershel Walker is. They don't care. They want power. They will vote for an idiot as long as there's an R in front of his name. Nola, you first.

Starting point is 01:55:49 Yeah. So much to digest here. As a Southerner, you know, I am very proud of that fact, and then sometimes I am just heartbroken. And, you know, I've

Starting point is 01:56:04 thought a lot about this, you know, thinking about the way that Hershel Walker is being kind of brought out and just performing. You know, this performative aspect of what he's doing is kind of heartbreaking in a way. You know, it's really, really sad to watch because, you know, I grew up thinking, you know, this man is a legend. And it's baffling to me that so many people, you know, this man, this man is a legend. And it's baffling to me that so many people, you know, in the Republican space are willing to go out and just completely sully their legacies, you know.

Starting point is 01:56:33 And that's the part that's just mind blowing to me. I, you know, I make absolutely no judgments on, you know, a person's cognitive ability. He may be suffering from some football-related injuries. But at the end of the day, this Black man, who was, is a legend in his own right, is shuffling and dancing, literally, on stage, entertaining these people, you know, and we can all kind of visibly see

Starting point is 01:57:01 that he's probably not up for the job of being a senator, you know, where, and this other element of, you know, the Christians in Georgia aligning with him, I should, I should be specific and say more white Christians, when you literally have a reverend, you literally have a reverend running, you know, an incumbent in this position. So again, you know, it's really not about anything other than race, you know, it's really not about anything other than race, you know, and let's just put it out there. You have one particular type of black man

Starting point is 01:57:31 that's running that it's very obvious that people want to control him. And that's the part of it that makes it the most sad. That part is so salient and so obvious that it makes you wonder, what did they promise this man? I really want to know that. Like, what did they promise this man for him to really just be this open to being controlled this way? Because it absolutely makes no sense. So in one regard, you have a person who is clearly going to be controlled by other people. And then on the other hand, you have someone who is very capable,

Starting point is 01:58:03 you know, who is an actual reverend. And I love his ads, Roland. I love the ad that you're playing with him and the dog. I mean, it's shade, it's light shade, but I like it. So it's a very interesting situation here. You know, put two black people up against each other and the black people won't know the difference type of thing.

Starting point is 01:58:20 That really irritates me. Like, you have no idea how much, you know, it's pandering, and it's actually very demeaning to the black community in Georgia. I mean, I know what they're doing. This is power. They don't care. I mean, Ron Johnson, I mean, this fool in Wisconsin, you know, convorting with the Russians,

Starting point is 01:58:41 I mean, he lies, he's flipped. They don't care. This is what I keep trying to explain to Democrats and progressives. When you are running against people who do not have any morals or values or principles or ethics

Starting point is 01:58:58 or character that only care about power, you better respond accordingly. Thanks. Renita? Yeah, Hershel Walker not being a member of Mensa is not a bug. That's a feature for the Republicans. As I tell folks all the time, you would be surprised at how many representatives,

Starting point is 01:59:21 and this is on both sides of the aisle, both Democrats and Republicans don't actually read the bills that they vote on. They just sort of wait to be told how to vote and what to say by the caucus. That's not how I operate as a representative. But unfortunately, that is what a lot of folks do. And so Hershel Walker not running on being scholarly or somebody who is overly concerned with policy is fantastic for Republicans, because what that means is, to your point, Roland, if he gets in, it is 100 percent total power. He's not going to be looking into the things that he's supporting, and they will 100 percent be able to control him, and he won't know any better. And so that, you know, Republicans really have sort of, you know, they put him up for one reason and one reason only, and that is because they feel like this is the best way that they can have a shot at getting this seat. And we have

Starting point is 02:00:10 heard locally here in Georgia where Republicans from the very beginning were saying, OK, we already know that Warnock is going to be the Democrats candidate because obviously he's the incumbent. We need a black person, too. We need a black man. We need a black for a black. That is what they were saying. So that's why he's there. And for Herschel, it's all upside for him, too, because we treat U.S. senators particularly like rock stars. So, I mean, it's absolutely real that Herschel can win in Georgia. People have to take things very, very seriously. We had depressed turnout for the November 8th election, with almost 5% of Black voters not showing up from 2018. So we really have got to make sure that everybody understands what is on the line. And I do think that the Warnock campaign has to expressively talk to Black voters about why it's important to show up and what he'll do for Black voters.

