WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:02.560 Seventh birthday period of Martin Luther King Junior, and we 2 00:00:02.600 --> 00:00:06.240 are discussing today and through this period, certainly through the 3 00:00:06.280 --> 00:00:12.119 holiday recognized by the federal government on Monday, the life, 4 00:00:12.640 --> 00:00:15.880 the mission, the ministry of Martin Luther King Junior and 5 00:00:16.079 --> 00:00:19.239 what its impact has and what does it say about 6 00:00:19.280 --> 00:00:22.039 our time. We began our conversation at the beginning of 7 00:00:22.039 --> 00:00:26.039 the week with none other than Terry Horde Owens. We 8 00:00:26.559 --> 00:00:29.600 touched upon some of these issues on Tenacious Tuesdays with 9 00:00:29.719 --> 00:00:34.240 Barbara Arnwine and Liz King. Revent tard Urie joined us 10 00:00:34.240 --> 00:00:39.960 along with a Tiba in conversation yesterday, on Wealthy Wednesdays 11 00:00:40.560 --> 00:00:44.840 and on thought Provoking Thursdays. P L Da Silva as 12 00:00:44.840 --> 00:00:47.880 well as his very special guest, along with Johnny Mack, 13 00:00:47.960 --> 00:00:52.399 explored the global implications of what thirty nine year old 14 00:00:52.399 --> 00:00:56.000 Martin Luther King Junior, at the hour of his assassination 15 00:00:56.240 --> 00:01:01.200 thirty nine years old, had to share with the world. 16 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:04.439 In this hour, we're going to take a hard look, 17 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:07.079 a deep dive into the Letter from a Birmingham Jail 18 00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:12.040 because of its historical significance, its implications, some of its origins, 19 00:01:12.519 --> 00:01:15.920 and why doctor King's thinking was so prolific. I'm particularly 20 00:01:15.959 --> 00:01:19.159 honored that our very special guest in this hour is 21 00:01:19.200 --> 00:01:23.599 not none other than John Diggles. John Diggles is a 22 00:01:23.799 --> 00:01:26.359 healthcare professional, and over the course of our show, I 23 00:01:26.359 --> 00:01:30.000 will give you more and more about his biography, and 24 00:01:30.120 --> 00:01:37.319 of course, activist thinker, political commentator, former executive in outdoor 25 00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:41.480 advertising John Leciotis will also be joining us in this hour. 26 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:44.560 Both have been apprized of the subject matter and are 27 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:47.359 well aware of the fact that Martin Luther King Junior's 28 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:50.400 letter from a Birmingham jail was a turning point in 29 00:01:50.519 --> 00:01:55.159 Christian theological practice. Gentlemen, welcome forward to the Jesse Jackson 30 00:01:55.239 --> 00:01:55.760 Junior Show. 31 00:01:56.840 --> 00:01:58.040 Jesse, it's good to see you. 32 00:01:59.040 --> 00:02:00.959 Thanks Jesse. Thanks for now. 33 00:02:01.000 --> 00:02:03.719 This is fat Meet Fridays, So I don't want anyone 34 00:02:03.760 --> 00:02:05.920 to think for one moment that we don't have an 35 00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:08.120 additional contributor who is absolutely with us. She is the 36 00:02:08.159 --> 00:02:11.319 creator of the Jesse Jackson Junior Show, and I'm so 37 00:02:11.360 --> 00:02:14.439 grateful to call her my very close, dear and best friend. 38 00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:18.080 The work that she does on this show is extraordinary. 39 00:02:18.120 --> 00:02:21.560 In fact, there are other radio shows and radio stations 40 00:02:21.599 --> 00:02:25.919 around the country that watch our show. Very carefully and 41 00:02:25.960 --> 00:02:29.319 they are following the leadership that Gina Towns has established 42 00:02:29.319 --> 00:02:32.360 for the Jesse Jackson Junior Show as really a breakthrough 43 00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:37.759 moment in media communications. So much of what was once 44 00:02:37.800 --> 00:02:40.759 AM and FM has now moved over to the app. 45 00:02:41.039 --> 00:02:44.400 That is, we are listened to in London, in Johannesburg, 46 00:02:44.520 --> 00:02:49.240 South Africa, Frankfurt, Germany and other parts of the world. 47 00:02:49.759 --> 00:02:52.479 And that's in no small measure because the times are changing, 48 00:02:52.680 --> 00:02:55.439 so is the technology. More people probably listen to our 49 00:02:55.439 --> 00:02:59.759 program on the app than they actually do on terrestrial radio. 50 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:02.840 It simply wouldn't be possible because I simply gave no 51 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:07.520 thought to it without the leadership the thinking of Gina Towns. 