VOA – CONNECT
EPISODE #157
AIR DATE 01 15 2021
TRANSCRIPT
OPEN ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
Making a Path
((SOT))
((Ron Taylor, Production Manager))
Our children, they do have the best of both
worlds in having a black father and a white
mother. In
life, they don't have to think about choosing a
side.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Making a Move
((SOT))
((Stephanie Robesky, Participant, Tulsa
Remote))
Do I need 700 restaurants? No, I probably
need, like, three restaurants but I do want some
culture. I do want a sense of community. I
would like reasonable cost of living.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Making Magic
((SOT))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
Prior to Houdini, Doug Henning, David
Copperfield, David Blaine, the very first
American-born magician was a Black man.
((Open Animation))
BLOCK A
((PKG: INTERRACIAL COUPLE))
((TRT: 9:52))
((Banner: Breaking Expectations))
((Reporter/Camera: Deepak Dobhal))
((Map: Lincoln, Nebraska))
((Main Characters: 1 Male, 1 Female))
((NATS))
((Courtesy: Ron Taylor))
((Ron Taylor, Production Manager))
We were at the Union at the university. That's
basically a
place where people come and relax and you
check your emails
and your class schedules. And I just happened
to see this
head of curly hair and I had to get closer to her.
And the
closer I got, the better she looked.
And I had to introduce myself. So, here we are
20 years later.
((NATS))
((Rachel Taylor, Homeschooling Mother))
I have three kiddos. Isaac is our oldest. Ian is
our middle child. Isabella is our youngest.
She's seven-and-a-half. We homeschool them.
We have for the last five-and-a-half years.
((NATS))
((Ron Taylor, Production Manager))
Our children, they do have the best of both world
s in having a Black father and a white mother.
In life, they don't have to think about choosing
a side.
I’m originally from Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines which is in the eastern Caribbean.
((Courtesy: Ron Taylor))
((Ron Taylor, Production Manager))
I was evacuated due to a volcano in 1979. I was
seven years old at that time. Came to United
States, lived in New York City for few years.
And I also was in the military myself.
The only questions that the kids have asked us
about race is, “Dad, why is your skin
darker than Mom's?” And, so,
I went ahead and took a DNA test and I
explained all that to
them. OK. Daddy is 50 percent Nigerian.
Daddy is 25 percent from Sierra Leone. Daddy
is 11 percent
Scottish. Daddy has four percent Native
American. Daddy has three percent Asian. So,
I break it down for them.
As far as what we're teaching them, it's what's
appropriate
for their age. We don't put them in that
environment where they can be harmed
or anyone
can share their negativity with them. So, we
protect
our children. They're still trying to learn how to
do their
multiplication tables, you know. So, the issue of
slavery and systemic racism, you
know, that's not at their level at this point.
((Rachel Taylor, Homeschooling Mother))
But we're not clueless that it's there. And in due
time, as those discussions come into play,
he's like you're old
enough, you're mature enough, it's
time for you to learn this. And it may come up
because our child has a question, or it may
come up because
of something they're exposed to.
((NATS))
((Courtesy: Ron Taylor))
((Rachel Taylor, Homeschooling Mother))
Couple months ago, there was protests right
here in our
neighborhood. They chose South Lincoln
neighborhoods,
where we live, because they felt that they
needed to expose South Lincoln. So, the kids
got to see that first-hand right here at the end of
our street and what that looked like
and it was a peaceful protest. But then when
they see something on the news that's violent
and people are literally
hurting each other and causing vandalism, that's
not a
peaceful protest. That's
literally riots. And so, I've talked to them about
knowing that we live in Nebraska and in some
regards their exposure looks very,
very different than if we lived on the East or the
West Coast.
((NATS))
((Video Courtesy: Ron Taylor))
((Popup Banner: George Floyd, an African
American man, was killed in police custody. His
death led to widespread protests against racial
injustice in the US.))
((Ron Taylor, Production Manager))
We explained to them about George Floyd and
what happened and that's when I showed them
the video.
((Courtesy: Reuters))
((Ron Taylor, Production Manager))
And then we all went through the steps of,
okay, who was wrong at this point,
who was right?
Not the color of their skin, but, you
know, who did something wrong at point A?
Who did something wrong on point B? So, we
went from A to Z.
((Courtesy: Reuters))
((Ron Taylor, Production Manager))
Ultimately, once you're in handcuffs, the police
have you
apprehended. Your job is to put someone in
handcuffs, take him
to jail, and then the judge will take care of the
rest of the process.
((Courtesy: Reuters))
((Ron Taylor, Production Manager))
Due process happens in the court, not on the
street.
