Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Conversations in Black America; Martin Luther King Jr. Remembered; B1 Bomber Crashes in Qatar
Aired April 04, 2008 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sadness, fear. Determination. This wasn't going to stop the movement.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He took the whole burden of America, America's poor, America in the water America in the war, America's race problems. He took them all on himself. And he was not 40-years- old.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER: I have a dream.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He may have been the most hated man in America when he was killed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Well, hey there, everybody. I'm T.J. Holmes at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Brianna Keilar.
Dr. King was killed in Memphis, Tennessee, where he had gone to support sanitation workers. And today that is the center of our daylong coverage.
Our Don Lemon is at Memphis City Hall, where a rally is getting under way ahead of a recommitment march to the Lorraine Motel.
And that's also -- Lorraine Motel is where we find CNN's Soledad O'Brien, the site of Dr. King's assassination. It is now home to the National Civil Rights Museum.
Soledad joined there by CNN contributor and radio talk show host Roland Martin, who with some of our colleagues is leading our unprecedented conversations with black America.
Now, we're also doing something unique today, something that we haven't done before here on CNN. We're listening in live to a couple of African-American radio talk shows. We want to know what black America is saying on this day.
And among the shows that we're tapping into, "The Michael Baisden Show." He is broadcasting live from Memphis. And you can chime in too. If you would like to join in this conversation, you call Michael toll-free at 1-877-622-3269. He's going to be on the air for another 50 -- that's 5-0 -- minutes, or about that long.
HOLMES: And, as we just dimensioned mentioned, a recommitment rally and march happening there at Memphis today and around city hall.
That's where our Don Lemon is for us. That's where he's been stationed for the past -- over the past several hours.
Hello again to you, Don.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hey. Hello again to you, T.J.
Hey, listen, someone is up on the stage speaking now. This rally is about to get under way. They got under way a little bit late. And I will tell you why. It's because when the presidential candidates started showing up down at the Lorraine Motel, it threw a little bit of a monkey wrench into the plans here, because a lot of the dignitaries that they are doing photo-ops with and are talking to on the radio were supposed to be here, so they're making their way over after that, after the presidential candidates leave.
And of course we know it's important for them to be there, to have conversations with those presidential candidates. But, here, the weather is getting a little bit cold. It's dried up a little bit. But it didn't stop people from coming out here. I would say people are still coming, probably 1,000 or a little bit more people showing up here at City Hall, marched all the way from Main Street from the Lorraine Motel down Main Street, where they are going to march back to the hotel in just a little bit in the Civil Rights Museum for another -- another event that happens there a little bit later on.
So, that's what's happening here. As soon as it gets under way and more people show up, we are going to continue our conversation with black America -- back to you guys in the studio.
KEILAR: Don Lemon there for us.
At the beginning of this march, a recommitment march, where people will be committing -- recommitting to the ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, and that march is going to be ending at the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. King was assassinated 40 years ago today.
That is where we find CNN's Soledad O'Brien -- Soledad.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Brianna, we have a little bit of good news in that the weather has cleared up a bit, and that has brought some more people out.
But one of the main reasons they're here is because Senator Hillary Clinton has actually gone right inside that open door. Now, you can see the wreath up there, and that wreath is right in front of the room where Dr. King was staying when he was assassinated right out in front of that balcony where the spot of the wreath really is.
Just inside, Hillary Clinton inside, completely a rock star here. People waving, hey, Hillary, as she walks back up the stairs. She came down to lay that wreath and then to shake hands, and to meet and greet people. You know she had given that speech earlier in the day, so she wasn't out talking in the rain, as we saw Senator McCain not long ago.
The folks have here have really consistently been all day, in spite of the inclement weather, because, as you mentioned, we have had a rally and a march, and speakers in the meanwhile getting up and inspiring the folks here. So, in spite of not great weather, it's been pretty interesting to watch a consistent crowd all the way through.
And then inside with the radio hosts carrying on this conversation -- people are taking tours. So, part of this is a line to get in. And as you're on the tour inside the museum, which is a fantastic museum, they get a chance to go by the exhibits and then also go by Michael Baisden and Beverly. And so it's -- and, of course, Roland.
So it's been an interesting experience I think for the folks who are doing those tours. Wonderful to see from my perspective the number of kids, the number of young people who are also doing those tours today. I think it's a good way to remind them, recommit, as the word Al Sharpton is using today, recommit them to some of the ideals that Dr. King was working toward and for.
So that is what is happening here, Hillary Clinton getting ready to head out, and she surrounded of course by lots of aides and Secret Service folks, too. And a big crowd, people still trying to get into the museum.
KEILAR: Yes, and people, they just want to see a piece of history there, of course, 40 years since Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated right there at the Lorraine Motel.
Soledad O'Brien there for us, thank you.
