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GOP Plan Calls For $1,200 Stimulus Checks, Cuts To Jobless Aid; Florida Surpasses New York, Has The Second Highest Number Of Cases; Rep. John Lewis To Lie In State At Alabama State Capitol; COVID-19 Cases Top 16 Million Globally, U.S. Cases Over Four Million; Battling Racial Disparities In Business And Sports. Aired 2-3p ET

Aired July 26, 2020 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[13:59:50]

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In 2008, she would be presented with the National Medal of Arts. In 2017, just before her 101st birthday she was named Dame Commander of the British Empire, royal recognition for one of Hollywood's gilded leading ladies.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: Hello again, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

We begin with a celebration of life for Congressman John Lewis. The late civil rights icon making one final crossing over the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama this morning. It is there where in 1965, Lewis so courageously led a march for voting rights at the age of 25 years old.

And then moments ago his motorcade and hearse arriving at Alabama's state capitol in Montgomery. After a brief ceremony, Lewis will lie in state there later on this evening.

Today is day two of a series of ceremonies over the next five days now in cities that shaped Lewis' life. We'll be sure to bring it to you live once today's services resume.

All right. Let's begin with new developments on Capitol Hill. Republicans now say they want to send many Americans another round of $1,200 stimulus checks. Today White House officials and Senate Republicans announced they're working out the details of a new coronavirus aid package that would include the stimulus checks.

But the GOP plan also calls for cuts to the extra $600 in federal unemployment benefits that are set to expire this week. Trump administration officials say details of the bill are set to be unveiled as soon as tomorrow.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVE MNUCHIN, U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY: If the bill will be introduced Monday and we're prepared to act quickly. This is all about kids and jobs. This is our focus and we want to make sure something gets passed quickly so that we deal with the unemployment and all the other issues -- paycheck protection plan, tax credits to rehire people and money for schools.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. Let's talk more on this, bring in Kristen Holmes who is with The President in New Jersey where he is spending the weekend. So Kristen, what more can you tell us about this plan?

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well Fred, they're saying that it's almost done but we have to remember they've been hammering out these details now for just under a week.

And as you said this is the Republican plan, this isn't even the part where they go up against Democrats. It's really been between the White House and Senate Republicans all surrounding this $600 unemployment benefit that come from the federal government.

This has been going out since the pandemic started, a part of the last stimulus. And it goes to families every single week. Now, Democrats have said they want to extend this through the end of the year. They're saying that it is hard still for people to find jobs. The economy is still not strong. And those who can find jobs can't find childcare.

However, Republicans have said they have heard from small businesses who said that that $600 has actually made it harder for them to rehire people. They say the $600 is a deterrent. What they want to do instead is make a 70 percent of wages payment.

So this is a calculation that would have to go through the state computer system to get people separate amounts that are not this simple block number of $600.

Listen to the way Larry Kudlow described this in an interview with Jake Tapper.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY KUDLOW, WHITE HOUSE ECONOMIC ADVISER: It won't stop the assistance. It is going to cap the assistance at a level that is consistent with people going back to work. That's what we have said from day one.

First of all, state unemployment benefits stay in place.

Second of all, we will try to cap the benefits at about 70 percent of wages. You know, a University of Chicago study showed virtually 70 percent, 68 percent of people actually have higher benefits than wages.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Now, there are some concerns about this system. As I said it's a simplistic system. Even the chief of staff Mark Meadows who has been heavily involved in this process, he was on Capitol Hill yesterday. We're told he's going to be back on Capitol Hill today, working out these negotiations.

He said that there could be some states that get overwhelmed because of their antiquated systems. He said they're working with them to make sure that there is no lapse in payment.

And one thing we do want to note here is that there will be a lapse in payment for all of these Americans, for millions of Americans who get this $600 because the last final payment was yesterday and there was no extension yet. They're still hammering out these details.

Now, we have heard from Democrats already. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, did an interview this morning and here's what she said about this new proposal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: The reason we had $600 was its simplicity. And figuring out 70 percent of somebody's wages, people don't make all make a salary. Maybe they do. They make wages. And they sometimes have it vary.

[14:04:53]

PELOSI: So why don't we just keep it simple? Unemployment benefits and the enhancement which is so essential right now and that's really where we are starting.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: So you hear her talking about it there saying it's not a simple process. However, she does not say that Democrats will reject it although she doesn't say they'll accept it either.

