1 00:00:00,940 --> 00:00:02,940 Well first let me thank you all for 2 00:00:02,940 --> 00:00:04,810 coming and let everybody who is 3 00:00:04,810 --> 00:00:07,032 watching the day , Welcome to the White 4 00:00:07,032 --> 00:00:09,670 House and Happy Black History Month to 5 00:00:09,670 --> 00:00:12,990 you today is an important day at the 6 00:00:12,990 --> 00:00:15,430 White House for us . We get to 7 00:00:15,430 --> 00:00:19,230 highlight our cabinet and it's the most 8 00:00:19,230 --> 00:00:21,397 diverse cabinet in the history of this 9 00:00:21,397 --> 00:00:23,540 country . But more importantly , it's 10 00:00:23,550 --> 00:00:25,383 the most talented cabinet in the 11 00:00:25,383 --> 00:00:28,280 history of this country . And so part 12 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:30,650 of Black History Month is to celebrate 13 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:33,520 our history , recognized the history 14 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:36,030 we're making day to day and recognize 15 00:00:36,030 --> 00:00:39,520 how far we still have to go . But as we 16 00:00:39,530 --> 00:00:42,360 recognize where we are , I like to 17 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:46,000 point out the excellence and talent and 18 00:00:46,010 --> 00:00:48,280 thought leaders that we have in the 19 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:50,336 country and so assembled around this 20 00:00:50,336 --> 00:00:54,170 table are the top people in their 21 00:00:54,170 --> 00:00:56,320 field , not the top black people in 22 00:00:56,320 --> 00:01:00,180 their field , but the top . And so when 23 00:01:00,180 --> 00:01:02,960 we thought about assembling a cabinet 24 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:05,560 and when the president made his pledge 25 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:07,560 on the campaign trail that he would 26 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:09,616 have the most diverse cabinet in the 27 00:01:09,616 --> 00:01:11,740 history of the country , he knew that 28 00:01:11,740 --> 00:01:13,860 he could have the most diverse talent 29 00:01:13,860 --> 00:01:15,804 but at the same time have the best 30 00:01:15,804 --> 00:01:19,660 talent in the history . So ah 31 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:22,351 you know , and we don't have here and 32 00:01:22,351 --> 00:01:25,010 people always say we have six african 33 00:01:25,010 --> 00:01:27,066 american cabinet members actually at 34 00:01:27,066 --> 00:01:29,066 seven because you have to count the 35 00:01:29,066 --> 00:01:31,340 vice president who is also and historic 36 00:01:31,350 --> 00:01:34,860 person . So part of what the purpose of 37 00:01:34,860 --> 00:01:36,971 this is not just to brag that we have 38 00:01:37,330 --> 00:01:39,552 the best talent in the administration , 39 00:01:39,552 --> 00:01:41,810 the best black talent but for people to 40 00:01:41,810 --> 00:01:45,520 understand and know who we 41 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:48,600 are and our life experiences jim 42 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:51,130 Clyburn's book is called blessed 43 00:01:51,130 --> 00:01:53,840 experiences because he really believes 44 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:56,050 and I do too , that we're all defined 45 00:01:56,060 --> 00:01:58,810 by our life experiences . So what we 46 00:01:58,810 --> 00:02:01,440 wanna do is kind of share with the 47 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:03,490 country and all of those that are 48 00:02:03,490 --> 00:02:06,630 joining us here today , What those life 49 00:02:06,630 --> 00:02:09,210 experiences were for us , how it drove 50 00:02:09,210 --> 00:02:12,360 us to , to be agents of change 51 00:02:12,740 --> 00:02:16,180 and to dare to be 52 00:02:16,740 --> 00:02:20,020 the best in whatever area that we're in . 53 00:02:20,030 --> 00:02:23,890 So with that , let me just open it 54 00:02:23,890 --> 00:02:27,790 up and uh , I'll start with Secretary 55 00:02:27,790 --> 00:02:30,860 Austin . Uh , your appointment was 56 00:02:30,860 --> 00:02:34,840 historic the first and I guess 57 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:37,010 the real question is , you know , how 58 00:02:37,010 --> 00:02:40,620 did you get to where you are ? And did 59 00:02:40,620 --> 00:02:43,550 you see it would be my question , 60 00:02:44,640 --> 00:02:48,550 oh thanks . And I let me just 61 00:02:48,550 --> 00:02:50,840 say up front , I could not agree more 62 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:53,007 with you in terms of the talent that's 63 00:02:53,007 --> 00:02:55,173 sitting at this table , I get a chance 64 00:02:55,173 --> 00:02:57,229 to work with them on a daily basis . 65 00:02:57,229 --> 00:03:00,490 They are awesome . And uh , I really 66 00:03:00,500 --> 00:03:04,040 feel honored and fortunate to be on the 67 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:06,810 same team with him . I , I come from a 68 00:03:06,820 --> 00:03:08,487 small town in south Georgia , 69 00:03:08,487 --> 00:03:11,810 Thomasville Georgia . I had a great 70 00:03:11,810 --> 00:03:14,860 opportunity to go to West Point for my 71 00:03:14,860 --> 00:03:17,740 undergraduate education and and my goal 72 00:03:17,740 --> 00:03:20,460 in life when I was a cadet was too 73 00:03:21,180 --> 00:03:23,800 graduate , complete five years in 74 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:25,633 service , which was meant to the 75 00:03:25,633 --> 00:03:28,050 mandatory service requirement and then 76 00:03:28,050 --> 00:03:30,217 I was going to get out and go become a 77 00:03:30,217 --> 00:03:33,380 lawyer . What I discovered after being 78 00:03:33,380 --> 00:03:35,602 in the , in the army for a short period 79 00:03:35,602 --> 00:03:37,830 of time is that I really , I loved what 80 00:03:37,830 --> 00:03:40,160 I was doing , I love being , I love 81 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:42,520 being with soldiers , I love leading , 82 00:03:42,530 --> 00:03:45,010 I love being a part of a great team , 83 00:03:45,020 --> 00:03:47,070 being part of something bigger than 84 00:03:47,070 --> 00:03:50,880 myself and and that passion really 85 00:03:50,890 --> 00:03:54,560 allowed me to do what was needed in 86 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:56,782 terms of investing the time , investing 87 00:03:56,782 --> 00:03:59,250 the effort Uh to become pretty good at 88 00:03:59,250 --> 00:04:01,710 what I was doing . And so 41 years 89 00:04:01,710 --> 00:04:05,430 later I took the uniform off uh , and 90 00:04:05,430 --> 00:04:09,040 as you know , I was offered a year plus 91 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:11,640 ago , offered the opportunity to join 92 00:04:13,110 --> 00:04:16,670 President biden's team and and I really 93 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:19,690 feel fortunate to be able to come and 94 00:04:19,700 --> 00:04:23,660 join the team again . Um you mentioned 95 00:04:23,670 --> 00:04:26,780 his investment in in diversity , I 96 00:04:26,780 --> 00:04:30,350 cannot speak more highly of , of 97 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:32,527 what what he , the example that he has 98 00:04:32,527 --> 00:04:34,640 set and I know firsthand that the 99 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:36,973 president is committed to to that issue . 100 00:04:38,140 --> 00:04:40,780 Well , well thank you and just so you 101 00:04:40,780 --> 00:04:43,140 all know why you all are in the cabinet 102 00:04:43,140 --> 00:04:45,362 and I'm not is because I just can never 103 00:04:45,362 --> 00:04:48,920 get it right . So we probably should 104 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:51,253 have started with introducing everybody . 105 00:04:51,253 --> 00:04:54,630 So I just wanted to uh , to start with 106 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:58,190 just letting everyone know who you are 107 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:01,150 and and your role and I started with 108 00:05:01,540 --> 00:05:03,707 our Secretary of Defense , who was the 109 00:05:03,707 --> 00:05:05,429 first african american mayor , 110 00:05:05,429 --> 00:05:07,540 Secretary of Defense , Lloyd Austin . 111 00:05:07,540 --> 00:05:10,120 We have our acting director soon to be 112 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:12,176 Director of the Office of Management 113 00:05:12,176 --> 00:05:15,100 and Budget . Uh Shalonda Young , we 114 00:05:15,100 --> 00:05:17,350 have our administrator of the 115 00:05:17,350 --> 00:05:19,230 Environmental Protection Agency 116 00:05:19,500 --> 00:05:22,390 Protection Agency , Michael Regan . We 117 00:05:22,390 --> 00:05:26,130 have to my left former congresswoman 118 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:29,350 from Cleveland Ohio and 119 00:05:29,840 --> 00:05:32,100 Secretary of Housing and Urban 120 00:05:32,110 --> 00:05:35,290 Development . We have C . C . Rouse who 121 00:05:35,290 --> 00:05:37,512 is our chair of the Council of Economic 122 00:05:37,512 --> 00:05:40,140 advisers . And then we have ambassador 123 00:05:40,150 --> 00:05:42,360 linda thomas Greenfield who is our US 124 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:45,200 Representative to the United Nations . 125 00:05:45,210 --> 00:05:48,660 So in that same light , same question 126 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:52,980 because some of these things that are 127 00:05:52,990 --> 00:05:55,270 really historic . But I guess my 128 00:05:55,270 --> 00:05:57,326 question for you , madam ambassadors 129 00:05:58,040 --> 00:06:01,540 life of of of working in this 130 00:06:01,550 --> 00:06:05,390 area but you know Louisiana Home 131 00:06:05,390 --> 00:06:08,660 Girl , how did how did you get here ? 132 00:06:08,670 --> 00:06:11,770 And what are those moments along the 133 00:06:11,770 --> 00:06:13,826 way that that you really think had a 134 00:06:13,826 --> 00:06:17,610 big in fact thank you Cedric and again , 135 00:06:17,620 --> 00:06:19,453 I'm delighted to be here and I'm 136 00:06:19,453 --> 00:06:21,740 honored to be in the president's 137 00:06:21,740 --> 00:06:25,230 cabinet . Uh Like uh Secretary 138 00:06:25,230 --> 00:06:27,320 Austin , I came from a small town in 139 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:30,360 Louisiana baker Louisiana . 140 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:34,850 I went to segregated high school 141 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:39,040 and eventually was accepted into 142 00:06:39,050 --> 00:06:41,250 Louisiana State University after the 143 00:06:41,250 --> 00:06:45,020 university had a lawsuit that ordered 144 00:06:45,030 --> 00:06:48,330 the university to take more african 145 00:06:48,330 --> 00:06:50,750 americans and then I went through four 146 00:06:50,750 --> 00:06:52,972 years of suffering at that university . 147 00:06:52,972 --> 00:06:56,180 It's not a great thing to experience to 148 00:06:56,180 --> 00:06:58,347 be somewhere where you're not wanted . 149 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:01,820 But I look back on that experience and 150 00:07:01,820 --> 00:07:04,630 realize that that experience helped me 151 00:07:04,630 --> 00:07:08,070 build my adversity muscles that allowed 152 00:07:08,070 --> 00:07:11,990 me to move beyond that experience . See 153 00:07:11,990 --> 00:07:14,620 that experience is a positive one 154 00:07:14,630 --> 00:07:17,060 despite the challenges that I faced . 