>> I LOVE MASSACHUSETTS.

I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE ARE INCLUSIVE --ISH.

VERY MUCH ISH.

>> MANY BLACK WOMEN HAVE SAID, I HAVE HAD THAT RELATIONSHIP WHERE MY GRANDFATHER WAS A GREAT FATHER FIGURE OR MY UNCLE.

>> HOW DO YOU WANT YOUR MUSIC TO UPLIFT THE COMMUNITY?

>> BY LETTING EVERYONE THAT IDENTIFIES AS SUCH TO KNOW THAT IT’S OK TO TAKE UP SPACE.

PARIS: HELLO!

>> WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU.

>> HAVING SOME GREAT CONVERSATIONS.

PARIS: MASSACHUSETTS RECENTLY TIED WITH NEW YORK FOR BEING THE SAFEST STATE FOR LGBTQ PLUS EQUALITY.

THAT’S ACCORDING TO THE OUT LEADERSHIP’S ANNUAL REPORT.

BUT IN THE TIMES THAT WE’RE IN, DOES THAT MAKE MASSACHUSETTS A TARGET?

>> DOES IT MAKE MASSACHUSETTS A TARGET?

I THINK MASSACHUSETTS HAS BEEN A TARGET.

MUCH LIKE CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK.

I THINK WHAT IS DIFFERENT HERE IS WHICH IS HAVE A LOVE FOR EVERYONE, RIGHT?

I THINK WHAT WOULD MAKE US EVEN A BIGGER TARGET IS IF WE WERE TO SPREAD THAT LOVE AROUND AND MAKE IT MORE INCLUSIVE.

I LOVE MASSACHUSETTS.

I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE ARE INCLUSIVE-ISH -- VERY MUCH ISH.

BUT I THINK THAT WE WANT TO BE A TARGET, RIGHT?

ONLY LIGHTHOUSES ARE TARGETS.

SO WE WANT TO BE A TARGET.

>> YOU SAID INCLUSIVE-SH, YOU FILL -- INCLUSIVE-ISH, YOU FEEL THERE IS MORE TO DO.

WHAT IS THAT LOOKING LIKE?

>> I THINK PERFECT WOULD NOT BE PERFECT FOR EVERYONE.

I WOULD SAY, SOMETIMES I SAY THIS AD NAUSEAM.

BUT CENTERING THE MOST MARGINALIZED PERSON WOULD MAKE A PERFECT MASSACHUSETTS.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE FOR LIKE QUEER PEOPLE -- BLACK QUEER PEOPLE, IMMIGRANTS, THOSE WHO ARE HANDICAPPED AND QUEER, DEAF PEOPLE WHO WERE QUEER?

WHAT DOES MINDFULNESS LOOK LIKE FOR THEM IN THOSE SPACES?

MAKING SURE EVERYBODY CAN BE A PART OF EVERYTHING.

>> WOULD IT BE HARDER TO MAKE THAT A REALITY NO?

>> IT SHOULD BE HARDER TO MAKE IT A REALITY.

IF WE TAKE ON THAT IT COULD BE HARDER, IT WILL BE HARDER.

THERE WERE SUCH A POWER IN OUR BELIEF RIGHT NOW.

I FEEL LIKE WE ARE IN A MOMENT WHERE WE JUST NEED TO REMIND OURSELVES OF WHAT WE KNOW.

AND WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT KNOWING.

PARIS: WHAT DO WE KNOW?

>> WE KNOW WHO WE ARE.

WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED AND WE KNOW THAT WE CAN GET WHAT WE NEED THROUGH BEING A COMMUNITY WITH EACH OTHER.

WE CAN BE -- WE CAN’T BE TOLD ABOUT OURSELVES.

>> WE ALSO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE PLANNING.

YOU MENTIONED WE ARE A TARGET.

WE KNOW THIS IS HAPPENING.

LET’S NOT WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS TO REACT TO IT.

LET US START PROACTIVELY PUTTING TOGETHER OUR PLAN AND DEFENSE.

