AND THE CHARLES A. FRUEAUFF FOUNDATION.
>> THIS WEEK ON "TO THE CONTRARY" FIRST, WILL THE NFL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SCANDAL LEAD TO PALPABLE CHANGE?
THEN, HILLARY CLINTON SAYS NEED A MOVEMENT AND TO VOTE.
BEHIND THE HEADLINES: THE LIVES OF FREED FEMALE SLAVES AFTER RECONSTRUCTION.
HELLO, I'M BONNIE ERBE.
WELCOME TO "TO THE CONTRARY," A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.
UP FIRST, THE LATEST FROM THE GRIDIRON.
THE NFL'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE SCANDALS CONTINUE THIS WEEK, AS MEDIA REPORTS OF MORE ABUSERS AND DISAPPEARING SPONSORS MOUNT.
TOP CORPORATE SPONSORS ARE STANDING BY THE NFL FOR NOW, EVEN THOSE RUN BY WOMEN.
THE FEMALE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF PEPSICO, GENERAL MOTORS AND CAMPBELL SOUP CO., RUN COMPANIES THAT PAY HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS ANNUALLY FOR THE RIGHT TO ATTACH THEIR BRANDS TO THE NFL.
FEMALE ACTIVISTS PUSHED THOSE CEOS TO SPEAK OUT AND BY WEEK'S END PEPSICO'S INDRA NOOYI ISSUED A STATEMENT DECRYING THE ABUSIVE, VIOLENT BEHAVIOR BUT SUPPORTING NFL COMMISSIONER ROGER GOODELL AS A, QUOTE, MAN OF INTEGRITY.
SO FAR NIKE AND CASTROL HAVE DROPPED PERSONAL CONTRACTS WITH MINNESOTA VIKINGS RUNNING BACK ADRIAN PETERSON THAT OVER CHILD ABUSE CHARGES AND RADISSON HOTELS HAS SUSPENDED LOCAL SUPPORT FOR THE TEAM.
PETERSON HAS BEEN SUSPENDED WITH PAY UNTIL HE RESOLVES HIS LEGAL ISSUES.
RAY RICE OF THE BALTIMORE RAVENS WAS CUT LAST WEEK AFTER AN ELEVATOR VIDEO SHOWED HIM PUNCHING HIS THEN-FIANCEE.
HE'S BEEN SUSPENDED INDEFINITELY BY THE NFL.
WILL THE NOOYI STATEMENT HELP PREVENT WOMEN AND CHILDREN FROM BEING BEAT UP BY PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS?
>> GOOD STATEMENT.
GLAD SHE MADE IT.
GIVEN PEPSICO'S CLOSE ASSOCIATION MY QUESTION IS WHAT IS SHE REALLY GOING TO DO ABOUT THE LEAGUE'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EPIDEMIC.
>> THIS IS JUST ONE PART OF IT.
ALL OF SOCIETY HAS TO COME OUT SAY WE'RE OPPOSED TO DOMESTIC ABUSE AND THERE ARE CONSEQUENCE IF YOU DO IT.
>> EXACTLY.
WONDERFUL STATEMENT, I AGREE.
BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH.
IF WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN NFL IN THE LARGER SOCIETY NEEDS TO BE COMPREHENSIVE SET OF PROGRAMS WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT.
>> YOU KNOW IT DOES LOOK LIKE SHE'S RACKING UP BROWNIE POINTS WE NEED CHANGES.
>> TOWARD THE END OF THE WEEK, GOODELL HAS NEWS CONFERENCE AND THERE WERE OTHER DEVELOPMENTS, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ISSUED SOME STATEMENTS ABOUT THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE NFL.
BUT YOU SAID WONDERFUL STATEMENT SAYING HE'S A MAN OF INTEGRITY.
>> THAT'S TRUE.
>> I'M SURPRISED.
>> I WOULD NOT ENDORSE THAT.
BUT SHE DID VERY STRONGLY SORT OF CONDEMN THE ACTIONS OF THE PARTICULAR PLAYERS INVOLVED IN THESE INSTANCES.
SHE WAS RIGHT TO DO THAT.
THAT'S MORE THAN LOT OF OTHER C.E.O.s HAVE DONE.