((NATS))
((Video Courtesy: AP))
((Rachel Taylor, Homeschooling Mother))
To actually participate in a protest, I don't know
that I have
enough information to make an educated
statement on that. But when I look at those
things, I say
where did this come from? Who
started this? What is their
goal? Who's funding it? What is the purpose of
this? So, I
ask a lot of those questions, which is why, I
mean,
I myself, I'm not going to go intentionally be a
part of that if I don't align with that. But that has
nothing to do with my view on race. And so,
to intertwine that would be mangled.
((NATS))
((Courtesy: AP))
((Ron Taylor, Production Manager))
The political side of some of these matters have
been
cloudy. It's something that people that want to
manipulate
the process and cause confusion as opposed to
dealing with the issue.
((NATS))
((Courtesy: AP))
((Rachel Taylor, Homeschooling Mother))
Of course there's empathy,
empathy for those going through that is
generated from
((Courtesy: AP))
((Rachel Taylor, Homeschooling Mother))
sincerity and heartbreak and recognizing, hey,
I have no idea what it felt like to be [Civil Rights
icon]
Rosa Parks that day, but do I need to teach and
train the childrenhow to be strong,
courageous
people like her or how to be a Dr. Martin Luther
King and
speak up and be able to use his voice?
That's not just
history. That's who
do you want to be today. So, yes, I empathize
with that
because I care and I want our kids to be able
to live their life in that way.
((NATS))
((Courtesy: AP))
((Rachel Taylor, Homeschooling Mother))
Much of what people are seeing and hearing
today is based on the hate. And when hate is
represented, it
doesn't matter what form you're seeing it in,
it's a matter of the heart. These are
interpersonal
relational conflicts that have been stirred up.
In some people it just started.
Some people that was inbred in them from the
day they were
born. And heart issues can only be resolved
within someone's most inner thoughts. We can't
go around and fix other people's heart.
((NATS))
((Rachel Taylor, Homeschooling Mother))
My job is to figure out how to keep the five of us
and this family
focused on who holds
our tomorrow? Where do we go from here?
Because if this
is our last conversation and the world ends
today, is what we've shared and reflected and
discussed upon without our
children, something in
which they can then make an educated decision
without us?
((Rachel Taylor, Homeschooling Mother))
When you use faith as your foundation in your
discussions as a family, it's really simple actually
to integrate that into the relationships that you
choose to expose them to.
So, instead of shielding them from life, we've just
chosen the
tribe of people that we want to associate with.
((NATS))
((Rachel Taylor, Homeschooling Mother))
Their exposure is so diverse. We were talking
yesterday
about who their friends are and where they're
from. And I'm like, I feel like we could pull the
whole
United Nations to the park for a gathering
if you really look at color as who we're exposing
our children to. It's not
a selection pool. It's just who we have grown to
love
and who the Lord's brought in our path to be
friends with.
((NATS))
((Ron Taylor, Production Manager))
Our goal is to, you know, not pigeonhole their
thinking. We want
them to be whole brain thinkers. We want them
to think
beyond someone's color of their skin or
their eyes or their hair. Because if we solve one
problem, there's always going to be a next. And
we're always going to find
something to talk about with someone and
to judge.
((NATS))
((Ron Taylor, Production Manager))
Based on what we're experiencing now and the
divisions that
we have in our society, I have to be above that.
If I were to dwell on what I look like and what
somebody thinks what I look like, I won't
be successful as I am right now.
((Rachel Taylor, Homeschooling Mother))
Hmm. I think you look good. I am just saying
like, I don’t know.
((Ron Taylor, Production Manager))
But, you know,
we shouldn't deny that there's something going
on and it's bad.
((Rachel Taylor, Homeschooling Mother))
Yeah.
((Ron Taylor, Production Manager))
You know,
we need to focus on how can we make it better?
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Time to Move
((SOT))
((Stephanie Robesky, Participant, Tulsa
Remote))
An article for Tulsa Remote popped up in my
news feed and I thought, that's super interesting.
Ten thousand dollars to move somewhere. But
then I was also, had to, like, “Where is Tulsa,
Oklahoma?”
BREAK ONE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK B
((PKG)) TULSA REMOTE
((TRT: 03:46))
((Banner: Moving to Tulsa))
((Reporter: Julie Taboh))
((Camera: Jeremy Gosset))
((Adapted by: Zdenko Novacki))
((Map: Tulsa, Oklahoma))
((Main characters: 1 female; 1 male))
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Text from Tulsa Remote website on screen:
Hi, remote workers!
We’ll pay you to work from Tulsa.
You’re going to love it here.))
