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Iranian Cartoons Aim to Bridge Cultural Gap; Bishop T.D. Jakes Writes Honors Mother Through Book

Aired May 11, 2006 - 14:30   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, if you have ever seen T.D. Jakes preach, you know how he dominates the pulpit. As a matter of fact, he's referred to as America's best preacher and one of the most influential black men in the United States. But hold on just a minute. Bishop Jakes didn't become a spiritual shepherd to millions of people overnight.
It started with this woman, Odith Jakes, T.D.'s mama. She's made the man behind the ministry and he has no problem giving her all of the credit. The book is called "Mama Made the Difference: Life Lessons My Mother Taught Me," and it's out just days before we celebrate Mother's Day.

Bishop Jakes joins us live from Dallas. Great to see you, Bishop.

BISHOP T.D. JAKES, MINISTER/AUTHOR: Thank you. It's a pleasure to be with you.

PHILLIPS: Well, tell me when you first realized that your mother really did know what the heck she was talking about?

JAKES: You know, it took me awhile. I think over the years, I began to appreciate more and more. When you're being parented sometimes you think your parents are from Venus or Mars. But when you start raising children yourself, you find yourself relying on a lot of the wisdom that they gave you. And it's been vital for me all of my life.

PHILLIPS: Well, how did she introduce God to you? Jesus Christ, Christianity?

JAKES: You know, in my house, it almost wasn't optional. My parents demonstrated their faith in the way that they lived and took us church. We were involved in church all of our lives. But then to have a personal relationship with Christ -- evolved out of me being exposed to Christianity and faith, watching my parents go through tests and trials and praying their way through taught me respect for God and for spirituality.

PHILLIPS: Did she ever give you constructive criticism about how you preached?

JAKES: Oh, listen, always. My mother was a teacher, you know, so she was always there to critique my illustrations and my metaphors and what have you. But she was with me all of the time. PHILLIPS: Well, I remember Billy Graham talking about his wife Ruth Graham, and the kids would always say, you know, Ruth Graham, she was the mama that, you know, kept everybody together. And Franklin would talk about when he got in trouble, sometimes Ruth would put him in the trunk of the car just to teach him a lesson. I'm curious if your mother got creative when it came to putting you in line?

JAKES: Well, you know, we had the kind of relationship where we always told each other the truth in a very transparent and powerful way. And so she didn't pull any punches, and it was vital. We had the kind of relationship that I think that children need with their parents and even adult children need to continue that process with their parents, because as I shared in the book, mama really did make the difference.

The things that your mother instills in you are totally different from what you get at school or get out of books or tapes. They teach you how to think and how to evaluate and how to process on your own, independent of outside influences.

PHILLIPS: Now, mothers have, in general, just had a history of endurance, and you talk about this in your book. From the Revolutionary War to World War I to 9/11 and so much in between, you really give a great historical perspective about what mothers have endured.

JAKES: They have endured a lot of things. And I think sometimes we underestimate the role of being a mother sometimes today. People don't really value it like they should, but mothers endure a lot. New stats say that if a mother were paid for what she does she'd get $140,000 a year.

But really a mother's priceless. That love is unique. It's in a category all by itself. And when I wrote "Mama Made the Difference," I wrote it to say not only did I have a great mother but all of us, or most of us, have had great mothers. And to take the time to acknowledge them and to appreciate them and to say you are making a difference is vitally important.

PHILLIPS: You talk about Coretta Scott King in your book.

JAKES: You know, Mrs. King and my mother went to school together, and I had many times to sit with Mrs. King and talk to her. We had a relationship in her life. I got an opportunity to talk to her not just as a great civil rights leader, but who were you as a mother? How did you guide your children through dark days and tough days in the absence of Dr. King?

Bernice made a tremendous addition to my book reflecting on her mother and the impact of her mother's wisdom behind the scenes, steering her children through the storms. And I think she's a great example of a great mother.