SHE HAD VERY STRONG ANTI-DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STATEMENT TOWARDS BEGINNING OF HER SPECIFIC STATEMENT THAT WAS RELEASED.
THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.
REALLY SHOW ME THE MONEY.
WHAT THIS ORGANIZATION IS GOING TO REALLY LISTEN TO IS WHEN THEY START SEEING DOLLARS TRICKLE AWAY.
UNTIL WE FIND THAT HAPPENING I DON'T THINK WE'LL SEE VERY MUCH CHANGE IN THE NFL OR OTHERWISE.
>> YOU'RE A BIG FAN.
>> OF FOOTBALL.
>> NOT OF COURSE OF DOMESTIC ABUSE.
>> DO YOU THINK THERE IS ANY PALPABLE CHANGE?
>> I LOOK AT EVERYTHING STONEWALLING ALL THESE COSMETIC CHANGES THE APPOINTMENT OF THE FOUR WHITE WOMEN TO AN ADVISORY BOARD WHEN THE NFL IS 75% BLACK.
>> BUT IT'S MORE WOMEN.
LOOK, I THINK WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WE DON'T TAKE THE NFL OUT PRETEND IT'S NOT PART OF LARGER AMERICAN CULTURE.
AS WE KNOW AS BAD AS THESE STORIES HAVE BEEN THE REALITY IS, WHEN YOU COMPARE MEN IN THE NFL, SAME AGE RANGE TO THE BROAD AMERICAN CULTURE THERE'S ACTUALLY LESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ABUSE.
AND LESS OF A LOT OF OTHER THINGS.
I'M NOT TAKING UP -- POINT BEING THAT DOMESTIC ABUSE ISN'T HAPPENING BY NFL PLAYERS IT'S A PROBLEM THROUGHOUT SOCIETY.
>> BUT MORE THAN THAT.
>> JUST SAYING WE'RE GOING TO MAKE PROFESSIONAL POLICE DO BET.
>> BUT YOU HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT DYNAMIC GOING ON HERE.
THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN WORSHIPPED SINCE HIGH SCHOOL.
THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND THE COLLEGES AND ADRIAN PETERSON, FOR EXAMPLE, DID COMPLETE COLLEGE BUT HE WENT TO OKLAHOMA FOR THREE YEARS.
WHY ARE THEY PASSING -- WHY ARE WE GOING TO COLLEGE GETTING AN EDUCATION ISN'T THE ANSWER SNEER.
>> THEY'RE NOT.
THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT THEY'RE NOT GETTING AN EDUCATION.
IF HE HAD AN EDUCATION HE MIGHT HAVE KNOWN THAT BEATING A 4-YEAR-OLD WITH A WHIP IS AGAINST THE LAW.
>> MY GUESS THEY DO KNOW CERTAIN THINGS ARE RIGHT AND WRONG THEY CHOOSE TO DO WRONG ANYWAY.
>> AND HIGH SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES ARE THEY COMPLICIT IN THIS BY PASSING THEM?
KNOWING THEY'RE NOT GETTING GRADES.
>> I AGREE THAT WE'RE ALL COMPLICIT IN THIS SENSE.
THIS BOARD HAS DEFINED OUR VIOLENCE, GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE KNOW HOW BRUTAL THIS SPORT IS, THAT IT CAUSES MEN TO LITERALLY LOSE THEIR MINDS SO THAT MANY PARENTS ARE DECIDING NOT TO LET THEIR CHILDREN EVEN PLAY FOOTBALL.
IT COMES TO MENTAL CAPACITY.
BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU, IT DID NOT NEED THE GOODEL ADD ON.
WHY DID IT GET THAT?
HER BRAND, SHE REGARDS THAT BRAND AS SO IMPORTANT THAT SHE PAYS $140 MILLION A YEAR JUST TO USE THE NFL LOGO.
HE APPARENTLY MAKES SPECIAL TRIPS TO HER COMPANY'S SITE TO CELEBRATE THE NFL.
IF SHE HAD LEFT IT OUT NONE OF US WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT SHE WASN'T FOR GOODEL BUT BY DOING HER STATEMENT THAT WAY SEEMS SHE TOOK AWAY FROM WHAT WAS OTHERWISE A VERY GOOD STATEMENT.
