[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
WOW. WOW.
I AM A MAN. I AM A NATION.
LOCK INTO MY FREQUENCY. TUNE INTO MY STATION.
SIT UP IN YOUR CHAIR, GRAB A DRINK FROM THE FRIDGE.
WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.
COME MEET ME ON THE BRIDGE.
SO, HERE I AM ONSTAGE AT UCLA,
IN FRONT OF A ROOMFUL OF STRANGERS, SO WHAT DO I SAY?
[ LAUGHTER ]
GLENNON'S TALKING ABOUT HOT YOGA.
GARY'S TALKING ABOUT THE SEED OF THE SOUL.
BUT IF YOUR HEART IS BROKEN, HOW CAN YOU EVER BE MADE WHOLE?
AND, SO, HERE WE ARE, AND YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT,
"IS THAT SUGE KNIGHT? WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?"
[ LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE ]
SO, THEY PUT ME UP BEHIND A RHODES SCHOLAR NAMED WES.
I GOT A DOUBLE HIGH-SCHOOL DIPLOMA,
BUT IT DON'T MEAN I'M NOT BLESSED.
[ LAUGHTER ]
YOU'RE WONDERING, AM I GONNA RHYME FOR THE ENTIRE SESSION?
[ LAUGHTER ]
DON'T WORRY, RELAX. IT'S JUST A PART OF MY EXPRESSION.
[ LAUGHTER ]
SO, WHAT IS THE BRIDGE?
A BRIDGE IS AN EXCHANGE OF IDEAS.
IT'S A PLACE OF INTERCONNECTED HUMANITY,
WHERE WE COME AND HAVE DIALOGUE
WITHOUT THE FEAR OF BEING JUDGED OR MALIGNED
FOR OUR PERSONAL IDEOLOGY.
A BRIDGE ITSELF IS A SPAN
THAT ALLOWS TWO FIXED POINTS
THAT WOULD NEVER CONNECT
TO HAVE AN ABILITY TO MEET OVER OBJECTS AND IMPEDIMENTS
THAT WOULD NORMALLY KEEP THESE TWO FIXED OBJECTS FROM MEETING.
WE ARE IN A VERY DIFFICULT TIME IN OUR NATION.
IT'S BAD.
[ LAUGHTER ]
IT'S BAD, MAN!
THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.
AND EVERYBODY COMES FROM A DIFFERENT PLACE.
EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN LENS, THEIR OWN PERSPECTIVE,
AND THE MOMENT YOU INVALIDATE SOMEONE ELSE'S PERSPECTIVE,
YOU DEHUMANIZE THEM.
IF WE'RE REALLY GONNA GROW, IF WE'RE REALLY GONNA CHANGE,
THEN WE NEED TO SET OUR MINDS TO BE REARRANGED.
AND, SO, ONCE AGAIN, JUST SIT UP IN THE CHAIR,
GRAB A DRINK FROM THE FRIDGE, AND LET'S HAVE A CONVERSATION.
JUST MEET ME ON THE BRIDGE.
THIS PLACE,
THIS MOMENT IS HISTORIC,
BECAUSE YOU CAME HERE BECAUSE YOU WERE SEEKING SOMETHING.
YOU ARE HUNGRY FOR SOMETHING. YOU ARE HUNGRY FOR TRUTH.
NOT TRUTH IN ITS ETHEREAL FORM, BUT TRUTH IN A SUBSTANTIVE FORM.
BUT ALL OF US COME FROM A DIFFERENT PLACE.
YOU KNOW, NOW WE'RE REAL LOCKED IN TO OUR IDEOLOGIES.
MAYBE YOU'RE FAR RIGHT OR MAYBE YOU'RE FAR LEFT,
AND IT'S HARD TO MEET IN THE MIDDLE, BECAUSE, ME,
I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, "WHERE DO I FIT IN?"
