Truth Tellers

>> HI, I'M ERIC FORD FROM 8 HERE.

DIRECTR RICHARD CANE FROM SEDGE,, MAINE, TAKES A LOOK AT THE LIFE AND WORK OF MAINE ARTIST -- SHORTLY AFTER 911 ARE, THE ARTIST -- HE UNDERTOOK A CAMPAIGN TO DO WHAT HE KNEW BEST, PAINT AND CREATE A PROJECT CALLED AMERICANS WHO TELL THE TRUTH.

NEARLY 20 YEARS AND 265 PORTRAITS LATER, THE PROJECT HAS BECOME WIDELY SHOWN, DEPICTING GREAT AMERICANS, PAST AND PRESENT.

YOU CAN WATCH TRUTH TELLERS AS WELL AS ANOTHER FILM BY DIRECTOR RICHARD CALLED I KNOW A MAN ASHLEY BRIAN STREAMING ON VERMONTPUBLIC BALLGAME AND THROUGH THE PBS APP.

ENJOY THE FILM AND THANKS FOR WATCHING.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> IN THE AMERICANS WHO TELL THE TRUTH PORTRAIT SERIES, I WAS THINKING ABOUT USING ART AS THERAPY.

>> I HAD NEVER PAINTED A PORTRAIT IN MY LIFE AND I BELIEVED ENTIRELY IN AMBIGUITY AND MYSTERY.

♪ ♪ >> YEARS AGO, I THOUGHT IF I EVER PAINT DIDACTIC ART, THAT'S THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO.

HOWEVER, YOU DON'T CHOOSE THE TIMES YOU LIVE IN.

EACH PAINTING IS NOT JUST A PAINTING.

IT'S GOT A QUOTED FROM THAT PERSON SCRATCHED INTO THE SURFACE OF THE PAINTING.

I ALMOST ALWAYS BEGIN A CONVERSATION TALKING ABOUT SOJOURNER TRUTH.

THE QUOTE SAYS NOW I HEAR TALKING ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION AND THE RIGHTS OF MAN, AND I COMES UP AND I TAKES HOLD OF THIS CONSTITUTION AND IT'S MIGHTY BIG AND I FEELS FOR MY RIGHTS, BUT THERE AIN'T ANY THERE, AND THEN I SAYS GOD, WHO AILS THIS CONSTITUTION?

AND HE SAYS TO ME SOJOURNER, THERE IS A LITTLE WEASEL IN IT.

>> SO YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING WHAT IT IS ABOUT TELLING THE TRUTH THAT I'M INTERESTED IN.

I'M GOING TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY I'M PAINTING THESE PICTURES, AND THEN WHY I THINK THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THESE PORTRAITS ARE SO IMPORTANT IN ALL OF YOUR LINES O LIVES AS WEY LIFE.

LET'S LOOK AT SOJOURNER.

IT'S SAID WE'RE GOING TO MAKE JUSTICE, BUT IT ALLOWS SLAVERY TO CONTINUE.

IT SAID WE'RE GOING TO HAVE JUSTICE, BUT IT DIDN'T GIVE ANY RIGTS TO WOMEN OR NATIVE AMERICANS OR FREE BLACK PEOPLE.

>> THE CHASING OF THAT WEASEL HAS BEEN THE WORK OF ACTIVISTS EVER SINCE THE CONSTITUTION WAS WRITTEN.

THAT TO ME IS ESSENTIAL IN UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF POWER, AND THEN THE NATURE OF HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THOSE WHO ARE MARGINALIZED LIKE SOJOURNER TRUTH TO DO THE WORK THAT MAKES THE COUNTRY HONEST.

>> AND THEN I SAY GOD, WHAT AILS THIS CONSTITUTION?

AND HE SAYS TO ME SOJOURNER, THERE'S A LITTLE WEASEL IN IT.

♪ ♪ >> I REMEMBER HOW ANGRY DAD WAS BACK WHEN THE IRAQ WAR WAS IMMINENT.

I REMEMBER HOW HARD DAD WAS TO TALK TO DURING THAT POINT BECAUSE IT WAS ALL HE COULD TALK ABOUT.

AND THEN I REMEMBER HIM PAINTING WALT WHITMAN.

>> LOVE THE EARTH, THE SUN AND THE ANIMALS, DESPISE RICHES, HATE TYRANTS, TAKE OFF YOUR HAT TO NOTHING.

>> AND IT WAS AS IF THE CLOUDS HAD PARTED.

>> WHEN I PAINTED THE FIRST PORTRAIT IN THE AMERICANS WHO TELL THE TRUTH PORTRAIT SERIES, I WAS THINKING ONE THING I COULD DO IS TRY TO DO SOMETHING POSITIVE RATHER THAN JUST KEEP TELLING PEOPLE HOW ANGRY I AM OR HOW SAD I AM.

WHY DON'T I TRY TO ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE?

WHAT I WAS WAS VERY ANGRY ABOUT WHERE THIS COUNTRY WAS GOING AS WE WERE BEING LED INTO ANOTHER WAR THAT DIDN'T NEED TO BE FOUGHT.

THE FIRST STEP WAS TO BEGIN TO SURROUND MYSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE PAST.

>> AND I HAD TO FIND SOME WAY TO TAKE THAT ENERGY AND TURN IT TO DOING SOMETHING POSITIVE.

WELL, HERE IT IS.

>> IF WE WANT HUMAN DIGNITY, WE CANNOT GET IT ON OUR KNEES.

>> I AM ABOUT TO BEGIN PAINTING A PORTRAIT OF BYRON RUSTEN, ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST IMPORTANT AND LEAST KNOWN CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS.

BYRON, HE WAS THE ORGANIZER OF THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON.

♪ ♪ >> AND IF YOU WATCH THE DOCUMENTARY FILM WORK OF THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON, THE LAST SPEAKER OF THE DAY WAS BAYARD RUSTIN.

>> THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON, THE MAN WHO ORGANIZED THIS WHOLE THING, MR. BAYARD RUSTIN.

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,.

>> THE FIRST EVENT IS THAT WE HAVE EFFECTIVE CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION, NO COMPROMISE, NO FILIBUSTER AND THAT IT INCLUDES PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS, DECENT HOUSING, INTEGRATED EDUCATION, AND THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

>> BAYARD RUSTIN, HE HAD BEEN INVOLVED WITH ALL KINDS OF ISSUES THAT MADE HIM PRETTY UNPOPULAR IN MAINSTREAM CULTURE.

HE WAS A PEACE ACTIVIST.

HE WENT TO JAIL FOR TWO YEARS WHEN HE REFUSED TO DRAFT IN WORLD WAR II.

HE WAS IN FAVOR OF ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND EQUITY, PAYING PEOPLE A DECENT WAGE FOR THEIR JOBS, HE WORKED A LOT WITH THE LABOR MOVEMENT.

HE WORKED A LOT WITH THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

SO HE WAS INVOLVED IN ALL THE MAJOR MOVEMENTS IN THIS COUNTRY AND ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT THAT TIME AND THOSE MOVEMENTS AND STILL TRUE TODAY IS THAT PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THESE VARIOUS THINGS, ECONOMIC FAIRNESS, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND PEACE WORK DON'T ALWAYS WORK WITH EACH OTHER.

AND HE SPENT A WHOLE PART OF HIS LIFE TRYING TO BRING ALL THOSE ISSUES AND PEOPLE TOGETHER, LIKE MARTIN LUTHER KING DID.

THESE WERE ALL RELATED ISSUES.

THE THING ABOUT HIM, THOUGH, WHICH MADE HIS LIFE MORE DIFFICULT THAN BALANCING ISSUES WAS THAT HE WAS GAY AT A TIME WHEN BEING GAY WAS IN MOST CIRCLES, YOU WERE CONSIDERED PERVERSE.

HE MADE NO SECRET OF IT, BUT THE LEADERS WERE AFRAID OF HIM, BECAUSE IF THEIR MOVEMENT GOT IDENTIFIED WITH BAYARD RUSTIN, IT MIGHT BRING THE WHOLE MOVEMENT DOWN.