((Stephanie Robesky, Participant, Tulsa
Remote))
I first heard about Tulsa Remote, I felt like it was
kismet. I was thinking about leaving the Bay
area where I was living in San Francisco. And
so, I was searching around for, you know,
different locations like researching where, you
know,
((Stephanie Robesky, Participant, Tulsa
Remote))
what's the cost of living like? What is the quality
of life like in different cities? And I looked at all
the, kind of, obvious things that I think people
migrate from California to, which were Portland,
Austin, Seattle. And, you know, I just kept
coming up with the fact that those cities have,
kind of, been overplayed at this point. And when
I was doing this research, an article for Tulsa
Remote popped up in my news feed, and I
thought, like, that's super interesting. Ten
thousand dollars to move somewhere.
But then I was also, had to, like, take a step
back and go “Where is Tulsa, Oklahoma?”
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Ben Stewart, Interim Executive Director,
Tulsa Remote))
Tulsa Remote is an innovative program which
seeks to bring remote workers from across the
country with various diverse skill sets in order for
them to have an opportunity to join our
community. The program was created as it's
truly an additive talent program which brings
people with jobs to Tulsa in order to see a better
life for themselves and their families.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Stephanie Robesky, Participant, Tulsa
Remote))
I made this list and I said, you know “What do I
need? Do I need 700 restaurants? No, I
probably need, like, three restaurants. Do I
need all of these bars? No, but I do want some
culture. I do want a sense of community. I
would like, you know, a reasonable cost of living,
the ability to buy a house.”
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Stephanie Robesky, Participant, Tulsa
Remote))
I never anticipated even when I was flying out
here, that it was something that I was seriously
considering. I was, kind of, like, “This is
interesting. I'm going to go with an open mind.
I'm going to see what this is about. But
probably, like, this is probably not going to
happen.” And by the end of three days, I was
sitting there with another participant that had
come to visit and we looked at each other, we
said, he was from New York and we said, “Are
we doing this? Are we actually going to move to
Tulsa, Oklahoma?”
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Ben Stewart, Interim Executive Director,
Tulsa Remote))
Over half of our applications come from
California and New York. And those folks are
looking for a higher quality of life. They're
looking for more space. They're looking for the
ability to purchase a home. They're looking for
the opportunity to engage more deeply with the
community. They're looking for that presence
where they know people by their first names.
And that's something that Tulsa can provide.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Stephanie Robesky, Participant, Tulsa
Remote))
I rolled into town and I immediately had 50 plus
connections. I can't imagine, like, trying to make
that solo move to a new town as a remote
worker. And how do you even start making
those connections, right? I mean, we had
instant community built-in already for us. They
helped us, you know, even with simple things. “I
don't know how to change my driver's license.”
You know, like, people from the program would
help us with this.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Ben Stewart, Interim Executive Director,
Tulsa Remote))
The ten-thousand-dollar headline number for
Tulsa Remote grabs attention. However, the
disbursement of the checks really just de-risks
the proposition of moving to Tulsa. We found
that people come for many different reasons.
Cost of living, quality of life, ease, lack of
pollution, all kinds of reasons.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Stephanie Robesky, Participant, Tulsa
Remote))
I felt so at home that I have now purchased a
home here because it is affordable. I purchased
a home. I got a boyfriend. I mean, I feel like I'm
the Tulsa Remote success story.
((NATS/MUSIC))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
The Magic of Possibility
((SOT))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
So, when you think about magic, you have to
think about creativity and most importantly,
making the impossible possible.
BREAK TWO
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK C
((PKG)) THE MESSAGE OF MAGIC
((TRT: 06:41))
((Banner: The Message of Magic))
((Reporter: Marsha James))
((Camera: Lisa Vohra))
((Editor: Philip Alexiou))
((Map: Vienna, Virginia))
((Main character: 1 male))
((Sub character: 1 female))
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
When it comes to magic, there's no logical
solution why did that coin vanish from your
hand? Then, the next things is, do it again or do
something else miraculous.
((end Courtesy))
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
Is magic real or is magic an illusion? I'd like to
show you what comes to mind just as an
example. And we're just going to use these
three half-dollars right here. Focus on this first
one. Three coins, two hands, no sleeves, no
bracelets. So, you think of things happening
that's impossible, but you're making the
impossible possible and you're also creating
astonishment. So, when you think about magic,
you have to think about creativity and most
importantly, making the impossible possible.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
What is real? So, I got started in magic, not
when I was young like most people. I got
started in magic when I was in graduate school
at Penn State studying health education
research. It was just a hobby for me, something
to do to just to pass the time, card tricks. Me
and a group of friends, we used to get together
and do card tricks.
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
So, I just took a leap of faith and I just said I'm
going to give myself one year. If it doesn't work
out in one year, I'll just go back to school, get a
job and just continue on with life.
((end Courtesy))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
Well, one year ended up being 16 years and I
haven't looked back yet.
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
So, that's when I decided I want to do magic full
time.
((NATS/MUSIC))
Showtime.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
I believe that every artist should use their
platform to talk about greater issues beyond
their art.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
So, there's some elements in my show that are
subtle and then some that are not subtle, that I
speak about those issues and I let people into
my world and what I think about it. For example,
I was performing in Iowa one time.
