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(WAVES LAPPING)
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(SEAGULLS SQUAWKING)
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(WOOD CREAKING)
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00:01:00,518 --> 00:01:04,522
♪ (SERENE DREAMY MUSIC
PLAYING) ♪
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(FILM REEL RATTLING)
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NIKKI GIOVANNI: I don't remember
a lot of things.
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But a lot of things
that I don't remember,
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I don't choose to remember.
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(GIGGLING)
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NIKKI:
I remember what's important
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and I make up the rest.
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00:01:31,925 --> 00:01:33,384
(GIGGLING)
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00:01:35,887 --> 00:01:37,430
(NIKKI LAUGHING)
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That's what storytelling's
all about.
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00:01:50,527 --> 00:01:53,613
-(METAL RATTLING)
-(BOOSTERS ROARING)
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00:01:56,074 --> 00:02:00,745
(INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER)
19
00:02:02,247 --> 00:02:04,541
-(QUINDAR TONE BEEPING)
-FLIGHT CONTROLLER: Stand by.
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00:02:04,582 --> 00:02:07,419
♪ (SERENE DREAMY MUSIC
CONTINUES) ♪
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00:02:22,183 --> 00:02:25,562
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
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00:02:27,188 --> 00:02:29,774
♪ (INTENSE DRUMBEAT PLAYS) ♪
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00:02:29,816 --> 00:02:32,444
LOU HOUSE: If you're right,
then what you're saying...
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is you're a forerunner
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of what many times happens.
So, you're sort of a prophet.
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00:02:38,366 --> 00:02:40,785
I would hate to think of myself
as being a prophet.
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(GIGGLES) Prophets die.
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They always--
The prophets and saints--
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00:02:43,663 --> 00:02:45,040
LOU: But don't we all?
(LAUGHING)
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00:02:45,123 --> 00:02:47,042
Oh, but they do it sooner.
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00:02:47,125 --> 00:02:48,960
What I'm trying to do
with my writing
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00:02:49,043 --> 00:02:50,920
is to bring out a reality.
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I'm what they call
a personal poet.
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00:02:52,922 --> 00:02:55,466
And I try to bring out
the personality of my life.
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You know? That my family
was a good family.
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00:02:58,136 --> 00:02:59,554
You know,
because they're Black people
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00:02:59,637 --> 00:03:00,847
and Black people
are good people.
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00:03:00,930 --> 00:03:04,559
And from that goodness,
we can create the revolution.
39
00:03:04,642 --> 00:03:07,187
So that the revolution isn't
a reaction to Whiteness,
40
00:03:07,270 --> 00:03:09,606
but a forward thrust
of Blackness.
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00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:15,153
Before we leave,
will you do one more time?
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00:03:15,195 --> 00:03:16,613
Oh, I'd be glad to.
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This is "Nikki-Rosa."
It's about us.
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♪ (MELLOW PERCUSSION MUSIC
PLAYING) ♪
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(MUFFLED LIVELY CHATTER)
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00:03:26,247 --> 00:03:27,582
NIKKI: "Childhood remembrances
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00:03:27,665 --> 00:03:30,835
are always a drag
if you're Black.
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00:03:32,337 --> 00:03:34,589
And if you become famous
or something,
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00:03:34,673 --> 00:03:36,508
they never talk
about how happy you were
50
00:03:36,549 --> 00:03:38,510
to have your mother
all to yourself.
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00:03:38,551 --> 00:03:40,303
And even though you remember,
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00:03:40,345 --> 00:03:42,389
your biographers
never understand
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00:03:42,472 --> 00:03:44,641
your father's pain
as he sells his stock.
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00:03:44,683 --> 00:03:47,644
And another dream goes.
And though you're poor
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00:03:47,686 --> 00:03:49,938
it isn't poverty
that concerns you.
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00:03:50,021 --> 00:03:51,314
And though they fought a lot
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it isn't your father's drinking
that makes any difference.
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00:03:53,525 --> 00:03:55,652
But only that everybody
is together.
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00:03:55,694 --> 00:03:58,196
And you and your sister
have happy birthdays
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00:03:58,279 --> 00:04:00,240
and very good Christmases.
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00:04:02,534 --> 00:04:05,203
And I really hope
no White person ever has cause
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00:04:05,286 --> 00:04:07,872
to write about me
because they never understand
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00:04:07,914 --> 00:04:09,582
Black love is Black wealth.
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00:04:09,666 --> 00:04:12,377
And they'll probably talk
about my hard childhood
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00:04:12,460 --> 00:04:14,879
and never understand
that all the while
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00:04:14,921 --> 00:04:16,380
I was quite happy."
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00:04:17,173 --> 00:04:18,298
LOU: Right on.
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00:04:18,382 --> 00:04:19,801
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
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00:04:19,884 --> 00:04:21,720
♪ (MELLOW PERCUSSION MUSIC
CONCLUDES) ♪
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00:04:21,803 --> 00:04:24,389
(LEAVES RUSTLING)
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00:04:26,641 --> 00:04:29,853
(WATER BURBLING)
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00:04:36,067 --> 00:04:38,445
NIKKI:
I'm very proud of my okra.
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00:04:41,614 --> 00:04:43,533
I planted it from seed.
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00:04:43,575 --> 00:04:45,577
And so there's just something
nice about putting seed
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00:04:45,659 --> 00:04:47,954
in the ground and... this--
It looks good.
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00:04:49,706 --> 00:04:51,624
See? It's growing.
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00:04:51,707 --> 00:04:54,919
♪ (SOFT DREAMY MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
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♪ (SOFT DREAMY MUSIC
CONTINUES) ♪
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00:05:14,939 --> 00:05:17,275
NIKKI: I was born
in Knoxville, Tennessee,
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00:05:17,359 --> 00:05:19,527
but I am an earthling.
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00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:23,573
(QUINDAR TONES BEEPING)
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00:05:23,615 --> 00:05:25,742
NIKKI:
I'm a big fan of Black women.
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00:05:25,784 --> 00:05:29,579
'Cause in our blood
is space travel.
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00:05:29,621 --> 00:05:33,792
♪ (SOFT DREAMY MUSIC
CONTINUES) ♪
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00:05:33,875 --> 00:05:37,128
NIKKI: Because we've come
from a known,
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00:05:37,170 --> 00:05:40,799
through an unknown,
to an unknown.
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00:05:42,926 --> 00:05:44,969
And that's all
that space travel is.
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00:05:47,722 --> 00:05:52,310
If anybody can find
what there is in this darkness,
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00:05:52,394 --> 00:05:54,229
it's Black women.
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00:05:54,312 --> 00:05:57,357
♪ (DISCORDANT ETHEREAL MUSIC
PLAYS) ♪
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00:05:58,942 --> 00:06:01,361
♪ (DISCORDANT ETHEREAL MUSIC
FADES) ♪
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00:06:02,612 --> 00:06:04,656
-(HORNS HONKING)
-(RAPID HUMMING)
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00:06:04,739 --> 00:06:08,410
-(HUMMING STOPS)
-(HORNS CONTINUE HONKING)
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00:06:08,493 --> 00:06:12,038
♪ (SOFT JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
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00:06:15,291 --> 00:06:18,920
(LIVELY CHATTER)
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00:06:28,805 --> 00:06:30,348
-Thank you so much.
-Thank you.
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00:06:30,390 --> 00:06:33,143
(OVERLAPPING CHATTER)
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00:06:36,312 --> 00:06:37,897
Thank you so much.
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00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:45,697
(AUDIENCE APPLAUDS, CHEERS)
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00:06:59,377 --> 00:07:01,880
Here in the Apollo Theater,
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00:07:01,963 --> 00:07:05,508
-our card-carrying members...
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
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00:07:05,550 --> 00:07:08,887
...of the Nikki Giovanni
fan club.
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00:07:08,928 --> 00:07:11,598
-(NIKKI LAUGHING)
-(AUDIENCE APPLAUDS, CHEERS)
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00:07:11,681 --> 00:07:15,602
So, Nikki, say something about
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00:07:16,478 --> 00:07:19,981
-the role of friends...
-(CHUCKLES)
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00:07:20,065 --> 00:07:23,026
-...in your life.
-You know, I'm not friendly.
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00:07:23,068 --> 00:07:25,111
-And-- (GIGGLES)
-JOHNNETTA COLE: That's why
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I asked the question.
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00:07:26,404 --> 00:07:28,907
-I'm not friendly.
-You're the last person
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00:07:28,948 --> 00:07:29,908
you would think.
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00:07:29,991 --> 00:07:32,534
NIKKI: I'm fortunate,
you know, that I'm polite,
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00:07:32,577 --> 00:07:33,661
but I'm not friendly.
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00:07:33,745 --> 00:07:36,790
(AUDIENCE LAUGHS, APPLAUDS)
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00:07:37,582 --> 00:07:39,000
JOHNNETTA: I know, Nikki,
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00:07:39,084 --> 00:07:44,255
you don't just think of yourself
as yourself.
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00:07:44,339 --> 00:07:49,469
You sure write
in a collective sense.
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00:07:49,552 --> 00:07:52,931
-You write for all of us.
-NIKKI: But, Johnnetta...
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00:07:53,014 --> 00:07:56,768
I honestly think that the most
important word to me is duty.
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00:07:56,810 --> 00:07:58,645
JOHNNETTA:
Let's... let's hear it.
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00:07:58,728 --> 00:08:01,272
NIKKI: I just think
there are things you have to do.
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00:08:01,314 --> 00:08:03,191
When all,
for lack of a better word,
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00:08:03,274 --> 00:08:06,319
the shit hits the fan,
you're still gonna stand up
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00:08:06,403 --> 00:08:08,613
-and do the right thing.
-Mm-hmm.
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00:08:08,655 --> 00:08:09,781
(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING)
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00:08:09,823 --> 00:08:12,075
Our people have.
The history of our people
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00:08:12,117 --> 00:08:13,868
is a great history.
127
00:08:13,952 --> 00:08:16,996
And it's our duty
to tell that story.
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00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:19,624
♪ (DRUMBEATS PLAYING) ♪
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00:08:20,625 --> 00:08:22,544
(BIRDS CAWING)
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00:08:24,170 --> 00:08:26,631
NIKKI: My great grandfather
was a slave.
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00:08:28,758 --> 00:08:30,677
My grandfather attended
Fisk University.
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00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:33,013
He wanted to be a Latin scholar,
was a Latin scholar, in fact.
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00:08:33,096 --> 00:08:34,722
It's just that
he couldn't find a job,
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00:08:34,806 --> 00:08:37,225
because nobody was hiring
Black men to be Latin scholars
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00:08:37,308 --> 00:08:38,308
at that particular point,
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00:08:38,393 --> 00:08:40,102
but he was a dreamer
is my point.
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00:08:40,145 --> 00:08:41,645
And his dream was not realizable
138
00:08:41,688 --> 00:08:43,188
because of a number
of situations.
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00:08:43,273 --> 00:08:45,942
So he became a Latin teacher
in a local high school
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00:08:46,026 --> 00:08:46,943
and he did very well.
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00:08:46,985 --> 00:08:48,653
He took care of his wife
and his three children.
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00:08:48,695 --> 00:08:50,655
My mother had me.
I'm also a dreamer.
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00:08:50,739 --> 00:08:53,283
But I don't understand
why my dreams can't come true.
144
00:08:53,324 --> 00:08:54,492
So, I will continue to do
145
00:08:54,576 --> 00:08:56,661
what my grandfather
could not do. I will fight.
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00:08:56,745 --> 00:08:58,455
-HOST: Mm-hmm.
-I'm a fighter.
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00:08:58,496 --> 00:09:00,540
And my son
should not have to fight
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00:09:00,623 --> 00:09:02,292
the same battles that I fought.
149
00:09:04,252 --> 00:09:06,671
I'm a native Tennessean,
I was born there.
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00:09:06,713 --> 00:09:07,839
(AUDIENCE CHEERING)
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00:09:07,922 --> 00:09:09,215
NIKKI:
During the age of segregation
152
00:09:09,299 --> 00:09:11,092
when you couldn't go
to the same amusement park
153
00:09:11,176 --> 00:09:13,261
or the same movie theater,
when the White guys
154
00:09:13,345 --> 00:09:15,680
would cruise up and down
the street and call out to you,
155
00:09:15,722 --> 00:09:18,016
when the Black guys
were afraid of being lynched.
156
00:09:18,058 --> 00:09:19,768
But we went to Church
each Sunday
157
00:09:19,851 --> 00:09:21,936
and we sang a precious song,
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00:09:22,020 --> 00:09:24,022
and we found a way
not to survive,
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00:09:24,105 --> 00:09:25,648
anything can survive,
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00:09:25,690 --> 00:09:28,777
but to thrive and believe
and hope.
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00:09:28,860 --> 00:09:30,987
I'm a native Tennessean,
I was born there,
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00:09:31,029 --> 00:09:33,031
but I was only two months old
when my mother and father
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00:09:33,073 --> 00:09:34,866
moved my sister and me
to Cincinnati,
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00:09:34,908 --> 00:09:36,534
where neighborhoods
were redlined,
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00:09:36,576 --> 00:09:38,286
but at least Mommy
could get a job teaching
166
00:09:38,370 --> 00:09:40,872
and Daddy could get a job
behind a desk. And after all,
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00:09:40,955 --> 00:09:43,875
if you are a college graduate,
that's the least you can expect.
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00:09:43,958 --> 00:09:46,711
-(TRAIN CHUGGING)
-♪ (PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
169
00:09:47,295 --> 00:09:48,380
(DOG BARKING)
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00:09:49,631 --> 00:09:51,841
NIKKI:
My father got a scholarship
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00:09:51,883 --> 00:09:55,095
to Knoxville College
where my mother lived.
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00:09:55,178 --> 00:09:56,137
They fell in love.
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00:09:56,221 --> 00:09:58,848
The yearbook
had a picture of my mother.
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00:09:58,890 --> 00:10:01,226
And it says, "When you see her,
you surely must
175
00:10:01,309 --> 00:10:03,395
at the same time think of Gus."
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00:10:03,478 --> 00:10:07,941
♪ (PENSIVE MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪
177
00:10:08,024 --> 00:10:09,818
NIKKI:
It was a stormy relationship
178
00:10:09,901 --> 00:10:13,905
at various points,
but we know that deprivation
179
00:10:14,864 --> 00:10:17,283
gives us stormy relationships.
180
00:10:23,790 --> 00:10:25,667
♪ (PENSIVE MUSIC FADES) ♪
181
00:10:25,750 --> 00:10:27,669
NIKKI: So,
what are we looking for?
182
00:10:27,752 --> 00:10:29,754
DRIVER: We're trying to get
to Jackson Street.
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00:10:29,796 --> 00:10:31,297
NIKKI: We're trying
to get to... (LAUGHS)
184
00:10:31,381 --> 00:10:33,675
-Lincoln Heights? Okay.
-DRIVER: Lincoln Heights.
185
00:10:33,758 --> 00:10:35,635
This is Pendry. Go down Pendry.
186
00:10:35,719 --> 00:10:37,429
-DRIVER: Left or right?
-NIKKI: Left.
187
00:10:37,470 --> 00:10:40,765
(CRICKETS CHIRPING)
188
00:10:40,849 --> 00:10:42,559
NIKKI: I shared a bedroom
with my sister,
189
00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:47,272
and my bed was by the window.
190
00:10:47,313 --> 00:10:50,775
When you start to look
at things that have been
191
00:10:51,276 --> 00:10:52,277
changed so much,
192
00:10:52,318 --> 00:10:54,654
I mean, it's very hard--
I couldn't begin as I say.
193
00:10:54,738 --> 00:10:58,950
If this is what it appears
to me, this is asphalt.
194
00:10:58,992 --> 00:11:01,536
And so, it's a piece of asphalt.
195
00:11:01,619 --> 00:11:03,288
If that's the case,
the house was there.
196
00:11:03,329 --> 00:11:04,622
'Cause it wasn't a big house.
197
00:11:04,664 --> 00:11:07,292
♪ (DISCORDANT ETHEREAL MUSIC
PLAYS) ♪
198
00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:11,087
When you have parents who...
199
00:11:11,129 --> 00:11:15,633
have difficulties as a kid,
what you have to do is, uh...
200
00:11:15,717 --> 00:11:17,260
you have to have an imagination,
201
00:11:17,302 --> 00:11:20,221
and you have to step out
of their relationship
202
00:11:20,972 --> 00:11:23,141
and figure out what you want.
203
00:11:23,183 --> 00:11:25,894
-(DOGS BARKING)
-♪ (DREAMY MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
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00:11:27,020 --> 00:11:29,147
NIKKI: I know crying is a skill.
205
00:11:30,482 --> 00:11:32,150
I automatically wipe my eyes
206
00:11:32,192 --> 00:11:34,819
even though I know
crying is a skill.
207
00:11:37,113 --> 00:11:38,990
Maybe I will learn.
My mother did
208
00:11:39,032 --> 00:11:42,619
when she thought I was asleep.
I think my sister did sleep,
209
00:11:42,660 --> 00:11:46,164
but sleeping is difficult
to me as crying.
210
00:11:46,206 --> 00:11:50,335
I laugh easily and I smile,
and withhold any true feelings.
211
00:11:50,377 --> 00:11:52,796
♪ (DREAMY MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪
212
00:12:00,345 --> 00:12:02,972
♪ (DREAMY MUSIC FADES) ♪
213
00:12:04,182 --> 00:12:05,308
CREW MEMBER:
Your book is wonderful.
214
00:12:05,350 --> 00:12:07,644
Oh, thank you.
You want me to sit closer?
215
00:12:07,686 --> 00:12:09,062
-Okay. Yeah.
-(INDISTINCT TV CHATTER)
216
00:12:09,145 --> 00:12:10,772
You're comfortable
the way you're sitting?
217
00:12:10,855 --> 00:12:13,191
HOST: I'm just gonna
label these for you.
218
00:12:13,274 --> 00:12:15,610
NIKKI:
"Maybe I should be happy I found
219
00:12:15,694 --> 00:12:18,279
my mother in someone else
who loves me."
220
00:12:18,321 --> 00:12:19,906
"What else really matters?"
221
00:12:19,989 --> 00:12:21,866
That's our guest Nikki Giovanni
222
00:12:21,908 --> 00:12:24,536
reading from her poem
"I Married My Mother."
223
00:12:24,619 --> 00:12:25,662
Where to begin?
224
00:12:25,704 --> 00:12:27,914
Well, let's begin
with the crying part.
225
00:12:27,997 --> 00:12:29,207
You're not a crier?
226
00:12:29,249 --> 00:12:31,543
You're smiling at me
as I ask you this question.
227
00:12:31,584 --> 00:12:33,837
I grew up because my father--
228
00:12:33,878 --> 00:12:36,464
And I'm trying
to understand more,
229
00:12:36,548 --> 00:12:37,882
but my father was cruel.
230
00:12:37,924 --> 00:12:40,552
And it seemed
like my mother needed,
231
00:12:40,635 --> 00:12:42,429
I don't know,
protection or something.
232
00:12:43,430 --> 00:12:45,348
"Who was there? Who looked?
233
00:12:45,390 --> 00:12:47,726
Where was the camera
that Saturday night?
234
00:12:47,767 --> 00:12:49,769
My father hit my mother so hard
235
00:12:49,853 --> 00:12:51,938
she literally flew
across the living room
236
00:12:52,022 --> 00:12:53,732
and fell against
the windowpane
237
00:12:53,815 --> 00:12:55,025
like a rag doll.
238
00:12:55,066 --> 00:12:57,569
I watched.
I watched over Mommy.
239
00:12:57,652 --> 00:12:59,487
I hear her say,
'Please don't hit me,'
240
00:12:59,571 --> 00:13:00,613
but he does.
241
00:13:00,697 --> 00:13:01,906
She says to me,
242
00:13:01,948 --> 00:13:04,951
'What goes on in our house,
stays in our house.'
243
00:13:05,035 --> 00:13:06,745
Who saw what I heard?
244
00:13:06,786 --> 00:13:08,747
Who knows
how to make sense of it?
245
00:13:08,830 --> 00:13:10,915
And we want to save the world?
246
00:13:10,957 --> 00:13:13,918
What about my mother?
I am a witness.
247
00:13:14,002 --> 00:13:17,756
I don't need an overseas enemy.
I have my father.
248
00:13:17,839 --> 00:13:19,799
And the band played on."
249
00:13:19,883 --> 00:13:21,009
Did you see him as the enemy?
250
00:13:21,092 --> 00:13:23,219
I went to live with Grandmother
shortly after...
251
00:13:23,261 --> 00:13:25,263
after that, because it was...
(CHUCKLES)
252
00:13:25,305 --> 00:13:27,098
...well, I shouldn't say this
on the radio, I guess,
253
00:13:27,140 --> 00:13:30,685
but it was clear that either
I was going to kill him
254
00:13:30,769 --> 00:13:32,687
or I had to move, and so...
255
00:13:32,771 --> 00:13:34,939
I decided to move.
But the funny thing was,
256
00:13:34,981 --> 00:13:36,941
you know, Grandmother
and I never discussed it,
257
00:13:36,983 --> 00:13:39,277
but I know
that Grandmother knew
258
00:13:39,319 --> 00:13:41,988
that her daughter
was in trouble. I know that.
259
00:13:42,072 --> 00:13:44,824
♪ (DREAMY MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
260
00:13:47,035 --> 00:13:49,037
NIKKI: I don't understand
how on one hand
261
00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:51,623
you say you're talking
about, like, a Black man.
262
00:13:51,664 --> 00:13:54,125
That he can be nothing
in the streets
263
00:13:54,167 --> 00:13:56,920
and so fearful in his home.
264
00:13:56,961 --> 00:14:00,965
That he can be brutalized
by some White person somewhere,
265
00:14:01,049 --> 00:14:02,634
and then come home and treat--
266
00:14:02,676 --> 00:14:04,135
You know, I mean,
me, my mother...
267
00:14:04,219 --> 00:14:05,804
-JAMES BALDWIN: It's got to...
-...the same way
268
00:14:05,887 --> 00:14:07,472
that he was being treated.
269
00:14:07,555 --> 00:14:09,474
Which perpetuates-- I mean,
you take somebody like me
270
00:14:09,516 --> 00:14:11,101
-I'm not married, right?
-BALDWIN: Yes, but Nikki...
271
00:14:11,142 --> 00:14:12,310
NIKKI:
I couldn't play my mother.
272
00:14:12,394 --> 00:14:13,937
-BALDWIN: Yes, I know.
-You know what I mean?
273
00:14:13,978 --> 00:14:15,355
I just couldn't deal with it.
I said no.
274
00:14:15,438 --> 00:14:17,357
But, Nikki, it's also true
that since your mother
275
00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:19,859
played that role,
you haven't got to.
276
00:14:19,943 --> 00:14:23,154
You say mistreated,
or I say mistreated, no.
