>> IF YOU HAVE 34 K IN STUDENT LOANS -- >> YOU HAVE THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF STUDENT LOANS.

>> WHEN PEOPLE ASKED ME WHERE I’M FROM AND THEY SAY -- I SAY THE BERKSHIRES, THERE ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR THERE?

>> I WILL TRUST HIM, TRUST HIM.

HE IS ALL RIGHT.

PARIS: HEY, HEY, HOW’S IT GOING?

HELLO, WELCOME TO THE ROOTED ROUNDTABLE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS NOW SAYING, OKAY, YOU HAVE TO REPAY YOUR STUDENT LOANS.

AND SO IT’S TRIGGERING THE WHOLE INCOME-DRIVEN PLAN.

AND I MEAN, WE ALSO ARE COMING OFF OF THESE FIVE YEARS OF BLISS, NOT QUITE BLISS, BUT BORDERLINE BLISS, WHERE, I MEAN, I COULD MAKE THE PAYMENT, BUT WHAT IF I JUST DON’T, RIGHT?

AND THEN EVERYTHING WAS FINE, BUT AT THIS POINT, WHAT HAPPENS, NOT EVEN IF YOU DON’T, BUT IF YOU JUST CAN’T REPAY YOUR STUDENT LOANS?

>> IT IS REALLY BAD RIGHT NOW.

YOU MENTIONED THE INCOME REPAYMENT PLANS.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TRY TO IMPLEMENT A NEW PLAN THAT WOULD BE AFFORDABLE.

AND HONESTLY I DIDN’T THINK IT WENT FAR ENOUGH.

IT ONLY PROTECTS 225% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL?

THAT IS NOT THAT MUCH ESPECIALLY IN A PLACE LIKE BOSTON.

IT DIDN’T GO FAR ENOUGH.

BUT THEN REPUBLICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL, A DOZEN DIFFERENT STATES SUED AND BLOCKED IT.

IT IS BLOCKED.

NOBODY HAS DEEMED IT IS ILLEGAL, BUT WE ARE STILL WAITING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE THIS ADMINISTRATION IS DEFENDING IT.

MEANWHILE, PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET INTO OTHER REPAYMENT PLANS AND THERE IS A 2 MILLION BORROWER LONG TO GET THOSE PAYMENTS.

THEY AREN’T MAKING IT EASY FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE PAYMENTS.

PEOPLE CAN APPLY FOR PLANS AND THEY WILL GET STUCK ANY FORBEARANCE THAT WILL NOT COUNT TOWARDS PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS OR CANCELLATION UNDER INCOME DRIVEN PAYMENT.

AT THE CURRENT PACE IT WILL BE YEARS BEFORE SOME PEOPLE GET INTO THE REPAYMENT PLANS TO REPAY THEIR BILLS.

PARIS: DO YOU HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE IN THIS SITUATION WHERE THEY CAN’T REPAY LOANS?

YOU KNOW STUDENTS?

ANTHONY: THE QUESTION IS HOW MANY WILL BE COMING FORWARD.

WE HAVE STUDENTS EVERY YEAR WHO STRUGGLE TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH THEY CAN TAKE ON BECAUSE OF ALL THE THINGS THEY USE THEIR LOANS FOR.

BEYOND PAYING COOL.

-- FOR SCHOOL.

THE MONEY THEY SENT HOME FOR FOOD, MEDICINE, LIGHTS.

THEY DON’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PAYMENT ALONE, THEY WORRY ABOUT PAYING DOWN THE PRESENT BECAUSE SO MANY OF THEIR ABSOLUTE ARE PRESSING -- NEEDS ARE PRESSING.

YOU ARE SO WORRIED ABOUT GETTING YOUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS WHAT THEY NEED.

TO ME, THAT IS WHAT IS LEFT OUT, THE COST OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE PRICE.

THERE IS A GAP BETWEEN THE TWO.

I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE AT INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE NO LOAN SCHOOLS WHERE STUDENTS, THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS EVEN ON THE HIGH FINANCIAL AID DON’T NEED TO TAKE A LOAN AND OTHER SCHOOLS THAT YOU MAY QUALIFY BUT THERE IS A GAP, BUT YOU DO NEED A LOAN.

IT IS SCARY BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS DON’T GO TO SCHOOLS THAT CAN AFFORD TO PAY THEM, PAY DOWN ALL OF THEIR LOANS FOR THEM.