((end Courtesy))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
It was at a college campus but it was two hours
outside, two-and-a-half hours outside of Des
Moines, Iowa. I get there. I set up. I'm behind
the curtain. I peek out. 500 people here. I was
like,
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
“Oh my gosh. Okay, I know exactly what I'm
going to say.” As soon as the emcee
announced me,
((end Courtesy))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
I walked on stage. The first words out of my
mouth is, “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for
coming to the show. When I got off the plane
this morning,
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
the Black population increased by 100 percent.”
Now, it came off as a joke but as they say,
there's truth in comedy.
((NATS/MUSIC))
That’s proof that some stereotypes are true.
((end Courtesy))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
And it resonated with everyone because they
realized, wow,
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
this is not a diverse town. Wow, I've never seen
a Black magician before,
((end Courtesy))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
but we've always been out there.
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
As a matter of fact, one part of my show, I'll talk
about the very first American-born magician by
the name of Richard Potter. So, prior to
Houdini, prior to Doug Henning, prior to David
Copperfield, prior to
((end Courtesy))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
David Blaine, the very first magician on
American soil was a Black man. And that's
something to be proud about because
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
because people like Richard Potter, Henry Box
Brown, Hiawatha Johnson Jr., these are all
African American magicians.
((end Courtesy))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
If I could see it, I could be it.
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
Yes, I am one of the co-founders of the
International Association of Black Magical
Artists. That was an organization that was
formed
((end Courtesy))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
as a need to bring African American magicians
together.
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
There has never been an African American
magician, a Black magician, who has had a
national TV platform.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
Every one of these gentlemen are headliners for
this one show or has had a household name or
a touring show. So, that glass ceiling hasn't
been broken yet. And in 2001,
((end Courtesy))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
I came up with this idea called The Heart and
Soul of Magic.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
So, The Heart and Soul of Magic, it was a brain-
child of mine that I had in 1998. And my goal,
my life goal is to have this as a national touring
show because currently, it's just self-funded, me
and the magicians who believe in that. And
that's what we do. So, if we could get that, or if
we could get one African American magician to
be a household name like the David
Copperfields, like the David Blaines, I would say
that would cracked the ceiling, that glass ceiling,
but it wouldn't break it, but at least it's cracked
the seal in that glass ceiling.
((end Courtesy))
((NATS: Randy Shine and Alyssa Gokhale))
((Alyssa Gokhale))
Wow.
((Randy Shine))
Wow, you did it.
((Alyssa Gokhale))
Let’s try again.
((Randy Shine))
You saw it with your own eyes. You saw it live.
No smoke, mirrors, no TV screens. Right here
in your face. So, one person will walk away and
say, “Hey, it's real.”
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
Others will say, “Oh, no, it’s some trick. You
see, he's very good at slight of hand or some
other technique.” It's up to that person's views
and perspective. And so,
((end Courtesy))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
there's a saying by a famous magician named
Joseph Dunninger. He says, “For those who
believe, no explanation is necessary. For those
who don't, no explanation will suffice.”
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
So, is magic real or is it an illusion? That's up to
you to decide.
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
((NATS/MUSIC))
NEXT WEEK ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
In coming weeks…..
Finding Faith
((SOT))
((Wendy Hook, Christian gift store owner))
We just wanted people to have the availability to
get a Bible, to walk into a store and pray.
((Caleb Szymanski, Lead Pastor, Oasis
Community Church))
Lord, you meet us in the darkest places of our
lives.
((Wendy Hook, Christian gift store owner))
With the virus that we have this year, it’s just
been difficult for people. We don’t get to
fellowship any more and church has been
cancelled. I think God’s trying to get our
attention and I’ve had people buying Bibles, you
know, during the shutdown that we need a Bible.
People are searching and wanting to kind of
know what’s going on.”
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
((PKG)) FREE PRESS MATTERS
((NATS/VIDEO/GFX))
((Popup captions over B Roll))
We make a difference
When we unmask terror
When we explain the impossible
When we confront an uncertain future
When we give voice to the voiceless
The difference is Freedom of the Press
We are the Voice of America where
A Free Press Matters
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
((PKG)) FREE PRESS MATTERS
((NATS/VIDEO/GFX))
((Popup captions over B Roll))
Near the Turkish Embassy
Washington, D.C.
