just tell the truth Johnny and you won’t get punished how many times have we
get punished how many times have we
get punished how many times have we heard that just tell the truth little
heard that just tell the truth little
heard that just tell the truth little Johnny and you won’t get punished we
Johnny and you won’t get punished we
Johnny and you won’t get punished we teach that telling the truth is the
teach that telling the truth is the
teach that telling the truth is the gateway to fairness to freedom to
gateway to fairness to freedom to
gateway to fairness to freedom to equality the truth shall set you free
equality the truth shall set you free
equality the truth shall set you free well if that’s so I have a hard question
well if that’s so I have a hard question
well if that’s so I have a hard question for us
for us
for us why are we so dishonest about how we
why are we so dishonest about how we
why are we so dishonest about how we teach American history this started for
teach American history this started for
teach American history this started for me in the third grade at matey Ives
me in the third grade at matey Ives
me in the third grade at matey Ives Elementary in Florida an 8-year old boy
Elementary in Florida an 8-year old boy
Elementary in Florida an 8-year old boy Kelsey store attempted to integrate our
Kelsey store attempted to integrate our
Kelsey store attempted to integrate our all-white elementary school and the
all-white elementary school and the
all-white elementary school and the parents at our school did what parents
parents at our school did what parents
parents at our school did what parents throughout the south and sometimes in
throughout the south and sometimes in
throughout the south and sometimes in the north did they went on strike they
the north did they went on strike they
the north did they went on strike they refused to send their children to a
refused to send their children to a
refused to send their children to a school that would be integrated for two
school that would be integrated for two
school that would be integrated for two weeks Kelsey I and one other student sat
weeks Kelsey I and one other student sat
weeks Kelsey I and one other student sat in a sweltering cafeteria left to ponder
in a sweltering cafeteria left to ponder
in a sweltering cafeteria left to ponder what was going on to try to make sense
what was going on to try to make sense
what was going on to try to make sense of this to begin to tell the story the
of this to begin to tell the story the
of this to begin to tell the story the civil rights movement began for me then
civil rights movement began for me then
civil rights movement began for me then but as our more importantly a lifelong
but as our more importantly a lifelong
but as our more importantly a lifelong interest in how stories are told and who
interest in how stories are told and who
interest in how stories are told and who owns history I’m going to start by
owns history I’m going to start by
owns history I’m going to start by giving you three names Claudette Colvin
giving you three names Claudette Colvin
giving you three names Claudette Colvin Sarah Collins Rudolph and Fannie Lou
Sarah Collins Rudolph and Fannie Lou
Sarah Collins Rudolph and Fannie Lou Hamer if you don’t know their stories or
Hamer if you don’t know their stories or
Hamer if you don’t know their stories or you think you know their stories you’re
you think you know their stories you’re
you think you know their stories you’re going to know a lot more in about four
going to know a lot more in about four
going to know a lot more in about four minutes but let’s start with how we
minutes but let’s start with how we
minutes but let’s start with how we teach the civil rights movement now it
teach the civil rights movement now it
teach the civil rights movement now it starts with a seamstress her name is
starts with a seamstress her name is
starts with a seamstress her name is Rosa Parks she rides a bus in Montgomery
Rosa Parks she rides a bus in Montgomery
Rosa Parks she rides a bus in Montgomery Alabama every day back and forth working
Alabama every day back and forth working
Alabama every day back and forth working for a white family and one day in 1955
for a white family and one day in 1955
for a white family and one day in 1955 she can’t take some of the abuse anymore
she can’t take some of the abuse anymore
she can’t take some of the abuse anymore tired weary
tired weary
tired weary she’s asked to get up and move to the
she’s asked to get up and move to the
she’s asked to get up and move to the back of the bus for a white man and she
back of the bus for a white man and she
back of the bus for a white man and she won’t budge
won’t budge
won’t budge she’s arrested and the movement begins
she’s arrested and the movement begins
she’s arrested and the movement begins Rosa set so that Martin could March so
Rosa set so that Martin could March so