155 00:07:17,540 --> 00:07:19,596 And I went on to graduate school and 156 00:07:19,596 --> 00:07:22,280 like Secretary Austin , I had intended 157 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:24,336 to go to law school that that was my 158 00:07:24,336 --> 00:07:27,010 goal . But I ended up in graduate 159 00:07:27,010 --> 00:07:29,630 school and got my first opportunity to 160 00:07:29,630 --> 00:07:32,720 travel to Africa When I was 26 years 161 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:34,930 old and the rest is history . I ended 162 00:07:34,930 --> 00:07:37,600 up meeting people who worked at the us 163 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:40,040 embassy in Liberia . And 30 years later 164 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:42,700 I was the ambassador to Liberia . And 165 00:07:42,710 --> 00:07:45,290 when the president offered me this 166 00:07:45,290 --> 00:07:48,520 position After I'd already spent 35 167 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:50,353 years in the foreign service , I 168 00:07:50,353 --> 00:07:53,250 retired . I was honored to come back 169 00:07:53,250 --> 00:07:55,900 and be his ambassador to the United 170 00:07:55,900 --> 00:07:58,960 Nations . Well thank you . And then you 171 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:01,090 know , I'll switch right over to our 172 00:08:01,100 --> 00:08:03,580 administrator of the Environmental 173 00:08:03,580 --> 00:08:05,960 Protection Agency , which your 174 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:08,540 background , your life experiences and 175 00:08:08,550 --> 00:08:11,180 now combined with your role and 176 00:08:11,180 --> 00:08:13,291 responsibility of protecting the very 177 00:08:13,291 --> 00:08:16,990 communities that we came from . Um just 178 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:20,350 how has one That's set in . But 179 00:08:21,140 --> 00:08:23,220 how does it highlight the important 180 00:08:23,220 --> 00:08:27,070 role of having black people at the top 181 00:08:27,070 --> 00:08:29,770 of government and in positions of 182 00:08:29,770 --> 00:08:32,048 authority . Thank you for the question . 183 00:08:32,048 --> 00:08:34,159 And I too , like my colleagues , it's 184 00:08:34,159 --> 00:08:36,326 just an honor to be on the cabinet and 185 00:08:36,326 --> 00:08:38,326 sharing it in this space with these 186 00:08:38,326 --> 00:08:40,450 people . This is a special special 187 00:08:40,450 --> 00:08:42,394 group . I grew up in Eastern north 188 00:08:42,394 --> 00:08:44,450 Carolina hunting and fishing with my 189 00:08:44,450 --> 00:08:46,506 father and grandfather spending time 190 00:08:46,506 --> 00:08:48,730 outdoors . So there's always been a 191 00:08:48,740 --> 00:08:50,990 connection to natural resources . Uh 192 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:53,111 both my parents and public servants . 193 00:08:53,111 --> 00:08:55,056 My mother was a nurse for 40 years 194 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:57,610 father , a Vietnam veteran and a 195 00:08:57,620 --> 00:09:00,010 retiree of the military . And so public 196 00:09:00,010 --> 00:09:02,930 service has always been critical . Um 197 00:09:02,940 --> 00:09:05,218 And and I attended uh north Carolina A . 198 00:09:05,218 --> 00:09:07,440 And T State University , a historically 199 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:09,496 black college and university because 200 00:09:09,496 --> 00:09:11,920 you know , I wanted to get that sort of 201 00:09:11,930 --> 00:09:15,610 investment uh in myself from 202 00:09:15,610 --> 00:09:18,140 people that looked like me . I studied 203 00:09:18,140 --> 00:09:20,320 environmental science which you know 204 00:09:20,330 --> 00:09:22,570 wasn't at the top of the list for 205 00:09:22,570 --> 00:09:24,626 higher earning jobs at the time . Um 206 00:09:24,626 --> 00:09:26,848 But you know it spoke to me in terms of 207 00:09:26,848 --> 00:09:30,260 how I was raised and what I valued . Ah 208 00:09:30,740 --> 00:09:32,950 actually the first job I had was an 209 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:36,900 internship at E . P . A . So I spent my 210 00:09:36,910 --> 00:09:39,420 first few years at the agency before 211 00:09:39,420 --> 00:09:42,510 leaving . And you know , I did not see 212 00:09:42,510 --> 00:09:44,870 a lot of people that looked like me at 213 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:47,220 E . P . A . Which is partly why I left 214 00:09:47,230 --> 00:09:50,330 the first time . But as I got career 215 00:09:50,330 --> 00:09:54,090 experience in the nonprofit world and 216 00:09:54,090 --> 00:09:56,260 in the environmental world period . Um 217 00:09:56,840 --> 00:09:59,062 there are a lot of us in the leadership 218 00:09:59,062 --> 00:10:00,730 positions . So when we are in 219 00:10:00,730 --> 00:10:02,674 leadership positions um I think it 220 00:10:02,674 --> 00:10:05,070 speaks to it speaks volumes to people 221 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:07,150 who realize that there are 222 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:09,410 opportunities for more minorities to be 223 00:10:09,420 --> 00:10:12,000 in decision making positions . And it's 224 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:15,190 so important because E . P . A focuses 225 00:10:15,190 --> 00:10:18,200 on public health . We really do focus 226 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:20,422 on public health and we know that black 227 00:10:20,422 --> 00:10:22,478 and brown and tribal communities are 228 00:10:22,478 --> 00:10:23,867 the communities that are 229 00:10:23,867 --> 00:10:25,589 disproportionately impacted by 230 00:10:25,589 --> 00:10:27,478 pollution , which impacts so many 231 00:10:27,478 --> 00:10:29,478 facets of our life . So it's really 232 00:10:29,478 --> 00:10:31,422 important that black and brown and 233 00:10:31,422 --> 00:10:33,756 tribal people see us in these positions , 234 00:10:33,756 --> 00:10:35,478 especially our youth . It's so 235 00:10:35,478 --> 00:10:37,700 important that they see that and it's a 236 00:10:37,700 --> 00:10:39,867 privilege to be be in a position to be 237 00:10:39,867 --> 00:10:42,200 a part of this history . No , thank you . 238 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:44,760 You all all role models and uh 239 00:10:44,770 --> 00:10:47,610 excellent role models . So I love the 240 00:10:47,610 --> 00:10:50,560 fact that as we focus and push kids 241 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:53,280 towards science and technology , 242 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:55,336 Engineering and mathematics are stem 243 00:10:55,336 --> 00:10:57,391 field that they can look up and they 244 00:10:57,391 --> 00:10:59,558 can see you and they can see that they 245 00:10:59,558 --> 00:11:02,350 can make a difference . And so part of 246 00:11:02,940 --> 00:11:05,051 when I think of black history month , 247 00:11:05,051 --> 00:11:07,350 uh I always attribute the quote to King 248 00:11:07,740 --> 00:11:10,190 whether it's true or not because he 249 00:11:10,190 --> 00:11:12,360 went to Morehouse Tribute most great 250 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:16,010 quotes to Dr King . But there's a 251 00:11:16,010 --> 00:11:18,510 question that everyone has to ask 252 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:21,070 themselves at some point and that is do 253 00:11:21,070 --> 00:11:23,750 you want to be a thermometer or do you 254 00:11:23,750 --> 00:11:25,917 want to be a thermostat ? And that the 255 00:11:25,917 --> 00:11:28,530 monitor just monitors the the 256 00:11:28,530 --> 00:11:30,697 environment and tells you what's going 257 00:11:30,697 --> 00:11:32,840 on . But a thermostat monitors the 258 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:35,650 environment then applies the necessary 259 00:11:35,660 --> 00:11:38,020 action to change the environment to 260 00:11:38,020 --> 00:11:41,560 what they wanted to be . And so as I 261 00:11:41,560 --> 00:11:43,782 look around the room and look at a room 262 00:11:43,782 --> 00:11:45,610 full of thermostats in terms of 263 00:11:45,620 --> 00:11:47,676 changing the environment to what you 264 00:11:47,676 --> 00:11:51,670 want it to be . Uh pose a 265 00:11:51,670 --> 00:11:53,670 question to secretary fudge because 266 00:11:53,670 --> 00:11:55,670 we've been discriminated against so 267 00:11:55,670 --> 00:11:58,280 long in housing , whether it's 268 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:00,600 appraisals , whether it's insurance or 269 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:04,550 whatever it is . Um how do you see 270 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:09,560 your life experiences now where you are 271 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:13,360 at hud with the ability to 272 00:12:13,370 --> 00:12:16,440 change the environment and the systemic 273 00:12:16,450 --> 00:12:19,630 barriers that are always faced african 274 00:12:19,630 --> 00:12:21,797 americans in terms of home ownership . 275 00:12:23,140 --> 00:12:26,240 Thank you very much Cedric . You know , 276 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:28,380 I like most of , I grew up in a , a 277 00:12:28,450 --> 00:12:30,670 small community and it was small only 278 00:12:30,670 --> 00:12:32,892 because it was an all black community . 279 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:35,207 I grew up in a big city , I grew up in 280 00:12:35,207 --> 00:12:37,373 Cleveland Ohio , but our community was 281 00:12:37,373 --> 00:12:40,510 just us . Um , I'm one of those kids 282 00:12:40,510 --> 00:12:42,232 that grew up with a mother and 283 00:12:42,232 --> 00:12:44,343 grandmother , you know , that went to 284 00:12:44,343 --> 00:12:46,399 church every sunday with the morning 285 00:12:46,399 --> 00:12:48,510 service bible school vacation , bible 286 00:12:48,510 --> 00:12:50,843 school . I'm that kid . And so as a kid , 287 00:12:50,843 --> 00:12:54,180 what we learned was that if you do the 288 00:12:54,180 --> 00:12:56,013 best you can , if you get a good 289 00:12:56,013 --> 00:12:58,124 education and do all the right things 290 00:12:58,180 --> 00:13:00,180 if you're not as good at as you are 291 00:13:00,180 --> 00:13:02,390 better that you will be blessed to go 292 00:13:02,390 --> 00:13:04,540 where it is that you should go . That 293 00:13:04,540 --> 00:13:06,870 is how I grew up With a very supportive 294 00:13:06,870 --> 00:13:08,926 family and I lived in the house with 295 00:13:08,926 --> 00:13:10,981 about 20 people . So , but , but the 296 00:13:10,981 --> 00:13:13,092 family always made us believe that we 297 00:13:13,092 --> 00:13:15,259 could be whatever we chose to be . And 298 00:13:15,259 --> 00:13:17,370 so I've been a public servant most of 299 00:13:17,370 --> 00:13:19,481 my adult life . But what I have never 300 00:13:19,481 --> 00:13:21,592 forgotten is all of the people that I 301 00:13:21,592 --> 00:13:23,537 know personally who live in public 302 00:13:23,537 --> 00:13:25,870 housing . All of the people that I know 303 00:13:26,210 --> 00:13:29,250 today , my mother's friends and and and 304 00:13:29,950 --> 00:13:32,100 extended family who can't live in a 305 00:13:32,100 --> 00:13:34,322 decent neighborhood or fix their home . 306 00:13:34,840 --> 00:13:37,910 And so it is personal for me to be able 307 00:13:37,910 --> 00:13:39,966 to make a difference in the lives of 308 00:13:39,966 --> 00:13:42,243 the people who got me where I am today . 309 00:13:43,140 --> 00:13:45,860 Well , and you know , 310 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:48,562 and particularly talking about 311 00:13:48,562 --> 00:13:51,840 excellent , it gives me great pleasure 312 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:54,007 to kind of pose it to see who has kind 313 00:13:54,007 --> 00:13:56,229 of done a little bit of it all and been 314 00:13:56,229 --> 00:13:59,920 in a couple of administration's um you 315 00:13:59,920 --> 00:14:02,540 know , she's one of those we consider , 316 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:06,560 you know to just be brilliant , 317 00:14:07,540 --> 00:14:10,990 but why don't how did you you know , 318 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,460 how did you see where you wanted to go ? 