AND NOW AN "OWN SPOTLIGHT".
HI, EVERYBODY. THANKS FOR JOINING ME TODAY ON AUGUST 28th,
WHICH IS ACTUALLY A DATE
THAT HOLDS A SPECIAL RESONANCE IN OUR CULTURE,
BECAUSE OVER THE COURSE OF A HUNDRED YEARS,
IT MAY SURPRISE SOME OF YOU TO LEARN
THAT MANY PIVOTAL EVENTS OCCURRED ON THIS SAME DATE,
EVENTS LIKE THE MURDER OF EMMETT TILL,
THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON,
MOTOWN'S FIRST NUMBER ONE HIT,
HURRICANE KATRINA,
AND BARACK OBAMA'S ACCEPTANCE AS THE FIRST
BLACK DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT.
ALL OF THESE EVENTS HAPPENED ON AUGUST 28th,
AND HERE AT OWN, WE WANT TO AMPLIFY THIS DAY
AND THE CULTURE-CHANGING TIME THAT WE'RE LIVING IN
AND SHOW YOU A FILM THAT CONNECTS
AND WEAVES THESE HISTORIC EVENTS
THROUGH THE LENS OF EVERYDAY BLACK EXPERIENCES.
IT'S CALLED "AUGUST 28th:
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A PEOPLE",
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY OSCAR NOMINATED DIRECTOR
AND ACTIVIST AVA DuVERNAY,
WITH STARS LIKE ANGELA BASSETT AND DAVID OYELOWO, REGINA KING,
JUST TO NAME A FEW.
THEY BRING THIS TO LIFE.
AND BEFORE WE WATCH IT,
I WANTED TO TALK TO MY FRIEND AVA ABOUT THE FILM
AND ABOUT HOW TO BE THE CHANGE WE WANT TO SEE IN THIS WORLD.
FOR ME, I THINK ONE OF THE BEST THINGS WE CAN DO,
IF NOT THE BEST THING, IS REGISTER TO VOTE
IF YOU'RE NOT REGISTERED ALREADY AND THEN OWN THAT VOTE,
APPLY THAT VOTE ON NOVEMBER 3rd. THAT'S OUR VOICE.
THAT'S HOW WE LET OURSELVES BE HEARD.
AND I HOPE YOU'LL STAY TUNED AFTER THIS FILM,
BECAUSE I'M GOING TO BE TALKING TO REVEREND AL SHARPTON,
WHO DREAMED UP AND WILL BE LEADING
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MARCHERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
FOR THE NEW MARCH ON WASHINGTON FOR THIS AUGUST 28th.
SO, HI, AVA. HI.
HELLO. HAPPY TO SEE YOU. HAPPY TO SEE YOU, TOO.
YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEING THIS
FOR THE FIRST TIME ARE HAVING THE "A-HA"
THAT I HAD WHEN I SAW IT FOR THE FIRST TIME,
BECAUSE IT HAD NEVER OCCURRED TO ME
THAT ALL THOSE THINGS HAPPEN ON THE SAME DAY.
SO, WHEN DID YOU HAVE THE "A-HA"?
THAT, "OH, BARACK OBAMA. OH, EMMETT TILL.
OH, KATRINA. "
HOW DOES THAT EVEN COME INTO ONE'S BRAIN OR CONSCIOUSNESS?
YES. WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE,
I LEARNED THAT EMMETT TILL'S MURDER
AND LYNCHING HAPPENED ON THE SAME DAY IN A DIFFERENT YEAR
THAT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING MADE THE "I HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH.
I ALWAYS THOUGHT, "WOW. THOSE TWO ARE JUST CATALYSTS
FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
AND SO MUCH OF THE STRIVING FOR OUR FREEDOMS.
MAYBE..." AND THEN YEARS LATER,
I HEARD THAT PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
ACCEPTING THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION
WAS THE SAME DAY THAT DR. KING HAD MADE
THE "I HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH,
AND I WAS LIKE, "WOW."
SO THEN THAT'S ALSO THE SAME DAY THAT EMMETT TILL WAS MURDERED,
AND THEN IN ANOTHER YEAR, WHEN KATRINA MADE LANDFALL
WAS THE SAME DAY THAT --
AND SO I JUST STARTED TO REMEMBER, "WAIT,
IF THAT'S THE SAME DAY AS THAT,
THEN IT'S THE SAME DAY AS THAT."
THEN I START TO DIG DEEPER, DO MORE RESEARCH.
TURNS OUT IT WAS THE SAME DAY THAT
THE "EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION" IN THE UK --
CALLED SOMETHING DIFFERENT --
FOR BLACK PEOPLE WAS SIGNED,
AND IT WAS ALSO THE SAME DAY THAT THE VERY FIRST
MOTOWN RECORD WAS EVER PLAYED ON THE RADIO.
AND SO, THE IDEA THAT ALL OF THESE THINGS
THAT HAVE SO AFFECTED BLACK CULTURE AND BLACK HISTORY
AND AMERICAN HISTORY ALL HAPPENED
ON THIS PECULIAR LITTLE DAY,
YOU KNOW, JUST BECAME VERY EXCITING TO ME.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO EVERYONE HOW YOU WERE COMMISSIONED
TO CREATE "AUGUST 28th"
FOR THE OPENING OF THE SMITHSONIAN?