APPARENTLY A PERSONAL ASSOCIATION WITH GOODELL?
SHE SHOULD GO TO GOODELL THAT WOULD INDICATE THAT SHE REALLY IS TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
OTHERWISE I AGREE, THIS IS JUST PREEMPTIVE STATEMENT YOU BETTER MAKE IF YOU ARE A FEMALE C.E.O.
>> THERE WAS SOME TALK THIS WEEK THAT HOLDING FEMALE C.E.O.s EVEN -- C.E.O.s OF THE HUGE COMPANIES TO A HIGHER STANDARD THAN THE MEN ISN'T FAIR?
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR.
I THINK EVERYBODY OUGHT TO BE OPPOSED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
NOT JUST WOMEN.
BUT LOOK, I THINK REASON THEY'RE SO -- LIKE ALL THESE OTHER COMPANIES ONE OF THE FEW PLACES YOU CAN STILL GO AND FIND A LOT OF PEOPLE WATCHING TV ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
THIS ISN'T SOMETHING YOU TAPE WATCH LATER YOU RUN THROUGH, MOST PEOPLE, YOU GET 17 MILLION PEOPLE WATCHING THIS EVERY WEEK.
IT'S ONE PLACE ADVERTISERS CAN STILL GO.
MY THINKING IS, AS OPPOSED TO THROWING THE WHOLE SPORT AWAY, LET'S MAKE IT BETTER.
OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF AMERICANS LIKE IT FOR A LOT OF REASONS NOT JUST BECAUSE IT'S ROUGH AND TOUGH.
BUT THERE'S LOT OF -- THERE IS SPIRIT IN IT.
THEY LIKE BEING PART OF THE TEAM.
YOU CAN DO WITH THAT -- ADDRESS HEALTH CONCERNS AND THINGS LIKE THIS WE SHOULD DO THAT.
I THINK GOODEL AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN LATE TO THE GAME, I THINK HE'S GREAT MANAGER IN MANY WAYS, I THINK BIG FUMBLE ON THIS ONE NOT JUST ONE TIME, FIGURE BUMBLE.
>> THAT'S GOING TO BE IT FOR THE OWNERS TO DECIDE.
>> AREN'T THEY TAINT TO MAKE THAT DECISION?
THEY'RE ALL INDEBTED TO HIM.
>> BUT LOOK THEY HAVE HUGE RISK HERE.
THESE TEAMS, I THINK ALL OF THEM, MAKE MONEY, RIGHT?
IF LEAGUE GOES BAD IT GOES BAD FOR THEM.
>> WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.
THE AUDIENCES REACT, NFL MADE THIS BIG DEAL ABOUT APPEALING TO WOMEN WHO ARE -- JUST ABOUT HALF THEIR AUDIENCES.
WEARING PINK SNEAKERS ON THE FIELD, BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.
THE WHOLE THING.
SOME WOMEN THINK THAT WOMEN WHO CONTINUE TO WATCH THIS SPORT ARE TRAITORS TO WOMEN.
ARE THEY?
ARE THEY NOT?
>> IT'S HARD TO MAKE A BLANKET STATEMENT LIKE THAT.
IT DOES BOTHER ME.
WHEN I DO SEE WOMEN WEARING RAY RICE JERSEYS SAYING HOW MUCH THEY SUPPORT HIM REGARDLESS OF EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED.
REALITY IS WE NEED TO PUT THE PRESSURE ON THE OWNERSHIP IN MY MIND.
AND ON GOODEL SPECIFICALLY.
HIS IDEA I THINK WRONG DECISION TO HAVE FOUR WHITE WOMEN SPECIFICALLY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EXPERTS TO BE HIRED TO ADVISE THEM THERE ARE BLACK WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE FIELD FOR DECADES AND COULD PROVIDE SOME VERY CULTURALLY COMPETENT ADVICE THAT HE NEEDS OR ORGANIZATION THAT IS MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS AFRICAN AMERICANS.
>> THIS SHOWS WHAT A POOR LEADER IS.
HE'S REALLY A FOLLOWER.
>> JUST HOW MANY DECADES HE IS BEHIND THE WORLD IN TERMS OF DIVERSITY NOT JUST MALE-FEMALE BUT OF COLOR.