But Fred, I want to quickly run through what else is in this proposal, if we can pull it up here. As you mentioned right at the top -- $1,200 checks for many Americans. Again, that unemployment to replace up to 70 percent of wages and then you're adding a re-employment and retention bonuses. Also looking at tax credits for small business. And then lengthening federal eviction moratorium.

And Fred, that was something that you and I had talked about at length yesterday. That was set to end at the end of this month. We have heard from millions of Americans who say that if this was not extended they would likely be evicted. We know in some cities across America they're actually setting up shelters, setting up places for lawyers to meet with tenants in case they get evicted. They were all watching this.

So this is going to be a very big deal for lot of people, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Yes. It's a really big deal. It's crisis point for so many families.

All right. Kristen Holmes, thank you so much.

The coronavirus pandemic has hit another grim milestone as cases and deaths continue to surge. Globally over 16 million people have now been infected by the disease. The U.S. is responsible for a quarter of those cases. Another 900 Americans lost their lives on Saturday alone.

Meanwhile, Florida continues to be one of the hardest hit states and just surpassed New York for the total number of confirmed cases.

CNN's Randi Kaye is in Palm Beach County this afternoon. So Randi, you know, the state has just updated their numbers and what's it look like?

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's not great, Fred, to be honest with you. Another 9,259 new cases here in the state of Florida. Another 77 deaths bringing the total number of deaths for Floridians to 5,854.

And I should note this is the 23rd day this month that we have seen the number of cases come out to be more than 9,000 new cases in a single day. Also, Florida now only second to California and ahead of New York in terms of the full number of COVID cases.

Meanwhile, if you look at what's happening statewide, hospitalizations still hovering about 9,000 people hospitalized here in this state. ICU beds -- in terms of adult ICU beds left, about 17 percent. That's all that's left here in the state of Florida. And we've also learned nearly half the deaths have been linked to nursing homes.

But meanwhile, there is talk of reopening bars and breweries here. They closed about a month ago. The restaurants are still open here certainly in Palm Beach County, you can see them behind. They're open to about 50 percent capacity. But the bars and breweries have been closed and now the regulation chief is saying that he is trying to figure out a safe way to open them.

He tweeted saying we will come up with a safe, smart and step by step plan based on input, science and relative facts on how to reopen as soon as possible.

And it is worth noting, Fred, that the Florida Brewers Guild sent a letter to the governor and the business regulation chief saying, you know what, we represent 300 breweries statewide. The industry provides about 10,000 jobs and about a third of those would be lost if we don't open real soon.

But one other note, they're thinking about opening while we're looking at a statewide positivity rate that's been really wavering between 13 percent and 18 percent for a while now. So certainly strange time to be talking about that.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

And Randi, so Florida also announced that this nine-year-old little girl has become the youngest victim to die from coronavirus in that state. What are you learning about the circumstances?

KAYE: Yes. She was just nine, as you said. Her name was Kimora Lynum. She was in Putnam County, which is in the northeastern part of the state, so not the hardest hit part here in southern Florida.

But we have learned from her cousin who's also the spokesperson for the family that she had a fever. Her mother took her to the hospital. They sent her home and she collapsed at home.

And according to the family spokesman, she didn't have any contact with anyone who had tested positive for COVID. She wasn't at camp or school. She wasn't -- she didn't have any underlying medical condition.

So it's certainly a very tragic story. I mean just nine years old, the fifth minor to die here in the state of Florida, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Oh, that's so sad. Tragic.

All right. Randi Kaye, thank you so much.

In Georgia, the numbers are still going in the wrong direction. With the state reporting its highest daily case count on Friday. The surge causing one of the state's largest school districts to change its reopening plans.

Gwinnett County School District announcing last week rather than having a hybrid of in-person and virtual learning, students will start the school entirely online.

CNN's Natasha Chen is in Atlanta for us. So Natasha, what are people saying about this latest decision?

[14:09:52]

NATASHA CHEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, it's a very mixed reaction, and Gwinnett County is not the only place going all virtual. There are several districts all around the Atlanta metro area that have recently announced that they're either delaying the school year start, or both delaying and going all virtual.

So you have a variety of parents relieved to hear that and some that are very upset.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CROWD: That's our future. That's our future.