52 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:09.439 She felt that we needed a platform that was brought 53 00:03:09.479 --> 00:03:12.800 enough to share ideas across a broad global spectrum. And 54 00:03:12.840 --> 00:03:14.759 here we are. Gina, welcome forward to the Jesse Jackson 55 00:03:14.800 --> 00:03:15.319 Junior Show. 56 00:03:15.479 --> 00:03:18.400 You know what, Jesse, I almost forgot. It was that 57 00:03:18.439 --> 00:03:22.360 good Friday to have John and John. 58 00:03:22.599 --> 00:03:24.599 Hey, Gina, let me ask you this question, why the 59 00:03:24.680 --> 00:03:25.840 letter from a Birmingham jail. 60 00:03:26.879 --> 00:03:29.199 Well, before I go there, if you don't mind the 61 00:03:29.240 --> 00:03:31.879 liberty because you said a lot right there, so thank you. 62 00:03:31.960 --> 00:03:35.840 But we have to give homage and credit to the 63 00:03:35.919 --> 00:03:40.840 forty year veteran, that is, to have a smiley and 64 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:46.039 his tutelage and his mentorship in this venture, especially for me, 65 00:03:47.520 --> 00:03:52.159 and I will not speak for you, but to allow 66 00:03:52.319 --> 00:03:56.120 us to grow on this platform and imitate what he 67 00:03:56.159 --> 00:03:58.919 does as best we can and try to sprout off. 68 00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:03.000 I appreciate that if I get the Capitol Hill, there 69 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:06.120 are no guarantees this is an American election. If I 70 00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:08.039 get there, it is my intention to take the show 71 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:12.000 with us, and I plan to literally usher from Dominique 72 00:04:12.039 --> 00:04:15.960 di Prima through Tavis's show, through Nie Cordlai Corte. It's 73 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:21.519 many of my colleagues to frequent ABLA as a primary 74 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:24.519 vehicle by which we share what's taking place in Washington. 75 00:04:24.600 --> 00:04:28.519 Pring daily that Democrats regain control. But if we don't 76 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:31.199 regain control, that is, the resistance movement does not gain 77 00:04:31.240 --> 00:04:34.560 control of the Congress, certainly Democrats will have a lot 78 00:04:34.680 --> 00:04:38.279 to say about the future of this nation, given the 79 00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:42.040 extraordinary times that we find ourselves in. And so this 80 00:04:42.120 --> 00:04:45.240 show and this platform is a significant part of why 81 00:04:45.279 --> 00:04:46.879 I wanted to do this in the first place. The 82 00:04:46.920 --> 00:04:49.439 idea of going to Congress, you know, with a radio show, 83 00:04:51.079 --> 00:04:54.120 plugging people directly into their members of Congress and senators 84 00:04:54.120 --> 00:04:56.279 and discussing in real time what the hell is going 85 00:04:56.319 --> 00:04:59.160 on in this country. I think that matters to this. 86 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:02.160 That is Jesse, and you're really good at it. The 87 00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:05.360 fact that you can bring voices and give a platform 88 00:05:05.480 --> 00:05:09.680 and have an honest, open discussion with your audience nationally, 89 00:05:10.079 --> 00:05:12.360 you're really really good at it. We're grateful for you. 90 00:05:12.759 --> 00:05:13.759 I appreciate that. Gena. 91 00:05:14.399 --> 00:05:17.600 So on the Birmingham hand, the letter from Birmingham Jail 92 00:05:17.639 --> 00:05:20.639 that was John lesiotis when we began to talk about 93 00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:25.399 Martin Luther King, and that I wanted to continue on 94 00:05:25.480 --> 00:05:29.279 from yesterday in the celebration. I think there's a lot 95 00:05:29.319 --> 00:05:31.439 of reflection that we need to do. I think there 96 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:33.680 should be a lot of reading going on over the 97 00:05:33.720 --> 00:05:39.079 weekend of the various materials that are available to us 98 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:43.639 to really glean from Martin Luther King's heart and his 99 00:05:43.879 --> 00:05:48.360 mind for justice. And so John suggested that he wanted 100 00:05:48.399 --> 00:05:50.519 to look at the letter from Birmingham Jail, and so 101 00:05:51.040 --> 00:05:54.000 in the next segment, I have a clip for us 102 00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:56.040 to do a little listening and then we'll do a 103 00:05:56.079 --> 00:05:57.560 little discussion. 