Hopeful and filled with the desire to make this nation live up to its creed. Juneteenth is one of the most important american holidays that you probably never heard of despite claims from President Trump that he made this interesting expression of columbus saying in real time on his part but know much like everything and circling the black experience in this country juneteenth was torn from the pages of history books used to sanitize the black experience for american consumption and white comparability juneteenth is black folks Independence Day it commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States it was on june 19th 1065 that Union Soldiers landed in Galveston Texas with news that the civil war had ended and the enslaved were finally free in 2020 this is still called a takes on a new meaning the past is repeating itself the lynchings vigilante justice and the disregard of black bodies and lives removing the images of from syrup and uncle bin from rice isnt enough the streets are calling out for freedom liberty an america that finally treats black people as equals with protest and mounting calls for justice in the wake of the deaths of george floyd a model robbery Briana Taylor ryszard brooks and thousands of black americans the message the u. S. Is clear water down legislation p. R. Campaigns from top brands of multibillion Dollar Companies and going to cut it. At the intersection of race and accountability its time we start watching the hawks if you want to know whats going on a city street you want to. Play so you like to see the prizes joyce just state and see your boys rolls royce mass graves suggests least systemic deception is to late show but she does so with some pretty tough job. Growth over on the watch of the hawks i am tired and i would be surprised and joining us now is a civil rights attorney and executive director of the Rainbow Push Coalition the one and only robert put to you am professor in black historian Brittany Lewis thank you both for coming on to bay and celebrating juneteenth with us here watching the hawks. Very cute some of those how danger you think i britney you know how youre going to be. Britney you know you know is taking on a new meaning this year with a backdrop of civil unrest calls for systemic change could this be a watershed moment in civil rights history and what changes do you see coming down the pike. You know i mean ive certainly heard i certainly hope so you know i think its such an important time and although the black community has been celebrating juneteenth for a very long time our abolition of the long calm i do think of this moment if its simply going to be a watershed moment in history due to the fact that people have had enough weve seen more confederate statues thrown into oceans weve seen uprisings go on for weeks i do think this is going to be a good week moment ive also noticed that there are a 1000000000. 00 and its that are claiming that they are going to claim that this is going to be a paid holiday like you mentioned earlier weve seen a racialized in that brands have been using removed however i dont think thats going to be enough and i think that our community the black community is going to continue to push for more not some poor form and not the solution. And robert do you agree what do you think that this era in history how do you think it plays into juneteenth. Well you know this is kind of a kairos moment that were stepping into because what were saying is america finally confronting the the racialized nature of their history for far too long weve had this sanitized Johnny Appleseed version the American History where america is always the good guy you know so the superhero movies are the heroes from campbell so what were saying now were starting to go brush back and peel back those layers and finally confronting the fact that america will built on the foundation the backbone of the genocide of the indians the subjugation of africans of this country juneteenth show juneteenth of the holiday which forces america to look like that the reason the president tried so the him and most white people didnt know about the holiday is because they didnt want to go about the holiday they dont want to think about the civil war with regard to slavery and what the Confederate States is in federal monuments weve heard this live for years and generations are to look out this window and see the still see Stone Mountain where we say to the civil war was about states rights is about a different way of life no about slavery we cornered. About slavery the flag of the confederacy the battle flag of the order Northern Virginia army is about slavery in america is finally coming to terms with their own pastoral reality. Couldnt agree more Robert States and corporations are pushing to honor juneteenth as a holiday though its been celebrated by black americans since 865 do you think this step is you know some good call it pandering or could there be more to whites recognizing this long on a hollow holiday and what what responsibility do you go to school do schools have to teaching the true history of slavery and the emancipation for black americans. Or part part of the issue is that the way that we teach black history in this country is a fairy tale we tell this very calm. Story where you know more luther king and Abraham Lincoln got together and decided to end slavery so they got on the underground railroad will frozen parts of Harriet Tubman with them and so they gave the i have a dream speech later on that they broke obama for as they were thing before i left the way that we like you 3 in this country we take out we sanitize we give the Disney Channel version of black history we go through all the warts all the bruises all the bodies that were bermed the century long battle for the enforcement of the of the rights that we should have had as human beings thats where you get to this of this point of people not knowing their true history and i think the reason juneteenth is a very genting make you get a holiday celebrity by corporations that theres a bill now to make it a federal holiday is a convenient way to hopefully taking their eyes off the ball juneteenth what they feel ordered by you in general during the civil war there are going to be no other field order that i think of the americas try to avoid which assurance feelable a special field order number 50 number 15 was promised 40 acres of the mule to africanamericans