CHEN: During a typical summer break, children aren't usually running toward a school building demanding to go to class. But in the midst of a pandemic, these students and parents in Gwinnett County outside of Atlanta are protesting the state's largest school district's change of heart on reopening, going all virtual instead of offering some in- class options.

KELLY WILLYARD, MOTHER OF TWO FIFTH GRADERS: All of a sudden two weeks before school, you know, the rug's getting pulled out from underneath us all and we're scrambling.

CHEN: Kelly Willyard told CNN's Chris Cuomo, she understands the health risks and respects parents who wish to keep their kids at home but she and her husband also need to leave home for work during the day, creating a potential childcare problem. WILLYARD: Dollywood is open. The grocery stores are open. The airlines

are open. Corporate America is opening up. Gas stations -- what have you. And then we as parents feel like we just got left in the dust and you all just figure it out.

CROWD: Kids over COVID. Kids over COVID.

RUTH HARTMAN, FULTON COUNTY PARENT: look. They can protest and that's their right. However, there's no science behind it so even if they decide to keep their kids, you know, make them go face to face, that's on them. I can't back that at all.

CHEN: Ruth Harman runs an unofficial parent Facebook group for Fulton County schools. She said the argument over in class versus virtual and whether masks should be required has gotten political when it should just be about the science.

DR. DEBORAH BIRX, WHITE HOUSE CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE COORDINATOR: What I can't tell you for sure, despite the South Korea study is whether children under 10 in the United States don't spread the virus just the same as children over 10. I think that is still an open question that needs to be studied in the United States.

We certainly know from other studies that children under 10 do get infected. It's just unclear how rapidly they spread the virus.

CHEN: The overall data in Georgia shows a staggering rise in COVID-19 cases. With the highest number of them in the red zones including Fulton and Gwinnett Counties. In nearby Cobb County, the virus is also spreading aggressively.

CHRIS RAGSDALE, SUPERINTENDENT, COBB COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT: We are in that high spreader, high transmission section right now. And we as an organization cannot add to the transmission rate increasing.

CHEN: Parent opinions vary by zip code and if they can afford childcare or private tutoring. In a June survey, 43 percent of Gwinnett County parents said they'd want all in-classroom learning while just over half of them said they'd be uncomfortable with that.

In the urban core, parents in the south and west parts of Atlanta were more likely to strongly prefer virtual learning compared to parents in the north. It is a preference often based on personal experience.

HARTMAN: I have actually attended two COVID-related funerals recently. I mean it's happening. Even if it's not happening to you, it's happening and it's terrifying.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHEN: I did hear from another parent in Gwinnett County where the protests are happening. She wanted to tell me that those protests do not represent how she feels. She feels that the right to face to face education does not supersede the teachers' right to ultimately live, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Natasha Chen, lots of heated emotions indeed.

All right. Day two of tributes to Congressman John Lewis.

Moments ago his hearse arrived in Montgomery, Alabama where he will lie in state at the Alabama State Capitol. Earlier today the civil rights icon crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in a caisson one last time.

And we'll have more on the emotional services and a live interview with his colleague Congresswoman Barbara Lee coming up.

[14:14:02]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: At any moment now memorial services set to begin at Alabama's State Capitol for the late Congressman John Lewis. His hearse arriving there in Montgomery just moments ago.

Victor Blackwell is there. And Victor, the ceremony comes just hours after Lewis' final crossing over the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma. Tell us what to expect now.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Yes. So we are waiting for the congressman to go into the Capitol Building, to be taken into the building. We know that many of the hundreds of people who were lining Dexter Avenue here are now in line waiting to pay their final respects for the congressman.

At the top of the hour we're expecting that there will be the start of that line of people going through, socially distant of course, with masks.

I spoke with a woman who had come here, she sat maybe about 15 feet from where I am now and I asked why did you come today? It is about 94, 95 degrees here. And she said because this is history.

And I remember in 1965, I could hear those marchers, those foot soldiers coming from Selma. She was living on oak street not far from here and she said she could hear them walking. She could remember Peter, Paul and Mary singing as they walked by her house. And she said she was there for that history and she wanted to be here for this moment.

We're going to hear from Governor Kay Ivey. She's going to oversee a short ceremony here as Selma, the state, and Montgomery -- they pay homage to Congressman Lewis.

