Message Magazine is the oldest
and most widely circulated
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spiritual journal rooted in
the African-American Community
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Stay tuned to meet its first
female editor and hear her story
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My name is Yvonne Lewis,
and you're watching Urban Report
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Hello and
welcome to Urban Report
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My guest today is
Carmela Monk Crawford
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Message Magazine's
first female editor...
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Welcome to Urban
Report Carmela...
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Thank you... so nice to be here
Yeah... I'm so glad you're here
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I'm glad to be here.
We've talked on the phone
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and I've never had the privilege
of meeting you... and so now
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to put a face with
the voice it's so nice...
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so, thank you for
coming. I'm glad...
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So now, tell us a bit
first of all about who you are
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because you're the
first female editor-in-chief
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of Message
Magazine and a lot of our
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viewers are familiar with
Message... and after today...
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we'll have many more
who will be familiar...
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by the grace of
God... tell us who you are...
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Where did you come
from? Where did I come from...
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that's the hardest question
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for most people,
I think that's easy
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but I'm a third-generation
Seventh-day Adventist
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and I say that because
you grow up in the Church
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and you feel
like you are really...
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you have a home in the Church
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even if you don't
have a geographical home...
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That's true...
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...and so I grew up as a PK
Preacher's Kid and an army brat
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and moved...
attended 11 different schools
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by the time I graduated
from High School and 12th Grade
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so, I'm a product
of the Adventist Church
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and this is my
family and my home
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so, I grew up... like
I said... in the Church
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my father was a
Seventh-day Adventist Chaplain
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in the military and the
Church work as a Pastor and
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Administrator and I say
that because he was also a
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predecessor of
my Message Magazine
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because he was an
editor of Message Magazine
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one a long line of distinguished
and intelligent men
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who are about spreading the
gospel... in this generation
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and here I am... at
the end of the line.
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Yes, look at that...
you're kind of continuing the
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legacy so to
speak of your dad...
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Yes, well and not just my father
it's a long line, you know,
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Message Magazine was
started back in 1898...
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The Gospel Herald
was it's predecessor...
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and James Edson White started...
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and I think it's interesting
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and it's nice to go back... not
just because of history's sake
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but because of the
radical nature of that move then
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was to take the Word
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to people who
did not have the Word
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who did not or may not
have had the educational skills
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to read for themselves...
to provide a complete
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and comprehensive
life-changing message...
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that was about everything
from your diet, your health,
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your education, your
job and vocational skills
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to the very message of the
gospel and God's call and reach
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to people who did
not know about that
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and so there was a
long line, a long lineage,
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it's not just my
father but it goes back
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into the roots of our Faith
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Yes... so let me ask you this
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and we'll come back
to your background...
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because we'll interweave
that... but with Message...
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so, has it morphed into
this magazine that emphasizes
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education, health and lifestyle
or did it start out... that way
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with James Edson White?
Yes, that's the amazing thing
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of it... I think
people look at it,
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this is a unique magazine
in that... you have so many
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products out there on the
Market these days... you know...
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they say, somewhere
between 600-700 new magazines
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on the market every year
of course all of them don't
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make it... we've
been around for 115 years
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but that amazing blend
because... we recognize
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that Jesus walked
there, His was a comprehensive
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gospel... now we need to
let people know that, you know,
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to give the accurate
impression of who the Father was
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and what He wanted for people
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but to help them to
live that life abundantly
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and Message... from
the start... was about that
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and Message
today is about that...
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Abundant living...
The abundant life...
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That's right How
wonderful.. how wonderful...
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it's interesting
because you say that you went to
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eleven schools...
different schools before you
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graduated... High School...
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High School... That's right...
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I thought I was bad... I
went to 4 different High Schools
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but you've trumped
me... so now, how did...
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the people
skills that you learned
00:05:05.37\00:05:08.57
going from school to school,
how are you able to apply that
00:05:08.60\00:05:13.04
to what you do now?
You know that is the trick
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and I think... I
have so much sympathy
00:05:16.38\00:05:18.15
for kids today...
trying to learn to fit in...
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trying to be a part of the group
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and it's so important
today, because the enemies...
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if you can call it like that...
the bullies that you have
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at school... you don't
just leave them at school
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the friends that you have
at school and that environment
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you just don't
leave it at school
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you take it home as
part of your life...
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I can imagine how my
life would be different
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if I grew up
now... but definitely...