HARVARD MAY HAVE INCREASED THE LOOK -- NO LOAN CAP TO $200,000 BUT IF YOU GET OUTSIDE OF THE 10, 15 WEALTHIEST SCHOOLS, THOSE PROGRAMS ARE NONEXISTENT LET ALONE INCREASED TO THAT NUMBER.

IT WILL BE EVEN MORE STUDENTS WHO WILL BE DEALING WITH THAT KIND OF SHORTFALL.

>> I REMEMBER FILLING OUT THE FAFSA.

IT GOES BY HOUSEHOLD INCOME LEVEL BUT DOESN’T DOCUMENT ALL OF THOSE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD.

THAT MAY PROHIBIT YOU FROM PAYING FOR COLLEGE.

DO YOU SEE FAMILIES THAT YOU WORK WITH, IN WAYLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS, STRUGGLING WITH MAKING SCHOOL DECISIONS, LA TOYA: I DO.

ONE PARENT I TALKED WITH RECENTLY WAS BASICALLY IN TEARS BECAUSE HER DAUGHTER WAS REMOVING HER OPTIONS FOR SCHOOL BASED ON FINANCIAL AID AND LACK THEREOF.

PARIS: THIS WAS RECENTLY.

LA TOYA: SHE IS A CURRENT SENIOR.

WITH HER MOM, HER INCOME AND HER ABILITY TO QUALIFY FOR A PRIVATE LOAN AND THE FACT THAT SHE DOESN’T QUALIFY FOR MOST PRIVATE LOANS, THE DAUGHTER WAS RECONSIDERING COLLEGE AND THINKING ABOUT GOING INTO SERVICES.

SO SHE COULD TRY TO GET MONEY THAT WAY.

THERE WAS A BLOW TO HER MOM TO THINK SHE DID ALL THIS WORK, AND IT IS A LIFELONG COMMITMENT.

IT IS A FAMILY OBLIGATION THAT YOU ARE MAKING THAT TRIP EVERY DAY, ALL THOSE YEARS.

TO THINK YOU DID THAT SO YOUR CHILD COULD HAVE A BETTER EDUCATION AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY IN THESE SCHOOLS AND THEN THINKING ABOUT HOW THEY ARE UNABLE TO DO THAT, IT IS BEYOND YOUR CONTROL.

PARIS: DO YOU THINK HEARING THAT STORY AND KNOWING WHAT IS GOING ON NOW CHANGES THE WAY PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT COLLEGE IN GENERAL?

WHETHER THEY LIKE IT IS NOT WORTH IT ANYMORE?

PERSIS: STUDENT DEBT IN GENERAL HAS DONE THAT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

WE HEAR STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE WHO GRADUATE, HOPEFULLY THEY GRADUATE.

40% OF STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS DON’T HAVE A DEGREE.

FOR THOSE PEOPLE THEY TOOK OUT DATA AND THEY DON’T EVEN GET THE BENEFIT OF THE DEGREE.

THEY STILL HAVE TO PAY IT BACK.

A LOT OF FOLKS, I THINK THAT IS WHY YOU SAW A LOT OF THE MOVEMENT BUILDING DURING COVID, BEFORE EVEN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION BUT DURING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, CANCELLATION BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WONDERING, WHY AM I BURIED?

I WAS TOLD, I WORKED MY WHOLE LIFE TO GET TO THIS DEGREE AND NOW I’M BURIED AND I CAN’T GET OUT FROM UNDER IT.

LA TOYA: I THINK ABOUT PARENTS WHO TOOK ON THE DEBT FOR THEIR CHILDREN, WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH THAT, WITH THESE UPCOMING CHANGES WITH THE REPAYMENT OPTIONS, SOME OF IT COULD BE GARNISHING NOT JUST STUDENTS WAGES BUT THEIR PARENTS AND IN SOME CASES THAT IS THEIR PARENTS SOCIAL SECURITY.

IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS ALREADY A DECLINE FOR THE REASON YOU DISCUSSED, IS IT EVEN WORTH IT?

WILL THEY BE ABLE TO GRADUATE AND IF THEY DO, CAN THEY LAND A JOB TO START PAYING THE LOANS OFF?

AND WITH THESE CHANGES, THE QUESTION HAS COME UP.

FOR ME, I HAVE SEEN THE TREND OF FEWER STUDENTS THINKING COLLEGE IS THE WAY TO GO.

