In this episode, we talk to Amanda K. Edwards, a native Houstonian, lawyer, former city council member, and former candidate for U.S. Senate. Amanda shares her faith-driven passion for public service and unexpected journey into politics after graduating from Harvard Law School. When asked, “Where do we go from here?” she passionately encourages all of us to become advocates by raising our voices for change and accountability. Edwards warns that the road ahead will be long, but we’ve been here before in the civil rights movement and we have to endure. For more from Amanda on priority issues and how to get involved in the city of Houston visit amandafortexas.com.
See also her editorial in Essence Magazine here: https://www.essence.com/op-ed/systemic-racism-kamala-harris/
In this episode, we talk to Amanda K. Edwards, a native Houstonian, lawyer, former city council member, and former candidate for U.S. Senate. Amanda shares her faith-driven passion for public service and unexpected journey into politics after graduating from Harvard Law School. When asked, “Where do we go from here?” she passionately encourages all of us to become advocates by raising our voices for change and accountability. Edwards warns that the road ahead will be long, but we’ve been here before in the civil rights movement and we have to endure. For more from Amanda on priority issues and how to get involved in the city of Houston visit amandafortexas.com.
See also her editorial in Essence Magazine here: https://www.essence.com/op-ed/systemic-racism-kamala-harris/
Hey kinfolk. How you doing? I'm here with Amanda Kate Edwards. She's an attorney former candidate for the U S Senate and she served 2.3 million people in the city, Houston as a city council member. She's an Eisenhower, Brad. I'm glad to be here with her today. She is the finest leader of our generation here in the city of Houston, Amanda K. Edwards.
Speaker 2:Well, that's an introduction. Thank you so much for having me on and, and let me say this. Thank you for, uh, extending a platform to talk about issues that are really important in our community. So I'm happy to join you today.
Speaker 1:Well, um, you know, the topic is where do we go from here, but before we get into, where do we go from here? I want people to hear a little bit about your journey. Where are you from? And, uh, how did you get here?
Speaker 2:So, part of my story, so I am from Houston, born and raised, uh, grew up on the North side of town and, uh, went to Eisenhower high school, which is in the Aldin public school district. And after I graduated from there, went on to school outside of, of Houston, went to Emory university in Atlanta. Uh, it was there. I think that I really began to really appreciate, I was very involved when I was in high schools, you know, student government and class president and athlete and those sorts of things. But when I got to college, I think that's when I learned how to respond in moments of deed and being prepared for those responses. So in other words, we had a lot of race-based controversy. I was, um, in student government, I was a student count, uh, college council president, and, and held other positions. And, um, with that being said, we had a lot of controversies that would arise out of racial, insensitivity, racism, et cetera. And sometimes you have to be ready to know what you need to see in order to improve that community. Cause you know, there's always a small window of that you have when you're trying to lead change or stand up for what's right in the face of adversity or injustice. And so I think that was when I really had a number of opportunities to learn how to do that. Um,
Speaker 1:I'm going to slow you. I'm going to slow you down. I want to go back to you. You're from the North side of Houston, went to all the school districts. What pushed you to say, I'm going outside of the North side, going to Atlanta and go on to school. What, what drove you there?
Speaker 2:You know, really it was finding the right fit for me. And I was a very studious person. I was, uh, you know, uh, I had a very high level of achievement academically, but I'm also very social and I wanted a good balance of, you know, a place that had a vibrant campus life and in a place where I could thrive academically as well. And I happened to, uh, have gone on a visit to Emory and it just felt like the perfect fit for me. Um, I didn't have that on a list from, you know, 10 years before it really was, uh, uh, you know, a situation in which it became the feeling once I was there. Now we'll say I was a difficult decision. I just lost my father, uh, the year before I went off to school. So my father passed away from a long battle with cancer when I was a junior in high school. And so, you know, I had to weigh, do I leave my mom? I was the baby, you know, do I leave or do I have to go away for school or do I stay here? And you know, my dad was somebody who instilled that, you know, it's up to you to decide what it is that is going to, you know, what your path is going to be and you can achieve and do anything you want. So I decided to
Speaker 1:Atlanta and it felt right.
Speaker 2:Yeah. I w when I got to campus, it was, you know, a lot of, a lot of kids that were real focused on their academics and they were active on campus. You know, students, there were groups, it wasn't just a, uh, you know, uh, you know, one track, one dimensional experience. So I was involved. Ah, so tell mama not to do that to you.
Speaker 1:Maybe you going out to Atlanta, she just said, well, I'm to go.
Speaker 2:I want you to go to Atlanta. No, but it was fine. I mean, I enjoyed the campus. I enjoyed the students. I was very involved. I was in all kinds of stuff from being a community building and social change fellow to being an AKA. I mean, you name it. I was, I was involved in it, but also was very serious about my keeping my grades up and eventually ended up going to Harvard for law school. But in between that got a chance to work for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee in Washington. So, uh, that's when I learned how to run around on the Hill and you know, it is not an easy game, even if you're interning it's it's it's, but it's a great learning experience. A great learnings.
Speaker 1:One question with, so did you know that you always wanted to be a lawyer or did that evolve over time?
Speaker 2:New? For most of my, I mean, when I was extremely little, you know, I thought I was going to be so many different things and I'm talking about like three years old, but as I got older and, you know, I thought, you know, I think I pretty much knew for most of my adolescents, if you will. That, that was what I wanted to do. And I don't know why I thought that that was the path for me. I was also interested in public service. Um, now the reasons you might be interested in public service when you are a teenager is a little bit different than why you might be interested when you become an adult. And of course, I formed purpose behind my interest. I re you know, my dad passing away from cancer, you know, what really shed light as I was learning when my dad was ill and I would ask him questions about his treatments and I would ask him, so what happens? Cause he explained how, you know, insurance worked. Cause, you know, you don't necessarily understand or appreciate that and innately. And so I said, well, what happens if they say no? You know, and I remember my dad explaining, you know, as you know, that that was a possibility. In some instances, my dad was getting something to experimental treatments, et cetera. And you know, for a lot of people, that's a life or death situation. I mean, we were very fortunate that wasn't the case for my daddy. He did have good insurance, but you know, so many people don't. And so that was when it clicked to me for the first time that, Oh, okay, this, you know, when you go and you represent people, it's not just about making decisions on their behalf. It's about also understanding that you are having to be a steward of people's lives. You literally hold people's lives in your hands, by your actions and inactions. And so it's not just your action. It's also your inaction, your failure to act. And so being a public service is really serious in terms of the business that you really do, um, occupy in the responsibility that you have to make really sound decisions and strong and be as strongly.