and just a conversation that is next going down below so juneteenth as nice to celebrate lets get to chairman steele order number 15 sounds like reparations might be on the horizon brittany how does americas history impact present day struggles of black americans and how can the country reconcile its past with todays demonstrations meanwhile still move forward and do you think what do you think the progress looks like can it really be reached. Shore i mean i think the most important thing is going to go back to the conversations we had earlier about reparations i think the problem here is that most americans dont understand the connection between enslavement private property and capitalism you know we talk about capitalizing capitalism you know as if its the greatest things directly connected to democracy when actually its directly connected to our inflate meaning us imperialism just to give kind of a quick recap you know many of the same fortune 500 companies that are claiming that they want you recognized as. A federal holiday of them got their start in the slave business so since enslaving humans and transporting them to a new continent was a risky and dangerous Business Insurance policies were purchased in those insurance policies were purchased through companies that exist today new york life i mean you know they sold those policies so i think its really important for us to continue to draw the connections between enslavement between private property and capitalism and to fight for the reparations that we deserve african beings that america has been in slave longer than theyve been 3 thats very important when you think about how we translate wealth in this country so i think yes the people are rising up the people have the power to make change we have not stopped i think were going to continue to see us pushing for new reforms just beyond the funding of police but reforms in terms of how we understand the u. S. As a as an entity i want to bring us there with you is how do you see politics i mean are do are there any politicians out there right now implementing reforms in their platforms in this Election Year that you say yes thats the kind of reforms were trying to get behind do you see anyone out there actually making the correct moves that would bring the reconciliation that youre talking about. Oh i think its tough and im not this is a popular opinion i know people believe that electoral politics will eventually africanamerican liberation and having more black faces in high places will be enough i push against that narrative i do but we need you know our ancestors have fought and died for centuries for our right to vote so we should engage on the National Mall on the state and the local level the only really conversations that im interested in right now i would say would be coming from the you know the city council of minneapolis thats about it this and thats the things Police Department those are the type of changes that are truly revolutionary because reform is not enough we have seen reforms everything you know all the amendments to the constitution are reforms right for people slowing the language of progress slowly trying to get the next step in black freedom and liberation and i think were out of. Point where firms are reforms are not enough theyre not lasting and theyre not going to create sustainable systemic change. And robert net net flix the c. E. O. Recently announced a 120000000. 00 donation to historically black colleges and universities people are donating in the millions to black civic organizations do you think this is just riding the wave or is this possibly an entryway to equity and accountability for big business. Well its all this a couple years ago with the me too movement as these reckonings came and people had to confront their own d their own biases and prejudices in their companies they tried to buy their way out of it by their way into some good publicity the truth is the reason people are making these donations and so little and dives into their own race is. A. B. C. Where the executives they are were told what picking caught it with regards to some of the black anchors a many of these corporations who are making these wonderful pledges the reason theyre doing it is so they dont have to confront the institutional system the greats of the day benefited from per year so instead of making your 120000000. 00 donation the black hole just a pipeline where black producers can become executives that where black content creators can have their film on your platform. When you see your eat your ego seeing state thats what we find out how many people who are in your Diversity Inclusion division who what is your number of minority so contractors that youre working with so you have to get into the real some of that work is very easy to write a check when youre a multibillion Dollar Company and then write it off as a charitable donation all your taxes quite frankly i want to know what the changes youre making will in your corporation that will allow africanamericans to get their finally get their d equal representation that the company you know you can buy your way out of you know show us and start doing rather than just trying to support cut checks i mean thats really what we want to see from everybody across the board robert thank you so much Brittney Lee Lewis thank you so much for starting this conversation off with us today always a pleasure. Thank you. All right as we go to break remember that you can also start watching the hawks on demand to the brand new portable t. V. App which is now available on all platforms yes all platforms you have no excuse not to get it so get out there and get it all right coming up we discuss the efforts to declared the federal holiday here to the states to go. What a mess this is we celebrate through here im watching the hoffs. Move the folks. Please. Please please please. Please. Please. You know what wall streets up to its usual bag of tricks now back in 2008 Global Financial crisis and remember that movie the big short and remember i was obvious that everything was going to blow up and remember how the wall street people were conspiring and then it all blew up in a few people make billions and billions of dollars because they cooked the books grabbed all that cash and as of course said you know what this same things going to happen again in 10 to 12 years and guess what here we are 12 years later. We go to