AROUND THE COUNTRY, WE SEE ALL THESE ANTI-LGBTQ PLUS LAWS BEING PUT INTO THE LEGISLATURE, FOR EVERYONE, I WANT TO SEE THREE PRO LAWS PUT OUT THERE.

THEY GAVE US THEIR PLAN A YEAR AND A HALF AGO SO IT SHOULD ALL BE AS APPLIES -- IT SHOULD NOT BE A SURPRISE TO ANYONE.

>> WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT WHETHER THE DEMOCRATS WEREN’T READY FOR ALL OF THIS, THE PLAN WAS THERE.

>> LAID OUT, PAGE 77.

>> THIS IS JUST A REPEAT OF -- WE HAVE SEEN THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

PARIS: ONE FORM OF DEFENSE IS WHAT YOU ARE DOING BOSTON THE -- BUILDING THE BOSTON OUT HISTORY MUSEUM.

ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT THAT EFFORT BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE?

>> I AM NOT WORRIED ABOUT IT.

I AM NOT WORRIED BECAUSE THE WORK IS GOING THROUGH THE ARCHIVES AND READING AND RESEARCH AND USING PEOPLE WHO DID 10 TIMES BIGGER -- THEY ACHIEVED 10 TIMES BIGGER INITIATIVES WITH NEW RESOURCES AND TO THINK THAT I AM IN A SPACE WHERE I AM SURROUNDED BY LEADERS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO MY SAFETY AND MY SUCCESS, THOSE THREE ARE ON THE TABLE, AND ALSO HAVING A STATE THAT CARES ABOUT THIS WORK COMING ABOUT, THE RESOURCES ARE THERE, THEY JUST NEED TO BE LEVERAGE AND UTILIZE IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE.

I THINK IT PUTS US IN A SLOWER PACE TO GETTING THAT PERMANENT SPACE BUILT AND RETROFITTED INTO A FULLY PERMANENT SPACE THAT IS OPEN WITH PEOPLE COMING IN BUT I AM NOT WORRIED ABOUT IT, NOR DO I FEEL LIKE THIS IS GOING TO TAKE AWAY -- BUT THERE IS A REAL SORT OF ECONOMIC ANXIETY AROUND IT.

CAN INVESTORS INVEST IN IT?

WILL PHILANTHROPISTS COME WITH THE SIGNATURE OF A PEN?

WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY TAKE AWAY 5-0 STATUS?

COULD WE JUST BE A PRIVATE COMPANY AND WHAT WE WANT?

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE FOLKS WHO WANT TO SUPPORT THIS WORK, FINANCIALLY, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE DONATIONS AND ALL THESE THINGS?

WE ARE EXPLORING, WHAT CAN WE DO IN THE FACE OF THESE SYSTEMIC ATTACKS?

I THINK THE WORK MEANT TO -- IS MEANT TO INSPIRE WORK AND BRING VISIBILITY.

>> AND THE PRESERVATION OF LGBTQ HISTORY.

>> FOR THE YOUTH COMMISSION, WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A PARTNER WITH THE LGBTQ MUSEUM.

I WOULD SAY THE STATE IS INVESTED IN MAKING SURE -- THIS IS WHAT I WILL SAY ABOUT THE THAT, THERE IS A CONSCIOUS REBELLION HAPPENING AND I LOVE IT.

I LOVE THAT ABOUT MASSACHUSETTS.

IF WE DO THAT COLLECTIVELY WITH OTHER STATES, WE CAN REALLY MAKE WHAT WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE HAPPEN, MAKE HISTORY HAPPEN.

I WOULD SAY THE STATE IS ABSOLUTELY INVESTED IN A WAY THAT IS REBELLIOUS.

PARIS: YOU MENTIONED USE, YOU WORK WITH YOUTH IN THE LGBTQ YOUTH COMMISSION.