Rosa set so that Martin could March so that we could fly that’s how it’s tied
that we could fly that’s how it’s tied
that we could fly that’s how it’s tied up the road in Birmingham at the 16th
up the road in Birmingham at the 16th
up the road in Birmingham at the 16th Street Baptist Church on a crisp Sunday
Street Baptist Church on a crisp Sunday
Street Baptist Church on a crisp Sunday morning right before Children’s Services
morning right before Children’s Services
morning right before Children’s Services a bomb tears through the basement
a bomb tears through the basement
a bomb tears through the basement it kills four little girls
it kills four little girls
it kills four little girls fourteen-year-old Addie Mae Collins
fourteen-year-old Addie Mae Collins
fourteen-year-old Addie Mae Collins Cynthia Wellesley Carole Robertson 11
Cynthia Wellesley Carole Robertson 11
Cynthia Wellesley Carole Robertson 11 year old Denise McNair the bomb shocks
year old Denise McNair the bomb shocks
year old Denise McNair the bomb shocks the country catapults us towards civil
the country catapults us towards civil
the country catapults us towards civil rights legislation the Act of 1964 a
rights legislation the Act of 1964 a
rights legislation the Act of 1964 a step toward freedom nothing I’ve said is
step toward freedom nothing I’ve said is
step toward freedom nothing I’ve said is untrue certainly not a lie but how many
untrue certainly not a lie but how many
untrue certainly not a lie but how many know to not tell the whole truth to
know to not tell the whole truth to
know to not tell the whole truth to distort the facts to leave out
distort the facts to leave out
distort the facts to leave out significant portions Johnny is to
significant portions Johnny is to
significant portions Johnny is to manipulate and it all adds up to a big
manipulate and it all adds up to a big
manipulate and it all adds up to a big lie the image of mrs. Parkes over the
lie the image of mrs. Parkes over the
lie the image of mrs. Parkes over the years is enlarged and shrunken depending
years is enlarged and shrunken depending
years is enlarged and shrunken depending on the needs of the storyteller she is
on the needs of the storyteller she is
on the needs of the storyteller she is imbued with incredible superhuman
imbued with incredible superhuman
imbued with incredible superhuman nobility she looms larger than us at the
nobility she looms larger than us at the
nobility she looms larger than us at the same time her physical form is shrunken
same time her physical form is shrunken
same time her physical form is shrunken on that bus she gets smaller and smaller
on that bus she gets smaller and smaller
on that bus she gets smaller and smaller every year as if civil rights happened
every year as if civil rights happened
every year as if civil rights happened to her vulnerable guileless innocent
to her vulnerable guileless innocent
to her vulnerable guileless innocent tire let’s tell the truth about miss
tire let’s tell the truth about miss
tire let’s tell the truth about miss Parker’s by the time she’s arrested in
Parker’s by the time she’s arrested in
Parker’s by the time she’s arrested in 1955 she has 25 years of civil rights
1955 she has 25 years of civil rights
1955 she has 25 years of civil rights activism under her belt she’s in fact a
activism under her belt she’s in fact a
activism under her belt she’s in fact a freedom fighter she is a civil rights
freedom fighter she is a civil rights
freedom fighter she is a civil rights battle soldier she and her husband have
battle soldier she and her husband have
battle soldier she and her husband have travelled to South investigating some of
travelled to South investigating some of
travelled to South investigating some of the most horrific crimes against black
the most horrific crimes against black
the most horrific crimes against black people lynchings murder raped the
people lynchings murder raped the
people lynchings murder raped the burning of churches she raises money for
burning of churches she raises money for
burning of churches she raises money for the defense of the Scottsboro Boys in
the defense of the Scottsboro Boys in
the defense of the Scottsboro Boys in 1931
1931
1931 she’s dispatched to Abbeville Alabama to
she’s dispatched to Abbeville Alabama to
she’s dispatched to Abbeville Alabama to investigate
investigate
investigate an incredible crime the rape of Ricci
an incredible crime the rape of Ricci
an incredible crime the rape of Ricci Taylor mrs. Taylor is a young mother
Taylor mrs. Taylor is a young mother
Taylor mrs. Taylor is a young mother walking home from church who is pulled
walking home from church who is pulled
walking home from church who is pulled off the side of the road and gang-raped
off the side of the road and gang-raped
off the side of the road and gang-raped by six white men mrs. Parkes and mrs.
by six white men mrs. Parkes and mrs.