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you go from school to
school and place to place
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you get to learn people and you
get to know different cultures
00:05:46.78\00:05:50.68
not just your
culture everybody's culture
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and you get to
know where people are
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and I have to
say... that is one...
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I enjoy meeting people,
I not only enjoy talking
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about myself but I enjoy finding
about what other people are into
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what their interests
are, that has always helped me
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to keep my mind
and my perspective open
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so, at what point did
you realize that you wanted
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to go into
Publishing? Ah... as a child...
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I wanted to be a writer...
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and that was...
that pre-dated even
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my father's calling...
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and my father used to say to
me "Oh, well he heard that I was
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messing around" he
says, "Well, you know
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I always wanted to be a writer
I always wanted to do that. "
00:06:32.29\00:06:34.69
More than anything,
I think I am a product
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just like many
people in this generation
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we grew up hearing,
and grew up studying...
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and know that the
Lord is coming soon...
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and we wanted to...
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want to use our
gifts and our talents
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and our experience
to do whatever we can...
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to tell people... to
do whatever we can...
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to glorify God... and I think...
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what we are seeing now
is part of that movement...
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and it shows up in
so many different ways
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and I always wanted
to do what I could do
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to spread the gospel
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that was a little
non-traditional at that point
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thinking of it at that point...
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but that's what I wanted,
but along the way, you know
00:07:18.90\00:07:21.30
the Lord had me take a kind
of a zig zag criss-cross journey
00:07:21.34\00:07:25.11
it wasn't just Publishing,
it wasn't just Newspaper,
00:07:25.14\00:07:28.51
Magazine... I left
and went into Law...
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I practiced Law
for 12 or 13 years
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I'm still a
licensed attorney Oh...
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...and you know, the Lord
has His way of preparing us
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in a way that He wants...
And how interesting that... you
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I always talk on
this program about
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the Plan...
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the Divine Plan that God
has for us and... you know
00:07:50.70\00:07:54.50
many times we might take
another path... but we end up
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where He wants us to be...
and while we were out there...
00:07:59.11\00:08:03.65
taking that other path...
we got skills that we could
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apply to the Divine Plan...
because it's all part of the
00:08:07.75\00:08:11.79
Divine Plan... so, you
were an attorney for...
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What kind of attorney
were you? Well, when I left
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Message Magazine back in
the 90s I wanted to go to school
00:08:17.36\00:08:23.47
to learn how to
advocate for children...
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Hmmm... ...
which off of the bat...
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does not sound like
it makes any money...
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and it does
not... off the bat...
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you know... I wanted
to advocate for children
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you know, I remember a
story, I was so frustrated
00:08:37.21\00:08:39.51
at that point, because I
was an editor for Message
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in Hagerstown,
Maryland... a small town...
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and we were joking about
being in the country environment
00:08:45.35\00:08:47.59
and talking to
that urban audience
00:08:47.62\00:08:49.56
but that's where I was.
I was reading a story in
00:08:49.59\00:08:51.99
Time Magazine... beautiful...
beautifully written piece
00:08:52.03\00:08:56.16
by this reporter who was talking
about the plight of children
00:08:56.20\00:09:00.34
in many of our cities
today, and he had this story
00:09:00.37\00:09:03.77
of this child who was on
the swing set in the playground
00:09:03.81\00:09:07.11
just there...
everybody was crowded...
00:09:07.14\00:09:09.41
people playing...
running and everything
00:09:09.44\00:09:11.61
the cops were getting
ready to you know... start to...
00:09:11.65\00:09:14.78
like they say on the
street "trying to swoop in"
00:09:14.82\00:09:16.62
and upon seeing
that... there were older kids
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on the playground.. teenagers...
00:09:21.56\00:09:22.92
who had drugs on them...
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stuffed them in this child's
pocket... because he was young
00:09:25.29\00:09:28.66
he was under-age...
he was sitting there...
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on the swing... he
didn't know what was going on
00:09:30.20\00:09:32.67
people ran... they
left... for whatever reason,
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this child got picked
up and taken in, collared,
00:09:36.24\00:09:39.71
for, you know, for
having drugs on him...
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and the writer's point that day
is, you know... just remember,
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or just think of
what would happen...
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if on that day there
was not someone there
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to state his case...
someone there who was not tired
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not jaded by the
system... not willing to say,
00:09:55.52\00:09:59.29
"Oh, this is what happened,
this is what these types of
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children do" or "You
can't believe their story"
00:10:02.00\00:10:04.50
"You can't know
what's happening to them. "
00:10:04.53\00:10:06.97
What would happen to that child
00:10:07.00\00:10:09.27
had there not been
somebody to stand in for them?