BECAUSE AT THE INTERSECTION OF FAITH, POLITICS,
AND SOCIAL JUSTICE,
I'M JUST A LITTLE PREACHER FROM A SMALL-TOWN CINCINNATI CHURCH.
AND NOW I'M SITTING AT THE CHURCH
WITH THE NICEST MAN IN THE WORLD.
JOEL OSTEEN IS LITERALLY THE NICEST DUDE IN THE WORLD.
HE SMILES AT EVERYTHING.
[ LAUGHTER ]
NO, FOR REAL. IF YOU PUT HIM IN A HORROR MOVIE,
HE WOULD STILL SMILE.
YOU PUT HIM IN "FRIDAY THE 13th,"
YOU HEAR THE MUSIC... "CHH, CHH, CHH, CHH!
HA, HA, HA, HA! CHH, CHH, CHH! HA!"
PASTER JOEL WOULD WALK UP.
"WELL, JASON, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO STAB PEOPLE.
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO LOVE PEOPLE.
OH, JASON, DON'T YOU KNOW YOU COULD LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE NOW?
ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS BUY MY BOOK,
'YOUR BEST LIFE NOW.'"
[ LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE ]
I FEEL LIKE JOY DOES GOOD LIKE MEDICINE,
AND WE NEED TO LAUGH A LITTLE BIT,
'CAUSE IT'S BEEN A WHOLE LOT OF TEARS SHED
OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF IN THIS NATION.
WE GOT A LOT OF HEALING TO DO.
PEOPLE WERE SHOCKED -- SHOCKED!
[ LAUGHTER ]
WHEW! "WHAT'S HAPPENING TO OUR NATION?"
HAVE YOU BEEN AROUND FOR THE LAST 200 YEARS?
WE'VE NEVER BEEN TOGETHER!
[ LAUGHTER ]
FAR LEFT -- "ALL LIVES MATTER!
BLACK LIVES MATTER! EVERYBODY'S LIVES MATTER!"
BUT IF YOU'RE FAR RIGHT,
"I'M GONNA TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, YOU BETTER SHUT YOUR MOUTH UP.
YOU BETTER MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.
YOU BETTER SHUT YOUR MOUTH UP.
YOU BETTER HUSH UP, BOY!
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKIN' ABOUT!"
"SAY SOMETHING ELSE! SAY SOMETHING ELSE!
DON'T MAKE ME -- OOH, OOH! SAY SOMETHING ELSE.
I WILL COME ACROSS THIS BRIDGE. I WILL BUST YOU IN YOUR EYE!"
[ LAUGHTER ]
"I WISH YOU WOULD, 'CAUSE I'M SECOND AMENDMENT ALL DAY.
COME ON 'ROUND HERE. COME ON 'ROUND HERE.
RIGHT 'BOUT RIGHT THERE. COME ON.
I GOT MY CONCEAL/CARRY. COME ON, BOY.
COME OOOOOOOON! COME ON! COME ON!
COME ON!"
[ LAUGHTER ]
THE BRIDGE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO MEET.
'CAUSE WHEN YOU THINKIN' 'BOUT MY FAMILY
IT DON'T MATTER IF YOU'RE BLACK OR WHITE
DA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NA!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ CHUCKLES ]
WE DON'T GET A CHANCE TO INVALIDATE SOMEBODY,
BECAUSE WE DON'T UNDERSTAND
HOW THEY GOT TO A CERTAIN CONCLUSION.
WE'VE GOT TO LEARN HOW TO HEAL.
WE'VE GOT TO LEARN HOW TO DEAL.
AND SO I CAN'T STAY IN THESE POLARIC PLACES,
WHETHER I'M FAR LEFT OR FAR RIGHT.
SOMEHOW, I GOT TO GET US TO THE MIDDLE.
SOMEBODY SAY "MEET ME IN THE MIDDLE."
-MEET ME IN THE MIDDLE! -MEET ME IN THE MIDDLE!