[14:19:56]

BLACKWELL: He'll then go on to Washington and then to Atlanta where he'll lie in state at the capitol there and then his funeral on Thursday, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Thank you so much.

In all, six days commemorating and celebrating the life of the late congressman. Today is day two.

All right. Victor Blackwell, thank you so much from Montgomery.

And we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:24:45]

WHITFIELD: Right now live pictures. We want to take you to Montgomery, Alabama where the late Congressman John Lewis, his casket, being brought to the State Capitol there in Alabama where this evening there will be a ceremony and the congressman will lie in state.

[LIVE EVENT: CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS' CASKET BEING BROUGHT TO THE STATE CAPITOL IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA.]

WHITFIELD: This is day two of a six-day celebration of life of the congressman. He will lie in state this evening there in Montgomery, Alabama. And members of the public can come and pay their respects before the congressman. Then his journey moves on to Washington, D.C. and then Atlanta where he will be laid to rest later on this week.

The celebration of his life began with an intimate memorial service yesterday involving his five brothers and sisters and nephew. All telling poignant stories and memories of him, describing him collectively as a humble man, a family man, one of tenacity.

In a couple of hours, the doors will open there to the public. The public can come pay their respects. And, of course, family members have been asking all attendees to be sure to wear a face mask and mouth coverings as they do so to pay respects to the late congressman.

The family at the same time encouraging the masses, everyone wants to -- and this is the governor here.

[14:31:35]

You saw the Alabama governor there, Kay Ivey, helping to present the state and national flags in the form of flowers there as the U.S. military also accompanying the casket there of the late congressman, John Lewis, in this placement of the casket and a salute and right now in this intimate, more private ceremony of saluting the late congressman.

In just a couple of hours from now, the doors of the state capitol will open to the public for people to pay their respects.

On the phone with me now, while we watch this, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, she's a Democratic representative from California. Congresswoman, thank you so much for being with me.

REP. BARBARA LEE (D-CA): Thank you, Fredricka, for giving me a few moments to be with you to honor the life and legacy of a great hero and icon, our good friend and colleague, Congressman John Lewis. It's hard to imagine a world without John. WHITFIELD: So think about with us aloud all of the wonderful memories that you do have of the late congressman.

LEE: I tell you. I have so many memories, so many stories. First, let me say, watching the procession across the bridge today, that was very, very moving. It was beautiful. And it reminded me of probably the 16 or 17 times I have been with John crossing that bridge. But also I brought young people from my Martin Luther King Freedom Center in Oakland, California.

And let me tell you, John never -- there were 500, 600, 700 people there and he always took time to talk with the young people and to mentor them and to encourage them. And just this last March, while his health was failing, he was there and I didn't expect him to take them aside or to meet with them but he did and he really wanted to give them some words of wisdom and counsel.

He took time to -- everyone -- John was kind, gentle, loving human being, yet he has an inner strength that came through with his kindness.

One story, I'll always remember is Reverend Vernon Johns' daughter. Now, Reverend Vernon Johns proceeded Martin Luther King Jr. as pastor at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. And he was one of Dr. King's mentors and a great, great civil rights leader.

Well, his daughter lived -- her name was Toni Anderson. God bless her soul. She passed away about a year ago. And she had never met John Lewis. And John knew Reverend Vernon Johns. So, one day, Toni came to Washington, D.C. and I called John, and knowing how busy he was, I didn't expect him to see her right away, and he told me, he said, oh no, Barbara, bring her over here right now, right now.

I took Toni to his office, and let me tell you, Fredricka, I sat down and I listened to them both talk for about an hour about the movement, about her father, about his interaction with her father and Dr. King and it was just like a wonderful moment that I will always remember. Just the time of sensitivity he had and the love he had to want to meet Vernon Johns' daughter.

[14:35:02]

WHITFIELD: Wonderful. I mean, the compassion that you're describing -- yes. He was just a compassionate man with a huge heart and really generous. Obviously, he was generous by giving his life, dedicating his life the way he did. But, you know, it's those little moments to hear people talk about those moments where he took the time to engage and his commitment to young people, you know?

Perhaps he recognized and realized really how shaping that could be. I mean, after all, he was a teenager when he reached out to a Dr. Martin Luther King who took the time to engage with him.