by six white men mrs. Parkes and mrs. Taylor bring information about the crime
Taylor bring information about the crime
Taylor bring information about the crime to the authorities in Abbeville who of
to the authorities in Abbeville who of
to the authorities in Abbeville who of course do nothing mrs. parks is elected
course do nothing mrs. parks is elected
course do nothing mrs. parks is elected Secretary of the n-double a-c-p for 12
Secretary of the n-double a-c-p for 12
Secretary of the n-double a-c-p for 12 years she is trained in disobedience at
years she is trained in disobedience at
years she is trained in disobedience at the Highlander Center in Tennessee
the Highlander Center in Tennessee
the Highlander Center in Tennessee vulnerable guileless innocent shrunken
vulnerable guileless innocent shrunken
vulnerable guileless innocent shrunken hardly mrs. Parkes is a freedom fighter
hardly mrs. Parkes is a freedom fighter
hardly mrs. Parkes is a freedom fighter but we don’t teach that by making her
but we don’t teach that by making her
but we don’t teach that by making her and dr. King and Coretta Scott King and
and dr. King and Coretta Scott King and
and dr. King and Coretta Scott King and Bobby Kennedy and so many others of the
Bobby Kennedy and so many others of the
Bobby Kennedy and so many others of the era Julian Bond larger-than-life imbued
era Julian Bond larger-than-life imbued
era Julian Bond larger-than-life imbued with superhuman qualities of courage and
with superhuman qualities of courage and
with superhuman qualities of courage and nobility grace we’re communicating to
nobility grace we’re communicating to
nobility grace we’re communicating to all of us you and me who don’t normally
all of us you and me who don’t normally
all of us you and me who don’t normally walk around thinking we’re superhuman
walk around thinking we’re superhuman
walk around thinking we’re superhuman that we’re not capable of the kind of
that we’re not capable of the kind of
that we’re not capable of the kind of change that they were this is a
change that they were this is a
change that they were this is a devastating lesson for children that you
devastating lesson for children that you
devastating lesson for children that you are not capable of that kind of change
are not capable of that kind of change
are not capable of that kind of change but that’s how we teach history history
but that’s how we teach history history
but that’s how we teach history history is the framing of facts to suit the
is the framing of facts to suit the
is the framing of facts to suit the purpose of the storyteller the African
purpose of the storyteller the African
purpose of the storyteller the African proverb is until lions tell their story
proverb is until lions tell their story
proverb is until lions tell their story history will always favor the hunters
history will always favor the hunters
history will always favor the hunters let’s go back to some of those lions
let’s go back to some of those lions
let’s go back to some of those lions that I mentioned claudette colvin nine
that I mentioned claudette colvin nine
that I mentioned claudette colvin nine months before mrs. parks arrest on that
months before mrs. parks arrest on that
months before mrs. parks arrest on that bus line Claudette Colvin is arrested
bus line Claudette Colvin is arrested
bus line Claudette Colvin is arrested for the same offense refusing to abide
for the same offense refusing to abide
for the same offense refusing to abide by the Jim Crow color line the boycott
by the Jim Crow color line the boycott
by the Jim Crow color line the boycott in March had already been planned by the
in March had already been planned by the
in March had already been planned by the Montgomery Improvement Association run
Montgomery Improvement Association run
Montgomery Improvement Association run by women everything was ready to go but
by women everything was ready to go but
by women everything was ready to go but the attorneys man African American who
the attorneys man African American who
the attorneys man African American who would later represent mrs. parks
would later represent mrs. parks
would later represent mrs. parks declined to go forward with Miss
declined to go forward with Miss
declined to go forward with Miss Colvin’s case why she was 15
Colvin’s case why she was 15
Colvin’s case why she was 15 she was pregnant she was not married
she was pregnant she was not married
she was pregnant she was not married there were three other women arrested
there were three other women arrested
there were three other women arrested that year
that year
that year Susie McDonald irelia Browder Mary
Susie McDonald irelia Browder Mary
Susie McDonald irelia Browder Mary Louise Smith but the March was put on
Louise Smith but the March was put on
Louise Smith but the March was put on hold what else do we know up the road
hold what else do we know up the road
hold what else do we know up the road back at that 16th Street Baptist Church
back at that 16th Street Baptist Church
back at that 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham we know that four Klansmen
in Birmingham we know that four Klansmen
in Birmingham we know that four Klansmen put 15 sticks of dynamite in that church
put 15 sticks of dynamite in that church