IT WAS RUSTIN WHO SAID THIS IS A MARCH ABOUT JOBS AND FREEDOM.

THE MARCH WASN'T REALLY SO MUCH ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS AS IT WAS ABOUT ECONOMIC RIGHTS.

RUSTIN WAS MAKING THE CASE TO KING ALL ALONG THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE CIVIL RIGHTS UNTIL WE HAVE ECONOMIC RIGHTS.

BLACK PEOPLE HAVE TO GET DECENT JOBS, AND UNLESS THAT HAPPENS, CIVIL RIGHTS REALLY AREN'T GOING TO MATTER.

THE OTHER THING THAT'S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT RUSTIN AND BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT WAS HE WAS THE ONE WHO TAUGHT KING ABOUT MILITANT PEACEFUL NONVIOLENT CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE.

HE WAS A HUGE ADVOCATE OF USING NONVIOLENT CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE TO CHANGE PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOR, TO APPEAL TO THE CONSCIENCE OF THE POWER STRUCTURE.

HERE HE WAS, ONE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING'S MOST TRUSTED ADVISORS, A PERSON THEY TRIED TO KEEP IN THE BACKGROUND QUITE A BIT, BUT WAS ACTUALLY THE BRAINS BEHIND MANY OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED.

RUSTIN WHO WAS TRYING TO FIGHT FOR PIECE, FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE, FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, AND THEN LATER FOR GENDER RIGHTS AT A TIME WHEN IT WASN'T POPULAR.

>> IT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW IS THAT A LOT OF THESE RIGHTS THAT WE HAVE, THE FREEDOMS WE HAVE, THE EQUALITY THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND FEEL PROUD OF, WAS DELIVERED TO US BY GAY MEN, BY PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN IN THE COMMUNIST PARTY, BY SOCIALISTS, BY PACIFISTS, PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED IN ECONOMIC EQUALITY, PEOPLE WHO IN TERMS OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS WERE ANATHEMA.

THAT'S WHAT'S SO INCREDIBLE IS THAT IT TOOK THIS DEEP, DEEP COURAGE BY THE PEOPLE WHO WERE THE MARGINALIZED AT THE BEGINNING, THE PEOPLE WHO WERE LEFT OUT, TO ACTUALLY MAKE THE IDEALS, THE PROMISE, AND THE LANGUAGE OF THOSE FOUNDING FATHERS COME TO LIFE.

♪ ♪ >> I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU BILL, WHO IS CURRENTLY OCCUPYING THE CHASE BANK.

>> BILL McKIBBEN SAID CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE GREATEST CHALLENGE HUMANS HAVE EVER FACED.

>> BILL McKIBBEN BECAME THE KIND OF POPULAR FACE OF THIS MOVEMENT BEFORE MOST PEOPLE EVEN KNEW IT WAS A PROBLEM.

>> 30 YEARS AGO WROTE T THE ENDF NATURE AND HE WAS ALREADY FORESEEING THAT THIS WAS WHERE WE WERE GOING AND HE WAS SEEING IT IN TERMS OF POLLUTION AND HABITAT LOSS AND EXTINCTION OF SPECIES AND CLIMATE.

>> HEY, EVERYBODY.

THERE'S ABOUT 25 OF US INSIDE THE CHASE BANK, THE SINGLE BIGGEST FUNDER OF FOSSIL FUELS ON PLANET EARTH.

THEY'VE PUT $196 BILLION INTO OIL AND GAS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY DOING CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE ABOUT THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM.

IT'S FOCUSED ON THE OIL COMPANIES, AND NOW, BRING IT TO BEAR ON THE BANKS AND THE INSURANCE COMPANIES AND THE ASSET MANAGERS.

IF BANKS LIKE CHASE BANK STOPPED FUNDING THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY, THEY COULD NOT GO ON BUILDING PIPELINES.

THE POLICE HAVE JUST ARRIVED HERE AND WE WANT TO SEND A BIG MESSAGE OUT FROM HERE, EVERYBODY.

>> WE FIGHT NOT ONLY FOR OURSELVES, BUT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE.

LITERALLY 100 YEARS FROM NOW WILL BE 2120.

NONE OF US WHO ARE IN THIS ROOM WILL BE HERE, THAT'S FOR SURE, BUT WHAT WILL BE HERE WILL BE OUR FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE.

>> THIS IS NOT ABOUT REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT OR RICH OR POOR; THIS IS ABOUT HUMANITY.

>> I PAINTED YOU WITH THAT HAT THAT SAID RESIST ON IT, AND NOW, YOU'VE GOT THIS ONE WITH 10 YEARS, AND TO SEE YOU IN ALL THESE INCARNATIONS EVERY TIME, YOU SEE WHAT'S ON THE REV'S MIND TODAY.

>> THE HAT, THIS ONE IS ACTUALLY PROBABLY ONE OF THE SADDEST ONES BECAUSE IT'S OBVIOUSLY FROM THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE, WHEN THEY MADE THEIR FINDINGS, WE HAVE 12 YEARS.

SO ACTUALLY THIS IS NOW 10 YEARS.

THIS IS A WALKING COUNTDOWN, SO THAT WHEN YOU SEE ME AGAIN, I HAVE NINE YEARS.

>> SO LET ME FIRST SAY TO THE EMPLOYEES OF THIS BRANCH, WE ARE HERE NOT AS ADVERSARIES.

I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M ORIGINALLY FROM LOUISIANA, AND 14 AND A HALF YEARS AGO, ALMOST 1,900 BEAUTIFUL AMERICANS, PREDOMINANTLY BLACK PEOPLE, DROWNED IN THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT POST-KATRINA, THAT WE WOULD BE DOING THINGS BETTER THAN WHAT WE DID 15 YEARS AGO, THAT WE WOULD USE THAT TIME TO DIVEST FROM FOSSIL FUELS AND INVEST IN CLEAN ENERGY.

LISTEN, THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO MAKE MONEY.

YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS.

THIS IS NOT ONLY ABOUT EQUALITY; IT'S ABOUT EXISTENCE.

BUT IF YOU CONTINUE TO FUND PROJECTS THAT ARE LITERALLY PUTTING OUR EXISTENCE ON THE LINE, THEN YOU HAVE LEFT US NO CHOICE, THAT WE MUST PUT OUR BODIES AGAINST THE GEARS OF THE MACHINE AND BRING IT TO A GRINDING HALT.

>> WE CAN'T WIN AS A SILOED, EVEN SEGREGATED PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT.

HOW IS THIS MOVEMENT GOING TO WIN IF THEY'RE DEALING WITH THE ANTIWAR, AND IT'S ALL WHITE AND IF I GO TO IMMIGRATION, AND IT'S ALL BROWN, I GO TO SOMETHING REGARDING BLACK LIVES, AND IT'S ALL BLACK.

YOU GO TO THE GAY RIGHTS MOVEMENT, IT'S MOSTLY PEOPLE WHO ARE GAY.

I WANT A MOVEMENT THAT BREAKS DOWN THOSE SILOS, THAT BRINGS TOGETHER A MOVEMENT THAT IS ALL OF US TOGETHER.

I THINK YOU JUST REALIZE THAT YOU CAN'T LIVE FOR YOURSELF IF YOU DON'T ACT AND I WOULD TELL ANYBODY, IF YOU'RE IN A POSITION TO BE A TRUTH TELLER, MAN, TELL THAT TRUTH AND SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER.

>> YOUTH ARE STANDING UP FOR OUR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO INHERIT A STABLE AND SURVIVABLE PLANET.

>> KELSEY STARTED BEING INVOLVED IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE MOVEMENT WHEN SHE WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, TEAMED UP WITH A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ALL UNDER TENT YEARS OLD AND SUED THE U.S. GOVERNMENT UNDER THE PUBLIC TRUST DOCTRINE, THE COMMON GOOD.

>> I FEEL OLD.

I'M 23 YEARS OLD, AS AN OLDER PLAINTIFF, I CERTAINLY FEEL A RESPONSIBILITY TO LOOK OUT FOR THEIR LIVES BECAUSE THAT IS TRULY WHAT IS AT STAKE.

