>> ON THIS EDITION OF
INDEPENDENT SOURCES:
HAIL FOR HELP- YELLOW TAXI CAB
DRIVERS CALL FOR GOVERNMENT
ASSISTANCE AS THE VALUE OF
THEIR MEDALLIONS PLUMMETS.
AND BEAUTY OR BEAST- AN OFF-
BRAODWAY PRODUCTION EXPLORES
THE LIFE AND LOVE OF A WOMAN
WHO WAS PARADED AS A SIDE
SHOW FREAK.
♪ [THEME MUSIC] ♪
INDEPENDENT SOURCES. YOUR
WINDOW INTO THE CITY'S ETHNIC
AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.
HERE IS YOUR HOST
GARRY PIERRE-PIERRE.
>> NEW YORK CITY YELLOW TAXI
CAB DRIVERS ARE UP IN ARMS
OVER THE PLUMMETING VALUE
OF THEIR MEDALLIONS. ONCE VALUED
IN THE MILLIONS, THESE LICENSES
TO OWN AND OPERATE YELLOW
CABS ARE GOING FOR A FRACTION OF
THE COST. ADVOCATES CLAIM
THAT'S BECAUSE OF
INCREASING COMPETITION FROM
SERVICES SUCH AS UBER AND LYFT.
THIS HAS LEFT MANY DRIVERS,
WHO RELY ON THE RESALE OF THEIR
MEDALLIONS AS A RETIREMENT FUND,
OF SORTS, IN A LURCH.
THEY ARE CALLING ON GOVERNOR
CUOMO AND THE TAXI AND LIMOUSINE
COMMISSION FOR ASSISTANCE.
I SAT DOWN WITH MEDALLION OWNER
MARCELINO HERVIAS AND NICOLE
EPSTEIN OF GOTHAM GOVERNMENT
RELATIONS, A FIRM THAT
REPRESENTS SOME OF THESE
MEDALLION OWNERS. WE
TALKED ABOUT THE STRUGGLE MANY
IMMIGRANTS FACE WHEN BUYING
LICENSES AND HOW THEIR
DEVALUATION IS MAKING MANY
DRIVERS RE-CONSIDER RETIREMENT.
>> MARCELINO, YOU ARE AN OWNER.
HOW MUCH DID YOU PAY FOR IT?
>> WHEN I BOUGHT IT BACK IN
1990 I BOUGHT IT FOR $118-
$120,000.
NOW IT HAS LIKE ZERO, HAS
NO VALUE.
>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT HAS NO
VALUE?
>> IT HAS NO VALUE BASED ON
MELROSE CREDIT UNION REPRESENTS
US AND OTHER OWNERS. THEY
WANT YOUR WIFE AND KIDS TO
SIGN IN WITH IT AND REASON
WHY, THEY WANT TO COVER THEIR
LOANS.
>> AND SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO
DO?
>> WELL, THAT'S A QUESTION.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
THE TAXI COMMISSION IN THE CITY
LOOKS LIKE THEY -- THEY ARE
NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.
WE ARE ASKING FOR GOVERNOR CUOMO
TO STEP IN BECAUSE IT IS VERY
IMMINENT.
WE CAN'T BE SWAYED. BY THE
END OF THIS YEAR, THOUSANDS
OF US WILL BE DESTROYED.
AND I DON'T THINK IT IS RIGHT
THAT HARD WORKING IMMIGRANTS
WHO ARE PLAYING BY THE RULES.
BE ABANDONED AND BETRAYED
IN THIS WAY.
OUR AMERICAN DREAM.
I DON'T THINK IT IS RIGHT.
>> WHAT CAN BE DONE?
WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED?
>> THERE IS A LOT THAT CAN BE
DONE. BACK TO
YOUR QUESTION ON HOW
MUCH IS THE MEDALLION WORTH.
SO IN 2014, 2015 THE MEDALLION
WAS SELLING FOR APPROXIMATELY
$1.1 MILLION.
NOW THE REPORTED VALUE IS
$241,000.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SUBSTANTIAL
DECREASE.
SO NOW A BIG PART OF WHAT IS
HAPPENING IS THAT IT IS THAT THE
TLC IS NOT REGULATING FAIRLY.