00:10:09.30\00:10:12.24
and that story
changed my life...
00:10:12.27\00:10:14.08
it made me want to leave my desk
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in the quietude and the
solitude of being there...
00:10:15.91\00:10:19.05
tucked away in a safe
environment and get out there
00:10:19.08\00:10:22.65
and help... many people
most of all... for children
00:10:22.68\00:10:26.92
and I went into Juvenile
Law, I practiced Criminal Law
00:10:26.96\00:10:31.16
I defended both children
and adults before the courts
00:10:31.19\00:10:35.56
who were there
on criminal charges,
00:10:35.60\00:10:37.43
How interesting is
that! So, you read an article
00:10:37.47\00:10:41.97
that literally changed your life
It literally changed my life.
00:10:42.00\00:10:45.47
It took you from one focus
00:10:45.51\00:10:48.08
to another...
00:10:48.11\00:10:49.48
That's right...
That is tremendous...
00:10:49.51\00:10:52.15
that is tremendous... How
did you... once you decided
00:10:52.18\00:10:57.35
made that decision to leave...
how long of a process was that?
00:10:57.39\00:11:01.99
Well, you know, I left...
I had to apply to law school
00:11:02.02\00:11:05.06
got to get
in... go to school and
00:11:05.09\00:11:07.00
take the Bar and all that
sort of thing, so you know
00:11:07.03\00:11:10.27
about two or three
years three years obviously...
00:11:10.30\00:11:12.80
three or four years
before I could practice
00:11:12.83\00:11:15.44
and I went and I
started practicing
00:11:15.47\00:11:17.24
and advocating for
children, particularly children
00:11:17.27\00:11:20.58
at that point who were
said to be abused or neglected
00:11:20.61\00:11:25.15
I did some work in
school, educational neglect,
00:11:25.18\00:11:28.88
it was very interesting,
I had a story... a case once
00:11:28.92\00:11:32.12
sometimes, I go back and forth
in the middle of the story OK
00:11:32.15\00:11:34.69
Yeah, yeah... I had
a case once in which
00:11:34.72\00:11:36.96
a little boy was
not going to school...
00:11:36.99\00:11:39.53
and they were
trying to figure out why
00:11:39.56\00:11:42.00
was he not going to school...
a lot of times you go in...
00:11:42.03\00:11:45.33
I know that in your background
that you're going to the home
00:11:45.37\00:11:48.60
and you see what's
happening in the home
00:11:48.64\00:11:50.27
Hmmmmmm... ...
and at that point,
00:11:50.31\00:11:51.64
you cannot write somebody
off, because you realize
00:11:51.67\00:11:54.38
I didn't have to
play those kinds of cards
00:11:54.41\00:11:56.31
I had better cards to play,
or my context was different
00:11:56.34\00:12:01.08
than this... and so
you are going to a home
00:12:01.12\00:12:03.15
and you see what's
happening, and this little boy
00:12:03.18\00:12:05.22
we tried to figure out
why is it that he did not
00:12:05.25\00:12:07.46
want to go to school, he
didn't want to go to school
00:12:07.49\00:12:10.76
because when he left
when he left from his mother
00:12:10.79\00:12:14.00
his mother would be
beaten by his father,
00:12:14.03\00:12:17.50
Oh... ... and for him,
00:12:17.53\00:12:19.27
in his little mind,
as long as he was there
00:12:19.30\00:12:22.10
he could protect
her... and so he would miss
00:12:22.14\00:12:24.87
as much school
under whatever threat
00:12:24.91\00:12:27.44
of suspension
and detention he had
00:12:27.48\00:12:29.94
he would miss as much
as he could to be there
00:12:29.98\00:12:33.08
to protect his mother...
but until somebody looked at
00:12:33.11\00:12:36.69
what was
happening... Yes... yes...
