Woody Guthrie & the Art of Making Good | Will Kaufman | TEDxTulsaCC

[Music]

[Music] right well woody guthrie was a childhood

right well woody guthrie was a childhood

right well woody guthrie was a childhood hero of mine and I’ve spent much of my

hero of mine and I’ve spent much of my

hero of mine and I’ve spent much of my adult life researching and writing about

adult life researching and writing about

adult life researching and writing about him and to be honest with you the more

him and to be honest with you the more

him and to be honest with you the more that I’ve learned about him the less of

that I’ve learned about him the less of

that I’ve learned about him the less of a hero he’s become to me but more an

a hero he’s become to me but more an

a hero he’s become to me but more an object of simple admiration admiration

object of simple admiration admiration

object of simple admiration admiration for an admittedly flawed individual

for an admittedly flawed individual

for an admittedly flawed individual determined to acknowledge his mistakes

determined to acknowledge his mistakes

determined to acknowledge his mistakes whenever he could and to make amends for

whenever he could and to make amends for

whenever he could and to make amends for them to to make reparation to make good

them to to make reparation to make good

them to to make reparation to make good and I found this to be in its own way at

and I found this to be in its own way at

and I found this to be in its own way at least as inspiring as heroism now the

least as inspiring as heroism now the

least as inspiring as heroism now the example that I want to focus on today is

example that I want to focus on today is

example that I want to focus on today is Woody Guthrie’s racism he was born into

Woody Guthrie’s racism he was born into

Woody Guthrie’s racism he was born into a racist culture and like many white

a racist culture and like many white

a racist culture and like many white kids he was raised unconsciously into a

kids he was raised unconsciously into a

kids he was raised unconsciously into a racist culture and as a racist and

racist culture and as a racist and

racist culture and as a racist and during his his young manhood he wrote

during his his young manhood he wrote

during his his young manhood he wrote and said and sang some horribly racist

and said and sang some horribly racist

and said and sang some horribly racist things things that can’t simply be

things things that can’t simply be

things things that can’t simply be airbrushed out of his biography but

airbrushed out of his biography but

airbrushed out of his biography but through a slow and steady and sometimes

through a slow and steady and sometimes

through a slow and steady and sometimes painful process of Education of

painful process of Education of

painful process of Education of enlightenment he learned to take his own

enlightenment he learned to take his own

enlightenment he learned to take his own racism on board and ultimately to fight

racism on board and ultimately to fight

racism on board and ultimately to fight it down Woody Guthrie proved by his own

it down Woody Guthrie proved by his own

it down Woody Guthrie proved by his own example that racists are not born but

example that racists are not born but

example that racists are not born but they’re made and that they can be unmade

they’re made and that they can be unmade

they’re made and that they can be unmade now I think we should all care about

now I think we should all care about

now I think we should all care about this because this whole issue of making

this because this whole issue of making

this because this whole issue of making reparation still seems to be such a

reparation still seems to be such a

reparation still seems to be such a fraught one you know never apologize

fraught one you know never apologize

fraught one you know never apologize that seems to be the mantra for so many

that seems to be the mantra for so many

that seems to be the mantra for so many governments and nations as well as

governments and nations as well as

governments and nations as well as individuals you know just think of the

individuals you know just think of the

individuals you know just think of the ongoing slavery reparations debate but

ongoing slavery reparations debate but

ongoing slavery reparations debate but psychologists Melanie Klein and others I

psychologists Melanie Klein and others I

psychologists Melanie Klein and others I think have shown beyond doubt that the

think have shown beyond doubt that the

think have shown beyond doubt that the failure or

failure or

failure or the refusal to make reparation means

the refusal to make reparation means

the refusal to make reparation means imprisoning oneself in a constant

imprisoning oneself in a constant

imprisoning oneself in a constant unhealthy and potentially crippling

unhealthy and potentially crippling

unhealthy and potentially crippling state of denial and that certainly goes

state of denial and that certainly goes

state of denial and that certainly goes for nations and governments as well as

for nations and governments as well as

for nations and governments as well as individuals now there are many ways of

individuals now there are many ways of

individuals now there are many ways of making reparation besides paying money

making reparation besides paying money

making reparation besides paying money in Woody Guthrie’s case it meant openly

in Woody Guthrie’s case it meant openly

in Woody Guthrie’s case it meant openly acknowledging his mistakes apologizing

acknowledging his mistakes apologizing

acknowledging his mistakes apologizing for them and through his songwriting and

for them and through his songwriting and

for them and through his songwriting and other efforts doing all that he could to