SO YELLOW TAXI INDUSTRY WAS VERY
HEAVILY REGULATED.
AND THEN YOU HAVE COMPETITORS
LIKE UBER COMING INTO THE
MARKET, NO REGULATIONS
WHATSOEVER.
SO FOR EXAMPLE EVERY SINGLE
YELLOW TAXI RIDE OUT THERE THERE
IS A 50 CENT SURCHARGE THAT
GOES DIRECTLY TO THE MTA.
NOW UBER IS COMING IN AT 60,000
VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WHICH
IS CAUSING WORSE CONGESTION-
>> SO WHAT ARE YOU PROPOSING?
THAT MORE TAXI'S BE ADDED INTO
UBER?
>> EXACTLY.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY IT.
THINGS LIKE THE YELLOW TAXI
INDUSTRY PAYS 50 CENTS FOR
EVERY SINGLE RIDE TO THE MTA.
THEY PAY 30 CENTS EVERY
SINGLE RIDE TO
FUND WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY.
AND THEN YOU HAVE THE YELLOW
TAXI INDUSTRY BEING ELIMINATED.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ACCESSIBLE
VEHICLES?
THERE ARE A LOT OF INEQUALITIES
GOING ON IN THIS INDUSTRY
OVERALL. THE TLC NEEDS TO STEP
UP AND TO TRY TO REGULATE THE
FAIR AND EVEN PLAYING FIELD.
>> ON YELLOW TAXI MEDALLIONS.
>> WHAT IS HAPPENING IS THAT THE
LENDERS ARE BASICALLY FORCING
MEDALLION OWNERS INTO
FORECLOSURE BECAUSE NOW THEY ARE
SAYING EVERY THREE YEARS THE
MEDALLION OWNERS HAVE TO
REFINANCE THEIR LOANS.
NOW THEY ARE SAYING YOU USED TO
PAY 4% INTEREST. EVEN IF YOU
WERE PAYING YOUR LOANS ON TIME,
NOW YOU ARE PAYING 8% INTEREST.
IF YOU CAN'T DO THAT YOU ARE
GOING TO SIGN YOUR HOUSE AS
COLLATERAL.
HAVE YOUR CHILDREN BE CO-
SIGNERS.
TAKE OUT LIFE INSURANCE.
SOMETHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN
BECAUSE THERE IS NO CASH FLOW
VALUE IN THE INDUSTRY SO THE
LOANS ARE MORE THAN WHAT THE
MEDALLIONS ARE WORTH.
>> I WANT TO ASK YOU, HOW MUCH
MONEY CAN YOU MAKE DRIVING A CAB
DAILY?
IS IT STILL A LUCRATIVE
PROFESSION?
>> IT'S NOT ANYMORE.
ACTUALLY, I MEAN-
>> GIVE US A SENSE OF HOW MUCH
USED TO MAKE A DAY WHEN STARTED
AND THEN NOW?
>> TWO YEARS AGO USED TO WORK
MONDAY ONLY AND FRIDAY ONLY.
I USED TO WORK BETWEEN 14 AND 15
HOURS, IN THOSE TWO DAYS.
AND I USED TO MAKE $500,
UP TO $600 DOLLARS.
THAT'S ON MONDAY AND FRIDAY.
ANY OTHER DAY AROUND $400.
RIGHT NOW FOR ME TO MAKE $400 A
DAY I GOT TO WORK THE NEXT 14,
15 HOURS STRAIGHT EVERY DAY,
SEVEN DAYS A WEEK ALSO.
IF I DON'T MAKE THAT MONEY I'M
UNDER WATER.
THE MINIMUM THAT WE HAVE TO
MAKE IS $400, PLUS
ALL THE EXPENSES WE HAVE
AND WE ARE NOT MAKING IT.
>> HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT
JOINING THE COMPETITION?
>> WE CAN JOIN -- YOU CAN GO
ANYWHERE.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT HOW CAN YOU
ALLOW SOMEONE ELSE WITH NO
LICENSE.
THEY ARE NOT LICENSED.
THAT'S NOT -- THAT IS TOTALLY
UNFAIR.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE CLAIMING TO
TLC TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD
OTHERWISE --
>> LET ME ASK YOU BECAUSE THIS
IS FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND A LOT
OF DRIVERS THIS MEDALLION WAS
THEIR 401K PLAN. IS THAT THE
CASE FOR YOU AND WHAT HAPPENED?