WE KNOW WHAT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THERE ARE ATTACKS ON THINGS SUCH AS GENDER AFFIRMING CARE FOR INSTANCE, SO WHAT HAPPENS IF THAT STARTS TO BE UNDONE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL?

HOW DOES MASSACHUSETTS PROTECT LGBTQ YOUTH?

>> THEY ARE TRYING.

YOU SEE EVERYDAY, FOR EVERYTHING YOU SEE THIS PRESENTER, YOU SEE AN ATTORNEY FILE A LAWSUIT -- THIS PERSON DO, YOU SEE AN ATTORNEY FILED A LAWSUIT.

THAT’S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT BEING PROACTIVE FOR SURE.

BUT I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS THINK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN WITHHOLD.

EVERY SINGLE REBELLION HAS STARTED WITH THE WITHHOLDING OF SOMETHING.

IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE -- -- THE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA JUST MENTIONED, WE WOULD ACTUALLY NET $7 BILLION IF WE KEPT THIS FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

SO WHAT IF MASSACHUSETTS WHO ACTUALLY WOULD NET ABOUT $46 MILLION KEPT IT AWAY?

LET’S THINK ABOUT THAT AND LET’S THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN BE PROACTIVE ABOUT OUR REBELLION INSTEAD OF REACTING TO EVERY SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENING.

LET’S JUST WANT TO KEEP US TIRED.

PARIS: WE KNOW ONE THING THAT HAS MADE MASSACHUSETTS A SAFE HAVEN FOR LGBTQ PEOPLE.

WE LEGALIZE GAY MARRIAGE AND 2004.

DO YOU THINK BACK THEN THIS PANEL WOULD’VE BEEN ABLE TO HAPPEN?

>> HAPPEN WHERE?

I CAN SEE IS GATHERING.

I COULD HAVE SEEN IS GATHERING -- US GATHERING.

BUT NOW, WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK?

>> I THINK SO.

THE CEO OF OUR STATE IS A QUEER WOMAN.

I THINK THAT THOSE KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS WILL AGAIN HAPPEN.

A BENEFIT OF MASSACHUSETTS -- I AM A BENEFIT OF MASSACHUSETTS BENEFIT.

I MARRIED MY HUSBAND IN 2019.

YEARS AFTERWARD.

BUT I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS COME UP WITH IDEAS FOR PROGRESSING OUR CAUSE AND OUR DESIRE TO BE NOT ONLY INCLUDED BUT TO HAVE THE FOUNDATION TO MOVE FORWARD IN CERTAIN THINGS.

THAT’S WHERE I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF ROOM FOR US TO BE CREATIVE.

DISCRIMINATION IS A VERY CREATIVE TOOL.

IF SOMEONE WANTS TO KEEP SOME PEOPLE OUT, MANY WILL GET INTO A ROOM AND COME UP WITH A BUNCH OF IDEAS AND THEY WILL PUSH THOSE IDEAS FORWARD.

NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TO BE CREATIVE ENOUGH TO DISMANTLE THOSE IDEAS, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE A WHOLE ANOTHER BUCKET OF IDEAS THAT ADVANCES US.

THAT’S A CONVERSATION I WANT TO SEE HAPPEN.

ALL RIGHT, HERE ARE 10 IDEAS WE CAN PUSH NOT ONLY IN FRONT OF LOCAL LEGISLATORS BUT STATE LEGISLATORS AS WELL.

>> NEED TO BE ORGANIZED.

PARIS: DO YOU THINK THE QUEER COMMUNITY HERE IS ON ACCORD, ON THE SAME PAGE?

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THERE WAS NOT A PRIDE PARADE, 20/20, WE HAD THE ABSENCE OF THE PIE.

.

>> 2020 AND 2021.

-- WE HAD THE ABSENCE OF THE PRIDE PARADE.

>> 2020 AND 2021.

PARIS: BUT DO YOU FEEL LIKE THAT DIVISION HAS BEEN MENDED IN THAT TIME?

