Greater Boston
May 25, 2023
Season 2023 Episode 79 | 28m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Greater Boston Full Episode: 5/25/23
Greater Boston Full Episode: 5/25/23
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
Greater Boston is a local public television program presented by GBH
Greater Boston
May 25, 2023
Season 2023 Episode 79 | 28m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Greater Boston Full Episode: 5/25/23
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Greater Boston
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> I AM LIZ NICE LOSS.
TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," THERE'’S BEEN A SPIKE IN HATE CRIMES IN MASSACHUSETTS ACCORDING TO A REPORT FROM THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE.
HOW THE ADL IS ADDRESSING THE GROWING PROBLEM AND WHY THEY BELIEVE THIS WILL ONLY GET WORSE.
BEEN A LOOK AT THE LIFE OF MUSIC LEGEND TINA TURNER.
FROM HER ICONIC CAREER TO HER PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SURVIVING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
HATE IS ON THE RISE IN MASSACHUSETTS ACCORDING TO A REPORT FROM THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE, WHICH FOUND A 33% SPIKE IN HATE CRIMES IN THIS STATE.
THE ADL ALSO REPORTED A SPIKE IN ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENTS, DISTRIBUTION OF WHITE SUPREMACIST PROPAGANDA AND EXTREMISM TARGETING THE LGBTQIA COMMUNITY.
IT'’S AN ALARMING TREND WE'’VE SEEN NATIONWIDE, BUT THE ORGANIZATION SAID MASSACHUSETTS IS ONE OF THE WORST STATES, AND THE PROBLEM IS ONLY GROWING.
JOINING ME TO DISCUSS ARE OREN SEGAL.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS?
OREN: WHAT IS HAPPENING IN MASSACHUSETTS IS NOT UNIQUE TO MASSACHUSETTS.
WE ARE SEEING A RISE IN HATE CRIMES, ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENTS, CRIMES AGAINST OTHER COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION, AND FRANKLY IT SHOWS THAT P'’S PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS OF WHERE THIS HATE MIGHT BE IN THE COUNTRY ARE WRONG.
IN A STATE LIKE MASSACHUSETTS, WHICH HAS A LARGE POPULATION, WE ARE SEEING THE TYPES OF ACTIVITY THAT PERHAPS SOME PEOPLE WOULDN'’T THINK HAPPEN IN THAT PART OF THE COUNTRY OR IS SOMEBODY ELSE'’S PROBLEM.
LIZ: I'’VE SEEN SPECULATION THAT THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THE HISTORY, COLONIAL HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS WHICH DRAWS FANATICS.
IS THERE TRUTH TO THAT?
OREN: EXTREMISTS WILL NEVER MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE A CRISIS OR HISTORICAL BACK AROUND IN ORDER TO TRY TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO THEIR CAUSE.
MASSACHUSETTS BEEN A PLACE WHERE THERE WAS 18 PARTY AND REVOLUTION WILL BE ATTRACTED TO THOSE WHO WANT TO CREATE THEIR OWN REVOLUTION TODAY, BUT FRANKLY IT IS ABOUT EXTREMISTS FINDING LOCAL ISSUES TO TRY TO EXPLOIT, AND THAT IS HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
LIZ: LET'’S LOOK AT SOME OF THE NUMBERS FROM YOUR REPORT, AND MAYBE YOU CAN BREAK SOME OF IT DOWN.
FROM 2021 TO 2022, ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENTS UP 41%.
WHITE SUPREMACIST PROPAGANDA, UP 71%.
THEN YOU ALSO FOUND MASSACHUSETTS IS ALSO A HOTBED FOR ANTI-LGBTQ+ EXTREMISM, WHICH INCREASED NATIONWIDE IN 2022.
HELP US UNDERSTAND THE ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENTS.
HOW ARE THEY MANIFESTING THEMSELVES?
OREN: WHAT WE DO AT ADL IS REPORT AND DOCUMENT A WIDE VARIETY OF ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENTS THAT ARE REPORTED TO US BY COMMUNITIES.
THIS COULD BE IN THE FORM OF HARASSMENT OR VANDALISM AT AN INSTITUTION.
IT ALSO INCLUDES ASSAULTS.
