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CNN This Morning

U.S. Labor Market Heats Back up, Adding 253,000 Jobs in April; 253,000 Jobs Added in April, Jobless Rate Ticks Down to 3.4 Percent; Filmmaker W. Kamau Bell Explores Experiences of Mixed Kids and Families; Michele Neff Hernandez Works to Remove Mental Health Stigma. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired May 05, 2023 - 08:30   ET

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

[08:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: A Florida man has been charged after punching an umpire last month at high school baseball game. So he received 41- year-old Jorge Aponte Gonzalez as he walks toward the field proceeds to punch the 63-year-old disabled umpire knocks him out, this happened April 18. He was arrested Wednesday.

Gonzalez's son is one of the players. Joining us now from Miami CNN Correspondent Carlos Suarez I mean, if this doesn't fit the bill for why would parents do this? I'm not quite sure. What does Carlos?

CARLOS SUAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Erica. So according to the Osceola County Sheriff, there was an issue between the umpire and the son of that father, apparently the player was making some disruptions. He was seeing a couple of things on the field. And so at some point, the umpire tells the kid, look, really you should tone things down, you're being disruptive.

And the two of them, they go back and forth. It's at some point after that, that according to the Sheriff 41-year-old Jorge Gonzalez, as you sees in that piece of surveillance video, walks up to the umpire and hits him, knocks him out cold. Apparently, this is not the first time that Mr. Gonzalez has been disruptive at a baseball game that at least according to the Sheriff he's apparently had issues at other games.

The Sheriff also talked about the fact that that console is he apparently showed zero remorse about what happened in the video. You can see him just walking off shortly after that incident. Here is what the Sheriff said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF MARCO LOPEZ, OSCEOLA COUNTY AT FLORIDA: He's basically laughing because I told him you're being arrested, because I'm being arrested for defending my kid. It's not funny and this is not his first time I've heard that he's gone to other like a harmony game and another school and causes a disruption.

However, it never got to this level where he actually struck someone. And then after he strikes him, you know, the guy is not even facing him because he's a coward and then he just leaves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SUAREZ: Again, it is still unclear at this hour exactly why the umpire and that player we're going back and forth. However, you can imagine there's really not much of an excuse for why an adult would do this to an umpire in front of a group of high school baseball players. Gonzalez, he was released on about $1,500 bond and he is facing a single count of battery on a sports official as well as disrupting a school function.

HILL: Carlos, appreciate it, thank you.

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Alright, a lighter moment now may be not too late to pasta puzzling pasta mystery in New Jersey. According to WABC more than 500 pounds of pasta wasted dumped into the woods last week good old bridge New Jersey. After the El Dante discovery was made to public works employees cleaned it all up in less than an hour.

No word on how exactly they played it up. Residents are pointing to issues though with bulk garbage pickup within the town. So the locals say they know who did it. But they refuse to know that which I love.

HILL: This is fascinating. First of all, to cook that much pasta, and then to bring it somewhere and dump it just I'm very curious as to the train of thought here like oh, I have a good idea. Hey, let's cook up 500 pounds of pasta and then leave it in the woods that'll show him.

COLLINS: Do animals eat pasta --?

HILL: They do now, no, you need sauce on it.

COLLINS: Yes, I mean who's going to--

HILL: They must have put something otherwise it would have all stuck together in the--

COLLINS: How do you clean up all that from the woods?

HILL: Maybe you bring in the animals.

COLLINS: The animals eat pasta?

HILL: I mean my dog would probably enjoy like may be not all but -- yes I don't think they're that picky.

COLLINS: OK, on a more serious note.

HILL: All right. Let's talk jobs. The Labor Department just releasing the April jobs report. It could help or hurt jittery markets already on the edge about the security of Regional Banks. So what did we see? Stick with us. We're going to break down next.

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[08:35:00] COLLINS: CNN new data from the Labor Department showing that the U.S. economy added 253,000 jobs in April, the Federal Reserve obviously keeping a very close eye on this report. So we have our Chief Business Correspondent Christine Romans back with us, also Phil Mattingly our Chief White House Correspondent more clarity.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, hiring picked up. I mean, this is a strong resilient job market and the unemployment rate fell to 3.4 percent going back to where it was in January. That's a historically low number 3.4 percent my god that's full employment that that on paper should mean that anybody wants a job has a job.

What I can tell you is that bosses, you know, they can't find the workers in some cases. We haven't seen layoffs in tech and finance so that is really happening.

[08:40:00]

But overall taken all together, they're here you've got hiring picking up to 253,000 in the month and the unemployment rate is still very low. Leisure and hospitality still adding back a bunch of jobs, professional and business services, adding jobs as well.

I mean, again, defying all these headlines of tech layoffs and layoffs in the financial sector, and honestly, just so resilient a year into all of these rate hikes, I mean, it's a little surprising February and March revised down a little bit. But the average of the past six months, 290,000 jobs added.

In normal times, we'd be screaming from the rooftops about how strong that labor market is. So this is a little below that average. But more than anybody thought, except for Goldman Sachs, they said it'd be 250 --.

PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: This probably the same like on a monthly basis on this morning at 8:30 am. I get the DOL or the Labor Department released every single time, but you got to be kidding me.

ROMANS: Yes, I know.

MATTINGLY: Like the durability of the market, the durability of hiring, the ability for the U.S. economy to stay on the track that it's on, given, I think the speed and velocity how the Fed is operated, but all the other dynamics that are around two things.

One is remarkable and I don't think there's a ton of precedent for coming out of a crisis, doing all the emergency response, and then being able to maintain on the back end, when everybody has been predicting a recession for what the better part of the last year--

ROMANS: This is the longest recession watch, I mean, a year and a half--

MATTINGLY: Yes, no I pack a lunch and a cot because -- but I also think it underscores the moment we're in, which is that no one really understands exactly what's happening from a data perspective right now. And at the same time as kind of everyday Americans feel unsettled and unsure about where things are.

This is a really one fascinating from an intellectual perspective had a moment, but also, I think, an unsettling one to some degree, because I'm not sure what this means.

HILL: --right? There's no path to follow. It's always interesting to me to the sectors and the fact that we're continuing to see growth in leisure and hospitality, no matter how concerned people are the fact that they these sectors are still hiring. People are going out and spending money on those experiences that says something.

ROMANS: Yes, and coming out of the COVID crouch, you know, and wanting to buy different things, experiences and buy different kind of things. Everybody bought two sofas and five pairs of pajamas and the now they're not doing that any more than spending money on other things.

But the consumer has been really strong and driving so much of that. And you can see that in the kinds of sectors that we've been watching there. There was a Gallup poll, though, that showed almost half of Americans are worried about their money. And I think that's kind of interesting.

That's because of the bank, you know, the bank crisis, and that I'm not going to call it a crisis, but banks stress that we've seen. And so people say they're not feeling very, you know, very competent, or things but they keep spending their money and there is still broadly hiring.

I mean, I was looking at the 2019 numbers before I came out here. There were maybe it was one or two months in 2019 that saw a month like this, you know, and that was considered a strong economy. So this is still a strong, resilient labor market and wages up 4.4 percent that was stronger.

Now, that's bad, right from the Fed point of view, because they would like to see a cooling off of wages. So it doesn't stoke inflation.

COLLINS: Obviously, the White House is watching this, Mitch Landrieu was just here being telling us they'd be watching very closely to see what happened at 8:30. How do they take a report like this, and with what the numbers that we're seeing from Americans actually are and how they feel about it, versus what we're seeing in the actual numbers?

MATTINGLY: There are two pieces to it, right? Look, we keep telling you, the economy is still humming along, please believe us. And I think this will only contribute to the long held frustration as per you've heard about and known for the better for the last couple years, that people don't understand what they've done, how they've done it and why it's had an effect?

Now, to be fair, there's a dislocation for a reason or a dissonance for a reason between numbers and what the American people are feeling. And maybe they're something to do with that. But I think the reality is, if you're at the White House, you're looking at this, you're saying, we told you.

COLLINS: Yes.

MATTINGLY: We told you and it's staying that way when everybody's predicting otherwise, that's a good moment for them.

ROMANS: 3.4 percent unemployment rate after a year of rate hikes, and all--

MATTINGLY: --253 -- by seven --.

HILL: --because we have to pay some bills here so we're in a little break --. Just ahead, a new HBO documentary takes a really looks at race and racism through the eyes of mixed race children and families in America. It's a great conversation. W. Kamau Bell joins us next.

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[08:45:00]

HILL: A new HBO documentary explores race and racism through unique lens the eyes of mixed race children and families in America. The HBO original documentary film 1,000 percent me growing up mixed explores what it means to be of mixed heritage in today's America where race is increasingly a divisive issue. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I get everything but pretty much every single day. Just because we live in a diverse community does not mean that racism and all that doesn't happen.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A high percentage of interracial couples have no idea what the experience is for this child that they brought into the world.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is there anything you think us non-mixed race people need to know about mixed race people?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's not being less of one culture. It's having the opportunity to have a deeper connection to more cultures.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: And joining us now to talk more about his documentary film, the Emmy award winning Producer and Director, Host and Director of the HBO original documentary 1,000 percent me growing up mixed. W. Kamau Bell, it's so nice to have you back here with us in the studio.

W. KAMAU BELL, EMMY AWARD-WINNING PRODUCER & DIRECTOR: I know, I remember this like going back to high school.

HILL: Right? It's like old home week here and we're happy you're here for it. It's such a beautiful film and it's great to watch with your kids I will say. What is this about for you? This is a really personal journey. Why did you want to make this film?

BELL: Yes, I mean, this is the most personal project I've ever worked on, because my kids are in it all three of my daughters, me and my wife and my daughters are in there, two of them talk. We've spent a lot of time trying to keep them out of the spotlight of my career, because my career is also divisive --.

And so it was a big deal to decide if we're going to talk about mixed race kids. We want to put our kids in there. And I think if we hadn't, we'd had a mini revolt in our house.

HILL: Yes.

BELL: So they really wanted to be a part of it.

HILL: I mean, they seem like naturals, your daughters who are in there. Was there anything that really surprised you in these conversations with both your daughters and with the other families?