PHILLIPS: Well, you also talk about Helen Keller which I found very endearing. PHILLIPS: Yes. Because sometimes we look at these people and a lot of times when we find a child who has an affliction like Helen Keller did or perhaps a mother who had an affliction, we don't understand that it requires a special relationship to be born between the mother and the child.

All of us don't come from ideal situations, and yet God gives a special grace to a mother to raise a child that perhaps other people wouldn't know what to do or how to handle, and I thought that Helen Keller's mom was a good example of that.

PHILLIPS: Well, and I'm thinking of your ministry "Woman, Thou Art Loosed," and those conferences and, you know, it received some controversy because of the title. But, you know, you connected with the drug addicts, the prostitutes, the women that had been abused.

And you talk about your mom teaching you to love yourself and teaching others how to love themselves. Do you think that helped you with this specific ministry and identifying with women that were so deeply wounded?

JAKES: Absolutely. First of all, it taught me a great respect for women that I value and appreciate, particularly when I see so many today who do not have that respect and value. Also, it taught me to have a strong opinion and be able to express an opinion and share it openly without reservation to be able to get in touch with my own emotions.

My mother taught me to believe in my dreams. It's something that I use so much in encouraging other people that no matter how down you are, and no manner how many bad decisions you've made, that you have the power to get back up again.

She was my first taste of motivational speaking, and I share in the book different life lessons that she taught me as well as many other mothers. I talk about Colin Powell's mother, and other people that -- he shared different stories that his mother impacted him.

And the odd thing was many of the stories were very similar. I think that some mothers today can read the book and get some ideas as to what to say to plant the seeds in your children to reap a long-term harvest in their lives.

PHILLIPS: Well, I know that not only did you have a beautiful role model, your mother, but your wife Serita sure does amazing job with you and your family.

JAKES: Yes. I'm the biggest kid in the house, you know? You know, I married a great mother. You know, I was born of a great mother, and I've had an opportunity to see them at different ages and stages. You know what a mother goes through with children in the home is totally different from what you deal with grown children.

But what I tried to stress in both categories is to say to the mother who is currently raising a child -- and sometimes you hit those periods where you feel like you're not making a difference, what you're teaching them, they're not getting it. The Bible said train up a child in the ways that he should go, and when he is old, he should not depart from it. But it didn't say anything about in the middle.

And sometimes you start -- in the middle, you feel like, God, I'm losing my mind here. And yet, if you hold out, what you put in them will show up in their life and in their character. And I wrote it to encourage mothers who were stuck in the middle right now.

PHILLIPS: I agree. Sometimes it takes 10, 20, 30 plus years. T.D. Jakes. "Mama Made the Difference: Life Lessons My Mother Taught Me." It's Thank you for be with us.

JAKES: Thank you for having me.

PHILLIPS: So how smart are your kids about the world? It's big, it's full of different people, and the sooner they learn, the sooner they can accept and appreciate. Well, there's a message of tolerance on the small screen and in kid language. We're going to have details in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, your kids know more about the world than you might think, and why wouldn't they? TV, movies, the Internet and what they absorb from you shaping their minds in how they feel about others, maybe forever. A kid-savvy film company is out with an animated tale that doesn't try to break down cultural barriers; it wants them never to be built.

Here's CNN Asieh Namdar.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Susan (ph), Saman (ph) welcome to America!

ASIEH NAMDAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These are not like cartoons most of us grew up watching on television. "Babak and Friends,: A First Norooz" is a new animated cartoon created to teach children about the Iranian culture when much of the adult world's attention is on Iran's nuclear program and the government's hardline rhetoric.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We felt that it was a really good time to be doing this sort of use of technology to bring to children as well as parents more knowledge, more power, about cultures that may be misunderstood.

NAMDAR: The cartoon depicts the richness and beauty of an ancient land, and the new year holiday, which in Iran is called "Norooz." The central character is Babak, a 7-year-old Iranian boy adapting to life in America and torn between the cultures of his homeland and his new home in the new world.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, Bobby, what are you doing for Easter?