THIS 41% INCREASE IS A STARK NUMBER.
NATIONWIDE, WE SAW A 36% INCREASE YEAR-OVER-YEAR, AND ALL TOLD, THE HIGHEST RECORD OF ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENTS REPORTED TO ADL IN ALL YEARS OF DOING THIS.
WE BELIEVE BECAUSE OF THE BROADER NORMALIZATION OF ANTI-SEMITISM AND HATE, WHAT IS HAPPENING ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS OFTEN ANIMATES WHAT WE ARE SEEING ON THE GROUND, AND I THINK IT IS NO SURPRISE WE ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENTS ELSEWHERE AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE INFLUENCERS USING THEIR PLATFORMS TO PROMOTE HATRED.
WHEN ANTI-SEMITISM IS A POLITICAL FOOTBALL, PEOPLE WHO ARE VICTIMIZED ARE THOSE WHO ARE ON THE GROUND.
LIZ: JUST BEFORE WE BEGAN TAPING, THERE WAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT OUT OF THE BIDEN HARRIS ADMINISTRATION TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY CALL THE FIRST NATIONAL STRATEGY TO COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM.
ONE OF THE PILLARS OF THAT STRATEGY IS TO ADDRESS THAT NORMALIZATION, TO HAVE THE MBA GET INVOLVED, THE RECORDING INDUSTRY GET INVOLVED.
WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS STRATEGY?
OREN: THE FACT THAT THERE COULD BE THIS FIRST EVER NATIONAL STRATEGY ON ANTI-SEMITISM IS A REMINDER THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ANTI-SEMITISM THAT WOULD MAKE THAT BE NEEDED.
IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS IT THE FIRST OF ITS KIND, BUT IT HAS SPECIFIC DETAILS ABOUT HOW GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO TACKLE THIS ISSUE IN TERMS OF FOCUSING ON SECURITY FOR JEWISH INSTITUTIONS, BUT ALSO REQUIRING A WHOLE OF SOCIETY APPROACH, PEOPLE WHO ARE INFLUENCERS ANALYZING -- INFLUENCERS HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN COMBATING ANTI-SEMITISM.
ADL HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH SOME OF THE STRATEGIES WE WORK ON EVERYDAY, BUT KNOWING THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS SPEAKING OUT, USING THEIR POSITION OF INFLUENCE IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT STEP.
LIZ: ONE OF THE PIECES OF THIS IS THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, THE ROLE OF THE COMPANIES BEHIND SOCIAL MEDIA.
EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE SURGEON GENERAL DID IT MURPHY TALKED ABOUT THE DETRIMENTAL INFLUENCE, ISSUING A STARK WARNING ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA, AND CALLING FOR MORE ATTENTION TO BE PAID TO COMPANIES BEHIND THIS.
THIS IS A BIG PIECE OF THE PUZZLE WHEN IT COMES TO, HEY, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE RESPONSIBILITY SHOULD BE OF SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES?
OREN:OREN: IT IS NOT UNREASONABLE FOR USERS OF SOCIAL MEDIA TO EXPECT THAT THESE COMPANIES PUT PEOPLE OVER THEIR PROFITS, TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR ANTI-SEMITIC HARASSMENT AND IDEAS AND NARRATIVES TO SPREAD AROUND THE WORLD WITH THE GREATEST OF EASE.
WHAT WE HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR AND WHAT I THINK THIS NATIONAL STRATEGY REINFORCES IS SOME ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THOSE WHO ENABLE ANTI-SEMITISM TO REACH THE WIDEST POSSIBLE AUDIENCES.
IT MEANS THOSE COMPANIES THAT ARE MAKING MONEY HAND OVER FIST INVEST SOME OF THAT IN IDENTIFYING AND I AND OTHER FORMS OF HATE AND MAKING THEIR PLATFORMS PLACES THAT ARE HARDER FOR SPREADING THOSE MESSAGES.
IT SEEMS LOGICAL BUT DIFFICULT FOR THESE COMPANIES TO DO, BUT NOT UNREASONABLE.
LIZ: YOU HAVE FOUND A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY FROM THESE COMPANIES THAT CLAIM THEY ARE COMMITTED TO TACKLING THESE ISSUES.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE ISSUES, THE PROBLEMS YOU FOUND?