>> WE HAVE NOTHING.
LET'S SAY FOR EXAMPLE I'M ABOUT
TO RETIRE IF I WANT TO.
I HAVE NOTHING.
ON JULY I WANT TO KNOW MY
FUTURE. IF THEY DON'T REFINANCE
WHAT MY LOAN, I'M OUT.
IF I'M OUT OF WORK, I LOSE MY
HOME. SO EVERYTHING THAT
I WORK FOR, 34 YEARS OF MY
LIFE WRKING 60, 80 HOURS A WEEK,
FOR YEARS AND YEARS
AND NEVER COMPLAINED ONLY FOR
THE SATISFACTION OF GIVING MY
KIDS A GOOD EDUCATION.
FOR ME I DIDN'T CARE.
I WAS THINKING THAT AT LEAST ONE
DAY WHEN I GET OLD I CAN RETIRE
WITH DIGNITY AND SAY I MADE IT.
NOW MY KIDS ARE GOING TO HAVE
A GREAT SHOT AT THE AMERICAN
DREAM.
I'M JUST DOING WHAT ALL
IMMIGRANTS HAVE DONE.
WANTS TO SACRAFICE FOR THE
WELL DREAM OF THE ENTIRE FAMILY.
>> WHAT IS THE GAME PLAN?
HOW ARE THE ADVOCATES PUSHING
THE GOVERNOR AND THE MAYOR
TO HELP THESE TAXI DRIVERS
WHICH FOR YEARS ENJOYED A
VIRTUAL MONOPLY IN THE CITY.
>> SO THERE'S A FEW THINGS WE
ARE TRYING HERE.
WE TRIED TO TALK TO TLC AND
REACH OUT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
ABOUT TRYING TO MAKE THIS MORE
OF A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD AND
MAKE IT SO EVERYONE HAS TO DRIVE
THE SAME CAR OR THE SAME FREEDOM
OF CHOICE THAT THE UBER DRIVERS
MIGHT HAVE.
SO WHAT WE ARE HEARING REALLY IS
NOT A LOT.
THEY KIND OF PUT THEIR HANDS UP
IN THE AIR AND SAY FREE MARKET.
THAT FREE MARKET WASN'T SO FREE
WHEN YOU SOLD IT FOR $1.1
MILLION IN 2014.
BY GOING THROUGH WE ARE ALWAYS
HOLDING A RALLY OR MEETING WITH
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, STATE
ELECTED OFFICIALS, SENATORS.
NOW WE ARE TAKING IT TO THE
LEGAL SYSTEM.
WE ARE FILING LAWSUITS ON BEHALF
OF THE MEDALLION DRIVERS AGAINST
THE CITY BECAUSE THE CITY AND
THE TLC HAS A DUTY TO PROTECT
THE FINANCIAL VALUE OF THE
MEDALLION WHICH THEY HAVE NOT.
>> HOW SO?
>> IT'S IN THE CITY CHARTER AND
ALSO IN THE TLC RULES AND
REGULATIONS THAT THE COMMISSION
HAS BEEN GIVEN THE DUTY TO
PROTECT THE VALUE FOR NUMEROUS
REASONS, ONE BEING THAT YOU HAVE
6,000 INDEPENDENT IMMIGRANT
OWNERS THAT PAY THEIR LIFE
INVESTMENTS INTO THE SYSTEM TO
HAVE THE RIGHT FOR THE
EXCLUSIVITY OF A STREET HAIL AND
THEN THAT GOES OUT THE WINDOW.
>> I KNOW FOR MANY PEOPLE IN THE
CITY YELLOW CABS ARE THE ENEMY.
VERY HARD TO FIND A CAB TO
PICK YOU UP AND SO ARE YOU
GETTING SYMPATHY FROM THE
RIDING PUBLIC?
>> SO THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I HAVE EXPERIENCED THROUGH
ELECTED OFFICIALS OR
REPRESENTATIVES IS THAT THEY
HAVE THIS IDEA OF WHAT A
MEDALLION OWNER OR DRIVER IS.
TO THEM IT'S MILLIONAIRE SITTING
ON A FANCY MANSION SOMEWHERE.
THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
YOU HAVE OVER 6,000 INDEPENDENT
OWNERS OUT THERE WHO ARE JUST
LIKE YOU AND ME TRYING TO GET BY
EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS TO
REALLY JUST GET EVERYONE ON THE
SAME PAGE AND UNDERSTAND THE
REALITY OF WHAT THE SITUATION IS
AND WHO WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT HERE.
THAT HAS BEEN A HUGE BATTLE.
>> YOU MENTIONED MELROSE
EARLIER. WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
ARE THEY IN BANKRUPTCY?
>> THEY'VE BEEN TAKEN OVER
BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
OF THE STATE AND I THINK THEY
HAVE LITIGATED THE MANAGEMENT
I THINK TO THE FED.
>> THE FEDERAL.
>> SO -- SO NOW THE NATIONAL
CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION
WHICH IS A FEDERAL REGULATOR HAS
BASICALLY TAKEN OVER MELROSE
CREDIT UNION AND ARE
BASICALLY RUNNING THEM. SINCE
THEY HAVE TAKEN OVER THE ISSUES
HAVE COME UP WHERE THEY ARE
GIVING OUT THESE RIDICULOUS AND
UNREASONABLE LOAN AGREEMENTS AND
TRYING TO MAKE PEOPLE AGREE TO
THINGS THAT ARE NOT POSSIBLE.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE OUT OF
TIME, NICOLE EPSTEIN, MARCELINO
HERVIAS, THANK YOU
FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> REALLY APPRICIATE YOU HAVING
US.
>> STILL AHEAD ON THE SHOW-
MAN VERSUS NATURE AS
REHABILITATION THERAPY.
>>> THANKS FOR STAYING TUNED.
REWILDING IS AN
EFFORT TO HELP YOUNG MEN
WHO HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED
RE-ASSIMILATE INTO THEIR
ENVIRONMENT BY IMMERSING
THEM IN THE OUTDOORS.
THE CREATORS OF THE PROGRAM
ARE QUICK TO POINT OUT THAT
THEY'RE NOT WILDERNESS
THERAPISTS BUT HAVE PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE WITH THE
THERAPEUTIC POWERS OF
BACKPACKING AND CLIMBLING TRIPS.
I LEARNED MORE ABOUT REWILDING
WHEN I SPOKE WITH A PROGRAM
PARTICIPANT ANTHONY
DEJESUS AND ITS CREATOR, JESSE
SPIEGEL, WHO JOINED US
VIA SKYPE.
JESSE, WHAT IS REWILDING?
>> REWILDING IS AN ADVENTURE
PROGRAM.
IT'S A PROGRAM THAT WE FORMED TO
BASICALLY WORK WITH
FORMALLY INCARCERATED
INDIVIDUALS AND OFFER THEM AN
OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN US ON AN
ADVENTURE.
AND HAVE A VARIETY OF ADVENTURE
RELATED EXPERIENCES AND TO DO IT
IN A PEER TO PEER SETTING.
SO THE WHOLE IDEA IS THAT WE
INVITE YOUNG MEN OUR AGE TO GO
ON AN ADVENTURE WITH US JUST
LIKE WE INVITE A FRIEND TO GO ON
A ROAD TRIP WITH US.
WE TRY TO REMOVE KIND OF INNATE
SYSTEMS THAT ARE STILL COMMON IN
OTHER THERAPY PROGRAMS AND TRY
TO DO IT LIKE WE ARE YOUNG GUYS.
LET'S GO DO THIS.
THE IDEA TO GO HAVE AN ADVENTURE
AND TO HAVE INTIMATE AND GENUINE
INTERACTIONS AND TO JUST KIND OF
SHARE THE EXPERIENCES WITH ONE
ANOTHER AND GROW.
>> I GUESS THIS IS A PLAY ON THE
WORD WILDING AND A BIT OF A
LOADED TERM.
YOU HAVE GOTTEN ANY SORT OF
BLOWBACK FROM THE TERM?
>> WE HAVE NOT.
REWILDING WE KIND OF REPURPOSED
THE TERM.
IT IS USING ECLOGICAL
COMMUNITIES.