THE DIVISION WHERE THE FORMER BOSTON PRIDE WAS BEING CALLED OUT FOR NOT BEING -- BLACK LIVES MATTER.

YEAH.

>> I THINK WE ARE MOVING DIFFERENTLY.

WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION CENTERING THE MOST MARGINALIZED.

THEY CAME TO THE TABLE AND THOUGHT ABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.

AS LOOKING DIFFERENT AND WILL CONTINUE TO AS WE CONTINUE TO CENTER THE MOST MARGINALIZED AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WE NEED AND WHAT WE NEED TO AS COMMUNITIES TO COME TOGETHER.

I SAY COMMUNITIES JUST BECAUSE THEY LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY -- THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITIES ARE SO BROAD.

I ALWAYS LIKE TO SPEAK TO THAT WE ARE MANY AND 1.

>> RECENTLY WE GATHERED, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT -- TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, I THINK THIS PANEL WOULD HAVE EXISTED.

WE SEE ALL THESE NATIONAL FIGURES.

BUT EVEN LOCALLY, WE SEE PEOPLE CONVENING TO ADVANCE A MOVEMENT.

HE RECENTLY GATHERED -- WE RECENTLY GATHERED, YOU WORK WITHIN CULTURE, I WORK WITHIN THE ARTS AND HISTORY, WE HAVE OUR OWN GOALS BECAUSE WE WORK IN SPECIFIC SECTORS, BUT WHAT IS A COLLECTIVE?

IF I NEED SOMETHING LEGISLATIVELY, I NEED TO CALL YOU, IF I AM DOING THIS INITIATIVE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I CHECK IN WITH YOU, AND I THINK FOR ME AND FOR YOU, THE RESPONSIBILITY IS GETTING A BIT HEAVIER, BECAUSE WHEN THEY ARE CALLING US OUT, PEOPLE WHO HAVE DISABILITIES VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE, MAKING SURE SPACES ARE ACCESSIBLE -- HOW DO I GET THAT DONE?

SO I THINK SURROUNDED BY THAT KIND OF EXPERTISE AND HONESTLY ACCOUNTABILITY ALLOWS US TO DO THIS WORK IN A WAY THAT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE BETTER.

BECAUSE SHE IS WORKING WITH THESE YOUTH AND SHE IS CALLING US OUT.

THE SPACE DID NOT HAVE ALL THESE THINGS.

PARIS: THERE IS SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE DO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THIS IS NOT THE LAST PANEL WE WILL HAVE.

THANK YOU ALSO VERY MUCH AND HAPPY PRIDE.

>> THANK YOU.

HAPPY PRIDE.

PARIS: HOW DO EACH OF YOU REMEMBER YOUR FATHERS ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS?

>> I THINK OF MY FATHER OFTEN.

AND USUALLY IT PUTS A SMILE ON MY FACE.

THERE COULD BE SOMETHING ON TELEVISION, OR SOMETHING IN THE NEWSPAPER, OR ANY LITTLE THING CAN TRIGGER A HAPPY MEMORY OF MY FATHER, BECAUSE I LIKE TO THINK -- I BELIEVE HE WAS THE BEST DAD IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD.

>> I DON’T KNOW, I MIGHT HAVE TO COMPETE WITH YOU FURTHER.

-- FOR THAT.

[LAUGHTER] >> ALL RIGHT, WE WILL SEEK.

>> I WAS A DADDY’S GIRL.

MY FATHER WAS -- HE WAS THE FUN PARENT.

MY MOTHER WAS MORE OF THE DISCIPLINARIAN.

SHE WOULD HAVE TO PUSH THEM TO DISCIPLINE MY SISTER AND ME.

I HAVE A LOT OF FOND MEMORIES.

WHEN I WAS REALLY SMALL, HE WOULD TAKE THE HANDCART TO TAKE THE TRASH BARRELS OUT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND HE WOULD SAY, LISA, I WILL RACE YOU BACK TO THE BACK OF THE YARD AND I WILL GIVE YOU A HEAD START.