put 15 sticks of dynamite in that church vestibule on the steps and killed those
vestibule on the steps and killed those
vestibule on the steps and killed those little girls here’s what we don’t teach
little girls here’s what we don’t teach
little girls here’s what we don’t teach exactly one week before the bombing
exactly one week before the bombing
exactly one week before the bombing Governor George Wallace of Alabama told
Governor George Wallace of Alabama told
Governor George Wallace of Alabama told the New York Times that in order to stop
the New York Times that in order to stop
the New York Times that in order to stop the racial integration in this state
the racial integration in this state
the racial integration in this state which he opposed we would need a few
which he opposed we would need a few
which he opposed we would need a few high-class funerals this is the governor
high-class funerals this is the governor
high-class funerals this is the governor of the state knowing full well that his
of the state knowing full well that his
of the state knowing full well that his leadership in his words was inciting the
leadership in his words was inciting the
leadership in his words was inciting the very violence going on what else don’t
very violence going on what else don’t
very violence going on what else don’t we teach there was another young girl
we teach there was another young girl
we teach there was another young girl that morning Sarah Collins she’s 12
that morning Sarah Collins she’s 12
that morning Sarah Collins she’s 12 she wasn’t killed she’s hit with 21
she wasn’t killed she’s hit with 21
she wasn’t killed she’s hit with 21 shards of glass blinded in one eye
shards of glass blinded in one eye
shards of glass blinded in one eye spends two months in a hospital to
spends two months in a hospital to
spends two months in a hospital to contemplate the death of her sister and
contemplate the death of her sister and
contemplate the death of her sister and friends this is Collins now mrs. Rudolph
friends this is Collins now mrs. Rudolph
friends this is Collins now mrs. Rudolph is alive today she lives in Birmingham
is alive today she lives in Birmingham
is alive today she lives in Birmingham Alabama she’s 66 and she’s a not rare
Alabama she’s 66 and she’s a not rare
Alabama she’s 66 and she’s a not rare American who is a victim of state
American who is a victim of state
American who is a victim of state involved terrorism she lives today
involved terrorism she lives today
involved terrorism she lives today there has been no apology from the state
there has been no apology from the state
there has been no apology from the state of Alabama
of Alabama
of Alabama there has been no compensation she said
there has been no compensation she said
there has been no compensation she said on the 50th anniversary of the bombing
on the 50th anniversary of the bombing
on the 50th anniversary of the bombing reflected on what it felt like to still
reflected on what it felt like to still
reflected on what it felt like to still feel dead on the inside no one has ever
feel dead on the inside no one has ever
feel dead on the inside no one has ever come to me and cared for me they don’t
come to me and cared for me they don’t
come to me and cared for me they don’t do much for the living she said I tell
do much for the living she said I tell
do much for the living she said I tell you the dead get theirs it actually gets
you the dead get theirs it actually gets
you the dead get theirs it actually gets worse there’s a state across the line
worse there’s a state across the line
worse there’s a state across the line from Alabama called Mississippi a state
from Alabama called Mississippi a state
from Alabama called Mississippi a state I lived in as a young man a state so
I lived in as a young man a state so
I lived in as a young man a state so invested in opposing racial integration
invested in opposing racial integration
invested in opposing racial integration it created
it created
it created the state agency the Mississippi
the state agency the Mississippi
the state agency the Mississippi sovereignty Commission to stop
sovereignty Commission to stop
sovereignty Commission to stop integration to spy on intimidate and
integration to spy on intimidate and
integration to spy on intimidate and infiltrate civil rights workers there’s
infiltrate civil rights workers there’s
infiltrate civil rights workers there’s a woman in Mississippi named fannie lou
a woman in Mississippi named fannie lou
a woman in Mississippi named fannie lou hamer she’s raised on the marlow
hamer she’s raised on the marlow
hamer she’s raised on the marlow plantation as a sharecropper in
plantation as a sharecropper in
plantation as a sharecropper in ruleville mississippi she’s the youngest
ruleville mississippi she’s the youngest
ruleville mississippi she’s the youngest of 20 children as an adult in 1962 Miss
of 20 children as an adult in 1962 Miss
of 20 children as an adult in 1962 Miss Hamer goes to Indianola Mississippi to
Hamer goes to Indianola Mississippi to
Hamer goes to Indianola Mississippi to try to register to vote which is which
try to register to vote which is which
try to register to vote which is which is against the law
is against the law
is against the law returns back to the plantation and she’s