May 16, 2017
President Erdogan’s bodyguard attacks
peaceful protesters
“Those terrorists deserved to be beaten”
“They should not be protesting our president”
“They got what they asked for”
While some people may turn away from the
news
We cover it
reliably
accurately
objectively
comprehensively
wherever the news matters
VOA
A Free Press Matters
BREAK THREE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
SHOW ENDS
EPISODE #157
AIR DATE 01 15 2021
TRANSCRIPT
OPEN ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
Making a Path
((SOT))
((Ron Taylor, Production Manager))
Our children, they do have the best of both
worlds in having a black father and a white
mother. In
life, they don't have to think about choosing a
side.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Making a Move
((SOT))
((Stephanie Robesky, Participant, Tulsa
Remote))
Do I need 700 restaurants? No, I probably
need, like, three restaurants but I do want some
culture. I do want a sense of community. I
would like reasonable cost of living.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Making Magic
((SOT))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
Prior to Houdini, Doug Henning, David
Copperfield, David Blaine, the very first
American-born magician was a Black man.
((Open Animation))
BLOCK A
((PKG: INTERRACIAL COUPLE))
((TRT: 9:52))
((Banner: Breaking Expectations))
((Reporter/Camera: Deepak Dobhal))
((Map: Lincoln, Nebraska))
((Main Characters: 1 Male, 1 Female))
((NATS))
((Courtesy: Ron Taylor))
((Ron Taylor, Production Manager))
We were at the Union at the university. That's
basically a
place where people come and relax and you
check your emails
and your class schedules. And I just happened
to see this
head of curly hair and I had to get closer to her.
And the
closer I got, the better she looked.
And I had to introduce myself. So, here we are
20 years later.
((NATS))
((Rachel Taylor, Homeschooling Mother))
I have three kiddos. Isaac is our oldest. Ian is
our middle child. Isabella is our youngest.
She's seven-and-a-half. We homeschool them.
We have for the last five-and-a-half years.
((NATS))
((Ron Taylor, Production Manager))
Our children, they do have the best of both world
s in having a Black father and a white mother.
In life, they don't have to think about choosing
a side.
I’m originally from Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines which is in the eastern Caribbean.
((Courtesy: Ron Taylor))
((Ron Taylor, Production Manager))
I was evacuated due to a volcano in 1979. I was
seven years old at that time. Came to United
States, lived in New York City for few years.
And I also was in the military myself.
The only questions that the kids have asked us
about race is, “Dad, why is your skin
darker than Mom's?” And, so,
I went ahead and took a DNA test and I
explained all that to
them. OK. Daddy is 50 percent Nigerian.
Daddy is 25 percent from Sierra Leone. Daddy
is 11 percent
Scottish. Daddy has four percent Native
American. Daddy has three percent Asian. So,
I break it down for them.
As far as what we're teaching them, it's what's
appropriate
for their age. We don't put them in that
environment where they can be harmed
or anyone
can share their negativity with them. So, we
protect
our children. They're still trying to learn how to
do their
multiplication tables, you know. So, the issue of
slavery and systemic racism, you
know, that's not at their level at this point.
((Rachel Taylor, Homeschooling Mother))
But we're not clueless that it's there. And in due
time, as those discussions come into play,
he's like you're old
enough, you're mature enough, it's
time for you to learn this. And it may come up
because our child has a question, or it may
come up because
of something they're exposed to.
((NATS))
((Courtesy: Ron Taylor))
((Rachel Taylor, Homeschooling Mother))
Couple months ago, there was protests right
here in our
neighborhood. They chose South Lincoln
neighborhoods,
where we live, because they felt that they
needed to expose South Lincoln. So, the kids
got to see that first-hand right here at the end of
our street and what that looked like
and it was a peaceful protest. But then when
they see something on the news that's violent
and people are literally
hurting each other and causing vandalism, that's
not a
peaceful protest. That's
literally riots. And so, I've talked to them about
knowing that we live in Nebraska and in some
regards their exposure looks very,
very different than if we lived on the East or the
West Coast.
((NATS))
((Video Courtesy: Ron Taylor))
((Popup Banner: George Floyd, an African
American man, was killed in police custody. His
death led to widespread protests against racial
injustice in the US.))
((Ron Taylor, Production Manager))
We explained to them about George Floyd and
what happened and that's when I showed them
the video.
((Courtesy: Reuters))
((Ron Taylor, Production Manager))
And then we all went through the steps of,
okay, who was wrong at this point,
who was right?
Not the color of their skin, but, you
know, who did something wrong at point A?
Who did something wrong on point B? So, we
went from A to Z.
((Courtesy: Reuters))
((Ron Taylor, Production Manager))
Ultimately, once you're in handcuffs, the police
have you
apprehended. Your job is to put someone in
handcuffs, take him
to jail, and then the judge will take care of the
rest of the process.
((Courtesy: Reuters))
((Ron Taylor, Production Manager))
Due process happens in the court, not on the
street.