319 00:14:13,460 --> 00:14:16,120 I mean , you were deemed at Princeton , 320 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:20,250 you be a master's 321 00:14:20,840 --> 00:14:23,940 PhD from Harvard . But you're in an 322 00:14:23,950 --> 00:14:27,070 area where when you were going down 323 00:14:27,070 --> 00:14:30,090 that road , you couldn't , there were 324 00:14:30,090 --> 00:14:32,440 not that many people that you could see 325 00:14:32,450 --> 00:14:35,150 that looked like you . So , you know , 326 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:38,720 tell us tell us about that journey and 327 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:41,860 how it applies now to actually chairing 328 00:14:42,540 --> 00:14:46,040 the Council of economic advisers . Uh 329 00:14:46,050 --> 00:14:48,161 Well , thank you Cedric . I had never 330 00:14:48,161 --> 00:14:50,328 thought of it quite that way . But now 331 00:14:50,328 --> 00:14:52,550 I'm gonna have to go back and how did I 332 00:14:52,550 --> 00:14:54,772 think about it ? No but but but but all 333 00:14:54,772 --> 00:14:58,160 kidding aside ah you know I really have 334 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:01,880 to go back to my parents and um who 335 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:03,658 always believed in the power of 336 00:15:03,658 --> 00:15:05,713 education and who always worked very 337 00:15:05,713 --> 00:15:08,030 hard . My father was the first black 338 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:10,760 PhD physicist to get a PhD in physics 339 00:15:10,770 --> 00:15:13,960 from caltech . My mother's father sent 340 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:16,071 all three of his daughters to college 341 00:15:16,071 --> 00:15:18,238 at a time when black women didn't go . 342 00:15:18,238 --> 00:15:20,460 My parents always believed in hard work 343 00:15:20,580 --> 00:15:23,980 and the value of education and so and 344 00:15:23,990 --> 00:15:26,212 they participate in civil rights . I've 345 00:15:26,212 --> 00:15:28,212 got great pictures from D . C . You 346 00:15:28,212 --> 00:15:30,323 know right after King gave his speech 347 00:15:30,323 --> 00:15:34,110 etcetera . And uh so they participate 348 00:15:34,110 --> 00:15:36,690 civil rights . But they never they 349 00:15:36,700 --> 00:15:40,300 always encouraged us to have to set a 350 00:15:40,300 --> 00:15:43,060 site and to stay focused on that site . 351 00:15:43,740 --> 00:15:46,840 So I went to Harvard I didn't know what 352 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:48,850 I wanted to study . I was very 353 00:15:48,850 --> 00:15:51,072 interested in solving social problems . 354 00:15:51,072 --> 00:15:54,220 Very interested . That was you know I 355 00:15:54,230 --> 00:15:56,452 really wanted to help make the place of 356 00:15:56,540 --> 00:15:58,818 the world a better place for everybody . 357 00:15:58,818 --> 00:16:01,170 I say that naively . But I generally 358 00:16:01,170 --> 00:16:03,110 that's what you mean . My mother 359 00:16:03,110 --> 00:16:04,943 encouraged me to take a class in 360 00:16:04,943 --> 00:16:07,070 economics and I saw that economics 361 00:16:07,070 --> 00:16:10,160 became a tool that one can start to get 362 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:12,271 some purchase on many of the problems 363 00:16:12,271 --> 00:16:14,493 that we face . My dad again . I go back 364 00:16:14,493 --> 00:16:16,660 to my dad he was a research . He was a 365 00:16:16,660 --> 00:16:18,549 researcher . So trying to do that 366 00:16:18,549 --> 00:16:20,890 through research came naturally . Yeah 367 00:16:20,900 --> 00:16:22,910 okay . I was you know the one black 368 00:16:22,910 --> 00:16:25,132 girl in the class that I just never let 369 00:16:25,132 --> 00:16:27,470 that get to me . It was it affected me 370 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:30,400 but I had my eyes on a bigger price . I 371 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:32,860 was just really motivated by what I was 372 00:16:32,860 --> 00:16:35,750 trying to do . I loved it and it was 373 00:16:35,750 --> 00:16:38,080 that passion and that drive and that 374 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:40,247 feeling that this is what I want to do 375 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:44,250 that has led me here . So I became a 376 00:16:44,250 --> 00:16:46,580 professor but I always wanted to do 377 00:16:46,590 --> 00:16:49,700 public policy . Um So when I had an 378 00:16:49,700 --> 00:16:51,810 opportunity to to take take a leave 379 00:16:51,810 --> 00:16:54,032 from Princeton and come and work at the 380 00:16:54,032 --> 00:16:56,310 White House in the clinton White House , 381 00:16:56,310 --> 00:16:58,477 I did allowed me to see how policy was 382 00:16:58,477 --> 00:17:00,643 actually made and I just thought about 383 00:17:00,643 --> 00:17:02,921 and you know the rest just keeps going . 384 00:17:02,921 --> 00:17:05,088 So you know it's been um a lot of hard 385 00:17:05,088 --> 00:17:06,977 work , a lot of sacrifice and the 386 00:17:06,977 --> 00:17:09,143 vacations not taken the weekends spent 387 00:17:09,143 --> 00:17:12,530 working . It's great mentors uh you 388 00:17:12,530 --> 00:17:14,252 know people who have helped me 389 00:17:14,252 --> 00:17:16,363 understand the challenges and not let 390 00:17:16,363 --> 00:17:18,419 that get me down to just pick myself 391 00:17:18,419 --> 00:17:20,620 back up and continue forward and I'll 392 00:17:20,620 --> 00:17:22,842 also say just you know there's a lot of 393 00:17:22,842 --> 00:17:25,920 luck in there too . Mhm . Well let me 394 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:29,690 you know now turn it over to uh acting 395 00:17:29,690 --> 00:17:31,690 director but soon to be Director of 396 00:17:31,690 --> 00:17:33,746 management and budget and I tried to 397 00:17:33,746 --> 00:17:36,270 put space in between the ambassador and 398 00:17:36,740 --> 00:17:39,070 the soon to be director because I just 399 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:41,550 didn't want to just rub it in that we 400 00:17:41,550 --> 00:17:44,900 have so many Louisiana , so many 401 00:17:44,900 --> 00:17:48,370 Louisiana people in uh at the highest 402 00:17:48,370 --> 00:17:50,660 level of government . Um But 403 00:17:53,040 --> 00:17:55,730 administrator , I mean a director young 404 00:17:55,740 --> 00:17:57,851 is probably the most important person 405 00:17:57,860 --> 00:17:59,971 in this room because she controls all 406 00:17:59,971 --> 00:18:03,060 of our budgets uh and uh 407 00:18:03,540 --> 00:18:06,680 through budgets and and I will say this 408 00:18:06,690 --> 00:18:08,857 people always said if you show me your 409 00:18:08,857 --> 00:18:10,960 budget you're showing me your values 410 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:15,230 and having an african american 411 00:18:15,230 --> 00:18:19,060 female from the south in a country 412 00:18:19,060 --> 00:18:23,030 town for us highlights 413 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:26,770 our values that we believe that 414 00:18:26,780 --> 00:18:29,770 everyone is talented but that we have 415 00:18:29,770 --> 00:18:31,826 to invest in people so that they can 416 00:18:31,826 --> 00:18:33,659 reach their full opportunity and 417 00:18:33,659 --> 00:18:35,881 destiny . And so when we look at you we 418 00:18:35,881 --> 00:18:39,320 see that . Um But you know tell me that 419 00:18:39,330 --> 00:18:42,290 journey from that country town in 420 00:18:42,300 --> 00:18:45,170 Louisiana like the ambassador to 421 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:48,960 directing the U . S . Budget . 422 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:52,390 My family went to shop where the 423 00:18:52,390 --> 00:18:54,612 ambassadors from because that was a big 424 00:18:54,612 --> 00:18:57,510 town compared to ours . And I didn't 425 00:18:57,510 --> 00:19:00,960 know I when I was little I thought we 426 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:04,280 were rich , we were from big places . I 427 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:07,240 didn't know um You know that we were of 428 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:09,351 modest means . That's just not how my 429 00:19:09,351 --> 00:19:12,200 family operated . Um we had a lot of a 430 00:19:12,210 --> 00:19:16,080 lot of self pride . We owned a store um 431 00:19:16,090 --> 00:19:18,034 and my grandmother went to college 432 00:19:18,034 --> 00:19:20,201 somehow her her parents knew that that 433 00:19:20,201 --> 00:19:22,770 was a pathway uh in the 40s . She was 434 00:19:22,770 --> 00:19:24,992 on the first women's basketball team at 435 00:19:24,992 --> 00:19:28,230 Southern University . Um , So I grew up 436 00:19:28,230 --> 00:19:30,341 with a powerhouse . So what I'm doing 437 00:19:30,341 --> 00:19:32,452 is just an extension . I'm just doing 438 00:19:32,452 --> 00:19:34,786 in a different place in a different way . 439 00:19:34,786 --> 00:19:38,590 Um , so I love what I do and I never 440 00:19:38,590 --> 00:19:41,840 followed money . Um , I followed what I 441 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:43,562 enjoyed doing . I started as a 442 00:19:43,562 --> 00:19:45,673 presidential management fellow at the 443 00:19:45,673 --> 00:19:47,590 National Institutes of Health and 444 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:49,840 whenever Congress called , these people 445 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:52,340 call appropriators would call and the 446 00:19:52,340 --> 00:19:54,650 place was shut down like who are these 447 00:19:54,650 --> 00:19:57,310 people and I need to know them and I 448 00:19:57,310 --> 00:20:00,440 might need to do what they do . So it's 449 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:03,030 also just keep your ear out for things 450 00:20:03,030 --> 00:20:06,120 that interest you . So I did , I went 451 00:20:06,120 --> 00:20:08,287 and found a detailed opportunity to go 452 00:20:08,287 --> 00:20:10,720 to the committee , loved it . I cried 453 00:20:10,730 --> 00:20:12,563 in the bathroom in the Longworth 454 00:20:12,570 --> 00:20:15,180 building when I had to go back to NIH . 455 00:20:15,740 --> 00:20:17,690 So I would , I would bug the staff 456 00:20:17,690 --> 00:20:19,746 director . He's like , when I have a 457 00:20:19,746 --> 00:20:21,746 job I will hire you , just leave me 458 00:20:21,746 --> 00:20:24,550 alone . I watched the elections with 459 00:20:24,550 --> 00:20:27,710 the appropriation staff . The Democrats 460 00:20:27,710 --> 00:20:29,821 won that election . I was like , what 461 00:20:29,821 --> 00:20:31,980 you gonna do ? So January 2007 , I 462 00:20:31,980 --> 00:20:35,170 moved from NIH to the hill and I have , 463 00:20:35,180 --> 00:20:37,510 I loved every second of it and I got to 464 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:39,742 go from professional staff to running a 465 00:20:39,742 --> 00:20:42,870 subcommittee To working on five or 6 of 466 00:20:42,870 --> 00:20:45,092 the 12 appropriations subcommittees and 467 00:20:45,092 --> 00:20:48,190 then become the staff director And let 468 00:20:48,190 --> 00:20:49,968 me tell you no one , there's no 469 00:20:49,968 --> 00:20:52,190 education for an appropriation staff or 470 00:20:52,190 --> 00:20:54,357 what is that ? I didn't know what that 471 00:20:54,357 --> 00:20:56,246 was . So as CC would say it was a 472 00:20:56,246 --> 00:20:57,970 little luck , but also if my 473 00:20:57,970 --> 00:20:59,859 grandmother would tell you it was 474 00:20:59,859 --> 00:21:02,890 because I was highly favored . Um as 475 00:21:02,890 --> 00:21:05,112 many of you sitting around this table . 