Part 1: New Hampshire Stories of Race and Culture

ANNOUNCER: A PROJECT COMMUNITY SPECIAL. NEW HAMPSHIRE STORIES OF RACE AND CULTURE. >> RACE, DIVERSITY, BIAS. TOPICS THAT MANY OF US HAVE SHIED AWAY FROM. UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS WE TOLD OURSELVES WE WERE NOT READY TO HAVE. BUT PART OF A QUIET AND UNCOMFORTABLE REALITY OF EVERYDAY LIFE FOR SO MANY. >> YOU ARE TOLD, EVEN AS A CHILD, WATCH WHAT YOU DO IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. >> ON MAY 25 THE WORLD WITNESSED THE HORRIFYING DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD AT THE HANDS OF MINNEAPOLIS POLICE. >> I CANNOT BREATHE. PLEASE. THE KNEE IN MY NECK. >> HIS LAST GASPS FOR AIR BROUGHT A HARD REALITY TO THE FOREFRONT. THAT THIS COUNTRY STILL HAS ISSUES WITH RACE. >> THE FINAL EIGHT MINUTES AND 48 SECONDS OF GEORGE FLOYD’S LIFE SPARKING CALLS FOR CHANGE AND ACTION AROUND THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING IN THE GRANITE STATE. >> BECAUSE IT HAS TO STOP. RACISM HAS TO END! >> SHEDDING LIGHT ON JUST HOW FAR WE STILL HAVE TO GO. >> MAYBE WE HAVE AVOIDED THOSE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR FAMILIES, OR TURNED A BLIND EYE TO INTENTIONAL AND UNINTENTIONAL ACTS OF RACISM IN OUR COMMUNITIES. OR PERHAPS WE JUST HAVE NOT TAKEN THE TIME TO TALK WITH PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND REALLY LISTEN. >> BUT AS WITH SO MANY THINGS IN 2020 THE TIME TO GROW, LEARN, AND CHANGE STARTS NOW. >> RACISM IS NOT A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS OR BEHAVIORS OR CAN BE A BUNCH OF WORDS. RACISM IS SYSTEMIC AND WE ALL PLAY OUR PART IN IT. >> IN HOPES OF BUILDING A BETTER, SAFER, MORE INCLUSIVE GRANITE STATE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. >> WE HAVE TO DO MORE, BE MORE. COME TOGETHER AS THE HUMAN RACE. >> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR OUR PROJECT COMMITTEE SPECIAL . I AM MONICA HERNANDEZ. >> I AND MY MIKE. >> FROM EVERYDAY EXPERIENCES WITH RACISM AND THE CALLS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE TO THE CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE BLACK COMMUNITY OVER HUNDREDS OF YEARS. >> WE ARE HIGHLIGHTING THE THINGS THAT MAKE US DIFFERENT AND MORE SIMILAR THAN WE HAVE REALIZED. OUR STORY BEGINS ON THE SEACOAST. PORTSMOUTH HAS BEEN HOME TO AFRICANS AND AFRICAN-AMERICANS FOR MORE THAN 350 YEARS. THE BLACK HERITAGE TRAIL DOCUMENTS THAT HISTORY INCLUDING THE FIRST NONBLACK PERSON IN PORTSMOUTH, SEIZED BY MERCHANTS WHO ATTACKED HIS VILLAGE IN 1645. THE TRAIL OFFERS WALKING TOURS, COMMUNITY DISCUSSIONS, AND A RESOURCE BOOK ABOUT THE STATE’S BLACK HISTORY. THE TRAIL WAS FOUNDED BY VALERIE CUNNINGHAM, A NATIVE WHO SPENT YEARS DOCUMENTING THE BLACK EXPERIENCE NEW HAMPSHIRE OF COLONIAL SLAVERY TO THE MODERN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. THE BLACK HERITAGE TRAIL AS A RESULT OF HER DECADES OF RESEARCH AND HARD WORK. MONICA: THAT HISTORY CONTINUES TODAY AS PARENTS RAISE THE NEXT GENERATION OF GRANITE STATERS. SOME FAMILIES LIVE WITH THE HARSH REALITY THERE CHILDREN MAY FACE OBSTACLES THEIR WHITE CLASSMATES DO NOT. THIS PARK HOLDS A LOT OF MEMORIES FOR CAMILLA THOMPSON. NOW SHE IS MAKING NEW ONES. >> WHEE! MONICA: WITH