In an age when saying the wrong thing in a Twitter post could leave you ghosted by onetime friends—or worse—we find our country torn apart at the political seams. But things don’t need to be this way. Constructive social discourse is not dead, it just needs a little resuscitation. From CurtCo Media. Consider Meet Me in the Middle your political rehab. Each week, Ed Larson (Pulitzer Prize winning historian, author, and world-wide lecturer) invites guests from across the ideological spectrum—including politicians, activists, and celebrities—to sit down, discuss the issues, and if not find consensus, at least find common ground. So bring an open mind and remember, we’re more alike than different.
https://www.curtco.com/meetmeinthemiddle
episode 30: 30 - How to Have the Hard Discussions: Talking About Race in a Polarized Society with Dr. David Campt and Broadway Producer Ron Simons
Dr. David Campt, 'The Race Doctor' - a national expert on inclusion, equity, cultural competence and intergroup dialogue - and four time Tony award winning Broadway Producer Ron Simons join Politics: Meet Me in the Middle for an important discussion of race in America, the work America needs to do to continue affecting change, and ways the white community can educate themselves to become effective allies to the Black community.
TIMESTAMPS:
1:30 - What comes to mind that describe thoughts and emotions over the last few weeks - their reactions and why.
4:20 - Why right now is 'The Perfect Storm' and why they’re hopeful this movement doesn’t pass.
5:27 - How honest of a conversation do you really want to have? Dr. Campt explains how he tries to create the conditions of ‘trying to make Thanksgiving great again’ by getting white people to be able to have these uncomfortable conversations and giving white people the tools they need to do so.
7:25 - They discuss tool for how to be a good ally to the Black community.
9:24 - What every white person needs to have in order to have these difficult discussions.
13:30 - Diversity on broadway and it’s still not representative of the American population and how Ron works to change it.
15:00 - #WeSeeYou and ‘Dear White American Theater’ - the challenges and issues going on in Broadway.
15:44 - Ron writing to the The Metropolitan Opera
17:40 - The effect of having a non-white cast in Hamilton and seeing untraditional casting in iconic American figures. They discuss if it would have the same effect if George Washington was played by a white man.
19:49 - The challenge of a Black man getting a grant and funding for a Broadway show, barrier to entry to get the funds of what it needed to put on a show, and Black wealth vs white wealth.
21:00 - Why shows get labeled as ‘ too risky’ because the perception of ‘people don’t want to see a show about Black people’. It can’t make money if it’s not out there.
23:00 - The issue of there being no black theater owners (or POC) in the Broadway community.
24:00 - Do American people want to deal with racial issues? Dr. Campt says yes and that there’s a hunger for it and what needs to happen for the institutions reflect the way American population really is.
26:00 - How storytelling is the most effective agent for change on the planet and how both men accomplish this to bring people together to effect change.
Learn more:
Dr. David Campt: WhiteAllyToolkit.com | Facebook: @whiteallytoolkit
Ron Simons: SimonSaysEntertainment.com | Facebook: @SimonSaysEntertainment
Politics: Meet Me in the Middle
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Hosted by: Bill Curtis
Guests: Dr. David Campt & Ron Simons
Produced by: Mike Thomas
Theme Music: Celleste and Eric Dick
A CurtCo Media Production
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