And it's really a moment frozen in time for so many people. Where were you 40 years ago today? As we mark the anniversary of Dr. King's death today, we want to hear from you. Go ahead. Share your stories with us. You can read others' as well at ireport.com.
(WEATHER UPDATE)
HOLMES: And Dr. King, that is what we have been talking today on this 40th anniversary of his death. He was actually in Memphis when he was killed to support sanitation workers who were on strike at the time.
Some of those striking workers still around today. We will talk with one of them, a man who says after Dr. King came, they were finally treated as men.
KEILAR: And we will also be listening in on African-American talk radio and finding out what black America is saying about this day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ANDREW YOUNG, FORMER U.N. AMBASSADOR: I think the world lost a leader that it wouldn't follow. In spite of the fact that he's worshipped now, he was feared and he was seen as a threat when he was alive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REVEREND JESSE JACKSON, FOUNDER, RAINBOW/PUSH COALITION: He may have been the most hated man in America when he was killed. He was very loved the next day, April the 5th. But Dr. King died a very hated and resented man.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: All right. Let's take a look back in Memphis, where our coverage continues today on this 40th anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
I'm told now we don't have that live picture of city hall there in Memphis, but a rally there, a recommitment rally is going on.
But here's another live picture, "Michael Baisden" show happening, broadcasting there as well from Memphis.
Let's listen in here, as we have been doing today, listening in to black radio, to hear the issues and concerns people are having today. We will take a listen for a while.
MO'NIQUE: ... who was truly in it and I felt I was out of my league. It was like these were the brothers and sisters who really went through it.
MICHAEL BAISDEN, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: These are the godfathers, yes.
MO'NIQUE: So, it's just -- this occasion is really, really special. It's something that we all as a country need to come out for.
BAISDEN: Let me bring you and George (ph) in on this conversation, George. I need you in on this as well.
Oftentimes, when we think about the civil rights movement, we think of only black people being involved. And as you all know, I have been a very inclusive radio personality from the very beginning, starting with you, George.
What do you say about the photos that you saw at the museum when there were whites being killed, there were whites being beaten? People of all races were involved in this. What do you to say to the family about that? GEORGE WILBORN, COMEDIAN: You know what? That's what incredible, man. That's what incredible about this time, is that we were always raised the same way.
We never -- none of us are was raised to just only love black people, or only fight the black cause. So, to see so many -- look at how many white friends, friends, that we all have. To see those people who were willing -- they were bitten by dogs. They were sprayed by water hoses.
(CROSSTALK)
BAISDEN: They were killed, Mo'Nique.
WILBORN: They were killed.
MO'NIQUE: Well, you can even go back further. Go back to Harriet Tubman.
(CROSSTALK)
BAISDEN: Let's goes there.
(CROSSTALK)
MO'NIQUE: ... white folk that was helping her out.
(CROSSTALK)
BAISDEN: The underground railroad.
WILBORN: That's right.
MO'NIQUE: Oftentimes, when we say black power, it's not so much just for all black people, but it is taking a stand and saying, listen, we are worthy and we are valuable and not all white people feel that we're three-fifths of a human being.
BAISDEN: That's right.
WILBORN: That's right.
MO'NIQUE: So, for the ones that say, listen, we don't want to get caught up in that foolishness, we want equality, we want justice for all, those are the white people that we say, listen, come on. We appreciate it. We dig you. And those are the people saying, we're not going to tolerate this foolishness and the ignorance that keeps on going on.
(CROSSTALK)
BAISDEN: Hold on a second. Let me get Joe in on this. Joe is calling in from Baltimore.
Joe, how you doing? Say hello to Mo'Nique -- Mo'Nique and George Wilborn. CALLER: Yes, I'm doing fine.
BAISDEN: What's happening, Joe?
(CROSSTALK)
CALLER: Hey. I'm just watching your show, man.
BAISDEN: Thank you, man. Thank you so much.
So, Joe, did you see the special on CNN last night?
CALLER: Yes, I did. It was fantastic.
BAISDEN: What was the most compelling thing for you?
CALLER: Well, the whole show, really. I really liked the whole show. The question and answers was great.
BAISDEN: You know, Joe, I bet a lot of people -- and I will run this by you guys again -- didn't understand that the reason why Martin was here, which is why I continue to shot out the truckers from around the country, he was here for the sanitation workers.
And what I didn't know until last night, George and Mo'Nique, is that I didn't know sanitation workers had gotten killed as a result of being in the back of one of the trucks, and the machinery crushed these two men. And that's what started the movement.
MO'NIQUE: Yes. And the movement continues. The movement never stops. And, you know, I asked my husband last night. I said, what happened? What happened? And it's like, once we got bills passed, we felt like we won; it was the end of it. The movement never, ever stops until there is 100 percent equality.
(CROSSTALK)
MO'NIQUE: And I just have to bring something to the table for a second, because I know that we have a lot of political people here, and I know that Hillary Clinton was here, and McCain was here, and Obama's doing what he has to do in Indianapolis.
