WOW. WOW.

I AM A MAN. I AM A NATION.

LOCK INTO MY FREQUENCY. TUNE INTO MY STATION.

SIT UP IN YOUR CHAIR, GRAB A DRINK FROM THE FRIDGE.

WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.

COME MEET ME ON THE BRIDGE.

SO, HERE I AM ONSTAGE AT UCLA,

IN FRONT OF A ROOMFUL OF STRANGERS, SO WHAT DO I SAY?

[ LAUGHTER ]

GLENNON'S TALKING ABOUT HOT YOGA.

GARY'S TALKING ABOUT THE SEED OF THE SOUL.

BUT IF YOUR HEART IS BROKEN, HOW CAN YOU EVER BE MADE WHOLE?

AND, SO, HERE WE ARE, AND YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT,

"IS THAT SUGE KNIGHT? WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?"

[ LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE ]

SO, THEY PUT ME UP BEHIND A RHODES SCHOLAR NAMED WES.

I GOT A DOUBLE HIGH-SCHOOL DIPLOMA,

BUT IT DON'T MEAN I'M NOT BLESSED.

[ LAUGHTER ]

YOU'RE WONDERING, AM I GONNA RHYME FOR THE ENTIRE SESSION?

[ LAUGHTER ]

DON'T WORRY, RELAX. IT'S JUST A PART OF MY EXPRESSION.

[ LAUGHTER ]

SO, WHAT IS THE BRIDGE?

A BRIDGE IS AN EXCHANGE OF IDEAS.

IT'S A PLACE OF INTERCONNECTED HUMANITY,

WHERE WE COME AND HAVE DIALOGUE

WITHOUT THE FEAR OF BEING JUDGED OR MALIGNED

FOR OUR PERSONAL IDEOLOGY.

A BRIDGE ITSELF IS A SPAN

THAT ALLOWS TWO FIXED POINTS

THAT WOULD NEVER CONNECT

TO HAVE AN ABILITY TO MEET OVER OBJECTS AND IMPEDIMENTS

THAT WOULD NORMALLY KEEP THESE TWO FIXED OBJECTS FROM MEETING.

WE ARE IN A VERY DIFFICULT TIME IN OUR NATION.

IT'S BAD.

[ LAUGHTER ]

IT'S BAD, MAN!

THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.

AND EVERYBODY COMES FROM A DIFFERENT PLACE.

EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN LENS, THEIR OWN PERSPECTIVE,

AND THE MOMENT YOU INVALIDATE SOMEONE ELSE'S PERSPECTIVE,

YOU DEHUMANIZE THEM.

IF WE'RE REALLY GONNA GROW, IF WE'RE REALLY GONNA CHANGE,

THEN WE NEED TO SET OUR MINDS TO BE REARRANGED.

AND, SO, ONCE AGAIN, JUST SIT UP IN THE CHAIR,

GRAB A DRINK FROM THE FRIDGE, AND LET'S HAVE A CONVERSATION.

JUST MEET ME ON THE BRIDGE.

THIS PLACE,

THIS MOMENT IS HISTORIC,

BECAUSE YOU CAME HERE BECAUSE YOU WERE SEEKING SOMETHING.

YOU ARE HUNGRY FOR SOMETHING. YOU ARE HUNGRY FOR TRUTH.

NOT TRUTH IN ITS ETHEREAL FORM, BUT TRUTH IN A SUBSTANTIVE FORM.

BUT ALL OF US COME FROM A DIFFERENT PLACE.

YOU KNOW, NOW WE'RE REAL LOCKED IN TO OUR IDEOLOGIES.

MAYBE YOU'RE FAR RIGHT OR MAYBE YOU'RE FAR LEFT,

AND IT'S HARD TO MEET IN THE MIDDLE, BECAUSE, ME,

I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, "WHERE DO I FIT IN?"

BECAUSE AT THE INTERSECTION OF FAITH, POLITICS,

AND SOCIAL JUSTICE,

I'M JUST A LITTLE PREACHER FROM A SMALL-TOWN CINCINNATI CHURCH.