Speaker 1:So you, you leave Emory, you go to Harvard law. What's your impression when you first get onto the campus?
Speaker 3:No, I'm just kidding. Um,
Speaker 2:That was actually my biggest fear honestly, was like what I, cause I am so, you know, summer, I love summer. I can deal with the, I cannot deal with winter cold. So I was so afraid of what that would feel like. Would that be depressing? You know, I just did not, I was not ready for the snow. Uh, and so that was a big concern, but truthfully, um, besides for that, I mean, it was so dynamic in terms of the types of people that you meet and come across. Um, you know, I had people in my class that were formerly rocket scientists or doctors and just, you know, just all kinds of interesting, fascinating backgrounds that don't necessarily, you know, all match each other. And I, I really enjoy meeting and a lot of incredible people. And while I was there, uh, one of my professors, uh, Martha minnow, uh, she was my section leader. She was one of, uh, president Obama's, uh, former president Obama's, uh, professors and, and one of my mentors, uh, Charles Ogletree, same thing. Yeah. And so Charles Ogletree and, and, and I worked for, uh, Elizabeth Warren on a blog that she had in terms of the middle class. So you, you know, it was really cool in terms of just some of the folks that I ultimately came across my Dean at the time was it ended up becoming one of our Supreme court justices, Dina, uh, Elena Kagan now Supreme court justice, Elena Kagan.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So you leave Harvard love. I know your background, but I want to understand some of this internal wrestle because you have the opportunity to make, I mean, lawyers make decent living, but you have the opportunity to make, you know, a lot of money. How do you wrestle with the heart you have for public service and the opportunity to just kill it?
Speaker 2:I mean, you know, and in the beginning that was a challenge for me. I started off, I clerked. So after I graduated at clerked in federal court for a year, and then I started a program for kids teaching them how to use writing as a tool of empowerment, this was after Katrina. So I had moved down to new Orleans. And so it was a real dilemma because I literally did not know if I was going to stay in new Orleans and stay working with kids and doing that work or go down this pathway of, you know, becoming this lawyer and, and getting a job maybe at a big firm who knows. And so I prayed a lot about that and I, I, you know, had a, uh, a long deliberation over it, but eventually I decided that I would open more opportunities to myself by, um, exposing myself professionally to more training opportunities like practicing law. And then if I wanted to do the other things, I could always do go and do those other things. And so I came back home to Houston, um, and I started practicing law. It kind of split the baby. I was doing stuff in the public interest and still in a big firm. So I was, uh, what we call a public finance lawyer. So, uh, building hospitals, building schools, doing that kind of work. So I was like, okay, these are good public projects, but you know, it wasn't a big firm context. And then I was serving on a bunch of nonprofit boards and, and in doing that, you know, really kind of was trying to straddle this line. And ultimately it was one of those things where it's like, okay, you're on the periphery, you're comfortable, but is that what your purpose is? So this woman named Oprah Winfrey who likes to talk about purpose all the time, you know, she's in my ear, not directly in my ear, but, um, but am I aligned with that? And the truth was I was dancing around it and you have to muster up some courage to really dive in, especially in a place in space where a lot of people might think it's crazy. You know? So in my case, um, why would I give up this opportunity doing well and just, you know, this big firm environment and you still are doing good in the community, you still get to help with nonprofit boards. I was on, I was the president of the board at project row houses and all the risks, but am I doing enough for my purpose? And in terms of why I'm here in the question for me was that I needed to realign. And so I, um, got into politics and I don't even like politics, which is even crazier, but I love the service. I love public service. So to me, I can deal with the politics if ultimately I can serve in a way that's meaningful and impactful for people. And so I ran for office in 2015, but it was scary.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I, I can imagine. Um, so you, you said something you said, and I think we only have, we have windows in life, and I'm sure you talk to people who had the same struggles that you had maybe a little older. And I don't know if you felt like, man, I got a certain window where I can literally fulfill the purpose. God has given me what, you know, and I can wait 20 years to do it, or I can do it now.
Speaker 2:[inaudible] and that's what I was. That's exactly what I said. Well, I said, well, I can, I can spend my life waiting to do what it is that I'm my purposes, or I can just go do it. And so, you know, I actually use my life for that purpose as opposed to waiting my life to fulfill that purpose. And so I decided to dive in, but not immediately, like I, you know, I wanted to make sure that I had something to offer more than just my desire to serve. You gotta make sure you're equipped with the skills, the, uh, perspective, varied experiences that would make you a better surgeon in my case, wanting to be a public servant or make me a good or a better public servant, not just cause I wanted to be in a position.
Speaker 1:What are those things that you think prepared you, uh, in between, you know, new Orleans and, and running in 2015 that prepared you for public service? I think being
Speaker 2:Able to have very perspectives is so important. Cause you know, or you better appreciate the language that people are using, where they're coming from the perspectives, even if it's not your own, you've seen it. You've been in certain environments. I often say that, um, you know, there aren't many rooms where I can't that I don't feel like I could at least pull up a chair. Now I'm saying that in the sense that, of course don't, don't ask me to come to, uh, some type of, uh, you know, KKK media. I'm not going in that room. Yeah. I'm not doing that. I'm not suggesting that. But my point really is, is that I've been in the corporate spaces. I've been in grassroots environments. I've been in public school. I've seen what a Christian school looks like. There've been so many different experiences. And I think that's really important because your goal, your job as a public official, isn't just a slam your perspective down somebody else's throat. It's the figure out, how do you navigate the buried perspectives and varied viewpoints to get to a space in place where we're ultimately folks can be served best. And I think you've gotta be able to work with people, understand and appreciate their perspective, really listen and hear them and having those different experiences I think helps you with that. I think it's much more challenging if your perspective is limited in terms of your own experience, that hasn't had a lot of variety to it. It isn't to say you can't be a leader. It's just not you to me, it's, it's, it's easier to lead when you're able to put yourself in someone else's shoes and really know what that means.