THEY ARE THINKING OF TRADE SCHOOLS AND LICENSURE, TECH SCHOOLS INSTEAD OF THE TRADITIONAL COLLEGE PREPARATORY HIGH SCHOOL WHICH IS THE ONE I WORK AT.

A LOT OF THAT I THINK HAS TO DO WITH THE IDEA OF BEING BURIED UNDER EITHER LOANS OR DEBT IN GENERAL ONCE YOU FINISH AND BEING PENALIZED IF YOU DON’T.

ANTHONY: WE SHOULD ALSO SAY, IT IS NOT PUSHING A FOUR YEAR EXPERIENCE.

LICENSURE PROGRAMS AND TRADE SCHOOLS SHOULD BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION WHEN IT COMES TO POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION.

THERE IS RESEARCH THAT LOOKS AT HOW LICENSURE INCREASES MOBILITY BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LICENSE AND THAT MEANS YOU ALSO DON’T HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD IN MANY INSTANCES.

THERE IS A LOT OF POSITIVE THINGS THAT GO WITH MOBILITY BUT IN SAYING THAT, I DON’T WANT A RESEGREGATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION BEING DECIDED ADMISSIONS VERSUS HARVARD IN NORTH CAROLINA, THAT STARTED US DOWN THAT PATH.

SELECTIVE SCHOOLS ARE LIMITING WHO THEY CAN GET IN.

TO ME, THIS REPEALING, OF A PROMISE OF ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION BY PUTTING CAPS ON GRADUATE STUDENT LOANS KNOWING MEDICAL SCHOOL AND LAW SCHOOL AND BUSINESS SCHOOL AND PROFESSIONALS WHO IN GENERAL, EVEN NURSING, IT IS GETTING VERY EXPENSIVE AND WE NEED THOSE PROFESSIONS TO THRIVE.

WE ARE PUTTING CAPS ON THAT FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN BORROW.

WE ARE NOT DOING ENOUGH TO MAKE IT EASIER, OR EVEN PRACTICAL, FOR PEOPLE TO PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION.

AND IF YOU ARE PART OF THE SELECT FEW WHO ARE CAPABLE OF GOING TO SCHOOLS THAT SAVED MONEY WILL NOT BE A BARRIER TO ENTRY, THOSE SCHOOLS HAVE TO PICK CLASSES IN A MUCH MORE CIRCUMSCRIBED WAY.

WE MAY SEE IN A GOOD WAY, AND -- AN INCREASE IN PEOPLE PURSUING DIFFERENT TRADES.

WHAT I FEAR IS THOSE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE GOING THAT ROUTE WILL BE DISPROPORTIONATELY MINORITY GROUPS, LOWER INCOME FAMILIES WHEREAS EVERYONE ELSE GETS TO STILL CHOOSE WHAT SCHOOL THEY WANT TO GO TO, AS IF THEY ARE WINDOWSHOPPING.

PERSIS: FAIR ADMISSIONS CASE CAME DOWN THE DAY BEFORE THE DEBT CANCELLATION CASE AND I THOUGHT THE JUXTAPOSITION OF THOSE CASES NEXT TO EACH OTHER WAS POIGNANT.

FIRST OF ALL, HOW DARE YOU TRY TO GET AN EDUCATION?

AND IF YOU DO, LET ME PUNISH YOU ON THE BACKEND.

IT IS THE FRONT-END AND THE BACKEND OF THE CONVERSATION OF WHO IS ENTITLED TO GO TO HIGHER EDUCATION AND THAT IS MY FEAR, THAT TRADES ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, ALTHOUGH MANY PEOPLE STILL TAKE ON STUDENT DEBT TO DO THESE TRADES.

LA TOYA: IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH THEY WILL BE MAKING WHEN THEY START WORKING.

PERSIS: SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO TAKE ON STUDENT DEBT.

WE WERE TALKING A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WITH TRUCK DRIVERS WHO HAVE STUDENT DEBT, BOTH BECAUSE EITHER THEY WENT TO SCHOOL AND THEY ARE ONE OF THE 40% WERE IT DIDN’T WORK OUT SO THEY CHANGED CAREERS, OR BECAUSE YOU NEED TO GET YOUR CDL AND TAKE OUT A LOAN TO GET THE COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSE.