476 00:21:05,112 --> 00:21:07,279 So I'd like to go through life knowing 477 00:21:07,279 --> 00:21:10,360 that a higher power has my back . Um I 478 00:21:10,370 --> 00:21:12,481 don't really worry about a lot things 479 00:21:12,481 --> 00:21:14,703 tend to work out . Um but I also know a 480 00:21:14,703 --> 00:21:16,814 lot of people who did the right thing 481 00:21:16,814 --> 00:21:18,926 and went to college and work hard and 482 00:21:18,926 --> 00:21:21,092 it did not turn out well for them . So 483 00:21:21,092 --> 00:21:23,148 we at this table get to look out for 484 00:21:23,148 --> 00:21:25,314 them and do the right things . And the 485 00:21:25,314 --> 00:21:27,481 great thing about this job is I get to 486 00:21:27,481 --> 00:21:29,426 work with everyone at this table . 487 00:21:29,426 --> 00:21:31,426 Usually it's late night phone calls 488 00:21:31,426 --> 00:21:33,426 like I need to do this and I get to 489 00:21:33,426 --> 00:21:35,648 help fix problems . I got to do that on 490 00:21:35,648 --> 00:21:38,670 the hill . I get to do that now . Um So 491 00:21:38,670 --> 00:21:40,930 I really just love what I do and I love 492 00:21:40,930 --> 00:21:43,152 getting to to talk about defense in the 493 00:21:43,152 --> 00:21:45,330 morning E . P . A . In the afternoon , 494 00:21:45,340 --> 00:21:47,990 the ambassador's peacekeeping arrears 495 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:50,222 somewhere in the middle of the day . Um 496 00:21:50,222 --> 00:21:52,720 and I get to meet people like Sissy who 497 00:21:52,730 --> 00:21:54,890 give us the larger framework for the 498 00:21:54,890 --> 00:21:56,723 economy , which I get to work in 499 00:21:56,723 --> 00:21:58,501 something I didn't pay a lot of 500 00:21:58,501 --> 00:22:00,668 attention to , to , I met her . And so 501 00:22:00,668 --> 00:22:02,779 this is , this has just been an honor 502 00:22:02,779 --> 00:22:06,270 to get to do this . And this question 503 00:22:06,370 --> 00:22:08,810 kind of gets asked a lot like who was 504 00:22:08,810 --> 00:22:12,400 that person who really uh motivated you 505 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:14,622 and inspired you ? But I'm gonna change 506 00:22:14,622 --> 00:22:16,789 it a little bit because if , if I have 507 00:22:16,789 --> 00:22:19,011 to answer that question , the answer is 508 00:22:19,011 --> 00:22:18,850 my grandfather , nobody out there knows 509 00:22:18,850 --> 00:22:21,810 who my grandfather was . Um , but in 510 00:22:21,810 --> 00:22:23,960 terms of a public figure , who you 511 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:26,238 could see yourself in or somebody that , 512 00:22:26,740 --> 00:22:30,060 that you said , you know what , um 513 00:22:30,940 --> 00:22:32,884 I want to break the mold like that 514 00:22:32,884 --> 00:22:35,051 person , I want to be like that person 515 00:22:35,051 --> 00:22:37,218 for me and I went to Morehouse because 516 00:22:37,218 --> 00:22:39,218 that's what dr king went and that's 517 00:22:39,218 --> 00:22:41,440 where strong black men went . So that's 518 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:43,662 where my brother and I went to , my mom 519 00:22:43,662 --> 00:22:45,496 and dad were hbcu grads Southern 520 00:22:45,496 --> 00:22:48,330 University , but I needed to get away 521 00:22:48,330 --> 00:22:51,360 from home . But so 522 00:22:51,370 --> 00:22:53,710 Marcia , you know , you offered 523 00:22:53,710 --> 00:22:55,766 yourself up for public service , you 524 00:22:55,766 --> 00:22:57,932 actually put your name on a ballot and 525 00:22:57,932 --> 00:23:00,099 had to run . That is a lot different . 526 00:23:00,190 --> 00:23:02,720 Then most people realize because when 527 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:04,831 you put your name on the ballot , you 528 00:23:04,831 --> 00:23:06,776 actually find out how people think 529 00:23:06,776 --> 00:23:09,940 about you , but to take all of those 530 00:23:10,260 --> 00:23:13,270 steps and risk , 531 00:23:13,740 --> 00:23:17,350 who was it ? That really kind of 532 00:23:17,350 --> 00:23:19,572 pushed you . So that one , you knew you 533 00:23:19,572 --> 00:23:21,990 could do it , but to kind of some 534 00:23:21,990 --> 00:23:24,157 footsteps , you thought you might want 535 00:23:24,157 --> 00:23:27,060 to ah walk in and 536 00:23:27,940 --> 00:23:31,290 further . If I probably had to pick one 537 00:23:31,290 --> 00:23:34,230 person it would probably be Barbara 538 00:23:34,230 --> 00:23:38,050 George . Barbara Jordan in my opinion 539 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:41,280 it was one of the greatest lawyers in 540 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:43,450 the history of this country . She 541 00:23:43,450 --> 00:23:45,506 understood who we were as a people . 542 00:23:45,506 --> 00:23:47,880 She also understood the constitution 543 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:49,991 and where we ought to be . I became a 544 00:23:49,991 --> 00:23:52,270 lawyer because of Barbara George I 545 00:23:52,270 --> 00:23:54,381 became an elected official because of 546 00:23:54,381 --> 00:23:56,440 barbara George . Um I think that if 547 00:23:56,440 --> 00:23:58,496 there is any single because I'm like 548 00:23:58,496 --> 00:24:00,551 you I would have said my grandma but 549 00:24:00,551 --> 00:24:02,662 I'm like you in terms of a person who 550 00:24:02,940 --> 00:24:06,570 captured who we 551 00:24:06,580 --> 00:24:10,180 are and made us proud every time she 552 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:17,820 and in C . C . U . You know just 553 00:24:17,830 --> 00:24:19,997 judging from your first answer I would 554 00:24:19,997 --> 00:24:22,560 I would say you know your father , your 555 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:24,727 mother but your father inspired you to 556 00:24:24,727 --> 00:24:26,949 look at the research side and do all of 557 00:24:26,949 --> 00:24:29,171 that . But if there was a public figure 558 00:24:29,240 --> 00:24:32,800 are to that you know inspired you and 559 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:34,744 you said you know what I could see 560 00:24:34,744 --> 00:24:36,856 myself doing that . Was there anybody 561 00:24:37,050 --> 00:24:40,840 that you know just comes to mind . So I 562 00:24:40,850 --> 00:24:44,720 wouldn't I can't think back so far too 563 00:24:44,730 --> 00:24:46,786 public figure when I was coming up . 564 00:24:46,940 --> 00:24:49,750 But more recently dr ruth Simmons um 565 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:51,871 has been somebody who really inspires 566 00:24:51,871 --> 00:24:54,410 me . So she was part of the team that 567 00:24:54,410 --> 00:24:56,770 hired me at Princeton and she's just so 568 00:24:56,770 --> 00:24:59,540 smart , so humble she's been on to be 569 00:24:59,550 --> 00:25:01,494 college president . You know three 570 00:25:01,494 --> 00:25:03,640 institutions . the first black 571 00:25:03,650 --> 00:25:05,950 president of an ivy league institution 572 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:09,150 now giving back in texas and she's just 573 00:25:09,150 --> 00:25:12,760 so smart , so wise , so 574 00:25:12,760 --> 00:25:15,080 warm and considerate and just so 575 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:17,440 believes in what she's doing that I 576 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:21,430 find her truly inspirational and 577 00:25:21,430 --> 00:25:23,900 I guess , you know , in in my world , 578 00:25:23,910 --> 00:25:27,830 uh secretary , you know , we would grow 579 00:25:27,830 --> 00:25:30,150 up and and we would want to fight and 580 00:25:30,150 --> 00:25:31,983 do all of those things , but you 581 00:25:31,983 --> 00:25:35,570 actually did it because you did , it 582 00:25:35,580 --> 00:25:38,530 were much better country and we enjoy 583 00:25:38,530 --> 00:25:40,474 the freedoms that we do have . But 584 00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:44,850 either at West Point or , or you know , 585 00:25:46,440 --> 00:25:49,710 besides not want to be a lawyer , which 586 00:25:49,720 --> 00:25:53,270 Marcia and I went on to do , Oh , 587 00:25:54,340 --> 00:25:57,360 was there someone that you thought 588 00:25:57,840 --> 00:26:01,410 really provided ah a 589 00:26:01,410 --> 00:26:03,270 service and risk it all for this 590 00:26:03,270 --> 00:26:05,860 country . And you just saw yourself 591 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:09,770 getting there doing that . All right . 592 00:26:10,540 --> 00:26:14,290 Um , if I could , if you will allow me 593 00:26:14,290 --> 00:26:16,560 to make one comment up front . 594 00:26:23,740 --> 00:26:26,620 So I got to tell you , and I know all 595 00:26:26,620 --> 00:26:29,130 of these , all of these great people 596 00:26:29,130 --> 00:26:32,900 very , very well . The display of 597 00:26:32,900 --> 00:26:36,260 humility in this room is striking 598 00:26:37,850 --> 00:26:40,017 and I can tell you that it's genuine , 599 00:26:40,017 --> 00:26:42,239 like , because I do know these people , 600 00:26:42,540 --> 00:26:46,500 but it's striking and it's not what 601 00:26:46,500 --> 00:26:48,770 you would , what you would expect , 602 00:26:48,770 --> 00:26:50,881 what you would think about people who 603 00:26:50,881 --> 00:26:53,580 have achieved so much . But the common 604 00:26:53,580 --> 00:26:55,870 themes that you hear are do things that 605 00:26:55,870 --> 00:26:58,120 you love to do , that you can be 606 00:26:58,120 --> 00:27:00,660 passionate about . Uh , and the 607 00:27:00,660 --> 00:27:02,882 supportive family peace I think is also 608 00:27:02,882 --> 00:27:05,104 very striking because if you , if you'd 609 00:27:05,104 --> 00:27:07,160 asked me the question that you asked 610 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:09,160 Marsha , I would have said the same 611 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:11,049 thing it said is that family that 612 00:27:11,049 --> 00:27:13,160 picked you up and dusted jaw . I have 613 00:27:13,160 --> 00:27:15,390 had a number of role models along the 614 00:27:15,390 --> 00:27:18,910 way . But initially the first tough 615 00:27:18,910 --> 00:27:21,021 thing I had to do cedric was to go to 616 00:27:21,021 --> 00:27:23,950 West Point and and finish and and be 617 00:27:23,950 --> 00:27:27,730 successful . So one of my , my initial 618 00:27:27,730 --> 00:27:29,820 role model was was Henry O flipper . 