-I wanted to talk about this commencement speech thing
that you're involved in.
This is "Dear Class of 2020."
And you're in a great list of people.
Barack Obama, Lady Gaga, Demi Lovato,
Taylor Swift, Beyoncé.
-And then me. I feel like -- I'm like,
"Michelle, should you have cc'd me on this email?
Did you want me to participate?
[ Laughter ]
But I think for me I'm sort of like,
we did it, guys, we broke the country,
and sorry about that. -[ Laughing ]
We got sloppy, you know.
We're taking Lyft seven times a day.
-[ Laughs ]
Ordering Sweetgreens for three meals a day, really?
What are we doing?
-Love some Sweetgreens. -Yeah! [ Laughs ]
-So I'm like, you don't need that much salad,
no one needs that much salad.
So I think, like, for the class of 20--
-It's there, it's there, yeah. -Yeah. [ Laughs ]
-I think for the class of 2020, what I am so inspired by
is I think that -- first off,
like, the younger you are, I think the more willing
you are to put your beliefs and yourself on the line.
And I think that the young people today are really just
so able to be outspoken and show up
and be leaders and be a part of this whole movement
to help change America for the better.
And so I just want them to keep doing that
because I think right now we have just a lot of adults
who are arguing at each other while people are dying.
-I want to talk about this.
We ask everyone to spotlight a charity
if they want to, or talk about it
when they come on our show, and you chose one.
It's the Brooklyn Bail Fund. -Yeah.
And I think this is really great what you're doing.
This is -- Well, explain it if you don't mind.
-Yeah, I just think, you know,
a lot of times people are locked up
and they're in jail pretrial,
and they can't afford to get out.
So whether that's for protesting or for a small crime
that you don't need to be locked up for,
but, you know, the law just makes it so difficult
for people who are financially at a disadvantage
to have their freedom and be --
to feel like a citizen of this country.
I think this is a great fund.
And these sort of funds, like, exist in every city.
So I think what's imperative is all the people in New York
can donate to the Brooklyn fund,
but then if you're in Detroit, if you're in Minnesota,
if you're in Los Angeles,
you can sort of find what fund works for you
that can help the voiceless at least not be trapped
inside jail and be intimidated and be scared for their lives.
-Phoebe Robinson, you're awesome, you're smart,
but you always make me laugh and smile.
-Thank you. -Thank you so much
for doing this and coming on the show.
I cannot wait to see you again, hopefully in person, soon.
-Yes. And real quick, I just want to say,
I know everyone's been sort of talking about
books that they should read.
This is truly one of my favorites,
so everyone please get this book.
Can get it on Kindle.
-"So You Want to Talk About Race."
-Mm-hmm. By Ijeoma Oluo.
So if you want to just sort of learn more,
please, like, use it as a resource,
use other resources, read a lot,
make sure you're supporting writers who have been writing
about this before just now.
-It's really key. -I love that.
-And also support black businesses in general.
Like, I think, like -- sorry, to say this one extra thing,
but I think that... -You can say whatever, yeah.
-I think we have to sort of think about,
if we do want to affect change, I think it's about
more than just this moment.
I think it's about, you know, sort of looking at
the police department in your communities
and whether you want to ask your mayor to defund them
or to at least allocate their budget money
to not just be sort of making these super-police
and making like a sort of militarized police.
It's that, it's supporting black businesses
who are in communities to uplift,
and they don't necessarily always have the sort of
amplification they need to promote themselves.
It's about a lot of things,
whether it's the art, it's the work.
I think that, you know, we all love black culture,
and we all think it's so juicy and wonderful
and creative and so vibrant and cool and hip.
But I think that if you want to partake in black culture,
you also have to partake in the black struggle.
And so I think we all can do that in our own different ways
in just supporting people day to day,
helping those who need opportunities day to day,
like, you know, the educational system,
really encouraging black students in a way.
Instead of just being like, "Oh, you're a troublemaker,"
find out why they're goofing off in class
Maybe they feel like they're not challenged enough in class.
Maybe they would like, you know, a curriculum
that reflects more than just like, you know --
if I have to read, like, "Oedipus" or "Beowulf"...
Like, why the hell was I reading "Beowulf" in 1999?!
That is not relevant!
-Yeah. -Like, you know what I mean?
-Choose other books and other works.
-Yeah, or at least have options, yeah.
-Yeah, and just show that, like,
we are not just Black History Month,
we are not just the sad stories,
we are not just Selma.
That's part of our history, but we are a part
of this country.
And we are in the fabric of it.
And we've created so many wonderful, beautiful things.
So highlight those and celebrate those as well.
-I love it. Thank you so much, again.
I really, really appreciate it. And say hi to Jess for me.
-I will. Sorry, "Beowulf," but I'm not with --
I just had to go off. [ Laughs ]
Enough is enough!
[ Laughter ]
-Thanks again, bud.
-Thank you. -Stay safe.
-Thank you. -You too.