PARIS: WE KNOW, AFTER ALL, THEY ARE LOANS.

THEY HAVE TO BE REPAID IN SOME FORM, BUT IS THERE A SILVER LINING?

WHAT IS THE GOOD NEWS WE CAN FOCUS ON?

[LAUGHTER] LA TOYA: IT IS NOT ABOUT THE LOANS NECESSARILY, BUT I DON’T THINK IT IS A BAD PLACE TO BE, THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASED CONVERSATION ABOUT TRADE SCHOOLS AND GETTING LICENSURE.

I HAVE STUDENTS, THERE ARE PROGRAMS WHERE YOU CAN DO THAT IN HIGH SCHOOL WHICH IS AMAZING.

THE STRUGGLE COMES IN WITH THE LACK OF CHOICE.

SO I HAVE ALWAYS HAD STUDENTS INTERESTED IN THE TRADES WOULD GO THAT ROUTE.

BUT STUDENTS FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE NO CHOICE.

PARIS: LA TOYA RIVERS, PERSIS YU, ANTHONY JACK, THIS HAS BEEN WONDERFUL.

NOTHING BRINGS FAMILY TOGETHER LIKE FOOD AND FAMILY RECIPES ARE ALWAYS MORE THAN JUST A LIST OF INGREDIENTS.

RHONDA PERSIP GAVE ME A TASTE OF HER FAMILY’S FAMOUS CORN FRITTERS, A RECIPE THAT HAS ROOTS IN THE BERKSHIRES.

MMMMM.

OH MY GOD.

WOW.

CAN I EAT ANOTHER ONE?

RHONDA: ABSOLUTELY.

PARIS: LET’S DO ANOTHER TAKE.

[LAUGHTER] RHONDA: THANKS FOR COMING.

I HOPE YOU ARE HUNGRY.

MY NAME IS RHONDA PERSIP AND TODAY WE WILL BE MAKING MY GRANDFATHER’S FAVORITE CORN FRITTERS.

WE WILL LET THIS HEAT UP WHILE WE GET THE BATTER READY.

I’M FROM THE BERKSHIRES.

I OWN SEASONED WITH SOUL CATERING.

PARIS: WHAT GOES INTO THE CORN FRITTERS?

RHONDA: CORN OF COURSE, PINEAPPLE, EGGS, BISQUICK AND MILK.

OK.

SO WE WILL DO THIS AND START GETTING OUR GREASE HOT FIRST.

I’M THIRD GENERATION THIS BUSINESS.

MY GRANDFATHER STARTED IT IN THE LATE 1800S.

HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON OF COLOR TO OWN A RESTAURANT IN THE BERKSHIRES IN 1906.

THIS IS MY GRANDFATHER AND HIS MODE OF TRANSPORTATION WHICH WAS A BICYCLE.

A COPY OF HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

PARIS: HE WAS BORN 22 YEARS AFTER EMANCIPATION.

RHONDA: MY FATHER’S FAMILY HAS BEEN IN PITTSFIELD SINCE 1763.

MY GRANDFATHER WAS IN THE CATERING BUSINESS FOR MANY YEARS.

MY FATHER HAD 12 SIBLINGS.

SO ALL THE KIDS, THE COUSINS AND EVERYTHING, WHEN WE GOT OF AGE MY GRANDFATHER SAID IT IS YOUR TURN, CARRY A TRAY.

WE HAD TO HELP THE BUSINESS.

MY AUNT, THE SECOND OLDEST OF THE 12 SIBLINGS, TOOK OVER THE BUSINESS FROM MY GRANDFATHER.

I SPENT SUMMERS IN PITTSFIELD WITH HER AND WORKING AT SHAKER VILLAGE WHERE SHE RAN THE KITCHEN.

PARIS: HOW DID YOU WIND UP IN ROXBURY?

RHONDA: I NEVER LEFT THE BERKSHIRES.

IN 2000 I DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO MAKE A MOVE.

25 YEARS LATER, HERE I AM.

PARIS: IT IS IMPORTANT TO USE BISQUICK?

RHONDA: IT IS.

PARIS: NOT JIFFY.

NOT KRUSTEAZ.

RHONDA: NOT ANY ORDINARY MIX.

BECAUSE YOU WERE HERE I WILL TRY TO BE GOOD AND CLEAN UP AFTER MYSELF.

WE HAD COUSINS THAT WERE THERE TO CLEAN UP, THAT WEREN’T COOKING.