I AM FOR FIVE YEARS OLD, I WOULD BE RUNNING, RUNNING, HE WOULD GIVE ME THIS HUGE HEAD START AND HE WOULD START RUNNING AND RUNWAY PASSED ME AND I WOULD SAY, HOW DID HE RUN PAST ME?

I’M A KID AND YOU ARE AN ADULT.

HE WOULD JUST LAUGH HIS HEAD OFF.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT TRIGGER MEMORIES.

HE DID SERVICE -- MILITARY SERVICE IN THE 1950’S STATES THAT DURING THE KOREAN WAR ERA.

DURING OFF TIME, THE SHOULDERS WOULD SHOOT POOL -- SOLDIERS WOULD SHOOT POOL.

HE TAUGHT LISA, HIS LITTLE GIRL, TO SHOOT POOL.

SO WE HAD A LOT OF FUN SHOOTING POOL AND EVEN JUST GOING TO THE CARWASH, HE WOULD SAY I WAS LIKE THE PART OF THE CARWASH, I GO?

I WAS FASCINATED BY THE WATER HITTING THE WINDSHIELD.

LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT.

PARIS: IT’S ALWAYS THE SMALL THINGS.

FOR ME IT IS REMEMBERING -- MY DAD MOWED THE LAWN ALL THE TIME.

I WOULD BE OUTSIDE PLAYING WITH MY FRIENDS AND HE WOULD TAKE A MOMENT AND STOP AND WAVE AT US OR SAY SOME CUTE LITTLE THING AND THEN JUST KEEP GOING.

THOSE THINGS STICK WITH YOU.

I LOVE THAT WE ARE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE TOO OFTEN, WE HEAR THE STEREOTYPES, RIGHT?

SOMEWHAT OF A FALSE NARRATIVE THAT BLACK WOMEN DON’T HAVE THESE CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR FATHERS.

BUT WE KNOW, FROM THIS EXPERIENCE AND FROM RESEARCH, ALL THE BENEFITS THAT CAN COME FROM THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.

HOW ARE EACH OF YOU CHANGING THE NARRATIVE?

>> I, TOO, LIKE THE I CONSIDER MYSELF A DADDY’S GIRL.

-- LISA CONSIDER MYSELF A DADDY’S GIRL.

MY MOTHER WAS DISCIPLINARIAN.

MY FATHER WAS A SUGAR DADDY.

WHEN I WOULD ASK FOR PERMISSION FOR SOMETHING, HE WOULD SAY, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA WITH ME, BUT CHECK WITH YOUR MOM.

WELL, I’M ASKING YOU.

IF YOU SAY IT’S ALL RIGHT, I CAN GO AHEAD AND DO IT.

NO, YOU BETTER CHECK WITH YOUR MOM.

[LAUGHTER] PARIS: BECAUSE WE KNOW MOM IS THE ONE WHO RUNS THE HOUSE.

>> MOM IS NOT HAVING IT.

BUT SPEAKING OF RELATIONSHIPS AND THE STRENGTH, THE MAJOR TAKE AWAY WHEN I THINK OF MY FATHER WAS HOW DEVOTED HE WAS TO MY MOTHER.

AND THAT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD, I THINK, LOOKING AT RELATIONSHIPS AND EVALUATING RELATIONSHIPS.

PARIS: HAS IT IMPACTED YOUR OWN RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR SPOUSE OR OTHER PEOPLE?

>> I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR MEN WHO GET ALONG WITH THEIR MOTHERS, AND THAT WAS A POINT WITH ME WHEN I WAS DATING MY HUSBAND.

BUT THAT DENOTES A CERTAIN RESPECT FOR WOMEN.

THAT IS SO IMPORTANT, I BELIEVE.

>> I THINK THAT MY BOOK IS CHANGING THE NARRATIVE AND EXPANDING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT FATHERS.