Do you suppose that Congressman Lewis understood or really thought that a meeting with a young person really could be life-changing and that might have been the impetus as to why he would do it? LEE: Oh, yes, he always had hope in young people. And he knew that just a few moments could make or break a young person's hope for the future and their possibility of engaging and what needs to happen for change. You know, he got a chance to know my grandsons and granddaughters. And they learned so much from John until their lives now have been transformed as a result of their interaction with Congressman Lewis.

Also, he was an internationally -- we went to Donna led by Speaker Pelosi and Chairwoman Karen Bass of the black caucus. And a delegation black caucus went to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first enslaved Africans brought to America. John was greeted as a hero and as a person who people saw as returning home. And he was so marveled at what he saw, learned and knew what this next phase of the civil rights movement must be.

And it was just, once again, being with him at that door of no return and being with him in Ghana with the black caucus was another really powerful moment to recognize and know what -- in many ways, what a saint he was, what a Christ-like figure he was, what a person he was who really understands the connection of human kind not only in our country but throughout the world.

WHITFIELD: Forever hero globally. Congresswoman Barbara Lee, thank you so much. Thanks for your reflections. We'll be right back.

LEE: Thank you so much. Thank you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:40:00]

WHITFIELD: Coronavirus cases are on the rise despite efforts by states to slow the spread. On Saturday alone, Johns Hopkins University reported another 65,000 new cases across the country. The number of deaths also on the rise with another 900 people losing their lives on Saturday.

Joining me right now, Dr. Saju Mathew, who is a public health specialist. Doctor, good to see you.

DR. SAJU MATHEW, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: Good to see you, too, Fred.

WHITFIELD: So, we're seeing the numbers go up, yet many states have begun to institute measures to try to combat the disease, pause reopening, masks orders. What more, if anything, can states do to further slow the spread?

MATHEW: Yes. And, Fred, just real quick, on a side note, I want to thank Congressman John Lewis. As a graduate of Morehouse School of Medicine here in Atlanta, it was his sacrifices that gave me a chance to be a physician, and here I am talking to Fredricka Whitfield on CNN. So I'm humbled.

But to answer your question, Fred, there's a lot that we can do. What we're really missing is a national strategy, you know? I have always said this before. It's like we have got the playbook of rules. We know what to do but we're not playing by the rules. And what's happening is we are reacting to a lot of these problems that's happening.

We have learned from what happened in New York and we could have actually been prepared here in the south ahead of time. I still think that we need to shut down in states where the positivity rate is greater than 10 percent. I think that masks should be mandated and I really think that we need a federal mandate. We need a federal strategy with Dr. Fauci out there who can hire a group of scientists and lead us through this pandemic.

WHITFIELD: And I'm in agreement with you. Yes, we owe a lot to Congressman Lewis.

And then back to the issue of testing, it does continue to be an issue in this country. Listen to what one member of the White House's coronavirus task force told our Jake Tapper earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ADM. BRETT GIROIR, WHITE HOUSE CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE MEMBER: We are never going to be happy with testing until we get turnaround times within 24 hours and I would be happy with point of care testing everywhere. We are not there yet. We are doing everything we can to do that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: What's your level of frustration hearing people say it's not just taking a few days, it but may be ten days, sometimes or a week-and-a-half or two before they get results?

MATHEW: I was on call this weekend for my hospital. And about six of the calls that I got were all COVID-related. Patients tell me that they have not received the results or they have symptoms. And what's really frustrating is I can't really tell them specifically where to go. I do know of places of where they can go but they can't get an appointment and I've got patients waiting seven to ten days.

Listen, Fred, I have to give credit where it's due. Yes, we have ramped up testing. But if the test is not back in sooner than three days or two days, we are having people out there that can infect hundreds and thousands of people so I still think that we can do much better with testing and the turnaround time needs to be really 48 hours or less.

[14:45:04]

WHITFIELD: All right. Dr. Saju Mathew, we'll leave it there for now. Thank you so much.

MATHEW: Thank you, Fred.

WHITFIELD: We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: Moments ago, the casket of the late civil rights icon and congressman, John Lewis, arriving at the Alabama state capitol where he is lying in state.

[14:50:00]

Lewis' passing comes at a time when our nation facing a reckoning on race in America. And in this moment, everyone can learn a thing or two from the most senior living U.S. Olympian.