I REMEMBER WHEN WE ALL
WERE BROUGHT INTO THE THEATER ENTRANCE
AND THERE WE WERE, SITTING IN THIS BEAUTIFUL STRUCTURE
OF THE SMITHSONIAN WATCHING THIS FILM.
HOW DID THIS COME ABOUT?
I ACTUALLY GOT A CALL FROM DR. LONNIE BUNCH
TO JUST MAKE A FILM,
AND IT'S A DREAM AS A FILMMAKER FOR FOLKS TO SAY,
"WE JUST WANT YOU TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO."
IT'S ONLY HAPPENED MAYBE THREE TIMES IN MY CAREER.
BUT I GOT THIS CALL FROM DR. LONNIE BUNCH
SAYING, "WE WANT TO HAVE AN OPENING FILM,
A FILM WHERE WHEN PEOPLE COME INTO THE MUSEUM,
THEY HAVE AN INTRODUCTION TO WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO SEE HERE."
BUT HE ALLOWED ME TO KIND OF HAVE A WIDE BERTH.
AND SO I DECIDED TO FOCUS ON THIS LITTLE KNOWN DAY IN HISTORY
THAT I LEARNED ABOUT IN COLLEGE, AUGUST 28th,
AND SO I PRESENTED THE IDEA TO DR. BUNCH AND THE COMMITTEE
AND THEY SAID, "GO FOR IT",
AND SO, GATHERED A BUNCH OF FRIENDS AND WE MADE IT.
WELL, WHAT IS SO INTERESTING
IS THAT THE WAY YOU'VE DESCRIBED THEM
AND THE STORIES THAT ARE BEING TOLD ALMOST FEEL POETIC
BECAUSE THEY'RE USED ALSO WITH POETRY PIECES.
YES. INSTEAD OF -- I MEAN, WHAT CAN I WRITE THAT
IS EVER GOING TO BE WORTHY OF BEING
OVER THESE GREAT MOMENTS IN HISTORY LIKE THAT?
THERE'S NO SCRIPT THAT I CAN WRITE TO DO THAT.
SO, LET ME LET THE WORDS OF OUR GREAT POETS,
GREAT WORDSMITHS GUIDE US THROUGH EACH ONE.
SO, BASICALLY, WE HAVE DIFFERENT ACTORS OF NOTE,
BLACK ACTORS, BASICALLY SAYING THE WORDS OF,
YOU KNOW,
LANGSTON HUGHES AND MAYA ANGELOU AND ZORA NEALE HURSTON,
AND WHOSE WORDS ARE BETTER THAN THOSE?
WELL, I SOMETIMES THINK, YOU KNOW,
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS DAY, AUGUST 28th,
IS SO VALUABLE FOR EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND.
BUT NOW HERE WE ARE ON AUGUST 28th, 2020,
LOOKING BACK AT THE SUMMER WHERE BLACK AMERICANS
WERE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC
AND THEN THE UPRISING AND RESPONSE
TO THE MURDERS OF GEORGE FLOYD AND BREONNA TAYLOR
AND SO MANY OTHERS,
AND WE LOST TWO OF OUR GREATEST LEADERS -- C.T. VIVIAN --
ACTUALLY THREE -- C.T. VIVIAN AND CONGRESSMAN LEWIS
AND REVEREND LOWERY
AND NOW NOVEMBER IS IN SIGHT WITH THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE
VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE OF A MAJOR PARTY,
AND IN SENATOR KAMALA HARRIS.
HOW DO YOU FRAME UP THESE EVENTS FOR PEOPLE?
I THOUGHT THAT WHAT YOU SAID IN YOUR INSTAGRAM
WHEN JOE BIDEN ANNOUNCED SENATOR HARRIS AS HIS RUNNING MATE,
YOU POSTED THIS POWERFUL STATEMENT ON INSTAGRAM,
WHICH YOU ALL CAN GO AND CHECK FOR YOURSELF.
BUT CAN YOU TELL US, NUMBER ONE, HOW YOU SUM ALL OF THIS
AND HOW YOU FELT ON THAT DAY
WHEN SENATOR HARRIS WAS ANNOUNCED?
WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE BEAUTIFUL THING
ABOUT THESE STRANGE AND IMPORTANT TIMES
IS THAT WE REALLY CAN FEEL EVERYONE KNOWS
THAT WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF HISTORY,
AND SO OFTEN IN OUR LIVES,
WE'RE GOING THROUGH IT DAY BY DAY
AND YOU DON'T REALIZE THAT YOU ARE LIVING HISTORY NOW,
BUT WE ALL KNOW -- YOU CAN TALK TO ANYONE.
THIS TIME WILL BE LONG REMEMBERED.
THIS TIME WILL BE LONG STUDIED.
AND THE QUESTION IS, WHAT LESSONS ARE WE LEARNING NOW
THAT WE CAN TAKE INTO THE FUTURE?
AND SO, I FEEL LIKE EVERY DAY OF THIS SUMMER,
EVERY DAY SINCE THIS ALL STARTED,
I FEEL A REVERENCE THAT THE DAY IS SACRED,
THAT IT IS TUMULTUOUS AND OFTEN TRAGIC,
BUT THAT THERE'S A TRIUMPH AND THAT THE NEXT DAY
WILL BRING SOMETHING NEW THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM,
BUILD UPON, TAKE STEPS BACK TO TAKE THREE STEPS FORWARD.
SO, AUGUST 28th MARKS
67 DAYS UNTIL THE ELECTION,
UNTIL NOVEMBER 3rd, AND I BELIEVE, AS YOU JUST SAID,
LOOK, IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION OF OUR TIME.