((NATS))
((Video Courtesy: AP))
((Rachel Taylor, Homeschooling Mother))
To actually participate in a protest, I don't know
that I have
enough information to make an educated
statement on that. But when I look at those
things, I say
where did this come from? Who
started this? What is their
goal? Who's funding it? What is the purpose of
this? So, I
ask a lot of those questions, which is why, I
mean,
I myself, I'm not going to go intentionally be a
part of that if I don't align with that. But that has
nothing to do with my view on race. And so,
to intertwine that would be mangled.
((NATS))
((Courtesy: AP))
((Ron Taylor, Production Manager))
The political side of some of these matters have
been
cloudy. It's something that people that want to
manipulate
the process and cause confusion as opposed to
dealing with the issue.
((NATS))
((Courtesy: AP))
((Rachel Taylor, Homeschooling Mother))
Of course there's empathy,
empathy for those going through that is
generated from
((Courtesy: AP))
((Rachel Taylor, Homeschooling Mother))
sincerity and heartbreak and recognizing, hey,
I have no idea what it felt like to be [Civil Rights
icon]
Rosa Parks that day, but do I need to teach and
train the childrenhow to be strong,
courageous
people like her or how to be a Dr. Martin Luther
King and
speak up and be able to use his voice?
That's not just
history. That's who
do you want to be today. So, yes, I empathize
with that
because I care and I want our kids to be able
to live their life in that way.
((NATS))
((Courtesy: AP))
((Rachel Taylor, Homeschooling Mother))
Much of what people are seeing and hearing
today is based on the hate. And when hate is
represented, it
doesn't matter what form you're seeing it in,
it's a matter of the heart. These are
interpersonal
relational conflicts that have been stirred up.
In some people it just started.
Some people that was inbred in them from the
day they were
born. And heart issues can only be resolved
within someone's most inner thoughts. We can't
go around and fix other people's heart.
((NATS))
((Rachel Taylor, Homeschooling Mother))
My job is to figure out how to keep the five of us
and this family
focused on who holds
our tomorrow? Where do we go from here?
Because if this
is our last conversation and the world ends
today, is what we've shared and reflected and
discussed upon without our
children, something in
which they can then make an educated decision
without us?
((Rachel Taylor, Homeschooling Mother))
When you use faith as your foundation in your
discussions as a family, it's really simple actually
to integrate that into the relationships that you
choose to expose them to.
So, instead of shielding them from life, we've just
chosen the
tribe of people that we want to associate with.
((NATS))
((Rachel Taylor, Homeschooling Mother))
Their exposure is so diverse. We were talking
yesterday
about who their friends are and where they're
from. And I'm like, I feel like we could pull the
whole
United Nations to the park for a gathering
if you really look at color as who we're exposing
our children to. It's not
a selection pool. It's just who we have grown to
love
and who the Lord's brought in our path to be
friends with.
((NATS))
((Ron Taylor, Production Manager))
Our goal is to, you know, not pigeonhole their
thinking. We want
them to be whole brain thinkers. We want them
to think
beyond someone's color of their skin or
their eyes or their hair. Because if we solve one
problem, there's always going to be a next. And
we're always going to find
something to talk about with someone and
to judge.
((NATS))
((Ron Taylor, Production Manager))
Based on what we're experiencing now and the
divisions that
we have in our society, I have to be above that.
If I were to dwell on what I look like and what
somebody thinks what I look like, I won't
be successful as I am right now.
((Rachel Taylor, Homeschooling Mother))
Hmm. I think you look good. I am just saying
like, I don’t know.
((Ron Taylor, Production Manager))
But, you know,
we shouldn't deny that there's something going
on and it's bad.
((Rachel Taylor, Homeschooling Mother))
Yeah.
((Ron Taylor, Production Manager))
You know,
we need to focus on how can we make it better?
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Time to Move
((SOT))
((Stephanie Robesky, Participant, Tulsa
Remote))
An article for Tulsa Remote popped up in my
news feed and I thought, that's super interesting.
Ten thousand dollars to move somewhere. But
then I was also, had to, like, “Where is Tulsa,
Oklahoma?”
BREAK ONE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK B
((PKG)) TULSA REMOTE
((TRT: 03:46))
((Banner: Moving to Tulsa))
((Reporter: Julie Taboh))
((Camera: Jeremy Gosset))
((Adapted by: Zdenko Novacki))
((Map: Tulsa, Oklahoma))
((Main characters: 1 female; 1 male))
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Text from Tulsa Remote website on screen:
Hi, remote workers!
We’ll pay you to work from Tulsa.
You’re going to love it here.))
((Stephanie Robesky, Participant, Tulsa
Remote))
I first heard about Tulsa Remote, I felt like it was
kismet. I was thinking about leaving the Bay
area where I was living in San Francisco. And
so, I was searching around for, you know,
different locations like researching where, you
know,
((Stephanie Robesky, Participant, Tulsa
Remote))
what's the cost of living like? What is the quality
of life like in different cities? And I looked at all
the, kind of, obvious things that I think people
migrate from California to, which were Portland,
Austin, Seattle. And, you know, I just kept
coming up with the fact that those cities have,
kind of, been overplayed at this point. And when
I was doing this research, an article for Tulsa
Remote popped up in my news feed, and I
thought, like, that's super interesting. Ten
thousand dollars to move somewhere.