Starting point is 02:01:01 The thing here on Macongo, again, I keep telling people this is like a football game. I don't give a damn if you're favored. Again, a lot of people were like, oh my goodness. Tennessee is going to dog walk South Carolina.

Starting point is 02:01:20 Oh, Tennessee, South Carolina has no shot. South Carolina put up 63 on Tennessee on Saturday. Okay? I'm still pained to see the video of North Carolina State beating the University of Houston in the NCAA finals in 1983. Cougars were huge favorites. They lost.

Starting point is 02:01:40 So, bottom line is, y'all, whoever gets the most votes wins. And folk need to understand that. Yeah, period, bottom line. And we have to understand also that the Republicans will do anything possible. And like I said, they always got something else to have their scheming on. Last week we talked about we don't know if Manchin or Sinema will convert and become Republicans. So if they get Walker in, then next thing you know, they're in control. So they always got something else up their sleeves.

Starting point is 02:02:08 And when I look at Hershel Walker, I'm just thinking about what Malcolm X said. You know, whenever a black man says something that white people don't like, the first thing they do is get another black person to try to offset what they said. And this is the space that Hershel Walker occupies right now. So sticking with your sports analogy, we got to run it. We got to run the score up in every single way, shape, or form. We got to get out there and not take this for granted because

Starting point is 02:02:29 if we didn't take this for granted the first time, Warnock should have won on November 8th because clearly a lot of the people who voted for Kemp were not voting for Walker and now people are saying we just got to go and get him in there because we need that puppet. And looking at a guy who just has,

Starting point is 02:02:49 forget the intelligence, we already established that, doesn't even have the character. You're talking about a man who takes a woman to go get an abortion, doesn't even go into the clinic, sits in the car, puts a gun to his wife's head. I mean, the list goes on and on. And the fact that these so-called white evangelicals are siding with him shows that they are at best cafeteria Christians. So every single day, because they're picking and choosing whatever values work for them to help them get power. So every single day, we got to push this hard. And like you said, Roland, we got to support the local organizations on the ground, whether it's phone calls, financially, we got to do it because they're putting in the work and we got to support them because the country is still at stake and we

Starting point is 02:03:23 can't get comfortable just because we currently have a slight majority in the Senate. Indeed. All right, folks, that is it for us. We certainly appreciate it. Nola, Renita, Omicongo, thank you so very much. I want to thank all of you for watching. Also, people, y'all keep asking me where I get this shirt from. I have no idea. And so I'm going to have to look on the back. Seriously, y'all got to, Renita's like, huh? Y'all got to understand. People, okay, since y'all think, see, Renita's trying to look at me like I'm crazy.

Starting point is 02:03:53 Y'all stay right there. Y'all don't understand. People send me stuff, okay? And y'all sitting here looking at me like I'm just crazy. Like how in the world can I not know, you know, where this came from? Well, you know, Renita, since you just want to sit there and look all like I'm just like out of my mind with this, okay? Let me just help y'all out who don't quite understand, okay? People send me stuff, OK?

Starting point is 02:04:30 Y'all don't understand, OK? Y'all don't understand that, all right? So again, folks at Dillard, all right, I got a Dillard shirt right here, all right? Somebody sent me, do you know our story? And they got all these names here on the back. Let's see here. All right. Somebody sent me, do you know our story? And they got all these names here on the back. Let's see here. All right. All right. We are substantial in our community. They sent me a voting one too. Let's see here. Oh, this is the brother who's in Rwanda. Okay. Who's in prison. The movie Hotel Rwanda was made. So they sent me that shirt.

Starting point is 02:05:06 Let's see here. The Gen Z, what's this here? The Gen Z vote matters, all right? That right there. See, somebody even calling me, the phone is buried. See, it says, well, Nita gonna look great like, he don't know who sent him that shirt. Okay, somebody sent me this June.

Starting point is 02:05:24 You got to put me on front street. No, I'm putting you on front. No, you're going to throw that look. Somebody sent me this Juneteenth shirt right here. I ain't done. Of course, I got my. I wore. Actually, I wore my Black Voters Matter shirt today.