other efforts doing all that he could to

other efforts doing all that he could to repair any damage done and I’m convinced

repair any damage done and I’m convinced

repair any damage done and I’m convinced that by the end of his life what he did

that by the end of his life what he did

that by the end of his life what he did arrived on the side of the angels in

arrived on the side of the angels in

arrived on the side of the angels in this regard

this regard

this regard still with feet of clay of course but

still with feet of clay of course but

still with feet of clay of course but all the more inspiring for it so for the

all the more inspiring for it so for the

all the more inspiring for it so for the next few minutes I’m going to ask you to

next few minutes I’m going to ask you to

next few minutes I’m going to ask you to put yourselves in Woody’s shoes okay

put yourselves in Woody’s shoes okay

put yourselves in Woody’s shoes okay imagine that you were born somewhere

imagine that you were born somewhere

imagine that you were born somewhere near here save Okemah Oklahoma in 1912

near here save Okemah Oklahoma in 1912

near here save Okemah Oklahoma in 1912 right and that’s where you grew up well

right and that’s where you grew up well

right and that’s where you grew up well at that time politics in your region in

at that time politics in your region in

at that time politics in your region in your state would have been dominated for

your state would have been dominated for

your state would have been dominated for the most part by the Ku Klux Klan one of

the most part by the Ku Klux Klan one of

the most part by the Ku Klux Klan one of whose most ardent champions was your own

whose most ardent champions was your own

whose most ardent champions was your own father

father

father Charlie Guthrie I mean there’s no

Charlie Guthrie I mean there’s no

Charlie Guthrie I mean there’s no documentary evidence that he was ever a

documentary evidence that he was ever a

documentary evidence that he was ever a Klan member but he certainly supported

Klan member but he certainly supported

Klan member but he certainly supported them and there is some anecdotal

them and there is some anecdotal

them and there is some anecdotal evidence that he may have accompanied

evidence that he may have accompanied

evidence that he may have accompanied them on some of their night raids and

them on some of their night raids and

them on some of their night raids and that he may and I stress may even have

that he may and I stress may even have

that he may and I stress may even have participated in the lynching of Laura

participated in the lynching of Laura

participated in the lynching of Laura and Lawrence Nelson from the Canadian

and Lawrence Nelson from the Canadian

and Lawrence Nelson from the Canadian River Bridge just outside of Okemah the

River Bridge just outside of Okemah the

River Bridge just outside of Okemah the year before your birth and we know that

year before your birth and we know that

year before your birth and we know that this affected you very deeply because

this affected you very deeply because

this affected you very deeply because you later wrote a song about it

you later wrote a song about it

you later wrote a song about it [Music]