But I must say, the way that I feel personally, that equality can be had once Barack Obama is in office, because that brother stands for equality for all, equality for all. And that was Dr. King's whole message, equality for all people.
And I think, once we get to that, this world will be a much better place. There will not be the haves and have-nots. There will be the uses. It's just us.
(CROSSTALK)
MO'NIQUE: Jesus means, just us. So, let's get back to what it is.
BAISDEN: Go ahead. Say hello to Lori (ph).
MO'NIQUE: Hey, Lori. How you doing, sugar?
CALLER: Hey, girl. I'm a curvaceous girl, too.
MO'NIQUE: I heard it in your throat, baby. I know a fat girl when I hear one.
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
CALLER: ... is so deep (INAUDIBLE) And I have an autistic son, and he loves to eat, Mo'Nique, so I'm trying to give him some crackers, so that he can eat, so I can have this conversation.
WILBORN: Well, put some peanut butter on it for him, because you know the cracker ain't going to do it alone.
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
CALLER: ... big boy. And he likes to eat.
BAISDEN: Lori, did you see the CNN special last night?
CALLER: No. Autism whipped me up, and I had to go to sleep.
(CROSSTALK)
CALLER: Autism is a full-time job.
BAISDEN: We had a conversation about that, too, and that was very compelling on "LARRY KING" the other night.
Sharon (ph) is on with us.
Sharon, how you doing?
CALLER: I'm fine, praise God. Hello, everyone.
BAISDEN: Everything is everything. Say hello to George and Mo'Nique.
CALLER: Hey, Mo'Nique. Baltimore in the house.
(CROSSTALK)
MO'NIQUE: Hey, Baltimore.
WILBORN: What's up, girl?
BAISDEN: What's up, Sharon?
CALLER: I'm calling, if I can, to get out a socioeconomic empowerment venture, if I may.
BAISDEN: Sure. Go ahead.
CALLER: OK, to contrast, Circus Circus Casino in Las Vegas has a five-acre indoor park with 23 attractions. And they net $13 million a quarter. So, my idea is 10,000 citizens of Baltimore invest $50 on our market date. We purchase six acres of land at Baltimore City, build a triple track go-cart park, testing the fuel, of course.
(CROSSTALK)
BAISDEN: That girl got a -- you have got a financial -- you need to send that to Obama, girl. Stand by. I'm going to have you send that to us.
(CROSSTALK)
BAISDEN: William, what's going on? How you doing?
CALLER: Oh, I'm fine. How are you, Michael?
BAISDEN: Everything is everything. We're live from Memphis, Tennessee. What's happening?
WILBORN: That was an infomercial.
CALLER: Oh, I'm just keeping up with what is going on with this election and today's important events.
BAISDEN: Yes, make sure you are by the television all day, man. It's a very important event going on down here.
CALLER: I'm watching you can CNN with mute right now, so I can hear you, because there's a time delay.
BAISDEN: That's all good. One of the things that I found very interesting, you talked about the candidates being here. I spoke about this earlier, George, of the criticism about Barack Obama not being here. One thing that we have to make perfectly clear, Barack Obama cannot be the only leader.
MO'NIQUE: Yes.
BAISDEN: Even he, I'm sure, will attest to that. We all have to be leaders, George.
(CROSSTALK)
BAISDEN: And the same with Jena 6. Although the show was a catalyst behind it, other radio personalities got involved, community leaders, pastors. It can't be about one man, Mo'Nique.
MO'NIQUE: I totally agree. And I'm really -- I'm excited that Obama's where he is.
BAISDEN: So am I. MO'NIQUE: Because what that brother is saying is, I trust people to take this out. I trust people to keep it moving. And, right now, he is a political candidate. Right now, he is trying to become the president.
And he will become the president of the United States of America. So, we, as a people, have to understand that. Right now, we have got this covered. We have got Memphis covered, baby. And Barack got Indianapolis covered.
(CROSSTALK)
WILBORN: We have got it covered like a blanket.
MO'NIQUE: We have got it covered. So, we can't criticize. We have to understand and appreciate what that brother is trying to do.
So, Barack, do what you have got to do in Indianapolis. Michael Baisden, myself, George, Al Sharpton, Jesse, all the brothers that was in the struggle, we're here. So, we understand.
(CROSSTALK)
BAISDEN: It is overwhelming when you have a chance to talk to these Senator Specter and community leaders, George, who have been a part of this thing for such a very long time. You don't get a real appreciation for the sacrifice until you see it. You can see on their faces what they have been through over those years.
And we complain about the little sacrifices that we have to make. Look at what these men and women have been through.
WILBORN: You know, I thought about that. I heard no one complaining about the rain.
BAISDEN: Not one person.
WILBORN: And you know what? And I just finished looking at the powerful water hoses that I said, these drops of rain that just fell on me...
BAISDEN: Say it again, George.