Speaker 1:Uh, so, uh, so given your experience, given your background, why in 2015, did you run for Houston city council that had done anything, could ramp anything? Why that,
Speaker 2:Well, you know, I'm, uh, I believe that it's not always being in the spaces that you're comfortable and I don't even like politics. So for me to go in a city, local politics, my goodness, why would you do that? But to me, that was where the change in terms of some of the things I'm, you know, I'm a lifelong Houstonian absent me going away from school and, and some other experiences. But I was born here and are in Houston and, and had some very strong opinions about how our city ought to be and what was happening in our city or not happening on our city and how that should materialize. And by the time I'd see a lot of things. It was too late. I had those opinions and it was in my head. So why not be in an environment where you get in there and that arena can actually impact things. So things like how we invest in our, our communities that have been under resourced historically, how do we do that in a way that doesn't just gentrify them and displace folks and move them to the other part of town? Um, that's not getting the resources, how do we invest in a way where they can also be part of that benefit? Um, something, those are some things that are important to me, uh, growing our economy in a way that's inclusive. So I, I'm a big proponent of pushing the tech and innovation economy, but I'm also a big proponent of doing that in an inclusive way. How do we bring everybody to the table when we're trying to push that or small businesses, how do we do that? How do we address a future of work? Uh, that's one of the biggest anxiety inducing issues. And, and, you know, prior to COVID was that the economy was changing. Where do I fit into that? And so answering those kinds of questions, also looking at, you know, small business ownership, how do we support them? And just a variety of issues that I had strong feelings about, uh, transportation being a big one as well, and trying to get in there and do something about it. Not just have opinions, but actually help to shape policy and resources in the directions that I felt like they needed to go. So all Houstonians could thrive and we could really realize our potential collectively
Speaker 1:Yeah. On that issue of, of Houston. It seems to be that there's a trend that the power and the focus of politics in our country is moving from the federal government to how the city States, if you will. Uh, because I mean, Houston does it just doesn't drive Houston. It drives the whole Southwest. It seems like the power or the, at least the attention is shifting towards the city States, for instance, like, you know what we're doing here with, COVID both in Houston and Harris County is making national news five, 10 years ago. Maybe that's not the case, but it seems like that that there's a dynamic where the city States are kind of taking shape. Cause we really don't have much, God is ship leadership shepherding from the federal government. What do you think?
Speaker 2:I think definitely there's been a shift in terms of the focus or understanding about politics happening on the ground and impacting change on the ground. It's the closest to the people. You hear the people, you see the people we live with, the people we serve. Um, but then beyond that, there's so many decision points that get made. It's the distribution of these big block grants that get made here. And how do we do that? It's the policies. Are we allowing people, uh, opportunity? Are we doing the things we're supposed to do? I will tell you as someone who went through the experience of Harvey, both in terms of seeing the devastation as it was being, as it was playing out, being in, in the shelter with, with people, but seeing, and being a part of the experience of how long and delayed it is for people to actually get the help that they need. It's 20, 20 and Harvey happened in 2017 and there still so many people who are waiting for the help that they need. That's agregious. And these are the kinds of things that you gotta have a committed level, you know, systems of government, uh, from the top to the bottom and in order to distribute the funds advocate for what the community members need. And the best way to know that is when you're with the people, that's the best way to know that, but then you've got to keep pushing because the way the federal government is, is not designed to work effectively or efficiently, that is not the design of our federal government and tell you're telling me. And so, yeah, I mean, it's, it's not designed to, to do what we needed to do. And so a lot of what has to be to happen is that the local government has to fill in those gaps and make those right calls. And policy is, you know, politics are local, but a lot of policy is local. And that's in fact, a lot of what affects your day to day.
Speaker 1:So shifting a little bit, you you're on city council, you make this decision to run or us Senator representing the great state of Texas. Why, and, uh, in the aftermath, what have you learned?