277
00:14:23,196 --> 00:14:25,990
But in the per-- In the mind
of the person who is doing it,
278
00:14:26,074 --> 00:14:27,867
he's not mistreating you.
279
00:14:27,951 --> 00:14:29,327
NIKKI:
No, I'm not dealing with that.
280
00:14:29,411 --> 00:14:31,788
Let's say, in the mind of,
let's say, your father,
281
00:14:31,871 --> 00:14:33,915
who is just an example,
or the mind of my father.
282
00:14:33,998 --> 00:14:36,251
You know what I mean?
He is being mistreated.
283
00:14:36,334 --> 00:14:37,419
I'm not gonna deal
with the cracker
284
00:14:37,502 --> 00:14:39,713
that's mistreating him.
I'm gonna deal with him.
285
00:14:39,796 --> 00:14:41,339
He knows
that he is not being treated
286
00:14:41,381 --> 00:14:44,843
with the respect due him
as a person, as a Black man.
287
00:14:44,884 --> 00:14:47,220
Okay? In order to, like,
get that together
288
00:14:47,303 --> 00:14:48,638
when he comes into that house,
289
00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:51,975
he begins to, like, brutalize
my mother, for example.
290
00:14:52,017 --> 00:14:53,018
You see what I mean?
291
00:14:53,059 --> 00:14:55,020
Which becomes
like a phenomenon to me,
292
00:14:55,061 --> 00:14:56,688
because I don't like
White people
293
00:14:56,730 --> 00:14:58,314
and I'm afraid of Black men,
right?
294
00:14:58,356 --> 00:14:59,649
If you can follow
what I'm saying,
295
00:14:59,691 --> 00:15:01,359
without anybody writing
a letter and saying "Sister,"
296
00:15:01,443 --> 00:15:03,528
you know what I mean?
Okay, so what do you do?
297
00:15:03,570 --> 00:15:05,405
BALDWIN: Listen, you have to,
I think what you have--
298
00:15:05,488 --> 00:15:06,364
It's a cycle.
299
00:15:06,406 --> 00:15:09,492
And that's unfortunate
because I need love.
300
00:15:10,827 --> 00:15:13,955
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
301
00:15:19,169 --> 00:15:21,046
NIKKI: The one thing
that I did know
302
00:15:21,129 --> 00:15:24,716
is whatever life would be,
I knew I had to create myself.
303
00:15:24,799 --> 00:15:26,384
So, I wrote a poem,
"Nikki-Rosa."
304
00:15:26,426 --> 00:15:28,678
Childhood remembrances
are always a drag,
305
00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:31,556
but I also knew it could not
determine who I was.
306
00:15:31,598 --> 00:15:32,724
So I'm gonna write a line
307
00:15:32,766 --> 00:15:34,225
that says,
"And though we were poor,
308
00:15:34,267 --> 00:15:36,519
it's not poverty
that concerned me."
309
00:15:36,561 --> 00:15:40,106
INTERVIEWER: What did it feel
like to wake up at 11?
310
00:15:40,190 --> 00:15:42,567
Well, you want something
that I'm obviously,
311
00:15:42,609 --> 00:15:44,652
clearly not ever gonna give you
312
00:15:44,736 --> 00:15:48,865
or anybody else, so you can
find another question.
313
00:15:48,907 --> 00:15:51,451
(LAUGHS) I don't know
how else to say that.
314
00:15:51,534 --> 00:15:52,744
But I was not asleep.
315
00:15:52,786 --> 00:15:55,872
And I knew that it was Saturday,
so I knew what to expect.
316
00:15:55,914 --> 00:15:57,457
But...
317
00:15:57,540 --> 00:15:58,833
You're wanting me to go
318
00:15:58,917 --> 00:16:00,585
to someplace
that I'm not gonna go
319
00:16:00,627 --> 00:16:01,920
because it'll make me unhappy.
320
00:16:01,961 --> 00:16:03,672
And I refuse to be unhappy
about something
321
00:16:03,755 --> 00:16:05,131
I can do nothing about.
322
00:16:07,425 --> 00:16:09,678
♪ (PENSIVE DREAMY MUSIC
PLAYING) ♪
323
00:16:09,761 --> 00:16:11,179
NIKKI: So, I selected happiness
324
00:16:11,262 --> 00:16:14,265
and I put that
which was unhappy away.
325
00:16:15,517 --> 00:16:17,268
I chose not to grieve.
326
00:16:17,769 --> 00:16:21,189
(STATIC HISSING)
327
00:16:24,526 --> 00:16:27,737
NARRATOR: (AS NIKKI)
"I brush my teeth, I smile,
328
00:16:27,779 --> 00:16:30,115
but there is always this frown.
329
00:16:32,534 --> 00:16:35,620
I think I'll run away
with the ants
330
00:16:36,705 --> 00:16:38,498
and live on Mars."
331
00:16:45,588 --> 00:16:47,424
(VEHICLES HONKING)
332
00:16:50,260 --> 00:16:51,636
♪ (PENSIVE DREAMY MUSIC FADES) ♪
333
00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:53,847
NIKKI: That thing is com--
Christmas is coming.
334
00:16:53,930 --> 00:16:55,265
And I like Christmas okay,
335
00:16:55,306 --> 00:16:58,476
but I really hate Rudolph
the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
336
00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:00,437
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
337
00:17:01,312 --> 00:17:02,355
Don't you?
338
00:17:04,148 --> 00:17:06,317
And it's like, "Whoa,
what is wrong with you?"
339
00:17:06,401 --> 00:17:11,156
And all of the other reindeers
would laugh and call him names.
340
00:17:11,196 --> 00:17:12,615
What the hell is that?
341
00:17:12,656 --> 00:17:14,451
-And--
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
342
00:17:14,492 --> 00:17:16,161
NIKKI: No.
343
00:17:16,243 --> 00:17:19,998
I wanna know
where was Mr. Santa Claus
344
00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:21,124
and Mrs. Santa Claus?
345
00:17:21,165 --> 00:17:23,126
They saw what was going on
with Rudolph.
346
00:17:23,167 --> 00:17:26,003
Why didn't some of them come out
and get that corrected?
347
00:17:26,087 --> 00:17:29,257
But the minute
they needed something, right?
348
00:17:29,341 --> 00:17:32,802
One foggy Christmas Eve,
then Santa's there, you know,
349
00:17:32,844 --> 00:17:34,304
"Hey, Rudolph, we need you."
350
00:17:34,346 --> 00:17:36,264
Rudolph should have
told him to kiss--
351
00:17:36,348 --> 00:17:40,060
-Rudolph--
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING, WHOOPING)
352
00:17:40,143 --> 00:17:43,355
(SNIFFLES)
He should have. (LAUGHS)
353
00:17:47,817 --> 00:17:52,238
Some of us in this room
are in some ways different.
354
00:17:52,322 --> 00:17:55,367
And I just wanted to say,
you know, remember Rudolph
355
00:17:55,408 --> 00:17:57,702
and that Rudolph should have
cursed him out,
356
00:17:57,786 --> 00:18:00,038
because you don't have
any reason to be sucking up
357
00:18:00,121 --> 00:18:01,623
under them dumbass reindeer
358
00:18:01,706 --> 00:18:04,376
-who are talking about you.
-(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING)
359
00:18:04,417 --> 00:18:07,671
NIKKI: Because anybody
that has any talent in this room
360
00:18:07,712 --> 00:18:08,755
is lonely.
361
00:18:08,838 --> 00:18:10,048
Whether you can sing,
362
00:18:10,090 --> 00:18:11,925
whether you can shoot
a basketball,
363
00:18:12,008 --> 00:18:13,176
whether you can play foo--
364
00:18:13,218 --> 00:18:14,636
I don't care
what it is you can--
365
00:18:14,719 --> 00:18:16,388
If you've got a talent...
366
00:18:17,222 --> 00:18:18,306
you're lonely.
367
00:18:18,390 --> 00:18:23,436
And so what you wanna do
is go on with your life.
368
00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:27,023
Because at some point
you're gonna find somebody
369
00:18:27,065 --> 00:18:29,901
who is lonely as you are.
370
00:18:29,984 --> 00:18:32,445
And then you will build
your community.
371
00:18:32,529 --> 00:18:35,949
(AUDIENCE CHEERING, APPLAUDING)
372
00:18:36,032 --> 00:18:38,201
HOST: So just come on up
and take a mic.
373
00:18:40,912 --> 00:18:43,039
SPECTATOR 1: Would you ever say
that some of your poems
374
00:18:43,081 --> 00:18:46,042
were inspired by stress or hate?
375
00:18:46,084 --> 00:18:47,460
SPECTATOR 2:
Were you ever bullied
376
00:18:47,544 --> 00:18:49,587
by your skin color
when you were younger?
377
00:18:49,671 --> 00:18:51,423
SPECTATOR 3: What would you say
your life was like
378
00:18:51,464 --> 00:18:53,508
whenever you just
felt depressed?
379
00:18:54,426 --> 00:18:56,136
SPECTATOR 4:
If you could describe yourself
380
00:18:56,219 --> 00:18:58,221
in three words,
what would it be?
381
00:19:00,724 --> 00:19:02,267
(LAUGHS) I'm okay.
382
00:19:02,308 --> 00:19:05,270
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
-(CHUCKLES)
383
00:19:05,311 --> 00:19:07,439
NIKKI: I like myself,
you know, I mean...
384
00:19:08,356 --> 00:19:09,774
I'm very fortunate
385
00:19:09,858 --> 00:19:13,653
that I just don't care
what people think about me.
386
00:19:13,737 --> 00:19:17,240
And I'm just incredibly
fortunate about that.
387
00:19:17,282 --> 00:19:20,535
(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING)
388
00:19:20,618 --> 00:19:22,787
SPECTATOR 5: Have you ever had
like a breakdown,
389
00:19:22,829 --> 00:19:26,041
or you couldn't take it anymore,
where you just can't do it?
390
00:19:26,124 --> 00:19:29,461
Have you ever had a breakdown?
Where you just couldn't take it?
391
00:19:31,546 --> 00:19:35,258
-♪ (DREAMY MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
-(CLOCK TICKING)
392
00:19:43,141 --> 00:19:44,601
NIKKI:
You gotta love people that said,
393
00:19:44,642 --> 00:19:48,355
"I don't care what it is,
I'm gonna find a way to smile."
394
00:19:52,067 --> 00:19:53,610
And I know
that there are people that try
395
00:19:53,651 --> 00:19:56,071
to laugh at those Negros,
that try to laugh--
396
00:19:56,112 --> 00:19:57,697
"Oh, they didn't know
what they were doing."
397
00:19:57,781 --> 00:19:59,824
They knew
that they had to stay sane
398
00:19:59,866 --> 00:20:01,326
and that they had to love.
399
00:20:01,368 --> 00:20:03,286
I think Black people
are wonderful.
400
00:20:03,328 --> 00:20:05,288
They're great people.
401
00:20:05,330 --> 00:20:07,916
And I think it's time
that we recognize that.
402
00:20:12,212 --> 00:20:14,673
That's the way
I look at the history.
403
00:20:14,756 --> 00:20:17,676
(SNIFFLES) But I'm just a poet,
nobody listened to me.
404
00:20:19,636 --> 00:20:20,679
That's the truth.
405
00:20:21,888 --> 00:20:24,349
But that's why the new book
is called A Good Cry,
406
00:20:24,391 --> 00:20:27,352
because I'm learning
to let it go. I don't...
407
00:20:27,394 --> 00:20:29,521
I don't have to be strong
or brave.
408
00:20:30,063 --> 00:20:31,815
I don't have to...
409
00:20:31,856 --> 00:20:34,192
I don't have to do
anything for anybody.
410
00:20:34,234 --> 00:20:36,653
I educated my son,
I paid for my house,
411
00:20:36,695 --> 00:20:37,612
my car is paid for.
412
00:20:37,696 --> 00:20:39,614
I can live my life
as I fucking well please.
413
00:20:39,698 --> 00:20:42,450
So if I wanna cry,
I can do that too. (SNIFFLES)
414
00:21:04,597 --> 00:21:06,016
VIRGINIA "GINNEY" FOWLER:
All right.
415
00:21:06,057 --> 00:21:07,642
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
416
00:21:08,393 --> 00:21:11,479
-(SMOOCHES)
-(CLEO BARKING)
417
00:21:11,563 --> 00:21:13,106
-Shame on you.
-(LAUGHS)
418
00:21:13,189 --> 00:21:14,941
-GINNEY: Jealous dog.
-NIKKI: Tell Zena.
419
00:21:15,025 --> 00:21:16,860
I will. Stay!
420
00:21:16,901 --> 00:21:18,236
-NIKKI: Cleo.
-Stay.
421
00:21:18,319 --> 00:21:20,739
-NIKKI: Cleo...
-(CLEO WHIMPERING)
422
00:21:23,408 --> 00:21:25,827
(DIAL TONE RINGING)
423
00:21:26,911 --> 00:21:28,329
NIKKI: (QUIETLY) Get over here.
424
00:21:29,289 --> 00:21:31,541
(DIAL TONE RINGING)
425
00:21:33,543 --> 00:21:34,836
TOM: (OVER PHONE)
Hey, Nikki. How are you doing?
426
00:21:34,919 --> 00:21:38,298
NIKKI: (CHUCKLING)
I'm fine, Tom. How are you?
427
00:21:38,381 --> 00:21:40,925
TOM: I'm great. It's great
to hear your voice.
428
00:21:41,009 --> 00:21:43,303
Well, I was calling
because I've been doing
429
00:21:43,386 --> 00:21:44,637
some research on "Encore."
430
00:21:44,721 --> 00:21:47,015
Because I'm thinking
about possibly doing something
431
00:21:47,098 --> 00:21:48,058
about the magazine...
432
00:21:48,099 --> 00:21:49,434
-NIKKI: Oh.
-TOM: ...and its impact,
433
00:21:49,517 --> 00:21:51,436
but I'm trying to speak
to all the contributors also.
434
00:21:51,519 --> 00:21:54,773
Right now, Tom, and I'm not--
I hate to say this,
435
00:21:54,814 --> 00:21:56,775
because it always sounds
like I don't care.
436
00:21:56,816 --> 00:22:00,945
But I've had a seizure
and I know who I am.
437
00:22:01,029 --> 00:22:03,239
Though they gave me
a bracelet and I wear it,
438
00:22:03,323 --> 00:22:05,700
and it says who Nikki is,
just in case I get lost.
439
00:22:05,784 --> 00:22:08,370
But a lot of things
I don't remember.
440
00:22:08,453 --> 00:22:09,704
I remember the magazine
441
00:22:09,788 --> 00:22:12,457
and it was wonderful,
and I think it was good.
442
00:22:12,540 --> 00:22:14,668
-So I don't know...
-TOM: Okay. Okay.
443
00:22:15,585 --> 00:22:17,754
...that I'm gonna be
all that helpful.
444
00:22:18,797 --> 00:22:20,298
TOM:
Oh, I think you would be great.
445
00:22:20,382 --> 00:22:22,759
I mean as much as you
can contribute with, uh,
446
00:22:22,801 --> 00:22:24,719
-would mean a great deal to me.
-Well...
447
00:22:24,803 --> 00:22:27,138
TOM: But I understand
your health situation.
448
00:22:27,222 --> 00:22:28,640
-So I really do understand that.
-Well...
449
00:22:28,723 --> 00:22:30,850
TOM: I don't want you to think
I'm being insensitive...
450
00:22:30,934 --> 00:22:31,893
No, no, no.
451
00:22:31,935 --> 00:22:32,811
TOM: ...and not understand.
452
00:22:32,894 --> 00:22:35,355
And if there's anything
I can help you with,
453
00:22:35,438 --> 00:22:37,982
you know,
don't hesitate to let me know.
454
00:22:38,066 --> 00:22:39,859
TOM: Thank you so much
for giving me a call back.
455
00:22:39,943 --> 00:22:43,446
Well, you take care and tell
all your folks I said hello.
456
00:22:43,488 --> 00:22:45,782
-TOM: I will. Take care. Bye.
-Okey-doke, bye-bye.
457
00:22:45,824 --> 00:22:48,952
♪ (PENSIVE DREAMY MUSIC
PLAYING) ♪
458
00:22:53,331 --> 00:22:55,291
NIKKI: A seizure is a seizure.
459
00:22:55,333 --> 00:22:57,293
I'm only gonna
come back so much.
460
00:22:57,335 --> 00:22:59,045
(STATIC HISSING)
461
00:22:59,129 --> 00:23:02,257
NIKKI: You have to recognize...
Well, there's a limit
462
00:23:02,340 --> 00:23:03,675
to what you can do.
463
00:23:10,849 --> 00:23:12,767
NARRATOR: (AS NIKKI)
"This is what I think.
464
00:23:12,851 --> 00:23:15,395
I have been blessed
with a poor memory."
465
00:23:15,478 --> 00:23:16,855
(TAPE REWINDING)
466
00:23:16,896 --> 00:23:19,691
NARRATOR: "I have forgotten
crazy night sweats.
467
00:23:19,733 --> 00:23:21,693
I have forgotten crying.
468
00:23:23,028 --> 00:23:24,696
I don't remember my anger
469
00:23:24,779 --> 00:23:27,615
at witnessing
the face of Emmett Till..."
470
00:23:27,699 --> 00:23:31,619
-(GARBLED CHATTER)
-NARRATOR: "...nor my fear
471
00:23:31,703 --> 00:23:34,664
when four little girls
were murdered one Sunday."
472
00:23:56,061 --> 00:23:59,689
(LOUD RUMBLING)
473
00:24:06,321 --> 00:24:09,824
♪ (EERIE DREAMY MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
474
00:24:15,455 --> 00:24:18,083
(GURNEY RATTLING)
475
00:24:21,419 --> 00:24:24,589
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
476
00:24:31,054 --> 00:24:33,223
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.:
What murdered these...
477
00:24:34,849 --> 00:24:36,059
four girls?
478
00:24:37,602 --> 00:24:38,937
Look around.
479
00:24:40,855 --> 00:24:45,652
You will see that many people
that you never thought about
480
00:24:46,319 --> 00:24:47,696
participated...
481
00:24:49,155 --> 00:24:50,657
in this evil act.
482
00:24:51,783 --> 00:24:55,954
♪ (PENSIVE PIANO MUSIC
PLAYING) ♪
483
00:24:56,913 --> 00:24:58,790
(TRAIN RUMBLING)
484
00:24:58,873 --> 00:25:00,750
NIKKI:
Modern Civil Rights Movement
485
00:25:00,792 --> 00:25:02,627
was started by the murder
486
00:25:02,669 --> 00:25:05,005
of a young man
named Emmett Till.
487
00:25:08,216 --> 00:25:09,134
Ten weeks after
488
00:25:09,217 --> 00:25:11,302
Emmett Till's body
in August was discovered
489
00:25:11,344 --> 00:25:13,138
Rosa Parks said, "No."
490
00:25:13,221 --> 00:25:15,515
And I wrote a poem for her.
491
00:25:16,683 --> 00:25:18,101
(TRAIN HORN BLOWING)
492
00:25:18,143 --> 00:25:20,145
NIKKI: And I wanted to find
a way to start it
493
00:25:20,186 --> 00:25:21,396
the way I thought it started.
494
00:25:21,479 --> 00:25:23,023
So actually in dealing
with Mrs. Parks,
495
00:25:23,106 --> 00:25:25,316
I started, of course,
with the Pullman porters.
496
00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:28,361
Because America would be
an extremely different place
497
00:25:28,445 --> 00:25:29,654
without the Pullman porters.
498
00:25:29,696 --> 00:25:31,156
(CUTLERY CLINKING)
499
00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:33,825
NIKKI: "This is for
the Pullman porters who helped
500
00:25:33,867 --> 00:25:36,077
Thurgood Marshall go South
and come back North
501
00:25:36,161 --> 00:25:37,495
to fight the fight
that resulted in
502
00:25:37,579 --> 00:25:40,206
Brown v. Board of Education.
503
00:25:40,290 --> 00:25:42,667
This is for the Pullman porters
who smiled as if they were happy
504
00:25:42,751 --> 00:25:44,169
and laughed
like they were tickled
505
00:25:44,210 --> 00:25:45,545
when some folks were around.
506
00:25:47,130 --> 00:25:49,174
This is for the Pullman porters
who smiled and welcomed
507
00:25:49,257 --> 00:25:52,594
a 14-year-old boy
onto their train in 1955.
508
00:25:52,635 --> 00:25:54,971
They noticed his slight limp
that he tried to disguise
509
00:25:55,055 --> 00:25:56,097
with a doo-wop walk.
510
00:25:56,181 --> 00:25:58,808
They noticed his stutter
and probably understood
511
00:25:58,850 --> 00:26:00,185
why his mother wanted him
out of Chicago
512
00:26:00,226 --> 00:26:02,187
during the summer
when school was out.
513
00:26:02,270 --> 00:26:04,606
Fourteen-year-old Black boys
with limps and stutters
514
00:26:04,647 --> 00:26:06,983
are apt to try to prove
themselves in dangerous ways
515
00:26:07,025 --> 00:26:08,985
when mothers aren't around
to look after them.
516
00:26:09,027 --> 00:26:10,612
So this is
for the Pullman porters
517
00:26:10,695 --> 00:26:12,238
who looked over that 14-year-old
518
00:26:12,322 --> 00:26:14,908
while the train rolled
the reverse of Blues Highway.
519
00:26:14,991 --> 00:26:17,869
From Chicago to St. Louis,
to Memphis, to Mississippi.
520
00:26:17,911 --> 00:26:20,163
This is for the men
who kept him safe.
521
00:26:21,539 --> 00:26:24,709
And if Emmett Till had been able
to stay on that train all summer
522
00:26:24,751 --> 00:26:26,670
he would have maybe
grown a bit of a paunch,
523
00:26:26,711 --> 00:26:29,756
certainly lost his hair,
probably have worn bifocals,
524
00:26:29,839 --> 00:26:31,966
and bounced his grandchildren
on his knee.
525
00:26:32,050 --> 00:26:34,386
Telling them about
his summer riding the rails.
526
00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:37,597
But he had
to get off that train.
527
00:26:37,681 --> 00:26:39,849
And ended up
in Money, Mississippi.
528
00:26:40,767 --> 00:26:43,770
And was horribly, brutally,
inexcusably,
529
00:26:43,853 --> 00:26:45,689
and unacceptably murdered."
530
00:26:46,981 --> 00:26:50,068
(WAVES LAPPING)
531
00:26:53,154 --> 00:26:54,823
NIKKI: "This is for
the Pullman porters who,
532
00:26:54,906 --> 00:26:57,575
when the sheriff was trying to
get that body secretly buried,
533
00:26:57,617 --> 00:26:59,661
got Emmet's body
on the northbound train.