But then I was also, had to, like, take a step
back and go “Where is Tulsa, Oklahoma?”
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Ben Stewart, Interim Executive Director,
Tulsa Remote))
Tulsa Remote is an innovative program which
seeks to bring remote workers from across the
country with various diverse skill sets in order for
them to have an opportunity to join our
community. The program was created as it's
truly an additive talent program which brings
people with jobs to Tulsa in order to see a better
life for themselves and their families.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Stephanie Robesky, Participant, Tulsa
Remote))
I made this list and I said, you know “What do I
need? Do I need 700 restaurants? No, I
probably need, like, three restaurants. Do I
need all of these bars? No, but I do want some
culture. I do want a sense of community. I
would like, you know, a reasonable cost of living,
the ability to buy a house.”
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Stephanie Robesky, Participant, Tulsa
Remote))
I never anticipated even when I was flying out
here, that it was something that I was seriously
considering. I was, kind of, like, “This is
interesting. I'm going to go with an open mind.
I'm going to see what this is about. But
probably, like, this is probably not going to
happen.” And by the end of three days, I was
sitting there with another participant that had
come to visit and we looked at each other, we
said, he was from New York and we said, “Are
we doing this? Are we actually going to move to
Tulsa, Oklahoma?”
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Ben Stewart, Interim Executive Director,
Tulsa Remote))
Over half of our applications come from
California and New York. And those folks are
looking for a higher quality of life. They're
looking for more space. They're looking for the
ability to purchase a home. They're looking for
the opportunity to engage more deeply with the
community. They're looking for that presence
where they know people by their first names.
And that's something that Tulsa can provide.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Stephanie Robesky, Participant, Tulsa
Remote))
I rolled into town and I immediately had 50 plus
connections. I can't imagine, like, trying to make
that solo move to a new town as a remote
worker. And how do you even start making
those connections, right? I mean, we had
instant community built-in already for us. They
helped us, you know, even with simple things. “I
don't know how to change my driver's license.”
You know, like, people from the program would
help us with this.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Ben Stewart, Interim Executive Director,
Tulsa Remote))
The ten-thousand-dollar headline number for
Tulsa Remote grabs attention. However, the
disbursement of the checks really just de-risks
the proposition of moving to Tulsa. We found
that people come for many different reasons.
Cost of living, quality of life, ease, lack of
pollution, all kinds of reasons.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Stephanie Robesky, Participant, Tulsa
Remote))
I felt so at home that I have now purchased a
home here because it is affordable. I purchased
a home. I got a boyfriend. I mean, I feel like I'm
the Tulsa Remote success story.
((NATS/MUSIC))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
The Magic of Possibility
((SOT))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
So, when you think about magic, you have to
think about creativity and most importantly,
making the impossible possible.
BREAK TWO
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK C
((PKG)) THE MESSAGE OF MAGIC
((TRT: 06:41))
((Banner: The Message of Magic))
((Reporter: Marsha James))
((Camera: Lisa Vohra))
((Editor: Philip Alexiou))
((Map: Vienna, Virginia))
((Main character: 1 male))
((Sub character: 1 female))
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
When it comes to magic, there's no logical
solution why did that coin vanish from your
hand? Then, the next things is, do it again or do
something else miraculous.
((end Courtesy))
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
Is magic real or is magic an illusion? I'd like to
show you what comes to mind just as an
example. And we're just going to use these
three half-dollars right here. Focus on this first
one. Three coins, two hands, no sleeves, no
bracelets. So, you think of things happening
that's impossible, but you're making the
impossible possible and you're also creating
astonishment. So, when you think about magic,
you have to think about creativity and most
importantly, making the impossible possible.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
What is real? So, I got started in magic, not
when I was young like most people. I got
started in magic when I was in graduate school
at Penn State studying health education
research. It was just a hobby for me, something
to do to just to pass the time, card tricks. Me
and a group of friends, we used to get together
and do card tricks.
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
So, I just took a leap of faith and I just said I'm
going to give myself one year. If it doesn't work
out in one year, I'll just go back to school, get a
job and just continue on with life.
((end Courtesy))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
Well, one year ended up being 16 years and I
haven't looked back yet.
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
So, that's when I decided I want to do magic full
time.
((NATS/MUSIC))
Showtime.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
I believe that every artist should use their
platform to talk about greater issues beyond
their art.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
So, there's some elements in my show that are
subtle and then some that are not subtle, that I
speak about those issues and I let people into
my world and what I think about it. For example,
I was performing in Iowa one time.