returns back to the plantation and she’s
returns back to the plantation and she’s kicked off of it she gathers with other
kicked off of it she gathers with other
kicked off of it she gathers with other civil rights activists and the Student
civil rights activists and the Student
civil rights activists and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee forms
Nonviolent Coordinating Committee forms
Nonviolent Coordinating Committee forms the Mississippi freedom Democratic Party
the Mississippi freedom Democratic Party
the Mississippi freedom Democratic Party to try to bust open the party in
to try to bust open the party in
to try to bust open the party in Mississippi to African Americans she’s
Mississippi to African Americans she’s
Mississippi to African Americans she’s arrested in one known of Mississippi for
arrested in one known of Mississippi for
arrested in one known of Mississippi for that taken to the jail her dress is
that taken to the jail her dress is
that taken to the jail her dress is hiked up and she is beaten severely by
hiked up and she is beaten severely by
hiked up and she is beaten severely by sheriff’s deputies state actors spends a
sheriff’s deputies state actors spends a
sheriff’s deputies state actors spends a month in the hospital many of you know
month in the hospital many of you know
month in the hospital many of you know where this story goes mrs. Hamer is
where this story goes mrs. Hamer is
where this story goes mrs. Hamer is heavily responsible for a classic
heavily responsible for a classic
heavily responsible for a classic showdown the 1964 Democratic convention
showdown the 1964 Democratic convention
showdown the 1964 Democratic convention she testifies to the platform committee
she testifies to the platform committee
she testifies to the platform committee against the wishes of President Lyndon
against the wishes of President Lyndon
against the wishes of President Lyndon Johnson they agree ultimately to open up
Johnson they agree ultimately to open up
Johnson they agree ultimately to open up the Democratic Party to African vote
the Democratic Party to African vote
the Democratic Party to African vote african-american voters in the south
african-american voters in the south
african-american voters in the south which leads to black elected officials
which leads to black elected officials
which leads to black elected officials which ultimately leads to President
which ultimately leads to President
which ultimately leads to President Barack Obama mrs. Hamer is an American
Barack Obama mrs. Hamer is an American
Barack Obama mrs. Hamer is an American revolutionary hero mrs. Hamer could not
revolutionary hero mrs. Hamer could not
revolutionary hero mrs. Hamer could not read and mrs. Hamer could not write she
read and mrs. Hamer could not write she
read and mrs. Hamer could not write she stopped school on the plantation owned
stopped school on the plantation owned
stopped school on the plantation owned by mr. Marlo in the 6th grade
by mr. Marlo in the 6th grade
by mr. Marlo in the 6th grade but her work brought us closer to
but her work brought us closer to
but her work brought us closer to freedom than many of the founding
freedom than many of the founding
freedom than many of the founding fathers that we all know so well here’s
fathers that we all know so well here’s
fathers that we all know so well here’s the difference there is no county in
the difference there is no county in
the difference there is no county in this country named for mrs. Hamer there
this country named for mrs. Hamer there
this country named for mrs. Hamer there is no bridge there is no tunnel there is
is no bridge there is no tunnel there is
is no bridge there is no tunnel there is no airport there is no highway there is
no airport there is no highway there is
no airport there is no highway there is no serious
no serious
no serious Ricca l’m in any public school devoted
Ricca l’m in any public school devoted
Ricca l’m in any public school devoted to her courage there is this it’s an
to her courage there is this it’s an
to her courage there is this it’s an elegant statue in front hub her
elegant statue in front hub her
elegant statue in front hub her childhood home in ruleville not brought
childhood home in ruleville not brought
childhood home in ruleville not brought to you by the state of mississippi or
to you by the state of mississippi or
to you by the state of mississippi or the federal government it’s sponsored
the federal government it’s sponsored
the federal government it’s sponsored largely by AT&T by not teaching the
largely by AT&T by not teaching the
largely by AT&T by not teaching the truth about mrs. parks and her ferocity
truth about mrs. parks and her ferocity
truth about mrs. parks and her ferocity by not teaching the truth about
by not teaching the truth about
by not teaching the truth about Claudette Colvin and the so many like
Claudette Colvin and the so many like
Claudette Colvin and the so many like her who were courageous but anonymous we
her who were courageous but anonymous we
her who were courageous but anonymous we do ourselves an enormous disservice by
do ourselves an enormous disservice by
do ourselves an enormous disservice by not teaching about the thousands of
not teaching about the thousands of
not teaching about the thousands of Americans who in the face of adversity