IT REALLY IS. YOU'VE CALLED IT, AVA, A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH.
WE JUST COMMEMORATED THE 100th ANNIVERSARY
OF THE 19th AMENDMENT, GIVING WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE,
RECOGNIZING THAT RIGHT WAS OFTEN BLOCKED TO BLACK WOMEN.
THAT'S WHEN I ANNOUNCED TO "OWN YOUR VOTE" CAMPAIGN
BECAUSE I WANTED TO EMPOWER BLACK WOMEN
TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE POWER OF YOUR VOTE.
AND THERE WAS A DIP IN OVERALL VOTER TURNOUT IN 2016
AND ALSO AMONG BLACK VOTERS. BUT NOT AMONG BLACK WOMEN.
BLACK WOMEN WAS THE LARGEST DEMOGRAPHIC,
THE LARGEST GROUP TO TURN OUT.
AND SO, I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO
ENCOURAGE BLACK WOMEN.
BUT BLACK WOMEN ARE THE CATALYST.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE THE LARGEST BLOCK OF VOTERS.
AMONG WHITE MEN, WHITE WOMEN,
BLACK MEN, BLACK WOMEN TURN OUT TO VOTE.
WE ARE THE MOST -- THE VOTING-EST GROUP.
AND SO, WE'RE GOING TO SHOW UP. WE ALWAYS SHOW UP.
AND SO, IT'S A REAL QUESTION OF EVERYONE ELSE.
AND SO, I HOPE THAT FOLKS
CAN TAKE THEIR CUES FROM BLACK WOMEN,
BECAUSE EVEN IN THE LAST ELECTION, WE STOOD UP,
WE, YOU KNOW, OVERWHELMING NUMBERS
AND THAT'LL HAPPEN AGAIN. IT ALWAYS HAPPENS.
WE ALWAYS GET TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE AND LEAD THE WAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, AVA,
ALWAYS FOR EVERYTHING, FOR YOUR ART AND YOUR ACTIVISM.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE FILM. REALLY MAKES ME HAPPY
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH THE FILM, "AUGUST 28th".
Man: IN 1833, AUGUST 28th FELL ON A WEDNESDAY,
AND ON THAT DAY, ENSLAVED MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN
WOULD BE LEGALLY PERMITTED
TO TAKE THEIR FIRST STEPS TOWARD FREEDOM
BECAUSE THAT WAS THE DAY THAT THE SLAVERY ABOLITION ACT
RECEIVED ROYAL ASSENT IN BRITAIN AND LAID THE GROUNDWORK
FOR THE AMERICAN EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.
RACIAL INEQUALITY
AND ANTI-BLACK RACISM ARE A LEGACY OF ENSLAVEMENT
AND HAVE BEEN RESISTED BY CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS
AND PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN JUSTICE AND DIGNITY.
FOR GENERATIONS.
THAT WORK CONTINUES.
ANNIE.
MAKE ME A GRAVE
WHERE'ER YOU WILL,
IN A LOWLY PLAIN OR A LOFTY HILL;
MAKE IT AMONG EARTH'S HOMELESS GRAVES,
BUT NOT IN A LAND WHERE MEN ARE SLAVES.
I'D SHUDDER START IF I HEARD THE BAY
OF BLOODHOUNDS SEIZING THEIR HUMAN PREY,
AND I HEARD THE CAPTIVE PLEAD IN VAIN
AS THEY BOUND AFRESH HIS GALLING CHAIN.
IF I SAW YOUNG GIRLS FROM THEIR MOTHERS ARMS
BATTERED AND SOLD FOR THEIR YOUTHFUL CHARMS,
MY EYES WOULD FLASH WITH A MOURNING FLAME,
MY CHEEKS WOULD FLUSH WITH THE SHAME.
I WOULD SLEEP, DEAR FRIENDS --
[ GRUNTS ]
...WHERE BLOATED MIGHT
CAN ROB NO MAN OF HIS DEAREST RIGHT.
[ PATS LEG ]
MY REST SHALL BECOME IN ANY GRAVE
WHERE NONE CAN CALL HIS BROTHER SLAVE.
Woman: IN 1961, AUGUST 28th FELL ON A MONDAY.
ON THIS DAY, THE LABEL THAT WOULD BECOME KNOWN
AS MOTOWN RECORDS
BEGAN ITS JOURNEY INTO HISTORY WHEN THE SONG
THAT WOULD BE THEIR FIRST NUMBER ONE BILLBOARD CHART TOPPER,
THE MARVELETTES' "PLEASE MR. POSTMAN"
BEGAN AIR PLAYS ON RADIOS ACROSS AMERICA.
LAUNCHED WITH AN $800 LOAN,
FOUNDER BERRY GORDY
AND MUSICAL ACTS LIKE THE SUPREMES, THE MIRACLES,
MARVIN GAYE, THE TEMPTATIONS, THE FOUR TOPS,
STEVIE WONDER, AND THE JACKSON 5
TOOK THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN-OWNED LABEL
FROM THE STREETS OF ITS NATIVE DETROIT
TO RECORD PLAYERS AROUND THE WORLD.
THE MOTOWN SOUND BECAME AMERICA'S MUSICAL SWEETHEART
DURING A TURBULENT POLITICAL ERA.
MOTOWN RECORDS THRIVED FOR DECADES
AND SET THE FOUNDATION FOR GENERATIONS
OF BLACK ARTISTIC EXPRESSION.
