THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TO THE SHOW.
>> THANK YOU!
I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.
>> Larry: THAT WAS SUCH AN AMAZING THING THAT HAPPENED.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST REACTION WHEN YOU SAW THAT IN YOUR SON'S
TEXTBOOK?
>> WELL, I KIND OF CHUCKLED BECAUSE OF HIS TEXT MESSAGE.
I KNEW HE WAS BEING SARCASTIC WAS, "WE WAS REAL HARD WORKERS,
WEREN'T WE?"
I THOUGHT IT WAS EQUALLY RIDICULOUS.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT.
>> Larry: IT'S JUST AMAZING TO ME, IT SEEMS LIKE WE'VE REPORTED
ON SOME STORIES.
DO YOU THINK THERE'S SOME SOFT SELLING ON SOME OF THE BAD PARTS
OF AMERICAN HISTORY TO MAKE KIDS FEEL BETTER?
WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?
>> I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT.
I BELIEVE WE WANT TO TELL THESE STORIES CAN WE WANT TO SOFTEN
THEM.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE WE WANT TO WRITE HISTORY WITH A PENCIL
INSTEAD OF A BLEEDING PEN.
AND YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
( APPLAUSE )
>> Larry: RIGHT.
BUT IT'S LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO HURT THEIR FEELINGS IF WE TELL
THE TRUTH.
>> LIKE WE DON'T WANT TO TELL THEM THEY WERE SLAVES AND WE
KIDNAPPED THEM.
YES, YOU DID.
>> Larry: IT MAKES US BETTER TO KNOW THE TRUTH, RIGHT?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> Larry: KNOWING THOSE TRUTHS HELPS YOU MOVE PAST IT.
>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO SEE WHO WE WERE AS A COUNTRY
TO SEE WHERE WE CAME FROM, TO SEE WE DIDN'T START OFF-- WE'RE
OBSESSED WITH THE IDEA OF AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM, THAT
WE'RE PERFECT AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE HAVE SOME UGLINESS IN
OUR PAST, TOO, AND WE NEED TO OWN IT.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
>> Larry: ABSOLUTELY.
SO TRUE.
AND ALL OF US WERE INVOLVED IN THE PAST.
BUT ALL OF US ARE INVOLVED IN MAKING A BETTER FUTURE, TOO.
HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK IT IS FOR PARENTS TO BE VIGILANT WITH
THEIR KIDS' EDUCATION AND THAT TYPE OF THING?
>> OH, MY GOSH.
IT IS EVERYTHING.
EVERY PIECE OF PAPER THAT COMES HOME.
EVERY ASSIGNMENT.
I MEAN, DIG THROUGH THAT BACKPACK.
MAKE IT YOUR BUSINESS TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY WERE TEACHING THEM
EVERY SINGLE DAY.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
>> Larry: ABSOLUTELY.
AND TO McGRAW-HILL'S CREDIT, THEY ARE GOING TO CHANGE THIS
AND WHAT ARE THEY, LIKE-- PUT SOME STICKERS--
>> YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO DO STICKERS IS APPARENTLY THE NEW
THING.
I GUESS TEACHERS ARE SUPPOSED TO TAKE TIME OUT OF THEIR DAY AND
STICK BOOKS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE.
>> Larry: WASN'T COVERING UP INFORMATION THAT GOT THEM IN
TROUBLE IN THE FIRST PLACE?
>> NO MORE STICKERS.
>> Larry: WHAT I THINK YOU AND YOUR SON HAVE DONE IS REALLY,
REALLY SPECIAL, AND WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU A GREAT EXAMPLE OF
SOMETHING TO REMIND YOU OF THE VIGILANCE AND WE ARE PRESENTING
YOU WITH THE "THE NIGHTLY SHOW" STAY WOK AWARD.