534
00:26:59,744 --> 00:27:01,579
Got his body home to Chicago
535
00:27:01,663 --> 00:27:04,457
where his mother said,
'I want the world to see
536
00:27:04,541 --> 00:27:06,793
what they did to my boy.'
537
00:27:08,795 --> 00:27:11,923
And this is
for all the mothers who cried.
538
00:27:11,965 --> 00:27:16,261
And this is for all the people
who said, 'Never again.'
539
00:27:16,344 --> 00:27:20,682
And it was Mrs. Rosa Parks
who could not stand that death.
540
00:27:20,765 --> 00:27:23,101
And in not being able
to stand it,
541
00:27:23,184 --> 00:27:25,687
she sat back down."
542
00:27:25,770 --> 00:27:29,065
♪ ("THE WOMEN GATHER"
BY NIKKI GIOVANNI PLAYING) ♪
543
00:27:36,948 --> 00:27:38,533
NIKKI: "The women gather
544
00:27:38,575 --> 00:27:41,411
because it is not unusual
to seek comfort
545
00:27:41,453 --> 00:27:43,371
in our hours of stress.
546
00:27:43,455 --> 00:27:47,459
It is not unusual
that the old bury the young.
547
00:27:47,500 --> 00:27:49,836
Though it is an abomination.
548
00:27:49,919 --> 00:27:52,172
It is not strange
that the unwise
549
00:27:52,255 --> 00:27:55,675
and the ungentle carry
the banner of humaneness
550
00:27:55,759 --> 00:27:58,636
though it is a castration
of the spirit.
551
00:27:58,678 --> 00:28:01,348
The women gathered
with cloth and ointments,
552
00:28:01,431 --> 00:28:04,726
their busy hands bowing
to laws that decree.
553
00:28:04,809 --> 00:28:07,687
Willows shall stand
swaying but unbroken
554
00:28:07,771 --> 00:28:10,815
against even
the determined wind of death."
555
00:28:16,946 --> 00:28:19,324
♪ (SONG CONCLUDES) ♪
556
00:28:21,409 --> 00:28:24,162
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
557
00:28:30,502 --> 00:28:32,754
My pretty girl...
558
00:28:32,837 --> 00:28:35,840
-Hey! (LAUGHS)
-(NIKKI LAUGHING)
559
00:28:35,924 --> 00:28:37,634
I like that. So, how are you?
560
00:28:37,676 --> 00:28:38,927
-Doing good. How are you?
-Good. (LAUGHS)
561
00:28:39,010 --> 00:28:40,762
-I'm hanging in there.
-How's Ginney doing?
562
00:28:40,845 --> 00:28:44,641
NIKKI: She's doing pretty good.
She's not with me, um...
563
00:28:44,683 --> 00:28:46,810
Actually, Ginney's
not the problem right now
564
00:28:46,851 --> 00:28:48,228
I'm pretty much
the problem right now.
565
00:28:48,311 --> 00:28:50,647
So, we're not, you know,
doing a big deal with it,
566
00:28:50,689 --> 00:28:53,566
but I'm having surgery
on the 21st.
567
00:28:53,650 --> 00:28:55,193
-What's happening?
-Oh...
568
00:28:55,235 --> 00:28:57,278
-Do you wanna not talk about it?
-No, I mean, it's not a big--
569
00:28:57,362 --> 00:28:59,447
I'm not gonna announce it,
but you know, uh...
570
00:28:59,531 --> 00:29:02,158
Uh, it probably is a cancer,
571
00:29:02,200 --> 00:29:05,161
but it's a-- You know,
like, what do you call it?
572
00:29:05,203 --> 00:29:08,456
A breast-- You know,
a thing in the breast.
573
00:29:08,540 --> 00:29:10,000
So, she's just
gonna take it out.
574
00:29:10,041 --> 00:29:11,876
-Why take a chance?
-Why take a chance.
575
00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:14,796
NIKKI: Yeah,
and having had lung cancer,
576
00:29:14,879 --> 00:29:16,548
you know, they took
the left lung out.
577
00:29:16,631 --> 00:29:18,508
So, you don't wanna, you know...
578
00:29:18,550 --> 00:29:19,884
Dr. Abrams's like,
579
00:29:19,968 --> 00:29:22,554
"Oh, you know, you'll be able
to go home the same night."
580
00:29:22,595 --> 00:29:24,973
I said,
"Sweetie, this is my tit.
581
00:29:25,056 --> 00:29:27,434
If it was your tit, maybe
you go home the same night.
582
00:29:27,517 --> 00:29:29,185
My tit, I'm going to stay."
583
00:29:30,979 --> 00:29:32,439
I see my granddaughter.
584
00:29:34,566 --> 00:29:35,525
Hey!
585
00:29:35,567 --> 00:29:37,819
-Hey. Well, looky here. Ah!
-Hey.
586
00:29:37,902 --> 00:29:39,529
(NIKKI LAUGHING)
587
00:29:39,571 --> 00:29:41,156
-How are you?
-Good.
588
00:29:41,239 --> 00:29:43,366
Good.
How did she get to be this tall?
589
00:29:43,408 --> 00:29:44,951
THOMAS GIOVANNI:
She's almost your height.
590
00:29:45,035 --> 00:29:47,412
NIKKI: When are we gonna get
those folks to let you come down
591
00:29:47,454 --> 00:29:50,957
so you can learn how to play
bid whist and fry some chicken?
592
00:29:51,041 --> 00:29:52,751
I haven't seen you since
593
00:29:52,834 --> 00:29:54,336
-Las Vegas.
-KAI GIOVANNI: Yeah.
594
00:29:54,419 --> 00:29:56,921
THOMAS: No. We saw...
One time when we had dinner.
595
00:29:57,005 --> 00:29:59,591
Remember? You came by.
We had dinner one time.
596
00:29:59,632 --> 00:30:02,093
-But yeah. It's been a while.
-NIKKI: I've had a...
597
00:30:02,177 --> 00:30:03,928
-It's been a long time.
-THOMAS: It has.
598
00:30:03,970 --> 00:30:05,805
It really has, yeah!
599
00:30:05,889 --> 00:30:07,974
I wanna say a couple of things
before I forget
600
00:30:08,058 --> 00:30:09,142
'cause my mind's not good.
601
00:30:09,225 --> 00:30:11,019
Well, it's not,
and I have to recognize that.
602
00:30:11,102 --> 00:30:12,771
And I don't mean
to embarrass him
603
00:30:12,812 --> 00:30:14,230
or anything, but it's a pleasure
604
00:30:14,272 --> 00:30:17,776
that my son has joined me
this evening, Thomas Giovanni.
605
00:30:17,859 --> 00:30:19,819
-(CHUCKLES)
-(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING)
606
00:30:19,903 --> 00:30:23,656
And my very lovely
granddaughter, Kai. (CHUCKLES)
607
00:30:23,740 --> 00:30:25,450
Yay.
608
00:30:25,533 --> 00:30:27,994
NIKKI: The book is A Good Cry
and I learned to cry.
609
00:30:28,078 --> 00:30:29,496
And probably the only person
in this room
610
00:30:29,579 --> 00:30:30,872
that understands that is Thomas,
611
00:30:30,955 --> 00:30:32,791
'cause I don't think Thomas
has ever seen me cry,
612
00:30:32,874 --> 00:30:34,542
because I always made
a point of not to.
613
00:30:34,626 --> 00:30:36,961
Some of the folks may know,
some of them may not know,
614
00:30:37,003 --> 00:30:40,173
that you have "dreams" of going
to outer space--
615
00:30:40,256 --> 00:30:42,717
is the wrong word.
You have an imperative.
616
00:30:42,801 --> 00:30:43,968
Tell them why.
617
00:30:44,010 --> 00:30:45,595
Well, you know, so again,
I hate to say it, but--
618
00:30:45,637 --> 00:30:47,764
No, I don't hate to say it,
but we're Black women.
619
00:30:47,806 --> 00:30:49,974
If this--
coming to this country...
620
00:30:50,058 --> 00:30:53,311
(CHUCKLING)
...wasn't an alien situation,
621
00:30:53,353 --> 00:30:56,731
being forced
to have sex with aliens,
622
00:30:56,815 --> 00:30:59,317
-having to learn--
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
623
00:30:59,359 --> 00:31:00,318
We did.
624
00:31:00,402 --> 00:31:03,154
They were screwing us
and what we did was,
625
00:31:03,238 --> 00:31:06,825
whatever they put in us,
we... we held it,
626
00:31:06,908 --> 00:31:08,284
and then we birthed it,
627
00:31:08,326 --> 00:31:10,870
and then we named it,
and we loved it.
628
00:31:10,954 --> 00:31:13,081
Why wouldn't we do that in Mars?
629
00:31:13,164 --> 00:31:15,000
Why wouldn't we do that
in Jupiter?
630
00:31:15,083 --> 00:31:17,961
Why wouldn't...
why wouldn't that same energy,
631
00:31:18,003 --> 00:31:21,047
that same love,
that brought us here
632
00:31:21,131 --> 00:31:25,135
and helped us to make this
a potentially great place,
633
00:31:25,176 --> 00:31:27,012
why wouldn't that
same energy work? Of course.
634
00:31:27,095 --> 00:31:29,639
♪ (SERENE DREAMY MUSIC PLAYS) ♪
635
00:31:29,681 --> 00:31:32,100
(WAVES CRASHING)
636
00:31:41,192 --> 00:31:45,530
-(QUINDAR TONE BEEPING)
-(SEAGULLS SQUAWKING)
637
00:31:52,704 --> 00:31:55,582
(ECHOING RUMBLING)
638
00:31:58,376 --> 00:32:01,046
NIKKI: When they came
to these shores,
639
00:32:01,129 --> 00:32:03,882
they maintained
a humane quality.
640
00:32:03,965 --> 00:32:05,425
And it's been a phenomenon.
641
00:32:07,552 --> 00:32:10,388
These people decided
to fight a war with a song.
642
00:32:10,430 --> 00:32:13,266
They decided to fight
a cultural war.
643
00:32:13,350 --> 00:32:14,392
With love.
644
00:32:19,105 --> 00:32:22,400
(WATER TRICKLING)
645
00:32:22,442 --> 00:32:24,569
(RUMBLING)
646
00:32:24,652 --> 00:32:26,654
NIKKI: When we go to Mars,
it's the same thing.
647
00:32:26,738 --> 00:32:29,324
It's Middle Passage.
When the rocket red glares,
648
00:32:29,407 --> 00:32:31,284
the astronauts will be able
to see themselves
649
00:32:31,368 --> 00:32:34,245
pull away from Earth.
As the ship goes deeper,
650
00:32:34,287 --> 00:32:36,081
they will see a sparkle of blue.
651
00:32:36,164 --> 00:32:39,167
And then one day, not only
will they not see Earth,
652
00:32:39,250 --> 00:32:40,585
they won't know
which way to look.
653
00:32:40,669 --> 00:32:43,296
And that's why NASA
needs to call Black America.
654
00:32:43,380 --> 00:32:46,591
They need to ask us,
"How did you calm your fears?"
655
00:32:50,303 --> 00:32:52,180
"How were you able
to decide you were human
656
00:32:52,263 --> 00:32:54,224
even when everything said
you were not?"
657
00:32:54,265 --> 00:32:57,352
"How did you find the comfort
in the face of the improbable?
658
00:32:57,435 --> 00:32:59,479
To make the world
you came to, your world?"
659
00:32:59,562 --> 00:33:01,272
(CHILDREN LAUGHING)
660
00:33:01,356 --> 00:33:04,609
NIKKI: "How was your soul
able to look back and wonder?"
661
00:33:08,780 --> 00:33:11,324
(WATER GUSHING)
662
00:33:15,286 --> 00:33:16,579
NIKKI: The first thing
that's gonna happen
663
00:33:16,621 --> 00:33:19,457
in Middle Passage,
is the spiritual.
664
00:33:19,499 --> 00:33:21,960
Because it's gonna give us
the spirit to go forward.
665
00:33:22,002 --> 00:33:23,044
It's gonna be that...
666
00:33:23,128 --> 00:33:25,296
♪ (HUMMING SPIRITUAL MELODY) ♪
667
00:33:25,380 --> 00:33:29,134
We didn't have any language
that was universal.
668
00:33:29,217 --> 00:33:32,137
So the only thing
that's gonna be universal,
669
00:33:32,178 --> 00:33:36,307
the only thing that can
be spoken is gonna be music.
670
00:33:36,391 --> 00:33:38,768
And who's going
to communicate with them?
671
00:33:38,810 --> 00:33:39,936
Who's gonna say,
672
00:33:39,978 --> 00:33:41,938
"Somehow we're gonna
make it through."
673
00:33:41,980 --> 00:33:43,481
Has to be a woman.
674
00:33:43,565 --> 00:33:45,525
'Cause it was your grandmother.
When things went wrong,
675
00:33:45,608 --> 00:33:48,445
it was your grandmother
that said, "It'll be all right."
676
00:33:52,907 --> 00:33:55,035
(BURBLING)
677
00:33:57,412 --> 00:33:58,788
PEARL CLEAGE:
It's often true, I think,
678
00:33:58,830 --> 00:34:00,540
that there is one person
in a family
679
00:34:00,623 --> 00:34:02,584
who gets it,
who understands that this child
680
00:34:02,667 --> 00:34:04,419
is a little different,
but she's a writer.
681
00:34:04,502 --> 00:34:06,296
And it's my understanding
that your grandmother
682
00:34:06,338 --> 00:34:08,505
was that person
in your family for you.
683
00:34:08,547 --> 00:34:10,425
Yeah, can we talk a little bit
about your grandmother?
684
00:34:10,507 --> 00:34:11,217
NIKKI: Yeah.
685
00:34:11,301 --> 00:34:12,719
And we got tissues,
so you can cry
686
00:34:12,802 --> 00:34:13,844
all you want to. It's okay.
687
00:34:13,928 --> 00:34:16,848
You know, I still remember
grandmother's phone number.
688
00:34:16,931 --> 00:34:18,350
It's 3-1-5-9-3.
689
00:34:18,850 --> 00:34:20,268
Um...
690
00:34:20,351 --> 00:34:22,062
-Yeah.
-PEARL: Yeah.
691
00:34:22,145 --> 00:34:24,022
I just don't-- I don't know
where we'd be without...
692
00:34:24,063 --> 00:34:26,107
without the grandmothers,
period.
693
00:34:26,190 --> 00:34:27,984
Not just mine, one of the--
694
00:34:28,025 --> 00:34:30,195
You know, you're not
that much younger,
695
00:34:30,277 --> 00:34:33,656
but you'd look at Civil Rights
just a smidgen different.
696
00:34:33,697 --> 00:34:34,574
But one of the things
697
00:34:34,657 --> 00:34:36,701
that definitely happened
to people my age
698
00:34:36,784 --> 00:34:38,661
is that we had choices.
699
00:34:38,703 --> 00:34:43,541
We could tell our grandmothers
we can't do it.
700
00:34:43,583 --> 00:34:46,168
-PEARL: Mm-hmm.
-Or we could change the world.
701
00:34:46,210 --> 00:34:47,712
It was way easier
702
00:34:47,754 --> 00:34:49,464
-to change the world.
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
703
00:34:49,547 --> 00:34:51,132
-(PEARL LAUGHING)
-NIKKI: It was.
704
00:34:51,216 --> 00:34:54,928
♪ (OLD-TIMEY RADIO FANFARE
PLAYING) ♪
705
00:34:55,011 --> 00:34:56,971
RADIO JOCKEY: (ON RADIO)
The new Rich's
706
00:34:57,054 --> 00:35:00,183
opening Monday, August 29
in Knoxville.
707
00:35:00,225 --> 00:35:05,438
♪ (OLD-TIMEY RADIO FANFARE
PLAYING) ♪
708
00:35:05,522 --> 00:35:07,232
♪ (SPIRITED PENSIVE MUSIC
PLAYING) ♪
709
00:35:07,273 --> 00:35:08,858
NIKKI: And I never
liked to picket, you know.
710
00:35:08,900 --> 00:35:11,277
I mean, some people got
really high off of picketing.
711
00:35:11,361 --> 00:35:13,571
All of that stuff
scared the crap out of me.
712
00:35:17,701 --> 00:35:20,912
But the day that the kids
were bombed in Birmingham.
713
00:35:20,995 --> 00:35:22,455
Right? And that was a Sunday.
714
00:35:22,539 --> 00:35:24,916
'Cause in a way,
the Birmingham bombing was war.
715
00:35:28,420 --> 00:35:31,548
And all of the old women--
that's when adults were adults--
716
00:35:31,589 --> 00:35:34,009
all of the old women
and men went to churches
717
00:35:34,092 --> 00:35:35,135
all over Knoxville,
718
00:35:35,218 --> 00:35:36,678
and they were trying to decide
what to do
719
00:35:36,720 --> 00:35:38,138
and they decided to picket.
720
00:35:39,973 --> 00:35:41,182
And once you came in the house,
721
00:35:41,266 --> 00:35:42,434
Grandmother had
one of those looks.
722
00:35:42,475 --> 00:35:44,936
and she said "Nikki"
and I thought, "Uh-huh."
723
00:35:45,020 --> 00:35:47,272
-(PEARL LAUGHING)
-I recognized the tone.
724
00:35:47,355 --> 00:35:50,608
She said, "Nikki, we decided
we're going to picket."
725
00:35:50,650 --> 00:35:52,610
And I said, "Yes, Grandmother."
'Cause that was the answer.
726
00:35:52,652 --> 00:35:53,570
Then she said,
727
00:35:53,611 --> 00:35:56,239
"And they called
for volunteers," and I said...
728
00:35:56,281 --> 00:35:57,741
-(PEARL LAUGHING)
-"...Yes, Grandmother."
729
00:35:57,782 --> 00:35:59,993
She said, "And I told them
John Brown and I..."
730
00:36:00,076 --> 00:36:02,912
'Cause that's my grandfather.
"John Brown and I were too old,
731
00:36:02,954 --> 00:36:06,374
-but my granddaughter was here."
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
732
00:36:06,458 --> 00:36:07,917
I did mention, I said,
"Does Mommy know"
733
00:36:07,959 --> 00:36:09,210
you're trying to get me killed?"
734
00:36:09,294 --> 00:36:10,879
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
-But she gave me a hug
735
00:36:10,962 --> 00:36:12,047
and thought I was kidding.
736
00:36:12,130 --> 00:36:15,300
♪ (STUDENT CHOIR VOCALIZING) ♪
737
00:36:15,342 --> 00:36:17,594
CROWD: ♪ Go, go, go
Go, go, go Bulldogs ♪
738
00:36:17,635 --> 00:36:20,430
♪ Go, go, go
Go, go, go Bulldogs ♪
739
00:36:20,472 --> 00:36:23,433
♪ Go, go, go
Go, go, go Bulldogs ♪
740
00:36:23,475 --> 00:36:26,936
♪ Go, go, go
Go, go, go Bulldogs ♪
741
00:36:26,978 --> 00:36:30,315
(ALL CHEERING)
742
00:36:30,398 --> 00:36:34,319
♪ (SOFT PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
743
00:36:40,408 --> 00:36:42,285
NIKKI: I went to Fisk.
744
00:36:42,327 --> 00:36:44,913
I was there with John Lewis
and Diane Nash.
745
00:36:46,498 --> 00:36:48,333
We sat in, in Nashville.
746
00:36:49,959 --> 00:36:54,005
PROTESTER: I asked a waitress
for a hamburger and a Coke.
747
00:36:54,089 --> 00:36:55,674
I said, "I'm sorry,
our management
748
00:36:55,715 --> 00:36:58,426
does not allow us
to serve niggers in here."
749
00:37:00,303 --> 00:37:02,555
REPORTER: In the winter
and early spring of 1960,
750
00:37:02,639 --> 00:37:05,183
the efforts of Nashville's
Negro college students
751
00:37:05,225 --> 00:37:07,185
had led to the integration
of lunch counters
752
00:37:07,227 --> 00:37:09,688
at six department
and variety stores.
753
00:37:09,771 --> 00:37:11,648
But they were still
excluded from eating
754
00:37:11,690 --> 00:37:14,234
at the city's downtown
drug stores and restaurants,
755
00:37:14,317 --> 00:37:16,403
train depot, and the bus stop...
756
00:37:25,036 --> 00:37:26,830
-PEARL: You enrolled twice.
-(NIKKI LAUGHING)
757
00:37:26,871 --> 00:37:29,541
The first time you were expelled
after a run-in
758
00:37:29,582 --> 00:37:31,876
with the conservative dean
of women.
759
00:37:31,918 --> 00:37:34,045
Your grandmother
was very much in your corner,
760
00:37:34,087 --> 00:37:35,171
but Fisk didn't really care
761
00:37:35,213 --> 00:37:36,381
about anybody being
in your corner
762
00:37:36,423 --> 00:37:37,549
and they asked you to leave.
763
00:37:37,632 --> 00:37:39,342
I wasn't really good
at taking a lot of stuff.
764
00:37:39,384 --> 00:37:40,593
I think I had a lot of anger.
765
00:37:40,677 --> 00:37:43,596
♪ (STUDENT CHOIR SINGING) ♪
766
00:37:46,016 --> 00:37:47,767
NIKKI: Dean Cheatham and I
had different visions
767
00:37:47,851 --> 00:37:51,396
of what a lady is,
and what a woman should do.
768
00:37:51,479 --> 00:37:54,232
♪ (STUDENT CHOIR
CONTINUES SINGING) ♪
769
00:37:54,315 --> 00:37:56,067
NIKKI:
But I also realized, you know,
770
00:37:56,151 --> 00:37:58,153
all of my strengths
are here up, right?
771
00:37:58,236 --> 00:37:59,404
It's all in my head,
772
00:37:59,487 --> 00:38:01,281
so that means I have
to go back to school.
773
00:38:01,364 --> 00:38:03,283
Could I have enrolled
at University of Cincinnati
774
00:38:03,366 --> 00:38:04,409
or something? Sure.
775
00:38:04,492 --> 00:38:06,286
But if I'm having
a failure at Fisk,
776
00:38:06,369 --> 00:38:07,704
then I need to go back to Fisk.
777
00:38:07,746 --> 00:38:09,831
So I borrowed a friend's car
and drove down
778
00:38:09,914 --> 00:38:11,666
and wanted to meet
the dean of women.
779
00:38:11,750 --> 00:38:13,668
'Cause I figured if I couldn't
get along with the dean,
780
00:38:13,752 --> 00:38:15,211
I'm not gonna
make it the second time.
781
00:38:15,295 --> 00:38:17,505
-So that's gonna be a waste.
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
782
00:38:17,589 --> 00:38:20,467
How important
was John O Killens's workshop
783
00:38:20,550 --> 00:38:22,344
to you at that moment?
784
00:38:22,427 --> 00:38:23,845
NIKKI:
John Killens had
785
00:38:23,928 --> 00:38:26,806
the first Black Arts Festival
at Fisk.