OREN: PART OF IT IS NOT ONLY IS IT A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, BUT FRANKLY, IT IS THE ALGORITHMS THEY BUILD THAT BRING PEOPLE DEEPER INTO HATEFUL IDEAS.
THEY ARE FOCUSED ON ENGAGEMENT, AND OF ANTI-SEMITISM AND OTHER FORMS OF HATE ARE SELLING, THEY ARE GOING TO CURATE THAT AND PROVIDE IT TO FOLKS.
ONE OF THE WAYS WE HAVE TRIED TO COMBAT THAT IS, WE KNOW HOW EXTREMISTS SPEAK.
WE KNOW THE TATTOOS THEY USE, THE CODES THEY DEPLOY, AND WE PROVIDE THAT COMPANIES TO TRAIN THEIR ALGORITHMS AND IDENTIFY THAT SO THEY CAN PROACTIVELY REMOVE IT, BUT IT REQUIRES A COMPANY WANTING TO CREATE A SAFER SPACE ONLINE.
LIZ: YOU TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR BETTER REPORTING TO BE ABLE TO BETTER ACCOUNT FOR ALL THE HATE CRIMES.
IS THERE AN UNDERCOUNT?
OREN: NATIONWIDE, THERE ARE 80-PLUS CITIES THAT REPORT ZERO HATE CRIMES OR NO REPORTING AT ALL.
MASSACHUSETTS DOES, AND WE SAW A 33% INCREASE, BUT OVERALL, DATA DRIVES POLICY.
WE NEED TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT POLICY IS, AND THAT IS WHY REPORTING HATE CRIMES IS SO IMPORTANT.
THAT IS WHY REPORTING CRIMES TO ADL IS SO IMPORTANT.
THAT IS WHEN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY IS IN THE CROSSHAIRS BY EXTREMISTS, WE NEED REPORTING THERE, AS WELL, BECAUSE THAT WILL MOVE THE NEEDLE TO FIND SOLUTIONS FOR POLICYMAKERS AND OTHERS.
LIZ:LIZ: FOR THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY IN THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS, ISN'’T THERE MORE THAT CAN BE DONE BY THE STATE TO PROTECT THEM?
OREN: THERE ARE MECHANISMS SET UP BY AVERMENTS, NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, PEOPLE NEED TO DO THAT.
PEOPLE IN POSITIONS OF POWER, INFLUENCERS SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE CONSPIRACIES RUNNING RAMPANT AGAINST THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.
IT IS NOT JUST THAT YOU HAVE NAZIS MARCHING IN THE MIDDLE OF BOSTON PROMOTING THESE HATEFUL IDEAS.
SOMETIMES WE ARE SEEING OTHERS WITH MORE INFLUENCE, NOT CARD-CARRYING MEMBERS OF ANY PARTICULAR GROUP, PROMOTING THE SAME NARRATIVE.
LIZ: JUST BEFORE WE BEGAN TAPING, STEWART RHODES, FOUNDER OF THE OATH KEEPERS, THE FAR RIGHT MILITIA, HE WAS SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS IN PRISON FOR HIS ROLE IN THE JANUARY 6 ATTACK.
WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE IMPACT OF THESE SENTENCINGS?
DO YOU THINK IT WILL HAVE RESONANCE?
OREN: I THINK ACCOUNTABILITY AND A DEMONSTRATION OF ACCOUNTABILITY BY GOVERNMENT IS IMPORTANT.
WE KNOW SINCE THE ARRESTS HAVE BEGUN, OVER 900 INVOLVED IN THE INSURRECTION, THE OATH KEEPERS BASICALLY HAVE NOT BEEN AS ACTIVE AS THEY WERE.
IT SHOWS ACCOUNTABILITY IS IMPORTANT.
IT IS NOT ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL.
THERE IS ANOTHER GROUP CALLED THE PROBLEMS WHO HAVE ALSO BEEN PART OF THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE INSURRECTION, AND THEY ARE MORE ACTIVE.