BECAUSE I’VE HAD -- I AM IN A COUPLE OF BOOK CLUBS AND I HAVE DONE SOME EVENTS WITH MY BOOK AND I HAVE HAD SO MANY WOMEN, BLACK WOMEN SAY, I HAD THAT SAME RELATIONSHIP WITH MY GRANDFATHER, HE WAS A GREAT FATHER FIGURE OR MY UNCLE, WHAT I DESCRIBED JUST NOW ABOUT THE FUN TIMES WITH DADDY THAT I HAVE IN THE BOOK, THAT ALSO BRINGS OUT OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE READ THE BOOK, OTHER WOMEN WHO HAVE SAID, YEAH, HAD THAT EXPERIENCE WITH MY FATHER.

WE DID SOMETHING SIMILAR.

I THINK BOTH OF OUR BOOKS ARE VERY GOOD FOR THAT -- FOR EXPANDING THE CONVERSATION AND THE NARRATIVE ABOUT BLACK DADS.

PARIS: YOU ARE WRITING THESE BOOKS IN THE ABSENCE OF YOUR FATHER’S.

WAS THAT HARD?

>> IT WAS HARD, BUT I AM -- MY FATHER DID NOT LIVE TO SEE THE BOOK PUBLISHED, WHEN HE WAS VERY INVESTED IN MY IDEA OF, LET US DO A BOOK ABOUT YOUR CAREER.

AND HE EMBRACED IT WHOLEHEARTEDLY.

PARIS: YOU MENTIONED YOUR FATHER WAS IN A TERRITORY BAND -- >> A LEADER OF A BIG BAND THAT TRAVELED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, BASED IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA BUT TRAVELED ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND HE WAS A CONTEMPORARY OF COUNT BASIE AND DUKE ELLINGTON, KIM CALLOWAY, ALL THE CATS YOU THINK OF FROM THE EARLY DAYS OF JAZZ.

AND THAT WAS -- HE EMBRACED IT AND I WAS ENTHUSIASTIC.

I’M JUST SORRY IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO FINISH IT, BUT LIFE GETS IN THE WAY WHEN YOU ARE MAKING OTHER PLANS.

I AM GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO PUT HIS PLEASE IN -- PLACE IN JAZZ HISTORY AND MUSIC HISTORY AND TO SALUTE MANY OF THE MUSICIANS THAT HE TRAINED THAT WENT ON TO DO OTHER, LARGER, IMPORTANT THINGS.

PARIS: IT’S IMPORTANT HISTORY TO DOCUMENT.

AMAZING YOU WERE ABLE TO DO SO THROUGH YOUR OWN PERSONAL STORY.

AND LISA, OF COURSE, YOU ARE APPROACHING YOUR FATHER’S STORY FROM THE ANGLE OF CAREGIVING ESPECIALLY BECAUSE HE AND YOUR MOM AND YOURSELF WERE ALL SICK AT COINCIDING TIMES, YOUR MOM PASSED BEFORE HE DID, WHAT WAS YOUR RELATIONSHIP LIKE AFTER YOUR MOTHER’S PASSING?

>> MY FATHER HAD DEMENTIA AND PARKINSON’S.

HE WAS DETERIORATING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

FIVE OR SIX YEARS OR SO.

AFTER MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY, MY FATHER WAS STILL A VERY STRONG ANCHOR FOR ME BECAUSE IT WAS ALWAYS THE FOUR OF US, MY SISTER SYLVIA, MOMMY, DADDY AND ME AND I WAS -- AND NOW IT IS DOWN TO THE THREE OF US.

WE ALL HAD EACH OTHER AND WE COULD GRIEVE TOGETHER EVEN THOUGH WE DID NOT ALWAYS TALK ABOUT OUR GRIEF, MY DAD GRIEVED QUITE A BIT OVER MOMMY.

HE WAS AN ANCHOR IN THAT GRIEF.

I GOT TO SPEND TIME WITH HIM, WHICH WAS KIND OF FULL CIRCLE, BECAUSE WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG, DAD PUT THE HI-FI STEREO IN THE BASEMENT AND THE SPEAKERS AROUND THE ROOM -- THAT WAS OUR FAMILY RECREATIONAL ROOM.