AND NOW I'M SITTING AT THE CHURCH

WITH THE NICEST MAN IN THE WORLD.

JOEL OSTEEN IS LITERALLY THE NICEST DUDE IN THE WORLD.

HE SMILES AT EVERYTHING.

[ LAUGHTER ]

NO, FOR REAL. IF YOU PUT HIM IN A HORROR MOVIE,

HE WOULD STILL SMILE.

YOU PUT HIM IN "FRIDAY THE 13th,"

YOU HEAR THE MUSIC... "CHH, CHH, CHH, CHH!

HA, HA, HA, HA! CHH, CHH, CHH! HA!"

PASTER JOEL WOULD WALK UP.

"WELL, JASON, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO STAB PEOPLE.

YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO LOVE PEOPLE.

OH, JASON, DON'T YOU KNOW YOU COULD LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE NOW?

ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS BUY MY BOOK,

'YOUR BEST LIFE NOW.'"

[ LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE ]

I FEEL LIKE JOY DOES GOOD LIKE MEDICINE,

AND WE NEED TO LAUGH A LITTLE BIT,

'CAUSE IT'S BEEN A WHOLE LOT OF TEARS SHED

OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF IN THIS NATION.

WE GOT A LOT OF HEALING TO DO.

PEOPLE WERE SHOCKED -- SHOCKED!

[ LAUGHTER ]

WHEW! "WHAT'S HAPPENING TO OUR NATION?"

HAVE YOU BEEN AROUND FOR THE LAST 200 YEARS?

WE'VE NEVER BEEN TOGETHER!

[ LAUGHTER ]

FAR LEFT -- "ALL LIVES MATTER!

BLACK LIVES MATTER! EVERYBODY'S LIVES MATTER!"

BUT IF YOU'RE FAR RIGHT,

"I'M GONNA TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, YOU BETTER SHUT YOUR MOUTH UP.

YOU BETTER MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.

YOU BETTER SHUT YOUR MOUTH UP.

YOU BETTER HUSH UP, BOY!

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKIN' ABOUT!"

"SAY SOMETHING ELSE! SAY SOMETHING ELSE!

DON'T MAKE ME -- OOH, OOH! SAY SOMETHING ELSE.

I WILL COME ACROSS THIS BRIDGE. I WILL BUST YOU IN YOUR EYE!"

[ LAUGHTER ]

"I WISH YOU WOULD, 'CAUSE I'M SECOND AMENDMENT ALL DAY.

COME ON 'ROUND HERE. COME ON 'ROUND HERE.

RIGHT 'BOUT RIGHT THERE. COME ON.

I GOT MY CONCEAL/CARRY. COME ON, BOY.

COME OOOOOOOON! COME ON! COME ON!

COME ON!"

[ LAUGHTER ]

THE BRIDGE.

[ LAUGHTER ]

THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO MEET.

'CAUSE WHEN YOU THINKIN' 'BOUT MY FAMILY

IT DON'T MATTER IF YOU'RE BLACK OR WHITE

DA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NA!

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

[ LAUGHTER ]

[ CHUCKLES ]

WE DON'T GET A CHANCE TO INVALIDATE SOMEBODY,

BECAUSE WE DON'T UNDERSTAND

HOW THEY GOT TO A CERTAIN CONCLUSION.

WE'VE GOT TO LEARN HOW TO HEAL.

WE'VE GOT TO LEARN HOW TO DEAL.

AND SO I CAN'T STAY IN THESE POLARIC PLACES,

WHETHER I'M FAR LEFT OR FAR RIGHT.

SOMEHOW, I GOT TO GET US TO THE MIDDLE.

SOMEBODY SAY "MEET ME IN THE MIDDLE."

-MEET ME IN THE MIDDLE! -MEET ME IN THE MIDDLE!

SEE, THIS IS THE KEY.

WE'RE ALREADY MOVING CLOSER TO THE MIDDLE.