WE ARE ASKING THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO SEEM TO BE PUTTING GUNS TO THE FOREHEADS OF ALL YOUTH TO NOT ONLY NOT PULL THE TRIGGER BUT REMOVE YOUR WEAPON.

>> I AM SUBMITTING THIS REPORT AS MY TESTIMONY BECAUSE I DON'T WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO ME; I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO THE SCIENTISTS.

>> THE STORY OF THE PAST IS ALREADY WRITTEN, SO IT'S TIME TO MOVE ASIDE AND LET YOUNG PEOPLE WRITE THE STORY OF THE FUTURE SINCE WE'RE GOING TO BE THE ONES POST IMPACTED BY THAT STORY.

>> WE'RE ALL ON THIS CASE BECAUSE IN OUR LIFETIMES AGAIN, THE YOUNGEST IS 11, I'M THE OLDEST AT 22, AND YET, WE'RE COMING IN, TESTIFYING THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S ACTIONS IN PERPETRATING CLIMATE CHANGE HAVE PERSONALLY DONE HARM TO OUR LIVES.

>> I THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO BE ABLE TO SINK INTO THOSE FEELINGS OF SHOCK AND ANGER AND DEVASTATION BECAUSE IN A LOT OF WAYS I THINK THAT DOES PROPEL US TO ACT.

WE JUST NEED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR ACTIONS ARE GOING TO BE LONG-TERM BECAUSE THEY'RE COMING FROM A PLACE OF LOVE AND VISION.

>> YOUR CASE, THE JULIANA VERSUS UNITED STATES CASE CALLS UPON OUR GOVERNMENT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

THIS IS THE NATIONAL SECURITY, HEALTHCARE, ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND MORAL ISSUE OF OUR TIME, AND THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE THE MORAL LEADERS OF OUR TIME.

WE HAVE YOUR BACK.

WE WILL BE IN THIS FIGHT WITH YOU ALL THE WAY.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

[APPLAUSE] ♪ ♪ >> WE ARE GOING FROM MY HOME IN BROOKSVILLE TO THE DEER ISLE HIGH SCHOOL.

THEIR MAIN THING IS TO TALK WITH A BUNCH OF NINTH GRADE ART STUDENTS WHO HAVE MADE ARTWORK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.

DEER ISLE IS A PREDOMINANTLY FISHING COMMUNITY, AND THEIR LIVES AND CULTURE ARE BEING AFFECTED DIRECTLY BY CLIMATE CHANGE, PARTICULARLY BY THE WARMING OF THE GULF OF MAINE, AND WHAT'S GOING TO BE TO THE LOBSTER POPULATION, WHICH IS THE PRIMARY THING THAT IS FISHED HERE.

>> SO TELL ME ABOUT YOUR FEELING ABOUT THAT.

>> I PAINTED THE LOBSTER GOING MY WAY.

I FEEL LIKE WE'VE BEEN SEEING A DECLINE IN THE CATCH BECAUSE OF WARMING WATERS I THINK THEY'RE MOVING MORE UP THE COAST.

>> SO WHAT'S GOING ON THAT'S CAUSING THIS?

>> LOBSTERS THRIVE IN COLD WATERS AND THAT'S WHY WE HAD SUCH GOOD LOBSTER FISHING HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> HOW DOES THIS MAKE YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR OWN FUTURE IN THIS COMMUNITY?

>> WELL, I THINK NO ONE WANTS TO SEE LOBSTERS REALLY CRASH HERE BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A BIG INDUSTRY HERE.

>> AS A COMMUNITY, YOU'VE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT ALMOST EVERYTHING THAT'S IMPORTANT, AND I FIND THAT REALLY IMPRESSIVE THAT THIS IS THE WISDOM OF YOU GUYS AS A CLASS IS WAY BEYOND WHAT ANY ONE OF US COULD DO ALONE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> BECAUSE OF THE WORK I DO AS AN ARTIST AND AS AN ACTIVIST, I SPEND A LOT OF TIME ACTUALLY BEING DISAPPOINTED, BEING UPSET, BEING ANGRY, BEING SAD ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING, WHICH I CAN'T CONTROL, WISHING I COULD DO MORE, AND WHEN I GET REALLY WROUGHT UP ABOUT THAT KIND OF THING, WHERE I COME TO TAKE CARE OF MYSELF IS HERE.

I COME TO THE GARDEN, I GET MY HANDS IN THE DIRT, I DIG MY POTATOES, I HARVEST MY TOMATOES, AND I FEEL BETTER.

NOT ONLY TO MAKE A STATEMENT TO THE WORLD, BUT TO HEAL MYSELF AT THE SAME TIME.

MAYBE MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT GARDENING IS DIGGING POTATOES.

TO ME, IT'S LIKE I'M THREE YEARS OLD AGAIN ON A TREASURE HUNT.

I LOVE SPREADING THE SOIL OUT AND SEEING WHAT'S THERE.

DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH POTATOES?

>> NO.

>> I'LL TAKE SOME POTATOES.

>> I REMEMBER WHEN THERE WERE 10 PORTRAITS, AND THEN THERE WERE 20 PORTRAITS, AND THEN THERE WERE 50 PORTRAITS, AND YOU KEPT THINKING WHEN IS THIS GOING TO END?

AND IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR PEOPLE OTHER THAN DAD TO REALIZE THAT THIS WASN'T ABOUT ENDING.

>> OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH NATURE IS BASED IN THE REALITY OF WHO'S IN CHARGE HERE?

THE EARTH IS IN CHARGE, THE COSMOS IS IN CHARGE, NATURE IS IN CHARGE, WE AREN'T.

THANKS, GOODNESS OUR ATTEMPTS AT GENOCIDE OF NATIVE PEOPLE WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL, THAT ENOUGH HAVE SURVIVED AND ENOUGH HAVE SURVIVED WITH THEIR TRADITIONAL VALUES THAT THEY CAN STILL BE OUR TEACHERS.

THEIR SURVIVAL NOW HINGES ON OURS, BECAUSE WE'RE THE ONES WITH THE POWER AND THE DOMINANT ONES AND OUR DECISIONS ARE DESTROYING THE PLANET.

>> WE CANNOT LEGITIMATELY MAKE A DEMAND UNLESS WE ARE WILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CREATING A WORLD WHERE THAT DEMAND CAN BE MET.

>> WE'RE AT A MOMENT NOW WHEN THE CLIMATE MOVEMENT HAS A DIFFERENT KIND OF URGENCY TO IT.

IT CAN'T REALLY BE PUT OFF.

>> IT'S THE GALVANIZING MOMENT FOR HUMAN HISTORY THAT WE HAVE ARRIVED AT A PLACE WHERE ALL OF OUR INDIVIDUALIZED RIGHTS ARE COLLIDING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, CLIMATE CHANGE AND SURVIVAL ON THE PLANET.

WATER IS LIFE AND LIFE IS WATER.

THAT'S A CLEAR WARNING THAT IF WE DO NOT PROTECT THE WATER, THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO SURVIVE ON THE PLANET.

AND SO IF WE CAN'T SURVIVE FOR MORE THAN A FEW DAYS WITHOUT WATER, AND WE HAVE ONE OR TWO COMPANIES AROUND THE WORLD WHO OWN ALL THE WATER, THEY GET TO DECIDE WHO LIVES AND WHO DIES.

THIS WHOLE CONCEPT OF RUGGED INDIVIDUALISM, THIS MYTHOLOGY THAT'S BEEN DRIVEN INTO THE MINDS OF PEOPLE IN THE WESTERN WORLD IS ONE OF THE GREATEST LIES THAT WE'VE EVER BEEN TOLD, WHERE EVERYBODY BELIEVES THAT WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS ONLY ABOUT THE AMPLIFICATION AND THE ELEVATION OF THEMSELVES, AND SO IF WE CAN'T HAVE THAT SOLID FOUNDATION OF THIS UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLE OF EQUALITY, THAT I ONLY HAVE ENOUGH WHEN EVERYONE ELSE HAS ENOUGH.