SEE, THIS IS THE KEY.
WE'RE ALREADY MOVING CLOSER TO THE MIDDLE.
IT'S FEELING GOOD IN HERE.
ANYTIME I COME TO THE MIDDLE,
I'M GONNA PROBABLY START RHYMING,
SO JUST PREPARE YOURSELF.
WHEN I COME TO THIS PLACE, I'M GONNA START RHYMING.
[ LAUGHTER ]
I'M FEELING KIND OF GOOD, MAN. WHAT DO I SAY?
YOU GOT WHITE WOMEN PLAYING AFRICAN DRUMS.
WE ARE WELL ON OUR WAY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ BEATBOXING ]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
Y'ALL BETTER GO AHEAD. Y'ALL ARE LIKE,
"THIS IS WONDERFUL. I'VE NEVER DONE THIS.
THIS IS AMAZING.
IS THIS WHAT THEY DO, AND THEY BACK IT UP?
I WANT TO BACK IT UP! I WANT TO BACK IT UP."
[ LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE ]
I BELIEVE IN THE IDEA OF AMERICA.
I BELIEVE IN THE IDEAL OF AMERICA.
COME ON, AMERICA. I KNOW WE CAN DO BETTER.
I KNOW THAT YOU'RE ABLE.
I'M NOT SOLANGE OR BEYONC�,
BUT I DESERVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
THIS IS A MOMENT THAT WE CAN CHANGE THINGS.
BUT WE GOT TO COME DOWN FROM OUR HIGH PLACE.
WE GOT TO COME DOWN FROM THAT PLACE THAT MAKES US THINK
THAT WE'RE RIGHT AND THE OTHER PERSON IS WRONG,
AS OPPOSED TO SAYING,
"THEY GOT TO THAT PLACE BECAUSE OF THE LIFE
THAT THEY'VE LIVED AND THE PEOPLE THAT RAISED THEM
AND THE SITUATIONS THAT FRAMED THEM."
IT'S REAL QUIET, AND I KNOW THIS IS MORE LIKE A LECTURE SERIES,
BUT I'M A BLACK PREACHER, SO PLEASE ALLOW YOUR INNER NEGRO
TO COME OUT FOR THE NEXT 10 TO 12 MINUTES.
AND YOU CAN SHOUT ME DOWN LIKE, "I KNOW THAT'S RIGHT.
YOU BETTER SAY THAT. HE TALKIN' GOOD, GIRL.
[ LAUGHTER ]
THAT'S GOOD!"
SO, WHAT DOES AMERICA LOOK LIKE? HOW DO WE HEAL?
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF HEALING.
I KNOW THAT WE'RE BROKEN.
AND HOW CAN YOU NOT BE HURT
WHEN YOU'RE IN THE AGE OF ALTERNATIVE FACTS?
THAT'S LIKE SAYING, "I GOT FAT BY EATING ALTERNATIVE SNACKS."
[ LAUGHTER ]
I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU'RE LAUGHING.
YOU KNOW THAT IT'S TRUE.
AND DON'T JUDGE ME, 'CAUSE YOU GOT STUFF, TOO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
BUT I THINK ABOUT THE FAR RIGHT AND THE FAR LEFT,
AND I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, "HOW DO WE MEET IN THE MIDDLE?
HOW DO WE BUILD BRIDGES OF UNDERSTANDING AND CONNECTIVITY
BEYOND RACE, BEYOND GENDER,
BEYOND SEXUAL ORIENTATION,
BEYOND RELIGIOUS PREFERENCE AND IDEOLOGY?
HOW DO WE GET TO THIS PLACE?
ALL OF US CAME FROM SOMEWHERE.
AND SO I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, "WHAT IS MY ROLE TO PLAY?"
'CAUSE I GREW UP IN A LITTLE CHURCH, AND AT 7 YEARS OLD,
I CONNECTED TO THE DIVINE PRESENCE OF THE MOST HIGH GOD
THROUGH THIS MAN NAMED JESUS. THAT'S HOW I CONNECTED.