00:12:36.72\00:12:38.65
...beyond the
surface of what was happening
00:12:38.69\00:12:40.62
beyond what was said,
you know, to be his problem
00:12:40.66\00:12:44.69
then... that's only how we
can look and address the problem
00:12:44.73\00:12:49.53
What a great point that
is, you know, not just looking
00:12:49.56\00:12:54.60
at the surface issue,
at the manifest issue,
00:12:54.64\00:12:57.41
but looking at the latent issue,
what is underneath all that
00:12:57.44\00:13:01.21
what's behind all
that... so many times,
00:13:01.24\00:13:03.48
you and I were talking
just prior to the taping
00:13:03.51\00:13:06.18
about the context, so many times
00:13:06.21\00:13:08.92
we use statistics
without the context
00:13:08.95\00:13:11.89
That's correct... And
so it just takes things
00:13:11.92\00:13:14.89
to a different
place... but God put you in that
00:13:14.92\00:13:17.89
position... to go
beneath the surface
00:13:17.93\00:13:21.13
and to be an advocate,
and to help the least of these
00:13:21.16\00:13:24.53
Absolutely... ...
those who couldn't
00:13:24.57\00:13:26.00
help themselves. I
like how you put that...
00:13:26.03\00:13:27.60
"the least of these"
because this is an extension
00:13:27.64\00:13:29.94
of our work... as Christians...
00:13:29.97\00:13:31.67
this is an extension of
our work as people who believe
00:13:31.71\00:13:36.88
in justice and the active
and transforming love of Christ
00:13:36.91\00:13:42.08
Hmmmm... hmmmm...
We have to be in there
00:13:42.12\00:13:43.39
we have to help
people, it's disturbing to see
00:13:43.42\00:13:46.12
the statistics
that you would see
00:13:46.15\00:13:48.02
I was telling you, I was
looking at that, you know,
00:13:48.06\00:13:50.99
the statistics of
African-American men in prison
00:13:51.03\00:13:53.93
having worked in the
criminal justice system
00:13:53.96\00:13:56.70
it is important to
me... to advocate to people
00:13:56.73\00:14:02.10
across the
board... Hmmm... hmmmm...
00:14:02.14\00:14:03.61
the need to recognize
your Constitutional Rights
00:14:03.64\00:14:07.64
and want to see
those Constitutional Rights
00:14:07.68\00:14:10.38
enforced across
the board fairly...
00:14:10.41\00:14:13.68
when it is unfairly applied...
when we're looking the other way
00:14:13.72\00:14:20.26
when the police
stop our children
00:14:20.29\00:14:22.46
when we look at the other way,
when children... many of whom...
00:14:22.49\00:14:26.83
are colored... in the classroom
and you have zero tolerance
00:14:26.86\00:14:30.73
policies... when these policies
affect children of color
00:14:30.77\00:14:34.24
in a different
way we cannot sit back
00:14:34.27\00:14:37.81
and say, "That's them... "
00:14:37.84\00:14:39.81
This is what they do... we
have to be active advocates
00:14:39.84\00:14:45.85
and God calls us to do that,
and that's what I want to do.
00:14:45.88\00:14:50.05
That's tremendous, that
is absolutely tremendous
00:14:50.09\00:14:55.09
really because so often
we can get our nice jobs
00:14:55.12\00:15:00.13
and we can forget...
those who are really struggling
00:15:00.16\00:15:05.13
really have situations
misapplied... is the word
00:15:05.17\00:15:11.81
and so to go back and to
say, "You know what, I've got to
00:15:11.84\00:15:16.61
reach back and I've got
to help... because I want
00:15:16.64\00:15:19.95
things to be fair. "
It's not about giving
00:15:19.98\00:15:22.45
inner-city kids an
advantage over anybody else,
00:15:22.48\00:15:27.26
it's just leveling
the playing field...
00:15:27.29\00:15:29.12
that's what we're trying to
do. Or giving somebody a shot,
00:15:29.16\00:15:32.26
giving somebody a
chance... Yes... yes...
00:15:32.29\00:15:34.73
I was talking to someone
else, they were asking me
00:15:34.76\00:15:40.10
about my work as a
criminal defense attorney
00:15:40.14\00:15:44.11
and they were asking me about...
you're going in to advocate
00:15:44.14\00:15:48.28
for people... I'm
not advocating as much
00:15:48.31\00:15:50.75
for the person... as I am
for fairness in the system
00:15:50.78\00:15:53.45
Hmmmmm... ... and
for our children and
00:15:53.48\00:15:57.45
for many communities...
not just African-American
00:15:57.49\00:16:00.39
Communities...
communities in which
00:16:00.42\00:16:02.49
people do not
have a lot of money...
00:16:02.52\00:16:04.49
their educational
resources are very limited...
00:16:04.53\00:16:08.83
Yes... ...
educational opportunities
00:16:08.86\00:16:11.43
are very limited...
yet... we have so many things
00:16:11.47\00:16:15.04
that we can offer in a
community in which there are
00:16:15.07\00:16:18.17
limited opportunities...
you and I were talking about
00:16:18.21\00:16:22.38
the background where you
know about the health message
00:16:22.41\00:16:26.48
just something as simple as
that can change the community.