AND SO WHAT I WANT TO CHALLENGE PEOPLE TO DO IS TO FIND THE FIRE WITHIN THEIR OWN GUT AND TO IGNITE THEIR POWER TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION BECAUSE IF WE'RE GOING TO WAIT FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO SOLVE ALL THESE PROBLEMS, WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE.

♪ ♪ >> WE WERE ALL PAINFULLY AWARE THAT THE NAME OF THE HOLIDAY COLUMBUS DAY WAS GLORIFYING THE IDEA THAT OUR PEOPLE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE WIPED OUT.

>> THESE ARE NATIVE EARRINGS AND THEY SYMBOLIZE THE FOUR DIRECTIONS OF THE COMPASS.

WHAT'S REMARKABLE IS THAT PEOPLE LIKE SHERRY MITCHELL, A LOT OF THE GREAT NATIVE LEADERS, HAVE LEARNED TO GET BEYOND THEIR OWN ANGER, REALIZING THERE'S A LARGER SIGNIFICANCE HERE.

>> THE FIRST KIND OF IMAGERY THAT I HAD FROM THE DOMINANT SOCIETY I GUESS OF HOW MY PEOPLE WERE SEEN WAS THE DISNEY MOVIE PETER PAN.

THEY FIND AN INDIAN CAMP IN NEVERLAND, AND THE INDIANS ARE ALL VERY RED, THEY HAVE BIG NOSES, THEY'RE VERY MUCH THE CARICATURE, YOU SEE THE CLASSIC STEREOTYPES OF THE PROMISCUOUS WOMAN, TIGER LILY PRINCESS TYPE OF THING.

THERE WAS A PROCIMATION WRITTEN BY THE GOVERNMENT THAT SET BOUNTIES ON THE SCALPS OF MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

HUNT THEM ALL, KILL AS MANY AS YOU CAN, BRING THEM IN.

THE PLAN WAS TO WIPE US OUT, AND THEY HAD TRADING POSTS WHERE YOU WOULD BRING YOUR FURS FOR DIFFERENT ANIMALS AND PEOPLE AND THESE WERE PEOPLE, THEY WERE COLONISTS THAT WERE OUT STARVING IN THE WINTER AND THIS PROBABLY -- THEY MAY HAVE BEEN VERY DESPERATE PEOPLE AND THIS SEEMED LIKE A GOOD ANSWER.

SO WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE AS LESS THAN HUMAN, IT MAKES IT EASY TO TREAT THEM AS LESS THAN HUMAN.

AND WHAT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT AS MUCH IS THE SECOND WAVE OF GENOCIDE.

>> TO THE AGENCIES OF THE GOVERNMENT, THEY ARE BEING RAPIDLY BROUGHT FROM THEIR STATE OF COMPARATIVE SAVAGERY AND BARBARISM TO ONE OF CIVILIZATION.

>> SO THEY HAD GOVERNMENT-RUN BOARDING SCHOOLS THAT WOULD COME AND REMOVE CHILDREN FROM FAMILIES AS YOUNG AS FIVE YEARS OLD AND THESE CHILDREN WERE PICKED UP FROM THEIR HOUSES, THEY WERE BEATEN FOR SPEAKING THEIR LANGUAGE, THEIR HAIR WAS CUT SHORT.

IT'S JUST TRAUMATIC.

SO WHAT WE ARE LEFT WITH ARE A PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL VICTIMS OF GENOCIDE.

THEY'RE STILL LIVING WITH THOSE TRAUMATIC EFFECTS.

THEY'VE HAD SOMETHING KILLED IN THEM, EVEN IF IT'S NOT THEIR PHYSICAL BODY, AND WHEN YOU SEE US AS EQUALS, AND AS HUMANS, WE CAN BETTER ADVOCATE FOR OUR RIGHTS TO CLEAN AIR AND WATER.

[APPLAUSE] >> THINK OF THE AMAZING RESILIENCE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN TREATED LIKE THAT TO GO ON LIVING, TO GO ON HOPING.

I MEAN, JUST LOOK AT WHAT PEOPLE HAVE GONE THROUGH.

AND HOPE HAS SURVIVED.

>> A FAITH KEEPER OF THE TRIBE, HE SAYS THAT YOUR SPIRITUALITY HAS TO BE IN RELATIONSHIP AND AN OUTGROWTH OF YOUR DEEPEST REALITY AND YOUR DEEPEST REALITY IS NATURE AND THAT'S WHERE YOUR SPIRITUALITY HAS TO COME FROM.

AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

THAT'S WHAT THE NATIVE PEOPLE OFFER US NOW.

THEY OFFER US A WAY TO ACTUALLY LIVE SPIRITUALLY IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE EARTH AND REALLY MEAN IT, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO MEAN IT.

♪ ♪ >> LONG BEFORE I WAS EVEN CONSCIOUS OF ANYTHING TO DO WITH WHITE PRIVILEGE, I WAS A PRODUCT OF WHITE PRIVILEGE, AND LIKE MOST PEOPLE WHO ARE, YOU'RE TOTALLY UNAWARE OF IT UNTIL YEARS LATER WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AND SAY OH, MY GOD.

ALMOST EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN MY LIFE WAS BASED ON THAT KIND OF PRIVILEGE.

BUT RATHER THAN THINKING ABOUT IT AS SOMETHING TO BE ASHAMED OF, OR, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING YOU WANT TO TIP TOE AROUND AND NOT TALK ABOUT, INSTEAD, I HAVE FOR MANY YEARS THOUGHT ABOUT IT AS A CALL TO RESPONSIBILITY.

>> OUR JOB IS TO EXCITE STUDENTS ABOUT THE WORLD, TO HELP THEM SEE THE ROLE THAT THEY CAN PLAY IN MAKING SOCIETY MORE EQUAL AND MORE JUST.

>> COLUMBUS IS THE ONE WHO BEGAN THE TRANS-ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE.

IT WAS COLUMBUS IN FEBRUARY OF 1494 WHO SENT THE FIRST ENSLAVED PEOPLE BACK TO SPAIN, AND THEN A YEAR LATER, A MASSIVE ROUNDUP OF 1,600 PEOPLE AND COLUMBUS ORDERED HIS MEN TO CHOOSE THE 500 OF THE 550 BEST SPECIMENS TO SEND BACK TO SPAIN AND TOLD HIS MEN THAT THEY COULD HELP THEMSELVES TO THE REST.

AND THEN IN 1501, THE KING AND QUEEN GAVE THE FIRST PERMIT TO COLUMBUS TO BRING ENSLAVED AFRICANS TO THE CARIBBEAN.

SO IT'S THE ORIGINAL SIN IN SO FAR AS IT'S THE BEGINNING OF EUROPEAN COLONIALISM, IT'S THE APPROPRIATION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S LAND, BUT IT'S ALSO THE BEGINNING OF THE SLAVE TRADE, AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL THAT THOSE ARE PAIRED, AND YOU CANNOT SEPARATE THOSE, AND SO IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT COLUMBUS, WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT SLAVERY AT THE SAME TIME.

>> WELL, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT ALSO WOVEN INTO THAT, THAT NATURE WAS TO BE EXPLOITED JUST LIKE THESE PEOPLE WERE TO BE EXPLOITED.

>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT, ROB, THAT HE INTRODUCED SUGARCANE.

THERE WERE ENTIRE FORESTS CUT DOWN FOR THIS CROP, AND SO THE DESTRUCTION OF NATURE AND THE DESTRUCTION OF CULTURE GO HAND IN HAND.

THE DESTRUCTION OF CULTURE AND AFRICAN CULTURE BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, IT WILL BE AFRICANS WHO WILL BE ENSLAVED TO COME AND WORK IN THE CROPS THAT COLUMBUS BROUGHT FROM EUROPE TO PLANT IN THE AMERICAS.

>> IF WE HAVE OR WANT TO HAVE A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, WHAT IS THE ROLE OF EDUCATION IN MAINTAINING DEMOCRACY?

>> IF WE HAVE A CURRICULUM THAT IS SINGING THE PRAISES OF GENERALS AND INDUSTRIALISTS AND PRESIDENTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS THROUGH WAR AND THROUGH CAPITALISM, THAT IS IMPLICITLY SENDING A MESSAGE TO STUDENTS ABOUT WHAT MATTERS IN THE WORLD.