BABAK: I don't celebrate Easter. CROWD: What? Why not?

BABAK: Because I'm Iranian. We don't celebrate Easter.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow. There's no Christmas, now this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow, it must stink to be you.

NAMDAR: Through interaction with relatives who have just arrived from Iran, Babak learns more about his Iranian customs. With the help of two fairy tale figures, Babak finally connects to his Iranian heritage when he has a dream that takes him through the heart of what was once the Persian Empire.

BABAK: There's a Persian Empire?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. One of the greatest empires of the ancient world. It is stretched from Greece to India.

BABAK: Wow! I didn't know Iran was such a great empire in the past.

NAMDAR: The cartoon is the work of a U.S.-based production company, founded by four young entrepreneurs.

SHABNAM REZAEI, NOROOZ PRODUCTIONS: We really want this enterprise to be something that's going to teach diversity through cartoons, not just about the Persian culture but other cultures that are really in the news today and where children are suffering from in the school in the schoolyards and back at home.

NAMDAR: And the creators believe there will be a less suffering if there's more acceptance, tolerance and appreciation of different cultures. Their next project focuses on South Korean and Arab heritage.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: I take it you have the Iranian-American culture woven into your family. Your kids must love this cartoon.

NAMDAR: They loved it. I mean, we watched it. As soon as I got the DVD, I stuck it in. At first, I thought, oh gosh, it's going to be torture persuading them to watch this thing. You know, they're familiar with the Iranian culture, but not as familiar as I want them to be. But they thoroughly enjoyed it. It was very entertaining and we learned a few things watching it.

PHILLIPS: Well, it's -- and the clips are cute. They're very creative. And it's very -- I mean, I've seen that even in your household, that type of reaction among the kids and when you talk about the Iranian culture. How's the reaction been overall?

NAMDAR: They say it's been incredibly positive. They say it's not just Iranians that have showed an interest, Americans are coming to them and saying, wow, we didn't know about such and such tradition and the Persian new year. Tell us what it's all about. So it's definitely triggering conversation and at least raising an awareness that, you know, Iranian culture is a beautiful, rich, you know, culture that goes back many, many years. It's not what you see -- it's not the face of President Ahmadinejad. It's something much more beyond that.

PHILLIPS: How is the project being funded?

NAMDAR: These people basically funded it with, you know, with very little money. You know, they came up with $300,000, got a second mortgage on their house. There's four of them. They sold their New York apartment. And very low budget, but obviously they're hoping to raise money through the distribution, which they do through Persian stores, amazon.com and they are hoping to come ought with a sequel to "Babak and Friends." The next one is going to be like his journey and then eventually they'll come out with different cultures. The South Korean cultures, as I mention in the piece, and the Arab cultures.

PHILLIPS: And what else can you tell us about the "Ben and Izzy" cartoon?

NAMDAR: Well, "Ben and Izzy" is a different concept. It's similar in the fact, again, it tries to raise awareness. This project has a $6 million budget, and it's backed by the queen of Jordan, Queen Rania. So it's a lot more of a heavyweight kind of project. And I believe it's geared towards older kids, 11-year-olds, 12-year-olds. Because it's not about the youngsters who are six or seven, but preteen years.

And it's adventures of, you know, two boys -- one from Jordan, one from U.S., they meet, they become friends and go through this adventure with the help of a genie. So similar concept. And I think Queen Rania was really trying to make the point, because of what we saw with those controversial cartoons in Denmark...

PHILLIPS: Sure.

NAMDAR: ... that cartoons can be created to actually, you know...

PHILLIPS: They can have a good effect.

NAMDAR: Yes. To create understanding and awareness, as opposed to divisions and violence.

PHILLIPS: I know we've covered even comic books coming out, too. So it will be great to follow the project.

NAMDAR: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Thanks Asieh.