786
00:38:26,890 --> 00:38:29,517
And we had LeRoi Jones,
he was LeRoi Jones then.
787
00:38:29,601 --> 00:38:30,602
That's when he was,
788
00:38:30,643 --> 00:38:31,936
"Up against the wall,
motherfucker.
789
00:38:32,020 --> 00:38:34,939
This is a stickup," you know?
I mean we just adored him.
790
00:38:36,441 --> 00:38:38,777
Negro Digest sent
David Lawrence down.
791
00:38:38,860 --> 00:38:42,322
♪ (SERENE DREAMY MUSIC
PLAYING) ♪
792
00:38:42,405 --> 00:38:45,784
NIKKI: David asked everybody
to write something.
793
00:38:50,372 --> 00:38:52,123
That was my first experience
in publishing,
794
00:38:52,207 --> 00:38:53,541
and I was just very lucky.
795
00:39:08,431 --> 00:39:12,519
♪ (MELLOW JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
796
00:39:19,484 --> 00:39:21,277
NIKKI:
I'm basically a city girl.
797
00:39:21,319 --> 00:39:24,155
I went to New York,
I think I was 22,
798
00:39:24,197 --> 00:39:25,240
23 years old, I don't...
799
00:39:25,323 --> 00:39:26,700
I don't actually
remember right now.
800
00:39:26,783 --> 00:39:29,119
I guess just '67,
whatever that amounts to.
801
00:39:29,160 --> 00:39:31,663
One of things I wanted to do,
of course, was write.
802
00:39:31,705 --> 00:39:33,540
And in writing,
one of the skills
803
00:39:33,623 --> 00:39:35,792
that I wanted to take
to the New York experience
804
00:39:35,875 --> 00:39:37,335
was small-town skills.
805
00:39:37,419 --> 00:39:40,547
And this is like,
this is when Nikki was crazy.
806
00:39:42,132 --> 00:39:43,341
My mother's a jazz fan
807
00:39:43,425 --> 00:39:45,010
and I wanted to do
something for Mommy.
808
00:39:46,636 --> 00:39:47,762
New York is, you know,
809
00:39:47,846 --> 00:39:50,015
none of the clubs
are open on Sunday.
810
00:39:50,682 --> 00:39:52,517
So, I went to Birdland.
811
00:39:52,559 --> 00:39:54,728
There's a guy there,
Harold Logan.
812
00:39:54,811 --> 00:39:57,689
♪ (MELLOW JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
813
00:39:57,731 --> 00:39:59,524
NIKKI: I went down
and introduced myself
814
00:39:59,607 --> 00:40:01,776
and had my book
and I said I'd like to,
815
00:40:01,860 --> 00:40:04,237
you know, have a book party
on a Sunday
816
00:40:04,320 --> 00:40:05,405
since you're closed anyway.
817
00:40:05,488 --> 00:40:07,365
His position was,
"What do I get?"
818
00:40:07,407 --> 00:40:09,534
Because he's a businessman
and he's a thug.
819
00:40:09,617 --> 00:40:11,161
And I said, "Well...
820
00:40:12,037 --> 00:40:13,788
what do you need?" (CHUCKLES)
821
00:40:13,872 --> 00:40:15,540
Because I didn't have any--
I didn't have any money.
822
00:40:15,582 --> 00:40:16,958
You know, it didn't matter.
What do you need?
823
00:40:17,042 --> 00:40:19,961
And he said, "Okay, Giovanni."
Giovanni, like that.
824
00:40:20,045 --> 00:40:22,339
He said, "Okay, Giovanni,
bring me a hundred people.
825
00:40:22,380 --> 00:40:23,548
And the club is free.
826
00:40:23,590 --> 00:40:25,550
Ninety-nine people
and you'll have to pay me."
827
00:40:25,592 --> 00:40:26,760
I said, "That's fair enough."
828
00:40:26,843 --> 00:40:28,345
'Cause I think I can get
100 people to do anything.
829
00:40:28,386 --> 00:40:30,055
My friend, Morgan Freeman,
830
00:40:30,096 --> 00:40:32,057
he was my next-door neighbor.
Morgan read for me.
831
00:40:32,140 --> 00:40:33,808
Novella Nelson read for me.
832
00:40:33,892 --> 00:40:36,353
A bunch of people, you know.
So it was gonna be fun.
833
00:40:36,394 --> 00:40:39,189
But Birdland sits,
834
00:40:39,230 --> 00:40:42,567
or at that point,
it sat almost--
835
00:40:42,650 --> 00:40:44,986
What do you-- Catty-cornered
to the New York Times.
836
00:40:45,070 --> 00:40:47,989
So people started coming early
because it was free.
837
00:40:48,073 --> 00:40:49,324
And then, the line
838
00:40:49,407 --> 00:40:51,493
went out, and then the line
turned a corner.
839
00:40:51,576 --> 00:40:52,619
And by that time
840
00:40:52,702 --> 00:40:54,746
New York Times is looking down
and seeing
841
00:40:54,788 --> 00:40:57,665
predominantly Black people
lined up.
842
00:40:57,749 --> 00:40:59,501
So they went-- they sent
a reporter down
843
00:40:59,584 --> 00:41:00,669
to see what's going on.
844
00:41:00,752 --> 00:41:02,754
And finally, the reporter
came up and said,
845
00:41:02,796 --> 00:41:05,340
"I'm looking for Nick Giovanni.
Do you know where he is?"
846
00:41:05,423 --> 00:41:07,717
And I-- "I'm Nick Giovanni."
847
00:41:07,759 --> 00:41:08,927
(LAUGHS) You know.
"You're looking for me."
848
00:41:09,010 --> 00:41:11,179
"No, no, I'm looking
for Nick Giovanni."
849
00:41:11,262 --> 00:41:12,222
"I'm Nikki Gio--" You know,
850
00:41:12,263 --> 00:41:13,640
it just took him
a minute to realize.
851
00:41:13,723 --> 00:41:14,933
And he said, "What is this?"
852
00:41:14,974 --> 00:41:16,810
And the answer was,
"Black Judgement is coming."
853
00:41:17,268 --> 00:41:18,937
(LAUGHING)
854
00:41:19,020 --> 00:41:21,690
If you see a first edition
of that book, it's beautiful.
855
00:41:27,070 --> 00:41:27,987
But I said, well,
856
00:41:28,071 --> 00:41:29,948
who's gonna publish
my poetry, right?
857
00:41:29,989 --> 00:41:32,659
Nobody. So I called
my grandmother
858
00:41:32,742 --> 00:41:34,119
and I asked a few other people
859
00:41:34,202 --> 00:41:36,579
to give me a loan
and I had the book published.
860
00:41:36,621 --> 00:41:39,708
I had 1,000 copies of it.
So you have to sell it, right?
861
00:41:39,791 --> 00:41:42,502
And I sent five copies here,
five copies there,
862
00:41:42,585 --> 00:41:43,837
asked the people to sell it.
863
00:41:43,920 --> 00:41:45,547
They sold and, you know,
you get these little checks
864
00:41:45,630 --> 00:41:46,715
for three dollars, you know?
865
00:41:46,798 --> 00:41:48,925
♪ (MELLOW JAZZ MUSIC
CONTINUES) ♪
866
00:41:50,969 --> 00:41:52,721
NIKKI:
"Walking down Fifth Avenue
867
00:41:52,804 --> 00:41:54,472
in my bell-bottoms
and Earth shoes,
868
00:41:54,514 --> 00:41:55,724
smoking a cigarette
869
00:41:55,807 --> 00:41:58,268
because I didn't know
the dangers of lung cancer,
870
00:41:58,309 --> 00:41:59,811
nor the pleasures of wine.
871
00:41:59,894 --> 00:42:02,147
There was a bookstore
on this corner
872
00:42:02,188 --> 00:42:03,815
and that corner.
873
00:42:03,898 --> 00:42:06,151
Life was difficult
for a Black girl with no money,
874
00:42:06,234 --> 00:42:09,070
who only had a dream
of talent measured by truth.
875
00:42:09,154 --> 00:42:12,449
But passing those bookstores
with a confident smoke,
876
00:42:12,532 --> 00:42:16,161
there was possibility.
Always the possibility."
877
00:42:16,244 --> 00:42:18,079
♪ (MELLOW JAZZ MUSIC FADES) ♪
878
00:42:22,167 --> 00:42:24,336
LEWIS MICHAUX:
I was lecturing the other day
879
00:42:24,419 --> 00:42:26,004
down in this same cellar,
880
00:42:26,046 --> 00:42:28,256
and a gang
of little Black boys came in.
881
00:42:28,340 --> 00:42:29,632
They held up their fists.
882
00:42:29,674 --> 00:42:33,219
Talking about Black power.
I said, "Look, son,
883
00:42:33,303 --> 00:42:36,598
I'd like to straighten
you out." I said, "Black...
884
00:42:36,681 --> 00:42:39,142
is beautiful,
but Black isn't power.
885
00:42:39,184 --> 00:42:40,894
Knowledge is power."
886
00:42:42,896 --> 00:42:46,274
NIKKI:
The day that Mr. Michaux said,
887
00:42:46,358 --> 00:42:48,735
"Giovanni, you have a minute?"
888
00:42:48,818 --> 00:42:51,738
Because, you know,
underneath he had that cellar
889
00:42:51,821 --> 00:42:54,366
and he had
the coffee from Ghana,
890
00:42:54,407 --> 00:42:56,451
and when he asked me
if I could stay,
891
00:42:56,534 --> 00:42:57,577
and have the coffee with you,
892
00:42:57,660 --> 00:42:58,953
I thought, "Oh shit,
I'm important."
893
00:42:59,037 --> 00:43:00,372
-(LAUGHS)
-(NIKKI CHUCKLING)
894
00:43:00,413 --> 00:43:02,999
(AUDIENCE APPLAUDS)
895
00:43:03,041 --> 00:43:07,379
SPECTATOR: Where were you
on April 4th, 1968?
896
00:43:07,420 --> 00:43:08,963
(AUDIENCE MURMURING)
897
00:43:09,047 --> 00:43:11,299
-I don't know.
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
898
00:43:11,383 --> 00:43:13,385
I know what it was. You know,
Martin was killed.
899
00:43:13,426 --> 00:43:16,179
I just don't know where I was.
I don't know. I'm sorry.
900
00:43:16,221 --> 00:43:18,598
SPECTATOR: But how did
that day affect you?
901
00:43:22,769 --> 00:43:25,271
I'm sure it's a good question,
but I'm not--
902
00:43:25,355 --> 00:43:28,233
I've already answered and I...
903
00:43:28,316 --> 00:43:29,734
I can't take it any further.
904
00:43:29,776 --> 00:43:32,112
I don't know what else
to say about it. I'm sorry.
905
00:43:32,195 --> 00:43:33,238
I really am.
906
00:43:34,322 --> 00:43:38,076
♪ (PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
907
00:43:45,291 --> 00:43:47,711
NARRATOR: (AS NIKKI)
"What can I, a poor Black woman,
908
00:43:47,752 --> 00:43:49,838
do to destroy America?
909
00:43:51,756 --> 00:43:54,759
This is a question
with appropriate variations
910
00:43:54,801 --> 00:43:57,095
being asked
in every Black heart.
911
00:43:57,721 --> 00:43:59,180
There is one answer.
912
00:43:59,723 --> 00:44:01,224
I can kill.
913
00:44:01,266 --> 00:44:05,687
There is one compromise.
I can protect those who kill.
914
00:44:07,313 --> 00:44:11,735
There is one cop-out.
I can encourage others to kill.
915
00:44:11,776 --> 00:44:14,487
There are no other ways.
916
00:44:14,571 --> 00:44:16,448
The assassination
of Martin Luther King
917
00:44:16,531 --> 00:44:18,116
is an act of war.
918
00:44:19,659 --> 00:44:22,871
And some honky asked
about the reaction.
919
00:44:22,954 --> 00:44:24,247
What do you people want?
920
00:44:24,289 --> 00:44:26,458
Isn't it enough
that you killed him?
921
00:44:26,541 --> 00:44:28,585
You wanna tell me how to mourn?
922
00:44:28,626 --> 00:44:31,713
You want to determine
how, I, a lover,
923
00:44:31,796 --> 00:44:34,883
should respond
to the death of my beloved?
924
00:44:34,966 --> 00:44:36,509
May he rest in peace.
925
00:44:36,593 --> 00:44:40,889
May his blood choke the life
of ten hundred million Whites.
926
00:44:40,972 --> 00:44:44,225
May the warriors in the streets
go ever forth into the stores
927
00:44:44,309 --> 00:44:48,396
for guns and TVs,
for whatever makes them happy."
928
00:44:48,480 --> 00:44:50,273
STOKELY CARMICHAEL: I think
the country made a mistake
929
00:44:50,315 --> 00:44:51,733
when they killed Dr. King.
930
00:44:51,816 --> 00:44:52,817
Would've been far better
931
00:44:52,901 --> 00:44:54,861
if they killed Rap Brown
or myself.
932
00:44:54,944 --> 00:44:56,696
Because then they could say
to Black people
933
00:44:56,780 --> 00:44:59,991
that, uh, we're preaching guns
and he who preaches--
934
00:45:00,075 --> 00:45:02,535
who lives by the sword,
will die by the sword.
935
00:45:02,619 --> 00:45:04,621
But they couldn't
do that for Dr. King,
936
00:45:04,662 --> 00:45:06,581
because he preached love.
937
00:45:06,664 --> 00:45:09,626
And there is no possible way
for them to...
938
00:45:09,668 --> 00:45:13,004
to make an excuse
of Dr. King's killing.
939
00:45:13,088 --> 00:45:15,799
So, when they killed Dr. King,
they just opened up the eyes
940
00:45:15,840 --> 00:45:17,967
of a lot of Black people.
941
00:45:18,009 --> 00:45:20,970
♪ (EERIE PENSIVE MUSIC
PLAYING) ♪
942
00:45:24,683 --> 00:45:26,059
NIKKI: "When I was a teenager,
943
00:45:26,142 --> 00:45:28,019
I used to sit
on front porch steps
944
00:45:28,061 --> 00:45:30,814
conversing the gym teacher's son
with embryonic eyes
945
00:45:30,855 --> 00:45:33,233
about the essential essence
of the universe,
946
00:45:33,316 --> 00:45:36,403
recognizing the basic
powerlessness of me.
947
00:45:36,486 --> 00:45:37,696
But then I went to college
948
00:45:37,779 --> 00:45:40,990
where I learned that
just because everything I was
949
00:45:41,074 --> 00:45:42,075
was unreal,
950
00:45:42,158 --> 00:45:43,201
I could be real.
951
00:45:43,284 --> 00:45:45,161
And not just real
through withdrawal
952
00:45:45,203 --> 00:45:46,913
and through
emotional crosshairs
953
00:45:46,996 --> 00:45:49,749
or colored-bourgeois
intellectual pretensions,
954
00:45:49,833 --> 00:45:52,711
but from involvement with things
approaching reality.
955
00:45:52,794 --> 00:45:54,713
I could possibly have a life.
956
00:45:54,796 --> 00:45:56,172
So catatonic emotions
957
00:45:56,214 --> 00:45:58,717
and time-wasting sex games
were replaced
958
00:45:58,800 --> 00:46:02,554
with functioning commitments
to logic and necessity.
959
00:46:02,595 --> 00:46:04,389
For a while, progress was made
960
00:46:04,431 --> 00:46:06,766
along with a certain degree
of happiness.
961
00:46:06,850 --> 00:46:09,102
'Cause I wrote a book
and found a love,
962
00:46:09,185 --> 00:46:12,397
and organized a theater
and even gave some lessons,
963
00:46:12,439 --> 00:46:15,817
some lectures on Black history,
and began to believe
964
00:46:15,900 --> 00:46:17,652
all good people
could get together
965
00:46:17,736 --> 00:46:19,904
and win without bloodshed.
966
00:46:19,946 --> 00:46:23,908
Then Hammarskjöld was killed,
and Lumumba was killed,
967
00:46:23,992 --> 00:46:26,870
and Diem was killed,
and Kennedy was killed,
968
00:46:26,911 --> 00:46:29,831
and Malcolm was killed,
and Evers was killed.
969
00:46:29,914 --> 00:46:32,250
and Schwerner, Chaney,
and Goodman were killed,
970
00:46:32,334 --> 00:46:35,170
and King was killed,
and Kennedy was killed.
971
00:46:35,253 --> 00:46:39,049
And sometimes I wonder why
I didn't become a debutante
972
00:46:39,090 --> 00:46:42,302
sitting on doctors' porches,
going to church all the time,
973
00:46:42,385 --> 00:46:44,971
wondering, 'is my eye makeup
on straight?'
974
00:46:45,055 --> 00:46:48,892
Or a withdrawn, discoursing
on the stars and the moon.
975
00:46:48,933 --> 00:46:51,269
Instead of a for real
Black person
976
00:46:51,353 --> 00:46:55,273
who must now feel
and inflict pain."
977
00:47:01,112 --> 00:47:03,114
BALDWIN: But sweetheart...
978
00:47:03,198 --> 00:47:04,699
What you're saying
is very, very serious.
979
00:47:04,783 --> 00:47:08,078
I'm not in the least denying it,
'cause you're perfectly right.
980
00:47:08,119 --> 00:47:09,746
I'm not being a missionary
981
00:47:09,788 --> 00:47:12,082
-trying to save America.
-(LAUGHS)
982
00:47:13,667 --> 00:47:15,960
But I do know that--
I do know that...
983
00:47:16,044 --> 00:47:18,630
we have paid too much
for it to be able to abandon it.
984
00:47:19,964 --> 00:47:22,634
We can never abandon it.
985
00:47:22,676 --> 00:47:23,968
I don't think
that that's a question,
986
00:47:24,010 --> 00:47:25,762
because where else
are we gonna go?
987
00:47:25,804 --> 00:47:27,055
I mean, nobody else wants us.
988
00:47:27,138 --> 00:47:28,473
-But in any case...
-That's the truth.
989
00:47:28,515 --> 00:47:30,725
In any case, my father
and my father's father
990
00:47:30,809 --> 00:47:32,102
has paid too much for it.
991
00:47:32,143 --> 00:47:33,478
I've paid too much for it.
992
00:47:33,561 --> 00:47:34,771
-I'm only 28.
-Yes, yes.
993
00:47:34,813 --> 00:47:36,231
'Cause, like,
I deserve, you know,
994
00:47:36,314 --> 00:47:37,816
to do whatever
I wanna do with it.
995
00:47:37,857 --> 00:47:40,860
-Mm-hmm.
-You know, whatever that means.
996
00:47:40,944 --> 00:47:42,779
Well, I-- personally,
I'm just not interested
997
00:47:42,821 --> 00:47:44,364
in many things
that people are interested in.
998
00:47:44,447 --> 00:47:47,826
I'm not interested
in the president or a Congress.
999
00:47:47,909 --> 00:47:50,036
Because it's still somebody
trying to run my life.
1000
00:47:50,120 --> 00:47:53,039
I'm not interested
in movements and ideologies.
1001
00:47:53,123 --> 00:47:54,916
I just don't give a damn.
1002
00:47:56,084 --> 00:47:59,462
♪ (GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
1003
00:48:04,342 --> 00:48:06,302
NIKKI: For the first two years
I was in New York,
1004
00:48:06,344 --> 00:48:07,762
I was just
taking care of myself.
1005
00:48:07,846 --> 00:48:11,349
But then after I had Thomas,
I had responsibilities, right?
1006
00:48:11,433 --> 00:48:13,518
And I didn't have a job
and didn't want a job,
1007
00:48:13,560 --> 00:48:14,728
wasn't looking for a job,
1008
00:48:14,811 --> 00:48:16,896
which meant that I had
to earn a living
1009
00:48:16,980 --> 00:48:19,274
from my poetry.
I had to buy diapers,
1010
00:48:19,357 --> 00:48:20,984
and for the first time
in my life,
1011
00:48:21,026 --> 00:48:22,652
I had to buy food for somebody.
1012
00:48:23,611 --> 00:48:25,238
I'd be on the road, uh...
1013
00:48:26,072 --> 00:48:29,868
I don't know,
48 weeks out of 52?
1014
00:48:29,909 --> 00:48:32,454
And so Thomas, of course,
is nomadic.
1015
00:48:32,537 --> 00:48:35,206
I mean, I'm sure to some degree
he felt like
1016
00:48:35,248 --> 00:48:37,125
life was more on an airplane
1017
00:48:37,208 --> 00:48:38,877
than anyplace else
'cause I took him with me
1018
00:48:38,960 --> 00:48:40,628
until he was able
to go to school.
1019
00:48:49,054 --> 00:48:51,056
NARRATOR: (AS NIKKI)
"My son is so lucky.
1020
00:48:51,139 --> 00:48:57,312
I had him educated, vaccinated,
and gave him swimming lessons.
1021
00:48:58,021 --> 00:48:59,397
He is unhappy.
1022
00:49:00,231 --> 00:49:02,275
He doesn't know that's love."
1023
00:49:04,027 --> 00:49:08,406
♪ (MELLOW JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
1024
00:49:09,741 --> 00:49:11,034
I have a son.
1025
00:49:11,076 --> 00:49:13,078
So I think I have some
insight into young men.
1026
00:49:13,161 --> 00:49:15,413
It is a sad thing sometimes
to be a Black man.
1027
00:49:16,539 --> 00:49:18,917
I rode off to colleges
for applications.
1028
00:49:19,000 --> 00:49:20,168
I did my little mother thing
1029
00:49:20,251 --> 00:49:21,920
so that he would know
what's available.
1030
00:49:22,003 --> 00:49:23,797
I took him around
to colleges and everything.
1031
00:49:23,880 --> 00:49:25,340
But he still did
wanna go to Paris,
1032
00:49:25,423 --> 00:49:26,883
because he said
he wanted to find himself.
1033
00:49:26,925 --> 00:49:28,093
I have to laugh at my son
1034
00:49:28,176 --> 00:49:29,427
because I'm always
under the impression
1035
00:49:29,469 --> 00:49:32,305
you cannot find something
where you didn't lose it.
1036
00:49:32,389 --> 00:49:34,974
♪ (MELLOW JAZZ MUSIC
CONTINUES) ♪
1037
00:49:35,058 --> 00:49:36,351
NIKKI:
We were sitting around talking
1038
00:49:36,434 --> 00:49:38,186
and I said, you know, "Have you
thought about college?"
1039
00:49:38,269 --> 00:49:39,521
"Well, I'm not ready."
1040
00:49:39,604 --> 00:49:41,564
I said, "Tell you what,
I have a counter offer here.
1041
00:49:41,606 --> 00:49:44,859
How about you go to the army,
or you get out of my life?"
1042
00:49:44,943 --> 00:49:46,444
-So...
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
1043
00:49:46,486 --> 00:49:48,029
It worked very well.
He went to the army.