Speaker 2:Uh, so I'll start with the, in the aftermath. What have I learned? Don't get in a race that has too many people in it and then a presidential year where they're totally some odd candidates. Um, it, wasn't a little bit tough that race in terms of just the dynamics we got, you know, real crowded out in, in the stage, uh, early stages of that, that campaign or race, but the truth in all seriousness. Um, I decided to run because I realized after the 2018 cycle, how quickly Texas was changing. And I don't mean, you know, it had been projected that the state could flip in 2024. And I was like, Nope, the state can flip down. And when we saw Beto get within 215,000 votes of winning in 2018 against Cruz in a time when no one thought it was even reasonable to expect there to be even a competitive race, let alone someone getting that close. I mean, you know, just to give you perspective, that's less than the size of a district out of our 11 city council districts. One district that's less than one city council district in the city of Houston. I had represented the entire city, but I'm just giving you perspective. That's not that many votes in the state with this many, you know, all of these people. And so consequently, um, I knew that there was a shift, it was happening very rapidly. It was also brought about by Trump and so in a prison potential election cycle year, uh, with that type of pressure on for change. Cause I knew that the change would be desired and you would see a lot of people who also were maybe moderates, you know, go toward the democratic side of the world because they don't like the direction our country is headed. Um, so I got in the race. Um, I wasn't the only person who knew, uh, that this change was going to be the, uh, resulting. And so I got into a very crowded reason. I wasn't in a crowded field when I got in, but it became a very crowded field. And consequently, it was, you know, us dividing up our votes in different ways. And we had challenges, uh, really getting, um, you know, statewide attention on our race because of the fact that people were still very confused of who they would pick for presence by that March, sir primary. So they really focusing on the, you know, we had 20, some odd candidates on the democratic primary, uh, presidential stage. So I mean, uh, uh, presidential candidate list. So ultimately it was a tough, it was a tough time, um, to, to break through. But, um, lessons learned from it is, you know, do I regret the fact that I was willing to confront something that is, was a big challenge? Absolutely not. Uh, do I miss serving actively? Of course I do. Of course you want to win when you run, but there are so many lessons and so many people and so many issues and so many things that I learned in that process and it was invaluable. Um, do I believe that's the end of my journey? Absolutely not. Uh, you know, just like any, any fighter, anybody with, you know, bigger bowl dreams, you have to keep being, you got to keep pushing forward and you have to persevere. But in my case right now in the stage and season that I am in it's about finding ways to contribute value, that really does make a difference. So, you know, the announcement that Kama Harris, uh, VR first black woman, uh, vice president not, was not something that I took lightly. And I'm excited about the prospect of having, not just a, uh, not just having a new administration, but also breaking some of these glass ceilings that have just really impeded our ability as a nation to move forward and in ways that we deserve. And so I'm excited about that. And I think that, um, we have a huge opportunity on our hands, uh, to really shift the, the nation. And I will say COVID COVID was an awakening and so many different ways. It seemed like we were in slumber, but in truth, uh, we were really having our eyes opened to so many different problems that before we were just too busy to pay attention to our digital divide, I've been talking about digital divide for years. And it wasn't until now where people understood what I was talking about because the kids can get access to class because they don't have the access to the internet or their student can't, or, you know, they're realizing all that real impacts to this. It's not just, you know, some progressive agenda. It's actually something that matters and impedes people's ability to be successful in an environment like this or how to work. If you don't have internet, you're not going to have access to jobs in during COVID. I mean, in a number of jobs, let me say that, uh, some jobs you will continue to have access to, but others you won't. And so it's really about people now beginning to appreciate, I mean, you, right there could not be a better example than the George Floyd murder of the breakdown in our criminal justice system and how that ties to the breakdown in economic policy and how that ties to police brutality and how all of these things are just really, really bad things that are happening in society right underneath people's noses. But again, before now, people had just been too busy or preoccupied with the way things were. And so now I think with this reset, people have an opportunity. I've I wrote a piece about opportunity for an innovation Renaissance, where we can use this moment and see these, these shortcomings and these phone dysfunction, systemic dysfunctions, and really actually do something meaningful about it while you got people actually paying attention to them. Uh, the PPP lone shit shed light to the fact that you have so many small businesses that don't have the relationships with banks that don't get access to the capital. Now this happens all the time and I've worked on these issues, but until now it wasn't a kitchen table discussion point until now you say, Oh, was it right for shake shack to get millions of dollars in that little restaurant that we lied down the street to have to shut down because they can't get the money. And those are the things that now people can appreciate that they never before really focused on.
Speaker 1:So, uh, and, and first of all, I mean, you are our era Houston States person, uh, for lack of a better word. So your voice is the loudest, and we need to hear your voice regardless of whether you hold an office or not. You hold that office. And a lot of people look to you for guidance. So shifting gears, where were you the day that you heard George Floyd at Pat?
Speaker 2:Well, I, you know, I watched it, it was, you know, I usually don't try to watch a lot of love, like videos and stuff like that on social media, but it was just so bizarre. I had watched, I think I had watched the, um, Amy Cooper video and that was the instance in central park where she said, I'm going to tell the police that an African American man is threatening me in a park or whatever. She said to use race to basically make false allegations against him. And, uh, as he just asked her to leach her dog. And so I was very, very frustrated by watching that video. Cause you know, usually I don't get that kind of up close and personal stuff. Same day that I saw that video. Cause when I watched the doors Floyd murder, so I kind of had that in the background of my energy already. And like I said, I don't normally like something like that. I wouldn't normally want to just watch all the way through, but it was something about, it was something about the angle of the shot. You felt like you were there, you heard the angst in the voices of people who were asking officer Shovan to stop, let him breathe, move your knee. All of the things you heard him screaming out for his mother and you watched his face, you've watched the life, leave his body. It was so intimate to me that it just grabbed me. And I just felt so upset by what I saw in broad. Literally we use the term all the time, broad daylight, broad daylight. It literally in broad daylight with a crowd of people around him, begging him to do the right thing and the hands in pockets as he killed this man, he murdered him and consequently, I just felt my own self. I felt a shift within my own self and it's not that I haven't had concerns about issues of race in the past. Certainly I have and I have I've been moved in the past, but I think the combination of all of these factors, you know, the Amy Cooper video, uh, the George Floyd, the way it was shot, just all of it combined with Colvin. Cause I'm at home now. And you know, so I'm, so it just, it stirred something up in me in a way that I think it stirred a lot of people where it was just like, I've got to say something, cause this is not right. We cannot continue this way. And I think a lot of people felt the exact same way. Like what I just saw there. I don't know what you, I mean, I call it murder. I don't know what anybody else calls it, but that's what I'm going to say.