PARIS: WAS THAT AN ENTRY-LEVEL JOB?

RHONDA: CLEARLY IT MUST HAVE BEEN.

IT IS FUNNY BECAUSE EVEN NOW, WHEN PEOPLE ASK WHERE I’M FROM AND I SEE THE BERKSHIRES, THEY GO, THERE ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR THERE?

THERE IS A LOT OF US THERE.

PEOPLE DON’T REALIZE IT BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF OLD TIME FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR YEARS.

PARIS: DO YOU MIND IF I DIP ONE?

ALL RIGHT.

I WILL GET ABOUT A SPOONFUL.

I WILL DROP IT RIGHT THERE.

RHONDA: THERE YOU GO.

PARIS: YOU SEE WHAT SHE LOOKS LIKE.

RHONDA: WE ARE GOING TO DRAIN THEM ON THE PAPER TOWEL.

THE SPOON, I DON’T KNOW, IT IS PROBABLY 75 OR MORE YEARS OLD.

IT HAS HELD UP AND IT HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT WITH ME.

NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO IN ANY OF THE ROOM, PEOPLE GRAVITATE TOWARDS THE KITCHEN.

THEY ALWAYS WANT TO HELP AND THEY ALWAYS WANT TO OPEN THE POT AND SEE WHAT YOU ARE COOKING.

IT IS A LABOR OF LOVE FOR ME.

YOUR FIRST CORN FRITTER.

PARIS: YES.

MY FIRST CORN FRITTER.

I WILL CUT INTO IT.

I NOTICE HOW WHITE AND FLUFFY THEY WERE COMING OUT OF THE PAN.

SYRUP.

RHONDA: THERE IS THE PINEAPPLE.

PARIS: MMMMMM.

OH MY GOD.

WOW.

CAN I EAT ANOTHER ONE?

RHONDA: ABSOLUTELY.

PARIS: LET’S DO ANOTHER TAKE.

WE WILL SEE IF I CAN RE-CREATE THEM ON MY OWN.

THAT WILL BE A TASK.

DON’T GET IT TWISTED, I CAN COOK , BUT LET’S JUST SAY I MAY NEED TO CALL MISS RHONDA FOR THIS JUNE IS BLACK MUSIC MONTH, AND ONE.

ALL THIS MONTH WE ARE GOING TO BE HIGHLIGHTING LOCAL BLACK ARTISTS, SUCH AS ACTOR, FILMMAKER, GOSPEL SINGER, AND RECENT BERKELEY GRAD CHRISTIAN DAVID.

WHAT A FITTING NAME FOR WHAT YOU DO.

CHRISTIAN: THANK YOU.

GLAD TO BE HERE.

PARIS: YOU ARE COMING OFF A BIG WEEKEND.

YOU JUST WON $1000 IN THE UPLIFT GOSPEL CONCERT.

WHAT TOLD YOU TO GIVE THAT A TRY?

CHRISTIAN: I WAS SUPPOSED TO SING WITH A FRIEND OF MINE AND WE WERE ON THE PHONE THAT MORNING AND I FOUND THE GOOGLE DOC AND SAID, IS IT TOO LATE TO ENTER?

HE SAID I DON’T KNOW SO WE CONTACTED THE ORGANIZER OF THE EVENT.

HE SAID SOMEBODY DROPPED OUT AT 5:00 A.M.

THIS MORNING SO WE NEED SOMEBODY TO FILL THE SPOT.

YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENED.

YOU SAW THE PICTURE WITH THE BIG CHECK.

PARIS: DIVINE TIMING INDEED.

THAT WAS PUT ON BY MORNINGSTAR BAPTIST CHURCH.

CHRISTIAN: YES.

PARIS: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND THAT HELPED YOU EARN THE $1000?

CHRISTIAN: ENERGETIC, POWERFUL.

ONE THING I WAS PROUD OF WAS, ONE OF THE FRATERNITY AND MEMBERS SAID YOU BROUGHT THE ENERGY.

THAT IS WHAT I ENDEAVOR TO DO WHEN I STEP ON THE STAGE, BRING THE ENERGY, THE NOISE AND LET EVERYBODY HAVE A GOOD TIME IN GOD.

PARIS: YOU ARE NOT JUST A GOSPEL SINGER.

YOU ACT AND MAKE FILMS.