1044
00:49:48,113 --> 00:49:50,115
-I'm very proud of him. (LAUGHS)
-(AUDIENCE CHUCKLING)
1045
00:49:50,156 --> 00:49:52,242
I am. He's soldier of the week
or something,
1046
00:49:52,283 --> 00:49:55,078
I get letters
from his commanding officer.
1047
00:49:55,120 --> 00:49:58,123
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
-It's been fun. It's been great.
1048
00:49:58,164 --> 00:49:59,833
Because my son grew up
with a bunch of women
1049
00:49:59,916 --> 00:50:01,001
and some of you all did.
1050
00:50:01,084 --> 00:50:03,003
And I'm like probably
any other parent.
1051
00:50:03,086 --> 00:50:04,254
You know,
he likes his milk glass
1052
00:50:04,295 --> 00:50:05,839
chilled in the morning.
So I would, you know,
1053
00:50:05,922 --> 00:50:06,965
wake up in the morning
1054
00:50:07,007 --> 00:50:08,216
and put his milk glass
in the freezer,
1055
00:50:08,299 --> 00:50:10,093
so that it would be nice
and cold for him.
1056
00:50:10,135 --> 00:50:12,220
He went to the army,
not only was the glass not cold,
1057
00:50:12,303 --> 00:50:14,305
-the milk wasn't. You know?
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
1058
00:50:14,389 --> 00:50:16,474
And that was a wonderful thing,
because my son realized
1059
00:50:16,516 --> 00:50:18,309
that everybody doesn't have
somebody who loves them.
1060
00:50:18,351 --> 00:50:20,020
Some of you
don't know that even yet.
1061
00:50:20,103 --> 00:50:21,646
Some of you think
the world is out there
1062
00:50:21,688 --> 00:50:22,480
and it's supposed to love you.
1063
00:50:22,564 --> 00:50:24,190
The world doesn't really
care very much.
1064
00:50:24,274 --> 00:50:25,316
Some of the world is hostile.
1065
00:50:25,400 --> 00:50:26,985
But, mostly, the world
doesn't give a damn.
1066
00:50:27,068 --> 00:50:28,945
And it's very hard
to get that across
1067
00:50:28,987 --> 00:50:30,530
to those of us
who are young men,
1068
00:50:30,613 --> 00:50:32,657
because you actually
get disappointed.
1069
00:50:32,741 --> 00:50:33,992
You know, your heart is hurt
1070
00:50:34,034 --> 00:50:36,411
that somebody
isn't being nice to you
1071
00:50:36,494 --> 00:50:37,328
or kind to you.
1072
00:50:37,370 --> 00:50:39,164
Reality says you're gonna
have to buck up.
1073
00:50:39,247 --> 00:50:42,667
♪ (SOFT PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
1074
00:50:51,051 --> 00:50:52,844
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
1075
00:50:52,927 --> 00:50:56,139
Not since Kobe, no matter
what the day is.
1076
00:50:56,181 --> 00:50:57,974
Oh, that's right.
1077
00:50:58,016 --> 00:51:00,143
GINNEY: Nikki and her son
were estranged
1078
00:51:00,185 --> 00:51:01,644
for a number of years.
1079
00:51:02,771 --> 00:51:05,774
The last couple of years,
they began to...
1080
00:51:07,359 --> 00:51:10,028
get back together and...
1081
00:51:10,111 --> 00:51:13,615
she's crazy about having
this granddaughter,
1082
00:51:13,698 --> 00:51:17,243
who she's really gotten to know
only in the last year or two.
1083
00:51:17,327 --> 00:51:19,412
And she and her son are...
1084
00:51:21,206 --> 00:51:23,541
having a friendship again.
1085
00:51:23,583 --> 00:51:26,211
And that's good,
'cause now we're old and...
1086
00:51:27,587 --> 00:51:30,298
who knows how long
anybody will live.
1087
00:51:30,382 --> 00:51:32,217
THOMAS:
You look like Grandmother.
1088
00:51:32,300 --> 00:51:33,468
NIKKI: I look like Grandmother?
1089
00:51:33,551 --> 00:51:35,553
-THOMAS: Mm-hmm.
-NIKKI: No, is that... (LAUGHS)
1090
00:51:35,595 --> 00:51:37,847
No, you make-- She used to make
the same face
1091
00:51:37,889 --> 00:51:39,265
-kinda sitting around.
-NIKKI: Really?
1092
00:51:39,349 --> 00:51:42,185
THOMAS: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
1093
00:51:42,227 --> 00:51:44,354
NIKKI: Can you take a photo
of me and Kai?
1094
00:51:47,982 --> 00:51:49,275
If you don't mind.
1095
00:51:51,778 --> 00:51:52,946
This look okay to you?
1096
00:51:53,029 --> 00:51:54,489
-Yes.
-My face look okay?
1097
00:51:54,572 --> 00:51:56,491
Very nice.
1098
00:51:56,574 --> 00:51:58,743
REPORTER:
Tell us about the title
of your book.
1099
00:51:58,785 --> 00:51:59,536
I'm sorry?
1100
00:51:59,577 --> 00:52:00,745
REPORTER:
The title of your book.
1101
00:52:00,829 --> 00:52:01,788
Make Me Rain?
1102
00:52:01,871 --> 00:52:03,790
REPORTER: Yeah, and how did you
come up with that?
1103
00:52:03,873 --> 00:52:07,085
Actually, having Kai here,
that's why I wanted a picture.
1104
00:52:07,168 --> 00:52:09,129
If I'm rain, she's the blossom.
1105
00:52:09,212 --> 00:52:10,672
As you get older, which,
1106
00:52:10,755 --> 00:52:12,757
I'm the oldest person here,
of course,
1107
00:52:12,841 --> 00:52:14,300
one of the things you know
1108
00:52:14,384 --> 00:52:16,386
is that you wanna
leave something.
1109
00:52:16,428 --> 00:52:18,054
And the only way
to leave something
1110
00:52:18,096 --> 00:52:19,514
is to transition it.
1111
00:52:19,597 --> 00:52:21,933
And so rain
is what makes that possible.
1112
00:52:22,017 --> 00:52:24,602
-(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)
-PHOTOGRAPHER 1: And smile.
1113
00:52:24,686 --> 00:52:26,396
-PHOTOGRAPHER 2: Big smile...
-PHOTOGRAPHER 1: Yeah!
1114
00:52:26,438 --> 00:52:27,564
(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING)
1115
00:52:27,605 --> 00:52:29,024
PHOTOGRAPHER 2:
Don't worry about those teeth.
1116
00:52:29,107 --> 00:52:30,608
-PHOTOGRAPHER 1: Perfect.
-(CHUCKLES)
1117
00:52:33,236 --> 00:52:35,405
(VEHICLES HONKING)
1118
00:52:37,365 --> 00:52:39,242
NIKKI: Pearl always says
I didn't babysit her
1119
00:52:39,284 --> 00:52:40,994
because I'm not that much
older than she is.
1120
00:52:41,077 --> 00:52:42,287
But what she forgets
1121
00:52:42,370 --> 00:52:46,124
is that the difference
between 20 and 12,
1122
00:52:46,207 --> 00:52:47,375
is-- it changes.
1123
00:52:47,459 --> 00:52:50,045
-When you're 20 and 28, right?
-(PEARL CHUCKLING)
1124
00:52:50,128 --> 00:52:53,465
And when you get to be
40 and 48, right?
1125
00:52:53,548 --> 00:52:54,341
It gets erased.
1126
00:52:54,424 --> 00:52:56,593
You're actually now
older than I am.
1127
00:52:56,634 --> 00:52:58,636
-Because--
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
1128
00:52:58,678 --> 00:53:00,472
-(LAUGHS)
-Right?
1129
00:53:00,513 --> 00:53:02,640
Because she's
a grandmother and I'm not.
1130
00:53:02,682 --> 00:53:04,017
-And grandmothers--
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
1131
00:53:04,100 --> 00:53:07,771
I could go out into the street
and get my head beat, right?
1132
00:53:07,812 --> 00:53:09,814
Or I could babysit
1133
00:53:09,856 --> 00:53:11,858
and be doing revolutionary duty.
1134
00:53:11,941 --> 00:53:13,318
This was a no-brainer.
1135
00:53:13,401 --> 00:53:15,153
-(PEARL LAUGHING)
-So...
1136
00:53:15,236 --> 00:53:18,073
♪ (PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
1137
00:53:18,156 --> 00:53:20,200
NIKKI: Detroit was the center.
1138
00:53:21,368 --> 00:53:24,204
And Reverend Cleage
was very, very important.
1139
00:53:24,287 --> 00:53:27,165
ALBERT CLEAGE: Everybody knows
police brutality exists.
1140
00:53:27,248 --> 00:53:29,250
For police officers
to take our time,
1141
00:53:29,334 --> 00:53:31,336
to waste the time
of an entire nation,
1142
00:53:31,378 --> 00:53:33,546
talking about they never heard
of police brutality,
1143
00:53:33,630 --> 00:53:34,839
they don't know
what Black people
1144
00:53:34,923 --> 00:53:35,757
are talking about,
1145
00:53:35,840 --> 00:53:37,592
they can't prove it.
We know in Detroit,
1146
00:53:37,676 --> 00:53:41,346
any time a Black person
is brutalized by the police,
1147
00:53:41,388 --> 00:53:43,264
he goes into court
and he's arrested
1148
00:53:43,348 --> 00:53:44,349
for assault and battery.
1149
00:53:44,391 --> 00:53:46,351
Now, the basic issue
is so simple,
1150
00:53:46,393 --> 00:53:47,977
and nobody will even touch it,
1151
00:53:48,019 --> 00:53:49,437
because you're afraid
to touch it.
1152
00:53:49,521 --> 00:53:51,690
You are deliberately trying
to evade the issue.
1153
00:53:51,731 --> 00:53:54,818
-Everybody--
-(AUDIENCE CHEERING)
1154
00:53:56,486 --> 00:54:02,075
NIKKI: And Reverend Cleage knew
that he couldn't leave his kids.
1155
00:54:02,158 --> 00:54:03,368
Couldn't leave 'em alone.
1156
00:54:03,410 --> 00:54:05,870
And so he needed somebody
to stay with the kids.
1157
00:54:05,912 --> 00:54:06,830
I'd laugh, but it's true.
1158
00:54:06,871 --> 00:54:09,332
I said, "I'll stay.
I'll stay with 'em."
1159
00:54:09,374 --> 00:54:11,626
And, of course, you're gonna
turn the lights out
1160
00:54:11,710 --> 00:54:13,420
because everybody knew
where Reverend Cleage
1161
00:54:13,503 --> 00:54:16,339
and Mrs. Cleage lived.
And everybody knew...
1162
00:54:17,382 --> 00:54:19,509
how to go in and shoot them.
And so,
1163
00:54:19,551 --> 00:54:21,886
one of the things that Al,
his name was Al, that Al knew
1164
00:54:21,928 --> 00:54:25,849
was that I was not
gonna let his kids get killed.
1165
00:54:25,890 --> 00:54:29,227
During those days, of course,
everybody, you know, had a gun.
1166
00:54:29,269 --> 00:54:32,063
So, uh, you just prepare to...
1167
00:54:32,147 --> 00:54:34,858
to take care of the people
you're supposed to take care of.
1168
00:54:36,526 --> 00:54:39,612
I say violence is necessary.
1169
00:54:39,696 --> 00:54:42,032
Violence is a part
of America's culture.
1170
00:54:42,073 --> 00:54:44,284
It is as American as cherry pie.
1171
00:54:44,367 --> 00:54:46,119
It's not us
that's preaching violence.
1172
00:54:46,202 --> 00:54:48,163
It's not us
that's dealing violence.
1173
00:54:48,204 --> 00:54:50,707
It's us that are being
subjected to violence.
1174
00:54:51,750 --> 00:54:53,418
♪ (TENSE ETHEREAL MUSIC
PLAYING) ♪
1175
00:54:53,501 --> 00:54:55,086
NARRATOR: (AS NIKKI)
"Nigger, can you kill?
1176
00:54:55,920 --> 00:54:57,047
Can you kill?
1177
00:54:58,256 --> 00:54:59,924
Can a nigger kill a honky?
1178
00:55:03,011 --> 00:55:04,929
Can a nigger kill the man?
1179
00:55:06,431 --> 00:55:08,641
Can you kill, nigger, huh?
1180
00:55:10,518 --> 00:55:13,813
Do you know how to draw blood?
Can you poison?
1181
00:55:14,397 --> 00:55:15,732
Can you kill?
1182
00:55:20,445 --> 00:55:23,782
Can you run a Protestant down
with your '68 El Dorado?
1183
00:55:24,699 --> 00:55:26,034
Can you kill?
1184
00:55:26,117 --> 00:55:30,246
Can you piss on a blonde head?
Can you cut it off?
1185
00:55:30,288 --> 00:55:32,624
Can you kill the nigger in you?
1186
00:55:33,583 --> 00:55:34,834
A nigger can die.
1187
00:55:34,918 --> 00:55:36,961
We ain't got to prove
we can die.
1188
00:55:37,045 --> 00:55:39,506
We got to prove we can kill.
1189
00:55:39,589 --> 00:55:41,800
We killed in Vietnam for them.
1190
00:55:41,883 --> 00:55:45,637
We kill for UN and NATO,
and SEATO and US,
1191
00:55:45,720 --> 00:55:49,349
and everywhere
for all alphabet but Black.
1192
00:55:50,433 --> 00:55:53,395
Can we learn to kill White
for Black?
1193
00:55:53,478 --> 00:55:58,149
Learn to kill, niggers.
Learn to be Black men."
1194
00:55:59,359 --> 00:56:02,779
♪ (PENSIVE DREAMY MUSIC
PLAYING) ♪
1195
00:56:09,953 --> 00:56:11,329
(CROWD WHISTLING)
1196
00:56:11,371 --> 00:56:15,667
♪ (CROWD SINGING
"THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER") ♪
1197
00:56:16,001 --> 00:56:17,794
(LOUD CRASH)
1198
00:56:17,836 --> 00:56:21,881
♪ (PENSIVE DREAMY MUSIC
CONTINUES) ♪
1199
00:56:57,042 --> 00:56:58,835
NIKKI: I like football.
1200
00:56:59,878 --> 00:57:02,672
And when I watch the young men,
I watch Colin,
1201
00:57:02,714 --> 00:57:05,467
and then we watch the others,
and they're takin' a knee.
1202
00:57:05,550 --> 00:57:09,179
Any man that gets on his knee,
1203
00:57:09,220 --> 00:57:12,515
-we know that's an act of love.
-(AUDIENCE APPLAUDS)
1204
00:57:12,557 --> 00:57:15,435
NIKKI: We know that.
We know that.
1205
00:57:15,518 --> 00:57:16,561
They are on their knee,
1206
00:57:16,644 --> 00:57:18,063
and they're saying
to the Constitution,
1207
00:57:18,146 --> 00:57:19,356
"Do you love me?"
1208
00:57:19,397 --> 00:57:20,565
How wonderful
1209
00:57:20,607 --> 00:57:23,360
that they are saying
"I love you.
1210
00:57:23,401 --> 00:57:27,197
Now you have to love me back."
1211
00:57:27,238 --> 00:57:28,948
But I think
the most important thing
1212
00:57:29,032 --> 00:57:29,908
that we have to do now
1213
00:57:29,991 --> 00:57:32,369
is take the guns away
from policemen.
1214
00:57:32,410 --> 00:57:34,829
(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING)
1215
00:57:34,913 --> 00:57:36,915
And I know, some of you say
"Oh, Nikki,
1216
00:57:36,998 --> 00:57:38,750
if we take the guns
away from the policemen,
1217
00:57:38,792 --> 00:57:40,001
the policemen will get shot."
1218
00:57:40,085 --> 00:57:43,171
-Well, yes. They will.
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
1219
00:57:43,254 --> 00:57:47,425
-NIKKI: These things happen.
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
1220
00:57:47,509 --> 00:57:50,929
But you can't keep shooting
people who are unarmed.
1221
00:57:51,012 --> 00:57:52,180
(CROWD MURMURING)
1222
00:57:52,263 --> 00:57:56,267
NIKKI: Because I'm really sick
of people picking on Black men.
1223
00:57:56,351 --> 00:58:00,021
(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING)
1224
00:58:00,105 --> 00:58:03,608
In 1983, I wrote you
and you wrote me back.
1225
00:58:03,650 --> 00:58:06,778
I was in college ready to quit.
1226
00:58:06,861 --> 00:58:09,280
'Cause it was-- You know,
I was on a seven-year plan.
1227
00:58:09,364 --> 00:58:10,740
-So I... (CHUCKLES)
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
1228
00:58:10,782 --> 00:58:13,159
And you said, "Don't give up."
1229
00:58:13,243 --> 00:58:14,619
You told me not to give up.
1230
00:58:14,703 --> 00:58:17,831
I was at Florida A&M.
I didn't give up.
1231
00:58:17,914 --> 00:58:21,042
And I'm now a teacher
in Newark, New Jersey.
1232
00:58:21,126 --> 00:58:24,254
But I love you.
My sister used to read me you.
1233
00:58:24,295 --> 00:58:26,214
-(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING)
-"Nikki-Rosa."
1234
00:58:26,297 --> 00:58:27,590
I felt you.
1235
00:58:27,632 --> 00:58:30,135
-(NIKKI LAUGHING)
-'Cause I know the pains.
1236
00:58:30,176 --> 00:58:33,263
"It's not your father's drinking
that makes any difference."
1237
00:58:33,304 --> 00:58:36,683
♪ (MELLOW JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
1238
00:58:37,726 --> 00:58:40,645
(CROWD MURMURING)
1239
00:58:51,698 --> 00:58:53,658
GUEST 1: I loved tonight.
It was awesome.
1240
00:58:53,742 --> 00:58:55,368
-Thank you.
-GUEST 1: Yes!
1241
00:58:55,452 --> 00:58:57,245
Thank you for being
such an inspiration.
1242
00:58:57,328 --> 00:58:58,788
NIKKI: Oh, thank you.
1243
00:58:59,330 --> 00:59:01,458
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
1244
00:59:01,499 --> 00:59:04,169
My daughter's name
is Maya Giovanni
1245
00:59:04,252 --> 00:59:05,962
-after you.
-(NIKKI LAUGHING)
1246
00:59:07,172 --> 00:59:09,841
-GUEST 2: Thank you so much.
-NIKKI: It's my pleasure.
1247
00:59:09,883 --> 00:59:11,092
GUEST 3: Ms. Giovanni,
I just wanna say
1248
00:59:11,176 --> 00:59:13,053
-it's an honor meeting you.
-It's my pleasure.
1249
00:59:13,136 --> 00:59:15,680
I'm a poet myself.
You're an inspiration to me.
1250
00:59:15,722 --> 00:59:17,265
I saw you, like,
on Def Jam Poetry.
1251
00:59:17,349 --> 00:59:20,518
GUEST 4: Now, I'm saying this,
and I have to get my phone out.
1252
00:59:20,602 --> 00:59:22,228
-(LAUGHS)
-GUEST 5: Thank you so much.
1253
00:59:22,312 --> 00:59:25,690
I just wanna let you know
that your unapologetic spirit
1254
00:59:25,774 --> 00:59:28,276
is what inspired me
to do my PhD.
1255
00:59:28,360 --> 00:59:30,904
GUEST 6: Aw, thank you so much.
1256
00:59:30,987 --> 00:59:33,740
GUEST 7: I've been following
you a long time. I love you.
1257
00:59:33,823 --> 00:59:36,201
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
-NIKKI: Well, thank you.
1258
00:59:36,284 --> 00:59:39,371
(RAIN PATTERING)
1259
00:59:39,412 --> 00:59:41,706
♪ (MELLOW JAZZ MUSIC FADES) ♪
1260
00:59:45,543 --> 00:59:49,756
♪ (PENSIVE DREAMY MUSIC
PLAYING) ♪
1261
00:59:49,839 --> 00:59:52,717
NIKKI: (ECHOING)
"I used to dream militant dreams
1262
00:59:52,801 --> 00:59:55,220
of taking over America
1263
00:59:55,261 --> 00:59:57,389
to show these White folks
how it should be done.
1264
00:59:57,430 --> 01:00:01,518
I used to dream radical dreams
of blowing everyone away
1265
01:00:01,601 --> 01:00:05,105
with my perceptive powers
of correct analysis.
1266
01:00:05,188 --> 01:00:09,401
I even used to think
I'd be the one to stop the riot
1267
01:00:09,484 --> 01:00:11,319
and negotiate the peace."
1268
01:00:13,488 --> 01:00:17,701
♪ (PENSIVE DREAMY MUSIC
CONTINUES) ♪
1269
01:00:19,869 --> 01:00:21,705
TOURÉ: In the evolution
of your career,
1270
01:00:21,746 --> 01:00:23,289
there's an irony
that as you became
1271
01:00:23,373 --> 01:00:26,376
more radicalized,
you work became more popular.
1272
01:00:26,418 --> 01:00:29,546
-Do you agree?
-NIKKI: No.
1273
01:00:29,587 --> 01:00:31,631
INTERVIEWER:
There is some really strong
1274
01:00:31,715 --> 01:00:34,134
revolutionary poetry
such as, "Can You Kill."
1275
01:00:34,217 --> 01:00:36,094
-What has changed?
-NIKKI: I've gotten older.
1276
01:00:36,136 --> 01:00:37,846
-INTERVIEWER: Have you?
-NIKKI: Sure. (CHUCKLES)
1277
01:00:37,929 --> 01:00:39,139
-INTERVIEWER: You--
-NIKKI: Haven't we all?
1278
01:00:39,222 --> 01:00:40,682
INTERVIEWER: You see, you have
a poem that begins
1279
01:00:40,765 --> 01:00:42,308
"I used to dream
militant dreams."
1280
01:00:42,392 --> 01:00:43,435
NIKKI: Yeah, "of taking over."
1281
01:00:43,518 --> 01:00:44,978
INTERVIEWER:
But you don't anymore?
1282
01:00:45,061 --> 01:00:46,354
NIKKI: The poem ends though,
1283
01:00:46,438 --> 01:00:49,357
"I awoke, and that if I dream
natural dreams..."
1284
01:00:49,441 --> 01:00:51,776
...of being a natural woman,
1285
01:00:51,818 --> 01:00:54,988
doing what a woman does
when she is natural,
1286
01:00:55,071 --> 01:00:59,117
-I would have a revolution."
-(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING)
1287
01:01:14,132 --> 01:01:16,343
INTERVIEWER: There are people
who express some disappointment
1288
01:01:16,426 --> 01:01:18,345
that you've changed.
How do you react to that?
1289
01:01:18,428 --> 01:01:19,346
NIKKI: I'm real sorry,
1290
01:01:19,429 --> 01:01:21,598
but I think that
my responsibility in my life
1291
01:01:21,639 --> 01:01:22,891
is to grow.