as I walk down that old dog town the

as I walk down that old dog town the town where I was born

town where I was born

town where I was born I heard the saddest lonesome mole that I

I heard the saddest lonesome mole that I

I heard the saddest lonesome mole that I never heard before my hair it trembled

never heard before my hair it trembled

never heard before my hair it trembled at the roof cold chills run down my

at the roof cold chills run down my

at the roof cold chills run down my spine as I drew near that jailhouse I

spine as I drew near that jailhouse I

spine as I drew near that jailhouse I heard this deathly cry

heard this deathly cry

heard this deathly cry don’t kill the baby in my son

don’t kill the baby in my son

don’t kill the baby in my son Oh – my big baby and I said you can

Oh – my big baby and I said you can

Oh – my big baby and I said you can stretch my neck from that old River

stretch my neck from that old River

stretch my neck from that old River Chris don’t kill my baby that song came

Chris don’t kill my baby that song came

Chris don’t kill my baby that song came much further down the line though when

much further down the line though when

much further down the line though when you are still in your 20s you fled the

you are still in your 20s you fled the

you are still in your 20s you fled the Dust Bowl and you landed up in Los

Dust Bowl and you landed up in Los

Dust Bowl and you landed up in Los Angeles where you continue to prefer to

Angeles where you continue to prefer to

Angeles where you continue to prefer to black people in the most derogatory of

black people in the most derogatory of

black people in the most derogatory of terms you got a radio gig and one day

terms you got a radio gig and one day

terms you got a radio gig and one day you decided that you would play over the

you decided that you would play over the

you decided that you would play over the airwaves

airwaves

airwaves an old minstrel song with the title

an old minstrel song with the title

an old minstrel song with the title corrupted by that despicable word

corrupted by that despicable word

corrupted by that despicable word beginning with n you announced it and

beginning with n you announced it and

beginning with n you announced it and you played it and then you got an

you played it and then you got an

you played it and then you got an outraged letter from an audience member

outraged letter from an audience member

outraged letter from an audience member and this shook you to the core so much

and this shook you to the core so much

and this shook you to the core so much so that you read it out over the air the

so that you read it out over the air the

so that you read it out over the air the next day the writer politely reminded

next day the writer politely reminded

next day the writer politely reminded you of the despicable words you used and

you of the despicable words you used and

you of the despicable words you used and then he said this I’m a negro a young

then he said this I’m a negro a young

then he said this I’m a negro a young Negro in college and I certainly

Negro in college and I certainly

Negro in college and I certainly resented your remark nobody of any

resented your remark nobody of any

resented your remark nobody of any intelligence uses that word over the

intelligence uses that word over the

intelligence uses that word over the radio so okay you got slapped down but

radio so okay you got slapped down but

radio so okay you got slapped down but most importantly you learn from it and

most importantly you learn from it and

most importantly you learn from it and you apologized as you later said I

you apologized as you later said I

you apologized as you later said I apologize to the Negro people for those

apologize to the Negro people for those

apologize to the Negro people for those fraud things that I let slip out the

fraud things that I let slip out the

fraud things that I let slip out the corners of my mouth then you began to

corners of my mouth then you began to

corners of my mouth then you began to listen to and learn from friends who

listen to and learn from friends who

listen to and learn from friends who were maybe a little bit more enlightened

were maybe a little bit more enlightened

were maybe a little bit more enlightened than you at that time like your good

than you at that time like your good

than you at that time like your good friend the actor will gear with whom you

friend the actor will gear with whom you

friend the actor will gear with whom you performed on picket lines up and down

performed on picket lines up and down

performed on picket lines up and down California he of course would go on

California he of course would go on

California he of course would go on later to play grandpa Walton on the

later to play grandpa Walton on the

later to play grandpa Walton on the Waltons on TV and as your daughter Nora

Waltons on TV and as your daughter Nora

Waltons on TV and as your daughter Nora says you know I don’t think my dad ever

says you know I don’t think my dad ever

says you know I don’t think my dad ever even heard the words that’s racism until

even heard the words that’s racism until

even heard the words that’s racism until he heard him from will gear well your

he heard him from will gear well your

he heard him from will gear well your journey of enlightenment continued as

journey of enlightenment continued as

journey of enlightenment continued as you follow

you follow

you follow your good friend will gear from

your good friend will gear from

your good friend will gear from California to the New York island and in

California to the New York island and in

California to the New York island and in New York you began to listen to and sing