IT'S THE IDEA OF WHEN YOU TAKE
OUR HUMAN INFLUENCE OUT OF an
ENVIRONMENT HOW THAT
ENVIRONMENT RETURNS TO ITS
NATURAL STATE OF BEING.
SO WHEN FOR INSTANCE WE
HUNTED WOLVES, THE
ENTIRE ECOLOGICAL SET CHANGED.
IT WENT BACK TO ITS NATURAL
STATE AND RETURNED.
SO REWILDING TO US IS RETURNING
TO OUR NATURAL STATE OF BEING
UNINFLUENCED BY MEDIA AND
CULTURAL NORMS.
RETURNING TO OUR NATURAL, INNATE
WAYS OF BEING.
THIS IS REALLY FOCUSSED AROUND
LOVE IN OUR PROGRAM.
BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE OPENLY
AND HONESTLY AND BEING ABLE TO
RECEIVE COMMUNICATION.
>> SO ANTHONY, HOW DID YOU
MEET UP WITH JESSE TO
JOIN THE PROGRAM?
>> I HAD AN MENTOR BY THE NAME
OF ANDRE WHO ACTUALLY FOUND
THE PROGRAM ON THE INTERNET
AND YOU KNOW HE KNOWS ME
AND MY EXPERIENCES IN LIFE
AND KNOWS I HAVEN'T DONE
MUCH AND IT MAY BE A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU.
I HESITATED THAT WAS LIKE A
LOTTERY THING.
I BELIEVE IN WHAT HE SAYS AND I
GAVE IT A SHOT.
LIKE IN NO TIME I RECEIVED A
CALL.
>> DID YOU HAVE TO PAY?
>> JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.
AFTER THAT IT WAS ON.
>> WE HAVE A CLIP OF YOU,
WHERE WAS THAT?
>> WELL WE DID A NUMBER OF
EXERCISES IN DIFFERENT PLACES.
WE STARTED OFF IN COLORADO.
WE ACTUALLY STARTED OFF DOING
SOME THINGS IN NEW YORK
TAKING ME TO A COUPLE OF GYMS
AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND
GETTING ME IN THE SWING OF
THINGS TO SAY THIS IS WHAT'S
TO COME.
AND THEN WENT TO COLORADO.
WE KIND OF WENT EVERYWHERE AND
EXERCISED AND TOOK THEM WITH US
EVERYWHERE.
>> SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A
LOOK AT THE CLIP OF YOU
CLIMBING A MOUNTAIN.
>> YOU'RE FINE.THAT ROPE IS
SO STRONG MAN. LET GO OF YOUR
HANDS. JUST HANG.
>> I KNOW WHAT HAPPINESS IS NOW
AND IT'S TRULY FIGHTING THROUGH
THE THINGS THAT HOLDS YOU BACK
FROM EXCELLING IN YOUR LIFE
MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY.
>> WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?
>> THAT WAS ONE OF THE KEY
TRANSITIONAL PIECES THAT
HAPPENED TO ME AT THAT MOMENT.
IT WAS A TURNING POINT.
I PUSHED THROUGH MORE THAN I
HAVE EVER FOR ANYTHING.
VERY EMOTIONAL, SUPER EMOTIONAL
AND TONS OF SUPPORT.
IT WAS LIKE A BUNCH OF THINGS
THAT I MISSED IN LIFE ALL
HAPPENED AT ONCE.
I TOOK ON A TASK, IT WAS
DIFFICULT BUT I PUSHED THROUGH
AND SUCCEEDED AND I HAD THE
SUPPORT AND THE CHEERS
AND THE LOVE. USUALLY THAT
HAPPENS IN A SPAN OF TIME BUT
THAT HAPPENED IN ONE INSTANCE.
IT WAS COMPLETELY OVERWHELMING.
I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO FEEL BUT IT
WAS A FEELING. EVENTUALLY
TRANSFORMS INTO SOMETHING GREAT.
>> WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO
GET OUT OF THE FILM?
>> I HOPE TO GET OUT OF THE FILM
IS WHAT ANTHONY JUST DESCRIBED
WHICH IS JUST INDIVIDUALS HAVING
AMAZING KIND OF LIFE EXPERIENCES
AND THE FILM IS REALLY A TOOL TO
CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
THIS ALL WAS BORN WITH A DESIRE
OF ME AND A GROUP OF FRIENDS WHO
WANTED TO START OUR RETREAT AND
TO SERVE NOT ONLY PEOPLE WHO
COULD PAY TO COME ON ADVENTURES
BUT ALSO SERVE A COMMUNITY
THAT COULDN'T.