AS A RECENT GRAD YOU WERE LOOKING TO BREAK INTO THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY.

SO FAR YOU HAVEN’T BEEN QUIET ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE INDUSTRY, COMMENTING ON INDIANA BIBLE COLLEGE SEEMINGLY APPROPRIATING HOWARD UNIVERSITY’S GOSPEL CHOIR TO PATTY LUPONE AND COMMENTS SHE MADE.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO SEE IN THE INDUSTRY?

CHRISTIAN: I WANT TO OPEN DOORS THAT WEREN’T OPEN FOR ME.

MY WHOLE THING, I LOVE BEING ABLE TO BE ON DIFFERENT PLATFORMS.

I WANT TO CREATE PLATFORMS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHERS COMING BEHIND ME BECAUSE THE REALITY IS, I’M FROM OR NO, CALIFORNIA, THE FIFTH LARGEST CITY IN CALIFORNIA BUT IT OPERATES LIKE A TOWN.

I’M PROUD OF THAT.

NOT ASHAMED OF IT, BUT THE REALITY IS NOT EVERYBODY WILL BE ABLE TO COME TO A CITY LIKE BOSTON OR A SCHOOL LIKE BERKELEY SO IF I CAN REACH BACK WITH RESOURCES AND GET THOSE AND BRING THEM WITH ME, THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO DO.

PARIS: WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU?

CHRISTIAN: I’M HEADED TO NEW YORK.

PARIS: WATCH OUT.

CHRISTIAN: I WANT TO DO THEATER, FILM, TELEVISION.

PARIS: YOU WANT TO BE PART OF IT.

.

CHRISTIAN: I MEAN VARIOUS SPACES BUT BETWEEN LOS ANGELES AND NEW YORK I WANT TO DO AS MUCH AS I CAN IN FRONT OF AND BEHIND THE SCREEN.

I WANT TO CREATE PROJECTS, AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES.

THAT IS MY MAIN ENDEAVOR.

PARIS: SOUNDS LIKE A FUTURE EGO T. CHRISTIAN: IN JESUS’ NAME.

PARIS: WE WILL LET YOU BRING THE ENERGY TOWER PLATFORM TODAY.

TELL US WHAT YOU WILL PERFORM.

CHRISTIAN: I’M GOING TO DO A SONG CALLED "TRUSTING," OFF MY NEW ALBUM "CHURCHIN’ WITH THE SAINTS. "

I NEED YOU TO GET SOME ENERGY WITH ME.

ALL RIGHT.

ARE YOU READY TO TRUST HIM?

ARE YOU READY?

ALL RIGHT.

LET ME SEE YOU CLAP YOUR HANDS.

LET ME SEE YOU CLAP YOUR HANDS.

NOW YOU’VE GOT TO MOVE.

LET ME HEAR YOU MAKE SOME NOISE.

WOO!

A LEASING IT.

[SINGING] HE IS MY WILL.

THOUGHT MY BATTLE IF I JUST KEEP STILL.

I’M GOING TO TRUST HIM, TRUST HIM, TRUST HIM, HE IS ALL RIGHT.

I KNOW HE IS ALL RIGHT.

ONE THING I KNOW, THE MAN IS ALL RIGHT.

>> HE IS MY ROCK, MY SWORD, MY SHIELD.

>> MY WHEEL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WILL.

HE WILL FIGHT MY BATTLE IF I KEEP STILL.

I’M GOING TO TRUST HIM, TRUST HIM, TRUST HIM, TRUST HIM.

HE IS ALL RIGHT, I KNOW HE IS ALL RIGHT.

ONE THING I KNOW, ONE THING I KNOW, THE MAN IS ALL RIGHT.

YES, HE IS ALL RIGHT.

I KNOW HE IS ALL RIGHT.

I KNOW HE IS ALL RIGHT.

BECAUSE HE WALKS RIGHT BY ME DAY AND NIGHT.

>> SEE WHAT GOD CAN DO.

>> TAKE ONE STEP AND HE WILL TAKE TWO.

>> I KNOW HE CAN AND I KNOW HE WELL.

>> DATA -- FIGHT MY BATTLE IF I JUST KEEP STILL.

I WILL TRUST HIM, TRUST HIM, TRUST HIM.

HE IS ALL RIGHT.

I KNOW HE IS ALL RIGHT.

ONE THING I KNOW, THE MAN IS ALL RIGHT.