619 00:27:29,820 --> 00:27:31,764 He's the first african american to 620 00:27:31,764 --> 00:27:34,810 graduate from , from West Point . He's 621 00:27:34,810 --> 00:27:36,866 also from the same hometown that I'm 622 00:27:36,866 --> 00:27:39,890 from in Thomasville Georgia and uh , 623 00:27:39,900 --> 00:27:41,733 and the things that he had to go 624 00:27:41,733 --> 00:27:43,844 through in order to , to graduate and 625 00:27:43,844 --> 00:27:46,011 become an officer in the , in the army 626 00:27:46,640 --> 00:27:48,810 sacrifices that he made . You know , 627 00:27:48,820 --> 00:27:50,990 we're just extraordinary . And I felt 628 00:27:50,990 --> 00:27:53,212 that if if he could do that in that day 629 00:27:53,212 --> 00:27:55,590 and age , surely I could , I could be 630 00:27:55,590 --> 00:27:57,757 successful as well . And so I think he 631 00:27:57,757 --> 00:28:00,830 was a great role model for me along the 632 00:28:00,830 --> 00:28:03,052 way . I had other role models that that 633 00:28:03,052 --> 00:28:05,160 mentored and helped me . But , but 634 00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:07,060 initially it was , it was , 635 00:28:09,340 --> 00:28:12,130 well , let's shift a little bit because 636 00:28:12,140 --> 00:28:14,510 it's one thing to be there . And it's 637 00:28:14,510 --> 00:28:17,730 one thing to have black people at the 638 00:28:17,730 --> 00:28:20,690 top levels of government . But unless 639 00:28:20,690 --> 00:28:22,912 it's making a real difference , then it 640 00:28:22,912 --> 00:28:25,500 doesn't matter . And so I would shift 641 00:28:25,500 --> 00:28:28,270 to you administrator Regan when you 642 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:31,118 when we especially this administration , 643 00:28:31,118 --> 00:28:33,007 which we haven't talked about the 644 00:28:33,007 --> 00:28:34,729 president much , but to have a 645 00:28:34,729 --> 00:28:36,840 president who is so focused on equity 646 00:28:37,310 --> 00:28:39,590 and inclusion . Not afraid to say the 647 00:28:39,590 --> 00:28:43,010 word systemic racism or all of the 648 00:28:43,010 --> 00:28:45,232 other things that we talked about . And 649 00:28:45,232 --> 00:28:48,980 so you are charged with doing some 650 00:28:48,980 --> 00:28:51,920 pretty amazing things . And so the 651 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:55,860 question becomes with your task and 652 00:28:55,860 --> 00:28:57,693 some of these big rolls from the 653 00:28:57,693 --> 00:28:59,916 infrastructure bill and others why it's 654 00:28:59,916 --> 00:29:03,030 important to have black people at the 655 00:29:03,040 --> 00:29:05,900 top levels of government . You know , I 656 00:29:05,900 --> 00:29:08,060 think the representation is so 657 00:29:08,060 --> 00:29:10,300 important , partially because of an 658 00:29:10,300 --> 00:29:12,522 answer that Marcia gave earlier , which 659 00:29:12,522 --> 00:29:14,740 is for her , it's personal for me as 660 00:29:14,740 --> 00:29:18,250 personal . I've had to reach for an 661 00:29:18,250 --> 00:29:20,472 inhaler on a high pollution day . And I 662 00:29:20,472 --> 00:29:23,570 understand how it feels to try to get 663 00:29:23,570 --> 00:29:26,480 that breath . Um , I think many of us 664 00:29:26,480 --> 00:29:30,250 have relatives and friends that live in 665 00:29:30,260 --> 00:29:32,530 homes , in areas where they question 666 00:29:32,810 --> 00:29:35,860 the quality of their drinking water and 667 00:29:36,340 --> 00:29:38,396 these are basic rights . Everyone in 668 00:29:38,396 --> 00:29:40,760 this country , especially every child 669 00:29:40,760 --> 00:29:42,871 in this country deserves clean air to 670 00:29:42,871 --> 00:29:46,110 breathe and safe water to drink . So 671 00:29:46,120 --> 00:29:49,270 this is personal . Um , and because 672 00:29:49,270 --> 00:29:51,810 I've had experiences and because I 673 00:29:51,810 --> 00:29:54,180 understand the challenges and then when 674 00:29:54,180 --> 00:29:55,847 we look at the statistics and 675 00:29:55,847 --> 00:29:58,380 understand that our communities are 676 00:29:58,390 --> 00:30:01,580 disproportionately bearing the brunt of 677 00:30:01,580 --> 00:30:05,000 past transgressions . It fits in very 678 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:07,970 well with the president's theme of 679 00:30:08,060 --> 00:30:11,310 equity , justice and inclusion . And I 680 00:30:11,310 --> 00:30:14,440 firmly believe that if we create a 681 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:17,850 rising tide that lifts all boats , then 682 00:30:17,850 --> 00:30:19,960 this country can be , all that is 683 00:30:19,960 --> 00:30:22,220 supposed to be . And so black 684 00:30:22,220 --> 00:30:25,310 leadership is extremely important . Um , 685 00:30:25,320 --> 00:30:27,250 diverse leadership is extremely 686 00:30:27,250 --> 00:30:29,950 important because this is a democracy 687 00:30:29,960 --> 00:30:32,310 and in order for a democracy to work , 688 00:30:32,320 --> 00:30:34,209 its leadership should reflect the 689 00:30:34,209 --> 00:30:37,280 people that it represents well 690 00:30:38,450 --> 00:30:41,590 and and how excited are you going to be 691 00:30:41,590 --> 00:30:44,560 to be to be able to say that you're the 692 00:30:45,440 --> 00:30:48,740 person , you're the man that removed 10 693 00:30:48,740 --> 00:30:52,270 million lead pipes from homes that 694 00:30:52,840 --> 00:30:55,118 distribute contaminated drinking water . 695 00:30:55,440 --> 00:30:59,300 400,000 schools are going to be much 696 00:30:59,300 --> 00:31:02,490 better schools because you were there 697 00:31:02,500 --> 00:31:04,611 and you saw it through and it was the 698 00:31:04,611 --> 00:31:06,611 vision , I would say of this entire 699 00:31:06,940 --> 00:31:09,440 cabinet , but um , it's a lot of 700 00:31:09,440 --> 00:31:11,384 responsibility , but I'm sure it's 701 00:31:11,384 --> 00:31:13,640 great joy to know . That's something 702 00:31:13,640 --> 00:31:15,640 that should have never happened but 703 00:31:15,640 --> 00:31:17,807 should have been fixed a long time ago 704 00:31:17,807 --> 00:31:19,973 as we look at Flynn and other places . 705 00:31:19,973 --> 00:31:21,918 But you're going to be that person 706 00:31:21,918 --> 00:31:23,862 actually get it done . Uh , it's a 707 00:31:23,862 --> 00:31:25,930 labor of love and thanks to the 708 00:31:25,940 --> 00:31:28,107 President's leadership and partnership 709 00:31:28,107 --> 00:31:30,340 with Congress , we've got billions of 710 00:31:30,340 --> 00:31:33,120 dollars to replace these lead pipes and 711 00:31:33,120 --> 00:31:35,180 we know that there is absolutely no 712 00:31:35,180 --> 00:31:39,100 acceptable level of lead for an 713 00:31:39,100 --> 00:31:41,100 adult or for a child . We also know 714 00:31:41,100 --> 00:31:44,880 that black Children living at or 715 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:47,650 below poverty are four times more 716 00:31:47,660 --> 00:31:50,120 likely to have elevated levels of lead 717 00:31:50,440 --> 00:31:53,070 in their systems , which we know is , 718 00:31:53,080 --> 00:31:55,200 can be debilitating and impacts the 719 00:31:55,200 --> 00:31:58,630 ability to pay attention uh to excel in 720 00:31:58,630 --> 00:32:01,030 education . And you just see a domino 721 00:32:01,030 --> 00:32:03,620 effect in terms of their contributions 722 00:32:03,620 --> 00:32:06,220 to society , for lack of contribution 723 00:32:06,220 --> 00:32:08,810 to society . And so uh this is 724 00:32:08,820 --> 00:32:10,931 extremely important . The President , 725 00:32:10,931 --> 00:32:13,153 you know , its leadership starts at the 726 00:32:13,153 --> 00:32:16,100 top and once he gave all of us the 727 00:32:16,100 --> 00:32:18,610 green light to pursue fairness , equity , 728 00:32:18,620 --> 00:32:20,890 justice , and inclusion , then the game 729 00:32:20,890 --> 00:32:22,900 was on and we have an awesome 730 00:32:22,910 --> 00:32:24,910 opportunity right now to change the 731 00:32:24,910 --> 00:32:27,132 lives of people all across this country 732 00:32:27,132 --> 00:32:29,410 and all of the positions that we serve . 733 00:32:29,410 --> 00:32:31,670 Well , Secretary Ford . Speaking of 734 00:32:31,680 --> 00:32:33,791 getting the charge , you actually got 735 00:32:33,791 --> 00:32:37,650 an executive order the first week that 736 00:32:37,660 --> 00:32:40,620 the President signed that said that we 737 00:32:40,830 --> 00:32:42,719 you had the charge of rooting out 738 00:32:43,350 --> 00:32:46,830 systemic racism and housing and what 739 00:32:46,830 --> 00:32:48,830 the administrator just said talking 740 00:32:48,830 --> 00:32:51,370 about our kids who live in poverty , we 741 00:32:51,370 --> 00:32:53,270 know the greatest way to transfer 742 00:32:53,270 --> 00:32:55,326 wealth from generation to generation 743 00:32:55,326 --> 00:32:57,437 and create wealth is home ownership . 744 00:32:57,437 --> 00:32:59,603 And for too many people , that part of 745 00:32:59,603 --> 00:33:01,770 the american dream was blocked out and 746 00:33:01,770 --> 00:33:04,550 now as the person over housing and 747 00:33:04,550 --> 00:33:06,770 urban development for all of the 748 00:33:06,770 --> 00:33:10,000 country , ah you know , how do you take 749 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:12,670 that charge and what have you been able 750 00:33:12,670 --> 00:33:16,040 to accomplish so far ? I say , you know , 751 00:33:16,040 --> 00:33:18,800 Cedric , I take great pride in talking 752 00:33:18,800 --> 00:33:20,856 about the President when I'm out and 753 00:33:20,856 --> 00:33:23,022 about and I travel a lot as you know , 754 00:33:23,740 --> 00:33:25,740 I take great pride in the fact that 755 00:33:25,740 --> 00:33:27,740 first he recognized it , secondly , 756 00:33:27,740 --> 00:33:30,570 that he empowered me to do it . And so 757 00:33:30,570 --> 00:33:32,737 what you're going to see over the next 758 00:33:32,737 --> 00:33:34,903 couple of weeks is a report that we're 759 00:33:34,903 --> 00:33:36,903 doing on the bias and the appraisal 760 00:33:36,903 --> 00:33:38,960 process across this country . It is 761 00:33:38,960 --> 00:33:42,180 going to be striking in china life that 762 00:33:42,190 --> 00:33:44,079 people have only talked about and 763 00:33:44,079 --> 00:33:46,357 thought about . We're going to show it . 764 00:33:46,357 --> 00:33:49,010 We have created an environment in which 765 00:33:49,010 --> 00:33:51,760 students now and those who are just 766 00:33:52,340 --> 00:33:54,562 able to pay their rent and we know they 767 00:33:54,562 --> 00:33:56,562 can pay a mortgage , but they don't 768 00:33:56,562 --> 00:33:58,507 have a down payment . So we're now 769 00:33:58,507 --> 00:34:00,673 giving down payment assistance . Black 770 00:34:00,673 --> 00:34:02,729 people systematically have been kept 771 00:34:02,729 --> 00:34:04,784 out of the credit process because of 772 00:34:04,784 --> 00:34:06,729 student debt . We're recalculating 773 00:34:06,729 --> 00:34:08,951 student debt so that it is no longer an 774 00:34:08,951 --> 00:34:12,070 impediment to get a home . We are as 775 00:34:12,070 --> 00:34:15,700 well doing what we call small dollar 776 00:34:15,700 --> 00:34:18,290 loans , which has historically been how 777 00:34:18,290 --> 00:34:20,234 we've kept black people out of the 778 00:34:20,234 --> 00:34:22,290 market redlining , which we still do 779 00:34:22,290 --> 00:34:24,346 today . So we are addressing that we 780 00:34:24,346 --> 00:34:26,800 are doing everything that the President 781 00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:29,022 has asked me to do . I don't know if he 782 00:34:29,022 --> 00:34:31,133 knows I'm doing having to step up . I 783 00:34:31,133 --> 00:34:33,133 know he's gonna be supportive of it 784 00:34:33,133 --> 00:34:35,244 because it makes a difference . And I 785 00:34:35,244 --> 00:34:37,356 know his heart and his mind is in the 786 00:34:37,356 --> 00:34:41,260 right place si si despite the 787 00:34:42,040 --> 00:34:45,090 pandemic and everything else in terms 788 00:34:45,090 --> 00:34:47,970 of the economics in this country , 789 00:34:48,850 --> 00:34:52,390 we've made some real big 790 00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:55,360 games this year and it's 791 00:34:56,640 --> 00:34:58,870 not in a small part but in a very large 792 00:34:58,870 --> 00:35:01,230 part to you and your team and and the 793 00:35:01,230 --> 00:35:03,660 advice and the president and you all 794 00:35:03,670 --> 00:35:07,380 execution . How do you look at 795 00:35:07,380 --> 00:35:09,436 that ? And then look at it through a 796 00:35:09,436 --> 00:35:13,210 lens of equity when we talk about um 797 00:35:13,220 --> 00:35:15,276 all of the things we were able to do 798 00:35:15,276 --> 00:35:17,220 and some of the things in terms of 799 00:35:17,220 --> 00:35:19,276 cutting black poverty , they've been 800 00:35:19,276 --> 00:35:21,970 really , really phenomenal . Um but a 801 00:35:21,970 --> 00:35:23,970 lot of people don't know . So we'll 802 00:35:23,970 --> 00:35:27,060 take this time to just remind people of , 803 00:35:27,150 --> 00:35:29,372 you know , where we were , when you got 804 00:35:29,372 --> 00:35:31,830 here , where we are now , where we were 805 00:35:31,830 --> 00:35:33,997 when the president got here , where we 806 00:35:33,997 --> 00:35:36,163 are now and what we've been able to do 807 00:35:36,163 --> 00:35:38,274 to move the needle . Sure . Well , We 808 00:35:38,274 --> 00:35:40,530 know that the year , the year that the 809 00:35:40,540 --> 00:35:42,820 president took office . So we're going 810 00:35:42,830 --> 00:35:45,840 back to 2021 . Um when the president 811 00:35:45,840 --> 00:35:48,280 came into office , the economy was 812 00:35:48,280 --> 00:35:51,050 creating something 50 , jobs a month . 