WE MADE THE FILM AS A WAY TO
KIND OF ILLUSTRATE WHAT OUR
PROGRAM WOULD OFFER AND THE
BENEFITS AND GAIN SUPPORT FOR
IT.
>> DO YOU HAVE FUNDING?
>> WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE
FUNDING.
WE ARE WORKING ON IT.
THE FILM IS IN POST PRODUCTION
STILL SO NOT COMPLETED YET.
OUR GOAL IS TO TURN THIS FILM
INTO A TELEVISION SERIES.
WE ARE ALREADY WORKING WITH SOME
PRODUCERS IN THAT EFFORT.
SO THE IDEA IS THAT USING THE
FILM WE WILL START THE
TELEVISION SHOW AND BY HAVING A
MULTI SEASON SHOW WE WILL BE
ABLE TO CONTINUE TO
SUBSIDIZE THE COST OF
OPERATING THE PROGRAM AND THEN
COVER ADDITIONAL COSTS THROUGH
GRANTS AND FUNDRAISING AND
SIMILAR METHODS USED BY MOST
NONPROFITS.
>> TELL US WHAT HAPPENED.
EARLIER YOU SAID SOMETHING
REALLY PROFOUND. YOU SAID
I'D NEVER DONE ANYTHING RIGHT,
SO WHATED THAT LED YOU TO BEING
INCARCERATED?
AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING THESE
DAYS?
>> WHAT LED ME TO MY
INCARCERATION AND GROUP
HOMES AND FOSTER HOMES
A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT MANY
KIDS GO THROUGH IN MY COMMUNITY.
GANGS, VIOLENCE AND THINGS OF
THAT NATURE.
YOU KNOW BASICALLY THAT WAS
MY BORN PATH. I KIND OF
ALREADY HAD A DESIRE TO WANT TO
CHANGE AND HELP PEOPLE TO CHANGE
SO IT WAS NATURAL TO COME INTO
WHAT I'M DOING NOW WHICH IS
WORKING WITH YOUNG ADULTS
FOR THIS NON FOR PROFIT
AGENCY.
>> AND THEN YOU ARE TRYING
TO GET THEM ON A STRAIGHT AND
NARROW PATH IN SHARING YOUR
STORIES WITH THEM?
>> >> ABSOLUTELY.
THAT IS WHAT I'M ABOUT TO HELP
THEM FIRST FIND WHAT THEIR
DESIRE IS AND WHAT THEIR ART IS
AND WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT
THEY LOVE AND HELP TO TRANSFORM
THAT INTO SOMETHING THAT THEY
CAN TAKE INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES
AND USE AND BUILD AND HOPEFULLY
DO A TON OF THINGS THEY CAN DO
WITH SOMETHING THAT IS INSIDE OF
THEM THAT IS PERSONAL.
>> DO YOU FEEL THE PULL OF THAT
LIFE STILL COMING AT YOU?
>> NOT NECESSARILY THE BEHAVIORS
AS FAR AS GOING BACK TO DEALING
AND GANGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THE MUSIC AND THE FASHION AND
ALL OF THOSE THINGS PLAY INTO
THAT AND THOSE ARE KIND OF THE
TEMPTATIONS TO SAY LET ME
NOT WEAR THIS TYPE OF CLOTHING
ANYMORE, LET ME NOT GET THIS
TYPE OF HAIRCUT ANYMORE,
BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE THINGS
THAT I GOT FROM THE STREET
AND I WANT TO CHANGE BUT THOSE
TYPE OF THINGS-
>> SO JESSE, HOW TO YOU VET
THE MEMBERS INTO THE PROGRAM?
>> WE REACHED OUT TO THE LEADERS
OF THESE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND
INFORMED THEM WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR YOUNG MEN.
WOULD YOU PLEASE SHARE THIS
OPPORTUNITY?
WE HAD VIDEO AND MATERIALS TO
SEE WHAT WAS TO COME AND WHAT
KIND OF OPPORTUNITY THIS WAS.