Speaker 4:Yeah. And definitely Murray and the truth and execution and that it was done by the state hands
Speaker 2:In that case, you know, if we're going to let this happen like this at this time, what else? And it just became that kind of rhetorical. And in my time, and in my generation, I just cannot not say anything about it. And so, you know, it was right after, it was not very long after I lost the race. So, you know, I was kind of regrouping from that and it just kind of was it woke me up. I mean, not to say I was asleep, but it woke me up in terms of the fact that we needed all hands on deck. And to, again, like I mentioned in college, you know, you have these moments and you have these windows, what are you going to do about them? What are you going to do with them? How are you going to use this moment to actually lend itself to longterm systemic change rather than an interesting period of time, we don't need an interesting period of time. We need the longterm systemic change. And so that is a catalyst for that. If we're smart, if we're vigilant, if we are consistent, if we are tireless in our efforts and we're clear about what it is that we want to see. And that's the kind of communication that I started to try to put out is being clear of the demands that we want. Um, being comprehensive, being organized in our asks, uh, I would equip people with letters so they could advocate for themselves on the federal level, on the state level, on the County level, on city level, on the task force level, because it was a task force in the city, but equipping people with the tools so that they could collectively advocate. Um, and it not be something that just goes away because the new cycle changes I've lived through that. I saw that during Harvey. I know what it means when a news cycle changes, because that means you got hundreds of people who, thousands of people potentially who are out of resources or dark on to get their resources because it's not the story of the day anymore. I had, you know, I, I drove a New York times, uh, um, writer through Northeast Houston to show him and introduce him to some folks. And it wasn't until one of the individuals was profiled. Does she get her, her, her resources from FEMA? So she had to be profiled in the New York times in order to get her claim and I, that woman's home. And I tell you, as someone who walked in that home and saw the holes in the floor, saw the mold from my own eyes, this woman had severe damage. Still somebody denied had the audacity unite that claim when it was agregious. And so, you know, we can't let those kinds of situations emerge. We have to use the moments that we have. We got corporate America right now. Now everybody issued their statement. Everybody wanted to tell you their values and how they Stanford justice and racial equality and opportunity and all of the things. And so, yeah, I would, I want to see, so here's my idea. Tell me what you think about this, but wouldn't it be beautiful if we had all of those major powerhouse organizations, because understand this, when you go back to the sixties and you look at the civil rights movement, you had to have bipartisan support to get those measures passed 64 65, 68. You had to have bipartisan support two weeks after we buried George Floyd, two weeks, two weeks later, we had the Republicans in the Senate led by John Cornyn against whom I was seeking to run, um, who were pushing forward. Something called the justice act, which didn't have teeth to it. I, you know, actually went through the measure. It didn't have teeth to it. And this was a time where it was time for bold change, transformational change. And they were putting up something that was superficial in nature. This is not the time for that type of politics as usual. This is the time that we need to be serious about the change of the people who are demanding in the streets to see, and yet, and still our government is nonresponsive to that. So I say that to say John Cornyn and those that thought that was a good idea. They're not listening to the calls from me, but they would listen if corporate America, who's writing these value statements about racial injustice and all of the rest. If they picked up the phone and they said, Hey, we don't stand for this. We want more. That's the constituency that has his ear, not mine, not me, but those to whom he feels accountable. And so I say that to say, we got to bring our corporate, our core corporate allies, as well as our stakeholders in the community, our activists in our communities, our policy bring them to the same table, create an agenda that involves not just police brutality and criminal justice reform, economic opportunity have a comprehensive agenda and how a real push to get this doc tech done at a time certain, and not just in terms of this is what we're committed to. I mean, picking up the phone and advocating and advocating with the folks that could be considered to who considered the barriers to progress. That's when we're going to really see change, like the sweeping change that we were able to see back in, in the civil rights times. Now, it didn't happen immediately, but it's the ability to build these coalitions often comprise of unlikely bedfellows, meaning you don't necessarily have to have the same motivation. Sometimes people come to the table because it's monetary and interest and they think yes, but it absolutely. You've got to be able to bring these different stakeholders, give them a job and use your leverage your resources, not just to make the statements, but also pick up that phone call to the leaders who are, who are causing challenges for us and get them to move the needle in a way that actually impacts the community in a positive way, rather than just the politics as usual, that we're tired of seeing.
Speaker 1:So it's probably safe to say that when people say what happened to George Floyd, isn't there America. I know you probably don't put much stake in that. Cause it's probably the America that we've all known. We just choose to hide it.
Speaker 2:I mean, it's, it's one of these things. We've never realized our promise as a country, right? Like even from when it was being, when we were actually being formed as a country, there were slaves. We were S I would have been a slave. You know, it, it's never been something where we've realized our promise in that way. And I think we need to, I think this is the first time in my, my time on this, on this earth where I've seen such a widespread recognition of that, like, yeah, this is messed up and this shouldn't be happening. And people willing to listen and have more of a dialogue about it, but it's not enough just to stop there. We've got to empathize, understand, listen, and understand, and be comprehensive in our efforts in terms of what would bring about real change. And so on a lot of people in the community, they have, you know, they don't see law enforcement people oftentimes don't understand. They're having two different conversations about what law enforcement is. When you're talking about an area that has resources, then the thought is, Oh, you're here to protect my, my, me and my property. But oftentimes when you're going into communities that have been deprived for decades upon decades, you are the area that law enforcement might be seeking to target. You know, because they think you are the criminal, you are the problem. And therefore it's not a viewpoint of, of serving and protecting. It's a viewpoint of, let me find my assailant. And so looking at people from that lens rather than from the lens of everybody deserves an equal shot at being protected or, and deserves to be protected and served in the, in the same way in that. And, and that's something, I think that people who haven't had to have encounters like that with law enforcement are finally beginning to appreciate in a, in a broader way, not everybody's going to appreciate that, but we're seeing more of that.
Speaker 1:Um, given your experiences, given your, your high competence, given the work that you've done in the previous and given, um, some of your background, even your faith background, someone listening to this is probably asked the question, where do we go from here? And how do I, Joe, public get involved? What would you say?