>> TODAY, WE MAKE A CHANGE.

>> THE ENORMITY OF WHAT'S UNFOLDING AND THEY'RE NOT ENCOURAGED TO SEE THEMSELVES AS ACTING ON THAT UNLESS MILLIONS OF STUDENTS ARE NOT COMING TO SEE THEMSELVES AS ACTIVISTS FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE, THEN WE'RE DOOMED.

>> I'M AT THE VERY EARLY STAGES OF THIS PAINTING OF ZYA HNA BRYANT, ALL OVER TOWN THESE FIGURES WHO FOUGHT FOR THE RIGHT TO OWN SLAVES AND EVERYTHING THAT FOLLOWS FROM WHAT THAT MEANS WHEN YOU JUSTIFY OWNING OTHER PEOPLE AND BEING ABLE TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT WITH THEM AND EXTRACT WHATEVER YOU WANT FROM THEM FOR YOUR OWN BENEFIT.

>> IN THE SPRING OF 2016, I DID SOMETHING THAT SCARED ME, BUT SOMETHING THAT I KNEW THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE.

I WROTE A PETITION, A LETTER TO THE EDITOR AND CITY COUNCIL, CALLING FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE ROBERT E. LEE STATUE, AND THE RENAMING OF THE PARK, FORMERLY KNOWN AS ROBERT E. LEE PARK.

>> WHEN I WAS 15, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I TURN MY PAPER INTO A LETTER TO CITY COUNCIL ASKING THEM TO REMOVE THE STATUE.

>> WHEN WE LEARNED ABOUT THE CIVIL WAR, WE JUST DON'T LEARN THE FULL HISTORY.

AND SO FOR ME, THERE'S THIS TENSION BECAUSE WE SEE STATUES LIKE THIS, BUT WE DON'T SEE ANY STATUES OF ANY BLACK FIGURES.

I WAS JUST READY FOR OUR PUBLIC SPACES TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE.

>> YOU MUST HAVE GOTTEN ENORMOUS RESPONSE TO THE PETITION.

>> WE DID.

IT WENT VIRAL.

>> A QUOTE THAT'S GOING TO BE ON YOUR PORTRAIT IS YOU WERE QUITE SCARED.

WHY WAS THAT SO SCARY?

>> IT WAS SCARY BECAUSE AT FIRST AGAIN I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW BIG THE ISSUE WAS SO I THOUGHT THAT WE COULD REMOVE IT, I THOUGHT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT LOCALITIES CONTROLLED, AND SO I DIDN'T THINK THAT THIS WOULD TURN INTO A LARGER NATIONAL CONVERSATION.

IT WAS REALLY ME TRYING TO CHANGE SOMETHING IN MY OWN BACKYARD.

IF THIS GOES TO A MUSEUM, THE STORY OF CROSS BURNINGS AND ANGLO SAXON CLUBS HAVE TO BE TOLD.

SO FOR ME, IT'S A CONVERSATION ABOUT AGENCY AND WHO HAS THE POWER TO TELL THEIR OWN STORY.

>> THIS IS AN EARLIER VERSION OF AMERICANS WHO TELL THE TRUTH, WHICH IS A VERY DIFFERENT TRUTH THAN THE ONE I WANT TO TELL.

A FEW YEARS AGO, ZYAHNA DID THE SAME THING THAT MANY OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WE'VE HONORED IN AMERICANS WHO TELL THE TRUTH HAVE DONE, POINTING OUT THAT WE'RE LIVING IN A SOCIETY THAT ALLOWS THESE MESSAGES TO CONTINUE TO BE WASHED OVER US AGAIN AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN, AND OFTEN IT'S UP TO A YOUNG PERSON.

SOMEBODY HAS TO FINALLY SAY ENOUGH.

THIS HAS GOT TO CHANGE.

IF WE EVER WANT TO BE THE SOCIETY THAT WE CLAIM TO BE AND THIS IS IN THE HOMETOWN OF THOMAS JEFFERSON, UP ON THE HILL THERE IS MONTICELLO AND IT JUST REINFORCES THE HYPOCRISY THAT'S BEEN THERE FOREVER.

THERE HAVE BEEN CERTAINLY LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO OBJECTED TO THE FACT OF THOSE STATUES, BUT IT TOOK A PETITION OF A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL TO SUDDENLY CRYSTALLIZE THE MOMENT.

ONE THING I REALLY LIKE TO DO IS GET TO A POINT TOWARDS COMPLETING THE EYES MORE.

ALREADY YOU CAN SEE THE STRENGTH OF HER GAZE LOOKING AT YOU WITH SERIOUSNESS, DEEP SERIOUSNESS.

♪ ♪ >> IN ORDER TO DO WHAT SHE'S DONE AND TAKE THE HEAT THAT SHE'S HAD, SHE HAS TO HAVE THAT DEMEANOR, SHE HAS TO HAVE THAT QUALITY IN HER OF TOUGHNESS AND FIERCENESS.

>> THERE'S SOMETHING INCREDIBLE ABOU YOUNG PEOPLE.

THE CLARITY OF WHAT THEY'RE SAYING AND ASKING AND DEMANDING AND THEIR FAILURE TO FEEL COMPROMISES THAT A LOT OF ADULTS FEEL AND THE WAY THAT CAN SPUR US TO ACTION.

WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IN THE '60s, I WAS VERY MUCH UNDER THE SWAY OF THE WORDS OF REVEREND WILLIAM SLOAN COFFIN, THE PASTOR AT YALE AND A GREAT CIVIL RIGHTS AND ANTIWAR ACTIVIST FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND WAS PROSECUTED BY THIS COUNTRY FOR DOING THOSE THINGS AND HE SAID ONE TIME, WITHOUT COURAGE, THERE ARE NO OTHER VIRTUES.

ALL THE THINGS THAT WE SAY WE BELIEVE IN, COMPASSION, INTEGRITY, HONESTY, DEMOCRACY, AND EVEN SPIRITUALITY, WITHOUT COURAGE, THEY DO NOT EXIST.

IT'S THE FOUNDATIONAL THING THAT MAKES ALL OTHER THINGS OF VALUE POSSIBLE.

AND WE HAVE WITH US TODAY ZYAHNA BRYANT WHOSE PETITION SEVERAL YEARS AGO TO TAKE DOWN THESE MONUMENTS STARTED AN ONGOING DISCUSSION.

SO WE'RE GOING TO STAND ON OTHER SIDE OF HER PORTRAIT, UNVEIL IT AND HOPEFULLY, SHE'S GOING TO LIKE IT.

[APPLAUSE] ONE OF THE MAJOR GOALS OF THIS PROJECT IS JUST TO TELL THE SIMPLE TRUTH ABOUT OUR HISTORY.

WE'RE NEVER GOING TO BE THE COUNTRY WE WANT TO BE UNLESS WE TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE.

AND THIS DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU TEACH CHILDREN TO HATE THE UNITED STATES.

QUITE THE OPPOSITE.

YOU TEACH CHILDREN TO LOVE THE IDEALS OF THE UNITED STATES SO MUCH THAT THEY WON'T ALLOW THEMSELVES TO GO ON PERPETRATING THE CRIMES THAT THE COUNTRY'S BEEN COMMITTING IN DEFIANCE OF THOSE IDEALS.

WE HAVE TO BE TEACHING THE TRUTH.

♪ ♪ >> HE HAS A LOT TO GIVE BACK TO THE WORLD AND HAS HAD TO FIND HIS VOICE AND HIS WAY OF GIVING BACK AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S SO POWERFUL ABOUT AMERICANS WHO TELL THE TRUTH, AND WHERE ALL THAT ENERGY COMES FROM AND WHY IT KEEPS GOING IS BECAUSE HE'S FOUND HIS MOST AUTHENTIC WAY FOR DOING THAT, SO I THINK THAT'S A HUGE PART OF HIS SEARCH FOR MEANING IN THE WORLD, AND THEN HIS ABILITY TO ARTICULATE THAT MEANING IS IN THOSE PAINTINGS.