AND MY MOTHER -- SHE DIDN'T JUST PREACH IT, SHE LIVED IT.
AND I WAS LIKE, "THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CONNECTS TO ME,"
BECAUSE SHE ACTUALLY LIVED IT OUT.
AND IT WAS A WEIRD THING, BECAUSE MY MOTHER WAS ALWAYS
THE ONE CHOCOLATE SPOT IN A SEA OF VANILLA.
SHE FOUGHT TO BUILD BRIDGES AND SHE ALWAYS FOUGHT
TO GIVE EVERY HUMAN BEING EQUAL VALUE.
AND IN CINCINNATI IN THE '70s AND '80s,
IN A VERY CONSERVATIVE AND NON-POST-RACIAL SOCIETY,
SHE STOOD OUT LIKE A BEAUTIFUL SORE THUMB, SAYING THAT,
"I'M NOT GOING TO ALLOW WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST
TO DICTATE MY FUTURE." AND SHE CREATED, IN ME,
A HUNGER TO BUILD BRIDGES WITH PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE ME,
DIDN'T COME FROM WHERE I CAME FROM,
AND DIDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I BELIEVE.
AND EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL
THAT YOU WILL EVER SEE HAS THE SAME EQUAL VALUE.
DOESN'T MEAN WE AGREE, BUT WE'RE ALL FAMILY.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
SOMEBODY MAKE SOME NOISE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE INTENSIFIES ]
GREAT. I'M IN HERE SWEATING.
I DONE LOST 6 POUNDS UNDER THESE HOT PRISON LIGHTS.
-TAKE IT OFF! -TAKE IT OFF?
DON'T DO IT, 'CAUSE I...
[ BEATBOXING ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
I THINK ABOUT MY UPBRINGING AND I THINK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS
TO BE WHERE I'M AT RIGHT NOW, STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU.
AND I'M REALLY KIND OF BLOWN AWAY,
BECAUSE I SHOULDN'T BE HERE.
MY MOM AND DAD DIVORCED WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG.
HE WALKED OUT THE DOOR FOR THE LAST TIME WHEN I WAS 4 1/2.
I SAW HIM FOUR TIMES IN MY LIFE.
BUT IT DIDN'T STOP MY MOTHER
FROM DOING WHAT SHE NEEDED TO DO,
WORKING FULL TIME DURING THE DAY AND GOING TO COLLEGE AT NIGHT,
ENDING UP GRADUATING WITH HONORS WITH HER DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK,
AND BECOMING ONE OF THE MOST ACCOMPLISHED
AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN IN THE HISTORY
OF THE STATE OF OHIO SOCIAL-WORK SYSTEM.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
I CAME FROM A WOMAN THAT WOULD NOT GIVE UP.
I'M SURE THERE WERE TIMES WHEN SHE WANTED TO,
BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING ON THE INSIDE.
AND EVERY MORNING AND EVERY NIGHT,
I WOULD SEE HER PRAYING AND READING IN THIS WORD.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, I HAD TO DO THAT, TOO.
THERE WAS NO OPTION FOR ME.
MY MOTHER MADE SURE THAT I WAS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT
FROM THE LEGACY THAT I CAME FROM,
BECAUSE, GROWING UP, PEOPLE WERE SAYING,
"BE A MAN OF GOD. BE A MAN OF GOD."
BUT HOW CAN YOU BE WHAT YOU'VE NEVER SEEN?
Woman: PRAISE HIM!
SHE GOES TO A BLACK CHURCH. I'M JUST TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW.
[ LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE ]
BUT I FOUND MYSELF ENTHRALLED BY THIS LIFE
THAT MY MOTHER CHOSE TO LIVE.
AND WHEN I WAS GROWING UP,
THE IDEA OF MORALITY AND RELATIONSHIP
AND SPIRITUALITY WERE ALL INTERWOVEN.