00:16:26.51\00:16:30.29
I had the opportunity to
be in California and interview
00:16:30.32\00:16:33.79
a man by the name of Ron
Finley when you get a chance
00:16:33.82\00:16:37.23
you can look him up on Google
and look at his talk on Ted Talk
00:16:37.26\00:16:41.26
this man... they call
him the guerilla gardener
00:16:41.30\00:16:44.70
and he has... in his
little home beautiful bungalow
00:16:44.73\00:16:49.60
in South Central Los
Angeles and it's surrounded by a
00:16:49.64\00:16:54.51
cement block fence all
around with barbed wire
00:16:54.54\00:17:00.08
looked like a terrorist den...
a hideout... a compound...
00:17:00.12\00:17:05.05
you know, and when
you go inside the compound
00:17:05.09\00:17:08.76
you realize this man is in there
and he has a nectarine tree
00:17:08.79\00:17:14.00
growing out of a bucket...
00:17:14.00\00:17:16.00
the median along the
street and the sidewalk there
00:17:16.03\00:17:20.04
that belongs to the city,
that he is responsible for
00:17:20.07\00:17:23.94
maintaining... he's taken...
he's planted strawberries,
00:17:23.97\00:17:27.78
Swiss chard, greens and
00:17:27.81\00:17:30.11
he has a banana tree
00:17:30.15\00:17:32.38
and he calls himself
00:17:32.41\00:17:33.65
the guerilla gardner he says,
"You know I'm OK with that term"
00:17:33.68\00:17:36.25
He says, "You know, it's funny
that they would call me that. "
00:17:36.28\00:17:38.92
He says, "You look around
in our community right now
00:17:38.95\00:17:42.09
and there are stores and medical
supply places where they have
00:17:42.12\00:17:47.73
scooters and wheelchairs,
places for you to administer
00:17:47.76\00:17:51.43
and attend to your
diabetes and your blood sugar,
00:17:51.47\00:17:54.24
places where you
have to get your glasses
00:17:54.27\00:17:56.57
and places where you have
to get everything that you can
00:17:56.60\00:17:59.91
to take care of your
health after the fact...
00:17:59.94\00:18:02.48
he says, "You know, the
fast-food restaurants that sell
00:18:02.51\00:18:05.41
food that clogs your
arteries and veins... "
00:18:05.45\00:18:08.15
he says, "It kills more people
than any other terrorist act
00:18:08.18\00:18:12.05
in the United
States right now" he says,
00:18:12.09\00:18:14.59
"They are the terrorists"
00:18:14.62\00:18:16.06
they are the
terrorists... Hmmmmm... Wow!
00:18:16.09\00:18:18.63
he says, "If you want to
do something in your community
00:18:18.66\00:18:20.70
you grow some
food in a bucket...
00:18:20.73\00:18:23.57
do something, grow your
own fresh food, your herbs,
00:18:23.60\00:18:28.34
your garden, your window...
00:18:28.37\00:18:31.74
window place where you can put
00:18:31.77\00:18:35.51
flower pots with your salad
materials... do something...
00:18:35.54\00:18:38.95
a little something...
everything to emancipate
00:18:38.98\00:18:44.09
yourself from the
prevalence of poor health,
00:18:44.12\00:18:47.99
lack of
opportunity, lack of education,
00:18:48.02\00:18:51.33
all that... do a little
thing and we can share that
00:18:51.36\00:18:55.36
with other
people... it's not a lot...
00:18:55.40\00:18:58.43
Yeah... that's tremendous...
that's tremendous...
00:18:58.47\00:19:01.50
but I'm so impressed
with that whole idea of taking
00:19:01.54\00:19:05.91
where you are... and making
the most of where you are...
00:19:05.94\00:19:09.38
and actually...
doing things that can
00:19:09.41\00:19:11.85
impact your life profoundly
00:19:11.88\00:19:14.05
if you don't have your
health, you don't have anything,
00:19:14.08\00:19:17.39
and we are, as African-Americans
we are chronically...
00:19:17.42\00:19:20.82
we have chronic diseases,
we're the forerunners for
00:19:20.86\00:19:24.23
chronic
diseases... so if we can eat...
00:19:24.26\00:19:26.33
we have a health
message as Adventists...