AND HE WOULD PLAY SAM COOKE, HE LOVED SAM COOKE.

HE WOULD SAY TO ME, MAY I HAVE THE STANS, LISA?

AND I WOULD DANCE ON HIS FEET.

PARIS: AS A PROPER GENERAL MANAGER -- GENTLEMEN SHOULD.

>> HE WAS IN ASSISTED LIVING, HE COULD NOT FUNCTION VERY WELL OR WALK VERY WELL SO WE HAD LUNCH AND THEN HE WAS ON HIS WALKER AND WE CAME BACK TO THE ROOM, I WAS ABLE TO GET HIM BACK ON THE BED, AND I HAD A SURPRISE FOR HIM, HAD MY BOSE SPEAKER AND I TURNED ON SAM COOKE AND HE IS LYING ON HIS BACK AND I SAID, I’M PLAYING IT, THIS BIG SMILE COMES ON HIS FACE, AND I SAID, DADDY, MAY I HAVE THIS DANCE?

HE SAID, WELL, I AM NOT UP FOR THAT TODAY.

SO HE TOOK -- SO I TOOK HIS HANDS.

I’M GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH HIS HANDS.

HE IS SMILING.

I ALSO GOT MY SISTER ON ZOOM.

SNAPPING HER FINGERS LIKE SHE WAS WITH US.

AFTER A WHILE, I DIDN’T HAVE TO MOVE HIS HANDS BACK AND FORTH, HE WAS MOVING TO THE BEAT.

>> WHAT A PRECIOUS MEMORY.

>> THAT’S ALSO IN THE BOOK.

DAD’S PLAYLIST, THERE IS A STORY IN THE BOOK AND I GO THROUGH DIFFERENT SONGS THAT WERE PART OF OUR LIVES AS TIME WENT ON.

PARIS: MUSIC AS A COMMON THREAD.

I APPRECIATE THIS.

I MENTIONED THIS TO LISA.

MY FATHER WAS A LEUKEMIA SURVIVOR.

I HAVE NOT WRITTEN A BOOK ABOUT HIM YET BUT I WROTE A COMMENTARY ABOUT DONATING STEM CELLS TO HIM, AND THAT IS -- THAT WAS REALLY THERAPEUTIC.

I’M GLAD HE WAS ABLE TO SEE IT PUBLISHED.

THE STORY WILL CONTINUE.

CARMEN AND LISA, THANK YOU BOTH SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

PARIS: THIS BLACK MUSIC MONTH, WE ARE HIGHLIGHTING LOCAL ARTISTS SUCH AS THE ONE AND ONLY RED SHAYDEZ.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> I’M GOOD, HOW ARE YOU?

PARIS: THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

,, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF -- YOUR SOUND?

>> RETRO VINTAGE MIXED WITH A LITTLE BIT OF MODERN STYLE.

PARIS: ALL THE WAY BACK AT ALL THE WAY FORWARD, WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GET INTO MUSIC?

>> MY FATHER WAS A RAPPER WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL SO I GOT TO SEE FIRSTHAND HIM ROAMING THE STREETS OF BOSTON BEING AN INDEPENDENT ARTIST IN A GROUP AND I JUST WANTED TO EMULATE HIM SO HERE WE ARE.

PARIS: WHAT WAS THE GROUP?

>> THE FIELD.

PARIS: AND YOU ALSO ARE HUGE LGBTQ PLUS ADVOCATE.

IT IS PRIDE MONTH, HOW DO YOU WANT YOUR MUSIC TO UPLIFT THE COMMUNITY?

>> I WANT IT TO UPLIFT THEM BY LETTING EVERYONE THAT IDENTIFIES AS SUCH TO KNOW THAT IT’S OK TO TAKE UP SPACE, WE ARE HERE, MORE BEYOND THIS MONTH, BUT DEFINITELY THIS MONTH AND WE ARE PRIDEFUL ABOUT IT AND I’M JUST HONORED TO BE A PART OF THAT COMMUNITY.