>> IN 1787, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A MOMENT THERE WHEN A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE SAID WHOA, WE'VE GOT SOMETHING WRONG HERE.

WE SAID EQUALITY AND JUSTICE AND FREEDOM AND WE ONLY GAVE IT TO RICH WHITE MEN.

LET'S PAINT ANOTHER PICTURE, BASICALLY.

I MEAN, IF JEFFERSON AND MADISON AND WASHINGTON HAD SAID, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GOING TO BE HONEST, WE'VE GOT TO GIVE UP OUR SLAVES, THINK HOW DIFFERENT THE PICTURE OF THIS COUNTRY WOULD APPEAR, IF THEY HAD HAD THAT COURAGE.

>> I REMOVED THE FLAG, NOT ONLY IN DEFIANCE OF THOSE WHO ENSLAVED MY ANCESTORS, BUT ALSO IN DEFIANCE OF THE OPPRESSION THAT CONTINUES AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE GLOBALLY.

>> THE TURNING POINT FOR ME WAS 2013.

THERE WERE TWO KEY THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THE SUMMER OF 2013.

ONE, THE SUPREME COURT PRETTY MUCH GUTTED THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT, AND MY HOME STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA WENT TO WORK RIGHT AWAY, TRYING TO PASS NEW LAWS TO SUPPRESS THE VOTE, AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE HAD THE MARTIN CASE, THE ACQUITTAL OF GEORGE ZIMMERMAN IN THE KILLING OF TRAYVON MARTIN AND THOSE TWO EVENTS HAPPENING AS THEY DID AT THE SAME TIME, IT FELT TO ME LIKE ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE WERE BACK IN 1954, AND THEN, OF COURSE, IN 2015, WE HAD THIS INCIDENT WHERE A YOUNG WHITE SUPREMACIST WENT FROM COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, WHERE THE STATE HAD BEEN FLYING THE CONFEDERATE FLAG AT ITS CAPITOL SINCE 1961, AND SHOT AND KILLED NINE BLACK PARISHIONERS DURING A PRAYER MEETING, D INCLUDING THE PASTERF THE CHURCH WHO WAS ALSO A STATE SENATOR WHO DAYS BEFORE BEING GUNNED DOWN IN HIS OWN CHURCH HAD SUCCEEDED IN GETTING BODY CAMERA LEGISLATION PASSED IN RESPONSE TO THE WALTER SCOTT CASE.

ANOTHER HIGH-PROFILE CASE OF AN UNARMED BLACK MAN BEING S SHOT D KILLED BY POLICE.

THERE WE WERE IN THE SUMMER OF 2015 IN THE CONTEXT OF ALL OF THIS THAT WAS HAPPENING, THE UNITED STATES FLAG WAS LOWERED TO HALF-STAFF, BUT THE CONFEDERATE FLAG IN SOUTH CAROLINA WAS STILL AT THE TOP OF ITS POLE.

AND SO WE HAD THIS WHOLE VISUAL OF HAVING HIS CASKET PROCESS THROUGH THE CAPITOL AND THERE'S THE UNITED STATES FLAG LOWERED AND THERE'S THE CONFEDERATE FLAG AT THE TOP OF THE POLE.

ALL OF THAT WAS JUST SO DEEPLY OFFENSIVE FOR ME, BUT I DECIDED IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY TO TAKE THAT DOWN, I'M WILLING TO GO TO JAIL FOR THAT.

>> MA'AM, COME DOWN OFF THE POLE.

>> WE ARE NOT WAITING ON THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO TELL US THAT OUR LIVES MATTER, AND TO REGARD US WITH A MEASURE OF HUMAN DIGNITY.

>> OPPRESSION AND VIOLENCE.

I COME TO YOU IN THE NAME OF GOD.

THIS FLAG COMES DOWN TODAY.

>> COURAGE IS REALLY NOT ABOUT THE ABSENCE OF FEAR.

I CAN ATTEST TO THAT.

COURAGE IS ABOUT THE BELIEF THAT THERE IS SOMETHIN GREATER THAN YOUR FEAR.

IT IS ABOUT STARING DOWN FEAR AND HAVING FAITH THAT WE CAN MAKE A BETTER WORLD.

[APPLAUSE] AND WE ALSO DEFINITELY DID IT IN THE SAME SPIRIT OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE THAT MARTIN LUTHER KING ARGUED THROUGH LETTER IN A BIRMINGHAM JAIL THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE HAVE TO TAKE ACTION TO CREATE A TENSION THAT FORCES A COMMUNITY THAT HAS REFUSED TO CONFRONT AN ISSUE, TO CONFRONT IT.

SO BY TAKING THE FLAG DOWN, WE FORCED THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO MAKE A DECISION WHETHER TO LEAVE THE FLAG DOWN OR RAISE IT BACK UP.

>> I JUST DON'T THINK THAT ANYTHING THAT I HAVE DONE UP TO THIS POINT IN TIME CAN BE AS DANGEROUS AS THE TYPE OF SITUATION THAT A FANLIE LOU HAMER FACED.

>> TO TELL THE TRUTH TODAY IS TO RUN THE RISK OF BEING KILLED.

I'M NOT BACKING OFF.

>> IT WAS IN THE EARLY 1960s WHEN THE GREAT CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN THIS COUNTRY REALLY GOT GOING.

SHE BECAME ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THAT MOVEMENT.

AFTER SHE HAD REGISTERED TO VOTE IN 1962, SHE WAS ARRESTED BY SOME WHITE COPS AND TAKEN TO A JAIL CELL AND THEY BEAT HER AND BEAT HER AND SHE WAS SO SORE FROM THE BEATINGS AND SO SWOLLEN THAT SHE COULDN'T LIE DOWN OR EVEN SIT DOWN.

SHE HAD TO STAND UP.

AFTER SHE STOOD LIKE THAT FOR ALMOST 12 HOURS, SHE STARTED TO SING.

FANNIE WAS A GREAT SINGER.

AND WHEN SHE STARTED TO SING, THERE WERE WOMEN WHO HAD ALSO BEEN BEATEN BY THESE COPS IN THE OTHER JAIL CELLS AND WHEN SHE STARTED TO SING, THE OTHER WOMEN SANG WITH HER.

AT THAT MOMENT SHE SAYS SHE KNEW THAT THEY COULDN'T SCARE HERE AND IF THEY WERE GOING TO GET RID OF HER, THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO KILL HER.

>> I GUESS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST TIMES FOR ME ABOUT HER IS WHEN THEY ORGANIZED THE FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN MISSISSIPPI AND THEN WERE DENIED AT THE 1964 CONVENTION.

>> MR. CHAIRMAN, AND TO THE CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE, MY NAME IS FANNIE LOU HAMER.

IF THE FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS NOT SEATED NOW, I QUESTION AMERICA.

IS THIS AMERICA, THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE?

WHERE WE HAVE TO SLEEP WITH OUR TELEPHONES OFF THE HOOK BECAUSE OUR LIVES BE THREATENED DAILY, BECAUSE WE WANT TO LIVE AS DECENT HUMAN BEINGS IN AMERICA.

>> I'M FULLY CONSCIOUS OF THE BETRAYAL OF THE IDEALS OF THE COUNTRY AND IT'S THE PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO HAVE EMBRACED THOSE IDEALS AND INSISTED THAT THEY BECOME REAL FOR THEM AND IN DOING SO, THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WHO KEEP THOSE IDEALS ALIVE.

♪ ♪ >> IT'S A VERY EXCITING THING TO SEE PORTRAITS OF JOHN LEWIS, FREDERICK DOUGLAS, AND FANNIE LOU HAMER AT MONTICELLO WHEN YOU TAKE THE WORDS OF JEFFERSON LITERALLY AND IGNORE FOR A MOMENT HIS HYPOCRISY.

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE THERE BECAUSE THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY FIGHTING THE REAL AMERICAN REVOLUTION, WHICH IS TO FIGHT AND STAND UP FOR OUR REAL IDEALS.