work. Straight home. On july the 4th the United States of america celebrates its great day of independence the bay that we as a country cut off our chains of oppression from Great Britain broke their imperial yoke in just a few weeks fireworks will be shot into the heavens and the red white and blue will be the featured colors of every barbecue and the us away will take a day off from work and celebrate that but for our native brothers and sisters whose ancestors this countrys liberty was forcibly frust upon through disease and genocide or for black americans whose families incarceration and for servitude this country was built upon. Before the july is just another day on the calendar or worse a celebration of hypocrisy about the celebration of the 4th of july writer order an icon former slave Frederick Douglass once said i say with a sad sense of the disparity between us i am not included within the pale of glorious anniversary this 4th of july is yours not mine you may rejoice i must more fellow citizens above your National National tumultuous joy i hear the mournful wail of millions whose chains heavy and grievous yesterday are today rendered more intolerable by the jubilee shouts that reach them. Enter juneteenth the celebration of black america is true independence from the bombs of cruelty and servitude but while every american knows the history and meaning behind the celebration of the 4th of july not every american especially those who were born here and share my skin color are taught the meaning or even aware of the celebration and importance of june team well one group looking to change all of that is Steve Williams the president of the National Juneteenth observation foundation who is out today petitioning the u. S. Congress and president out of states to declare juneteenth a True National holiday he joins us now from the capital thank you so much for joining us steve. Good afternoon thank you so much for having me. Everyone happy juneteenth to you sir you know as i stated earlier today you in the National JuneteenthObservance Foundation are making your case to the u. S. Government to declare juneteenth a National Holiday what has been the reaction from lawmakers so far in trying to make this case and get this declared a federal holiday. Well the reception has been great understand that this was the 1st started by the reverend ronald. Some 25 years ago dr morris passed away in 2008 and passed a mammal to me so we just kept up. Its encouraged and the reception on capitol hill has been great they have recognized our efforts over the years away remembering that to get to america so i just want to thank my order to rectus my executive team and all the junk to pursue run into just the orders over the years and it looks like thats why. Steve 1st off i want to thank you for for your work because this is this is something that America Needs to know about juneteenth is something that shouldnt only be celebrated and recognized by africanamericans in this country what is the historical and contemporary significant directed oh im sorry go ahead no i said youre correct. And i have a question for you what do you think is the historical significance of getting the us to officially recognized as a National Holiday why is this so important. Good reason why this is for news because its balance it completes the cycle of the celebration of freedom as it. Was. Black men in a revolutionary war and work. War that we were still slaves we were slaves like new revolutionary war so that celebrates. The people the 4th of july. So that can become a nation as balanced to all these freedom celebrations and distort or it is now america really to take a step forward to be great to live up to its creed of acknowledging everybody by i think now some of the june. You know for Many Americans especially those of us who grew up in White America like myself we were never taught about juneteenth in school or to understand and celebrate its importance this this needs to change why is the celebration of juneteenth so important to the fabric of us culture and why is it so important to teach white people why they need to Pay Attention to this holiday and why its so important. Its important because it lets people know the just ignore me some out of contributions black people have made to the creation in the foundation of america to understand to struggle to understand that slavery actually ended it took place it was real it was it any of the other things which is being tried to be propagated now its important for them to understand almost everything that you see everything that you touch in america has been the fact that and contributed to by black people during slavery but specially after slavery. And how has the current political atmosphere at the protests the events of the past few weeks affected. Positively or negatively your continued efforts to get juneteenth recognised as a federal holiday do you think those events helped or hurt. Of course with some awareness and the thing that i say is that which is being aware being made aware its you technology is something that we have been living with all this time in america this is not new for us so Technology Made it more apparent made it aware to the forefront juneteenth it was is the exact perfect vehicle to bring america together under this particular distressed state circles to speak to show the good positive aspects of sides from all sides will be trying to make out with your reception at the start you to mimic what the your are a white person who was understand whats going on in american the country its made it changes your perspective about people and it is your chance to go out and meet and socialize people also seem to want to ask you what are the stuff what have been the steps involved in getting juneteenth recognizes a holiday you know you can walk people what you had walked people through what you had to do to get this you know potentially recognize it is there anything people can do to support your organization and support your efforts to to make this a federal holiday. Well. Given that like i said doc marsar did this out and we started out with the legislation back in 99. We it was a learning process and we had this cicely found out that we werent going to get anything done until we went through and we. We went through and we got 39 states are more directed nice juneteenth because there was a moratorium it was a pass or not anymore our days