1292
01:01:26,436 --> 01:01:31,524
(CHANTING IN
SOUTH AFRICAN LANGUAGE)
1293
01:01:31,608 --> 01:01:34,861
♪ (TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
1294
01:01:37,072 --> 01:01:39,157
(FIRE CRACKLING)
1295
01:01:39,240 --> 01:01:40,992
(PROTESTERS CLAMORING)
1296
01:01:41,034 --> 01:01:42,410
TV REPORTER 1: (IN ENGLISH)
In Washington today,
1297
01:01:42,494 --> 01:01:44,871
Jesse Jackson joined the list
of prominent Americans arrested
1298
01:01:44,954 --> 01:01:46,956
in anti-apartheid protests.
1299
01:01:46,998 --> 01:01:48,500
-(GUNSHOT)
-(PROTESTERS SCREAMING)
1300
01:01:48,541 --> 01:01:50,877
TV REPORTER 2: Harry Belafonte,
Senator Lowell Weicker,
1301
01:01:50,960 --> 01:01:52,837
and Gloria Steinem
have something in common.
1302
01:01:52,879 --> 01:01:54,881
They are but a few
of the hundreds of Americans
1303
01:01:54,964 --> 01:01:56,841
who have been arrested
for demonstrating
1304
01:01:56,883 --> 01:01:58,343
against South African apartheid.
1305
01:02:00,970 --> 01:02:04,224
TV REPORTER 3: Nikki Giovanni
is strongly opposed to apartheid
1306
01:02:04,307 --> 01:02:07,018
but scornful
of the demonstrations.
1307
01:02:07,060 --> 01:02:09,979
NIKKI: I think it's really cheap
that you go over there at 4:15.
1308
01:02:10,021 --> 01:02:11,856
You're arrested
by quarter to five.
1309
01:02:11,898 --> 01:02:13,817
You're taken down
to the police station.
1310
01:02:13,858 --> 01:02:15,860
You're booked maybe 5:30.
1311
01:02:15,902 --> 01:02:18,196
You're home in time
for The Joker's Wild.
1312
01:02:18,238 --> 01:02:20,490
You haven't even missed
your favorite TV show.
1313
01:02:21,991 --> 01:02:24,911
HARRY BELAFONTE: Our protests
and the protests of so many
1314
01:02:24,994 --> 01:02:27,163
that represents the leadership
voice in this country
1315
01:02:27,205 --> 01:02:29,708
and who have come down
to Washington to demonstrate,
1316
01:02:29,749 --> 01:02:31,209
to lend themselves
to being arrested.
1317
01:02:31,292 --> 01:02:34,379
I've done a lot to bring Africa,
South Africa particularly,
1318
01:02:34,421 --> 01:02:36,548
to the consciousness
to the American people.
1319
01:02:37,882 --> 01:02:41,011
NIKKI: This is a movement
right now at the top.
1320
01:02:41,052 --> 01:02:43,430
There is no
bottom movement at all.
1321
01:02:43,513 --> 01:02:44,931
This is all head, no body.
1322
01:02:45,015 --> 01:02:47,100
You've got traditional
Black leadership group,
1323
01:02:47,183 --> 01:02:50,103
you've got celebrity-type names.
1324
01:02:50,186 --> 01:02:53,064
♪ (TENSE MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪
1325
01:03:04,284 --> 01:03:06,161
I just don't see
no little old church ladies,
1326
01:03:06,244 --> 01:03:07,746
I don't see
the buses rolling up.
1327
01:03:07,829 --> 01:03:10,540
I don't see
the community organizing.
1328
01:03:20,425 --> 01:03:23,094
♪ (MUSIC TURNS PENSIVE) ♪
1329
01:03:39,444 --> 01:03:41,404
(WHIRRING)
1330
01:04:02,175 --> 01:04:05,011
NARRATOR: (AS NIKKI)
"Maybe you are crushed
against the wall.
1331
01:04:05,804 --> 01:04:07,555
But still I do know this.
1332
01:04:08,807 --> 01:04:10,934
You have to know who you are.
1333
01:04:11,810 --> 01:04:13,603
And you can't give up on that.
1334
01:04:17,023 --> 01:04:20,318
Or you will become
what you don't want to be."
1335
01:04:21,820 --> 01:04:24,364
(RAIN PATTERING)
1336
01:04:24,989 --> 01:04:28,326
(ERRATIC RHYTHMIC TICKING)
1337
01:04:28,368 --> 01:04:30,912
NIKKI: My father was a fool,
by the way.
1338
01:04:30,995 --> 01:04:33,331
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
-Which-- He was.
1339
01:04:33,373 --> 01:04:36,334
Another reason that I know
I'm not going to heaven.
1340
01:04:37,293 --> 01:04:39,004
And I'm gonna
end up in hell with Gus,
1341
01:04:39,087 --> 01:04:40,213
'cause we have some things
to discuss.
1342
01:04:40,296 --> 01:04:43,174
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
-(NIKKI LAUGHING)
1343
01:04:43,216 --> 01:04:46,094
But one day the phone rang
and it was Mommy.
1344
01:04:46,177 --> 01:04:49,597
And she said, "You know, Nikki.
Your father's in a hospital."
1345
01:04:49,681 --> 01:04:52,517
And I knew that the next thing
I had to do was to be home.
1346
01:04:52,559 --> 01:04:55,020
So I bought Mommy a house.
I said we're moving.
1347
01:04:55,061 --> 01:04:57,647
And so we moved,
and now we're in my house.
1348
01:04:57,689 --> 01:04:59,607
So Gus and I
were having an argument.
1349
01:04:59,649 --> 01:05:01,026
He got upset
and he's gonna get up
1350
01:05:01,067 --> 01:05:02,527
and I said, "Gus,
1351
01:05:02,610 --> 01:05:05,864
the floor that you're
gettin' up on is my floor.
1352
01:05:05,905 --> 01:05:09,075
The chair you're leaning on
is my chair."
1353
01:05:09,159 --> 01:05:10,994
And so, now he's gettin' ready
to go to his bedroom
1354
01:05:11,036 --> 01:05:12,287
'cause he's angry with me.
1355
01:05:12,370 --> 01:05:16,499
And I said, "The bedroom
you're going in is my bedroom.
1356
01:05:16,541 --> 01:05:20,670
The mattress you're gonna
stretch out on is my mattress."
1357
01:05:20,712 --> 01:05:22,547
So now we have a conversation.
1358
01:05:22,589 --> 01:05:24,591
And I said, "Lemme tell you
what's gonna happen
1359
01:05:24,674 --> 01:05:26,051
for the rest of your life.
1360
01:05:26,092 --> 01:05:28,720
You're gonna wake up
in the morning
1361
01:05:28,803 --> 01:05:30,138
and you're gonna
smile at this woman
1362
01:05:30,221 --> 01:05:32,057
who put up with you
all of these years,
1363
01:05:32,098 --> 01:05:34,059
and you're gonna tell her
how happy you were
1364
01:05:34,100 --> 01:05:35,769
that she put up with you,
1365
01:05:35,852 --> 01:05:36,936
how much you love her
1366
01:05:37,020 --> 01:05:38,271
and all that she's done
for you."
1367
01:05:38,355 --> 01:05:40,190
I said, "Do you understand me?
1368
01:05:40,231 --> 01:05:43,068
You will smile
and tell your wife every morning
1369
01:05:43,151 --> 01:05:45,403
you love her.
Should you fail to do that,
1370
01:05:45,487 --> 01:05:48,073
I'm gonna have you put away.
Do you understand me?"
1371
01:05:48,114 --> 01:05:50,575
-So--
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
1372
01:05:50,617 --> 01:05:52,911
-NIKKI: He knew I would too.
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
1373
01:05:52,994 --> 01:05:54,454
Ultimately, though,
of course, he died.
1374
01:05:54,537 --> 01:05:56,331
And when he did,
you knew he was gonna die.
1375
01:05:56,414 --> 01:05:58,083
So when he died, you know,
we buried him.
1376
01:05:58,124 --> 01:06:00,585
-And I was talking to--
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
1377
01:06:00,627 --> 01:06:02,253
Well, I could've thrown him
in the backyard
1378
01:06:02,337 --> 01:06:03,713
and let the dogs eat him, but...
1379
01:06:03,755 --> 01:06:05,715
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
1380
01:06:05,757 --> 01:06:07,967
♪ (GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
1381
01:06:08,051 --> 01:06:10,387
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
1382
01:06:14,933 --> 01:06:17,435
(LEAVES RUSTLING)
1383
01:06:21,606 --> 01:06:23,942
NARRATOR: (AS NIKKI)
"Sometimes we share a poem
1384
01:06:24,025 --> 01:06:26,903
because people are near,
1385
01:06:26,945 --> 01:06:30,198
and they would notice me
noticing you.
1386
01:06:30,281 --> 01:06:34,744
So I write X and you write O
and we both win.
1387
01:06:36,162 --> 01:06:42,335
But always we share a poem
because belief predates action.
1388
01:06:42,419 --> 01:06:46,506
And I believe the most
beautiful poem ever heard
1389
01:06:47,424 --> 01:06:49,050
is your heart...
1390
01:06:49,759 --> 01:06:51,094
racing."
1391
01:06:59,978 --> 01:07:01,146
GINNEY:
I recruited Nikki
1392
01:07:01,187 --> 01:07:03,356
to this position here at Tech.
1393
01:07:03,440 --> 01:07:05,442
We had a program and I thought
1394
01:07:06,192 --> 01:07:08,611
she would be great
with students.
1395
01:07:08,653 --> 01:07:11,156
So we put together
a nomination package
1396
01:07:11,239 --> 01:07:13,950
and surprise, surprise,
she accepted
1397
01:07:13,992 --> 01:07:16,494
and came here in '87.
1398
01:07:17,120 --> 01:07:19,122
I became interested
1399
01:07:19,164 --> 01:07:22,500
in the academic
opposition to Nikki.
1400
01:07:22,584 --> 01:07:24,502
They didn't wanna
give her tenure.
1401
01:07:24,586 --> 01:07:26,087
Part of what they had
against her
1402
01:07:26,171 --> 01:07:28,423
is that she was a popular poet.
1403
01:07:29,007 --> 01:07:31,176
And popularity doesn't...
1404
01:07:31,259 --> 01:07:33,678
usually sit well with academics.
1405
01:07:34,971 --> 01:07:36,890
STUDENT: "Spring gave away
to these hot days,
1406
01:07:36,973 --> 01:07:38,808
before they fell
into the school bell ringing
1407
01:07:38,850 --> 01:07:40,268
and snowflakes falling.
1408
01:07:40,352 --> 01:07:43,772
I'm sure they'd cash today in
to be those girls again,
1409
01:07:43,855 --> 01:07:45,190
to drive a Power Wheel outside
1410
01:07:45,273 --> 01:07:47,192
and be home
when the streetlight came on."
1411
01:07:48,234 --> 01:07:49,819
I think it's one
of your best pieces.
1412
01:07:49,861 --> 01:07:51,696
Thank you.
I wrote it on the Megabus
1413
01:07:51,738 --> 01:07:53,031
back home to see my family.
1414
01:07:53,073 --> 01:07:54,866
-(GIGGLES)
-(LAUGHS)
1415
01:07:54,908 --> 01:07:56,201
And buses are to be recom--
1416
01:07:56,242 --> 01:07:58,536
I really-- Don't you think
it's one of her best pieces?
1417
01:07:59,996 --> 01:08:01,289
I think that we as writers,
1418
01:08:01,373 --> 01:08:04,334
as we are sharing
the things that are essential,
1419
01:08:04,376 --> 01:08:07,337
that are important to us,
that are important to our...
1420
01:08:07,379 --> 01:08:10,757
to our hearts,
that we want to share,
1421
01:08:10,840 --> 01:08:12,092
then we share that.
1422
01:08:12,175 --> 01:08:14,552
And if somebody learns
something from it, we're happy.
1423
01:08:14,636 --> 01:08:16,388
And somebody
comes up to us, you know,
1424
01:08:16,429 --> 01:08:18,765
in 20 years and says,
"Oh, I read your poem,
1425
01:08:18,848 --> 01:08:21,475
you know, when I was 17,
and it meant so much to me."
1426
01:08:22,102 --> 01:08:23,645
You couldn't be happier.
1427
01:08:23,728 --> 01:08:27,148
But you didn't write that poem
to instruct them.
1428
01:08:27,232 --> 01:08:29,274
You wrote that poem...
1429
01:08:29,359 --> 01:08:32,569
because you had something
on your mind or on your heart
1430
01:08:32,612 --> 01:08:34,029
and you shared it.
1431
01:08:34,072 --> 01:08:36,366
So it's not that
we use our talent
1432
01:08:36,408 --> 01:08:38,076
to tell people what to do,
1433
01:08:38,158 --> 01:08:40,662
it's that we use
our vulnerability to share...
1434
01:08:41,621 --> 01:08:43,915
the love in our hearts,
don't you think?
1435
01:08:45,082 --> 01:08:47,419
I really do. I really do.
1436
01:08:47,502 --> 01:08:50,714
♪ (PENSIVE DREAMY MUSIC
PLAYING) ♪
1437
01:08:56,803 --> 01:09:00,348
NIKKI: I know that you can be
with a lot of people.
1438
01:09:00,432 --> 01:09:02,934
And there's still,
there's just part of you
1439
01:09:02,975 --> 01:09:05,437
that belongs to you.
1440
01:09:07,022 --> 01:09:08,857
Especially artists.
1441
01:09:10,066 --> 01:09:12,694
Because this is how
you get your art done.
1442
01:09:14,069 --> 01:09:15,613
This is the price you pay.
1443
01:09:18,283 --> 01:09:19,951
I'm fortunate
because I'm a poet,
1444
01:09:20,035 --> 01:09:21,618
and poets are allowed
to be hopeful.
1445
01:09:21,703 --> 01:09:23,580
We are allowed to speak
to the human condition
1446
01:09:23,621 --> 01:09:26,291
and we're allowed
to remind people
1447
01:09:26,374 --> 01:09:28,667
that the only
worthwhile endeavor
1448
01:09:28,752 --> 01:09:30,211
is another human being.
1449
01:09:33,590 --> 01:09:36,426
And we have the ability
to contemplate the future
1450
01:09:36,468 --> 01:09:38,511
and to look back into the past.
1451
01:09:39,386 --> 01:09:41,055
Somebody has to think
the thought
1452
01:09:41,139 --> 01:09:42,515
that has not yet been thought.
1453
01:09:42,599 --> 01:09:45,810
♪ (PENSIVE DREAMY MUSIC
CONTINUES) ♪
1454
01:09:45,852 --> 01:09:47,395
NIKKI: You have children
1455
01:09:47,479 --> 01:09:51,107
basically so that you can start
somebody off where you finished.
1456
01:09:51,149 --> 01:09:52,484
-You see what I'm saying?
-INTERVIEWER: Yes.
1457
01:09:52,524 --> 01:09:53,859
So whether
it's our literary children,
1458
01:09:53,943 --> 01:09:56,154
or our physical children,
or our emotional children,
1459
01:09:56,237 --> 01:09:57,530
I want somebody
to be able to say,
1460
01:09:57,614 --> 01:09:59,115
"Okay now,
since Nikki learned that,
1461
01:09:59,157 --> 01:10:00,158
I can go forward."
1462
01:10:00,200 --> 01:10:02,202
Not to have
to repeat what I did.
1463
01:10:02,285 --> 01:10:03,328
There's no point in me
1464
01:10:03,370 --> 01:10:04,662
having trod
the path that I trod
1465
01:10:04,746 --> 01:10:06,998
if nobody else
is gonna be able to go further.
1466
01:10:15,674 --> 01:10:17,717
♪ (PENSIVE DREAMY MUSIC FADES) ♪
1467
01:10:17,801 --> 01:10:19,469
NIKKI: Lately,
I've been trying to think
1468
01:10:19,511 --> 01:10:21,763
I wonder what kind of slave
I would have been.
1469
01:10:21,846 --> 01:10:24,349
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
1470
01:10:24,391 --> 01:10:26,434
Or those of us who are White,
don't you wonder,
1471
01:10:26,518 --> 01:10:28,937
"What kind of slave owner
would I have been?
1472
01:10:29,020 --> 01:10:30,355
Don't you?
1473
01:10:31,272 --> 01:10:33,608
You too
are a part of segregation.
1474
01:10:33,692 --> 01:10:35,694
You too
are a part of slavery.
1475
01:10:35,735 --> 01:10:37,570
And we wanna know...
1476
01:10:37,654 --> 01:10:40,323
what were you thinking?
What were you hoping?
1477
01:10:40,365 --> 01:10:42,742
Because it's not fair
to act like slavery
1478
01:10:42,826 --> 01:10:45,161
and Blackness is just us.
1479
01:10:45,203 --> 01:10:46,996
It's you too.
1480
01:10:47,038 --> 01:10:48,915
Some of it
might be embarrassing.
1481
01:10:48,998 --> 01:10:51,835
But you have a story to tell
because it's a part
1482
01:10:51,876 --> 01:10:54,087
of the American story.
1483
01:10:54,170 --> 01:10:58,049
(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING)
1484
01:11:00,760 --> 01:11:04,764
I'm 75,
which I highly recommend.
1485
01:11:04,848 --> 01:11:07,017
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
1486
01:11:07,058 --> 01:11:08,560
And I've been having
trouble hearing.
1487
01:11:08,601 --> 01:11:10,395
But I'm so proud
of my hearing aid.
1488
01:11:10,437 --> 01:11:13,148
So for any of you
who have trouble hearing,
1489
01:11:13,231 --> 01:11:14,899
I'm gonna recommend
a hearing aid.
1490
01:11:14,983 --> 01:11:16,026
(AUDIENCE CHUCKLING)
1491
01:11:16,067 --> 01:11:17,318
NIKKI:
It's not all that expensive.
1492
01:11:17,402 --> 01:11:19,237
And it's amazing because
1493
01:11:19,320 --> 01:11:22,032
if you're hearing goes bad,
you know what happens?
1494
01:11:22,073 --> 01:11:23,908
You end up with dementia,
1495
01:11:23,950 --> 01:11:27,245
because a part of your brain
goes to sleep.
1496
01:11:27,287 --> 01:11:28,413
And you can't, you know--
1497
01:11:28,455 --> 01:11:29,831
And then you become
unpleasant to be around.
1498
01:11:29,914 --> 01:11:31,916
'Cause they're like,
"Oh, I don't like to be
around Grandpa,
1499
01:11:32,000 --> 01:11:33,209
because he keeps saying 'What?'"
1500
01:11:33,251 --> 01:11:34,878
Well, a little hearing aid.
1501
01:11:34,919 --> 01:11:36,338
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
-See?
1502
01:11:36,421 --> 01:11:38,798
-It looks great, doesn't it?
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
1503
01:11:38,882 --> 01:11:41,926
It does. And so I'm always
either adding things.
1504
01:11:41,968 --> 01:11:42,761
I had breast cancer
1505
01:11:42,844 --> 01:11:44,929
and my doctor,
my surgeon actually,
1506
01:11:44,971 --> 01:11:47,557
she said, "Well, we can
take it out and you can have--"
1507
01:11:47,599 --> 01:11:49,768
you know, what is that thing,
chemotherapy and stuff--
1508
01:11:49,851 --> 01:11:51,478
"Or I can just take
the tit out."
1509
01:11:51,561 --> 01:11:54,439
Well, I was 74 years old.
What else am I gonna do with it?
1510
01:11:54,522 --> 01:11:57,067
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
1511
01:11:57,108 --> 01:11:58,693
(CHUCKLES) I've had it for ye--
1512
01:11:58,777 --> 01:12:00,528
It has done all
that it's gonna do.
1513
01:12:00,612 --> 01:12:02,238
-So-- (CHUCKLES)
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
1514
01:12:02,280 --> 01:12:03,656
It was like, "Yeah, take it off,
1515
01:12:03,740 --> 01:12:05,116
you know, let's get rid
of that."
1516
01:12:05,200 --> 01:12:06,326
So the tit's gone.
1517
01:12:06,409 --> 01:12:08,953
So I took a tit off
and I added an ear. So...
1518
01:12:08,995 --> 01:12:10,955
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
1519
01:12:13,667 --> 01:12:17,629
There had to be some kind
of balance going on there.
1520
01:12:17,712 --> 01:12:21,216
♪ (MELLOW JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
1521
01:12:21,299 --> 01:12:24,761
(GRASS RUSTLING)
1522
01:12:27,472 --> 01:12:29,974
(TRICKLING)
1523
01:12:33,728 --> 01:12:35,355
NIKKI: "I always liked
house cleaning.
1524
01:12:35,438 --> 01:12:37,857
Even as a child, I dug
straightening the cabinets,
1525
01:12:37,941 --> 01:12:39,651
putting new paper
on the shelves,
1526
01:12:39,693 --> 01:12:42,320
washing the refrigerator
inside out,
1527
01:12:42,362 --> 01:12:43,655
and unfortunately,
1528
01:12:43,738 --> 01:12:45,949
this habit
has carried over to you.
1529
01:12:45,990 --> 01:12:49,119
And I find I must
remove you from my life."
1530
01:12:49,160 --> 01:12:51,538
(AUDIENCE CHEERING, APPLAUDING)
1531
01:12:52,789 --> 01:12:54,833
♪ (MELLOW GROOVY MUSIC
PLAYING) ♪
1532
01:12:54,916 --> 01:12:56,501
"A fool who grins
1533
01:12:56,584 --> 01:13:00,672
at a face in the mirror
and tells herself it's pretty.
1534
01:13:00,714 --> 01:13:04,676
A sentimental woman
who pressed his shirts
1535
01:13:04,759 --> 01:13:07,470
and washed his dirty underwear,
1536
01:13:07,512 --> 01:13:11,599
who rubbed his back
with alcohol at night.
1537
01:13:11,683 --> 01:13:16,438
I wonder why my insides
don't match my outside anymore,
1538
01:13:17,355 --> 01:13:19,149
mumbling to the mirror...
1539
01:13:20,442 --> 01:13:22,027
turn off that light."
1540
01:13:22,861 --> 01:13:26,531
(AUDIENCE CHATTERING,
APPLAUDING)
1541
01:13:29,451 --> 01:13:31,369
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
1542
01:13:31,411 --> 01:13:32,871
GINNEY: A sight for sore eyes.
1543
01:13:32,954 --> 01:13:36,249
-NOVELLA NELSON: Both of you.
-NIKKI: You're looking good.
1544
01:13:36,332 --> 01:13:37,542
Y'all didn't have to do that.
1545
01:13:37,625 --> 01:13:39,878
-Thank you so much.
-GINNEY: Oh, you're welcome.
1546
01:13:39,919 --> 01:13:41,504
NIKKI:
Oh, that's great, Novella.