WHEN I WAS 13, MY MOTHER WAS LIKE,
"YOU'RE GONNA BE A VIRGIN WHEN YOU GET MARRIED."
[ LAUGHTER ]
SOMEBODY'S LAUGHING. I'M LIKE,
"LISTEN, FIRST OF ALL, MOM,
I'VE GOT BUCKTEETH FROM SUCKING MY THUMB ALL OF MY CHILDHOOD,
AND I'VE GOT BALD SPOTS FROM ALOPECIA.
I DON'T THINK YOU NEED TO WORRY."
[ LAUGHTER ]
IT'S ONE THING TO LIVE HOLY.
IT'S ANOTHER WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE OPTIONS.
[ LAUGHTER ]
SEE SOMEBODY TALKING ABOUT, "I'M WAITING ON THE LORD."
I BET YOU ARE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
MM-HMM!
[ LAUGHS ]
WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE BRIDGE,
I THINK ABOUT WHAT IT IS I MUST DO TO CONNECT
AND ENGAGE PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T COME FROM WHERE I COME FROM
SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A PLACE OF COMMONALITY AND UNDERSTANDING.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT CONVERSION,
BECAUSE FOR TOO LONG,
IN CERTAIN AREAS OF CHRISTIAN THOUGHT,
WE HAVE TRIED TO SHAME PEOPLE INTO CHANGING.
[ SCATTERED CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
WHAT'S FUNNY IS IT'S NOT JUST RELIGIOUS THOUGHT,
BECAUSE EVEN IN POLITICAL IDEOLOGY,
THIS IS THE FIRST POLITICAL CYCLE
WHERE OUR ELECTION WAS A RESULT OF SHAME,
WHERE PEOPLE WHO WERE SHAMED FOR HAVING A PARTICULAR IDEA
ABOUT WHAT MATTERED TO THEM,
AND THE ONLY RECOURSE THEY HAD WAS TO GO INTO
AN ANONYMOUS BOOTH AND PICK SOMETHING
THAT WAS MOST NOT LIKE WHAT MOST OF US THOUGHT WOULD COME OUT.
AND HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?
BECAUSE SHAME HAS PERMEATED THE CULTURE,
AND IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE WHAT I BELIEVE, THEN SHAME ON YOU.
AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT I LIKE, THEN SHAME ON YOU.
AND SHAME HAS PERMEATED THE CULTURE, AND THE BRIDGE SAYS,
"I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOU, I DON'T AGREE WITH YOU,
AND WE MAY NEVER SEE EYE-TO-EYE,
BUT IF WE'RE ALL IN THE SAME SPACE,
AT LEAST WE CAN BEGIN THE DIALOGUE AND CONVERSATION
THAT MAY LEAD TO HEALING."
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
FOR ME, THERE'S THIS STORY IN THE BIBLE THAT I LOVE,
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE --
WHEN I TELL THEM I'M A PREACHER, THEY'RE LIKE,
"OH, HERE HE GOES. HE'S ABOUT TO JUDGE ME."
[ LAUGHTER ]
I'M LIKE, "NO. I'M NOT THAT KIND OF GUY. JUST LET ME TALK!"
[ LAUGHTER ]
BUT I KNOW, BECAUSE SOME OF YOU HAVE SEEN BAD TV, BAD CHURCH TV
LATE AT NIGHT, AND YOU SEE THE GUY ON THERE TALKING ABOUT,
"I'M GONNA TELL YOU RIGHT NOW YOU BETTER CALL THAT NUMBER
ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW, 'CAUSE IF YOU DON'T,
YOU'RE GONNA BURN IN A HOT LAKE OF FIRE!
I'M GONNA TELL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW!"
[ LAUGHTER ]
SIR, YOU'RE FRIGHTENING THE CHILDREN.