YES, HE IS ALL RIGHT.

I KNOW HE IS ALL RIGHT.

OH YES, HE IS ALL RIGHT.

BECAUSE HE WALKS RIGHT BY ME, DAY AND NIGHT.

>> JUST SEE WHAT GOD CAN DO.

>> YOU TAKE ONE STEP AND HE WILL TAKE TWO.

>> I KNOW HE CAN AND I KNOW HE WELL.

>> FIGHT MY BATTLE IF I JUST KEEP STILL.

THAT IS WHY I’M GOING TO TRUST HIM, TRUST HIM, TRUST HIM, TRUST HIM.

HE IS ALL RIGHT, YES HE IS ALL RIGHT.

I KNOW HE IS ALL RIGHT.

ONE THING I KNOW, THE MAN IS ALL RIGHT.

YES, HE IS ALL RIGHT.

I KNOW HE IS ALL RIGHT.

I KNOW HE IS ALL RIGHT.

HE WALKS RIGHT BY ME DAY AND NIGHT.

>> SEE WHAT GOD CAN DO.

>> YOU TAKE ONE STEP AND HE WILL TAKE TWO.

>> I KNOW HE CAN AND I KNOW YOU WILL.

>> FIGHT MY BATTLE IF I JUST KEEP STILL.

I’M GOING TO TRUST HIM, TRUST HIM, TRUST HIM, AND BELIEVE HIM.

I’M GOING TO TRUST HIM AND RECEIVE HIM.

I’M GOING TO TRUST HIM, TRUST HIM, TRUST HIM.

HE IS ALL RIGHT, YES, HE IS ALL RIGHT.

I KNOW HE IS ALL RIGHT.

ONE THING I KNOW.

THE MAN IS ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

>> YES, HE IS ALL RIGHT -- >> HE IS ALL RIGHT.

OH, HE IS ALL RIGHT.

THE MAN IS ALL RIGHT.

>> YES HE IS ALL RIGHT.

>> WHEN I CAN’T TASTE, WHEN I CAN’T FEEL, WHEN I CAN’T HEAR, HE IS STILL ALL RIGHT.

HE IS ALL RIGHT!

HE IS ALL RIGHT!

HE IS ALL RIGHT!

ANYBODY KNOWS, HE IS ALL RIGHT.

ANYBODY KNOWS HE IS ALL RIGHT.

I KNOW HE IS ALL RIGHT.

THAT IS MY GOD!

THAT IS MY KING!

THAT IS MY SAVIOR!

HE IS ALL RIGHT!

HE IS ALL RIGHT!

>> HE IS ALL RIGHT.

>> THAT’S MY GOD, HE IS ALL RIGHT.

EVERYBODY CLAP YOUR HANDS!

LET ME HEAR YOU MAKE SOME NOISE AND CLAP YOUR HANDS!

WOOO!

HE IS ALL RIGHT, HE IS ALL RIGHT -- >> YES, HE IS ALL RIGHT -- >> I KNOW -- >> HE IS ALL RIGHT.

>> HE IS ALL RIGHT.

HE IS ALL RIGHT.

YEAH, HE IS ALL RIGHT!

I’M GOING TO TRUST HIM, TRUST HIM, TRUST HIM, TRUST HIM, HE IS ALL RIGHT!

I KNOW HE IS ALL RIGHT!

ONE THING I KNOW -- >> ONE THING I KNOW -- >> THE MAN IS ALL RIGHT.

HEY!

WOO!

GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY, HEY!

PARIS: YOU ARE GOING TO TURN THIS INTO GBH NEWS ROOTED BAPTIST CHURCH.

THAT IS IT FOR THIS EPISODE.

AS WE ALWAYS ASK, WHAT KEEPS YOU ROOTED AND WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT MATTER TO YOU.

CHECK US OUT ON INSTAGRAM, YOUTUBE AND HERE EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT AT 7:30.

FROM ALL OF US AT ROOTED, ON PARIS ALSTON.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT AS WE GET ROOTED IN A SONG THAT KEEPS US GROUNDED TOGETHER.

THANK YOU, CHRISTIAN.

CHRISTIAN: [SINGING] AMAZING GRACE HOW SWEET, THE SOUND THAT SAVED A WRETCH LIKE ME I ONCE WAS LOST BUT NOW, I’M FOUND WAS BLIND BUT NOW, I SEE