MANY OF THOSE GROUPS ARE TARGETING THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, BUT OVERALL WHEN THE COUNTRY SEES THAT THERE IS ACCOUNTABILITY FOR VIOLENCE, ACCOUNTABILITY FOR HATE, ACCOUNTABILITY FOR TRYING TO UNDERMINE OUR DEMOCRACY, THAT SENDS AN IMPORTANT STATEMENT.
LIZ: WHY DO YOU THINK WE ARE SEEING THIS RISE?
THE WORDS OF DONALD TRUMP, "THE INTERNET, GUN CULTURE."
IS IF ECONOMY THAT SENDS US INTO THESE FREQUENT, HISTORIC SPIRALS OF HATE, ANTI-SEMITISM AND OTHER FORMS OF HATE?
OREN: THERE IS NO ONE REASON, BUT HISTORICALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT PANDEMICS OR ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS OR CONCERNS THAT LEGITIMATE PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT THEIR LIVELIHOODS, PEOPLE TEND TO LOOK AT OTHERS TO BLAME FOR THESE CHALLENGES, AND OFTEN THAT IS WHERE HATE STARTS TO INCUBATE.
THE PROBLEM IS THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS AND MOVEMENTS THAT TRY TO EXPLOIT THOSE MOMENTS IN TIME.
THE RISE IN HATRED AND VIOLENCE WE ARE SEEING IN MASSACHUSETTS AND ELSEWHERE, IT IS NOT SURPRISING IT COMES OFF OF A PANDEMIC, BUT THERE IS NO SILVER BULLET TO SOLVE IT.
THAT IS WHY WE NEED MEDIA TO ACT, SOCIAL INFLUENCERS TO ACT.
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT IS HATEFUL, IF YOU SEE VIOLENCE, REPORT IT.
LIZ: EVEN THOUGH SMALL STEPS ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU, OREN SEGAL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AND FANS WORLDWIDE ARE MOURNING THE LOSS OF ROCK AND R&B SOUL LEGEND TINA TURNER.
HER CAREER SPANNED GENERATIONS.
EIGHT GRAMMY WINS, 25 NOMINATIONS, A GRAMMY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD AND NOT ONE BUT TWO INDUCTIONS INTO THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME, ONCE AS PART OF IKE AND TINA TURNER, AND THEN AGAIN RECOGNIZING HER AS A SOLO ARTIST.
TINA TURNER BECAME KNOWN ALSO FOR HER EXPERIENCE WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SUFFERING BRUTAL ABUSE AT THE HANDS OF HER FIRST HUSBAND, IKE TURNER, BEFORE SHE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO ESCAPE AND SET OUT ON HER OWN, AND LATER OUT COMING OUT WITH HITS LIKE THIS ONE.
>> WHAT'’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT LIZ: JOINING ME TO DISCUSS HER MUSICAL AND PERSONAL LEGACIES ARE DANIELLE CLEAN D. SCOTT, A LIFELONG TINA TURNER FAN WHO PERFORMED THE ICON'’S MUSIC WHEN SHE WAS A STUDENT AT BERKELEY, AND REVEREND TRACY JACKSON, THE DIRECTOR OF THE DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE PROJECT FOR URBAN LEAGUE OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS.
DANIELLE, LET'’S START WITH YOU.
WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL CONNECTION TO TINA TURNER?
DANIELLE: I WAS SUCH A FAN GROWING UP.
I WAS TINA TURNER FOR HALLOWEEN.
I HAD THE BIGWIG AND SEQUINS DRESS MY MOM BOUGHT FOR ME, AND I INHALED HER AUTOBIOGRAPHY BEFORE THE MOVIE CAME OUT.
I WAS REALLY INFATUATED WITH HER PRESENCE ON STAGE, ALSO HER VOICE, HOWEVER G IT WAS.
I USE TO MIMIC HER TO GET THAT GROWL, THAT EDGINESS.
IT IS SOMETHING I WAS REALLY INSPIRED BY.
LIZ: I SAW A DESCRIPTION OF HER VOICE AS "SCREAMING DIRT," WHICH REALLY SEEMS TO FIT.
TOUGH TO FOLLOW.
REVEREND JACKSON, DO YOU HAVE A PERSONAL CONNECTION TO TINA TURNER?
REV.