AND THEN THOSE LEADERS
SHARED IT WITH THOSE GROUPS.
OF THE 50 TO 100 GUYS THAT THEY
SHARED IT WITH BETWEEN ONE AND
FIVE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE
ACTUALLY INTERESTED IN
PARTICIPATING AND GOING.
THE OPPORTUNITY INVOLVED LIVING
IN A VAN WITH A BUNCH OF GUYS IN
SMALL QUARTERS, NOT SHOWERING A
LOT, GETTING DIRTY AND CLIMBING
MOUNTAINS.
WASN'T NECESSARILY APPEALING TO
EVERYBODY IN THE PROGRAM.
WE WENT DOWN TO NEW YORK AND
JUST INTERVIEWED.
SAT DOWN TO JUST MET WITH
EVERYBODY AND TALK ABOUT THAT
EXPERIENCE.
IN THE FUTURE -- THAT WAS HOW WE
INITIALLY DID IT. GOING DOWN AND
MEETING THE PEOPLE.
WE HAD LIMITED SPACE SO WE WENT
AND JUST TALKED TO PEOPLE.
IN THE FUTURE WHAT WE ARE DOING
IS THE PROGRAMS ARE BAKING IT
INTO THEIR PROGRAM SO THAT
THROUGH SUCCEEDING IN THEIR
PROGRAM YOU CAN QUALIFY TO
PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROGRAM.
AND THEN WE WILL BE HOSTING
GROUPS INSTEAD OF INDIVIDUALS.
ANTHONY'S TRIP WAS AN
INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCE.
IT'S NOT REALLY FEASIBLE
FINANCIALLY TO DO ONE-ON-ONE
EXPERIENCES IN THAT SAME WAY.
IN THE FUTURE BEING IN GROUPS OF
10, 15 PEOPLE AND THEN HAVE
PEERS, OTHER INDIVIDUALS SAME
AGE WHO ARE OFTEN PARTICIPATING
IN THE SAME ADVENTURE WITH THEM.
>> UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE OUT OF
TIME. JESSE SPIEGEL, ANTHONY
DEJESUS, THANKS FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WHEN WE COME BACK, THE
POLITICS OF RACE AND BEAUTY
EXPLORED IN A PLAY ABOUT A
WOMAN WHO WAS A SIDESHOW FREAK.
>>> FINALLY FROM US, VENUS IS
AN OFF-BROADWAY REVIVAL OF
A PLAY WRITTEN BY THE PULITZER
PRIZE WINNING AUTHOR
SUSAN-LORI PARKS. IT EXPLORES
THE LIFE OF SARAH BARTMAN, A
SOUTH AFRICAN WOMAN WHOSE
BODY WAS BOTH A BANE AND A BOON.
ZYPHUS LEBRUN HAS THE DETAILS.
>> THE PLAY VENUS
TELLS THE STORY OF SARAH
BARTMAN, A BUXOM AND CURVY SOUTH
AFRICAN WOMAN WHO WAS LURED FROM
HER COUNTRY WITH PROMISES OF
FORTUNE AND FAME. ONCE IN
EUROPE SHE FOUND HERSELF
EQUALLY REVERED AND REVILED
FOR HER PERPLEXING PROPORTIONS.
SHE BECAME KNOWN AS VENUS
HOT AND TOT,
A SIDE SHOW FREAK THAT TOURED
BRITIAN AS ONE OF THE NINE
HUMAN WONDERS.
>> SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING
THERE TO BE A DANCER AND
SHE ENDS UP DOING FREAK SHOWS.
THIS IS AROUND THE TIME WHEN
HUMAN ZOOS WERE POPULAR AND
FREAK SHOWS WERE REALLY AT THE
HEIGHT OF ENTERTAINMENT AND
SO SHE WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS
BRITIAN AND EUROPE.
>> IT IS ALSO A TIME IN WORLD
HISTORY WHEN SCIENTISTS HAD
ZOOMED IN ON BARTMAN'S TRIBE
FOR THEIR PHYSICAL
ATTRIBUTES.
>> THE TIMING AND ALL OF THAT.
AT THAT TIME WE WERE SEEING
THE BIRTH OF RACIAL SCIENCE
WAS REALLY STARTING TO TAKE OFF
AT THAT TIME.