((end Courtesy))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
It was at a college campus but it was two hours
outside, two-and-a-half hours outside of Des
Moines, Iowa. I get there. I set up. I'm behind
the curtain. I peek out. 500 people here. I was
like,
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
“Oh my gosh. Okay, I know exactly what I'm
going to say.” As soon as the emcee
announced me,
((end Courtesy))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
I walked on stage. The first words out of my
mouth is, “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for
coming to the show. When I got off the plane
this morning,
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
the Black population increased by 100 percent.”
Now, it came off as a joke but as they say,
there's truth in comedy.
((NATS/MUSIC))
That’s proof that some stereotypes are true.
((end Courtesy))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
And it resonated with everyone because they
realized, wow,
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
this is not a diverse town. Wow, I've never seen
a Black magician before,
((end Courtesy))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
but we've always been out there.
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
As a matter of fact, one part of my show, I'll talk
about the very first American-born magician by
the name of Richard Potter. So, prior to
Houdini, prior to Doug Henning, prior to David
Copperfield, prior to
((end Courtesy))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
David Blaine, the very first magician on
American soil was a Black man. And that's
something to be proud about because
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
because people like Richard Potter, Henry Box
Brown, Hiawatha Johnson Jr., these are all
African American magicians.
((end Courtesy))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
If I could see it, I could be it.
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
Yes, I am one of the co-founders of the
International Association of Black Magical
Artists. That was an organization that was
formed
((end Courtesy))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
as a need to bring African American magicians
together.
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
There has never been an African American
magician, a Black magician, who has had a
national TV platform.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
Every one of these gentlemen are headliners for
this one show or has had a household name or
a touring show. So, that glass ceiling hasn't
been broken yet. And in 2001,
((end Courtesy))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
I came up with this idea called The Heart and
Soul of Magic.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
So, The Heart and Soul of Magic, it was a brain-
child of mine that I had in 1998. And my goal,
my life goal is to have this as a national touring
show because currently, it's just self-funded, me
and the magicians who believe in that. And
that's what we do. So, if we could get that, or if
we could get one African American magician to
be a household name like the David
Copperfields, like the David Blaines, I would say
that would cracked the ceiling, that glass ceiling,
but it wouldn't break it, but at least it's cracked
the seal in that glass ceiling.
((end Courtesy))
((NATS: Randy Shine and Alyssa Gokhale))
((Alyssa Gokhale))
Wow.
((Randy Shine))
Wow, you did it.
((Alyssa Gokhale))
Let’s try again.
((Randy Shine))
You saw it with your own eyes. You saw it live.
No smoke, mirrors, no TV screens. Right here
in your face. So, one person will walk away and
say, “Hey, it's real.”
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
Others will say, “Oh, no, it’s some trick. You
see, he's very good at slight of hand or some
other technique.” It's up to that person's views
and perspective. And so,
((end Courtesy))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
there's a saying by a famous magician named
Joseph Dunninger. He says, “For those who
believe, no explanation is necessary. For those
who don't, no explanation will suffice.”
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
((Randy Shine, Magician))
So, is magic real or is it an illusion? That's up to
you to decide.
((Courtesy: Randy Shine))
((NATS/MUSIC))
NEXT WEEK ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
In coming weeks…..
Finding Faith
((SOT))
((Wendy Hook, Christian gift store owner))
We just wanted people to have the availability to
get a Bible, to walk into a store and pray.
((Caleb Szymanski, Lead Pastor, Oasis
Community Church))
Lord, you meet us in the darkest places of our
lives.
((Wendy Hook, Christian gift store owner))
With the virus that we have this year, it’s just
been difficult for people. We don’t get to
fellowship any more and church has been
cancelled. I think God’s trying to get our
attention and I’ve had people buying Bibles, you
know, during the shutdown that we need a Bible.
People are searching and wanting to kind of
know what’s going on.”
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
((PKG)) FREE PRESS MATTERS
((NATS/VIDEO/GFX))
((Popup captions over B Roll))
We make a difference
When we unmask terror
When we explain the impossible
When we confront an uncertain future
When we give voice to the voiceless
The difference is Freedom of the Press
We are the Voice of America where
A Free Press Matters
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
((PKG)) FREE PRESS MATTERS
((NATS/VIDEO/GFX))
((Popup captions over B Roll))
Near the Turkish Embassy
Washington, D.C.
May 16, 2017
President Erdogan’s bodyguard attacks
peaceful protesters
“Those terrorists deserved to be beaten”
“They should not be protesting our president”
“They got what they asked for”
While some people may turn away from the
news
We cover it
reliably
accurately
objectively
comprehensively
wherever the news matters
VOA
A Free Press Matters
BREAK THREE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
SHOW ENDS