WILBORN: ... they pale in comparison of the forceful water that I saw sweeping people down the streets of Memphis, and Montgomery, and all those...
BAISDEN: And Birmingham, yes.
WILBORN: And Birmingham.
So, you know what? I think the people do understand that, you know what, at this point in time in life, the little stuff, we're not going to worry about.
MO'NIQUE: We're not going to worry about it. WILBORN: We're not going to sweat the small stuff. It's time for us to attack the real issues that are plaguing this country. We need health care in this country. Our old people, our young people cannot go to the doctor, get medicine. We need an education system in this country.
(CROSSTALK)
BAISDEN: Let me do this real quick.
WILBORN: We have big issues to deal with.
BAISDEN: Let me do this real quick. I have got to play this song before we're getting out of here. We're running a little long, but I have got to play this song for every white, Latino, Asian, Native American out there.
HOLMES: All right. We have been listening in to a very good conversation there, a spirited conversation there. Michael Baisden there, we're seeing, giving a shout-out to CNN, of course, there, as we are taking part of his show. And the conversation with black America continues there with Mo'Nique there.
You can call into that show and be part, as you heard that listener. One of the callers to the show actually said that he had to turn his TV down, because he watching CNN and he called into the show and got on. But you can do the same thing there, folks -- 877-622- 3269, if we can throw that number right back up -- 877-622-3269, if you want to call into "The Michael Baisden" show and be a part of this conversation today.
KEILAR: And when we come back, Dr. King's daughter, we will be hearing from the Reverend Bernice King as our special coverage continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Folks, we're just getting word here that a U.S. plane has been -- has gone down. This is coming to us from Al-Jazeera. That's the Arab network, again, coming from them, that a U.S. plane described as a B-52 blew up, is what it's describing, blew up during a landing in Qatar because of technical difficulty.
Again, we want to reiterate here that this news is coming to us from Al-Jazeera is the report we're getting from them, that a B-52, a U.S. plane blew up during a landing in Qatar. We're trying to confirm this story ourselves, but this is just -- we wanted to bring you this as being reported by Al-Jazeera, the Al-Jazeera.
Our Barbara Starr is trying to -- we're trying to get her on the line. She's of course our Pentagon correspondent, who could certainly help us wade our way through this story. But we're trying to get this confirmed ourselves, but, again, Al-Jazeera reporting that this B-52 has gone down.
We will bring you more information as soon as we get it here. (WEATHER UPDATE)
HOLMES: Want to turn back to our coverage today of the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. Our coverage continues from Memphis.
Now we want to our Don Lemon, who's been standing by for us outside of the city hall there in Memphis.
Hello again to you, Don.
LEMON: Hey, hello. T.J., don't go anywhere, because I'm going to ask you a question. And go with me. I know you're going to think I'm crazy, but I'm going to walk this way. So, stay with me.
If I said I would give you 90 cents -- come on over here, Jeremy (ph) -- to get in there, sit in that garbage, what would you think? I'm crazy?
HOLMES: I would think you're crazy. Doesn't sound like a good deal there.
LEMON: Right. If I asked you, oh, wait, what about $1.33 or maybe $1.70 or $1.90? You would still think I was crazy, right?
HOLMES: Still not sounding good, no.
LEMON: Yes.
OK. So, here's why I'm asking you that. That's about how much garbage workers, sanitation workers made back in the 1960s, anywhere from maybe 80 cents an hour, 90 cents, on up to maybe $1.80, $1.90, people walking by, throwing their trash in.
And then the reason I asked you that, they had to sit amongst the trash in the back of the truck in order to go to the landfill. They didn't have this fancy thing that we have now. They had to go in people's backyard, carry tubs that were leaking with garbage, carry it on their shoulders and on their heads in order to make a living.
The whole reason -- one of the reasons Dr. King came here, we have been telling you about the sanitation workers. I have been carrying these around. Robert Walker, we don't hear much about him. Echol Cole, we don't hear that much about him. Those were the two sanitation workers who died sitting on garbage in the back of the truck when the trash compressor malfunctioned, because they were trying to earn a living. They were trying to get refuge in driving rain, and they died.
Reverend King came to Memphis. I talked to two sanitation workers, one who was here back then 40 years ago and one who works there now. They're father and they're son. We wanted to know -- we wanted to know from them, have things changed since then? Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JAMES MANUEL SR., FORMER SANITATION WORKER: That's the worst moment I had on the job.
LEMON (voice-over): James Manuel has come a long way since the 1960s, when he first became a sanitation worker in segregated Memphis, Tennessee.
JAMES MANUEL SR.: You worked outside in 100 degrees or 90-some degrees.
LEMON (on-camera): It's hot, smelly. The garbage is leaking on you.
JAMES MANUEL SR.: Right. And it was tough. That's all I can say.