BELL: You know, and it's funny. All the kids like especially the younger kids really are very clear that being mixed race is not I think those of us who are older think it's like biracial or half this and half this. All the kids are like no, I'm both.

[08:50:00]

It's not fractions it's just I got more of everything. So I'm not half black and half white on both black and white.

HILL: Right, there's a young woman who says and I'm her name is escaping me at the moment but she says you know, it's not that I'm less than anything.

BELL: Yes.

HILL: There's just more of me and more to appreciate and that's actually one of the other kids. I think it was miles in the film, who said, I'm 1,000 percent human, right?

BELL: Yes.

HILL: And that's kind of where the title came from.

BELL: --he didn't know he gave us the title. Yes.

HILL: Is he going to get an extra credit on that --?

BELL: No.

HILL: No producer credit for him. I was really struck by and I said this to you full disclosure off camera, I was reminded how at younger ages, so a lot of the kids initially in this film or more elementary school, later elementary school, including your daughter, Sami, just that incredible confidence that kids have at this age and this self- awareness.

And I was struck too, you asked your daughter Sami, what she sees when she looks in the mirror, and I just want to play her response.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I like to think that mirrors don't show everything like a mirror show that outside of you, but they can't tell like the inside of you, or how you identify, like, just by the look of you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: Which is how it should be, right?

BELL: Yes --.

HILL: --cooking segment next?

BELL: Yes.

HILL: And yet we know, in this country, it's all about what do I see, and then immediately trying to put you into a category and say that you can only be one thing, even if you are--

BELL: Yes, and I think that this film is shot in the Bay Area in San Francisco Bay Area. And I think a lot of this film is a testament to the Bay Area. These kids see mixed kids everywhere, they're allowed to talk about their mixed status they're allowed to claim multiple identities.

I think, you know, they're allowed to be they them if they want to be and nobody pushes back on them. So I think the idea being that, like, this is a very specific group of mixed kids, we've heard from a lot of mixed people around the country who are like, it is not like that, where I live. So I think it's really a testament to the barrier, but also a sort of a criticism of the rest of country where kids don't feel this safe, well mixed.

HILL: It's also interesting, because you will hear the perspective from the kids from your daughters from other kids around their age, but then different generations as well. And their experience not only changes, I think with age, but we really see a difference in terms of what they have lived based on their generation.

BELL: Well, yes, I think what you've what a lot of the kids that you said are elementary school age, once you get to that middle school level, and that high school level, the outside world starts to push them a lot more. And we hear from young woman named Kailyn (sp?), who's in high school.

And you can tell that like she's in this position where she's like, I don't know, if I'm allowed to do the things other black people do, because I'm not considered black enough, which is not a thing that Sami feels. And I feel like my goal as a parent is to encourage her to hold on to the feeling of I can do whatever I want to do as a black person. But you definitely know that like then we talked about trauma in the film, that trauma starts to push in the older you get.

HILL: Are you more or less hopeful for the future, not only in this country, but for the future for the world that your daughters will inherit?

BELL: I mean, I think this is true across all social movements every generation pushes the next generation to have a little more space. And I think the generation of mixed kids who are older and mixed adults have made it possible for my daughter's generation and more space but that only happens with the work.

So my daughter's generation is got to do more and more works at the next generation hopefully has less and less work to do.

HILL: It's so great, thank you.

BELL: Thank you.

HILL: It's so nice to have you back here.

BELL: Thanks for having me here.

HILL: And the film again, you can watch it now the HBO original documentary film 1,000 percent me growing up mixed, you can stream it on HBO Max and on HBO.

COLLINS: And our thanks to W. Kamau Bell for joining us on set. Also this morning, we've been tracking this all day to have it in tomorrow the coronation of King Charles the third kicks off in less than 24 hours. We have coverage of the historic event stay with us.

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[08:55:00]

COLLINS: Alright, May, is Mental Health Awareness month the National Alliance on Mental Illness says that 1 in 5 American adults actually struggles with their mental health. But less than half of that receive treatment. This CNN hero helps millions of people navigate grief and loss.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHELE NEFF HERNANDEZ, FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF SOARING SPIRITS INTERNATIONAL: I think our society has told us that there's something wrong with you if you feel broken, and that mental health breakdowns, equal weakness. I believe that the truth is, it's the ability to allow ourselves to be broken that opens the opportunity for healing.

One of the things that we underestimate as a society is how our global mental health impacts us as individuals. And we have seen it over and over again, as we experienced gun violence on one hand, and you can see what happens when people don't get the help they need. There can be tragic consequences.

On the flip side of that, you have families dealing with the grief and trauma of living through or not living through gun violence. So we are in this canoe together. We are all impacted by gun violence, and how that influences us changes depending on where we sit in the canoe.

If you're actively struggling with your mental health, and you haven't told anybody I'm asking you today to please share your struggle with one person. And if you don't have a personal relationship with someone where you feel like you could make that call, please use one of the many mental health hotlines that are available.

It feels so lonely when you're struggling by yourself. Know that you're not alone in this, I promise.

(END VIDEO CLIP)