Herb Douglas won a bronze medal in the long jump at the 1948 Olympics. Herb Douglas not only competed athletically on an elite level, enduring indignities of racism and discrimination, he remained committed to creating a pathway of excellence in sports and in the corporate sector. He helped recruit and train black professionals, some of whom would become corporate executives.

Earlier, I had the honor of speaking to him about his contributions both on and off the field.

Good do see you, Mr. Douglas.

HERB DOUGLAS, 1948 U.S. OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDALIST: Thank you. It's good to be with you, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Thank you. Well, I'm so pleased that we are together.

So your entire life, you have been committed to greatness, not just for yourself but helping to create an archway for so many of today's athletes and beyond. But it really wasn't easy, was it?

DOUGLAS: No, it wasn't. It wasn't easy and then, again, on the other side, it was easy because my education began at home with my dad, who became sightless when I was five years old. And he taught me four basics. He taught me how to analyze, organize and initiate and follow through.

WHITFIELD: So, clearly, you used all those principles your dad taught you in order to become an Olympian and then you had use it again when traveling by ship from the U.S. to England for the '48 Olympic Games. Your fellow black Olympians, including my dad, mid-distance medalist, had to travel by ship, whereas your mostly white U.S. Olympian counterparts got to fly and then had days to get ready on the ground to compete.

How did you fight through that and still be best, still be on the podium?

DOUGLAS: Well, in essence, Fredricka, there wasn't much of a fight. When they put all of us in one closet (ph) and we had to sleep on cots, we grew closer together. And in a conversation I had with Mandela, they had all the civil rights people in South America that were of color, they said they put them in one precinct and they bounced off from one another, which we did in the 1948 Olympic Games. We pushed one another.

WHITFIELD: You pushed one another and you supported one another.

And then post your Olympic years, you would leverage your bronze medal to help open doors and prepare and hire other black people in the corporate sector. How did you do that?

DOUGLAS: Well, I would say what my dad taught me, he was in business 30 years, and of those 30 years, 24, he was blind. So I learned a lot from him and all of his customers, they were white. They were not black.

So I would always say that I learned corporate America through my dad and I've only had three jobs in my life. I had one with my dad when I was very young, nine years old until I was -- I went to college, and then after college, I went to work for Pabst Brewing Company.

I never really had a real problem getting a job and then finally 30 years, the last 30 years of my life in corporate America, I worked for Chevron and Co.

WHITFIELD: Mr. Douglas, I have two incredibly special people who are among many who appreciate your legacy and your sacrifice, your mark made, 1968 Olympian John Carlos and hall of fame sports caster and CNN Contributor, Bob Costas.

John, you first. How did you first encounter the greatness of Herb Douglas and how did he inspire you or shape you?

JOHN CARLOS, HELD UP BLACK GLOVED FIST DURING 1968 OLYMPIC MEDAL CEREMONY: Well, I was inspired by Herb Douglas based on his tenacity and vision in terms of what he did for Sheflin (ph), but even more so what he did with Ben Sheflin (ph) in terms of educating them as to what the market is, the value of black people spending money.

I think what he did was an example for like General Motors and all the rest of the companies because he was the first black corporate person to direct the CEOs of major corporations to look into the black market because we spend a tremendous amount of money back in his day and we spend a tremendous amount of money at this day.

[14:55:11]

So when I got a chance to meet Mr. Douglas, I realized that he had done quite a few things on the field of athletics as well as in the business world.

WHITFIELD: And, Bob?

BOB COSTAS, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, as someone who was involved in the coverage of 12 Olympics, eight of them, summer games, I was aware -- although it predates me, I was aware of course of Herb Douglas and of Harrison Dillard and of Jesse Owens and of Wilma Rudolph and their contributions to the Olympics movement. And then having the chance to get to know Herb through the last many years, one of the great, gracious gentlemen you will ever come across, so my friendship with Herb means a great deal to me. WHITFIELD: Fantastic. Bob Costas, John Carlos, Mr. Herb Douglas, thanks to all of you. I really appreciate your time and all of the marks you have made on history on so many levels. And, John and Bob, I'll see you later on, again, this evening and you can hear more of our conversation in our second special on Unconscious Bias, Facing the Realities of Racism, which airs tonight 8:00 P.M. Eastern right here on CNN.

And we will see all of you there again this evening. Thank you so much for being with me today. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. CNN NEWSROOM continues with Bianna Golodryga after this.

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