Speaker 2:So I would say, don't just raise your voice. When the media is got the cameras on, we got to keep raising our voices until the change that we say, we want results that requires us to be tenacious and having Durance. Um, those there's going to be a lot of short term wins. And then there's some stuff that's going to just linger and linger think, go back through the history of civil rights legislation. They had the hammer, get this pass, get this pack. And they had to, you know, and it passed, you know, different pieces. You know, you had the voter rights act and you had different components. And so we have to stay persistent and very clear in our asks. Um, I think it's important that we continue to do that. So, and I often say, don't let anybody on a campaign, tail campaign trail, tell you what they're going to do unless, and you vote for them unless you also are committed to holding them accountable for those promises. And often it's, it's a game of exploitation, to be honest with you, but it doesn't mean you don't participate. It means you find those leaders that you can trust that want to exploit you. And if you don't see them out in the field and you recruit who you want to see in leadership, we are just as responsible about what we get as the next person, because it's up for us to support those that we feel comfortable and confident in standing behind. So if you see a candidate that you like, then you go find them, you push them. And even if you can't donate lots of money, you can use your social, social media platforms. You can go block, block walking or the thing. I mean, I guess that was a pre COVID days, but, uh, you can do a lot of things to help promote candidates that you believe can be effective leaders in office and who to whom uh, you feel like they can, there would be a line of accountability. I think it's important not to just pick the people we like. And so I know what I'm saying is controversial in that it's not just about picking the people you'd like, or, you know, cause that don't mean that they're going to be effective. There is a sin. Remember I was telling you about my, my father passed away. There is a serious job in which people's lives, literally lag in the balance. And so we have to remember that you don't just pick a surgeon cause you like, he seems nice. You want to make sure somebody is qualified and that they can do the job. Same thing here. It's not just about charm. It's about, it's about an ability to figure out how do I maneuver do this environment and get this stuff passed. Not just to give a speech, but to get this stuff passed. And it's, it's about finding leaders who are focused, laser focus on that, being their job and we'll get it done. They won't compromise the fact that there are people whose lives are lying in a balance. And so, yeah, that doesn't mean you're going to always have the perfect candidate, but you got to pick the candidates who are committed and who can deliver the results. Because that ultimately is what matters in people's lives is the result that emanates from that leadership.
Speaker 1:Let me ask you a question. So many
Speaker 2:Campaign, but then also engagement once they're in office. So what do I mean by that? Well, what are you doing to pass criminal justice reform? The mayor's task force came out well, what if you don't see the stuff that you want to see on the agenda or what if you don't see what you think should be a part of the package? You advocate, you go, you write your letters, you show up, you talk, you write your op EDS, you advocate any you share and you communicate pressure. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. So when the pressure brewing from the community that can lead to results. So getting and galvanizing the public to get organized, to advocate what they want. Ultimately, what people have to remember is that you are in fact, the bosses, not the person in the swivel chair, but the person who cast that vote every two years or however often it is, that's the person who is in charge. You are literally the boss. We forget that. We forget that as elected officials. And we forget that as the public, we, that, that we are in charge, elected officials work for us even. You don't see what you asked to see. Now don't just say, I don't like this. You gotta be clear in your ass. Be very clear, be very concise. Uh, in terms of clear, clarity wins the day, be clear in your ass, but then make sure people know you will hold them accountable. And it's not just in one position, it's all positions. There are literally things on a list. I have letters posted on my social media. So I have formed letters and you could see comprehensive set of reforms on a federal level or state level on the County level, on the city level. I broken it down in that way so that people know how they can advocate at each and every single level in a way that's in tandem with each other. So I say that, yes, Amanda for Texas. Yes. So it's on my Instagram, Instagram and Facebook accounts. And you can always direct message me, um, and to get ahold of me. And I'm happy to send you word documents of that.
Speaker 1:Okay. Uh, two questions and then we'll close. The first one is, so there are people in the faith community that sometimes think a candidate is on the other side of the aisle. Uh, maybe they've voted LA lifelong Republican, or they voted lifelong Democrat and they see a candidate on the other side of the aisle that they think is a quality candidate and they don't push the button. What do you say to that?
Speaker 2:It's important to understand who you're voting for, uh, what, what side of the aisle? I'm a Democrat. I'm a, I've been a Democrat, my entire voting history, if you will, in terms of, uh, you know, identifying, voting and democratic primaries and such, but, you know, I can't tell anybody what their political identity has to be. I don't get into that debate. I get into the fact that you've got to know who you're voting for, what you're voting for and make sure that's aligned with your interests. And when I say, make sure that's aligned with your interests, really make sure it's aligned in terms of policy outcomes. If somebody says to you, I am someone who supports black lives matter. The next question is, well, how, and it's not, you know, the answer can't be slogans is my point. And I'm not suggesting that black lives matter is a slogan, but the vague more vague someone is the less clear you are about who they are and what they represented, who you're voting for it. And it's contingent upon us as a public to get more informed about these candidates. Information is available. The legal women voters puts out, voters puts out information websites of the candidates. You can get a copy of the sample ballots for the candidates from the County. Before you go vote, you can study them. You could talk to people that, you know, in politics. Let me tell you, I get inundated with people, ask me, should I vote for this person who should have awful? Well, you know, and I don't send out a slate of endorsed candidates, but what I, you know, I'm happy to talk to people cause I want them to be informed. So talking to people, well, what does that, what do you think, you know, in terms of those that, you know, are informed or who are very active in doing the research and do research yourself, especially now, I mean, we're in such a, a time in which the substance is so critical and we've been lied on substance in the past in terms of real focused on what people are really saying versus like how they identify or align. And if they're not, you know, cutting the message, that's why primaries are important. You know, you're like, well, I don't really like the candidate that came that that's being presented in a general one. So will, did you vote in the primary? And a lot of people don't vote in primaries because they're like, I'm not that big of a, you know, political person, they'll say I'm not that political. It's not about how political you are. It's about making sure you promote the candidate that you really want to see on the general ballot. You know, we had that problem at 16 where people were like, ah, you know, I don't know if I want a boat and it's not who I to pick my candidate in a, or I didn't see who I wanted. Okay, you got that. And that's when you, and then people stayed at home. That's not the answer. We better be showing out in record, low numbers. Let me say this again. If Colvin and George Flores murder and the aftermath, it hasn't been enough evidence of how significant it is and how much leadership matters. I don't know what else to say. I mean, we literally seen our economy come to a halt. We have seen a public health crisis turn into something. It did not have any business turning into. I mean, I'm looking at all the countries. We can't go to as Americans right now because we can't get it together on COVID because we wanted to pretend that Kobe wasn't real because we didn't feel like dealing with it anymore. That's not leadership. We know that, but it has real consequences. It's been so ingrained in us. This notion of it just doesn't matter. My vote doesn't matter. Do you know how many times I hear that? My boy doesn't matter. They all the same. No, they are not all the same. You hear me clapping, right? They are not all the same. And while it may not be the ideal candidate in your mind, that makes sure you not boating is a statement and has implications. And we have lived through that for the last four years. And especially if you don't want your, you want to see your loved ones again, I don't know about you, but I'd like to see my friends and my family again, you know, I mean, who ever imagined we would be living in these kinds of situations and conditions, but that is an illustration now no, the president did not create COBIT. The problem is the president could not manage the public health crisis stemming from it. And that is where leadership that's correct. You have hap you have to put people in the role who can do the job. And again, it's not to be taken lightly. Not only is your wife in literally in their hands, but the whole nation, our future, the trajectory, your kids, their quality of education. I don't know about you, but I heard a lot of my friends whose kids, they said, well, this semester was a wash. And you know, you don't want your kids not getting educated appropriately. And so,
Speaker 1:And what's funny is like, well, it's not funny. What's tragic is that they're going to be a semester or a year behind just because we could manage this public health price as, as a black woman. What the kava Harris, me too. I want to frame this in the biggest way possible. What does it mean for Camila Harris to be a candidate or the vice president of the United States?