Americans who in the face of adversity
Americans who in the face of adversity exercised courage put their children
exercised courage put their children
exercised courage put their children into schools to integrate them or
into schools to integrate them or
into schools to integrate them or register to vote stood up when they were
register to vote stood up when they were
register to vote stood up when they were told to sit down sat down when they were
told to sit down sat down when they were
told to sit down sat down when they were told to stand up we rob ourselves and
told to stand up we rob ourselves and
told to stand up we rob ourselves and our children of the truth about how
our children of the truth about how
our children of the truth about how change is made we rob our children of
change is made we rob our children of
change is made we rob our children of the ability to make change now to fight
the ability to make change now to fight
the ability to make change now to fight the fights that they feel they have in
the fights that they feel they have in
the fights that they feel they have in front of them whether it’s criminal
front of them whether it’s criminal
front of them whether it’s criminal justice reform or mass incarceration or
justice reform or mass incarceration or
justice reform or mass incarceration or access to voting left right or center to
access to voting left right or center to
access to voting left right or center to empower people with the truth about our
empower people with the truth about our
empower people with the truth about our history strategy and tactics and how
history strategy and tactics and how
history strategy and tactics and how ordinary people can make change is
ordinary people can make change is
ordinary people can make change is fantastic it’s also threatening to
fantastic it’s also threatening to
fantastic it’s also threatening to people who don’t want change we started
people who don’t want change we started
people who don’t want change we started the march on Washington civil rights
the march on Washington civil rights
the march on Washington civil rights film festival to be a national platform
film festival to be a national platform
film festival to be a national platform to give people the opportunity to tell
to give people the opportunity to tell
to give people the opportunity to tell stories more accurately about the
stories more accurately about the
stories more accurately about the American history through the power of
American history through the power of
American history through the power of film and artistry and scholarship people
film and artistry and scholarship people
film and artistry and scholarship people tell first-person narrative as
tell first-person narrative as
tell first-person narrative as truthfully as they can the stories not
truthfully as they can the stories not
truthfully as they can the stories not told Corrections of the story missed old
told Corrections of the story missed old
told Corrections of the story missed old by teaching these stories we give our
by teaching these stories we give our
by teaching these stories we give our young people the tools they need to
young people the tools they need to
young people the tools they need to actually gather and make the change that
actually gather and make the change that
actually gather and make the change that we say that we want I’ll leave you with
we say that we want I’ll leave you with
we say that we want I’ll leave you with the following in what movement will you
the following in what movement will you
the following in what movement will you be a battle soldier
be a battle soldier
be a battle soldier maybe later remembered as iconic
maybe later remembered as iconic
maybe later remembered as iconic which story would you like to learn more
which story would you like to learn more
which story would you like to learn more accurately and teach your children
accurately and teach your children
accurately and teach your children truthfully so that they can be set free
truthfully so that they can be set free
truthfully so that they can be set free which of you is claudette colvin
which of you is claudette colvin
which of you is claudette colvin anonymous impetuous moving us forward
anonymous impetuous moving us forward
anonymous impetuous moving us forward which of you is Sarah Collins Rudolph
which of you is Sarah Collins Rudolph
which of you is Sarah Collins Rudolph angry passionate still fighting for
angry passionate still fighting for
angry passionate still fighting for justice which of you is fannie lou hamer
justice which of you is fannie lou hamer
justice which of you is fannie lou hamer brilliant strategic with the vision far
brilliant strategic with the vision far
brilliant strategic with the vision far beyond the hardscrabble land she was
beyond the hardscrabble land she was
beyond the hardscrabble land she was forced to work each of us has the power
forced to work each of us has the power
forced to work each of us has the power to make the change we say we need each
to make the change we say we need each
to make the change we say we need each of us each of us thank you so much
of us each of us thank you so much
of us each of us thank you so much [Applause]
”
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