104 00:05:57.279 --> 00:06:00.480 Knowing that our break is coming up soon, John, I 105 00:06:00.560 --> 00:06:04.519 want thank you for bringing our attention once again to 106 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:07.720 the matters of Birmingham. Looking forward to that discussion when 107 00:06:07.720 --> 00:06:12.879 we call KBLA Talk fifteen eighty and before we begin 108 00:06:12.959 --> 00:06:15.160 with Gina's clip in the next segment, I'm going to 109 00:06:15.319 --> 00:06:18.759 probe mister Lesciotis is thinking why the letter from a 110 00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:21.639 Birmingham jail? Why did that stand out for him? Then? 111 00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:25.680 Why should we be reflective upon it now? And what 112 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:28.519 are some of its consequences. Gina will then come back 113 00:06:28.600 --> 00:06:32.480 forward with a clip of doctor King regarding the letter 114 00:06:32.480 --> 00:06:34.519 from a Birmingham jail, and then we will begin a 115 00:06:34.600 --> 00:06:37.639 robust conversation. I'm Jesse Jackson, Jr. This is the ninety 116 00:06:37.639 --> 00:06:40.759 seventh birthday of Martin Luther King Junior, born on January fifth, 117 00:06:40.920 --> 00:06:45.000 a holiday period celebrated on the third Monday of the 118 00:06:45.040 --> 00:06:47.560 month of January by the by virtue of Congress and 119 00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:49.600 the signature of the President of the United States. I'm 120 00:06:49.639 --> 00:06:51.519 Jesse Jackson, Gi Moore on k Late Talk fifteen eighty. 121 00:06:51.519 --> 00:06:57.000 When we come forward, Gatown Junior show a regular career 122 00:06:57.120 --> 00:07:03.160 John Leciotis, Rod, Let's talk about it. Series Political activists, analysts, 123 00:07:03.199 --> 00:07:05.519 and every second Tuesday of the month guest on the 124 00:07:05.560 --> 00:07:08.800 Jesse Jackson Junior Show series Let's Talk About It. John 125 00:07:08.839 --> 00:07:11.240 Leciotis puts real talk in the middle of the floor 126 00:07:11.279 --> 00:07:14.959 about the ways Republicans view democrats and vice versa, the 127 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:19.480 ways democrats view Republicans in a dialogue filled with messaging 128 00:07:19.639 --> 00:07:24.360 and messenger troops. John Lasiotis, welcome forward to the program. 129 00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:27.639 I'll give the appropriate introduction of John Diggles in just 130 00:07:27.720 --> 00:07:29.720 a moment, but why don't we get started, John. 131 00:07:30.040 --> 00:07:30.639 Thank you, Jesse. 132 00:07:32.360 --> 00:07:33.439 It's an honor to have you John. 133 00:07:34.040 --> 00:07:36.680 The letters are a. 134 00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:38.439 Great interest in me, Jessic because I think they really 135 00:07:38.480 --> 00:07:41.720 speak to the times what's going on in America right now. 136 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:45.279 And what first drew me to the letters is when 137 00:07:45.319 --> 00:07:48.560 I found out that he wrote those letters to a 138 00:07:48.680 --> 00:07:52.759 number of white religious leaders in America that we're urging 139 00:07:52.839 --> 00:07:56.800 King to slow down and to wait for the courts 140 00:07:56.920 --> 00:07:57.600 to take action. 141 00:07:59.399 --> 00:08:00.800 And King wrote a rather. 142 00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:04.800 Lengthy letter explaining that he had been waiting a long 143 00:08:04.800 --> 00:08:09.000 time and the courts hadn't acted, and more importantly, that 144 00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:15.959 people have a moral responsibility to break unjust laws, and 145 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:21.920 he was tired of waiting for quite frankly, the moderate 146 00:08:21.959 --> 00:08:24.439 white to step up and to do something. He had 147 00:08:24.480 --> 00:08:26.920 known that he wasn't going to get the support of 148 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:30.199 the right wing in the Kupleux Klan. He knew he 149 00:08:30.279 --> 00:08:32.919 had the support of the white liberals, but it was 150 00:08:33.000 --> 00:08:35.919 the white moderate that was really standing in the way 151 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:39.440 of progress. And I look at what's happening across America 152 00:08:39.559 --> 00:08:43.279 right now and I kind of see something similar where 153 00:08:43.320 --> 00:08:45.600 we've got the moderates that are kind of standing off 154 00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:50.559 to the side just watching what's going on. Certainly for 155 00:08:50.600 --> 00:08:52.879 the last election, they stood on the sidelines. You know, 156 00:08:52.960 --> 00:08:55.320 thirty percent of America at least didn't come out to vote. 157 00:08:56.440 --> 00:08:58.759 And so it kind of resonates with me the letters 158 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:01.279 because it speaks to what's happening today. 