1547
01:13:41,546 --> 01:13:43,548
-Yeah, I love it too.
-(NIKKI LAUGHING)
1548
01:13:43,631 --> 01:13:45,550
Oh, there they are.
1549
01:13:45,633 --> 01:13:48,219
What happened to me?
What's the word I'm looking for?
1550
01:13:48,261 --> 01:13:49,471
CAREGIVER: What do you mean?
1551
01:13:49,554 --> 01:13:51,681
When I went out and suddenly
I don't know where I am,
1552
01:13:51,723 --> 01:13:53,975
-and they int--
-Intubate you?
1553
01:13:54,017 --> 01:13:54,893
NOVELLA: Yeah, what's that?
1554
01:13:54,934 --> 01:13:56,436
Yeah, that's from
respiratory failure.
1555
01:13:56,519 --> 01:13:57,896
You're not getting
enough oxygen.
1556
01:13:57,937 --> 01:13:59,981
GINNEY:
You blackout when you don't--
1557
01:14:00,065 --> 01:14:01,066
I blackout, exactly!
1558
01:14:01,107 --> 01:14:03,777
That's happened to me
about four or five times.
1559
01:14:03,860 --> 01:14:05,987
-NIKKI: Mm-hmm.
-And, um...
1560
01:14:07,405 --> 01:14:10,742
And like you, then when I...
when I wake up,
1561
01:14:10,784 --> 01:14:14,412
a part of who I am, I forget.
1562
01:14:14,454 --> 01:14:16,456
And then all of a sudden
I'll remember it.
1563
01:14:16,539 --> 01:14:18,917
But it comes,
it shoots out in--
1564
01:14:18,958 --> 01:14:20,669
-NIKKI: Right.
-Do you know what I am saying?
1565
01:14:20,752 --> 01:14:22,879
-I do. (LAUGHS)
-NOVELLA: I know you do.
1566
01:14:22,921 --> 01:14:25,173
NOVELLA: (STAMMERS)
You know?
1567
01:14:25,256 --> 01:14:27,634
CAREGIVER: Sorry, I'm just gonna
do the orange juice, coffee,
1568
01:14:27,717 --> 01:14:29,469
-tea, champagne.
-Champagne.
1569
01:14:29,552 --> 01:14:30,595
CAREGIVER:
Straight to the champagne?
1570
01:14:30,637 --> 01:14:31,846
-Yes.
-Yeah, champagne.
1571
01:14:31,930 --> 01:14:33,765
-CAREGIVER: Okay, all right.
-I get a glass a day.
1572
01:14:33,807 --> 01:14:36,184
CAREGIVER: Okay, there's also
mineral water there.
1573
01:14:37,644 --> 01:14:40,105
NOVELLA: My most favorite cousin
passed away.
1574
01:14:40,188 --> 01:14:41,690
-GINNEY: Aw.
-And--
1575
01:14:41,773 --> 01:14:44,317
I had spoken to her
the day before,
1576
01:14:44,401 --> 01:14:46,653
and she had said
to come and get her,
1577
01:14:47,529 --> 01:14:48,822
and I couldn't.
1578
01:14:49,656 --> 01:14:51,783
Then we talked,
I calmed her down.
1579
01:14:51,866 --> 01:14:54,285
And the next day, her daughter
calls me up and tells me
1580
01:14:54,369 --> 01:14:55,787
she was dead.
You know, it was--
1581
01:14:55,829 --> 01:14:57,706
I think you reached out
to your cousin.
1582
01:14:57,789 --> 01:15:00,458
-I mean, she got from you--
-GINNEY: What she needed.
1583
01:15:00,500 --> 01:15:02,502
What she needed,
so that she could relax,
1584
01:15:02,585 --> 01:15:04,879
and so she could go
to her next...
1585
01:15:04,963 --> 01:15:06,214
her next step.
1586
01:15:06,297 --> 01:15:07,799
GINNEY: Mm-hmm.
1587
01:15:08,591 --> 01:15:10,135
I hadn't thought
about it like that.
1588
01:15:10,218 --> 01:15:11,219
That really helped.
1589
01:15:11,302 --> 01:15:13,555
-NIKKI: Yeah, thank you too.
-Thank you for that one.
1590
01:15:13,638 --> 01:15:15,932
'Cause it really, uh...
1591
01:15:15,974 --> 01:15:19,269
-(CLICKS TONGUE) Ooh!
-NIKKI: Mm-hmm.
1592
01:15:21,980 --> 01:15:23,314
NOVELLA:
These rings are beautiful.
1593
01:15:23,398 --> 01:15:24,899
-GINNEY: Oh, you like these?
-NOVELLA: These are beautiful.
1594
01:15:24,983 --> 01:15:26,317
-NIKKI: Thank you.
-NOVELLA: Yeah, yeah.
1595
01:15:26,359 --> 01:15:28,028
-I noticed them. Beautiful.
-GINNEY: You wanna look at it
1596
01:15:28,111 --> 01:15:29,571
-up-close and personal?
-NOVELLA: Oh, thank you!
1597
01:15:29,654 --> 01:15:30,947
(CHUCKLES) Oh, God!
1598
01:15:30,989 --> 01:15:32,824
-NIKKI: Yeah.
-NOVELLA: Have to put it on.
1599
01:15:33,158 --> 01:15:34,659
Really nice.
1600
01:15:34,743 --> 01:15:35,952
NIKKI: Ginney designed it.
1601
01:15:35,994 --> 01:15:38,496
-NOVELLA: You did?
-GINNEY: Well, not really.
1602
01:15:38,580 --> 01:15:39,706
-NIKKI: Yeah.
-GINNEY: Yeah.
1603
01:15:39,789 --> 01:15:41,166
NOVELLA: Really lovely.
1604
01:15:42,250 --> 01:15:45,211
-Nice weight to it too.
-GINNEY: It does, yeah.
1605
01:15:45,295 --> 01:15:46,921
NOVELLA: Very nice.
1606
01:15:47,005 --> 01:15:50,717
♪ (SOFT PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
1607
01:15:54,262 --> 01:15:55,305
Bye-bye.
1608
01:16:10,111 --> 01:16:14,657
♪ (UPBEAT GOSPEL MUSIC
PLAYING) ♪
1609
01:16:14,699 --> 01:16:17,744
-♪ Let's go higher ♪
-♪ Let's go higher ♪
1610
01:16:17,827 --> 01:16:20,121
-♪ Higher ♪
-♪ Higher ♪
1611
01:16:20,205 --> 01:16:22,874
-♪ Let's go higher ♪
-♪ Let's go higher ♪
1612
01:16:22,916 --> 01:16:27,587
-♪ Higher in my Lord ♪
-♪ Let's go higher ♪
1613
01:16:27,671 --> 01:16:30,298
-♪ Let's go higher ♪
-♪ Higher ♪
1614
01:16:30,382 --> 01:16:31,716
♪ Higher ♪
1615
01:16:31,800 --> 01:16:34,052
-♪ Higher ♪
-♪ Let's go higher ♪
1616
01:16:34,094 --> 01:16:37,097
-♪ Higher ♪
-♪ Higher... ♪
1617
01:16:37,180 --> 01:16:39,641
NIKKI: It's hard to figure out
Black people.
1618
01:16:39,724 --> 01:16:40,975
(LAUGHING) And that's a--
1619
01:16:41,059 --> 01:16:43,520
No, really, I mean, you know...
you know 'cause you...
1620
01:16:43,561 --> 01:16:44,771
-BALDWIN: I know.
-It's very hard.
1621
01:16:44,854 --> 01:16:46,731
Because you say, um--
Let's say somebody like you.
1622
01:16:46,815 --> 01:16:48,983
You've been out of the church
for a long time, okay?
1623
01:16:49,067 --> 01:16:51,236
I grew up, of course,
in a Baptist church,
1624
01:16:51,319 --> 01:16:52,278
and I really dig the church.
1625
01:16:52,362 --> 01:16:54,322
-I think it's a very cool...
-BALDWIN: I do too.
1626
01:16:54,406 --> 01:16:56,157
I can't dig the theology,
1627
01:16:56,241 --> 01:16:58,618
but the music
and the energies of the church.
1628
01:16:58,702 --> 01:17:00,578
-BALDWIN: Yes.
-But then I went to, um...
1629
01:17:00,620 --> 01:17:01,871
The New York Community Choir
1630
01:17:01,913 --> 01:17:04,749
had its anniversary recently,
it's first anniversary,
1631
01:17:04,791 --> 01:17:07,127
and I went up
to an AME Zion church,
1632
01:17:07,210 --> 01:17:09,921
as a matter of fact.
And the lady was singing--
1633
01:17:09,963 --> 01:17:11,840
Some lady was singing
"Yes, Jesus Loves Me."
1634
01:17:11,923 --> 01:17:13,091
And people started shouting.
1635
01:17:13,133 --> 01:17:14,509
-You know what I mean, just...
-Yeah, yeah.
1636
01:17:14,592 --> 01:17:15,635
NIKKI: People were shouting.
1637
01:17:15,719 --> 01:17:17,095
And it hit me
as I was sitting there.
1638
01:17:17,137 --> 01:17:19,806
My God,
as a so-called Black militant,
1639
01:17:19,889 --> 01:17:23,184
I have nothing stronger
to offer than Jesus.
1640
01:17:23,268 --> 01:17:25,937
BALDWIN: Yeah, but you see...
Yeah, but, yeah-- but, baby--
1641
01:17:26,021 --> 01:17:27,188
NIKKI: And that was a--
It blew--
1642
01:17:27,272 --> 01:17:28,898
As a matter of fact,
I got up in church and said,
1643
01:17:28,940 --> 01:17:30,025
-"Ain't that a bitch."
-(LAUGHS)
1644
01:17:30,108 --> 01:17:32,110
NIKKI: And suddenly
I was testifying...
1645
01:17:32,193 --> 01:17:35,780
-It blew my mind!
-Baby, what we did with Jesus
1646
01:17:35,822 --> 01:17:38,116
was not supposed to happen.
1647
01:17:38,158 --> 01:17:40,410
-You know, at all.
-NIKKI: I could believe that.
1648
01:17:40,452 --> 01:17:42,495
We took him--
We took that cat over.
1649
01:17:42,579 --> 01:17:43,997
-NIKKI: We did.
-And made him ours.
1650
01:17:44,080 --> 01:17:47,125
It has nothing whatever to do
with that White Jesus
1651
01:17:47,167 --> 01:17:49,919
in Montgomery, Alabama,
in that White church.
1652
01:17:49,961 --> 01:17:52,130
We did something else with him.
We made him ours.
1653
01:17:53,840 --> 01:17:54,966
CHURCHGOER:
Juanita, how are you doing?
1654
01:17:55,050 --> 01:17:56,217
JUANITA:
I'm doing fine, and you?
1655
01:17:56,259 --> 01:17:57,844
CHURCHGOER: I'm doing good.
1656
01:18:00,513 --> 01:18:02,974
-NELL: (OVER PHONE) Hello?
-NIKKI: Good morning, Jo,
it's Nikki.
1657
01:18:03,058 --> 01:18:04,476
NELL: This is Nell. How are you?
1658
01:18:04,517 --> 01:18:05,769
NIKKI: Hi, Nell.
1659
01:18:05,810 --> 01:18:07,729
-NELL: How's everything?
-Oh, everything's not good.
1660
01:18:07,812 --> 01:18:10,982
I wanted to tell Joe that Agnes
passed this morning.
1661
01:18:11,066 --> 01:18:12,859
-NELL: No!
-Yeah, yeah.
1662
01:18:12,942 --> 01:18:14,944
-NELL: How old was she?
-Uh, 94--
1663
01:18:14,986 --> 01:18:16,696
Yeah, she just turned 94.
1664
01:18:16,780 --> 01:18:18,531
-Yeah, yeah.
-NELL: Oh, man!
1665
01:18:18,615 --> 01:18:19,949
Now, wait a minute.
She was your aunt?
1666
01:18:19,991 --> 01:18:21,451
-NELL: From your mom?
-She was my aunt.
1667
01:18:21,493 --> 01:18:23,703
The last of the girls. Uh-huh.
1668
01:18:23,787 --> 01:18:26,122
-NELL: Oh, my God!
-Yeah.
1669
01:18:26,164 --> 01:18:27,749
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
1670
01:18:27,832 --> 01:18:30,126
You know all of a sudden,
that's what...
1671
01:18:30,168 --> 01:18:31,920
-BYSTANDER: Excuse me.
-...bothered me a little bit.
1672
01:18:32,003 --> 01:18:35,006
I mean, it's that I am
the oldest in the family now.
1673
01:18:36,383 --> 01:18:39,052
You know all of a sudden
I became a senior. (SOBS)
1674
01:18:40,679 --> 01:18:42,847
Not that it means anything,
but, you know,
1675
01:18:42,931 --> 01:18:43,890
all of a sudden you realize
1676
01:18:43,973 --> 01:18:46,017
you're the oldest person
in the family.
1677
01:18:48,436 --> 01:18:52,023
♪ (GENTLE PIANO MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
1678
01:18:52,107 --> 01:18:54,359
VOCALIST:
♪ I've been through the fire ♪
1679
01:18:56,277 --> 01:18:59,030
♪ And I have been
Through the flood ♪
1680
01:19:01,574 --> 01:19:03,785
♪ Broken in pieces ♪
1681
01:19:05,620 --> 01:19:08,373
♪ And left all alone ♪
1682
01:19:10,458 --> 01:19:13,962
CHOIR: ♪ But through it all
God bless me ♪
1683
01:19:14,045 --> 01:19:15,714
VOCALIST: ♪ And through it all
God kept me ♪
1684
01:19:15,797 --> 01:19:18,425
CHOIR: ♪ And through it all
God kept me ♪
1685
01:19:18,508 --> 01:19:20,385
♪ Yes, I still ♪
1686
01:19:20,468 --> 01:19:25,724
♪ Have a praise inside of me ♪
1687
01:19:25,807 --> 01:19:28,518
(CHURCHGOER'S APPLAUDING)
1688
01:19:29,853 --> 01:19:32,105
LECTOR: Please stand
for reading of the gospel.
1689
01:19:33,565 --> 01:19:36,568
It isn't often that someone
will die for a righteous person.
1690
01:19:36,651 --> 01:19:40,071
But maybe someone might dare
to die for a good person.
1691
01:19:40,155 --> 01:19:42,365
-(CELL PHONE RINGING)
-LECTOR: But God shows
his love for us because,
1692
01:19:42,407 --> 01:19:45,744
while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.
1693
01:19:45,827 --> 01:19:48,913
So now that we have been
made righteous by His blood
1694
01:19:48,955 --> 01:19:51,041
-we can...
-Thomas, I'm in church.
1695
01:19:51,082 --> 01:19:52,417
-THOMAS: (OVER PHONE) Okay.
-But--
1696
01:19:52,500 --> 01:19:54,252
-THOMAS:
Call me when you get back.
-No, no, Agnes died.
1697
01:19:54,336 --> 01:19:56,087
I wanted you to know.
I'll call you later.
1698
01:19:56,171 --> 01:19:58,131
-THOMAS: Oh, okay.
-Okay, bye-bye.
1699
01:19:58,214 --> 01:20:00,759
LECTOR: ...while we were
still enemies.
1700
01:20:00,800 --> 01:20:03,261
Now that we have
been reconciled,
1701
01:20:03,345 --> 01:20:06,014
we now have a restored
relationship with God.
1702
01:20:06,097 --> 01:20:08,099
-Amen.
-CONGREGATION: Amen.
1703
01:20:10,935 --> 01:20:12,937
LECTOR:
Let us welcome Nikki Giovanni.
1704
01:20:13,021 --> 01:20:15,982
(CROWD APPLAUDING)
1705
01:20:21,363 --> 01:20:24,616
I want to apologize
for my phone ringing.
1706
01:20:24,657 --> 01:20:29,621
My aunt died this morning
and I had to start calls.
1707
01:20:30,330 --> 01:20:31,956
We're trying to...
1708
01:20:32,957 --> 01:20:34,292
deal what you have to deal with
1709
01:20:34,334 --> 01:20:36,503
when you have
a death in the family.
1710
01:20:36,586 --> 01:20:38,963
I'm now trying to understand
1711
01:20:39,047 --> 01:20:41,257
what my responsibilities are
1712
01:20:41,299 --> 01:20:43,301
and, you know,
some of us in this room
1713
01:20:43,343 --> 01:20:45,929
have probably faced that
and you're saying,
1714
01:20:45,970 --> 01:20:49,933
"What now... do I do?"
1715
01:20:49,974 --> 01:20:52,435
It's important
that you all look ahead,
1716
01:20:52,477 --> 01:20:56,481
because Earth is just
about finished, to be honest.
1717
01:20:56,564 --> 01:20:57,482
I think Earth maybe have,
1718
01:20:57,524 --> 01:20:59,150
you know, three
or four hundred more years,
1719
01:20:59,192 --> 01:21:01,945
but it's just about finished
because we've messed it up.
1720
01:21:01,986 --> 01:21:03,488
And I tease
the men all the time,
1721
01:21:03,571 --> 01:21:04,489
and I have to laugh at it.
1722
01:21:04,572 --> 01:21:06,324
'Cause I think
that their penis is going out.
1723
01:21:06,366 --> 01:21:08,159
I think it's gonna
be extinct very soon.
1724
01:21:08,243 --> 01:21:10,704
-(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)
-(NIKKI CHUCKLING)
1725
01:21:10,787 --> 01:21:12,038
I do.
1726
01:21:15,000 --> 01:21:16,918
It's been misused.
1727
01:21:17,002 --> 01:21:19,462
And anything
that has been misused
1728
01:21:19,504 --> 01:21:20,839
is gonna be gotten rid of.
1729
01:21:20,922 --> 01:21:23,008
That we... that we know.
1730
01:21:23,842 --> 01:21:25,093
We who are women,
1731
01:21:25,176 --> 01:21:26,845
and I have to say this,
we who are women
1732
01:21:26,928 --> 01:21:28,054
have a difficult time,
1733
01:21:28,138 --> 01:21:30,181
because everybody
wants to control us,
1734
01:21:30,265 --> 01:21:32,809
everybody wants to say
what women should do.
1735
01:21:32,892 --> 01:21:36,438
What you should do
is what you think you should do,
1736
01:21:36,521 --> 01:21:38,148
what you need to do.
1737
01:21:38,189 --> 01:21:41,317
And so, we have
to not let people
1738
01:21:41,359 --> 01:21:43,945
take away those things
that we need,
1739
01:21:44,029 --> 01:21:45,321
those things that we love.
1740
01:21:45,363 --> 01:21:47,657
I am very fortunate,
I have a very good friend,
1741
01:21:47,699 --> 01:21:49,075
and I would be lost without her.
1742
01:21:49,159 --> 01:21:50,535
I don't know,
what I'd do without Ginney.
1743
01:21:50,577 --> 01:21:53,997
So, I'm very fortunate
to have somebody who loves me.
1744
01:21:54,039 --> 01:21:56,374
I don't care what anybody
has to say about it.
1745
01:21:56,458 --> 01:21:57,542
I'm not interested.
1746
01:21:57,584 --> 01:22:02,547
And what we have to continue
to do is love one another.
1747
01:22:02,589 --> 01:22:05,216
"This is not a poem.
1748
01:22:05,300 --> 01:22:08,136
This is hot chocolate
at the beginning of spring,
1749
01:22:08,219 --> 01:22:10,221
topped with hand-whipped
double cream,
1750
01:22:10,305 --> 01:22:12,307
a splash of brandy
to give it sass,
1751
01:22:12,390 --> 01:22:14,976
and just a little cinnamon
to give it class.
1752
01:22:15,060 --> 01:22:17,479
This is not a poem,
this is a summer quilt,
1753
01:22:17,562 --> 01:22:20,398
log cabin pattern.
See that corner piece?
1754
01:22:20,440 --> 01:22:22,192
That was Grandmother's
wedding dress,
1755
01:22:22,233 --> 01:22:24,569
That was Grandpapa’s
favorite Sunday tie.
1756
01:22:24,652 --> 01:22:26,071
This is a rocking chair.
1757
01:22:26,112 --> 01:22:28,615
Rock me gently
in the bosom of Abraham.
1758
01:22:28,698 --> 01:22:32,494
This is a bus seat. No,
I'm not going to move today.
1759
01:22:32,577 --> 01:22:33,953
This is not a poem, no.
1760
01:22:34,037 --> 01:22:36,831
It is a celebration
for the road we have traveled,
1761
01:22:36,915 --> 01:22:39,084
it is a prayer
for the roads yet to come.
1762
01:22:39,167 --> 01:22:42,128
This is an explosion,
the original Big Bang
1763
01:22:42,212 --> 01:22:45,298
that makes the world
a hopeful, loving place.
1764
01:22:45,382 --> 01:22:48,677
This is about us
celebrating ourselves.
1765
01:22:48,760 --> 01:22:51,096
And a well-deserved honor it is.
1766
01:22:51,137 --> 01:22:54,474
Light the candles,
this is a rocket.
1767
01:22:54,557 --> 01:22:55,767
Let's ride."
1768
01:22:55,850 --> 01:22:59,020
(CONGREGATION APPLAUDING)
1769
01:23:02,190 --> 01:23:06,069
♪ (SERENE DREAMY MUSIC
PLAYING) ♪
1770
01:23:06,111 --> 01:23:09,197
-(WAVES CRASHING)
-(SEAGULLS SQUAWKING)
1771
01:23:13,952 --> 01:23:15,203
NIKKI: "We're going to Mars,
1772
01:23:15,286 --> 01:23:18,248
for the same reason Marco Polo
rocketed to China,
1773
01:23:18,289 --> 01:23:19,916
for the same reason Columbus
1774
01:23:19,958 --> 01:23:22,043
trimmed his sails
on the dream of spices.
1775
01:23:22,127 --> 01:23:23,461
For the very same reason
1776
01:23:23,545 --> 01:23:25,505
Shackleton was enchanted
with penguins.
1777
01:23:25,588 --> 01:23:29,217
For the reason we fall in love.
It's the only adventure.
1778
01:23:33,263 --> 01:23:35,306
We're going to Mars because
whatever is wrong with us
1779
01:23:35,348 --> 01:23:36,641
will not get right with us.
1780
01:23:36,683 --> 01:23:39,185
So we journey forth,
carrying the same baggage,
1781
01:23:39,269 --> 01:23:40,311
but every now and then,
1782
01:23:40,395 --> 01:23:42,772
leaving one
little bitty thing behind."
1783
01:23:42,814 --> 01:23:45,275
(MUFFLED CHATTER)
1784
01:23:45,316 --> 01:23:47,819
NIKKI: "Maybe not whipping
Uncle Tom to death.
1785
01:23:47,902 --> 01:23:49,612
Maybe resisting global war.
1786
01:23:49,654 --> 01:23:51,531
One day looking
for prejudice to slip,
1787
01:23:51,614 --> 01:23:54,367
one day looking for hatred
to tumble by the wayside.