00:19:26.36\00:19:28.50
if we know about
this and we share it
00:19:28.53\00:19:30.67
that's one of the things
that I've always loved about
00:19:30.70\00:19:32.70
Message Magazine... by the way
00:19:32.73\00:19:34.40
because of the
commitment to those
00:19:34.44\00:19:36.40
those dynamite recipes in there
00:19:36.44\00:19:38.37
the commitment to health...
tell our viewers about Message
00:19:38.41\00:19:42.78
What is the goal
of your magazine?
00:19:42.81\00:19:45.58
the mission... Well,
the goal has always been
00:19:45.61\00:19:49.02
that Message would
be a tool in the hand
00:19:49.05\00:19:52.49
of someone to
share their faith...
00:19:52.52\00:19:55.79
Message is evangelistic, OK...
00:19:55.82\00:19:59.03
...and it does not
speak... we're trying not to
00:19:59.06\00:20:02.76
speak to the Christian per
se as much as a person who is
00:20:02.80\00:20:07.77
looking for something...
a person who needs a way out
00:20:07.80\00:20:12.74
and a key and a way to
find something different...
00:20:12.77\00:20:16.85
a different truth,
a different reality,
00:20:16.88\00:20:20.25
and to that end...
the recipes do give us
00:20:20.28\00:20:23.62
another option... no
it's not about firing up
00:20:23.65\00:20:27.09
the barbeque... the thing is...
00:20:27.12\00:20:29.22
something that you
do traditionally...
00:20:29.26\00:20:30.89
but, as we learned in one of our
00:20:30.93\00:20:33.46
recent issues, just
the fact that you're
00:20:33.50\00:20:36.06
barbequing the meat...
the fat... and the charcoal
00:20:36.10\00:20:39.17
and the fire and the
high amounts... as you know
00:20:39.20\00:20:42.67
the high temperatures...
causes carcinogens
00:20:42.70\00:20:47.41
to go to your body and
to create a problem for you
00:20:47.44\00:20:52.05
and this will
create further problems...
00:20:52.08\00:20:54.95
and so... just little things
like changing the way you eat
00:20:54.98\00:20:58.75
protecting that body
vessel so that the Lord can say
00:20:58.79\00:21:03.19
something to you and use
you in a different way...
00:21:03.22\00:21:05.89
Message has
always been about that...
00:21:05.93\00:21:08.43
we do intend and
we do in every issue
00:21:08.46\00:21:10.93
provide a glimpse or a
slice of the life of Jesus
00:21:10.97\00:21:16.57
while He walked on this earth...
00:21:16.60\00:21:17.87
to find out... what
it was that He wanted
00:21:17.91\00:21:21.61
to share with us... Yes...
00:21:21.64\00:21:23.41
What does it mean to Pray?
00:21:23.45\00:21:25.18
Our most recent
issue has an article called
00:21:25.21\00:21:28.48
"Power of a Praying
Christ" which in and of itself
00:21:28.52\00:21:33.42
that just had me...
stopping for a moment...
00:21:33.46\00:21:35.86
you have the
whole string of books
00:21:35.89\00:21:37.56
The Power of a
Praying Mother, Wife...
00:21:37.59\00:21:39.66
Yes... yes... yes...
just to think that Christ
00:21:39.69\00:21:43.06
Himself is praying
for you... What is that?
00:21:43.10\00:21:46.43
What kind of power is
that? Who else could you need
00:21:46.47\00:21:49.24
to ever pray for you? Exactly...
00:21:49.27\00:21:51.07
So we do, you know, everything
from... here in this life
00:21:51.31\00:21:54.94
to the eternal implications
and we want to share with people
00:21:54.98\00:21:58.55
but more... we want people
to share with their friends
00:21:58.58\00:22:01.75
and their
family... It's wonderful...
00:22:01.78\00:22:05.29
How affordable
is Message Magazine?
00:22:05.32\00:22:08.76
That's an interesting
question because I like
00:22:08.79\00:22:12.49
the flip side of it...
What is it worth to you?
00:22:12.53\00:22:16.63
Come on... come on...
that's it... that's it...
00:22:16.67\00:22:19.60
What is it worth
to you to see somebody
00:22:19.63\00:22:21.27
that you know in the Kingdom...
00:22:21.30\00:22:22.70
Hmmmm... hmmmm...
What is it worth to you?
00:22:22.74\00:22:25.71
Hmmmm... hmmmm... You
know, I could spend...