159 00:09:01.799 --> 00:09:04.919 John Diggles is and serves as CEO and founder of 160 00:09:05.039 --> 00:09:10.679 Ascent Strategy, providing services and digital transformation, corporate storytelling, employer 161 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:15.240 brand strategy, marketing of clinical research, and ROI measurement. The 162 00:09:15.279 --> 00:09:21.080 agency's IP uses proprietary communications algorithms combining online community insights 163 00:09:21.399 --> 00:09:25.679 with medical professional perspectives, patient observations, and market data to 164 00:09:25.799 --> 00:09:31.480 promote adoption of telemedicine, remote patient monitoring and healthcare, artificial intelligence, 165 00:09:31.840 --> 00:09:34.639 among other offerings. John, welcome forward to the Jesse Jackson 166 00:09:34.679 --> 00:09:35.240 Junior Show. 167 00:09:35.720 --> 00:09:37.200 Thank you, Jesse. It's good to be with you. 168 00:09:37.279 --> 00:09:39.039 It's good to be with you. For fat Meat Friday. 169 00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:44.480 This is awesome, Hey, John. An insightful observation by John 170 00:09:44.919 --> 00:09:48.600 lesiotis about the white moderate John. 171 00:09:49.039 --> 00:09:51.279 It always stood out to me the letter from Birmingham 172 00:09:51.360 --> 00:09:54.879 Jail about the clarity that Reverend King had sitting in there, 173 00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:58.519 and think in that setting, in that setting, he was 174 00:09:58.559 --> 00:10:00.639 able to put these words for it, and that was 175 00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:04.120 his thoughts about how he needed to engage the country. 176 00:10:04.200 --> 00:10:06.399 I think John hit it right on the head. When 177 00:10:06.559 --> 00:10:11.200 politics becomes so hot and sides dig in, you have 178 00:10:11.320 --> 00:10:14.399 your far left, far left, far right sides dig in, 179 00:10:14.679 --> 00:10:17.279 so much of the middle scenes to tune out sometimes, 180 00:10:17.480 --> 00:10:19.559 and I think that was Reverend Kings is that the 181 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:22.919 struggle has to be one you have to help us 182 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:25.960 get this. We need your voice, we need your attention 183 00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:27.919 to this. And I feel that way about a lot 184 00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:31.960 of things, including healthcare and health inequity. You know, Reverend 185 00:10:32.039 --> 00:10:34.919 King said something that also changed my life. He said 186 00:10:34.960 --> 00:10:38.799 that injustice in healthcare is one of the most severe 187 00:10:39.080 --> 00:10:42.399 forms of inequality. It's why I started this company and 188 00:10:42.440 --> 00:10:45.240 why we do what we do because the only way 189 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:49.480 to bridge to address those inequities is to think differently, 190 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:51.759 be involved, and look to new solutions. 191 00:10:52.440 --> 00:10:56.519 Gina, you're a Princeton Theological Seminary graduate. Congratulations on recently 192 00:10:56.559 --> 00:10:59.039 receiving your Masters of Arts in Theology. 193 00:10:59.399 --> 00:10:59.679 Genie. 194 00:10:59.679 --> 00:11:03.000 About the heavyweights, uh to the show today with a 195 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:06.480 very very heavy topic, the letter from a Birmingham jail. 196 00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:08.919 Well, you know, and I want to go to the clip, 197 00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:13.320 but I also want to tell our listeners who are 198 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:15.840 not able to see us that John and John are 199 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:18.080 white and so. 200 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:18.720 I love. 201 00:11:20.440 --> 00:11:24.879 Conversation because conversations we need to be having across the 202 00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:25.919 aisles at church. 203 00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:27.320 I thought they were born. 204 00:11:29.399 --> 00:11:33.120 Across Gina. These are two wild and crazy guys that 205 00:11:33.159 --> 00:11:35.480 I thought were born black guys. Pour down deep Now. 206 00:11:38.840 --> 00:11:41.320 I love this because you know, our Monday host in 207 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:44.840 the first hour, mister Krim and mister Class always talks 208 00:11:44.840 --> 00:11:48.279 about the fact that we cannot ignore that there are 209 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:51.799 people who are open to all subject matters, and it 210 00:11:51.840 --> 00:11:56.360 takes all of us, It takes the entire village, the 211 00:11:56.360 --> 00:11:59.399 people down the street and around the corner to raise 212 00:11:59.440 --> 00:12:03.120 this child called America. And so with that, Jesse, if 213 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:04.879 you're okay, let's go ahead and let's go. 214 00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:05.960 To the clip. 215 00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:14.120 Dear fellow clergyman, While confined here in the Birmingham City Jail, 216 00:12:15.240 --> 00:12:19.639 I came across your recent statement calling my present activities 217 00:12:19.720 --> 00:12:24.960 unwise and untimely. Seldom do I pause to answer criticism 218 00:12:25.039 --> 00:12:29.440 of my work and ideas. If I sought to answer 219 00:12:29.440 --> 00:12:33.799 all the criticisms that cross my desk, my secretaries would 220 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:37.200 have little time for anything other than such correspondence in 221 00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:40.000 the course of the day, and I would have no 222 00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:45.000 time for constructive work. But since I feel that you 223 00:12:45.080 --> 00:12:48.320 are men of genuine goodwill and that your criticisms are 224 00:12:48.919 --> 00:12:53.480 sincerely set forth, I want to try to answer your 225 00:12:53.559 --> 00:12:58.399 statement in what I hope will be patient and reasonable terms. 226 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:02.919 I think I should indicate why I am here in Birmingham, 227 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:05.919 since you have been influenced by the view which argues 228 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:11.639 against outsiders coming in. I have the honor of serving 229 00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:17.120 as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization 230 00:13:17.320 --> 00:13:22.879 operating in every Southern state with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. 231 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:27.200 We have some eighty five affiliated organizations across the South, 232 00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:32.120 and one of them is the Alabama Christian Movement for 233 00:13:32.279 --> 00:13:40.120 Human Rights. Frequently we share staff, educational and financial resources 234 00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:44.240 with our affiliates. Several months ago, the affiliates here in 235 00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:48.840 Birmingham asked us to be on call to engage in 236 00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:56.080 a nonviolent direct action program if such were deemed necessary. 237 00:13:57.120 --> 00:14:00.799 We readily consented, and when the hour came, we lived 238 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:06.279 up to our promise. So I, along with several members 239 00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:10.919 of my staff, am here because I was invited here. 240 00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:16.759 I am here because I have organizational ties here. But 241 00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:21.159 more basically, I am in Birmingham because injustice is here. 242 00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:25.519 Just as the prophets of the eighth century BC left 243 00:14:25.559 --> 00:14:29.399 their villages and carried there thus saith the Lord far 244 00:14:29.480 --> 00:14:33.399 beyond the boundaries of their hometowns. And just as the 245 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:38.799 apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the 246 00:14:38.840 --> 00:14:41.919 gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the 247 00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:46.840 great go Roman world, so am I compelled to carry 248 00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:53.559 the gospel of freedom beyond my own hometown. Like Paul, 249 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:59.559 I must constantly respond to the Macedonian call for aid. Moreover, 250 00:15:00.519 --> 00:15:05.360 I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. 251 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:09.720 I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be 252 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:14.279 concerned about what happens in Birmingham. In justice anywhere is 253 00:15:14.279 --> 00:15:19.519 a threat to justice everywhere. We are called in an inescapable. 254 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:23.320 You're listening to the Jesse Jackson Junior show. That was 255 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:29.480 Senator Rafael Warnock, Reverend Senator Rafael Warnock, the pastor and 256 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:32.039 to a significant degree in terms of the ministry of 257 00:15:32.039 --> 00:15:35.759 Martin Luther King Junior, the pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist 258 00:15:35.879 --> 00:15:38.720 Church who happens to serve in the United States Senate 259 00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:42.399 from Georgia, a church that Martin Luther King Junior was 260 00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:47.120 pastor of, and so the historical significance of that pastor 261 00:15:47.240 --> 00:15:49.720 being able to read that speech on the floor of 262 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:54.559 the United States Senate is as remarkable as the idea 263 00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:58.519 of writing the speech in the first place. Gina, I 264 00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:01.759 want to allow you and opportunity to engage with mister 265 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:05.799 Lessiotis and mister Diggles on the target of this speech, 266 00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:11.360 white evangelical clergymen who are questioning the theological tradition of 267 00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:13.000 doctor King and the freedom movement. 