813 00:35:51,050 --> 00:35:52,994 In December . We had actually lost 814 00:35:52,994 --> 00:35:56,200 employment Under during the president's 815 00:35:56,210 --> 00:35:58,960 tenure . There have been 6.6 million 816 00:35:58,960 --> 00:36:02,170 jobs created . Um unemployment has come 817 00:36:02,170 --> 00:36:04,620 down the fastest in history since in 818 00:36:04,620 --> 00:36:07,510 this past year . We've seen child 819 00:36:07,510 --> 00:36:10,000 poverty cut not , you know , almost in 820 00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:11,820 half . And especially for black 821 00:36:11,820 --> 00:36:15,500 Children and Children of color . Uh So 822 00:36:15,510 --> 00:36:17,750 this economy has come roaring back in 823 00:36:17,750 --> 00:36:21,100 no small . Uh thanks to the american 824 00:36:21,100 --> 00:36:24,670 rescue plan , which forced and foremost 825 00:36:24,680 --> 00:36:26,847 created have provided the resources to 826 00:36:26,847 --> 00:36:28,736 address the pandemic . That's the 827 00:36:28,736 --> 00:36:30,830 vaccines , The development . Getting 828 00:36:30,830 --> 00:36:32,886 them not the development but getting 829 00:36:32,886 --> 00:36:34,719 them distributed , which is most 830 00:36:34,719 --> 00:36:36,886 important . Um getting shots in arms . 831 00:36:36,886 --> 00:36:38,608 Um then you know , we have the 832 00:36:38,608 --> 00:36:40,830 resources now to be getting the masking 833 00:36:40,830 --> 00:36:42,663 and the therapeutics and two can 834 00:36:42,663 --> 00:36:44,830 continue with the boosters and to look 835 00:36:44,830 --> 00:36:46,886 forward . That has been so important 836 00:36:46,886 --> 00:36:48,886 because we can see that the economy 837 00:36:48,886 --> 00:36:50,719 follows this virus , but it also 838 00:36:50,719 --> 00:36:52,830 provided the support for families and 839 00:36:52,830 --> 00:36:54,663 businesses to continue operating 840 00:36:54,663 --> 00:36:56,886 Throughout this year . So this has been 841 00:36:56,886 --> 00:36:59,510 a tremendous year in terms of the 842 00:36:59,510 --> 00:37:01,732 strength of the economy , we've had the 843 00:37:01,732 --> 00:37:03,732 fastest growth in almost 40 years . 844 00:37:03,732 --> 00:37:06,950 We're leading our peers . Um okay , so 845 00:37:06,950 --> 00:37:08,950 we've got , I'm just gonna say it , 846 00:37:08,950 --> 00:37:11,172 we've got the , you know , the consumer 847 00:37:11,172 --> 00:37:13,172 price index results today , we know 848 00:37:13,172 --> 00:37:15,394 that there are challenges that remain . 849 00:37:15,394 --> 00:37:17,506 And these challenges are particularly 850 00:37:17,506 --> 00:37:19,617 difficult for families of color . You 851 00:37:19,617 --> 00:37:21,839 know , for black families , we've we've 852 00:37:21,839 --> 00:37:23,894 seen larger wave growth , you know , 853 00:37:23,894 --> 00:37:25,506 for lower wage workers , but 854 00:37:25,506 --> 00:37:27,561 nonetheless we know that these price 855 00:37:27,561 --> 00:37:29,490 increases are challenged . So the 856 00:37:29,490 --> 00:37:31,760 president is focused on that too . He's 857 00:37:31,760 --> 00:37:34,230 focused on it . Uh you know , in terms 858 00:37:34,230 --> 00:37:36,810 of trying to find ways to help get the 859 00:37:36,820 --> 00:37:39,600 market back in back in shape . So his 860 00:37:39,610 --> 00:37:41,666 efforts on the supply chain and like 861 00:37:41,666 --> 00:37:43,888 ports and helping to get people back to 862 00:37:43,888 --> 00:37:45,999 work also understand that this is the 863 00:37:45,999 --> 00:37:48,110 purview of the Federal reserve and he 864 00:37:48,110 --> 00:37:50,277 respects that , but really importantly 865 00:37:50,277 --> 00:37:53,070 the bipartisan infrastructure law which 866 00:37:53,070 --> 00:37:56,220 will help remove the lead pipes um and 867 00:37:56,230 --> 00:37:58,900 make so many important investments . Is 868 00:37:58,900 --> 00:38:01,280 critical to growing our economy and 869 00:38:01,290 --> 00:38:04,750 tilting some of those benefits to 870 00:38:04,750 --> 00:38:07,470 communities of color . And we really do 871 00:38:07,470 --> 00:38:09,590 need the in the in the build back 872 00:38:09,600 --> 00:38:11,810 better plan , the elements there which 873 00:38:11,810 --> 00:38:14,040 is the child tax credit which helped 874 00:38:14,050 --> 00:38:16,120 reduce child poverty . Um the 875 00:38:16,130 --> 00:38:18,297 investments in education including the 876 00:38:18,297 --> 00:38:19,852 HBC US and minority serving 877 00:38:19,852 --> 00:38:21,908 institutions and tribal colleges and 878 00:38:21,908 --> 00:38:24,074 universities are so important that all 879 00:38:24,074 --> 00:38:26,297 the care economy helping to ensure that 880 00:38:26,297 --> 00:38:28,519 those you know , particularly women and 881 00:38:28,519 --> 00:38:30,750 women of color are paid fairly so that 882 00:38:30,750 --> 00:38:32,861 those we love are being taken care of 883 00:38:32,861 --> 00:38:34,583 those are investments that the 884 00:38:34,583 --> 00:38:36,806 president is also very focused on which 885 00:38:36,806 --> 00:38:38,972 will help our communities as well . So 886 00:38:38,972 --> 00:38:40,972 it's been a great year . Um we know 887 00:38:40,972 --> 00:38:43,028 there are challenges that remain and 888 00:38:43,028 --> 00:38:45,194 there's more work to be done . I think 889 00:38:45,194 --> 00:38:47,139 part of that question about having 890 00:38:47,139 --> 00:38:48,861 people at the top that makes a 891 00:38:48,861 --> 00:38:51,270 difference . Um you know , when we came 892 00:38:51,270 --> 00:38:53,900 in we inherited a P . P . P . Plan that 893 00:38:53,910 --> 00:38:57,910 we passed in congress that the 894 00:38:57,910 --> 00:38:59,966 big companies came and sucked up all 895 00:38:59,966 --> 00:39:01,466 the money and part of this 896 00:39:01,466 --> 00:39:03,466 administration with the President's 897 00:39:03,466 --> 00:39:05,410 leadership of what advisers in the 898 00:39:05,410 --> 00:39:08,060 cabinet that looks like this , we were 899 00:39:08,060 --> 00:39:10,060 able to level the playing field for 900 00:39:10,060 --> 00:39:12,116 those small mom and pop businesses , 901 00:39:12,116 --> 00:39:14,227 those minority owned businesses . And 902 00:39:14,227 --> 00:39:16,338 when we talk about the infrastructure 903 00:39:16,338 --> 00:39:18,282 bill because of people around this 904 00:39:18,282 --> 00:39:22,220 table , how 905 00:39:22,220 --> 00:39:24,387 important we think this is . We put it 906 00:39:24,387 --> 00:39:26,609 in an infrastructure bill . But we made 907 00:39:26,609 --> 00:39:28,498 the minority business development 908 00:39:28,498 --> 00:39:30,664 Agency permanent in the infrastructure 909 00:39:30,664 --> 00:39:32,887 bill . Made the director of it . Senate 910 00:39:32,887 --> 00:39:35,650 confirmed and seated it with about $110 911 00:39:35,650 --> 00:39:37,950 million dollars because we know how 912 00:39:37,950 --> 00:39:40,850 important those small businesses and 913 00:39:40,850 --> 00:39:44,470 black businesses are two communities . 914 00:39:45,220 --> 00:39:49,190 But ambassador , my 915 00:39:49,190 --> 00:39:51,412 question to you is how do we tie this ? 916 00:39:51,412 --> 00:39:54,150 Because you play in a space that 917 00:39:54,820 --> 00:39:58,150 many of us don't pay attention 918 00:39:58,720 --> 00:40:02,000 as much because you know like my mother 919 00:40:02,000 --> 00:40:04,000 said , I'm so busy trying to keep a 920 00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:06,111 roof over your head , clothes on your 921 00:40:06,111 --> 00:40:08,000 back and food on the table . I am 922 00:40:08,000 --> 00:40:09,778 absolutely not paying that much 923 00:40:09,778 --> 00:40:11,889 attention to what's happening outside 924 00:40:11,889 --> 00:40:14,222 of my neighborhood , my city , my state , 925 00:40:14,222 --> 00:40:16,680 much less outside the country . You 926 00:40:16,680 --> 00:40:20,150 have the awesome task of managing 927 00:40:20,150 --> 00:40:24,130 relations for this country with 928 00:40:24,140 --> 00:40:28,010 the world And as a black 929 00:40:28,020 --> 00:40:30,187 woman , I know that that is an awesome 930 00:40:30,710 --> 00:40:34,230 job responsibility , but one that you 931 00:40:34,230 --> 00:40:37,080 do amazingly well how does that tie in 932 00:40:37,090 --> 00:40:40,520 to one Black America and 933 00:40:40,530 --> 00:40:44,320 to um just where we are going 934 00:40:44,330 --> 00:40:47,500 forward . I thank you for that question . 935 00:40:47,500 --> 00:40:49,830 And it's really an important question 936 00:40:50,410 --> 00:40:52,810 because the challenge that I have is 937 00:40:52,810 --> 00:40:55,480 not building the relationships . The 938 00:40:55,480 --> 00:40:59,420 challenge that I have is making sure 939 00:40:59,430 --> 00:41:02,560 that I am pursuing a foreign policy for 940 00:41:02,570 --> 00:41:06,500 America that addresses the needs of the 941 00:41:06,510 --> 00:41:08,780 american people . So the president 942 00:41:08,790 --> 00:41:10,970 established four goals when he came on 943 00:41:10,970 --> 00:41:13,980 board dealing with the pandemic dealing 944 00:41:13,980 --> 00:41:16,147 with climate change , dealing with the 945 00:41:16,147 --> 00:41:19,150 issues of racial inequities and racial 946 00:41:19,150 --> 00:41:22,610 justice and economic recovery . And 947 00:41:22,610 --> 00:41:25,430 these are all issues that are important 948 00:41:25,430 --> 00:41:27,740 on the international stage that impact 949 00:41:27,750 --> 00:41:31,120 everyday americans . And so I have 950 00:41:31,130 --> 00:41:33,700 tackled all of those issues as the 951 00:41:33,710 --> 00:41:37,530 ambassador uh to to the United Nations 952 00:41:37,560 --> 00:41:40,440 in terms of making sure that our covid 953 00:41:41,110 --> 00:41:45,070 the response has been broad has been 954 00:41:45,080 --> 00:41:49,080 uh known . So when I travel overseas , 955 00:41:49,080 --> 00:41:52,520 I always make sure that I am there to 956 00:41:52,520 --> 00:41:54,687 receive covid vaccines that the United 957 00:41:54,687 --> 00:41:56,853 States is contributing because we know 958 00:41:56,853 --> 00:41:58,909 that we cannot address this pandemic 959 00:41:58,909 --> 00:42:01,131 here in the United States . If we don't 960 00:42:01,200 --> 00:42:05,150 address the issues overseas when 961 00:42:05,160 --> 00:42:07,216 I'm overseas , we talk about climate 962 00:42:07,216 --> 00:42:09,570 change and the impact of climate and 963 00:42:09,570 --> 00:42:12,160 what we can do and what other countries 964 00:42:12,160 --> 00:42:14,840 can do that will help improve our 965 00:42:14,840 --> 00:42:18,250 climate for our environment , for the 966 00:42:18,260 --> 00:42:21,480 for the globe . We talk about issues of 967 00:42:21,480 --> 00:42:23,550 racial justice and that is extremely 968 00:42:23,550 --> 00:42:25,750 important for me because this is an 969 00:42:25,760 --> 00:42:28,310 issue where people think we are weak 970 00:42:28,900 --> 00:42:31,610 and so they think they can criticize us 971 00:42:31,620 --> 00:42:34,520 on racial justice issues . And so I 972 00:42:34,520 --> 00:42:37,040 have been very , very clear . We do 973 00:42:37,050 --> 00:42:39,161 have issues . I can acknowledge those 974 00:42:39,161 --> 00:42:41,161 issues . The vast majority of other 975 00:42:41,161 --> 00:42:43,494 people don't acknowledge their problems . 