00:22:25.74\00:22:28.68
I could take a few subscriptions
00:22:28.71\00:22:31.05
and see to it that
the people that I know
00:22:31.08\00:22:35.12
who maybe incarcerated
00:22:35.15\00:22:36.52
or people who come
from a family background
00:22:36.55\00:22:39.02
in which they
haven't been shown Christ...
00:22:39.05\00:22:41.76
or... the Christ
that they've been shown
00:22:41.79\00:22:44.46
is one that is
not full of grace...
00:22:44.49\00:22:47.36
Hmmmmm... hmmmmm .. one
who is not forgiving them
00:22:47.40\00:22:50.50
one who is exacting...
how much is it worth to you
00:22:50.53\00:22:53.64
to let somebody know that?
I've been telling the story
00:22:53.67\00:22:56.54
everywhere... I
went down with my family
00:22:56.57\00:22:59.31
because this is the
first year where we were local
00:22:59.34\00:23:02.68
to Washington... so
we went down to see the
00:23:02.71\00:23:04.78
the inauguration... I
put my kids and my husband
00:23:04.81\00:23:07.85
and I took our three
children and we got on the metro
00:23:07.88\00:23:11.52
so my son... my middle
son loves riding the trains...
00:23:11.55\00:23:14.49
he loves trains...
coming back from the
00:23:14.52\00:23:16.42
inauguration...
it was so crowded...
00:23:16.46\00:23:18.29
people everywhere...
and we were trying to get on
00:23:18.33\00:23:22.13
the train... to go
home... and the train pulled up
00:23:22.16\00:23:26.03
and people came
out... they are sauntering...
00:23:26.40\00:23:28.67
you know... you only
have that certain window
00:23:28.70\00:23:31.01
before they... the
chime happens and the door
00:23:31.04\00:23:33.31
closes... and it's gone...
Shuts... right... right...
00:23:33.34\00:23:34.51
and so I'm trying to
get my children in there
00:23:34.54\00:23:37.01
so we're watching...
we're standing there patiently
00:23:37.05\00:23:38.85
while people saunter
off and at that moment
00:23:38.88\00:23:41.45
I saw that the
door... next to us...
00:23:41.48\00:23:43.35
not the one that
we were in front of...
00:23:43.39\00:23:45.19
that one opened
up... and so I said,
00:23:45.22\00:23:47.19
"Quick, let's go over
there... " I didn't stop to see
00:23:47.22\00:23:49.99
who is behind me... I
said, "Come on, let's go"
00:23:50.03\00:23:52.43
so we moved over... I
had my little son by hand
00:23:52.46\00:23:54.46
my daughter followed me
and my other son and my husband
00:23:54.50\00:23:56.93
were back there... I
didn't worry about him...
00:23:56.97\00:23:59.50
he's a grown man...
so... we got on the train
00:23:59.53\00:24:02.64
and I turned around and
there... I had my son...
00:24:02.67\00:24:05.74
my daughter... the
doors closed on her backpack
00:24:05.77\00:24:08.84
and I pulled her
in... and there's my son
00:24:09.41\00:24:12.05
with his hands in
the door "Mom, mom... "
00:24:12.08\00:24:14.68
and he...
immediately I was panicked
00:24:14.72\00:24:17.09
everybody on
the train just froze
00:24:17.12\00:24:19.42
because his hands
were stuck in the door...
00:24:19.45\00:24:22.12
and all I could see
or all I could envision
00:24:22.16\00:24:24.73
was that something would
happen and he would be dragged
00:24:24.76\00:24:27.73
Yes... ... and
so, I pushed him off
00:24:27.76\00:24:29.26
of there... and I went over
to the other door and I looked
00:24:29.30\00:24:32.17
out... and I said, you
know, "Dad, go with dad... "
00:24:32.20\00:24:35.04
I thought that my husband
got on maybe he had got on
00:24:35.07\00:24:37.87
a car behind
us... but I looked out
00:24:37.91\00:24:40.81
my husband was standing there
00:24:40.84\00:24:42.01
with my child... you know...
we have numerous children...
00:24:42.04\00:24:47.08
so, thank God for
that, but what sunk into me
00:24:47.12\00:24:52.49
was that it's my responsibility
to make sure... they're there
00:24:52.52\00:24:57.56
I'm the mother, I got
to get them on the train
00:24:57.59\00:24:59.83
am I OK with
leaving any of my children
00:24:59.86\00:25:04.87
even in the train station...
leaving them behind...