PLEASE, MR. PO-O-O-O-STMAN
WHY, IT'S BEEN A VERY LONG TIME
OH, YEAH
SINCE I HEARD FROM THAT BOYFRIEND OF MINE
THERE MUST BE SOME WORD TODAY
FROM MY BOYFRIEND SO FAR AWAY
PLEASE, MR. POSTMAN, LOOK AND SEE
IS THERE A LETTER, A LETTER FOR ME?
I'VE BEEN STANDIN' HERE WAITIN', MR. POSTMAN
KENNEDY. SO, SO PATIENTLY
FOR JUST A CARD OR JUST A LETTER
SAYIN' HE'S RETURNING HOME TO ME
[ VOLUME INCREASES ] PLEASE, MR. POSTMAN
PLEASE, MR. POSTMAN, LOOK AND SEE
OH, YEAH
IS THERE A LETTER IN YOUR BAG FOR ME?
LET ME SHOW YOU HOW IT'S DONE. PLEASE
MR. POSTMAN
WHY, IT BEEN A VERY LONG TIME
OH, YEAH
SINCE I HEARD FROM THIS BOYFRIEND OF MINE
SO MANY DAYS YOU PASSED ME BY
YOU SAW THE TEARS STANDIN' IN MY EYE
YOU WOULDN'T STOP TO MAKE ME FEEL BETTER
BY LEAVIN' ME A CARD OR A LETTER
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH MORE OF AUGUST 28TH
ON AUGUST 28TH.
Nyong'o: IN 2008,
AUGUST 28TH FELL ON A THURSDAY.
IT MARKED THE END OF A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN
THE LIKES OF WHICH THIS COUNTRY HAD NEVER SEEN.
ON THAT LATE SUMMER DAY,
HISTORY CHANGED FOREVER WHEN SENATOR BARACK OBAMA
ACCEPTED THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION
FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
ON THAT DAY, HE BECAME THE FIRST EVER AFRICAN-AMERICAN
MAJOR PARTY CANDIDATE.
HE BECAME OUR HOPE, OUR HERO, OUR GREATEST HEIGHT.
WITH HIS ELECTION, AMERICA HAS WEATHERED STORMS OF ALL KINDS,
LED BY A PRESIDENT WHOSE INTELLECT AND IMAGINATION,
GRACE AND GRIT, PASSION AND POWER
ALLOW US TO BEAR WITNESS TO THE BEST IN OURSELVES
IF ONLY WE LOOK AND SEE. -OH, SWEETIE, NOT AGAIN.
WHERE IS IT?
WHERE IS IT?
HMM?
HONEY, MOMMY NEEDS THAT TURNER.
[ GIGGLES ]
WE CAN PLAY THE GAME LATER, OKAY?
OKAY. SO NOW...
SHOW MOMMY WHERE IT IS.
GOOD GIRL!
I FOUND IT! I GOT IT!
IT'S ON.
HE'S ON!
Obama: IT SHOULD HELP US, NOT HURT US.
IT SHOULD ENSURE OPPORTUNITY NOT JUST FOR THOSE
WITH THE MOST MONEY AND INFLUENCE,
BUT FOR EVERY AMERICAN WHO'S WILLING TO WORK.
THAT'S THE PROMISE OF AMERICA,
THE IDEA THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OURSELVES,
BUT THAT WE ALSO RISE OR FALL AS ONE NATION,
THE FUNDAMENTAL BELIEF THAT I AM MY BROTHER'S KEEPER,
I AM MY SISTER'S KEEPER.
THAT'S THE PROMISE WE NEED TO KEEP.
THAT'S THE CHANGE WE NEED RIGHT NOW.
"SOLD, STOLEN.
ARRIVING ON THE NIGHTMARE, PRAYING FOR A DREAM.
HERE, ROOT YOURSELVES BESIDE ME.
I AM THE TREE PLANTED BY THE RIVER,
WHICH WILL NOT BE MOVED.
I, THE ROCK,
I THE RIVER,
I THE TREE...
YOUR PASSAGES HAVE BEEN PAID.
LIFT UP YOUR FACES, YOU HAVE A PIERCING NEED
FOR THIS BRIGHT MORNING DAWNING FOR YOU."
"HISTORY, DESPITE ITS WRENCHING PAIN,
CANNOT BE UNLIVED,
BUT IF FACED WITH COURAGE,
NEED NOT BE LIVED AGAIN.
LIFT UP YOUR EYES UPON THIS DAY BREAKING FOR YOU.
GIVE BIRTH AGAIN TO THE DREAM."
IN 1955,
AUGUST 28TH FELL ON A SUNDAY.
ON THAT DAY, 14-YEAR-OLD EMMETT TILL,
WHO HAD BEEN VISITING HIS GREAT UNCLE IN MISSISSIPPI,
WAS BRUTALLY MURDERED FOR REPORTEDLY FLIRTING
WITH A WHITE WOMAN AS HE LEFT A LOCAL STORE.
HIS KILLERS, INCLUDING THE WOMAN'S HUSBAND,
MADE YOUNG EMMETT CARRY A 75-POUND COTTON-GIN FAN
TO THE TALLAHATCHIE RIVER
AND ORDERED HIM TO TAKE OFF HIS CLOTHES.