1788
01:23:54,451 --> 01:23:55,994
One day maybe
the whole community
1789
01:23:56,036 --> 01:23:57,537
will no longer be vested
1790
01:23:57,620 --> 01:23:58,747
in who sleeps with whom.
1791
01:23:58,830 --> 01:24:01,583
Maybe one day the Jewish
community will be at rest,
1792
01:24:01,666 --> 01:24:03,918
the Christian community
will be content.
1793
01:24:04,002 --> 01:24:06,296
The Muslim community
will be at peace.
1794
01:24:06,338 --> 01:24:09,215
And all the rest of us will get
great meals at holy days,
1795
01:24:09,299 --> 01:24:11,801
and learn new songs
and sing in harmony."
1796
01:24:17,849 --> 01:24:21,728
(ETHEREAL TINKLING)
1797
01:24:21,811 --> 01:24:24,105
ANNOUNCER 1: And it’s an honor
to introduce this woman
1798
01:24:24,189 --> 01:24:26,733
she is the most
world-renowned Black poet
1799
01:24:26,816 --> 01:24:28,693
this world has ever seen.
1800
01:24:28,777 --> 01:24:30,195
She's an activist,
1801
01:24:30,236 --> 01:24:32,322
a Grammy-nominated activist.
1802
01:24:32,364 --> 01:24:35,325
-(AUDIENCE CHEERING)
-She tells it like it is.
1803
01:24:35,367 --> 01:24:38,370
She's original
Black girl magic, motherfuckers.
1804
01:24:38,453 --> 01:24:41,373
There is no you
without this goddess.
1805
01:24:41,414 --> 01:24:42,874
ANNOUNCER 2:
Give it up for Nikki,
1806
01:24:42,957 --> 01:24:45,418
poet laureate,
sister extraordinaire.
1807
01:24:45,502 --> 01:24:46,711
She's gonna lay it on you thick.
1808
01:24:46,795 --> 01:24:50,632
Give her a big warm welcome,
Afropunk, put them up!
1809
01:24:50,715 --> 01:24:52,967
(CROWD APPLAUDING)
1810
01:24:53,051 --> 01:24:54,803
We're going to Mars.
1811
01:24:56,096 --> 01:25:00,517
(CROWD CHEERING)
1812
01:25:00,558 --> 01:25:04,771
Because nobody on Earth
has any sense enough
1813
01:25:04,854 --> 01:25:08,733
to go to another planet
and get along with anybody.
1814
01:25:08,775 --> 01:25:12,737
We have got to send Black women,
we've got to ask Black women,
1815
01:25:12,779 --> 01:25:14,406
"Would you mind going up
1816
01:25:14,489 --> 01:25:16,866
and seeing what's up there,
what's alive?"
1817
01:25:16,908 --> 01:25:18,368
I'm a fan of Black women,
1818
01:25:18,410 --> 01:25:21,621
because we are the most
marvelous people on Earth.
1819
01:25:21,705 --> 01:25:23,498
(CROWD CHEERING)
1820
01:25:23,581 --> 01:25:27,419
♪ ("EGO TRIPPING"
BY NIKKI GIOVANNI PLAYING) ♪
1821
01:25:29,254 --> 01:25:31,798
♪ I was born in the Congo ♪
1822
01:25:36,011 --> 01:25:38,430
♪ I was born in the Congo ♪
1823
01:25:38,471 --> 01:25:40,140
♪ I walked
To the Fertile Crescent ♪
1824
01:25:40,223 --> 01:25:41,975
♪ And built the Sphinx ♪
1825
01:25:42,058 --> 01:25:43,935
♪ I designed a pyramid
So tough ♪
1826
01:25:43,977 --> 01:25:47,105
♪ That a star that only glows
Every one hundred years ♪
1827
01:25:47,188 --> 01:25:48,690
♪ Falls into the center ♪
1828
01:25:48,773 --> 01:25:52,193
♪ Giving divine, perfect light
I am bad ♪
1829
01:25:52,277 --> 01:25:55,280
♪ I sat on the throne
Drinking nectar with Allah ♪
1830
01:25:55,321 --> 01:25:57,741
♪ I got hot
And sent an ice age to Europe ♪
1831
01:25:57,782 --> 01:25:59,075
♪ To cool my thirst ♪
1832
01:25:59,117 --> 01:26:01,369
♪ My oldest daughter
Is Nefertiti ♪
1833
01:26:01,453 --> 01:26:03,121
♪ The tears
From my birth pains ♪
1834
01:26:03,204 --> 01:26:04,289
♪ Created the Nile ♪
1835
01:26:04,330 --> 01:26:06,249
♪ I am a beautiful woman ♪
1836
01:26:06,291 --> 01:26:07,667
♪ I gazed on the forest ♪
1837
01:26:07,751 --> 01:26:09,544
♪ And burned out
The Sahara Desert ♪
1838
01:26:09,627 --> 01:26:12,297
♪ With a packet of goat's meat
And a change of clothes ♪
1839
01:26:12,380 --> 01:26:13,965
♪ I crossed it in two hours ♪
1840
01:26:14,007 --> 01:26:15,300
♪ I am a gazelle ♪
1841
01:26:15,383 --> 01:26:18,428
♪ So swift, so swift
You can't catch me ♪
1842
01:26:18,470 --> 01:26:20,764
♪ For a birthday present
When he was three ♪
1843
01:26:20,805 --> 01:26:23,350
♪ I gave my son Hannibal
An elephant ♪
1844
01:26:23,433 --> 01:26:25,769
♪ He gave me Rome
For Mother’s Day ♪
1845
01:26:25,852 --> 01:26:28,146
♪ My strength flows ever on ♪
1846
01:26:28,188 --> 01:26:29,939
♪ My son Noah built new/ark ♪
1847
01:26:29,981 --> 01:26:31,441
♪ And I stood
Proudly at the helm ♪
1848
01:26:31,483 --> 01:26:34,319
♪ As we sailed
On a soft summer day ♪
1849
01:26:34,402 --> 01:26:37,197
♪ I turned myself into myself
And was Jesus ♪
1850
01:26:37,280 --> 01:26:39,449
♪ Men intone my loving name ♪
1851
01:26:39,491 --> 01:26:43,036
♪ All praises, all praises
I am the one who would save ♪
1852
01:26:43,119 --> 01:26:45,455
♪ I sowed diamonds
In my backyard ♪
1853
01:26:45,497 --> 01:26:47,415
♪ My bowels deliver uranium ♪
1854
01:26:47,499 --> 01:26:49,125
♪ The filings
From my fingernails ♪
1855
01:26:49,167 --> 01:26:50,752
♪ Are semi-precious jewels ♪
1856
01:26:50,835 --> 01:26:52,629
♪ On a trip north,
I caught a cold ♪
1857
01:26:52,671 --> 01:26:55,465
♪ And blew my nose
Giving oil to the Arab world ♪
1858
01:26:55,507 --> 01:26:59,511
♪ I am so hip
Even my errors are correct ♪
1859
01:27:00,887 --> 01:27:02,305
♪ I sailed west to reach east ♪
1860
01:27:02,347 --> 01:27:05,016
♪ And had to round off
The earth as I went ♪
1861
01:27:05,100 --> 01:27:06,559
♪ The hair from
My head thinned ♪
1862
01:27:06,643 --> 01:27:09,270
♪ And gold was laid
Across three continents ♪
1863
01:27:09,312 --> 01:27:13,400
♪ I am so perfect so divine
So ethereal, so surreal ♪
1864
01:27:13,483 --> 01:27:16,736
♪ I cannot be comprehended
Except by my permission ♪
1865
01:27:16,820 --> 01:27:21,783
♪ I mean, I can fly
Like a bird in the sky ♪
1866
01:27:27,247 --> 01:27:29,165
♪ (SONG CONCLUDES) ♪
1867
01:27:29,207 --> 01:27:32,544
(CROWD CHEERING)
1868
01:27:32,585 --> 01:27:37,298
♪ (DREAMY MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
1869
01:28:16,087 --> 01:28:18,506
BALDWIN:
Let's go back to the kids.
1870
01:28:18,590 --> 01:28:20,967
You talk to those people
who can hear you,
1871
01:28:21,051 --> 01:28:22,927
and you save
what you can save.
1872
01:28:22,969 --> 01:28:25,430
You know, what you have to do
1873
01:28:25,472 --> 01:28:27,515
is make it
possible for others to live.
1874
01:28:27,599 --> 01:28:29,142
-NIKKI: Mm-hmm.
-You know.
1875
01:28:29,225 --> 01:28:31,311
That's the only reason
to be here.
1876
01:28:31,394 --> 01:28:34,439
You know, who needs
the rest of it, really!
1877
01:28:34,481 --> 01:28:37,359
Would you say that, like,
you tend to be optimistic?
1878
01:28:38,193 --> 01:28:40,153
You know, on those kinda levels?
1879
01:28:40,236 --> 01:28:42,781
When I pick a kid up
in my arms, yes.
1880
01:28:42,822 --> 01:28:44,282
I look at you, yes!
1881
01:28:44,366 --> 01:28:45,992
-You know.
-NIKKI: Not me! (LAUGHS)
1882
01:28:46,076 --> 01:28:48,036
-Yes. When I look at--
-NIKKI: I'm very pessimistic.
1883
01:28:48,119 --> 01:28:49,954
Oh, no! You're not as pessimist
as you think you are.
1884
01:28:50,038 --> 01:28:52,957
-NIKKI: I'm not pessimistic...
-You got far too much energy
1885
01:28:52,999 --> 01:28:54,751
to be as pessimistic
as you think you are.
1886
01:28:54,793 --> 01:28:56,127
NIKKI:
I'm pretty pessimistic, though.
1887
01:28:56,169 --> 01:28:57,295
No, I think
you're pretty realistic.
1888
01:28:57,337 --> 01:28:58,630
I think you're pretty cool.
1889
01:28:58,713 --> 01:29:01,383
But there has to be a way to do
what we do and survive.
1890
01:29:01,466 --> 01:29:03,551
Which is, to me,
what seems to be missing.
1891
01:29:03,635 --> 01:29:06,346
Sweetheart. Sweetheart.
1892
01:29:06,429 --> 01:29:08,723
Our ancestors taught
us how to do that.
1893
01:29:08,807 --> 01:29:12,644
♪ (THRILLING DREAMY MUSIC
PLAYING) ♪
1894
01:29:18,358 --> 01:29:20,068
NIKKI: "The captain knew
they were in trouble
1895
01:29:20,151 --> 01:29:23,488
in an unknown place,
without communicable abilities,
1896
01:29:23,530 --> 01:29:25,865
with a violent
and capricious species.
1897
01:29:25,949 --> 01:29:28,660
But they could look out
and still see signs of home,
1898
01:29:28,743 --> 01:29:31,830
they could still smell
the sweetness in the air.
1899
01:29:31,913 --> 01:29:34,124
But there reached a point
where the captured
1900
01:29:34,165 --> 01:29:35,625
could not only not look back,
1901
01:29:35,667 --> 01:29:38,503
they had no idea which way
back might be.
1902
01:29:38,545 --> 01:29:41,131
There was nothing in the middle
of the deep blue water
1903
01:29:41,172 --> 01:29:43,049
to indicate which way
home might be.
1904
01:29:43,133 --> 01:29:46,511
And it was that moment
when a decision had to be made.
1905
01:29:46,553 --> 01:29:47,887
Do they continue forward
1906
01:29:47,971 --> 01:29:50,181
with a resolve
to see this thing through,
1907
01:29:50,223 --> 01:29:53,643
or do they embrace the waters
and find another world?"
1908
01:29:55,520 --> 01:29:59,149
(WHALE SINGING ECHOING)
1909
01:29:59,190 --> 01:30:00,525
NIKKI:
"In the belly of the ship,
1910
01:30:00,567 --> 01:30:01,818
the moan was heard.
1911
01:30:01,860 --> 01:30:05,321
And someone picked up that moan
and a song was raised,
1912
01:30:05,363 --> 01:30:08,450
and that song would offer
comfort and hope
1913
01:30:08,533 --> 01:30:09,826
and tell the story."
1914
01:30:20,420 --> 01:30:24,049
♪ (THRILLING DREAMY MUSIC
CONTINUES) ♪
1915
01:30:35,226 --> 01:30:37,896
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
1916
01:30:40,440 --> 01:30:43,651
♪ (MUSIC TURNS INTRIGUING) ♪
1917
01:30:55,705 --> 01:30:57,916
♪ (INTRIGUING MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪
1918
01:30:57,957 --> 01:30:59,250
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
1919
01:31:16,643 --> 01:31:19,729
(WIND CHIMES RINGING)
1920
01:31:22,524 --> 01:31:24,734
(WHEELS RATTLING)
1921
01:31:31,282 --> 01:31:32,784
NIKKI: Make yourself, um...
1922
01:31:33,618 --> 01:31:34,786
comfortable.
1923
01:31:36,830 --> 01:31:40,125
♪ (INTRIGUING MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪
1924
01:32:16,036 --> 01:32:19,998
I had no idea
what I was gonna see,
1925
01:32:20,081 --> 01:32:24,461
but I did not expect
so many antiques.
1926
01:32:24,502 --> 01:32:26,087
That's for sure.
1927
01:32:30,759 --> 01:32:32,927
So many people writing in books,
1928
01:32:33,011 --> 01:32:36,348
like notes to her all around
this room.
1929
01:32:36,431 --> 01:32:37,807
It's really cool.
1930
01:32:47,901 --> 01:32:52,030
So, I don't know much
about people before us,
1931
01:32:52,113 --> 01:32:54,866
and how they lived,
and where they came from.
1932
01:33:01,873 --> 01:33:04,167
LOU: (ON VIDEO) I would like
to see young people,
1933
01:33:04,209 --> 01:33:06,336
Black young people,
create, basically,
1934
01:33:06,378 --> 01:33:09,172
their own Black language
for better communication.
1935
01:33:09,214 --> 01:33:10,882
NIKKI: I'm not talking
about creating a language,
1936
01:33:10,924 --> 01:33:13,468
I'm talking about saying
that my language is legitimate.
1937
01:33:13,551 --> 01:33:14,761
You know, I think so.
1938
01:33:14,844 --> 01:33:17,389
We use the language
that we use.
1939
01:33:17,472 --> 01:33:18,848
They had an Italian Renaissance.
1940
01:33:18,890 --> 01:33:20,725
Dante and them wrote
in the vernacular.
1941
01:33:20,809 --> 01:33:21,935
Well, we're doing
the same thing.
1942
01:33:22,018 --> 01:33:23,353
We're talking
about a Black renaissance,
1943
01:33:23,395 --> 01:33:25,146
writing in Black vernacular.
That's what we're talking about.
1944
01:33:25,230 --> 01:33:26,731
I'm talking about coming
out of the White Ages
1945
01:33:26,773 --> 01:33:28,191
rather than the dark ones,
you dig? (LAUGHS)
1946
01:33:28,233 --> 01:33:29,734
LOU: We're coming out of that
into the '70s...
1947
01:33:29,818 --> 01:33:32,153
Well, I think it’s really cool,
how you could have
1948
01:33:32,237 --> 01:33:34,948
that much confidence
at, like, 20-something.
1949
01:33:35,031 --> 01:33:37,867
I do not-- Well, I hope I will.
1950
01:33:37,909 --> 01:33:41,246
But to be able
to speak like that,
1951
01:33:41,287 --> 01:33:42,831
it’s pretty awesome.
1952
01:33:42,914 --> 01:33:45,709
So, I hope I can do that
at that age,
1953
01:33:45,750 --> 01:33:48,086
or hopefully younger.
That would be ideal.
1954
01:33:48,128 --> 01:33:49,963
-NIKKI: Oh, you'll be fine.
-(KAI LAUGHING)
1955
01:33:50,046 --> 01:33:51,756
You'll be fine.
1956
01:33:51,798 --> 01:33:54,926
-(AUDIENCE CLAPPING)
-NIKKI: I'm a space freak.
1957
01:33:55,427 --> 01:33:56,720
I was able to go
1958
01:33:56,761 --> 01:33:59,014
on the SST,
on the Supersonic Transport
1959
01:33:59,097 --> 01:34:01,808
actually from London
back to New York,
1960
01:34:01,891 --> 01:34:03,476
because a friend
of mine had died
1961
01:34:03,560 --> 01:34:05,103
and I wanted
to be there at her funeral.
1962
01:34:05,186 --> 01:34:08,898
And the Supersonic-- SST,
goes up 70,000 feet,
1963
01:34:08,940 --> 01:34:10,316
for those of you
who don't know it.
1964
01:34:10,400 --> 01:34:14,529
And at 70,000 feet, you can see
the curve of the Earth.
1965
01:34:14,612 --> 01:34:16,614
And I always wanted
to be able to go
1966
01:34:16,656 --> 01:34:17,907
just a little bit higher.
1967
01:34:17,949 --> 01:34:19,784
I want to go to Space Station
or something like that.
1968
01:34:19,868 --> 01:34:22,787
And I know Charles Bolden,
who was the head of NASA.
1969
01:34:22,871 --> 01:34:24,914
Dr. Bolden said to me, you know,
1970
01:34:24,956 --> 01:34:27,334
"Nikki, I could take you
to space.
1971
01:34:27,417 --> 01:34:28,460
You could do that,
1972
01:34:28,501 --> 01:34:31,087
but I couldn't bring you back."
And I said, "Charles,
1973
01:34:31,129 --> 01:34:32,714
I don't know
how to tell you this."
1974
01:34:32,797 --> 01:34:35,258
And maybe some of you
don't understand.
1975
01:34:35,300 --> 01:34:36,843
(CHUCKLES) Let me share.
1976
01:34:36,926 --> 01:34:38,428
If you were born...
1977
01:34:38,887 --> 01:34:40,388
you're gonna die.
1978
01:34:40,472 --> 01:34:42,682
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
1979
01:34:42,766 --> 01:34:45,143
And I thought, wouldn't
that be really, just cool?
1980
01:34:45,185 --> 01:34:48,980
Because I'm 76 now,
and maybe by the time I'm 80,
1981
01:34:49,064 --> 01:34:51,483
'cause I just wanna give
myself few more years.
1982
01:34:51,524 --> 01:34:52,859
And when I'm 80, I'll go up
1983
01:34:52,942 --> 01:34:54,319
and I'll sit
on the space station
1984
01:34:54,361 --> 01:34:55,236
for a couple of years,
1985
01:34:55,320 --> 01:34:58,656
'cause we don't have
any artists in space.
1986
01:34:58,698 --> 01:35:00,867
We don't have
any poets in space.
1987
01:35:00,950 --> 01:35:03,244
And I get to say what I've seen.
1988
01:35:03,328 --> 01:35:06,164
And then, you know, I'm gonna do
what everybody else does,
1989
01:35:06,247 --> 01:35:07,165
I'm gonna die.
1990
01:35:07,207 --> 01:35:09,793
And what I want them to do
is just open the--
1991
01:35:09,834 --> 01:35:13,672
There's a door there.
And I want-- just open the door
1992
01:35:13,713 --> 01:35:15,173
-and just let me out.
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
1993
01:35:15,215 --> 01:35:17,175
And you'll just look out,
and you'll see me go and say,
1994
01:35:17,217 --> 01:35:19,678
-"There goes Nikki." And...
-(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
1995
01:35:19,761 --> 01:35:22,305
-(LAUGHS)
-(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING)
1996
01:35:22,389 --> 01:35:25,517
♪ (SOFT PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
1997
01:35:25,600 --> 01:35:27,394
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
1998
01:35:38,530 --> 01:35:40,073
There's another one over there.
1999
01:35:43,326 --> 01:35:45,328
NIKKI: See, it's growing.
2000
01:35:47,872 --> 01:35:49,708
Now-- See, now, he came out.
2001
01:35:49,749 --> 01:35:52,168
This guy went
and talked to him, I guess.
2002
01:35:56,297 --> 01:35:59,426
♪ (SOFT PENSIVE MUSIC
CONTINUES) ♪
2003
01:35:59,509 --> 01:36:01,928
NIKKI: "To successfully go
to Mars and back,
2004
01:36:02,012 --> 01:36:03,638
you will need a song.
2005
01:36:03,680 --> 01:36:06,099
Take some Billie Holiday
for the sad days
2006
01:36:06,182 --> 01:36:08,393
and some Charlie Parker
for the happy ones.
2007
01:36:08,476 --> 01:36:12,397
But always keep at least one
good spiritual for comfort."
2008
01:36:15,400 --> 01:36:16,776
Yeah, I love that smell.
2009
01:36:16,860 --> 01:36:18,903
NIKKI: "You will need
to slice or two of a meatloaf,
2010
01:36:18,987 --> 01:36:21,990
and if you can manage it,
some fried chicken in a shoebox,
2011
01:36:22,073 --> 01:36:24,826
with a moist lemon pound cake,
2012
01:36:24,909 --> 01:36:25,952
a bottle of beer,
2013
01:36:26,036 --> 01:36:27,579
because no one
should go that far
2014
01:36:27,662 --> 01:36:29,831
without a beer,
and maybe a six pack,
2015
01:36:29,914 --> 01:36:32,959
so if there is life on Mars,
you can share.
2016
01:36:33,043 --> 01:36:35,462
Popcorn for the celebration
when you land,
2017
01:36:35,545 --> 01:36:38,131
while you wait on
your land legs to kick in.
2018
01:36:38,214 --> 01:36:41,384
And as you climb down the ladder
from your spaceship
2019
01:36:41,426 --> 01:36:42,761
to the Martian surface,
2020
01:36:42,802 --> 01:36:45,597
look to your left,
and there you'll see
2021
01:36:45,680 --> 01:36:47,098
a smiling community
2022
01:36:47,140 --> 01:36:51,436
quilting a black-eyed pea,
watching you descend."
2023
01:36:52,228 --> 01:36:53,438
(CHUCKLES)
2024
01:36:56,107 --> 01:37:00,153
♪ (SOFT PENSIVE MUSIC
CONCLUDES) ♪
2025
01:37:00,236 --> 01:37:03,281
(WAVES LAPPING)
2026
01:37:07,285 --> 01:37:11,331
(SEAGULLS SQUAWKING)
2027
01:37:17,962 --> 01:37:21,257
♪ (SERENE DREAMY MUSIC
PLAYING) ♪
2028
01:38:22,527 --> 01:38:25,196
♪ (SPIRITED PENSIVE MUSIC
PLAYING) ♪
2029
01:39:19,334 --> 01:39:21,711
♪ (SPIRITED PENSIVE MUSIC
CONCLUDES) ♪
2030
01:39:21,753 --> 01:39:24,506
♪ (MELLOW JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
2031
01:41:24,376 --> 01:41:27,128
♪ (MELLOW JAZZ MUSIC
CONCLUDES) ♪
148850
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