JACKSON: I GREW UP LISTENING TO TINA TURNER.
MY FIRST TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY, MY FIRST TIME ON A PLANE, MY SISTERS AND I WERE IN THE EDISON HOTEL ROOM, JUMPING UP AND DOWN ON OUR BREADS -- BEDS SCREAMING "PROUD MARY."
IF YOU GREW UP IN THE ERA, YOU HAVE TO HAVE KNOWN THE SONG, HER MUSIC, AND JUST WHO SHE WAS AND HOW AMAZING SHE WAS.
LIZ: LET'’S START BY TALKING MORE ABOUT HER MUSIC.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT?
SHE HAD SO MANY DIFFERENT GENRES SHE COULD MOVE INTO.
SHE WAS A MASTERFUL INTERPRETER.
SHE DID AN AMAZING JOB WITH EVEN COVERING TUNES FROM OTHER ARTISTS.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT IT WAS ABOUT HER MUSICAL QUALITY?
DANIELLE: I THINK TRANSCENDENTAL IS THE PERFECT WORD.
SHE COULD MOVE FROM SOMETHING LIKE "PROUD MARY" TO COVERING SOMETHING LIKE SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE, AND THEN HER MORE ELECTRONIC SOUND IN THE 1980'’S, SHE WAS A CHAMELEON THROUGH ALL OF THE DECADES OF MUSIC.
SHE WAS A ROCKER BUT ALSO SOULFUL, AND I THINK THAT MAKES HER UNIQUE AS AN ARTIST, THE WAY SHE WAS ABLE TO DESIGN HER CAREER.
LIZ: WHAT DO YOU THINK HER INFLUENCE WAS ON THE GENERATION OF SINGERS WE SEE TODAY?
DANIELLE: I THINK HER STRENGTH ON STAGE, PARTICULARLY AS WOMEN MUSICIANS, PARTICULARLY COMMANDING A BAND OF MALES, DANCING AND MOVING AROUND THE STAGE, BUT STILL HAVING SO MUCH VERSATILITY WITH HER VOICE, AND THE GENERATION OF MUSICIANS SHE INSPIRED LIKE THE ROLLING STONES, I THINK ALL THE PEOPLE INSPIRED BY THEM ARE INSPIRED BY TINA TURNER WHETHER THEY KNOW IT OR NOT.
LIZ: WHEN SHE WAS PERFORMING, SHE WAS CERTAINLY COVERING UP A LOT OF PAIN.
WE LEARNED EARLY IN THE 1980'’S WHEN SHE BEGAN TO TALK ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND I BELIEVE THIS WAS AT A TIME WE WERE NOT HEARING MUCH ABOUT IT PUBLICLY.
WHAT CAN YOU TELL US?
REV.
JACKSON: UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE STILL NOT TALKING ABOUT IT ENOUGH AS OPENLY AS WE SHOULD, BUT I THINK IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE NOT TO BE DISCUSSED.
WE HAVE LIVED UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS HOUSE STAYS IN THIS HOUSE.
IF SOMEONE WAS IN AN ABUSIVE MARRIAGE, YOU DIDN'’T SPEAK OF IT.
IT WAS DEEMED A RELATIONSHIP CONCERN, SO UNFORTUNATELY, SHE SUFFERED IN SILENCE.
SHE MET IKE WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG.
HE RECOGNIZED HER FOR HER TALENT AND GAIN CONTROL OVER THE RELATIONSHIP QUICKLY.
LIZ: SO MUCH SO, I READ, SHE WAS A COMMODITY FOR HIM.
HE TRADEMARKED HER NAME, WHICH IS AN INCREDIBLE THING, WHICH MEANS SHE EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED.
REV.
JACKSON: ABSOLUTELY.
WE SAY IN THIS WORK, NO ONE PUNCHES YOU IN THE FACE ON THE FIRST DATE.
OFTEN TIMES, VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARE GETTING BACK -- ARE WANTING TO GET BACK TO WHEN THINGS WERE GOOD, MAYBE NOT END THE RELATIONSHIP, BUT MAKE THE ABUSE STOPPED, AND SHE LIKE SO MANY WAS IN THAT SPACE.