TO SEE THEY'RE THERE AT MONTICELLO IS VERY EXCITING FOR ME AND I HOPE FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

>> I WONDER WHERE SO MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN YOUR SERIES FOUND SUCH COURAGE.

THEY TOOK RISKS, THEY RISKED THEIR LIVES.

>> EVERY ONE OF THEM WAS BEATEN UNMERCIFULLY.

>> I LOVE THE IRONY OF THE FACT LIKE A WHITE KID LIKE ME FROM OHIO GETS HIS COURAGE FROM FREDERICK DOUGLAS OR FANNIE LOU HAMER OR JOHN LEWIS.

THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME.

AND IF YOU CONSIDER DEMOCRACY A VIRTUE, IT'S COMPLETELY APPROPRIATE TO SAY WITHOUT COURAGE, THERE IS NOT DEMOCRACY.

>> I AGREE WITH THAT.

YEAH, I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

♪ ♪ >> I TASTED THE BITTER FRUITS OF SEGREGATION AND RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND I DIDN'T LIKE IT.

I GOT IN TROUBLE.

IT WAS GOOD TROUBLE, NECESSARY TROUBLE.

>> WHEN JOHN LEWIS IN 1955 WAS 15 YEARS OLD AND GROWING UP ON A SHARECROPPER'S FARM IN ALABAMA, THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT WAS GOING ON, AND HIS FAMILY HAD A RADIO AND WHEN THE FIRST BROADCASTS WERE COMING OUT OF MONTGOMERY AND MARTIN LUTHER KING'S VOICE FROM THE DEXTER AVENUE CHURCH WAS BEING BROADCAST, YOUNG JOHN LEWIS WAS LISTENING.

>> A DEEP-SEATED BELIEF THAT DEMOCRACY -- >> AND HE WAS JUST THRILLED AND THEY COULD SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO HIM AND THEY SAID JOHN, DON'T LISTEN TO THIS IN A WAY.

DON'T STAND UP AGAINST THE MAN.

IT WILL ONLY BRING TROUBLE.

INSIDE, HE WAS THINKING, I'VE GOT TO DO THIS.

I UNDERSTAND NOW WHAT TROUBLE IS BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE GOOD TROUBLE AND I'VE GOT TO DEDICATE MY LIFE TO GETTING INTO GOOD TROUBLE.

>> BROTHER JOHN LEWIS.

[APPLAUSE] >> WE'LL MARCH TO THE SOUTH THROUGH THE STREETS OF JACKSON, THROUGH THE STREETS OF DANVILLE, THROUGH THE STREETS OF CAMBRIDGE, THROUGH THE STREETS OF BIRMINGHAM.

WE WILL MARCH WITH THE SPIRIT OF LOVE AND THE SPIRIT OF DIGNITY THAT WE HAVE SHOWN HERE TODAY, TO WAKE UP AMERICA.

WAKE UP, FOR WE CANNOT STOP AND WE WILL NOT AND CANNOT BE PATIENT.

>> TO CONTINUE THIS MARCH AND I'M SAYING THAT THIS IS AN UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY, YOU ARE ORDERED TO DISPERSE, GO HOME OR GO TO YOUR CHURCH.

>> EVERY ONE OF THEM WAS BEATEN UNMERCIFULLY TO TEACH THEM TO BE SUBSERVIENT, TO TEACH THEM THAT THEY WERE WRONG FOR STANDING UP FOR THE LEGITIMACY OF THEIR OWN HUMANITY.

>> CAN WE HAVE SOMEBODY TAKE SOMEBODY TO A DOCTOR?

>> IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE IN JUSTICE, IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE IN EQUALITY, YOU'VE GOT TO THEN ADMIRE ENORMOUSLY THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRIED THE HARDEST TO MAKE THEM REAL FOR EVERYBODY.

SO IF YOU LOVE THOSE VALUES, YOU'VE GOT TO LOVE AND ADMIRE THE PEOPLE WHO STOOD UP FOR THEM, WHO SACRIFICED, WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES AT TIMES FOR THOSE VALUES.

THEY BECOME YOUR HEROES.

THAT'S WHY WHEN I'M PAINTING THESE PORTRAITS, THEY'RE THE PEOPLE I'VE GOT TO PAINT.

THEY BECOME MY HEROES BECAUSE THEY HAVE MADE THOSE VALUES REAL.

THEY ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE ANSWERED THE CURSE OF THIS COUNTRY.

>> THOUGH I MAY NOT BE HERE WITH YOU, I URGE YOU TO ANSWER THE HIGHEST CALLING OF YOUR HEART AND STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU TRULY BELIEVE.

I HAVE DONE ALL I CAN TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE WAY OF PEACE, THE WAY OF LOVE AND NONVIOLENCE IS THE MORE EXCELLENT WAY.

SO I SAY TO YOU, WALK WITH THE WIND, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, AND LET THE SPIRIT OF PEACE AND THE POWER OF EVERLASTING LOVE BE YOUR GUIDE.

♪ ♪ ♪ WE SHALL OVERCOME ♪ WE SHALL OVERCOME >> NONVIOLENCE IS A POWERFUL AND JUST WEAPON THAT CUTS WITHOUT WOUNDING AND ENNOBLES A MAN WHO WILLS IT.

IT IS A SWORD THAT HEALS.

>> I HAVE A DREAM THAT MY FOUR LITTLE CHILDREN WILL ONE DAY LIVE IN A NATION WHERE THEY WILL NOT BE JUDGED BY THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN, BUT BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER.

I HAVE A DREAM TODAY.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO JOIN HANDS AND SING IN THE WORDS OF THE OLD NEGRO SPIRITUALS, FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST, THANK GOD ALMIGHTY WE ARE FREE AT LAST!

♪ ♪ ♪ I WILL BE FREE ♪ WE SHALL OVERCOME ♪ ONE DAY ♪ ♪ >> ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SING BACK TO ME WHAT I SING TO YOU.

>> MANY TIMES, THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD CRASHES IN.

IF WE HOPE TO HEAL OUR PLANET, WE MUST STAND IN THE SHELTER OF EACH OTHER.

♪ IN THE SHELTER ♪ SHELTER ♪ OF EACH OTHER ♪ OF EACH OTHER ♪ IN THE SHELTER ♪ IN THE SHELTER ♪ OF OUR LIVES ♪ OF OUR LIVES ♪ WE ARE OPEN ♪ OPEN ♪ WE ARE DREAMING ♪ WE ARE HOPEFUL ♪ HOPEFUL ♪ WE ARE WISE ♪ WE ARE WISE ♪ WE ARE WISE ♪ WE ARE WISE >> AS JAMES BALDWIN ONCE SAID, THE ROLE OF THE ARTIST IS TO SHOW THEIR SOCIETY WHAT NEEDS TO BE SEEN.

AND THEN HE SAID, OFTEN WHAT YOU SEE IS PAINFUL.

OFTEN WHAT YOU WILL SEE IS DEVASTATION.

YOU WILL OFTEN SEE THINGS IN YOUR SOCIETY THAT NEED TO BE FIXED, THAT NEED TO BE HEALED, AND THAT IS WHAT YOU NEED TO SHOW.

YOU NEED TO ALSO SHOW JOY, BUT MANY OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SHOW YOUR AUDIENCE, THEY WILL NOT LOVE YOU FOR IT AND THE ROOM GOT VERY QUIET.

AND THEN HE SAID THEY WILL NOT LOVE YOU, BUT IT IS NOT THEIR LOVE YOU'RE AFTER IF YOU ARE TRULY AN ARTIST.

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SHOW WHAT YOU SEE.

>> I'VE KIND OF TAKEN AS A MOTTO SOMETHING THAT ARTHUR MILLER SAYS.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT'S THE QUOTE THAT I PUT ON THIS PICTURE WHERE HE SAYS I THINK THE JOB OF THE ARTIST IS TO REMIND PEOPLE WHAT THEY'VE CHOSEN TO FORGET.

DO YOU TAKE THAT AS YOUR JOB IN A WAY?

>> YEAH, I DO.

IT'S A COMBINATION OF TELLING PEOPLE WHAT THEY'VE CHOSEN TO FORGET AND WHAT OTHERS HAVE CHOSEN FOR THEM NOT TO KNOW.