IT'S FEELING GOOD IN HERE.

ANYTIME I COME TO THE MIDDLE,

I'M GONNA PROBABLY START RHYMING,

SO JUST PREPARE YOURSELF.

WHEN I COME TO THIS PLACE, I'M GONNA START RHYMING.

[ LAUGHTER ]

I'M FEELING KIND OF GOOD, MAN. WHAT DO I SAY?

YOU GOT WHITE WOMEN PLAYING AFRICAN DRUMS.

WE ARE WELL ON OUR WAY.

[ LAUGHTER ]

[ BEATBOXING ]

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

Y'ALL BETTER GO AHEAD. Y'ALL ARE LIKE,

"THIS IS WONDERFUL. I'VE NEVER DONE THIS.

THIS IS AMAZING.

IS THIS WHAT THEY DO, AND THEY BACK IT UP?

I WANT TO BACK IT UP! I WANT TO BACK IT UP."

[ LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE ]

I BELIEVE IN THE IDEA OF AMERICA.

I BELIEVE IN THE IDEAL OF AMERICA.

COME ON, AMERICA. I KNOW WE CAN DO BETTER.

I KNOW THAT YOU'RE ABLE.

I'M NOT SOLANGE OR BEYONC�,

BUT I DESERVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

[ LAUGHTER ]

THIS IS A MOMENT THAT WE CAN CHANGE THINGS.

BUT WE GOT TO COME DOWN FROM OUR HIGH PLACE.

WE GOT TO COME DOWN FROM THAT PLACE THAT MAKES US THINK

THAT WE'RE RIGHT AND THE OTHER PERSON IS WRONG,

AS OPPOSED TO SAYING,

"THEY GOT TO THAT PLACE BECAUSE OF THE LIFE

THAT THEY'VE LIVED AND THE PEOPLE THAT RAISED THEM

AND THE SITUATIONS THAT FRAMED THEM."

IT'S REAL QUIET, AND I KNOW THIS IS MORE LIKE A LECTURE SERIES,

BUT I'M A BLACK PREACHER, SO PLEASE ALLOW YOUR INNER NEGRO

TO COME OUT FOR THE NEXT 10 TO 12 MINUTES.

AND YOU CAN SHOUT ME DOWN LIKE, "I KNOW THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU BETTER SAY THAT. HE TALKIN' GOOD, GIRL.

[ LAUGHTER ]

THAT'S GOOD!"

SO, WHAT DOES AMERICA LOOK LIKE? HOW DO WE HEAL?

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF HEALING.

I KNOW THAT WE'RE BROKEN.

AND HOW CAN YOU NOT BE HURT

WHEN YOU'RE IN THE AGE OF ALTERNATIVE FACTS?

THAT'S LIKE SAYING, "I GOT FAT BY EATING ALTERNATIVE SNACKS."

[ LAUGHTER ]

I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU'RE LAUGHING.

YOU KNOW THAT IT'S TRUE.

AND DON'T JUDGE ME, 'CAUSE YOU GOT STUFF, TOO.

[ LAUGHTER ]

BUT I THINK ABOUT THE FAR RIGHT AND THE FAR LEFT,

AND I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, "HOW DO WE MEET IN THE MIDDLE?

HOW DO WE BUILD BRIDGES OF UNDERSTANDING AND CONNECTIVITY

BEYOND RACE, BEYOND GENDER,

BEYOND SEXUAL ORIENTATION,

BEYOND RELIGIOUS PREFERENCE AND IDEOLOGY?

HOW DO WE GET TO THIS PLACE?

ALL OF US CAME FROM SOMEWHERE.

AND SO I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, "WHAT IS MY ROLE TO PLAY?"

'CAUSE I GREW UP IN A LITTLE CHURCH, AND AT 7 YEARS OLD,

I CONNECTED TO THE DIVINE PRESENCE OF THE MOST HIGH GOD

THROUGH THIS MAN NAMED JESUS. THAT'S HOW I CONNECTED.