976 00:42:43,494 --> 00:42:45,606 I don't think china would acknowledge 977 00:42:45,606 --> 00:42:48,260 that they have huge human rights 978 00:42:48,260 --> 00:42:50,490 violations taking place in china . I 979 00:42:50,490 --> 00:42:52,510 can acknowledge us weaknesses , but 980 00:42:52,520 --> 00:42:55,110 also talk about what we've done to 981 00:42:55,120 --> 00:42:58,520 accomplish uh dealing with those issues , 982 00:42:58,520 --> 00:43:01,930 including having us around around the 983 00:43:01,930 --> 00:43:04,920 table . And then the issues of economic 984 00:43:04,930 --> 00:43:08,170 recovery the pandemic has had an impact 985 00:43:08,180 --> 00:43:11,590 on the entire global economy and that 986 00:43:11,590 --> 00:43:14,020 economy is very connected to our 987 00:43:14,020 --> 00:43:16,910 economy . So how we address economic 988 00:43:16,920 --> 00:43:20,030 issues around the globe are important 989 00:43:20,030 --> 00:43:22,700 to how we address economic issues here . 990 00:43:22,710 --> 00:43:24,710 And getting that message out to the 991 00:43:24,710 --> 00:43:27,020 american people that you need to care 992 00:43:27,030 --> 00:43:29,340 about foreign policy . You need to care 993 00:43:29,340 --> 00:43:31,590 about what we do when we are 994 00:43:31,590 --> 00:43:33,710 representing you overseas has been an 995 00:43:33,710 --> 00:43:36,170 extraordinarily challenging part of my 996 00:43:36,170 --> 00:43:38,337 job . But it's been the part of my job 997 00:43:38,337 --> 00:43:40,590 that I take the most seriously since I 998 00:43:40,600 --> 00:43:43,560 have been in new york . No and as you 999 00:43:43,560 --> 00:43:45,282 speak , you you remind us that 1000 00:43:45,282 --> 00:43:48,360 especially C . C . And I probably see 1001 00:43:48,360 --> 00:43:50,416 it here and then talk about it a lot 1002 00:43:50,416 --> 00:43:52,360 more . And that's the supply chain 1003 00:43:52,360 --> 00:43:54,650 issues that are raising costs for 1004 00:43:54,660 --> 00:43:57,120 people here in America because 1005 00:43:58,730 --> 00:44:00,619 we're coming out of this pandemic 1006 00:44:00,619 --> 00:44:03,080 strong . Um but everybody around the 1007 00:44:03,080 --> 00:44:05,850 world is not and so if factories are 1008 00:44:05,860 --> 00:44:08,150 closing around the world that we get 1009 00:44:08,150 --> 00:44:10,870 our goods and supplies from then it is 1010 00:44:11,290 --> 00:44:14,800 decreasing that supply and 1011 00:44:15,490 --> 00:44:17,657 because of the demand prices are going 1012 00:44:17,657 --> 00:44:20,100 up a little bit . But you know also I 1013 00:44:20,100 --> 00:44:22,267 will just tell you this and it's not a 1014 00:44:22,267 --> 00:44:24,433 part of black history month as part of 1015 00:44:24,433 --> 00:44:26,710 who I am people you find out how people 1016 00:44:27,290 --> 00:44:29,457 you know I care about you and how much 1017 00:44:29,457 --> 00:44:31,679 they value you when you're down and out 1018 00:44:31,679 --> 00:44:33,790 and after Katrina . We saw how people 1019 00:44:33,790 --> 00:44:37,040 really sauce . But there is a sense of 1020 00:44:37,040 --> 00:44:40,760 profiteering uh going on during this 1021 00:44:40,760 --> 00:44:43,130 pandemic to and it's something that the 1022 00:44:43,130 --> 00:44:45,130 administration is trying to address 1023 00:44:45,130 --> 00:44:47,019 because we believe that this is a 1024 00:44:47,019 --> 00:44:48,963 country where we're better when we 1025 00:44:48,963 --> 00:44:48,400 bring people together and we help 1026 00:44:48,410 --> 00:44:51,260 people when they get knocked down . But 1027 00:44:51,270 --> 00:44:53,603 speaking of people getting knocked down , 1028 00:44:53,603 --> 00:44:55,826 helping them uh , to the woman with all 1029 00:44:55,826 --> 00:44:58,740 the money , uh , all the money in the 1030 00:44:58,750 --> 00:44:59,690 country . 1031 00:44:59,700 --> 00:45:03,570 You don't print it , you 1032 00:45:03,570 --> 00:45:07,160 just spend it . So you know , point 1033 00:45:07,170 --> 00:45:11,110 to some areas that we're doing 1034 00:45:11,110 --> 00:45:12,999 some really good stuff that other 1035 00:45:12,999 --> 00:45:15,166 people have not done . But we're doing 1036 00:45:15,166 --> 00:45:17,332 it in terms of equity . And so whether 1037 00:45:17,332 --> 00:45:19,388 it's community violence intervention 1038 00:45:19,388 --> 00:45:21,277 that we want to put in build back 1039 00:45:21,277 --> 00:45:23,460 better and those things . But I think 1040 00:45:23,460 --> 00:45:25,910 that that's one of the examples of 1041 00:45:26,390 --> 00:45:28,612 things that this administration that is 1042 00:45:28,612 --> 00:45:32,420 doing specifically ah aimed 1043 00:45:32,430 --> 00:45:35,550 at communities of color to fix 1044 00:45:36,390 --> 00:45:39,040 barriers and issues that are there and 1045 00:45:39,050 --> 00:45:40,994 we can think of education in other 1046 00:45:40,994 --> 00:45:43,106 areas . But since you're the one that 1047 00:45:43,106 --> 00:45:45,272 spends all the money , why don't you ? 1048 00:45:45,272 --> 00:45:47,328 Well , one thing of importance to me 1049 00:45:47,328 --> 00:45:49,439 and you just hinted at one thing that 1050 00:45:49,439 --> 00:45:51,661 colors it for me is disaster response . 1051 00:45:51,661 --> 00:45:54,130 So Cedric probably remembers this . You 1052 00:45:54,140 --> 00:45:56,473 you remember this ambassador growing up , 1053 00:45:56,473 --> 00:45:58,584 we had hurricane tracker as you watch 1054 00:45:58,584 --> 00:46:00,751 the news and you learn how to be young 1055 00:46:00,751 --> 00:46:02,696 meteorologists growing up in south 1056 00:46:02,696 --> 00:46:05,070 Louisiana . So that colors , you know 1057 00:46:05,080 --> 00:46:07,390 who , who you become And on the hill . 1058 00:46:07,390 --> 00:46:09,501 I remember joining the appropriations 1059 00:46:09,501 --> 00:46:11,390 committee . I thought I'd work on 1060 00:46:11,390 --> 00:46:13,390 health funding issues and the staff 1061 00:46:13,390 --> 00:46:15,557 director at the time was like , you're 1062 00:46:15,557 --> 00:46:14,850 from Louisiana , why don't you go to 1063 00:46:14,850 --> 00:46:16,850 fema ? It's like , I don't wanna do 1064 00:46:16,850 --> 00:46:18,906 fema . It was like , but we're still 1065 00:46:18,906 --> 00:46:21,072 recovering from Katrina . Go help it . 1066 00:46:21,072 --> 00:46:23,183 And it turned out to be a great thing 1067 00:46:23,183 --> 00:46:25,406 for me and something I continue to look 1068 00:46:25,406 --> 00:46:27,294 at . I remember one instance this 1069 00:46:27,294 --> 00:46:29,406 administration took decisive actually 1070 00:46:29,406 --> 00:46:31,628 remember , um , some of our communities 1071 00:46:31,628 --> 00:46:34,450 don't always have paperwork and titles . 1072 00:46:34,460 --> 00:46:36,349 You pass it from family member to 1073 00:46:36,349 --> 00:46:38,349 family member . And that has been a 1074 00:46:38,349 --> 00:46:40,404 historic barrier to getting disaster 1075 00:46:40,404 --> 00:46:42,571 aid . So these families who don't have 1076 00:46:42,571 --> 00:46:44,627 the right paperwork , but you know , 1077 00:46:44,627 --> 00:46:46,460 it's been in this family and the 1078 00:46:46,460 --> 00:46:48,682 Coleman and the Matthews family for 100 1079 00:46:48,682 --> 00:46:50,849 years but yet and still they could not 1080 00:46:50,849 --> 00:46:53,180 get a tarp on their roof because they 1081 00:46:53,180 --> 00:46:55,180 did not have the proper paperwork . 1082 00:46:55,180 --> 00:46:57,800 This administration saw that fixed . It 1083 00:46:57,810 --> 00:46:59,921 got ahead of it . We still have a lot 1084 00:46:59,921 --> 00:47:02,254 more work to do . But those communities , 1085 00:47:02,254 --> 00:47:04,120 um , especially thinking back on 1086 00:47:04,120 --> 00:47:06,900 Katrina suffered mightily . Um , and 1087 00:47:06,900 --> 00:47:08,900 sometimes disaster response did not 1088 00:47:08,900 --> 00:47:11,030 meet the challenge , especially uh , 1089 00:47:11,040 --> 00:47:14,020 for communities of color who take a 1090 00:47:14,020 --> 00:47:16,242 disproportionate share . So we're doing 1091 00:47:16,242 --> 00:47:18,940 more resilience here in Congress . The 1092 00:47:18,950 --> 00:47:21,460 two former Congress people passed bills 1093 00:47:21,460 --> 00:47:23,910 that allowed us to spend on something 1094 00:47:23,910 --> 00:47:26,130 we call the brick program . So we've 1095 00:47:26,130 --> 00:47:28,352 now , as the administration implemented 1096 00:47:28,352 --> 00:47:30,186 that , uh , to spend billions of 1097 00:47:30,186 --> 00:47:32,241 dollars in communities . So we don't 1098 00:47:32,241 --> 00:47:34,241 have the same destruction we had in 1099 00:47:34,241 --> 00:47:36,186 past storms . And guess what ? The 1100 00:47:36,186 --> 00:47:38,352 climate , climate is changing . And we 1101 00:47:38,352 --> 00:47:40,519 see that in wildfires , we see that in 1102 00:47:40,519 --> 00:47:42,630 the intensity of these storms , these 1103 00:47:42,630 --> 00:47:44,797 100 year storms are now becoming every 1104 00:47:44,797 --> 00:47:46,574 few years . Um , so in disaster 1105 00:47:46,574 --> 00:47:48,686 response to something important to me 1106 00:47:48,686 --> 00:47:48,490 probably because of where I'm from , 1107 00:47:48,980 --> 00:47:51,690 and also recognizing that our 1108 00:47:51,690 --> 00:47:53,857 communities didn't always get the same 1109 00:47:53,857 --> 00:47:56,110 response that others did . So that 1110 00:47:56,110 --> 00:47:58,930 that's something it matters who is 1111 00:47:58,930 --> 00:48:01,152 making the decisions there . Um , and I 1112 00:48:01,152 --> 00:48:03,208 hope to be a part of that solution . 1113 00:48:03,208 --> 00:48:05,263 And Secretary Fudge , um , has a big 1114 00:48:05,263 --> 00:48:07,263 role in how we handle housing after 1115 00:48:07,263 --> 00:48:09,486 disasters . Um , and you're right , the 1116 00:48:09,486 --> 00:48:11,708 community violence initiative , that is 1117 00:48:11,708 --> 00:48:13,930 something new from this president , our 1118 00:48:13,930 --> 00:48:16,041 communities , uh , disproportionately 1119 00:48:16,041 --> 00:48:17,597 have a share of violence in 1120 00:48:17,597 --> 00:48:20,000 neighborhoods . So our proposal not 1121 00:48:20,000 --> 00:48:22,120 only looks at the justice side , but 1122 00:48:22,120 --> 00:48:24,920 also the social service decide what can 1123 00:48:24,920 --> 00:48:27,031 we do , What can we invest in to make 1124 00:48:27,031 --> 00:48:29,870 sure , uh , that we take preventative 1125 00:48:29,870 --> 00:48:32,240 measures . So we don't have to engage 1126 00:48:32,250 --> 00:48:34,930 the Department of Justice and Police 1127 00:48:34,930 --> 00:48:37,041 side of the equation . So you see the 1128 00:48:37,041 --> 00:48:39,097 equal resources and health and human 1129 00:48:39,097 --> 00:48:41,319 services as you do in the Department of 1130 00:48:41,319 --> 00:48:43,486 Justice . Uh , so those are the things 1131 00:48:43,486 --> 00:48:45,541 where budgets matter , your budget , 1132 00:48:45,541 --> 00:48:47,541 your values , This president always 1133 00:48:47,541 --> 00:48:49,763 says that . Um , and we're trying to do 1134 00:48:49,763 --> 00:48:51,930 that through the budgets we put out in 1135 00:48:51,930 --> 00:48:54,152 his name . Well , I think that's that's 1136 00:48:54,152 --> 00:48:56,374 why it's so important that you're there 1137 00:48:56,374 --> 00:48:58,597 because you come from these communities 1138 00:48:58,597 --> 00:49:00,750 and we know that policing is not The 1139 00:49:00,750 --> 00:49:02,917 only answer that's out there , that we 1140 00:49:02,917 --> 00:49:05,600 have to deal with the root causes one . 