268 00:16:14.840 --> 00:16:19.039 Well, thanks, Jesse, I mean it was pretty self explanatory, 269 00:16:19.080 --> 00:16:23.440 and you're right Reverend Warnock reading that being a member 270 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:26.399 of the clergy and the members of the Senate, Reverend 271 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:34.679 Doctor cong Senator Raphael Warnock addressing the question in that 272 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:40.519 part of the letter where people are questioning him and 273 00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:44.480 trying to keep us in boxes and keeping civil rights 274 00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:49.399 and injustice in a certain place, and retaining things that 275 00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:57.399 quote unquote belong in this political box or this biblical box, 276 00:16:57.679 --> 00:17:02.120 if you will. In this idea of church and state 277 00:17:02.360 --> 00:17:07.319 being separate except for our morality and our level of 278 00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:12.559 justice towards one another. Uh is inextricably tied to. 279 00:17:14.599 --> 00:17:14.960 The law. 280 00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:18.240 So when you think about that, and you and you 281 00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:20.319 hear that, and I know that both of you are 282 00:17:20.359 --> 00:17:25.519 engaging with conversations on the golf court. Well we're not 283 00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:27.759 golfing right now, but I know, John, that just comes 284 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:30.200 to mind all the time. With John engaging in these 285 00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:35.839 conversations with your friends who likely don't listen to the 286 00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:40.839 Jesse Jackson Junior Show, who may not be familiar with 287 00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:46.119 or any of King's speeches for that matter. You know, 288 00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:50.920 how do you relate the idea that King was addressing 289 00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:54.960 in that letter and the responsibility that we have. 290 00:17:58.599 --> 00:18:01.119 Well that's a tough one because most of the times 291 00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:03.960 when you bring up you know, because another thing I 292 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:06.440 loved about the letters from Birmingham Jails is the quote 293 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:10.720 you ended the tape with an injustice anywhere is a 294 00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:16.920 threat to justice everywhere. I think that's really pertinent now, 295 00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:18.680 and I bring it up to my friends because a 296 00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:20.680 couple of them happen to be Jewish to live up 297 00:18:20.839 --> 00:18:24.240 here in the North Shore, and you know, we talked 298 00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:26.079 a little bit about what's going on with Gaza, and 299 00:18:26.119 --> 00:18:29.200 I explained to them that there's some bit of a 300 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:32.400 relationship on us turning our blind eye to what's going 301 00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:36.200 on in Gaza and what's happening in our country, you know, 302 00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:39.200 because that's an injustice over there, and we should be 303 00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:41.599 almost as concerned, if not more concerned about it because 304 00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:44.039 of the genocide there, than we are what's going on 305 00:18:44.119 --> 00:18:46.759 at home. But yet we kind of detach ourselves from it, 306 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:49.200 and we pretend because most of us live in a 307 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:54.960 pretty comfortable environment. We're not threatened with job and security necessarily, 308 00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:58.480 or food and security. Our