>> THE OWNERS ARE IN LEAGUE WITH HIM.
HE'S PROTECTING THEM.
SHE'S MAKING MONEY FOR THEM.
HE IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE BUT HE'S A POOR LEADER.
THE LEADER OF THE NBA.
WHERE YOU GET OUT IN FRONT, TAKE A RISK AND YOU FIND THAT PEOPLE ARE SO IMPRESSED THEY WILL FOLLOW YOU.
YOU SHOW ME A RISK THAT GOODEL HAS TAKEN AND I WILL SHOW YOU SOMEBODY WHO -- >> HE'S BEEN TOUGH WITH THE PLAYER UNION.
I'M NOT DEFENDING HIM.
>> MAKES HIM GLOBE GOOD NEGOTIATOR FOR THE NFL WITH THEM.
THAT'S WHERE OWNERS AND TEAMS HAVE COME OUT VERY WELL.
I THINK WON'T JUST STOP HERE.
THE NBA HAD LOT OF FOLKS PLAYING THAT ARE NOT ROLE MODEL, IS THAT WE WANT EVERYBODY TO FOLLOW.
SAME THING IN BASEBALL.
BUT SAME THING IN OUTSIDE THE SPORTS WORLD.
AS I SAID EARLIER NFL WHILE YOU HAVE THESE THINGS GOING ON, ON AVERAGE THERE ARE STILL FEWER PLAYERS COMMITTING THOSE CRIMES THAN YOU SEE OF MEN OF THE SAME AGE NATIONALLY DOING THE SAME THING.
>> YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE WOMEN'S AUDIENCE.
>> I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY HERE NUMBER ONE, ON EVERY COACHING -- EVERY COACHING STAFF HAS SOME SORT OF CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT COACH.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THESE PLAYERS WHO SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE STRONGER ROLE SAYING, WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE AND BEING ABLE TO INSTILL CERTAIN VALUES FROM WOMEN'S PERSPECTIVE JUST WATCHING THIS, I DON'T THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE EVERY FEMALE C.E.O.
NEEDS TO COME OUT SAY SOMETHING BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY AS SHE MENTIONED THEY ARE THERE FOR BOTTOM LINE IF THEIR CONSUMERS ARE DRIVING WHAT THE RESPONSE SHOULD BE THAT'S HOW THEY'RE GOING TO JUDGE.
>> THANK YOU.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.
PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @BONNIEERBE.
FROM VIOLENCE TO WORK.
FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON SAYS IF WOMEN WANT TO SEE CHANGES IN WORKPLACE POLICIES THEY SHOULD FORM A MOVEMENT AND VOTE.
>> WHEN WE CAN TURN AN ISSUE INTO A POLITICAL MOVEMENT THAT DEMANDS PEOPLE BE RESPONSIVE DURING THE ELECTION SEASON IT CARRIES OVER.
THESES ISSUES HAVE TO BE IN THE LIFEBLOOD OF THIS ELECTION AS WELL AS ANY ELECTION.
>> CLINTON JOINED A PANEL OF DEMOCRATIC WOMEN SENATORS AND HOUSE MEMBERS TO HIGHLIGHT HOW WOMEN ARE THE KEY TO A STRONG ECONOMY.
>> IF WE HAD BEEN ABLE TO CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN PARTICIPATING IN THE WORK FORCE OUR GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT WOULD BE 10% HIGHER.
WHEN PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GET GROWTH GOING AGAIN, GET JOBS THAT ARE GOOD JOBS CREATED AGAIN, WHY ARE WE LEAVING TEN PERCENT ON THE TABLE.
>> THE PANEL AGREED THAT A FLEXIBLE WORKPLACE, PAYCHECK FAIRNESS AND PAID LEAVE ARE NO LONGER ISSUES ON THE MARGINS, BUT IN THE CENTER OF PUBLIC DEBATES.
SHE'S COMING OUT HARDER THIS TIME ON WOMEN'S ISSUES THAN SHE DID IN '08.
WOULD IT HAVE HELPED HER IN '08?
>> MAYBE.