1141 00:49:05,670 --> 00:49:07,781 And just like when you look at mental 1142 00:49:07,781 --> 00:49:11,180 health , we have to look at the reason 1143 00:49:11,190 --> 00:49:13,760 that you need to mask the pain and the 1144 00:49:13,760 --> 00:49:15,816 trauma and all of those things . But 1145 00:49:15,816 --> 00:49:17,760 one thing and I get to pick on you 1146 00:49:17,760 --> 00:49:19,704 because you were one of the newest 1147 00:49:19,704 --> 00:49:22,220 mothers in the White House . Uh , but 1148 00:49:22,220 --> 00:49:23,998 one of the things that the Vice 1149 00:49:23,998 --> 00:49:25,998 President has taken the lead on and 1150 00:49:25,998 --> 00:49:28,080 this administration has focused on , 1151 00:49:28,470 --> 00:49:30,800 it's maternal health . The fact that 1152 00:49:30,810 --> 00:49:32,810 black women died disproportionately 1153 00:49:33,370 --> 00:49:35,870 about twice as much as their white 1154 00:49:35,870 --> 00:49:38,250 counterparts in childbirth . And if you 1155 00:49:38,250 --> 00:49:41,030 look at native american women , it's 1156 00:49:41,040 --> 00:49:44,020 worse than that . And so that's why 1157 00:49:44,030 --> 00:49:46,700 having people with different life 1158 00:49:46,700 --> 00:49:48,867 experiences and what they bring to the 1159 00:49:48,867 --> 00:49:51,270 table , it's so important . So , I'll 1160 00:49:51,270 --> 00:49:53,440 just kind of give everybody just a 1161 00:49:53,450 --> 00:49:57,170 chance to wrap up with their 1162 00:49:57,170 --> 00:50:00,130 thoughts of , You know , it might it 1163 00:50:00,140 --> 00:50:02,251 might have been one of dr King's last 1164 00:50:02,251 --> 00:50:04,473 books , but the sentiment is the same , 1165 00:50:04,473 --> 00:50:06,696 which is where do we go from here ? And 1166 00:50:06,696 --> 00:50:08,930 one of those things that we need to 1167 00:50:08,940 --> 00:50:12,350 drive on . But um , you know , what are 1168 00:50:12,350 --> 00:50:14,790 those accomplishments you you still 1169 00:50:14,790 --> 00:50:16,901 want to have general . I am terrified 1170 00:50:16,901 --> 00:50:19,570 to ask you that in terms of where do we 1171 00:50:19,570 --> 00:50:22,320 go from here ? We we will , you can 1172 00:50:22,320 --> 00:50:24,487 answer that in this broad terms as you 1173 00:50:24,487 --> 00:50:26,709 as you possibly can and then we'll just 1174 00:50:26,709 --> 00:50:29,960 go around well thanks Cedric and thanks 1175 00:50:29,960 --> 00:50:33,750 for for doing this . Uh again this has 1176 00:50:33,750 --> 00:50:36,530 been a great session and I I truly feel 1177 00:50:36,530 --> 00:50:38,860 that I could stay in this room with 1178 00:50:38,870 --> 00:50:41,092 with this group for the next five hours 1179 00:50:41,092 --> 00:50:43,520 and still be thirsting for for more 1180 00:50:43,520 --> 00:50:45,980 about them and about their their past . 1181 00:50:46,760 --> 00:50:49,240 Where do we go from here ? One of my 1182 00:50:49,240 --> 00:50:51,700 goals , my major goal coming into this 1183 00:50:51,700 --> 00:50:54,520 job , Cedric is I'm honored to be , you 1184 00:50:54,520 --> 00:50:57,220 know the The First African American 1185 00:50:57,220 --> 00:50:58,998 Secretary of Defense , the 28th 1186 00:50:58,998 --> 00:51:01,310 Secretary of Defense , but I really 1187 00:51:01,310 --> 00:51:03,199 don't want to be the last african 1188 00:51:03,199 --> 00:51:05,580 american Secretary of Defense . And so 1189 00:51:06,160 --> 00:51:08,570 uh I want to make sure that I create 1190 00:51:08,570 --> 00:51:10,820 the conditions that you know , young 1191 00:51:10,820 --> 00:51:13,440 people out there that are looking at 1192 00:51:13,440 --> 00:51:16,900 this video can can really relate and 1193 00:51:16,900 --> 00:51:19,030 say I could be him or I could , you 1194 00:51:19,030 --> 00:51:20,990 know , I can I can be very , very 1195 00:51:20,990 --> 00:51:23,300 successful in the Department of Defense 1196 00:51:23,760 --> 00:51:26,390 if that's if that's what I choose to do . 1197 00:51:27,460 --> 00:51:29,682 Um as you know what I think about every 1198 00:51:29,682 --> 00:51:32,260 day , 24 hours a day is defending this 1199 00:51:32,260 --> 00:51:34,870 country , I have a great team that's uh 1200 00:51:34,880 --> 00:51:36,991 that's that's with me , that helps me 1201 00:51:36,991 --> 00:51:39,280 do uh do the things that we need to do . 1202 00:51:39,860 --> 00:51:42,940 But I think again , as I do , that , 1203 00:51:42,970 --> 00:51:45,137 you know , one of the things I want to 1204 00:51:45,137 --> 00:51:47,450 do is make sure that I create as an 1205 00:51:47,450 --> 00:51:50,650 inclusive environment as possible . You 1206 00:51:50,650 --> 00:51:52,872 know , diversity is really important to 1207 00:51:52,872 --> 00:51:54,650 us . And I think the aren't the 1208 00:51:54,650 --> 00:51:56,706 military has led the way in a lot of 1209 00:51:56,706 --> 00:51:58,594 cases , uh , with with respect to 1210 00:51:58,594 --> 00:52:00,594 diversity , I got to make sure that 1211 00:52:00,594 --> 00:52:03,900 that we continue to make strides . And 1212 00:52:03,900 --> 00:52:07,320 I equate diversity being uh , to being 1213 00:52:07,330 --> 00:52:10,210 invited to the dance , inclusion is 1214 00:52:10,210 --> 00:52:12,432 actually being asked to dance . So just 1215 00:52:12,432 --> 00:52:14,099 because you're a diverse uh , 1216 00:52:14,099 --> 00:52:16,210 organization doesn't mean that you're 1217 00:52:16,210 --> 00:52:18,377 actually inclusive . Doesn't mean that 1218 00:52:18,377 --> 00:52:20,432 people feel that they're part of the 1219 00:52:20,432 --> 00:52:22,543 organization , that they're welcome . 1220 00:52:22,543 --> 00:52:24,654 And uh , and so one of my goals is to 1221 00:52:24,654 --> 00:52:26,488 make sure that that we have that 1222 00:52:26,488 --> 00:52:29,280 environment that's not only diverse in 1223 00:52:29,280 --> 00:52:30,947 the ranks , but divers in the 1224 00:52:30,947 --> 00:52:33,940 leadership and inclusive as well . And 1225 00:52:33,940 --> 00:52:36,500 in one final comment , I would just 1226 00:52:36,500 --> 00:52:40,180 make the point that I 1227 00:52:40,180 --> 00:52:42,450 believe this , this cabinet is very 1228 00:52:42,450 --> 00:52:46,210 inclusive every time that 1229 00:52:46,210 --> 00:52:48,210 I'm with the Cabinet members , I've 1230 00:52:48,210 --> 00:52:50,321 always felt welcome and always felt , 1231 00:52:50,750 --> 00:52:54,000 you know , that I was with teammates 1232 00:52:54,000 --> 00:52:56,111 that I could , uh , I could work with 1233 00:52:56,111 --> 00:52:58,222 and trust and count on . So I'll stop 1234 00:52:59,360 --> 00:53:01,471 Shalonda besides passing the budget . 1235 00:53:01,550 --> 00:53:04,080 Um , Well , since you brought up my 1236 00:53:04,080 --> 00:53:06,350 daughter and I will admit , I don't 1237 00:53:06,350 --> 00:53:08,517 talk about it much because my hormones 1238 00:53:08,517 --> 00:53:10,572 are still elevated and I look at her 1239 00:53:10,572 --> 00:53:12,739 and I want to cry every time because I 1240 00:53:12,739 --> 00:53:14,720 can't believe she is here . Um but 1241 00:53:14,720 --> 00:53:16,970 where , where we go is now colored by 1242 00:53:16,980 --> 00:53:20,750 by what I see in her future . Um You 1243 00:53:20,750 --> 00:53:22,861 know , I'd really like to not have to 1244 00:53:22,861 --> 00:53:24,917 give the speech . I think many of us 1245 00:53:24,917 --> 00:53:26,917 probably got at this table that you 1246 00:53:26,917 --> 00:53:29,083 have to be better . She should be able 1247 00:53:29,083 --> 00:53:31,139 to work as hard as anyone else . She 1248 00:53:31,139 --> 00:53:33,028 shouldn't have to b b better than 1249 00:53:33,028 --> 00:53:35,194 someone else just to be given a shot . 1250 00:53:35,194 --> 00:53:37,361 I really hope I don't have to give her 1251 00:53:37,361 --> 00:53:39,417 that speech . I'll , you know , I do 1252 00:53:39,417 --> 00:53:41,639 have certain expectations for her , but 1253 00:53:41,639 --> 00:53:43,806 there's nothing she doesn't need to be 1254 00:53:43,806 --> 00:53:45,972 better . She has to do . Um You know , 1255 00:53:45,972 --> 00:53:48,194 she has to be herself . So I have a lot 1256 00:53:48,194 --> 00:53:50,250 of hopes for a future . And mostly I 1257 00:53:50,250 --> 00:53:52,250 see through her um I hope she's not 1258 00:53:52,250 --> 00:53:54,472 impressed by anything that I do and I , 1259 00:53:54,472 --> 00:53:56,510 my guess is she won't be . Um but 1260 00:53:56,520 --> 00:53:58,800 because I want this to be normal for 1261 00:53:58,800 --> 00:54:01,290 her and for this not to be an exception 1262 00:54:01,290 --> 00:54:03,800 to the rule , but something she sees as 1263 00:54:03,800 --> 00:54:06,550 normal when Covid is a , you know , a 1264 00:54:06,550 --> 00:54:08,494 little bit more regulated . I look 1265 00:54:08,494 --> 00:54:10,661 forward to her . You know , getting to 1266 00:54:10,661 --> 00:54:12,717 meet all all of these lovely cabinet 1267 00:54:12,717 --> 00:54:14,661 members and knowing that this is a 1268 00:54:14,661 --> 00:54:16,940 regular course of action . Um And I'll 1269 00:54:16,940 --> 00:54:19,051 say you didn't ask me who I looked up 1270 00:54:19,051 --> 00:54:21,390 to . My mind came later in life . 1271 00:54:21,400 --> 00:54:24,640 Michelle Obama just , I mean just just 1272 00:54:24,640 --> 00:54:27,810 seeing her in this White house was such 1273 00:54:27,810 --> 00:54:30,810 a big deal to me . Um And just meant a 1274 00:54:30,810 --> 00:54:32,930 lot to me , even though I was well in 1275 00:54:32,930 --> 00:54:35,490 my twenties and my career she she was 1276 00:54:35,490 --> 00:54:37,657 just the epitome and she took a lot of 1277 00:54:37,657 --> 00:54:40,220 flak for just being herself um from the 1278 00:54:40,220 --> 00:54:42,387 south side of Chicago . She felt a lot 1279 00:54:42,387 --> 00:54:44,860 like the people I grew up around . So 1280 00:54:45,240 --> 00:54:48,880 um I hope the future that isn't a you 1281 00:54:48,880 --> 00:54:50,769 know an exception to the rule but 1282 00:54:50,769 --> 00:54:52,713 something our Children are used to 1283 00:54:52,713 --> 00:54:55,420 seeing . Well we have I'm being told we 1284 00:54:55,420 --> 00:54:59,190 have to wrap on that , I will say 1285 00:54:59,420 --> 00:55:01,660 that this administration I will not 1286 00:55:01,660 --> 00:55:05,560 stop and in the next 10 weeks of 1287 00:55:05,940 --> 00:55:08,800 three or 4 months we're gonna have and 1288 00:55:08,800 --> 00:55:10,578 get confirmed the first african 1289 00:55:10,578 --> 00:55:12,689 american woman on the Supreme Court , 1290 00:55:12,689 --> 00:55:14,744 she's gonna be the best legal mind , 1291 00:55:14,744 --> 00:55:14,530 she's gonna be one of the best on the 1292 00:55:14,540 --> 00:55:18,030 court . And we are proud of that moment 1293 00:55:18,040 --> 00:55:21,570 and we're just as proud of this cabinet 1294 00:55:21,580 --> 00:55:24,630 and we don't get to ask a whole bunch 1295 00:55:24,630 --> 00:55:26,797 of questions . But the next time we're 1296 00:55:26,797 --> 00:55:28,741 together , I wanted to know how it 1297 00:55:28,741 --> 00:55:30,908 feels to walk through the airport with 1298 00:55:30,908 --> 00:55:33,019 with detailed security and people say 1299 00:55:33,019 --> 00:55:37,000 who's that , what do they do ? So uh so 1300 00:55:37,010 --> 00:55:39,066 look thank you all , I want to thank 1301 00:55:39,066 --> 00:55:41,670 everybody for tuning into our black 1302 00:55:41,680 --> 00:55:43,680 history month roundtable that we're 1303 00:55:43,680 --> 00:55:46,730 having . But just note and I would just 1304 00:55:46,730 --> 00:55:48,674 encourage you to go research these 1305 00:55:48,674 --> 00:55:50,786 great individuals and do the research 1306 00:55:50,786 --> 00:55:52,841 on african americans contribution to 1307 00:55:52,841 --> 00:55:55,060 this country . Because if you look at 1308 00:55:55,060 --> 00:55:57,227 it , this country would not be what it 1309 00:55:57,227 --> 00:56:00,830 is from the light bulb to everything 1310 00:56:00,830 --> 00:56:03,760 else . So thank you all and thanks for 1311 00:56:04,520 --> 00:56:07,290 coming in and hanging out in public 1312 00:56:07,290 --> 00:56:08,310 housing martian . 1313 00:56:11,540 --> 00:56:13,540 Thank you . Thank you . Thank you . 1314 00:56:13,540 --> 00:56:14,170 Thank you .