neighborhoods are relatively safe. So 309 00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:01.480 in our little world, you know, despite what's going on 310 00:19:01.559 --> 00:19:04.759 around us, things aren't all that awful. So I think 311 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:08.880 a lot of people just getting that comfort zone and 312 00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:12.200 turn to blind and I of what's going on around him. 313 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:17.480 John, But you are you are seminary trained. You you 314 00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:23.079 understand directly the target audience. Of course John Lecialdas does 315 00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:26.359 as well. But you understand like John does, the target 316 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:31.480 audience to which Doctor King was addressing. Uh. This this 317 00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:34.240 this profound moral treatise your thoughts. 318 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:37.920 John, And that's the that is the power. The first 319 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:41.640 time I read the letter, I understood where he was 320 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:45.160 coming from. You almost see doctor King. I mean, I'm 321 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:48.160 in communications right. You have to write to your audience. 322 00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:50.920 He's masterful at it. And I think, you know, one 323 00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:54.319 of my favorite things about the way to celebrate his 324 00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:57.440 day and this time of year is to take parts, 325 00:19:57.559 --> 00:19:59.720 quotes and parts of that letter and put him on 326 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:03.359 social media to remind you see the power of what 327 00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:06.359 he wrote and who he was writing to. He knew 328 00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:08.680 how to get his message across. One of the great 329 00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:12.720 communicators of our time, of the of the twentieth century. 330 00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:15.920 He set an example for us how to invite people in. 331 00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:18.200 And by the way, speaking about how to invite people in, 332 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:20.519 you know, all my friends are listening because I texted 333 00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:22.839 them the whole link to this there listens. 334 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:26.799 Well by the way. 335 00:20:26.680 --> 00:20:28.759 We should all do that. Hey, John, let me can 336 00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:28.960 I can? 337 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:29.200 I can? 338 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:30.880 I can I pivot? I know we don't have about 339 00:20:30.920 --> 00:20:33.480 a minute and thirty seconds before we come forward. But 340 00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:38.720 given that John Lesiotis was in the advertising business and 341 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:42.200 he understands targeting and audience, and given that you're in 342 00:20:42.279 --> 00:20:45.599 the algorithmic business for healthcare and you understand the significance 343 00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:49.920 of targeting and audience, doctor King, without all the technology 344 00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:53.240 that we have today, was deliberately targeting an audience. Do 345 00:20:53.319 --> 00:21:00.400 you know anybody under age forty today who's targeting the 346 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:04.480 right wing evangelical community with the kind of moral clarity 347 00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:09.759 that Martin Luther King Junior brought forward in the Birmingham letter. 348 00:21:13.400 --> 00:21:18.559 I don't. I mean I didn't follow him very closely. 349 00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:22.279 But wasn't Charlie Kirk kind of a religious didn't he 350 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:25.200 talk about religion and Christianity? 351 00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:28.000 Well he should, he should while alive, should have been targeted, 352 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:31.200 in my opinion. But I'm not aware of anyone who 353 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:34.759 is making a moral appeal to them about the injustice 354 00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:38.119 that's taking place in our land quite like doctor King 355 00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:40.759 did at age under age thirty nine when he wrote 356 00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:43.400 this letter from a Birmingham jail. He's targeting this audience. 