00:25:04.90\00:25:08.20
Am I OK with that? and
I believe that the Lord
00:25:08.24\00:25:11.57
helped me go through
that as an Object Lesson
00:25:11.61\00:25:14.88
as a Christian... I'm busy
about my own task... my own life
00:25:14.91\00:25:20.38
my own ministry... not
taking the time to make sure
00:25:20.42\00:25:25.09
I'm bringing
somebody along... Hmmmm...
00:25:25.12\00:25:27.76
Am I OK with the
people in my circle
00:25:27.79\00:25:31.83
and in my life that
I'm not bringing along...
00:25:31.86\00:25:35.46
is it OK with
me... that my hairdresser
00:25:35.50\00:25:38.60
a woman that I spend
so much time telling my
00:25:38.63\00:25:41.87
deepest secrets to... am I OK
that she doesn't know the Lord
00:25:41.90\00:25:46.81
or she doesn't know
that He's coming back soon...
00:25:46.84\00:25:49.44
Come on... You know...
00:25:49.48\00:25:50.58
Yes... We've got
to get to that point
00:25:50.61\00:25:53.01
where we're not OK with
our own busy lifestyle...
00:25:53.05\00:25:57.05
Yes... We're not
OK with the things
00:25:57.09\00:25:59.62
as status quo...
driving blindly... in this life
00:25:59.65\00:26:04.26
thinking that, you know,
it's all about me and my family
00:26:04.29\00:26:07.30
and that's what
we're trying to do...
00:26:07.30\00:26:09.16
just bring it
back... full circle...
00:26:09.20\00:26:11.00
I want to make sure
that people know that...
00:26:11.03\00:26:13.87
That's
wonderful... Don't leave them...
00:26:13.90\00:26:16.71
Don't leave them behind...
Don't leave them behind...
00:26:16.74\00:26:19.94
That's wonderful... because
that's what it's all about
00:26:19.97\00:26:23.98
as Christians because
God's given us entrusted us
00:26:24.01\00:26:27.98
with this
plan... that we can share
00:26:28.02\00:26:30.65
and how better to do
it than through media
00:26:30.69\00:26:35.26
whether it's the printed
word or television or radio
00:26:35.29\00:26:38.26
all that... God has given
us these tools... to use...
00:26:38.29\00:26:41.06
and I love what you said about
someone that's incarcerated...
00:26:41.10\00:26:45.27
there's so many young men...
that would love to get some mail
00:26:45.30\00:26:49.40
let's make the mail count...
00:26:49.44\00:26:51.37
That's right...
... count for Jesus...
00:26:51.41\00:26:53.78
let's make it count for Jesus...
00:26:53.81\00:26:55.38
We had an interesting
situation in our office...
00:26:55.41\00:26:59.85
in the last 2 or 3
weeks... which we had...
00:26:59.88\00:27:02.55
a man that was
incarcerated write us...
00:27:02.58\00:27:05.39
He said, "I
appreciate Message Magazine
00:27:05.42\00:27:07.96
I share it with
the people around me
00:27:07.99\00:27:10.83
it has done a lot
to keep my spirits up
00:27:10.86\00:27:13.66
and to assure me that
there is something better
00:27:13.70\00:27:16.26
for me in this life... "
he said, "I sure would like
00:27:16.30\00:27:19.57
to know who is sending
me Message Magazine... "
00:27:19.60\00:27:22.14
and we wondered...
"You know... well...
00:27:22.17\00:27:24.34
do we need to let him...
you know... so we looked around
00:27:24.37\00:27:27.08
and we tried to figure out
00:27:27.11\00:27:28.34
we went back to the records...
before we could even write him
00:27:28.38\00:27:31.71
it was his
mother... it was his mother...
00:27:31.75\00:27:35.38
and she called us
up... coincidently and said,
00:27:35.42\00:27:39.69
"Yes, I'm sending
my son Message Magazine
00:27:39.72\00:27:42.39
I didn't know, he didn't know,
00:27:42.42\00:27:43.89
but I'm glad it's
working for him. "
00:27:43.93\00:27:46.13
How better to end than
that... Thank you so much
00:27:46.16\00:27:48.90
for being with us...
What a blessing you are...
00:27:48.93\00:27:51.63
and thank you so
much for tuning in...
00:27:51.67\00:27:53.97
We love you... tune in next time
00:27:54.00\00:27:56.17
you know... it just
wouldn't be the same
00:27:56.20\00:27:58.41
without you.
00:27:58.44\00:28:00.48