BUT EVERY TIME I SEE JESUS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT,
I SEE HIM ENCOUNTERING THE MOST BROKEN OF SOCIETY,
AND THEY WERE ATTRACTED TO HIM.
HOW IS THAT THE LEPERS AND THE LAME
AND THE BROKEN AND THE DRUNKS
AND THE PROSTITUTES THOUGHT HE WAS AMAZING?
HOW IS IT THAT HE CONNECTED TO BROKEN PEOPLE,
BUT THE PRIDEFUL, THE SPIRITUAL,
THE RELIGIOUS ELITE DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH HIM?
I SAID, "THAT'S THE KIND OF PERSON I'D WANT TO BE,
THAT I CONNECT TO PEOPLE NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE,
NO MATTER WHAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH,
NO MATTER WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE." AND THAT'S NOT RELIGIOUS.
THAT'S SEEING THE BEAUTY AND THE DIVINE NATURE
OF EVERY HUMAN BEING THAT YOU ENCOUNTER.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
THERE'S NOTHING MORE AMAZING TO ME THAN THIS STORY IN JOHN 4.
JESUS IS TALKING TO THIS SAMARITAN WOMAN,
AND JEWS AND SAMARITANS DID NOT HANG OUT.
THEY WERE NOT BEDFELLOWS.
JEWS KIND OF THOUGHT THEY WERE BETTER THAN THE SAMARITANS.
SAMARITANS WAS KIND OF SLIGHTLY HOOD.
THEY WAS LIKE, "WHATEVER, WHATEVER. WOOPTY-WOO."
AND THE JEWS WERE LIKE, "UGH, UGH! EH!"
THAT WAS KIND OF THE VIBE.
AND JEWS AND SAMARITANS DIDN'T REALLY TALK,
YOU KNOW, TO ONE ANOTHER.
AND, SO, THIS SAMARITAN WOMAN IS WALKING UP,
AND JESUS IS AT THE WELL.
AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN SUPPOSED TO BE HAVING CONVERSATION.
AND JESUS IS JUST CHILLIN' BY THE WELL.
AND, YOU KNOW, IN ALL OF THE MOVIES,
JESUS HAS A BRITISH ACCENT, EVEN THOUGH HE LIVED,
YOU KNOW, IN ISRAEL 2,000 YEARS AGO, BUT WHATEVER.
AND, SO, HE'S ALWAYS LIKE --
HE ALWAYS HAS HIS JESUS BEARD WITH HIS PREMIUM BROWN SANDALS.
AND HE'S SITTING BY THE WELL AND HE'S LIKE,
"GIVE ME A DRRRINK OF WATER."
AND, SO, I NEED YOU TO UNDERSTAND
THE CULTURAL CONTEXT OF BUILDING BRIDGES,
BECAUSE JESUS BUILT A BRIDGE WITH THIS LADY
THAT DIDN'T COME FROM WHERE HE COME FROM
AND DIDN'T BELIEVE WHAT HE BELIEVED.
AND HE SAID, "HEY, CAN YOU GIVE ME A DRINK OF WATER?"
AND SHE WAS FROM SAMARIA, SO SHE WAS A LITTLE BIT HOOD.
SHE WAS LIKE, "FIRST OF ALL, YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ME,
SO WHY ARE YOU EVEN TALKING TO ME, OKAY?
BECAUSE I'M A SAMARITAN.
SAMARITANS, REPRESENT.
ENH, ENH, ENH, ENH, ENH, ENH
YOU NEED TO BACK UP, OKAY?
'CAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW -- YOU DON'T KNOW ME!"
[ LAUGHTER ]
JESUS WAS LIKE, "IF YOU KNEW THE GIFT OF GOD
AND WHO IT WAS THAT WAS STANDING HERE,
YOU WOULD GIVE HIM A DRINK OF WATER
AND YOU'D NEVER THIRST AGAIN!"
[ LAUGHTER ]
SHE WAS LIKE, "OH, MY GOODNESS.