SHE WANTED TO GET BACK TO THAT PLACE AND KEPT BELIEVING EVENTUALLY THEY WOULD.
LIZ: I WONDER IF PEOPLE ASSUMED OR MAYBE DON'’T REALIZE HOW MUCH COURAGE IT TOOK TO DO WHAT SHE DID TO BREAK AWAY FROM THIS POWERFUL HOLD AND LEAVE WITH NO MONEY IN HER POCKET, AND REINVENT HERSELF.
DO YOU THINK PEOPLE STILL SEE THAT AS AN IMPORTANT LEGACY NOW?
REV.
JACKSON: I THINK WE SEE IT NOW, IT IS BETTER UNDERSTOOD, BUT FOR YEARS, IT WAS NOT SOMETHING PEOPLE PAID PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO.
NOW IT SPEAKS TO THE FRAMEWORK IN WHICH WE DO THIS WORK.
THOSE WHO SAY, WHY DOESN'’T SHE JUST LEAVE, AS OPPOSED TO, WHY DOESN'’T HE OR SHE STOP ABUSING -- WE ALWAYS WANT TO KNOW WHY THE VICTIM IS NOT LEAVING, BUT IT SPEAKS TO HOW WE VICTIM BLAME.
SHE WAS VERY COURAGEOUS TO TALK ABOUT HER STORY.
LIZ: DANIELLE, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HER STYLE?
SHE WAS REALLY PREPARED ALMOST LIKE A DOLL WITH THE LONG HAIR AND SHORT SKIRTS.
SOME OF IT REFLECTED IKE TURNER'’S VISION OF HOW SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE, ALMOST TRIBAL IN THE STYLE AND THE MOVEMENTS.
HOW DO YOU INTERPRET THAT NOW?
IT CONTINUED TO BE A PART OF HER SUCCESS, THAT TYPE OF ENERGY.
DANIELLE: I THINK I WAS JUST WATCHING THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR "THE BEST," AND HOW THEY HAD THE IMAGE OF HER LEGS SUPERIMPOSED WITH THE HORSE.
I WAS LIKE, I DON'’T REMEMBER THAT BEING THE CONNECTION, THE STRENGTH OF HER LEGS, AND THIS ANIMALISTIC STEREOTYPE OR TROPE, I DO THINK HER STYLE CONTINUES ON.
WE SAW IT WHEN SHE PERFORMED WITH FIANCÉ "PROUD MARY" AT ONE OF THE GRAMMY PERFORMANCES, BUT I THINK HER LEGACY OF STYLE, OF SHOWWOMANSHIP, THE STRENGTH OF BEING A FULL PERFORMER, DYNAMIC PERFORMER, THAT LEGACY CONTINUES IN SOMEBODY LIKE BEYONCÉ OR ME GAN THEE STALLION, IF WE GO INTO HIP HOP.
I THINK THE STRENGTH OF HER BODY, THE ICONIC LEGS, IT IS STILL SOMETHING THAT IS ICONIC AND SOMETHING A LOT OF FEMALE ARTISTS ARE STRIVING TOWARDS.
LIZ: AND SHE TOOK OWNERSHIP OF THAT, WHICH REALLY MADE THE DIFFERENCE, I THINK.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITES?
WHAT DID YOU SING?
WHAT DID YOU FEEL CONNECTED TO?
DANIELLE: "PROUD MARY."
I THINK THE FIRST SON I REALLY GRAVITATED TOWARDS WAS "WE DON'’T NEED ANOTHER HERO."
LIZ: THAT'’S THE THUNDERDOME SONG, WHICH HAS BECOME AN ANTHEM.
DANIELLE: YES, AND I THINK HER PRESENCE IN THAT MOVIE WAS MY FIRST TASTE OF WHAT WE CALL NOW AFRO FUTURISM.
THE SONG, THE MUSIC, EVERYTHING WAS JUST SO FORWARD THINKING FOR ME AS A LITTLE BLACK GIRL WATCHING THIS BLACK WOMAN ON STAGE OR ON FILM.
LIZ: AS A MUSICIAN, AS A VOCALIST, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US, THE REST OF US WHO CANNOT NECESSARILY SING, WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT THE QUALITY OF HER VOICE AND HOW SHE SHAPES A SONG?