357 00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:45.200 John Digles, No, he is. 358 00:21:45.160 --> 00:21:47.359 And he's as you said, he didn't have the technology. 359 00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:50.480 I think a new generation of influencers is doing this. 360 00:21:51.319 --> 00:21:54.519 The words of doctor King could get more, a lot 361 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:57.000 more into that conversation, right, because he did not have 362 00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:59.720 the technology. But I think the power of his letter 363 00:21:59.799 --> 00:22:03.079 and what makes it so timeless again is that setting 364 00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:07.119 and the sense of invitation urgency that he pulled through 365 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:10.880 and so much of that what got people involved. 366 00:22:11.079 --> 00:22:13.240 I'm Jesse Jackson. You're listening to Jessey Jackson Junior Show 367 00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:15.799 on KBLA Talk fifteen eighty. It's Fat Need Friday's More 368 00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:18.160 with John Diggles, Gina Towns and John Lets the other Woman. 369 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:18.839 We come form Yes. 370 00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:25.359 Jackson Junior Show on KBLA Talk fifteen eighty. We are commemorating, celebrating, thinking, 371 00:22:25.400 --> 00:22:28.480 and reflecting on the ninety seventh birthday of Martin Luther 372 00:22:28.599 --> 00:22:31.599 King Junior. That's the period from January fifteenth to the 373 00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:36.519 third Monday in the month celebrate celebrated as a federal holiday. 374 00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:39.759 Are very special guests on Fat Meat Fridays. Our regular 375 00:22:39.799 --> 00:22:42.039 contributor every Friday is none other than the creator of 376 00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:45.160 the Jesse Jackson Junior Show, Gina Towns. Gina, Welcome forward 377 00:22:45.160 --> 00:22:45.559 to the show. 378 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:49.799 Hi Jesse Jackson Junior and Happy Friday. Thank god. It 379 00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:52.960 is a lot going on in the midst of our 380 00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:55.839 King celebration yes week this week, and I can take 381 00:22:55.880 --> 00:22:57.640 them if you don't mind, Can I take a moment? 382 00:22:57.799 --> 00:22:59.400 I was going to introduce our two guests again. You 383 00:22:59.440 --> 00:22:59.960 can do it again. 384 00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:02.720 I want to just give a shout out to the 385 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:05.519 members for I did not forget but the members of 386 00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:10.640 Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority incorporated those of us from Delta 387 00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:14.960 Sigma Theta wish you a happy Founder's Day. And I 388 00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:16.640 also didn't want to do it on the King Holiday, 389 00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:19.440 so let me just make that right. 390 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:22.000 Yeah, hey, all right, very special guest in this hour, 391 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:25.079 our John Lescioti. John Leaciotis is a former account exec 392 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:31.359 and officer of outdoor advertising and media targeting and campaign targeting, 393 00:23:31.400 --> 00:23:37.519 but also nonprofit and for profit targeting of individuals and 394 00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:42.279 John Diggles is one of the relations leading public relations 395 00:23:42.359 --> 00:23:47.880 professionals who's using artificial intelligence and logarithms for targeting messages 396 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:50.920 and what we have here is a message from Martin 397 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:53.200 Luther King Junior and the letter from a Birmingham jail 398 00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:57.960 targeting evangelicals and those who are questioning why he's in 399 00:23:58.000 --> 00:24:03.359 Birmingham in the first place. And I'm going to this 400 00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:09.000 conversation has been largely inspired by John Lesiotis, and I'd 401 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:12.880