>> ALL THESE STORIES ABOUT WOODIE GUTHRIE AND THAT GREAT SONG YOU WERE SINGING, ROLL ON, I GO INTO A LOT OF SCHOOLS AS YOU ALL KNOW AND JUST LIKE REGGIE DOES.

>> AND YOU SAY TO KIDS ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT AGE, YOU SAY WHO'S WOODIE GUTHRIE, I SHOW THEM THE PAINTING, DO YOU KNOW WHO THIS IS?

AND THERE'S TOTAL SILENCE.

AND YOU SAY CAN YOU SING THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND?

AND, OF COURSE, THEY CAN SING THE FIRST THREE VERSES.

THAT'S IT.

AND I SAID WELL OKAY, COME ON, SING THE REST.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE REST?

THERE'S ANY MORE?

AND, OF COURSE, THOSE FIRST THREE VERSES ARE THE SETUP TO THE LAST VERSES, ONE BRIGHT SUNNY MORNING IN THE SHADOW OF A STEEPLE BY THE RELIEF OFFICE I SAW MY PEOPLE AS THEY STOOD HUNGRY, I STOOD THERE WONDERING IF THIS LAND WAS MADE FOR YOU AND ME.

THAT'S WHAT THE SONG WAS ABOUT, THAT "IF."

AND WHO IS THE COUNTRY REALLY FOR?

IS IT FOR YOU?

OR IS IT FOR ME?

IS IT FOR BOTH OF US?

MAYBE NOT.

AND THIS GUY JUST CAME OUT OF THE DUST BOWL OF THE OF THE DEPN AND WHEN YOU SEE THE FILMS OF THOSE PEOPLE AND THEY'RE HOLDING ON WITH ALL THAT THEY HAVE WHILE OTHERS HAVE SO MUCH, AND THAT IS A REALITY THAT IS NOT CONVEYED TO STUDENTS.

>> WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE DEPRESSION, I WAS THINKING OF DOROTHY LANG AND ALSO THINKING ABOUT HOW ART CAN DO SO MUCH.

SHE WAS, OF COURSE, A GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE DEPRESSION, AND THAT PHOTOGRAPH SHE TOOK IN THE PEA PICKERS CAMP OF THE MIGRANT MOTHER.

SHE WAS ON THE WAY SOMEWHERE ELSE, PASSED THIS ROAD THAT SAID PEA PICKERS CAMP, WENT DOWN THERE AND IT WAS RAINING, IT WAS COLD AND THESE PEOPLE WERE STARVING TO DEATH.

AND SHE STARTED TAKING PICTURES AS SHE APPROACHED THIS ONE WOMAN AND THERE WERE THESE KIDS UNSURE ABOUT WHAT TO DO AND THEY CAME UP AND HUGGED THEIR MOTHER.

AND THEN BOOM, SHE HAD HER PICTURE.

AND SHE SENT IT OUT BACK TO ROY STRIKER AT THE SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, AND THEN HE GOT IT PUBLISHED.

THAT CAMP WAS FLOODED WITH BLANKETS, FOOD, ONE IMAGE CAN MAKE SUCH A DIFFERENCE.

THAT'S WHAT THE ARTS CAN DO.

AND THAT'S -- IN MY LITTLE WAY, PAINTING THESE PICTURES WAS A NECESSITY TO SAVE MYSELF.

THEN THE REST JUST HAPPENED.

AND I KNOW FROM TALKING TO YOU THAT THIS SINGING IS THE SAME THING FOR YOU.

♪ THIS JOY THAT I HAVE ♪ THE WORLD DIDN'T GIVE IT TO ME ♪ ♪ THIS JOY THAT I HAVE ♪ THE WORLD DIDN'T GIVE IT TO ME ♪ ♪ OH, THIS JOY ♪ THAT I HAVE ♪ THE WORLD DIDN'T GIVE IT TO ME ♪ ♪ OH, THE WORLD DIDN'T GIVE IT SO THE WORLD CAN'T TAKE IT AWAY ♪ [APPLAUSE] >> ALMOST EVERYTHING MORNING WE WOULD WALK UP THE ROAD AND WALK AROUND THE CEMETERY AND I WOULD READ THE INSCRIPTIONS AND THE MARKERS THERE, BUT THERE WAS ONE THAT ALWAYS PERPLEXED ME.

ALL IT SAID ON THE STONE BESIDES THE DATES WAS "HE TRIED."

AND I REMEMBER THINKING WELL, THAT'S KIND OF SAD AND THEN MORE RECENTLY AS I THINK ABOUT MY OWN MORTALITY, I THOUGHT DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THAT.

I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE BEHIND THE THOUGHT THAT I TRIED.

EVERY ONE OF THE PEOPLE I PAINTED IS LIKE A LIFE BUOY BEING TOSSED TO ME.

PERIODICALLY I GOT CLOSE TO DESPAIR.

I WONDER WHAT I'M DOING, WHY I'M DOING IT.

IF IT'S MAKING ANY DIFFERENCE.

WHAT I DO AT THAT POINT IS FIND SOMEBODY ELSE TO PAINT AND I HANG ON TO THAT PERSON.

I RIDE THEIR COURAGE AND CARRY MYSELF BACK TO THE SURFACE.

>> MARCH IN THE SPIRIT OF LOVE.

>> THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE.

>> TO GO TO JAIL TOGETHER, TO STAND UP FOR FREEDOM TOGETHER.

>> WHAT DO I LEAVE BEHIND?

I DON'T KNOW.

THE VICTORY IS IN THE STRUGGLE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET THERE AND I'M NOT GOING TO GET THERE.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THERE.

BUT THE FACT THAT WE'RE TRYING, THE VICTORY IS IN THE STRUGGLE.

I MEAN, IF WE GIVE UP, WHAT CAN BE SAID ABOUT US?

WHAT CAN WE SAY IF WE GIVE UP?

WE CAN'T.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT AND WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO GIVE UP.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT PRIVILEGE.

WE'VE GOT TO FACE THE TRUTH, BUT THERE'S ALSO IN A SENSE THERE'S REAL HOPE IN FACING THAT TRUTH BECAUSE THE STORY IS FULL OF MODELS OF SUCH COURAGE, SUCH PERSISTENCE, SUCH IDEALISM, THAT IF WE CAN ONLY LIVE LIKE THAT, TELL OURSELVES THAT THAT'S HOW WE KNOW WHO WE ARE, BY READING THIS HISTORY, KNOWING THESE STORIES, IDENTIFYING WITH THESE PEOPLE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE BEST OF THIS COUNTRY IS.

♪ ♪ ♪ FIVE YEARS NOW GONE ♪ AND HERE WE STAND ♪ IN RUINS ON THIS TROUBLED LAND ♪ ♪ YOUNGER HEARTS LIE DEAD IN FIELDS OF SHAME ♪ ♪ THEIR LOVED ONES WEEP ♪ YET NOTHING'S GAINED ♪ SOME SAY THIS IS A RIGHT WE CHOOSE ♪ ♪ WHEN GOD DECREES WE SHOULD NOT LOSE ♪ ♪ SO AS WE FIGHT TO MAKE A STAND ♪ ♪ THE BLOOD POURS OUT ACROSS THE LAND ♪ ♪ SO SING IT LOUDLY ♪ AS YOU GO ♪ A SAD REFRAIN WE'VE COME TO KNOW ♪ ♪ OUR HEARTS REMIND US ONCE AGAIN ♪ ♪ VIOLENCE IS ♪ A BITTER FRIEND ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ NO MORE ♪ ♪ NO MORE ♪ STORIES MUST BE TOLD ♪ AND SINCE WE'VE ALL BEEN BOUGHT AND SOLD ♪ ♪ IT'S UP TO US TO SHIFT THE FRAME ♪ ♪ SO FUTURE HEARTS ♪ WON'T BEAR THIS PAIN ♪ ♪ >> VERMONT PUBLIC PARTNERING WITH LOCAL FILMMAKERS TO BRING YOU MORE STORIES MADE HERE.

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