HER SON, MARCUS. HE IS FOUR YEARS OLD. >> ARE YOU SMILING? >> YES. [LAUGHTER] >> CHEESE! MONICA: CAMILLA WORRIES ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHAT HE GROWS UP. >> I DO NOT WANT THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN TO BE A DEATH SENTENCE. MONICA: CAMILLA LEARNED SHE WAS GOING TO BE A MOM IN THE MONTHS AFTER MICHAEL BROWN AND ERIC GARNER DIED DURING ENCOUNTERS WITH POLICE. >> I JUST WAS AFRAID I WOULD NOT -- I DID NOT WANT TO RAISE BOYS IN THIS COMMUNITY. MONICA: THEN CAME HIS BROTHER, NOAH. BORN JUST MONTHS BEFORE THE WORLD WATCHED GEORGE FLOYD AFTER SOME OF HIS FINAL WORDS WITH AN OFFICER’S KNEE ON HIS NECK. >> I WATCHED THIS MAN CRY FOR HIS MOTHER AND I IMMEDIATELY FELT A SENSE OF OVERWHELMING EMOTION AND I CRIED. I THOUGHT OF MY BOYS. I THOUGHT ABOUT HOW POWERFUL IT IS TO BE A BLACK MOTHER TODAY AND THAT I NEEDED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I NEEDED TO START SOMEWHERE. MONICA: ON THE BOARD OF THE NEWLY FORMED BLACK LIVES MATTER SEACOAST CAMILLA IS WORKING TOWARD CHANGE. SHE AND HER BROTHER BROUGHT HER CHILDREN TO A PEACEFUL PROTEST THE SUMMER IN PORTSMOUTH. >> I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO BE PART OF THIS HISTORY. MONICA: THAT IS HOW CONVERSATIONS LIKE THIS GOT STARTED. >> WHAT COLOR ARE YOU? >> BROWN. >> WHAT COLOR IS MOMMY’S SKIN. >> BROWN. >> WHAT COLOR HIS DADDY? >> BROWN. >> NOAH? >> BROWN. >> SOMETIMES WHEN PEOPLE HAVE BROWN SKIN PEOPLE ARE NOT NICE TO THEM. WE WENT TO THE MARCH SO THAT WE WOULD RECOGNIZE THE PEOPLE THAT GOT HURT THAT HAVE BROWN SKIN, REMEMBER? MONICA: THERE IS ANOTHER TALK MARCUS WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE THAT IS TOUGHER HIS MOM TO THINK ABOUT. ONE THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR GENERATIONS. >> MY DAD REMINDED US WHEN ISAIAH WAS NINE HE HAD TO TELL HIM HOW TO ACT IN FRONT OF POLICE. HE HAD TO TELL HIM IF HE IS EVER PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE, IF HE IS TALLER THAN THEM, MAKE HIMSELF SMALLER. IF HIS VOICE IS DEEPER, MAKE HIS VOICE HIGHER. IT HURTS BECAUSE I DO NOT THINK MY WHITE FRIENDS WHO ARE MOMS HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEIR BOYS. THEY DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN BEING MISTREATED BECAUSE THEY ARE THE MINORITY RACE. MONICA: CAMILLA SAYS POLICE HAVE STOPPED THEM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. >> I HAVE WATCHED THE POLICE HARASSED MY BROTHER. I HAVE WATCHED MARCUS’ DAD BE HARASSED BY POLICE. MONICA: FOR CAMILLA, EXETER IS HOME. HER DAD, A FORMER REVEREND, IT IS EASY. MONICA: GROWING UP BLACK IN THIS COMMUNITY I GREW UP WITH INSECURITIES. BEING SHAPED DIFFERENT THAN MY FRIENDS, MY HAIR WAS DIFFERENT. I WAS TEASED A LOT GROWING UP, EVEN IF IT WAS JOKING, THAT I DID NOT ACT BLACK OR I SOUNDED WHITE OR I WAS OREO. THOSE THINGS WERE REALLY HURTFUL. MONICA: CAMILLA SAYS IT IS PART OF THE REASON SHE WANTS TO RAISE HER BOYS SOMEWHERE ELSE. >> I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR MARCUS THAT WE ARE NOT HERE. BUT I THINK THAT THEY NEED TO BE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE LOOK LIKE THEM. I THINK THEY NEED TO WALK AMONGST OTHER BLACK MEN THAT ARE NOT JUST RELATED TO THEM. MONICA: RECENTLY MARCUS TOLD HIS MOM SOMETHING SHE WILL NEVER FORGET. SOMETHING HE LEARNED FROM A TV SHOW. >> IN SOME WAYS, WE ARE DIFFERENT, BUT IN SO MANY WAYS -- YOU FINISH IT. >> WE ARE THE SAME. [LAUGHTER] MONICA: WHAT CAMILLA WANTS FOR THIS CAREFREE LITTLE BOY IS WHAT EVERY MOTHER WANTS FOR THEIR CHILD -- TO FEEL SAFE, LOVED, AND ACCEPTED FOR WHO HE IS. >> IT IS NOT THAT WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE OUR SELF HIGHER OR BETTER, BUT WE NEED THE HELP RIGHT NOW. MIKE: WHAT BEGAN AS A CALL TO ACTION ON SOCIALLY THE HAS EVOLVED INTO A BRAND FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE REFORM. BLACK LIVES MATTER IS SEEN AS A POLARIZING ORGANIZATION TO SOME, BUT A YOUNG GROUP OF GRANITE STATERS SAY THEIR GOAL IS TO MAKE A BEACON OF EQUALITY FOR ALL. FROM DOWNTOWN PLYMOUTH -- >> NO JUSTICE. >> NO PEACE. MIKE: CALLS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE HAVE SPREAD ACROSS NEW HAMPSHIRE. AT 21 SAMANTHA ECHOING A PLEA HER GRANDPARENTS DELIVERED. >> IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE, VOTE. BETTER YET, RUN FOR OFFICE YOURSELF. MIKE: AFTER THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD THE NATIVE HAS FOUND HER VOICE, USING HER PLATFORM TO REGISTER VOTERS, HANDOUT PPE, ANDOVER FOOD TO THE NEEDY. DOING EVERYTHING IN HER POWER TO DEBUNK A STIGMA ABOUT THE GROUP’S RALLYING CRY. >> WE SAID BLACK LIVES MATTER. WE DID NOT SAY ONLY BLACK LIVES MATTER. WE DID NOT SAY THEY MATTER MORE. WE SENT, BLACK LIVES MATTER, PLEASE HELP US. MIKE: IT HAS NOT BEEN EASY WHEN RIOTS CAPTURE THE HEADLINES. >>>> SOMETIMES THEY ARE JUST OUT THERE GOING TO DESTROY STUFF BECAUSE THEY LIKE ANARCHY. BUT THAT IS THEIR OWN MOVE. I DO NOT SUPPORT IT. MIKE: MANCHESTER NATIVE TERREL BELIEVES THAT ACTORS HAVE GIVEN THE GROUP A BAD NAME. >> WE ARE NOT A VIOLENT MOVEMENT. WE ARE A PEACEFUL MOVEMENT TRYING TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE AND AN END TO RACISM IN OUR COUNTRY. MIKE: AS THEY EXPLAINED RACISM AND BIGOTRY GO BEYOND A BURNING CROSS. GROWING UP IN NEW HAMPSHIRE IT OFTEN CAME IN A VEILED MESSAGE OR PAST OFFICE KIDS BEING KIDS. >> WE WOULD LISTEN TO MUSIC AND MUSIC CLASS THE TEACHER TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS AND WE WOULD GET THE SENSATION OF HEARING MUSIC. I WOULD HEAR SOMEONE GO, WHERE’S TERREL? I HAVE DARK SKIN AND IT WAS A COOL JOKE I GUESS IN THEIR EYES. >> I WAS ABOUT 10. A RELATIVE OF A NEIGHBOR IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WE GREW UP, AND I STILL LIVE IN, CALLED MY SISTER AND I DIRTY AND OUR HAIR TEXTURE WAS UGLY. MIKE: AS THE MEMBERS’ PROMINENCE HAS RISEN SO HAS THE INTENSITY OF ATTACK. >> THAT IS TERRIFYING. THE FACT THAT I EVEN KNOW HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE FBI AND ATTORNEY GENERAL IN CASE THERE ARE THREATS MADE ON MY LIFE AT 21 YEARS OLD THIS KIND OF A RIDICULOUS THING. MIKE: SHE HOPES IT WILL PAY OFF IN THE LONG RUN. >> I AM HOPING NEXT FIVE YEARS WE ARE DONE WITH THIS. WE CAN SAY WE HAVE MAY CHANGE IN OUR COUNTRY AND EVERYTHING IS PERFECT NOW. BUT THAT IS JUST A HOPEFUL DREAM. MONICA: CONTINUING OUR CONVERSATION, THE CHALLENGES BLACK BUSINESSES FACE NAVIGATING ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE GRANITE STATE.