DANIELLE: I KNOW THE TERM "SCREENING DIRT," I LOVE IT BUT DON'’T LOVE IT AT THE SAME TIME, BUT THERE IS AN EARTHINESS TO HER VOICE, SOMETHING THAT IS SO GROUNDED.
TO ME, IT'’S HER GOSPEL INFLUENCE, BUT ALSO LATER IN THE 1980'’S, I THINK IT IS ALSO THE SPIRITUALITY SHE HAD, THE STRENGTH SHE GOT FROM THAT.
THAT REALLY SPOKE TO ME EVEN AS A YOUNG GIRL, THE SPIRITUALITY.
EVEN THOUGH I NEVER WENT INTO BUDDHISM, IT GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE TO GROUND MY ART IN A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE.
LIZ: REVEREND, SHE USED SOME SPIRITUALITY TO COME TO TERMS WITH MANY THINGS IN HER LIFE.
IS THAT ALSO AN EXAMPLE YOU USE IN YOUR WORK?
REV.
JACKSON: ABSOLUTELY.
PART OF WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THE PROJECT I HAVE AT THE URBAN LEAGUE IS INVITING FAITH LEADERS TO THE TABLE AS FIRST RESPONDERS.
THEY QUITE POSSIBLY CAN BE THE FIRST ONE SOMEBODY DISCLOSES TO.
WHILE WE DON'’T EXPECT THEM TO BE AN EXPERT AT EVERYTHING, WE CAN BRING THEM ALONG AND TEACH THEM ABOUT WARNING SIGNS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AS WELL AS HOW TO USE THEIR FAITH, EVEN AS TINA DID, TO GROUND THEM AND HEAL.
MOST OF US EXPERIENCE SOME KIND OF TRAUMA IN OUR LIVES, AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BECOMES AN EXPERIENCE FOR SURVIVORS.
FAITH IS OFTENTIMES WHAT IS USED FOR A VICTIM OF FAITH TO JUST OVERCOME AND HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THEIR FAITH COMMUNITY AS PART OF THE HEALING JOURNEY.
LIZ: SHE WAS CERTAINLY SEEN AS A ROLE MODEL.
SOME CALLED HER A FEMINIST HERO.
I WANT TO PLAY A LITTLE BIT OF SOUND FROM AN INTERVIEW SHE DID WITH LARRY KING ON CNN IN 1997.
SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT BEING A FEMINIST HERO.
LARRY: DO YOU REALIZE YOU ARE A FEMINIST HERO IN AMERICA?
TINA: I AM BEGINNING TO.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I PLANNED.
I KIND OF SEE IT AS A GIFT BECAUSE THE LIFE I LIVED HAD MEANING, AND I THINK THE MEANING WAS ALL OF WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW.
I THINK HAD I NOT GIVEN THE STORY TO THE WORLD, MAY BE MY LIFE WOULD NOT BE AS IT IS.
LIZ: WHAT DO YOU THINK WOMEN WHO ARE SUFFERING ABUSE DRAW FROM THAT KIND OF MESSAGE?
REV.
JACKSON: I THINK IT GIVES THEM THE ABILITY TO SHARE THEIR OWN REALITY.
ONE OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS THAT IT IS ISOLATING.
IT CAN LEAVE A PERSON THINKING THIS IS THE ONLY THING -- I'’M THE ONLY PERSON THIS IS HAPPENING TOO.
THIS CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE.
IT DOESN'’T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH EDUCATION.
THIS CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE.
HER COMING PUBLIC TELLS SURVIVORS THAT THEY CAN, TOO.
THERE'’S NO SHAME IN WHAT THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED.
I THINK THAT IS WHAT SHE SAID.
LIZ: DANIELLE, VERY QUICKLY -- WHAT SONG, FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH TINA TURNER'’S MUSIC, WHAT SONG DO YOU URGE PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO?
DANIELLE: "PROUD MARY" 100%.
LIZ: YOU HEARD IT HERE.
THERE ARE MANY MORE.
"RIVER DEEP, MOUNTAIN HIGH" DOESN'’T GET ENOUGH PLAY.
DANIELLE AND REVEREND, THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME.
THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT.
WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
GOOD NIGHT.
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