LEMON (voice-over): And it was dangerous. Back then, Manuel says people didn't put their garbage out on the curb. He and his fellow workers, all black, had to retrieve it from backyards. He said the company didn't provide gloves or uniforms.
LEMON (on-camera): How much money were you making then?
JAMES MANUEL SR.: Well, when I started, I think I was making $1.33 an hour.
LEMON: One dollar and 33 centers an hour...
JAMES MANUEL SR.: Right.
LEMON: ... to pick up garbage?
JAMES MANUEL SR.: Right.
LEMON: And half of it's leaking on you?
JAMES MANUEL SR.: Right.
LEMON (voice-over): The walking buzzards, as they were called, had to carry the leaking 60-gallon, filthy tubs on their shoulders or heads, and then they had to ride in the back of the truck with the garbage to the landfill.
JAMES MANUEL SR.: You had to sit on top of the garbage to the landfill or whatever.
LEMON (on-camera): Really? People did that?
JAMES MANUEL SR.: Yes.
LEMON: Sit on top of the garbage?
JAMES MANUEL SR.: Yes.
LEMON (voice-over): That's how two sanitation workers died in February of 1968. To escape a driving rainstorm, they huddled in the back with the putrefying garbage like the workers in this picture. They were accidentally crushed by a malfunctioning trash compressor.
After that, sanitation workers went on strike, and Dr. King came to Memphis. It was here he gave his last speech, on the evening before an assassin's bullet took his life on the balcony of the now infamous Lorraine Motel. James Manuel had attended the rally.
JAMES MANUEL SR.: I feel bad about that. The whole Memphis feels bad about that.
LEMON: Now, 40 years later, Manuel's son, James Jr., also works for the sanitation department.
JAMES MANUEL JR., SANITATION WORKER: Oh, I admire and I respect him. He's my father. He took care of me when I couldn't take care of myself. He taught me right from wrong. That's one of the goals. I wanted to follow in his footsteps, because I'm a zone supervisor.
LEMON: Today, the working conditions, while not perfect, are better. And, this time, young and old, black and white, are working together.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: So, 40 years later, they have got gloves. They have got uniforms. They don't really have to work now if it rains.
But you know what? They still don't have a pension 40 years later. And many of the basic needs, things that they were fighting for 40 years ago, they still don't have, still meeting with local unions and officials to try to get some of those rights. And that's what they say this recommitment ceremony -- recommitment ceremony -- is for 40 years later, where they're going to be marching from here, city hall, back to the Civil Rights Museum, and back to the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. King lost his life.
So, there you go, T.J. I said 90 cents, $1.80, $1.90, I don't think your nor I would do that, but those are -- that's what people before us had to deal with in order to make a living and take care of their families. So, we're definitely very fortunate. I can attest to that, and I'm sure you will as well.
HOLMES: You know, that's absolutely right. It puts things in perspective in that way. It's hard for us to even fathom something like that, what other folks were going through. But you're absolutely right.
Good -- good illustration there for people to see.
Don, we appreciate you.
LEMON: Yes.
KEILAR: Now, part of our unprecedented coverage today is opening up a dialogue. That's why this is called Conversations with Black America.
And here you are looking in on The "Michael Baisden Show," which is broadcasting there from the Lorraine Motel in Memphis.
And Michael Baisden there on the right having, actually, CNN contributor Roland Martin as one of his guests. They're also taking callers, as well.
So let's listen in to what they're saying.
BAISDEN: ...because of the Memphis sanitation workers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.
BAISDEN: And, of course, you know, the news came out today that 80,000 more people have lost their jobs. I mean you want to talk something that is timely, being here timely. I believe I was listening to Dexter King on earlier today. And so many other people realize the timing of this is not coincidental.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.
BAISDEN: You have the truckers thinking about striking, you have the economy that's in disarray, you have the war.
ROLAND MARTIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: You have the war in Iraq.
BAISDEN: A war that is going on, George.
(CROSSTALK)
BAISDEN: And for me, there is no more important time for everyone to step up and be leaders. I was saying to George earlier -- and I'll let you comment on this, George, and then throw it back to Roland -- about the importance of all of us being leaders. Roland asked the question, what are we going to do on Monday?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And that's important. That's important for us to sit and really analyze that question and say what are we going to do as human beings, as individuals? What am I specifically going to do to make a difference? And that's -- they start putting the pressure on ourselves instead of keeping on looking for someone else.
BAISDEN: Did seeing what you saw today in the museum, George, even make that point more important?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, it hit home. It was incredible for me. And me being the father of a 17-year-old daughter and a nine-year-old son, that makes me even more -- that much more responsible so that I can raise them in a way to say you know what, you have an obligation to mean something in this world and to this world. What do you -- I have to be something and do something so I can teach my kids to do something and be something.
MARTIN: Anyway, you know, Michael, Dr. King went to college at 16.
BAISDEN: Yes, I heard you say that earlier today.
MARTIN: At 16.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow!