BUT I THINK SHE'S TRYING TO FIND WHO IS THE BASE THAT I NEED TO MAKE SURE OUT THERE EARLY ON IN THE PRIMARIES.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY NATIONALLY IS TRYING TO RAISE THIS ISSUE OF WOMEN ARE NOT PAID THE SAME AS MEN.
I WILL JUST SAY I THINK WOMEN SHOULD MAKE THE SAME AS MEN, TOO, THEY'RE DOING THE SAME JOB, HAVE THE SAME BACKGROUND.
BUT AS WE ALL KNOW WHEN YOU DO MAKE THOSE COMPARISONS YOU ACTUALLY USE THOSE KINDS OF THINGS TO GET YOUR STATISTICS WOMEN ARE RIGHT BEHIND MOST MEN.
>> IN '08 SHE HAD SAME PROBLEM THAT BARACK OBAMA HAD, HE HAD TO SHOW HE WAS NOT RUNNING AS A BLACK, SHE HAD TO SHOW FIRST WOMAN TO GET TRACTION SHE WAS NOT RUNNING AS A WOMEN.
THEN SHE SAW WHAT HAPPENED.
THE WOMEN CAME OUT IN SUCH HUGE NUMBERS THAT SHE NOW UNDERSTANDS, SHE BETTER TEAM UP WITH THEM EARLY.
>> DO YOU THINK SHE WILL GET THEIR VOTE?
>> AT THE MOMENT, ABSOLUTELY.
>> WAIT A MINUTE.
SHE'S RAISING REPRODUCTIVE ISSUES AS WOMEN'S ISSUES, THERE ARE LOT OF WOMEN'S ISSUES CARE ABOUT MORE, ECONOMY, FINDING JOBS, EMPLOYMENT.
LOT OF THE POLICY THAT SHE SUGGESTED BEING SOLUTION TO SOME OF THESE WOMEN'S ISSUES ARE GOING TO BE THINGS BRING BACK, HOLD BACK OUR GENERATION.
RAISING MINIMUM WAGE.
>> MY HEAVENS.
>> PUTTING MORE REGULATIONS ON EMPLOYERS.
>> WHO IN FACT ARE ON MINIMUM WAGE ARE YOUNG WOMEN.
>> THEY ARE MEANT TO BE THERE TEMPORARILY.
MINIMUM WAGE NOT SOMETHING YOUR MEANT TO RAISE YOUR CHILDREN RAISE FAMILY ON.
>> LOT OF PEOPLE DO.
THE REALITY IS THAT THE STEREOTYPE THAT WE HAVE A TEENAGER AT McDONALD THE TYPICAL MINIMUM WAGE WORKER THAT'S NOT TRUE.
>> SHE MENTIONED THIS EVENT SHE SAYS I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS, I CAN'T SUBSTANTIATE IT 75% OF PEOPLE WHO MAKE THEIR LIVING ON TIPS ARE FEMALES.
>> OH, YEAH.
>> DEFINITELY.
>> SHE WAS FAMILIAR SIZING DOLLAR AND CENTS ISSUES.
SHE WASN'T EMPHASIZING SOCIAL ISSUES THAT WE KNOW THERE IS SOME DIFFERENCE SHE'S DOING JUST THE RIGHT WAY.
>> IT'S WORKED QUITE A BIT.
AGAIN THE LARGER DEMOCRATIC PARTY WILL DO THIS.
THEY THINK THAT TURNS WOMEN OUT.
THEY USE LOT OF RHETORIC THAT DOESN'T GET BACKED UP.
I THINK CONSERVATIVES WOULD LIKE TO SAY WE DON'T STAY MINIMUM WAGE JOB.
DON'T WANT TO YOU STAY HAVE TO RAISE YOUR FAMILY IN JOB THAT MAKES TIPS.
WE WANT TO YOU GET UP THE LADDER TALK ABOUT OPPORTUNITY NOT JUST HOW WE MAKE IT BETTER FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE DOWN HERE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE DOWN THERE.
WE WANT TO SAY HOW YOU DO WE GET YOU UP HERE.
>> MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE PAID FAIRLY.
NO WAY THAT THOSE ARGUMENTS ACTUALLY LINE UP WITH REALITY OF WOMEN'S LIVES.