Starting point is 02:05:40 But then I said, well, let me go ahead and rock this here. All right, let's see here. Oh, the Black Eye Care people, we had them on the show, so they sent me their shirt right here, their Impact HBCU. Since Edson, y'all looking all funny over there, talking about how I don't know who sent me this shirt. I don't. I'm going to have to look on the back of the shirt

Starting point is 02:05:58 because I think their name is on the back, I think. Let's see here. All right, which one is this here? Okay, we are substantial, which one is this here? We are substantial, and so is our vote. All right, so they sent me that shirt. Man, what I got here? Let's see.

Starting point is 02:06:16 Oh, this is the upper-the-negro shirt. All right. Somebody sent me the upper-the-negro shirt. Let's see what I got here. What the hell is this here? Okay. Lunely.com, We Can. All right, they got a bunch of different stuff on here. Man, what I got here.

Starting point is 02:06:36 All right. Oh, this is one of charter school. I think I was in Philadelphia. Okay, okay, what's this here? All right. Somebody, oh, this is all, let's see, Dump Trump, I got a whole bunch of these shirts. Let's see here, so I told y'all, me and y'all,

Starting point is 02:06:52 see, when you think I'm crazy, like sum up. Oh, my man, Jesse T. Usher, that superhero show he's on, I'll say that's one of the shirts right there. Let's see, what's this here? This is, y'all think I'm a... Okay, this is somebody prayed for me, had me on their mind. They took the time and prayed for me.

Starting point is 02:07:13 Okay, that's this shirt right here. So that's pretty cool. Let's see here. Okay, all right. 16, 19, racism, COVID-19, coronavirus. We need a cure for both. All right, somebody sent me that shirt right there. Okay, let's see.

Starting point is 02:07:28 I told y'all since then, that's more than dump Trump shirts. Let's see here. I pledge no allegiance to the rag that stands for the nazis' hysteria to the republic, which is bland, one nation. That's a fraud that is divisible with no liberty but much injustice, and I'm appalled. All right, that's some shirt somebody sent me, okay? See, Renita, you looking all crazy now,

Starting point is 02:07:52 I tried to tell you. All right, what's this here? Interdenominational Theological Center, they celebration. All right, that's that shirt right there. Let's see here, what's this? What is this? Mental health awareness run, walk.

Starting point is 02:08:07 That's that shirt right there. See, y'all thought I was, see, y'all thought, and more, I got lots of these dump Trump shirts. Somebody sent me like a whole stack of these. So there you go. So I'm gonna try to find out who the hell sent me this shirt. In fact, in fact, hold on.

Starting point is 02:08:23 He didn't resume in. Is there a name on the back? Like That. It says Like That. Is it like a website or something? It's too small to read. I don't know. It's under Like That.

Starting point is 02:08:35 I don't know. I don't know. So, y'all, hold on. Zoom in. Can you see it? There you go. Okay, what does it say? LikeThatApparel.com so is it like that production yeah like damn duck oh anyway i'm gonna take the shirt off and figure it out so y'all need

Starting point is 02:08:55 to understand so i'm gonna find out who sent me this shirt literally i have no idea oh oh here's another shirt it fell down oh i like this one i need to breathe Oh, here's another shirt, it fell down. Oh, I like this one. I need to breathe, vote. So that's another shirt. So there you go. So Renita, don't be looking all funny when I say I don't know who the hell sent me a shirt, because as you can see, this ain't even all of them.

Starting point is 02:09:22 Y'all don't understand. It's a whole other stack that's in my office. All right? So don't be turning your nose and your lip all up thinking I'm like crazy or something and I don't know who sent me the shirt. All right, y'all. That's it. Support us on the Black Star Network app, Apple phone, Android phone,

Starting point is 02:09:39 Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Xbox One, Samsung Smart TV. Also, support us at our Bring the Funk fan club. Your dollars make it possible to do what we do. Send your check and money orders to PO Box 57196, Washington, D.C., 20037-0196. Cash tap is dollar sign RM Unfiltered. PayPal is RMartin Unfiltered. Venmo is RM Unfiltered. Zelle is Roland at RolandSMartin.com. Roland at RolandMartinunfiltered. Venmo is rmunfiltered. Zelle is roland at rolandsmartin.com.

Starting point is 02:10:06 Roland at rolandmartinunfiltered.com. And get a copy of my book, White Fear, How the Browning of America is Making White Folks Lose Their Minds. Available at bookstores, online, Amazon, Barnes & Noble. Order through your favorite black bookstore or download your copy on Audible. Folks, that is it. I will see y'all tomorrow right here on the Blackest Show on television. Y'all know how we do it.

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