MARTIN: And in this city, right now in Memphis, there's a 61 percent dropout rate.
BAISDEN: That is incredible.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's incredible.
MARTIN: In Chicago, 35 percent of young black men graduate. So, if you're sitting at home saying well, I don't know where to start, here's where you start. Tell your kids read and read now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
MARTIN: You know, and tell them to study and study now. We can talk all day about poverty, but if you don't have an education...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Education.
MARTIN: ...you can't get a job.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's right.
MARTIN: If you don't have an education, you can't go to college. If you don't have an education, you can't raise a family or feed them, provide for them. And so for us, the most fundamental issue facing black America today is the fact that our kids are not getting educated.
BAISDEN: Funny that you would say that. The only reason I'm sitting here is because I began reading again and educating myself. You know, so much of what I saw in the museum, George, in terms of the boycotts -- economics.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's right.
BAISDEN: In terms of slavery, economics.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sure.
BAISDEN: So much of what we're dealing with right now has something to do with economics. And I think we need to understand that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's right.
BAISDEN: And if we don't get the education, we can't make the money to provide for ourselves. If we continue with this war, we don't have the money to build the schools, to pay the teachers and do all these other things.
Do we understand the economic impact of everything that has gone on throughout history?
MARTIN: No. I think we understand it, but do we want to accept it as the reality? Do we want to keep spending? Do we want to keep providing resources elsewhere?
That's just what the challenge is. And when George said it's about us, that's the whole point. Not one person can save everybody. But I've got to go back -- I think back to Nehemiah. When Nehemiah wanted to rebuild a wall around Jerusalem, the people had to agree with the vision. But there was something he said, Michael, and for those of you who are like who's Nehemiah, it's called the Bible.
(LAUGHTER)
MARTIN: The wall in front of...
(AUDIO GAP)
HOLMES: Ah! Not quite. We're trying to see if that signal would hold on there for us. We certainly wanted to hear what Roland Martin said. It seems like we might have it back.
Let's see if we can finish up on this point here.
MARTIN: ...not worried about what's happening in Oakland, focus on Dallas.
(AUDIO GAP)
HOLMES: All right. Yes, we're going to go ahead and jump out of this.
As we've been seeing today in our coverage out of Memphis that there is some nasty weather that's been going through -- a lot of rain and whatnot happening there in Memphis right now so it might be messing with our signal a little bit. But, yes, we were able to dip in and listen in to The "Michael Baisden Show." Again, part of our Conversations with Black America today.
And when we come back, Dr. King's daughter. We'll here from the Reverend Bernice King, as our special coverage continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: Welcome back to our special coverage of one of the darkest days in American history. Today marks the 40th anniversary of the death of civil rights champion Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. . The Nobel Peace Prize winner was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee on the 4th of April back in 1968.
HOLMES: And as we've been doing throughout the day, listening into black radio. The "Michael Baisden Show" going on right now.
Let's listen in again.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As successful as he is, if not white, Latinos and people of all other races were participating.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely.
(AUDIO GAP)
MARTIN: ...in Appalachia right now who have the same sorry education as black folks in Detroit.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's right. That's right.
MARTIN: There are whites in rural Georgia, in rural Pennsylvania and rural North Carolina who have the same dilapidated schools as a young black kid in Houston, Texas.
And so that's what (AUDIO GAP) comes in. And so you...
(CROSSTALK)
MARTIN: ...might be white -- or be black, but your issues are still the same -- bad schools.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The vast majority of people do not care about that small, minute part of the world (AUDIO GAP) or thinks in that tunnel. People want change.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They do.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, people want -- don't (AUDIO GAP). People are tired (AUDIO GAP) poverty.
MARTIN: Because broke is broke.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Broke is broke, man.
BAISDEN: Let me grab a caller.
Latoya, Latoya, broke is broke.
(AUDIO GAP)
LATOYA: Hi, Michael.
How are you?
BAISDEN: I'm wonderful.
Say hello to George and Roland Martin.
LATOYA: Hi, George.
Hi, Roland.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How you doing, dear?
LATOYA: How are you guys?
(AUDIO GAP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, Mo'Nique.
MO'NIQUE: Hi, baby.
(AUDIO GAP)
HOLMES: All right, now, we're trying to stay in and listen in to Michael Baisden, but again, we've got some tricky weather going on and it's playing tricks on our signal there and some of our technology. But we'll try to clear that up and maybe get back into that.
But we're kind of at the mercy of the weather today. It's been kind of nasty today there. But listen in. Conversations with Black America today. We're listening to black radio.
KEILAR: And we're following so many events today. The epicenter of them, of course, Memphis. One of the things going on is a Recommitment March. Folks there recommitting themselves to the ideals of Martin Luther King, Jr.
And this march is going to be starting here at city hall there in Memphis. But it's going to be ending at the Lorraine Motel -- the site where 40 years ago, Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. And it is at the Lorraine Motel where we find CNN's Soledad O'Brien.