THE TWO MEN THEN BEAT HIM NEARLY TO DEATH,
GOUGED OUT HIS EYE, SHOT HIM IN THE HEAD,
AND THEN THREW HIM,
TIED TO THE COTTON-GIN FAN WITH BARBED WIRE,
INTO THE RIVER.
THREE DAYS LATER, HIS BODY WAS RECOVERED
BUT WAS SO DISFIGURED THAT HE HAD TO BE IDENTIFIED
BY A RING ON HIS FINGER.
AUTHORITIES WANTED TO BURY THE BODY QUICKLY,
BUT EMMETT'S MOTHER, MAMIE,
DEMANDED THAT HER SON'S BODY BE SENT BACK TO CHICAGO.
AFTER SEEING HIS MUTILATED REMAINS,
WHICH ARRIVED FROM MISSISSIPPI IN A SIMPLE PINE BOX,
SHE DECIDED TO HAVE AN OPEN-CASKET FUNERAL
SO THAT THE WORLD COULD SEE WHAT RACISTS HAD DONE TO HER SON.
EMMETT'S KILLERS WERE ACQUITTED BY AN ALL-WHITE JURY
IN ONLY ONE HOUR OF DELIBERATION,
BUT HIS LIFE DID NOT END ON AUGUST 28TH.
EMMETT'S MURDER SHOWED THE WORLD THE BRUTALITY OF SEGREGATION
AND USHERED IN A NEW ERA OF DISSENT
IN THE FORM OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
[ CROW CAWS ]
[ DOG BARKS IN DISTANCE ]
"IF WE MUST DIE, LET IT NOT BE LIKE HOGS
HUNTED AND PENNED IN AN INGLORIOUS SPOT
WHILE ROUND US BARK THE MAD AND HUNGRY DOGS,
MAKING THEIR MOCK AT OUR ACCURSED LOT.
IF WE MUST DIE, O LET US NOBLY DIE,
SO THAT OUR PRECIOUS BLOOD SHALL NOT BE SHED IN VAIN;
THEN EVEN THE MONSTERS WE DEFY
SHALL BE CONSTRAINED TO HONOR US THOUGH DEAD!
O KINSMEN!
WE MUST MEET THE COMMON FOE!
THOUGH FAR OUTNUMBERED LET US SHOW US BRAVE,
AND WITH THEIR THOUSAND BLOWS DEAL ONE DEATH-BLOW!"
"WHAT THOUGH BEFORE US LIES THE OPEN GRAVE?
LIKE MEN WE'LL FACE THE MURDEROUS, COWARDLY PACK,
PRESSED TO THE WALL,
DYING,
BUT FIGHTING BACK!"
[ HINGES CREAK ]
MORE OF THE FILM "AUGUST 28TH" WHEN WE COME BACK.
Mbatha-Raw: IN 2005,
AUGUST 28TH FELL ON A SUNDAY,
AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
UNDER DARK SKIES IN LOUISIANA,
HURRICANE KATRINA REACHED CATEGORY 4 INTENSITY.
WITH 145-MILE-PER-HOUR WINDS,
HURRICANE KATRINA RUSHED ONSHORE AND BOMBARDED WATER LEVEES
THAT WERE UNPREPARED FOR A DISASTER OF SUCH VELOCITY.
THE MASSIVE HURRICANE,
THE COLLAPSE OF THE BARRIERS BUILT TO KEEP THE CITY SAFE,
AND AN INEFFECTIVE RESPONSE TO THE CATASTROPHE
RESULTED IN THE DEATHS OF MORE THAN 1,800 PEOPLE,
THE MAJORITY OF WHOM WERE AFRICAN-AMERICAN.
CONSIDERATION OF RACE AND CLASS
SIT AT THE CENTER OF THIS TRAGEDY,
WITH SEVERE IMAGES OF LOW-INCOME BLACK CITIZENS
STRANDED AND ABANDONED
IN ONE OF THE WORST DISASTERS IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
FROM THE GREAT FLOOD OF 1927
TO THE FLINT WATER CRISIS OF 2016,
AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE EXPERIENCED GREAT TURBULENCE
AND TRAGEDY IN REGARDS TO ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
THE EVENTS AROUND HURRICANE KATRINA
SPARKED A NATIONAL CONVERSATION THAT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY
ABOUT THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF ENSURING EQUAL RIGHTS
AND PROTECTIONS TO OUR FELLOW CITIZENS
OF ALL CREEDS, KINDS, AND COLORS,
ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE IN HARM'S WAY.
[ HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING ]
[ WHIRRING CONTINUES ]
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
[ GRUNTING ]
[ WHIRRING CONTINUES ]
[ WHIRRING INTENSIFIES ]
[ GRUNTING ]
[ WHIRRING INTENSIFIES ]
[ WHIRRING FADES ]
[ WATER SLOSHES ]
[ BREATHING DEEPLY ]
"I'VE KNOWN RIVERS:
I'VE KNOWN RIVERS ANCIENT AS THE WORLD
AND OLDER THAN THE FLOW OF HUMAN BLOOD IN HUMAN VEINS.
MY SOUL HAS GROWN DEEP LIKE THE RIVERS."
[ WATER SPLASHES ]
"I BATHED IN THE EUPHRATES WHEN DAWNS WERE YOUNG.
I BUILT MY HUT NEAR THE CONGO
AND IT LULLED ME TO SLEEP.
I LOOKED UPON THE NILE AND RAISED THE PYRAMIDS ABOVE IT.