Speaker 2:I am over the moon that we are finally going to have this historic moment to break a glass ceiling. I'm telling you it is so exciting to me to be able for a little girls for young women or men, you know, mid age, middle age women, to be able to have the hope that just by virtue of their race and their gender, that they aren't necessarily going to be excluded from an opportunity like that. Now it isn't just that there won't be barriers. You know, I know a lot of people said after president Obama got elected, we're in post racial society and there no racism, no,
Speaker 1:That did not happen.
Speaker 2:There was a response and it was a very, very strong response, right? And so we know that this doesn't mean that there will no longer be barriers, but yesterday or recently, we, we just, uh, had, um, uh, black women's equal pay day. And we're facing in listening to the disparities in terms of how much a woman makes compared to a white male, a black woman makes compared to a white male counterpart the disparities. We can have a focus on reducing some of that disparity, the hope that someone can aspire to be in the white house to, to be vice-president to be president. I mean, one of the things that was heartbreaking after the 2016 cycle was, do you know how a number of us who are women in politics felt in terms of, you know, people believing that we weren't electable and by virtue of nothing else, but by virtue of nothing substantive, other than who we were as human beings, how we, how you know, our anatomy, um, same thing goes for race. We know what that injustice feels like and how and how it's wrong. And so in this moment, it's, it's just such a wonderful time to get behind an opportunity to break a glass ceiling, make history, open doors, and keep those doors open for generations to come. That's the key piece of it. It's an opportunity to open a door and swing it wide open and bring as many people with us as possible. And it's an inspire people instead of living. And there's a space of what is not possible into believing what is possible. And that's when you get your very best out of people. It's when they begin to believe in the possibilities of life versus what they focus on, what's impossible or what has not been possible to date. Um, and so that's so exciting to me. I think it's going to represent a shift. You know, people underestimate the significance of the tone and culture of society, right? Like you just think that's kind of more of a superficial, a way of thinking about leadership, but just the fact that you have, uh, an administration being built upon what is possible and opening possibilities and expanding possibilities, as opposed to limiting them and dividing us, that will go a long way into what people, what you know, in building that human capital and people. And I think you've got to build, you've got to do your, your bricks and mortar, your physical capital, which you've got to build and invest in humans. And I think by breaking these glass ceiling, this glass ceiling in this way is a huge way to begin to do that. And I think she can be extremely valuable in a lot of what we need to get accomplished. And I've got a whole agenda for 2021 in terms of what I want to see accomplished in light of what we have come across with this moment stemming from George Floyd's murder. And people's heightened awareness about how that ties to the economy and let's get this stuff rolled out, must get it, let's get these policies through. And I don't mean just let's push for them, let's have a deliverable. And so having someone with convening power in that way, who is representative of, of, of black women, but also the broader community, but understands a lot of those nuanced issues is so, so impactful and, and, and going to be important. I think in the work that we have to do
Speaker 1:And it's good stuff. It seems just as a general thing that you think that with regards to what happened with George Florida, so much of this has to do with the economic policy of the country before we close. I just, could you flesh that, that thought out why you think that has a big, uh, role to play in what we saw, what happened? Cause we don't always make that connection.