AND MY MOTHER -- SHE DIDN'T JUST PREACH IT, SHE LIVED IT.

AND I WAS LIKE, "THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CONNECTS TO ME,"

BECAUSE SHE ACTUALLY LIVED IT OUT.

AND IT WAS A WEIRD THING, BECAUSE MY MOTHER WAS ALWAYS

THE ONE CHOCOLATE SPOT IN A SEA OF VANILLA.

SHE FOUGHT TO BUILD BRIDGES AND SHE ALWAYS FOUGHT

TO GIVE EVERY HUMAN BEING EQUAL VALUE.

AND IN CINCINNATI IN THE '70s AND '80s,

IN A VERY CONSERVATIVE AND NON-POST-RACIAL SOCIETY,

SHE STOOD OUT LIKE A BEAUTIFUL SORE THUMB, SAYING THAT,

"I'M NOT GOING TO ALLOW WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST

TO DICTATE MY FUTURE." AND SHE CREATED, IN ME,

A HUNGER TO BUILD BRIDGES WITH PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE ME,

DIDN'T COME FROM WHERE I CAME FROM,

AND DIDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I BELIEVE.

AND EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL

THAT YOU WILL EVER SEE HAS THE SAME EQUAL VALUE.

DOESN'T MEAN WE AGREE, BUT WE'RE ALL FAMILY.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

SOMEBODY MAKE SOME NOISE.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE INTENSIFIES ]

GREAT. I'M IN HERE SWEATING.

I DONE LOST 6 POUNDS UNDER THESE HOT PRISON LIGHTS.

-TAKE IT OFF! -TAKE IT OFF?

DON'T DO IT, 'CAUSE I...

[ BEATBOXING ]

[ LAUGHTER ]

I THINK ABOUT MY UPBRINGING AND I THINK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS

TO BE WHERE I'M AT RIGHT NOW, STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU.

AND I'M REALLY KIND OF BLOWN AWAY,

BECAUSE I SHOULDN'T BE HERE.

MY MOM AND DAD DIVORCED WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG.

HE WALKED OUT THE DOOR FOR THE LAST TIME WHEN I WAS 4 1/2.

I SAW HIM FOUR TIMES IN MY LIFE.

BUT IT DIDN'T STOP MY MOTHER

FROM DOING WHAT SHE NEEDED TO DO,

WORKING FULL TIME DURING THE DAY AND GOING TO COLLEGE AT NIGHT,

ENDING UP GRADUATING WITH HONORS WITH HER DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK,

AND BECOMING ONE OF THE MOST ACCOMPLISHED

AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN IN THE HISTORY

OF THE STATE OF OHIO SOCIAL-WORK SYSTEM.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

I CAME FROM A WOMAN THAT WOULD NOT GIVE UP.

I'M SURE THERE WERE TIMES WHEN SHE WANTED TO,

BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING ON THE INSIDE.

AND EVERY MORNING AND EVERY NIGHT,

I WOULD SEE HER PRAYING AND READING IN THIS WORD.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, I HAD TO DO THAT, TOO.

THERE WAS NO OPTION FOR ME.

MY MOTHER MADE SURE THAT I WAS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT

FROM THE LEGACY THAT I CAME FROM,

BECAUSE, GROWING UP, PEOPLE WERE SAYING,

"BE A MAN OF GOD. BE A MAN OF GOD."

BUT HOW CAN YOU BE WHAT YOU'VE NEVER SEEN?

Woman: PRAISE HIM!

SHE GOES TO A BLACK CHURCH. I'M JUST TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW.

[ LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE ]

BUT I FOUND MYSELF ENTHRALLED BY THIS LIFE

THAT MY MOTHER CHOSE TO LIVE.

AND WHEN I WAS GROWING UP,

THE IDEA OF MORALITY AND RELATIONSHIP

AND SPIRITUALITY WERE ALL INTERWOVEN.

WHEN I WAS 13, MY MOTHER WAS LIKE,

"YOU'RE GONNA BE A VIRGIN WHEN YOU GET MARRIED."