I HEARD THE SINGING OF THE MISSISSIPPI
WHEN ABE LINCOLN WENT DOWN TO NEW ORLEANS,
AND I'VE SEEN ITS MUDDY BOSOM
TURN ALL GOLDEN IN THE SUNSET."
"I'VE KNOWN RIVERS:
ANCIENT, DUSKY RIVERS."
MY SOUL HAS GROWN DEEP
LIKE THE RIVERS."
Bassett: IN 1963, AUGUST 28th FELL ON A WEDNESDAY.
ON THAT DAY, 250,000 CIVIL RIGHTS SUPPORTERS
TRAVELED BY ROADWAY AND RAILWAY, ON FOOT,
AND BY AIR TO THE NATION'S CAPITAL
FOR THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON FOR JOBS AND FREEDOM,
A POLITICAL RALLY THAT WOULD BECOME
ONE OF THE LARGEST GATHERINGS
FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN UNITED STATES HISTORY.
THIS DAZZLING DEMONSTRATION OF CITIZENSHIP DEMANDED
CIVIL AND ECONOMIC RIGHTS FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
THE HISTORIC MARCH CULMINATED WITH A SPEECH
THAT WOULD BE HEARD AROUND THE WORLD.
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.'s "I HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH
PAINTED A VIBRANT PICTURE OF A BRIGHTER FUTURE
WITH AN INTENTION SO PURE AND TRUE
THAT HIS WORDS CONTINUE TO ECHO
THROUGH GENERATION AFTER GENERATION.
"I AM NOT TRAGICALLY COLORED."
"THERE IS NO GREAT SORROW DAMMED UP IN MY SOUL,
NOR LURKING BEHIND MY EYES.
I DO NOT MIND AT ALL."
"I DO NOT BELONG TO THE SOBBING SCHOOL OF NEGROHOOD
WHO MAINTAIN THAT NATURE
HAS SOMEHOW GIVEN THEM A LOWDOWN DIRTY DEAL
AND WHOSE FEELINGS ARE ALL HURT ABOUT IT."
"EVEN IN THE HELTER-SKELTER SKIRMISH THAT IS MY LIFE,
I HAVE SEEN THAT THE WORLD
IS FOR THE STRONG REGARDLESS OF A LITTLE PIGMENTATION
MORE OR LESS.
NO, I DO NOT WEEP AT THE WORLD --
I AM TOO BUSY SHARPENING MY OYSTER KNIFE."
"AT CERTAIN TIMES, I HAVE NO RACE.
I AM ME.
I DON'T BELONG TO ANY RACE OR TIME."
"I AM THE ETERNAL FEMININE WITH ITS STRING OF BEADS."
"I HAVE A STRONG SUSPICION, BUT I CAN'T BE SURE,
THAT MUCH OF WHAT PASSES AS CONSTANT LOVE
IS JUST A GOLDED-UP MOMENT WALKING IN ITS SLEEP."
"SHIPS AT A DISTANCE HAVE EVERY MAN'S WISH ON BOARD."
"SOMETIMES I FEEL DISCRIMINATED AGAINST,
BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE ME ANGRY.
NO. IT MERELY ASTONISHES ME.
HOW COULD ANYONE DENY THEMSELVES THE PLEASURE OF MY COMPANY?"
[ LAUGHS ] "IT'S BEYOND ME."
[ CHUCKLES ]
"THERE ARE YEARS THAT ASK QUESTIONS..."
"...AND YEARS THAT ANSWER."
Randolph: I HAVE THE PLEASURE TO PRESENT TO YOU
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
[ LAUGHS ]
ALL RIGHT!
ALL RIGHT!
THANKS, EVERYBODY, FOR WATCHING THIS BEAUTIFUL FILM,
"AUGUST 28TH", WITH US, AND WHEN WE COME BACK,
I'M GONNA BE TALKING TO REVEREND AL SHARPTON
ABOUT THE NEW MARCH ON WASHINGTON
HAPPENING THIS AUGUST 28th.
SOME OF US, MEANING MYSELF FOR SURE,
ARE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WHERE WE WERE ON AUGUST 28, 1963,
OR YOU LEARNED ABOUT OR HONORED THAT DAY
IN OTHER WAYS IN THE SIX DECADES SINCE THEN.
250,000 PEOPLE MARCHED ON WASHINGTON
AND WITNESSED WHAT BECAME ONE OF
THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL SPEECHES IN HISTORY,
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.'s "I HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH.
AND NOW IT'S 57 YEARS LATER TO THE DAY.
AND REVEREND AL SHARPTON, MARTIN LUTHER KING III,
AND MAJOR CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS
ARE REVIVING THIS MARCH ON WASHINGTON IN THE SAME SPIRIT,
BUT WITH A NEW AGENDA.
HI, REVEREND. GOOD TO SEE YOU.
HI. HI. GOOD TO SEE YOU.
YOU KNOW, WE ALL WATCHED YOU GIVE THAT STIRRING EULOGY
AT GEORGE FLOYD'S FUNERAL.
AND I MUST SAY, WE WERE SURPRISED
TO HEAR YOU ANNOUNCE A NEW MARCH ON WASHINGTON.
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO ANNOUNCE IT IN THAT MOMENT?
IT HAD BEEN IN THE MAKING FOR A WHILE, I UNDERSTAND.
AND YOU DECIDED TO ANNOUNCE IT
OR DID IT CLARIFY IN THAT MOMENT?
YOU KNOW, WE HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT,
MARTIN III AND I,
AND SOME OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION HEADS,
BUT WE HAD NOT PLANNED TO ANNOUNCE IT.