Hi, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Hey, Brianna.
Yes, you know, you were talking about weather sort of causing some problems for your connections with the radio folks. And you can see behind me, this is kind of the reason why. The rain is kind of going sideways now. It's been a very gloomy day and yet that has not stopped people from coming out at all.
Thousands of people have been coming through the museum, taking a tour that includes sort of the radio hosts, many of whom who have set up inside the museum, and then going up and being able to tour, really, right through the boarding house. It's all connected and it's a wonderful, wonderful exhibit here.
The crowds are gathered, actually, now, on the side of the radio tent, because they're listening in very intently to what's going on between Roland and George and Michael Baisden, as well. And we've got big crowds out still.
And the line, as you can see, of people who are trying to wait to get into the museum -- again, in spite of the weather -- and this is not so bad considering how it has been sort of awful for part of the day.
But it's really been quite a remarkable day. One person who we had a chance to talk to earlier who is not here but who is where you are, in Atlanta, was Bernice King, five-years-old when her father was assassinated. We talked to her a little bit earlier today about her loss and how it's affected her life.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REV. BERNICE KING, MARTIN LUTHER KING'S DAUGHTER: The day after he was assassinated, his body was flown back to Atlanta. And my mother was trying to prepare me for seeing my father in a different form. And she said, now when you see your father, he's going to be lying in a casket and he won't be able to talk to you.
And I don't recall her ever really sharing with me the totality of him being killed and things of that nature. And it could have happened in terms of me. I know what she did with my siblings. But I think for me, she just wanted me to be ready to see him in another form and try her best to prepare me for it.
And the strangest thing happened. I raised the question with her, I said, well, how is he going to eat?
Because I remember so often being at the dinner table with my father and family and seeing him oftentimes reach in this little glass bowl to pick up these little long stemmed onions with the bulb -- that white bulb at the end -- and chewing on them like they were carrot sticks or celery sticks. And so I was concerned about him eating.
She said, essentially, God was going to take care of that. And she didn't know what else to say. She was struggling to figure out how do you really tell a five-year-old. She hugged me and said, mommy loves you.
O'BRIEN: Of course, he wasn't just a father, he was an icon. I think it was JFK, Jr. who once said that everybody knew his father better than he did.
KING: Yes.
O'BRIEN: I mean, was it difficult for you that, you know, America kind of has co-opted your father. We all believe that, in some way, we have ownership of him, too. But he was your father.
Is that hard?
KING: Yes, it's a constant struggle and a constant battle, because you know, you spent five years, you know, essentially having to share him with the world and now that he's gone, you continue to have to share him. And it's -- I don't have a problem with sharing him and I don't have any problem with other people attaching to his legacy and continuing it. I think my constant struggle is just the protocol of it all oftentimes, as the children of Dr. King, we tend to be overlooked sometimes and pushed back sometimes.
And, you know, we've dealt with that throughout our entire life. But it doesn't make it any easier, even today as a 45-year-old. But, you know, we are transcending that and trying to keep our mind focused on the greater picture and understanding that he was a man sent by God to this nation to try to call us back to our foundation.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: One of the things Clarence Jones, Martin Luther King's personal attorney, who we had a chance to talk to earlier today, said was that he -- whenever Martin would do a remarkable speech or sermon, he'd say you've got to copyright that. And because of that forethought, it is really that that has become what the King family has been able to hold onto.
Because of those copyrights -- I mean because the law is on their side when it comes to the father owning his own speeches and his own works, that has really made a difference today. So it's been, you know, a real forethought on the family lawyer's part that that happened today.
Very interesting to talk to Bernice King and, of course, very interesting to talk to some of the folks here. We ran into a couple of Amish people who came down and wanted to take part in the celebration. You know, it's just remarkable to see the difference in the types of people who are out here all walking through the museum or just enjoying the day as miserable, frankly, as it is, but really happy to be here and take part in this commemoration -- Brianna.
KEILAR: And Soledad O'Brien, thanks for bring that to us. We appreciate it.
A moment frozen in time -- where were you 40 years ago today? Well, today, as we mark the anniversary of Dr. King's death, we want to hear from you. We want you to share your stories. And you can also check out the stories of others at I-Report.com.
HOLMES: And we want to follow up on a story we brought you earlier about a bomber -- a U.S. bomber that had crashed in Qatar.
We're now getting word from the Associated Press that this was a B-1 bomber rather than a B-52 bomber, that was reported earlier -- some reports from Al Jazeera. But this is the report we're now getting from A.P., is that this was a B-1 bomber that has crashed at the American military base in Qatar.
Now, this base in particular here, of course, in the Middle East, in Qatar, is the headquarters of all air operations in the Middle East for the U.S.
Now, no word on any casualties at this point, according to the "Associated Press," and no word just yet about what might have caused this bomber to go down. So word is now from the "Associated Press" reporting that a B-1 bomber has gone down in the Middle East, in Qatar, at the U.S. military base there.