Speaker 2:If you go all the way back to slavery, slavery was predicated and, and issues of racism, but also economics, right? Like if they go in tandem and so you have, it's not just a matter of oppressing a community just by the color of students. Also making sure they remain oppressed in terms of opportunity available to them. Um, and that economics is, is key to that is central. So how, you know the racism of slavery, it was that you had people who were in bondage, who weren't getting paid for their library. Then after you stepped out of slavery, then you had people who were sharecropping not getting paid, what they should have been being paid or people who were returned to people who were returned to plantations. You have a situation where the deprivation of opportunity then leads to a number of different, uh, challenges. And so some of that relates to, you know, communities of poverty and who's central in those communities is black and Brown people who live in those communities of poverty and that's the community that's being, uh, viewed as, uh, the problem. And so when, when the law enforcement officer goes there, there's not necessarily the community policing that is needed, but instead of view that, where am I going to find my suspect, who committed the crime across town? And so that's the lens through which that interaction is taking place. And a lot of these instances, and that's when you get the run ins and the police brutality, because you've also got these communities that are M are also mired and Martin poverty because of systemic, lack of economic opportunities. Um, and so it all, it's a complicated web that is very much tied together. Doesn't mean that you have to be impoverished to be discriminated against. Um, we know that by the racial profiling, that happens to somebody from the highest class to the lowest class based on race as an indicator that, you know, something is wrong, they don't belong here, but it doesn't stop at race. It's, it's, it's also further complicated by issues of the economy and economics and opportunity and the lack thereof, and how do you continue to, to, uh, limit access to people. And so if you can open up access in terms of economic opportunity, you don't rid yourself of racism and you don't rid yourself of police brutality, but you certainly begin to begin to allow people to have more of a chance to have, uh, uh, realize their potential in the community or for, for their lives. And, you know, the education is also tied into that very intimately, right? Because that it's often been said is it's the great equalizer when you can actually provide equal educational opportunities. And that is in fact part and also wrapped into, you know, impoverished communities and the tax base, and that support their schools versus the next person schools that are supported by higher economic means it all wraps up together. And so when we can provide our small businesses, for example, I use this one opportunity to talk about, you know, when we actually begin to really provide more access to capital for our small businesses, our barbershop, or our, you know, in the community that is employing members of the community in the neighborhood. And you really start to open up capital for them so that they can begin to build something for their family. And then that trickles into the community more broadly. Then you begin to, to reduce or lessen some of the implications that have historically prevented us from being successful. I think also, you know, we saw it with the PBB loans, um, who was getting access to loans and who it's not, we've got to, this is, this is a common place all the time. Uh, minority business owners in some cases have been as high as three times as likely to gain access to traditional forms of capital that are now a minority, but counterparts, you have to get told no three times more than the next person. So how many times is a business gonna fold? If they have to get three times the number of rejections and just keep going. And th those are some of the things that I think in my mind are low hanging fruits that we actually can reach. And especially in a moment when people's heightened sense of awareness is where it is, but we've got to have strong leadership pushing for these things and be relentless about these things. And then we've got to have our allies say, I'm going to get involved in picking up the phone and, and just, you know, and, and making sure to apply pressure, look at what's happening with the NFL, right? It has to it when it was just Colin Kaepernick and taking his knee or in, in a few others taking the knee, it wasn't enough. It wasn't until others in the mainstream began to feel like his, his ballot, his stance should have been validated that in that pressure started to come from the outside and from the mainstream. Did you know, you begin to hear statements change and not, you know, and, and corporations, the corporate partners, people saying, I'm going to pull out of this. If I don't see that that's how the world works. So we got to bring all our players on board, our stakeholders who are community activists, who've been out there doing the hard work all these years being ignored. We need them at the table, but we also need to bring our corporations to the table and said, who are you going to pick up a phone and call? And we've got to have an agenda. That's clear, a very clear agenda, our legislators, who are willing to push it, a executive who will help to set this table that will be clear that will really provide economic opportunity for all people. And so when we look back at this time in this moment of COVID, we don't just see it as a time of failed leadership. We also look back at this moment as the beginning of correcting a lot of the wrongs that were systemic and deep in our society revolving around race and economic opportunities. And so many other issues,
Speaker 1:Man, that's, that's such a good word. And you've, you've got me thinking about just his profile. He went to Yates as a high school, uh, which is now historically well, which is now under performing. I don't know about back then grew up in third ward in the bottom, went to Minneapolis because he was looking for an opportunity to develop himself. And so he was literally there with a church work program that was developing him to be a truck driver so that he could come back. And as I think about all these things, and I'm hearing what you're having to say, I mean, I'm having a piffy, that's up that a lot of this is would he have been in this position, if not for the lack of opportunity in his life. And it may be the difference between him that happening to him and me sitting here. I mean, you know, as a black man of, you know, he's a little older than me, but, you know, I, I'm just realizing that it's got a lot to do with the economic opportunity. And I'm glad that you brought that up. I want to give you the last word. Um, how does your faith inform, uh, your vision for your life as a public servant?
Speaker 2:I think for me, you know, you, you, you gotta rely on her strength that stems or emanates from outside of yourself. And so for me, it's my faith in God. It allows me to have perspective, you know, in terms of my purpose, why I'm here, I want to be used in a way that impacts and improves the community. I live in the community around me, the community as a whole. I think that's what, why had so many opportunities along my journey that my, you know, my opportunities, I don't believe, you know, God's, you know, extended those opportunities to meet so that I would keep them for myself for my own comfort. So I think that's why I found myself oftentimes getting in spaces where out in spaces, where I had comfort and into spaces who are not as comfortable, um, because I don't think that's why I'm here. Um, and so I think staying clear about what your purpose is, and then of course drawing upon his strength in his, in his will, of course, as opposed to your own. And sometimes that can be confusing, right? We've got to listen. And I think just drawing upon that, strengthen that faith, faith is so critical at a time where you don't see a light, you know, you don't know how long you going to be in a Valley. We don't, you know, here, you know, you, sometimes you don't know, and you having that faith that, that it's his will, and that in asking for the strength to do what is needed from you in that, in that time of Valley, I think is important. And I think a lot of people right now in the midst of COVID have had to rely very firmly on that faith. Um, and it's not always about being a good, uh, you know, a good disciple is when things are going well, sometimes they're not gonna go well, you just it's, it doesn't your path doesn't mean that it is not going to be Rocky. And, and so having that faith, but also relying on him for the strength. I think, you know, it's not just, uh, you know, you have to get recharged with that strength, every nude with that renewed spirit. And so, uh, I think it's really, really important for me and for many others, that, that are people of faith to really draw upon trial upon that in a time where they may have some doubts about where things are, where they're going, that's the town where you, you really hunkered down into that faith and, and get closer and listen. And sometimes these trying to communicate a lesson, you just have to be willing to listen to it,
Speaker 1:Man, Amanda K. Edwards, thank you for your time. And I know you've got a lot on the horizon things. We talked about, things we haven't talked about. So I look forward to what God is going to do and give to you.
Speaker 2:Thank you. And thank you for extending this platform. I'm really grateful to have had an opportunity to be here.
Speaker 1:It was my pleasure.[inaudible].