ONE OF THE KEY WAYS WHICH WE KNOW THAT WE CAN COMBAT THE WAGE GAP MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEIR NEIGHBOR, THEIR COWORKER IS MAKING FOR THE VERY SAME JOB F. WE CONTINUE TO MAKE IT A SECRETIVE AFFAIR, GOING TO CONTINUE.
>> EQUAL PAY ACT, PAYCHECK FAIRNESS ACT FAILED IN THE HOUSE ON PARTYLINE VOTE THIS WEEK.
IT LOOKS FOR ALL THE WORLD IF YOU BELIEVE MOST OF THE POLLSTERS NOT ALL, MOST OF THEM THAT THE SENATE WILL BE LOCKED TO THE REPUBLICANS IN NOVEMBER.
HOW DO YOU MOVE THIS FORWARD IN TIME WHEN VOTERS SEEM TO BE GOING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
>> BASICALLY ON DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S BACK TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT TO THE VOTER ABOUT WHY THIS IS DOLLARS AND CENTS ISSUE FOR YOU WHY YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WORST DOES NOT HAPPEN.
>> ALL RIGHT.
BEHIND THE HEADLINES: FREED SLAVES AFTER THE CIVIL WAR.
A STUNNING PHOTOGRAPH OF FOUR FREED FEMALE SLAVES TAKEN IN THE 1900S HAS GONE VIRAL TWICE ONLINE.
WE WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE WOMEN'S LIVES AND WHO THEY WERE.
WE BRING YOU THESE INTERVIEWS WITH TWO EXPERTS.
THE YEAR WAS 1916, MORE THAN A HALF-CENTURY AFTER THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR.
IT WAS A COLD OCTOBER DAY.
THIS IMPACTFUL SHOT OF FOUR WOMEN, ALL LISTED AS BEING MORE THAN 100 YEARS OLD, WAS TAKEN OUTSIDE A CHURCH IN WASHINGTON, DC, SITE OF AN ANNUAL CONVENTION OF FREED SLAVES.
>> THEY WERE BORN AROUND 1816, JUST 40 YEARS AFTER THE UNITED STATES BECAME A COUNTRY.
THEY WERE BORN WHEN JAMES MADISON WAS PRESIDENT, SHORTLY AFTER THE END OF THE WAR OF 1812.
SLAVERY WAS THE LAW OF THE LAND AND THE VALUE OF THE EXPORTS FOR THE UNITED STATES, WELL 43% OF THOSE EXPORTS CAME FROM COTTON.
SO THESE WERE WOMEN WHO PROBABLY HAD BEEN ENSLAVED ON PLANTATIONS IN THE WASHINGTON, D.C. METROPOLITAN AREA, PERHAPS IN VIRGINIA.
>> THEIR NAMES ARE LISTED AS ANNIE PARRAM, ANNA ANGALES, ELIZABETH BERKELEY, AND SADIE THOMPSON.
THEIR AGES FROM 105 TO 125.
>> THERE'S NO WAY TO REALLY KNOW EXACTLY HOW OLD THE WOMEN WERE.
THE PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN ON AN OCTOBER DAY BY HARRIS AND ULLING.
HARRIS AND ULLING WAS REALLY THE OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHER.
VERY RARE FOR THEM TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS.
THEY DID PHOTOGRAPHS OF LANDSCAPES AROUND THE CITY OF WASHINGTON.
THEY DID FAMOUS PEOPLE.
SO FOR THEM TO TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH OF THESE WOMEN WHO WERE A HUNDRED YEARS OLD PLUS, UH, WAS SOMETHING QUITE UNUSUAL.
>> SO WERE THE LIVES OF THESE INCREDIBLE WOMEN, BORN INTO SLAVERY AND THEN FREED WITH VERY LITTLE BY WAY OF MEANS TO EARN A LIVING OR FEED THEMSELVES OR THEIR FAMILIES.
THE SOUTH WAS AS CHAOTIC AND LAWLESS AFTER THE CIVIL WAR AS THE WILD WEST, EXCEPT THE SLAVERY-BASED ECONOMY WAS DESTROYED AND RACISM STILL REIGNED SUPREME.
>> SOME MOVED INTO URBAN CENTERS OF THE SOUTH AND THEY STARTED NEGOTIATING THEIR OWN LABOR TERMS WITH EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS.