We will continue to follow this story and try to work more details, also get more and possibly confirm that ourselves here at CNN.
But the "Associated Press" now passing along that it was a B-1 bomber. We are all over that story. We will report back to you as soon as we get news.
Other news we do have today is on the severe weather front -- some violent storms tearing across the South. Once again, our weather experts keeping track of all the watches and warnings. And as you can see from that picture, there is a lot going on.
We'll have the details right here in THE NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: In this week's Fit Nation segment, the story of Sharon Twitchell. She is the young retiree who says that without her computer, she would probably still be over 220 pounds.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): By all accounts, Sharon Twitchell lived a quiet suburban life. But she had a darker side.
SHARON TWITCHELL, LOST 110 POUNDS: I would find any reason to eat. You know, I would do a load of laundry and reward myself for doing a load of laundry. I had stashes in the house hidden away. And I was doing basically the same thing that an alcoholic does.
GUPTA: Frightened by her actions, she decided to seek help.
TWITCHELL: I went to my doctor hoping, of course, for the little magic pill, which we all know doesn't exist, but in our hearts we hope it does. And I saw the "W" start to form on his lips. And I said don't go there. Don't say Weight Watchers. I won't go to the meetings.
GUPTA: Her doctor persisted, suggesting the online version of Weight Watchers instead.
But could an online program be as effective as face-to-face interactions?
TWITCHELL: It's good because it keeps me in check. Something goes in the mouth, it goes in the computer.
GUPTA: She was diligent in recording everything she ate as part of the Weight Watchers regimen and began exercising six times a week. She never set foot in a meeting.
Now more than 100 pound lighter, Sharon says her weight loss has completely changed her life and her marriage.
TWITCHELL: My husband went out and bought a new diamond wedding band for me. And as he slipped it on my finger he said, this is a renewal of our vows. And it has. I mean, we had a partnership for about 15 years. Now we actually have a marriage again.
My name is Sharon Twitchell and I have lost 110 pounds. GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: Hi, there.
It's 50 past the hour and here are three of the stories that we're working on in the CNN NEWSROOM.
A large part of the Southeast under watches and warnings as we speak. The Atlanta area -- it was hit by a tornado just three weeks ago, you probably remember. We certainly do. And it is under a tornado watch again today. A tornado was reported on the ground in Talladega, Alabama.
Michigan Democrats have officially given up hopes of having a new presidential primary, saying it's just not practical. Hillary Clinton won the vote in January, but national party officials say that election doesn't count because it was held too early.
And Queen Elizabeth's 86-year-old husband is in the hospital. A spokesman for the British royal family says Prince Philip is suffering from a bad cold that has gotten worse.
HOLMES: And, of course, today, folks, we've been having a conversation with black America today, on this anniversary on the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. .
There a live picture out of Memphis, Tennessee and the Lorraine Motel, that balcony where Martin Luther King was shot and killed. We've been hearing personal stories from those who knew Dr. King and his family members, as well. We've also been hearing from you -- folks out there who have their own personal memories. And we're going to share some more of those through our I-Reports, coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, some CNN i-Reporters have vivid memories of where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news from Memphis about Dr. King. We've been soliciting some of those I-Reports and here are a few now.
One from Barbara Warren of Snellville, Georgia. She says: "I was at home in Miami, Florida at the tender age of 18. It was the second worst day of my life -- the worst being JFK's assassination. I actually thought the world was coming to an end. My father had a strange look on his face, which I remember vividly, but did not understand because he didn't discuss certain things with the family. Dr. King's assassination caused me to research black history and race relations in America more than I had ever done before. When I was in school, we didn't learn much about the civil rights movement. But when Dr. King was killed, I thought there must have been some reason why someone would assassinate him. I wanted to know why. I wanted to know why one mattered so much." KEILAR: And George Tinsdale of Ridgefield, New Jersey writes: "I was 10 years old when Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. I'll never forget turning on the news and seeing Chet Huntley and David Brinkley announcing King's assassination. It was devastating, even for a 10-year-old. Martin Luther King was a symbol of hope, of progress. He was a symbol to a new way of thinking. At that time, it appeared his murder had destroyed that hope. The U.S. has never been the same since King's death."
HOLMES: Well, Wall Street rolls on today. We'll have a check of the action there and a look at the closing bell. You'll get an idea of what's been happening there.
That's straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: It is about that time, isn't it?
HOLMES: Yes.
KEILAR: The closing bell is about to ring on Wall Street.
HOLMES: Susan Lisovicz, we're scared to ask sometimes, but how did it go today?
SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not so bad considering.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
KEILAR: All right, Susan. Thanks very much.
HOLMES: It's now time to turn our attention to "THE SITUATION ROOM" and Suzanne Malveaux -- it's all yours.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.voxantshop.com