NAMDAR: Thanks, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Well, straight ahead, entertainment news with Brooke Anderson of "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT." Hey, Brooke, what's on tap?

BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Hey there, Kyra. Well, fans of "American Idol" were thrown off key when they heard the results. That's actually an understatement. They were shocked. It was the one contestant who wasn't supposed to be singing the blues. I'm going to tell you what happened when LIVE FROM continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: They're dusting off those dancing shoes at Cape Cod after all. A school district has thought twice about a half dozen senior prom dates who were going to be blocked at door. The dates in question weren't students themselves and were barred because of pre- prom background checks turned up criminal records. Administrators still defend their original decision. They say it's in line with policies laid out in a student handbook.

Well he was the leading contender to win the season on "American Idol," but even though "Idol" voters showed him the door, someone else in show biz may open a window of opportunity. CNN's Brooke Anderson joins me from L.A. with the recon on Chris Daughtry. What's the scoop?

ANDERSON: Well, Kyra, as you said, as one door opens, another one opens and I'll get to that in just a second. But it was a shocker to "Idol" fans everywhere. They were stunned, a sad note for Chris last night. Chris Daughtry was the latest contestant to make the final bow on "American Idol." Take a look as he gets the boot.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RYAN SEACREST, HOST, AMERICAN IDOL: Chris, you are going home tonight. The journey ends. America, you have spoken and Chris is off the show tonight.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Stunned looks there as host Ryan Seacrest announced the results. You can hear boos coming from the crowd, screams of no were heard. Chris Daughtry simply said yes.

Now many were picking the 26-year-old to win the entire competition. In fact, judge Paula Abdul had tears in her eyes, but doesn't she cry every week? Chris was one of her early favorites. Simon Cowell's jaw fell open when he heard the news, but it wasn't just the judges who were mystified over Chris's departure. The blogs are on fire today. Here's a direct quote from a viewer. "I am finished with 'American Idol.'"

Others on blogs were trying to find a reason for Chris's exit. One blogger mentioned that it had to be the sunglasses that he, quote, "looked insane with those $0.99 cent store sunglasses." That's pretty harsh. I thought he looked pretty good.

Nobody needs to worry about Chris. Even though he didn't win "A.I.," as one blogger put it, he could be the most commercially successful of the final four. Rumor has it he might already have a gig. Rumor is that members of a famous band will ask Chris to join their group. Now we don't know who it is. But we're hearing that such bands as "Creed" or maybe even "Fuel" could be hoping to take him in. We will of course keep you updated on that. By the way, "American Idol" had 27 million viewers last night. So it continues to dominate on television.

Meanwhile tonight on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT," raunch on the radio. A major disc jockey goes on the air and threatens to sexually abuse the young daughter of his on-air rival. It's a startling story and it is on most provocative entertainment news hour on television." That is "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT," it's on at 11:00 Eastern on CNN Headline Prime.

But Kyra, back to "American Idol" the final battle will take place May 23rd.

PHILLIPS: Provocative. I like how you get in the most provocative entertainment hour.

ANDERSON: We are provocative, Kyra, yes we are. You've got to tune in.

PHILLIPS: All right Brooke, thanks so much.

ANDERSON: Thanks, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, it's a downer note, definitely a big switch from "American Idol." He was the youngest boxer to win the heavyweight championship and the first to regain it. Floyd Patterson was only 21- years-old when he beat Archie Moore for the heavyweight title in 1956. He lost it in '59, but won a rematch the next year. His second reign as champ ended with 1962 loss to Sonny Liston. Well we tell you this because Floyd APatterson passed away today at his home outside New York City. He was battling Alzheimer's disease and prostate cancer. He was 71-years-old. A Well before they get their diplomas, they get to hear from the president. It's cap and gown day on the Mississippi Coast. President Bush delivers a commencement speech there. At the top of the hour, we're going to have his remarks live right here on LIVE FROM.

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