BUT WHEN I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EULOGY
AND KNEW THAT EVERYONE WAS WATCHING,
ALL I COULD HEAR WAS REVEREND JOSEPH LOWERY,
WHO WAS ONE OF THOSE THAT MENTORED ME, SAY,
"YOU HAVE TO SEIZE THE MOMENT." RIGHT.
AND I FELT THAT WAS THE MOMENT TO PUT OUT THERE
WE NEED TO GO BACK TO WASHINGTON IN MANY WAYS
FOR THE SAME REASONS THEY WENT 57 YEARS AGO.
THE ISSUES ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT,
THOUGH BROADLY THE SAME.
AND THE MOMENT IS DIFFERENT
'CAUSE WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.
WE HAD NO IDEA WE'D STILL BE IN ONE AUGUST 28th.
BUT IT WAS THE MOMENT TO SAY SOMETHING MUST BE DONE.
WE'VE SEEN ALL THESE CASES HAPPEN
ALL WITHIN THE LAST THREE WEEKS WHEN WE WERE STANDING THERE.
BREONNA TAYLOR, AHMAUD ARBERY, RAYSHARD BROOKS
ALL HAPPENED WITHIN THAT SPACE OF TIME.
SO YOU SEIZE THE MOMENT, AND THIS TIME WILL BE DIFFERENT
WITH MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING BEING REQUIRED
AND ALSO A VIRTUAL MARCH ONLINE.
I WAS PLANNING ON GOING AND THEN COVID HAPPENED.
I HAVE A PREEXISTING, YOU KNOW, LUNG ISSUE
FROM PNEUMONIA LAST YEAR,
SO I DON'T PLAN TO BE IN THE STREETS,
BUT I WANT TO SUPPORT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN ANY WAY THAT I CAN.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE I KNOW WHO ARE LIKE ME.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO PHYSICALLY BE THERE.
SO TELL US HOW BOTH ARE GONNA WORK.
WE HAVE SAID TO PEOPLE THAT ARE IN STATES THAT ARE ALL RIGHT,
IN TERMS OF THE COVID-19 LEVEL, TO COME.
WE TOLD PEOPLE IN HOTSPOTS
OR IN AREAS THAT HAVE A HIGHER COVID-19 LEVEL
OR THAT CAN'T COME FOR PREEXISTING CONDITIONS
TO WATCH IT VIRTUALLY
AND DO SOMETHING IN THEIR HOME STATE IF THEY WANT.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR NUMBERS, WE'RE LOOKING FOR IMPACT,
AND I THINK THAT IT IS THE RESPONSIBLE WAY.
AND I THINK EVEN OPTICALLY,
IF YOU HAVE THE FAMILIES, ALL OF THE FAMILIES --
GEORGE FLOYD'S FAMILY WILL BE THERE,
BREONNA TAYLOR'S FAMILY WILL BE THERE, RAYSHARD BROOKS',
ON AND ON ALL THE WAY BACK TO TRAYVON MARTIN'S FAMILY --
TO THINK OF THOSE FAMILIES STANDING IN THE SHADOWS
OF ABE LINCOLN... WOW.
...WHERE DR. KING AND JOHN LEWIS STOOD.
THAT SENDS THE MESSAGE OF THAT
WE STILL HAVE UNFINISHED WORK TO DO IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE HAVE UNFINISHED WORK TO DO.
BUT HAVE YOU, LIKE SO MANY OTHERS,
BEEN IMPRESSED WITH THE WAY
THE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN TO THE STREETS TO PROTEST
IN THE WAKE OF ALL OF THESE TRAGEDIES
THAT YOU JUST NAMED -- GEORGE FLOYD,
SPECIFICALLY BREONNA TAYLOR, AHMAUD?
ARE YOU IMPRESSED WITH THIS NEW GENERATION
OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE,
YOU KNOW, ALLOWED THEIR VOICES TO BE HEARD?
ABSOLUTELY IMPRESSED AND ABSOLUTELY INSPIRED BY IT,
BECAUSE THAT'S HOW THE MOVEMENTS WERE IN THOSE DAYS.
YOU HAD STUDENTS THAT WERE TAKING LUNCH COUNTERS
IN THOSE DAYS, 1963, YOU HAD WHAT BECAME SLICK,
BUT THEY WERE ORGANIC YOUNG MOVEMENTS.
THEN YOU HAD THE CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS,
DR. KING, ROY WILKINS, AND OTHERS.
SO YOU HAD THE SAME KIND OF LANDSCAPE.
AND NOW THAT I'M OLDER AND LEAD A CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION,
I WAS ONE OF THOSE YOUNG KIDS LATER THAT WOULD MARCH
BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MARCH.
SO THE DYNAMICS ARE THE SAME.
IT'S JUST A MORE CONTEMPORARY SETTING.
BUT WHAT REALLY HAS IMPRESSED ME AND INSPIRED ME, OPRAH,
IS THAT A LOT OF THEM ARE WHITE.
I'VE GONE TO SOME OF THE MARCHES
WHERE THERE WERE MORE WHITES THAN BLACKS SAYING
"BLACK LIVES MATTER."
I WILL NEVER FORGET, AND I CITED THIS IN THE EULOGY,
THAT WHEN I WENT INTO MINNEAPOLIS TO DO ONE OF THE VIGILS,
I FELT A YOUNG PERSON DO THIS TO MY SLEEVE OF MY SUIT JACKET.