TELL ME ABOUT THIS WATER. WHERE IS THIS WATER?
I'VE BEEN THIRSTY FOR A LONG TIME, OKAY?
FOR REAL, FOR REAL."
[ LAUGHTER ]
YOU GOT TO READ IT. SOME OF YOU ARE LIKE,
"I DIDN'T READ THAT IN..." IT'S IN THE N.I.V.,
THE NEGRO INTERNATIONAL VERSION.
YOU CAN PURCHASE IT IN THE LOBBY AFTER THE SESSION IS OVER.
[ LAUGHTER, CHEERS, AND APPLAUSE ]
JESUS SAID, "I'LL CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION WITH YOU,
BUT WHY DON'T YOU GO GET YOUR HUSBAND FIRST."
SHE WAS LIKE, "MNH, WELL, JUST SO YOU KNOW, I'M SINGLE, OKAY?
AND READY TO MINGLE!"
[ LAUGHTER ]
HE WAS LIKE, "SLOW DOWN, BOO. I'M GONNA SAVE Y'ALL.
I DON'T EVEN GET DOWN LIKE THAT, ALL RIGHT? JUST RELAX."
SO, THEN JESUS TAKES THIS REAL REGULAR CONVERSATION
AND THEN PUTS SUPER ON THE NATURAL.
HE SAYS, "YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU'RE RIGHT.
YOU'RE NOT MARRIED. YOU'VE BEEN MARRIED FIVE TIMES,
AND THE GUY YOU'RE WITH NOW
YOU'RE JUST KIND OF LIVING WITH."
SHE WAS LIKE, "FIRST OF ALL, HOLD ON.
WHO TOLD YOU MY BUSINESS?
SHANIQUA! SHANIQUA, DID YOU TELL THIS MAN MY BUSINESS?
I TOLD YOU TO BE QUIET!"
[ LAUGHTER ]
Y'ALL DIDN'T KNOW SHANIQUA WAS IN THE BIBLE TILL YOU MET ME.
SEE?
SuperSoul SESSIONS.
[ LAUGHTER ]
IT'S IN THE SESSION.
[ LAUGHTER ]
WHAT JESUS DID IS HE VALIDATED HER HUMANITY
WITHOUT HIGHLIGHTING HER BROKENNESS.
NO MATTER YOUR POLITICAL,
SPIRITUAL, OR RELATIONAL IDEOLOGY,
WE MUST VALIDATE THE HUMANITY
WITHOUT HIGHLIGHTING BROKENNESS.
HE TREATED HER AS A VALUABLE INDIVIDUAL
AND HE TREATED HER WITH LOVE.
HE DIDN'T JUDGE HER.
AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT REGULAR LOVE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT REAL LOVE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT AN UNENDING LOVE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT, "I JUST MET YOU,
BUT I LOVE YOU AND I WOULD FIGHT FOR YOU,
EVEN THOUGH I DON'T KNOW YOU,
BECAUSE YOUR HUMANITY IS AS VALUABLE AS MY OWN."
I'M TALKING ABOUT A LOVE THAT WILL MAKE YOU SING TO STRANGERS.
I'M TALKING ABOUT A WHITNEY HOUSTON KIND OF LOVE.
AND IIIIIIIIIII-I-IIIIIIIII
WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU, OOH, OOH
I WILL ALWA-A-AYS
LOVE YO-O-O-O-OOOOOOOOOOOOOU
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
[ SMOOCHES ]
I'M TALKING ABOUT A LOVE THAT DOESN'T GO AWAY
BECAUSE WE DON'T AGREE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT A LOVE THAT MAKES ME FIGHT FOR YOU,
EVEN THOUGH I DON'T SEE WHAT YOU SEE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT A LOVE THAT MAKES ME CROSS THE BRIDGE
OF UNDERSTANDING, AWAY FROM MY FEARFUL PLACE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT A BRIDGE THAT MAKES ME SEE YOU FACE-TO-FACE.