AND THIS IS A REALLY POWERFUL MOMENT FOR SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTOOD THEMSELVES AS A SLAVE AND NOW THEY HAVE FREE REIGN OVER THEIR ABILITY TO DETERMINE LABOR.
AND SO SOME WOMEN BECAME WASHERWOMEN, LAUNDRY WORKERS.
SOME PULLED THEIR RESOURCES AND WERE ABLE TO RENT APARTMENTS TOGETHER AND EVERYONE WORKED.
BUT THE IDEA OF AUTONOMY OF ONE'S SELF AS A LABORER WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR WOMEN LIKE THIS.
SO SOME OF THOSE WOMEN STAYED IN THE URBAN SOUTH.
OTHERS LOOKED TO THE NORTH FOR BETTER OPPORTUNITIES.
AND SO THESE WOMEN OVER THE SPAN OF THEIR LIFETIME SAW AFRICAN AMERICANS AS PROPERTY TO AFRICAN AMERICANS AS FREE, AND THEN A HORRIBLE RETRENCHMENT ON AFRICAN AMERICAN RIGHTS.
THESE CONVENTIONS OF FORMER SLAVES WERE A WAY FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS TO KEEP UP WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH NEWS IN THE COMMUNITY: >> SOME PARTS OF THE CELEBRATION WAS MERELY A CHANCE TO LOOK AND SEE THE TYPE OF PROGRESS THAT WAS AROUND, WHETHER IT WAS THE GROWTH OF BLACK BUSINESSES, BLACK SCHOOLS, AND BLACK COMMUNITY CENTERS.
THERE WAS A REFLECTION ON WHAT THIS NEW PERIOD WOULD MEAN FOR PEOPLE.
AND SO THERE WOULD BE SPEECHES.
THERE WOULD BE CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE HAD AMONG DIFFERENT GROUPS ABOUT REDEFINING AFRICAN AMERICAN IDENTITY IN THIS PERIOD OF CHANGE.
AND THEN THERE WOULD BE CALLS FOR ACTION.
HOW TO RESIST A GROWING CULTURE OF VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION IN THE SOUTH.
>> THE JIM CROW ERA HAD ARRIVED WITH A VENGEANCE.
BLACKS WERE BEATEN UP AND LYNCHED IN THE SOUTH WITH IMPUNITY.
JIM CROW LAWS MADE IT LEGAL TO SEGREGATE RESTAURANTS, STORES, JOBS AND SCHOOLS BY RACE.
>> AND SO WHAT YOU START TO SEE IS A REAL CONSCIENTIOUS EFFORT TO UNDERSTAND EVERYDAY CITIZENS AS POLITICAL ACTORS.
SO THERE'S ENCOURAGEMENT TO WRITE LETTERS TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO TRY TO PASS SOME SORT TYPE OF ANTI-LYNCHING LEGISLATION.
THERE ARE DIRECTIVES TO RAISE MONEY WITHIN COMMUNITIES AND USING MUTUAL AID SOCIETIES AND CHARITIES TO BUILD INSTITUTIONS.
>> THE PICTURE BELONGS TO THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES.
IT ORIGINALLY WENT VIRAL IN 2012 AND THEN AGAIN THIS YEAR.
>> BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THERE WERE MORE THAN 90,000 LIKES AND 40,000 SHARES.
I MEAN, THIS PHOTOGRAPH IS SO POWERFUL.
IT SAYS SOMETHING TO PEOPLE ABOUT THE RESILIENCE, ABOUT THE FAITH AND THE HOPE AND THE DREAMS OF PEOPLE.
WHAT HAPPENS IN A LIFE WHERE 50%, HALF OF YOUR LIFE, IS SPENT AS AN ENSLAVED PERSON, AND HALF OF YOUR LIFE IS SPENT AS A FREE PERSON.
>> I SAW THIS PICTURE I SAID WE HAD TO DO A SEGMENT ABOUT IT BECAUSE MOST AMERICANS, INCLUDING MYSELF I HAVE TO SAY EVEN THOUGH I TOOK HISTORY IN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE, AMERICAN HISTORY, DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR DID NOT MEAN FREEDOM FOR EQUALITY OR ANYTHING UNTIL MORE THAN -- HUNDRED YEARS LATER WITH MARTIN LUTHER KING AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
WHAT WERE THESE WOMEN'S LIVES LIKE HOW DID THEY SURVIVE?