SHE CAME AROUND AT THAT TIME
WHERE THEY WERE ALREADY PEOPLE
SCIENTISTS LOOKING TO FIND THE
MISSING LINK BETWEEN MAN AND
APE.
THEY HAD FOR SOME REASON ZEROED
IN ON THE KOI KOI PEOPLE.
>> JAH, WHO HAS A VERY SLIGHT
FRAME, HAS A DON A BODYSUIT
TO PLAY THE VOLUPTUOUS VIXEN.
SHE SAYS THAT IT HAS REALLY
HEPED HER TO GET INTO
THE CHARACTER'S MINDSET WHO
IS ALWAYS BEING OGGLED AND
PRODDED AS WELL AS
MAKE A CONNECTION WITH THE
AUDIENCE.
>> THEY WATCH ME,
TRANSFORMED INTO THIS
OTHER PERSON.
IT JUST HAPPENS IMMEDIATELY.
AND IT HAPPENED EVEN WHEN WE
WERE DOING THE FITTING WHEN THEY
WERE DOING TWEAKS.
AND TWEAKING AND SEEING WHAT
NEEDED ADJUSTING AND I
REMEMBER LOOKING AT IT AND
FEELING SO OUTSIDE OF MYSELF
BECAUSE THEY ARE LOOKING AT ME
TALKING ABOUT THIS BODY THAT WAS
ON ME BUT IT WASN'T ME AND I
SAID TO LEE, I SAID, IT'S
AMAZING. I DIDN'T EXPECT TO
GO THERE THAT QUICKLY.
>> WHEN THIS PLAY PREMIRED
ORIGINALLY NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO,
ONE OF THE CRITICISMS IS THAT IT
DIDN'T PROPERLY EXAMINE THE
UNDERLINING RACIAL OVERTONES.
JAH SAYS THE DIRECTOR
LEAR DEBESSONET
AND PLAYWRIGHT SUSAN-LORI
PARKS DIDN'T WANT THE WORK
TO BE ABOUT DEMONIZING
WHITE PEOPLE.
>> IT'S ALL ABOUT BRINGING THE
LOVE TO THE FOREFRONT, THAT
SARAH WANTED SO BADLY AND SHE
SAID I DON'T WANT IT TO BE
ABOUT WHITE PEOPLE DOING
EVIL THINGS, I WANT IT TO BE
ABOUT LOVE. AND YOU REALLY
FEEL THA ON THE STAGE AND I
THINK THE PAYOFF IS THAT IT'S
DOUBLY DEVASTATING WHEN IT
ENDS THE WAY IT DOES.
>> BUT AS THE BRIT FOUND OUT
AFTER AN ENCOUNTER WITH A
FAN, THE ISSUES OF RACISM AND
FETISHIZING THE BLACK BODY
ARE VERY REAL FOR SOME OF
HER AMERICAN AUDIENCE.
>> AND SHE SAID, AS A BLACK
WOMAN WE JUST WANT TO BE
SEEN AND HEARD AND LOVED AND
THEN I SAW THIS PLAY AND THEN
SHE STARTED STAMMERING AND SHE
COULDN'T SPEAK AND I PUT
MY ARMS AROUND HER AND SHE
JUST COLLAPSED. AND SHE COULDN'T
SPEAK SHE WAS JUST SHAKING
AND CRYING. AND I THOUGHT, OH,
I DIDN'T KNOW BUT THIS IS
WHAT I'M DOING. THIS IS WHAT
I WANT. NOT THAT I ASKED FOR IT
BUT THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING.
AND SHE FELT IT SPOKE TO HER
TODAY, A 23 YEAR OLD GIRL, IN
NEW YORK CITY IN 2017 AND I
THOUGHT, OKAY. I'M DOING MY JOB.
>> VENUS RUNS THROUGH
JUNE 4TH HERE AT THE PERSHING
SQUARE SIGNATURE CENTER.
ZYPHUS LEBRUN, INDEPENDENT
SOURCES.
>> THAT'S OUR SHOW THIS WEEK.
THANKS FOR STAYING TUNED.
TILL NEXT TIME, BE INDEPENDENT
MINDED.
♪ [THEME MUSIC] ♪
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