-YEAH! -MM-HMM!
[ LAUGHTER ]
-PREACH! -I'M TRYING, GIRL.
[ LAUGHTER ]
SEE, 'CAUSE IT IS THE Super Soul SESSION,
AND SO WHEN SOMETHING TOUCHES YOUR SOUL,
YOU CAN'T HELP BUT GET EXCITED ABOUT IT.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN BE CEREBRAL ABOUT
AND PONDER AND PROCESS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU FEEL IN YOUR SOUL,
AND YOUR TOES START MOVING,
LIKE, "I DON'T KNOW THIS DUDE,
AND HE IS A LITTLE BIG.
HE COULD WORK OUT A LITTLE BIT.
BUT I LIKE WHAT HE IS SAYING,
AND IT'S AGREEING AND CONNECTING
WITH THE INNER PART AND CORE OF MY BEING."
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED --
SOMETHING THAT MAKES US COME FROM THE FAR RIGHT
AND THE FAR LEFT AND WE MEET IN THE MIDDLE!
WE COME TO PLACES LIKE SuperSoul SESSION
AND WE ARE NOT INTIMIDATED BY PEOPLE
THAT HAVE DIFFERENT THOUGHTS THAN US.
IN FACT, WE DON'T JUDGE THEM. WE EMBRACE THEM.
AND WHAT WE CAN DO, WE DO PROCESS, WE CHEW THE MEAT,
AND SPIT OUT THE BONES.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
AND WE DON'T BEAT PEOPLE UP.
WHAT JESUS SHOWED ME IS THE WAY I NEED TO LIVE MY LIFE,
AS HE WAS RELATIONAL, RELATABLE, AND RELEVANT.
-YES! -THAT'S GOOD!
AND IF YOU WANT PEOPLE TO SEE LIFE FROM YOUR LENS,
THEN YOU NEED TO MAYBE BECOME RELATIONAL,
RELATABLE, AND RELEVANT.
AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO TWO OTHER THINGS
AND BECOME INTENTIONAL AND UNCOMFORTABLE.
[ CROWD MURMURS ]
BECAUSE IF YOU'RE GONNA BUILD BRIDGES,
YOU'RE GONNA CONNECT WITH PEOPLE
AND HAVE TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE THAT DON'T LOOK LIKE YOU,
DON'T LIVE WHERE YOU LIVE.
NOW, I'M NOT TELLING Y'ALL RIGHT NOW TO LEAVE HERE LIKE,
"COME ON, SARAH. WE'RE GOING DOWN TO CRENSHAW.
WE'RE GONNA JUST SHAKE HANDS."
DON'T DO THAT. THEY GONNA ROB YOU.
DON'T BE -- STAY HERE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
STAY HERE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
BUT WHAT I REALIZE IS -- WITH THE LIFE WE'VE BEEN GIVEN,
THE CHOICES WE HAVE, WE CAN DO SOMETHING WITH IT.
SO, DO ME A FAVOR. SIT UP IN YOUR SEAT.
GRAB A DRINK FROM THE FRIDGE, AND...
[ LAUGHTER ]
WHETHER IT'S COMMUNION OR A BEER,
COME MEET ME ON THE BRIDGE.
'CAUSE I DON'T CARE WHERE YOU'RE FROM. WE ALL GOT A STORY.
BUT IF WE ALL STICK TOGETHER, IT'S GOING TO PRODUCE
GLORY
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
HEY, HEY, ONE DAY
WHEN THE GLORY COMES
IT'LL BE OURS
HEY, HEY, ONE DAY
WHEN THE WAR IS WON
WE WILL BE SURE
HEY, HEY, HEY
GLORY
I LOVE Y'ALL.
GLORY
AVENTER, I LOVE YOU.
GLORY
HEY, HEY, GLOOOOOOORY
ONE DAAAAAAAY
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]