BECAUSE THEY HAD NO ACCESS TO REAL EDUCATION.
>> THAT PICTURE FRANKLY GIVES ME CHILLS.
AND IT DOES MAKE ME WONDER WHAT IN THE WORLD HAD THOSE WOMEN SEEN IN THEIR LIFETIMES, WHAT HAVE THEY EXPERIENCED.
HOW MANY YEARS DID THEY PROBABLY SPEND LOOKING FOR CHILDREN THAT MAY HAVE BEEN DISBURSED ALL AROUND.
>> OR LYNCHED.
>> THE TERROR OF THAT PERIOD WAS INCREDIBLE.
ALSO WAS INCREDIBLE WAS THE FORTITUDE OF THE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER.
FACT THAT WE COME BACK ANNUALLY AND HAVE STILL PRIDE IN THEMSELVES AND ABILITY TO JUST CONTINUE TO PERSEVERE.
PERSONALLY MAKES ME FEEL AS IF WHAT STRUGGLES THAT WE STILL ENCOUNTER TODAY WHILE THEY ARE MAGNIFICENT IN OUR LIVES, IT REALLY PALES IN COMPARISON WHAT THEY SAW MAKES ME FEEL IF THEY CAN STILL PERSEVERE THROUGH THAT WE CAN PERSEVERE THROUGH OUR CHALLENGES.
>> AS YOUNG PERSON EXAMPLE TO REMIND ME THAT I CAN DO SO MUCH.
I'VE STEPPING ON THE SHOULDER OF WOMEN OVERCOME SO MUCH AND SO MUCH MORE FOR US TO DO.
>> DO YOU THINK YOUR GENERATION UNDERSTANDS WHAT HAPPENED TO AFRICAN AMERICANS AFTER -- THROUGH RECONSTRUCTION REALLY UP UNTIL THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT OF THE '60S.
>> I DON'T THINK THEY DO.
ESPECIALLY LOOK AT RECONSTRUCTION WE DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW MANY SUCCESSES THERE WERE POST CIVIL WAR FOR BLACKS IN THIS COUNTRY THEN HOW THAT WAS RETRENCHED.
BUT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US ONCE AGAIN TO BE ABLE TO RECLAIM A LOT OF THAT AS YOUNG GENERATION AND AS DIVERSE GENERATION.
>> THERE WASN'T EVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET IN TO THE WAGE EARNINGS, HOW MANY BLACK WOMEN HAVE THERE BEEN AT YALE LAW SCHOOL WHEN YOU WENT?
>> MAYBE TWO OR THREE.
WHAT THESE WOMEN DID MOST OF THEM DID WAS REMAIN ON PLANTATIONS AS SHARECROPPERS.
THAT MEANS YOU DO WHATEVER HE SAYS YOU DO.
SHE TALKED ABOUT IN TO -- >> THE PLANTATION OWNERS STILL RAPED BLACK WOMEN AS THE THEY BELONG.
>> HE COULD GIVE YOU -- POINT IS THEY HAD NO BARGAINING ABILITY WHATSOEVER.
THERE WASN'T ANY MINIMUM WAGE AND JUST TOOK WHAT HE GAVE YOU.
THE WAGE ECONOMY DIDN'T MATTER JUST HAVING JOB TO DO SOMETHING.
THESE WOMEN GOT TOGETHER AT CONVENTION FOR VERY REASON YOU SAID FOR SOLIDARITY.
BECAUSE FRANKLY THE WHOLE COUNTRY WAS THE NORTH AND SOUTH NOBODY WANT -- POINT WAS TO GATHER THE SOLIDARITY AND STRENGTH DO WHAT IT DID TO FINALLY BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
>> THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION.
PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE, PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.
WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK, "TO THE CONTRARY," SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
>> FOR A TRANSCRIPT OR TO SEE AN ONLINE VERSION OF THIS EPISODE OF "TO THE CONTRARY" PLEASE VISIT OUR PBS WEBSITE AT WWW.PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.