PARIS: STILL HERE, STILL CLEAR -- QUEER.

YOU ARE ALSO A YOUTH MENTOR WITH THE CITY.

HOW DO YOU WANT YOUR MUSIC TO UPLIFT YOUNG PEOPLE?

>> I WANT THEM TO LOOK AT ME AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW TO STRIVE AND TO ACHIEVE BEING AN INDEPENDENT ARTIST, SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO BE MAJOR LATER DOWN THE LINE THAT’S FINE AS WELL BUT I WANT TO SHOW THEM THERE’S DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET THROUGH THE SAME DOOR.

PARIS: HAVE A GREAT ROLE MODEL.

YOU ARE GOING TO PERFORM FOR US TODAY, WAS NOT GOING TO BE?

>> I’M GOING TO PERFORM SERENA WILLIAMS.

I THINK IT IS TRULY FITTING.

POWERFUL WOMAN.

LISTEN TO THE BARS AND THIS ONE.

IT’S ABOUT BEING A BLACK WOMAN IN AMERICA TAKING UP SPACE.

LET’S GO!

WHAT’S GOOD?

I GO BY THE NAME OF RED SHAYDEZ.

THIS IS MY TRACK CALLED "SERENA WILLIAMS."

I’M GOING TO GET A LITTLE GULLY.

BUT I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO THE LYRICS.

I’M GOING TO GET STRAIGHT TO THE POINT.

WITH THE QUEEN LIKE ME NO NEED TO BEAT AROUND THE BUSH A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL ENTITLED JUST BECAUSE OF LOOKS I COULD NEVER FOLLOWED BY THE BOOK I ALREADY GOT SOME PEOPLE SHOULD ALL YOU THINK ABOUT -- HEARD IT ALL BEFORE IT’S ABOUT THE PRINCIPLE MAKE SURE YOU GET TO KNOW ME BEFORE FILLING ALL THE PHYSICAL I’M MOVING FAST LITTLE DO I KNOW YOU SEE THE MOVES I MAKE TELL ME HOW YOU’RE DOING IT HOW YOU DOING THAT?

LOOKING FOR A MAN FIND IT FUNNY I DON’T HAVE TO WORRY WHY IS THIS ONE CALLED SERENA WILLIAMS?

YOU CAN MAKE A KILLING MY CREW WAS IN THE BUILDING YOU SEE HOW I’M LIVING IT’S RED SHAYDEZ ♪ ♪ PARIS: YES!

THAT WAS AWESOME!

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

PARIS: THAT IS THAT FOR THIS EPISODE OF GBH ME IS ROOTED.

WHAT KEEPS -- GBH NEWS ROOTED.

WHAT KEEPS YOU ROOTED?

CHECK US OUT EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT AT 7:30 P.M. I’M PARIS ALSTON.

RED SHAYDEZ IS GOING TO TAKE US OUT.

>> I WROTE THIS WHEN I WANTED TO LEAVE MY JOB BECAUSE I WAS TIRED OF IT.

I KNEW THAT IT WAS NOT THE PATH FOR ME.

I LIKE TO TELL STORIES, LET US GO.

TODAY I DON’T WANT TO DO NOTHING ON MONDAY I AM GOING TO BE SOMETHING BUT RIGHT NOW I CAN’T EVEN FUNCTION RIGHT NOW I CAN EVEN FUNCTION I GOT DAYS THAT I’M HUSTLING BUT TODAY I DON’T WANT TO DO NOTHING ON MONDAY I AM GOING TO BE SOMETHING BUT RIGHT NOW I CAN’T EVEN FUNCTION YALL READY?

NOW I WANT TO CHILL FOR THE WEEKEND I’VE BEEN DOING SOME THINKING MY BODY BEEN NEEDING SOME TREATMENT ♪