AND I LOOKED DOWN AND IT WAS A YOUNG WHITE GIRL,
LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS 12 OR 13,
AND I BRACED MYSELF BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN MARCHES
WHERE I WAS CALLED OUT OF MY NAME,
AND I BRACED MYSELF TO HEAR SOME RACIAL EPITHET.
AND THIS YOUNG GIRL LOOKED AT ME AND PUT A LITTLE FIST UP
AND SAID, "NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE."
AND I ACTUALLY TEARED UP BECAUSE IT SHOWED ME
THAT AMERICA WAS GETTING THE MESSAGE
THAT THIS WAS NOT ABOUT BLACK OR WHITE.
IT WAS RIGHT AND WRONG.
IT JUST HAPPENED TO BE BLACK ARE THE ONES
THAT ARE TREATED DISPROPORTIONATELY WRONG.
YEAH, I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS A WAKE-UP CALL IN A WAY
THAT WE HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED CERTAINLY SINCE I WAS A CHILD
WATCHING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT OF THE '60s.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO, JUST FOR A FEW MOMENTS,
SOMETHING THAT MICHELLE OBAMA MENTIONED
IN HER SPEECH AT THE DNC.
SHE SAID, "IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT CAN GET WORSE, IT CAN."
I'M PARAPHRASING HERE.
IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT CAN GET WORSE, IT CAN.
AND, YOU KNOW, I HAVE THIS FEELING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE
DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT WORSE IS.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THERE'S THIS IDEA
THAT IF YOU VOTE
OR IF YOU DON'T VOTE, BY SOME PEOPLE,
THINGS WILL CONTINUE AS THEY ARE.
BUT CAN YOU GIVE US AN IDEA
OF WHAT MICHELLE WAS SPEAKING OF
WHEN SHE SAID THINGS CAN GET WORSE?
WHAT IS THE WORSE IN YOUR IMAGINATION?
IF WE DO NOT -- IF WE DO NOT USE THIS MOMENT
TO GO FROM DEMONSTRATION TO LEGISLATION
WHERE WE PASSED THE GEORGE FLOYD POLICE AND JUSTICE ACT,
WHICH HAS PASSED THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
BUT NOT EVEN BEEN INTRODUCED YET IN THE SENATE,
THE JOHN LEWIS VOTER RIGHTS BILL.
IF WE GET PAST THIS AND PEOPLE DON'T VOTE
TO PUT PEOPLE IN OFFICE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM,
THEY WILL SAY THIS WAS A SUMMER OF DISCONTENT
AND THEY WILL LOCK IN.
IT WILL CEMENT THAT THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT WITH OUR VOTES,
PURGE VOTERS, MOVE VOTING SITES.
THEY CAN HAVE POLICE THAT CAN PUT THEIR KNEES ON NECKS
AND NOT BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
THEY CAN DO THINGS WORSE. THIS WILL BECOME NORMALIZED.
AND IF IT BECOMES NORMALIZED, IT BECOMES EVEN WORSE AND WORSE.
AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK MICHELLE OBAMA'S STATEMENT
MADE IT SO POWERFUL.
WE CAN'T NORMALIZE THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR
OF ROBBING US OF OUR RIGHT TO VOTE
OR HAVING POLICE GET OUT OF LINE THAT ARE UNACCOUNTABLE,
AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT ALL POLICING,
BUT NOT EVEN MOST POLICE, BUT THOSE THAT DO.
WE MUST CHANGE LEGISLATION
SO LONG AFTER THE MARCHERS ARE GONE,
THEY KNOW THERE'S LAW AND LAW PROTECTS THE CITIZENS.
SO WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE AFTER THE MARCH?
SO, IS THE GOAL TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE
TO PHYSICALLY HIT THE STREETS AS POSSIBLE
AND THEN TO BE ONLINE?
AND WHAT IS THE OUTCOME YOU WANT TO SEE?
THEY NEED TO BE IN THE STREETS AND THEN GET INTO THEIR HOMES,
THEIR CLUBS, THEIR CHURCHES,
AND GO ONLINE AND PUSH PEOPLE OUT TO VOTE,
PUSH PEOPLE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.
BUT EVERYONE DO THEIR PART BY PUTTING PRESSURE
ON THEIR SENATORS, THEIR CONGRESSMEN,
THE CANDIDATES, THAT WE NEED LEGISLATIVE CHANGE
AND WE NEED A CULTURAL SHIFT, JUST LIKE THEY DID IN THE '60s
THAT LED TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, 1964,
THE VERY NEXT YEAR AFTER THE MARCH,
'65, THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.
WHAT JOHN LEWIS DID AND OTHERS DID, DR. KING DID,
THEY LED TO A HALF CENTURY OF REAL CONCRETE CHANGE.
AND THAT'S WHY WE MUST GO FROM BEING IN THE STREETS
TO MAKING IT HAPPEN AT THE BALLOT BOX
SO WE PUT PEOPLE THAT WILL PUT IN LEGISLATION
WHAT THEY DID AFTER THE '63 MARCH.
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THE DREAM CAN BE ADVANCED.
AMEN TO THAT.
THANK YOU, REVEREND AL SHARPTON,
FOR YOUR INSPIRATION,
FOR YOUR TIRELESS WORK OVER THE YEARS.
AND STAY SAFE OUT THERE.
STAY SAFE. GOD BLESS.
GOD BLESS.