so we had to do that we had to. Go state by state and and get people juneteenth is there to get legislation passed in the states we had to do it soon. We had to do a legislation. It was a constant for. The momentum picked up and we are pretty sure going and we work with a different city. And they got the message to 47 states it just wont be a night corporations hunch. Steve i want to thank you so much for the hard work that you guys are doing out there once again that was Steve Williams president of the National Juneteenth observation from vision. As we sit here today and celebrate in june what comes to your mind as to how we should you know as to how this celebration has taken hold and what will and what will be like moving forward i think that the celebrations now are probably bigger and more bold than weve seen were seeing cities make proclamations across the country that have never recognized juneteenth before and i think that to your point earlier were going to see more schools actually educate people on what. I think one of the greatest things thats come out of this this year is that there will be more knowledge outside of the Africanamerican Community of why june 9th is such an important holiday what it actually means and why is to be honest why a lot of black people celebrate juneteenth and dont celebrate the 4th of july you know that one of the biggest things is look i grew up in a multicultural suburb but i have never even experienced juneteenth or even knew about it until i was in my early twentys you know hanging out with my friend rob in chicago you know and that was like the 1st time id ever even been aware that this even existed and that broke my heart finding out that this important day this important celebration for black america is its almost completely oblivious to White America times absolutely and it goes back to the white washing of American History where American History has been sanitized and dumbed down so much that a lot of the efforts of the black community a lot of the trouble strife and agony and pain that the black community has felt is not within our his. 3 books at all it isnt it is a butt but thankfully right donald trump now has made juneteenth aware for all of us. Have to bring it up because that was like one of the most like just shake my head are you really kidding me you know political moments of the year now that we havent had already many more but that was one of the worst he always found a way to top and its incredible right its truly truly blows my mind. You know i got to say you know i think the you finish it off today except thats whats important you know closing out today show you know what are your thoughts on them and what do you feel is the state of where were at it this year juneteenth should be a catalyst the protests the uprisings the level of concern by the communities and people taking to the streets i feel like this is a time that america should finally listen to those that are in the streets it makes sense weve been protesting literally these same things since june 2965 so in 2020 my expectation is that america will finally wake up and basically take the wall from its eyes and say we need to advance these changes we need to start recognizing these people we need to ensure that our constitution recognizes africanamericans as well and that we are continuing a white supremacist narrative and a white supremacist system that hurts people those perverts want to thank you so much regard that as our show for today remember everyone in this world we are not told that we are loved enough so i tell you all i love you. And im in the keep on watching all those hawks out there and have a great day and night everybody. Whats needed national will discover that it will when he believes in less than that solicit it to prevent. Her from the regular morgue youre more your partner going to move into iraq. Which is. All but us lucifer mr delicious that america that im just playing. It is not my achievement mr davies are fine if you have plans for conceit. And carried out by the people themselves how would produce or even flirted with the idea of making a film like this probably be branded as crazy. How was the sentiment during the war the soviets were brave heroes resisting the nazis thats going to change of course after the war once the cold war begins. Little people think that hollywood is a free place but really what is strictly. The business and the other side is idealists. Out with my knowledge is a call to dream manufacture which i thinks true. Its a propaganda for. 54 jets and more than 1300 military personnel are headed to heal some air force base in alaska where is that to say come on ill show you whats the reason for any type of enhanced u. S. Military presence in this area rush up. What is it suddenly about the South China Sea that makes it so that it 11000000000 barrels of oil. Take a look at this map who really owns what kind of says no it belongs to us india says no we claim that that belongs to us both of these countries have Nuclear Weapons capabilities there is reason for concern so thats why were going to drill down on this story for you today right here on the news with where you know as we always like to say we do believe by golly its time to do news again. Secret prisons and usually what comes to mind when thinking about europe however even the most prosperous can be deceived weve been busy rows on the work to view houses were. Prison was located and the only people had access to the story investigators l. Z. Uncovered the darkest dealings of the secret services but i mean. You graded no. Talk. For. Justice. Joining me every thursday on the alex salmond show and ill be speaking to guest of the world of politics or business im show business ill see you then. Hello everyone lets take a look at todays menu to see what were serving up on. You are a bachelor. An interview or a dating service too high profile female journalist for an all over the very eligible bachelor governor of new york while ignoring his nursing home scandal and in jail and of accuracy in media ways in what they call all of their being woke and they cancel culture will it affect the likes of howard stern jimmy kimmel and jimmy fallon and others who are on the left and are now saying sorry for past blackface skits and im not a racist scottie no use in line will weigh in dr anthony found she originally lied or was about the effectiveness of wearing a mask