New York you began to listen to and sing

New York you began to listen to and sing with and learn from african-american

with and learn from african-american

with and learn from african-american musicians who also became your good

musicians who also became your good

musicians who also became your good friends and mentors folks like Josh

friends and mentors folks like Josh

friends and mentors folks like Josh white Sonny Terry and brownie McGhee and

white Sonny Terry and brownie McGhee and

white Sonny Terry and brownie McGhee and of course Lead Belly during the war you

of course Lead Belly during the war you

of course Lead Belly during the war you joined the Merchant Marines and you

joined the Merchant Marines and you

joined the Merchant Marines and you happily broke the rules by strolling

happily broke the rules by strolling

happily broke the rules by strolling into the black quarters to sing with the

into the black quarters to sing with the

into the black quarters to sing with the troops on ships that had been leased by

troops on ships that had been leased by

troops on ships that had been leased by a still segregated US Army still Jim

a still segregated US Army still Jim

a still segregated US Army still Jim Crow and after the war you took up the

Crow and after the war you took up the

Crow and after the war you took up the cause of black veterans returning from

cause of black veterans returning from

cause of black veterans returning from battle to face the indignities of Jim

battle to face the indignities of Jim

battle to face the indignities of Jim Crow at home in the South there was

Crow at home in the South there was

Crow at home in the South there was Isaac Woodard a veteran of the Pacific

Isaac Woodard a veteran of the Pacific

Isaac Woodard a veteran of the Pacific Wars beaten blind by police in South

Wars beaten blind by police in South

Wars beaten blind by police in South Carolina while wearing his army uniform

Carolina while wearing his army uniform

Carolina while wearing his army uniform for demanding to use a public washroom

for demanding to use a public washroom

for demanding to use a public washroom that had been marked white only listen

that had been marked white only listen

that had been marked white only listen mr. policeman I started to explain

mr. policeman I started to explain

mr. policeman I started to explain I didn’t cause no trouble and I didn’t

I didn’t cause no trouble and I didn’t

I didn’t cause no trouble and I didn’t raise no cane well he hit me with his

raise no cane well he hit me with his

raise no cane well he hit me with his billy club and he cursed me up and down

billy club and he cursed me up and down

billy club and he cursed me up and down he said shut up you black bastard and it

he said shut up you black bastard and it

he said shut up you black bastard and it run me down into the town as we walked

run me down into the town as we walked

run me down into the town as we walked along the sidewalk my right arm he did

along the sidewalk my right arm he did

along the sidewalk my right arm he did twist I knew he wanted me to fight back

twist I knew he wanted me to fight back

twist I knew he wanted me to fight back but I never did resist

but I never did resist

but I never did resist have you had your army discharged

have you had your army discharged

have you had your army discharged I told him yes I had well then he pasted

I told him yes I had well then he pasted

I told him yes I had well then he pasted me without a loaded stick down across my

me without a loaded stick down across my

me without a loaded stick down across my head so I grabbed that stick and we had

head so I grabbed that stick and we had

head so I grabbed that stick and we had a little run and we had a little wrestle

a little run and we had a little wrestle

a little run and we had a little wrestle til another car run up with a gun and

til another car run up with a gun and

til another car run up with a gun and jumped in to the battle he said

jumped in to the battle he said

jumped in to the battle he said you don’t drop that stick black boy to

you don’t drop that stick black boy to

you don’t drop that stick black boy to me that’s dropping you so I figured to

me that’s dropping you so I figured to

me that’s dropping you so I figured to drop that loaded stick was the best

drop that loaded stick was the best

drop that loaded stick was the best thing that I could do and they beat me

thing that I could do and they beat me

thing that I could do and they beat me about the headed face and they left a

about the headed face and they left a

about the headed face and they left a bloody trail all down along the sidewalk

bloody trail all down along the sidewalk

bloody trail all down along the sidewalk to the iron door of the jail they

to the iron door of the jail they

to the iron door of the jail they knocked me down upon the ground and they

knocked me down upon the ground and they

knocked me down upon the ground and they poked me in the eyes so when I awoke

poked me in the eyes so when I awoke

poked me in the eyes so when I awoke next morning I found that my eyes was

next morning I found that my eyes was

next morning I found that my eyes was blind

blind

blind they dragged me to the courtroom I could

they dragged me to the courtroom I could

they dragged me to the courtroom I could not see the judge but he finds me $50

not see the judge but he finds me $50

not see the judge but he finds me $50 for raising all of the fuss

now you’ve heard my story there’s just

now you’ve heard my story there’s just one thing that I can’t see how you could

one thing that I can’t see how you could

one thing that I can’t see how you could treat a human being like they have

treat a human being like they have

treat a human being like they have treated me I thought I’d fought on those

treated me I thought I’d fought on those

treated me I thought I’d fought on those islands to get rid of all their kind but

islands to get rid of all their kind but

islands to get rid of all their kind but I can see the fight much plainer now

I can see the fight much plainer now

I can see the fight much plainer now that I am lying and in the Jim Crow

that I am lying and in the Jim Crow

that I am lying and in the Jim Crow North there were two brothers Charles

North there were two brothers Charles

North there were two brothers Charles and Alphonse of Ferguson one of them a

and Alphonse of Ferguson one of them a

and Alphonse of Ferguson one of them a veteran both of them unarmed gunned down

veteran both of them unarmed gunned down

veteran both of them unarmed gunned down by police outside a coffee shop that had

by police outside a coffee shop that had

by police outside a coffee shop that had refused them service in Freeport Long

refused them service in Freeport Long

refused them service in Freeport Long Island New York

Island New York

Island New York you sang about their funeral and about

you sang about their funeral and about

you sang about their funeral and about three fatherless children this morning

three fatherless children this morning

three fatherless children this morning two hearses rolled out towards the

two hearses rolled out towards the

two hearses rolled out towards the graveyard

graveyard

graveyard one hers had Alfonso the other two

one hers had Alfonso the other two

one hers had Alfonso the other two Charles Charles’s wife Minnie brought

Charles Charles’s wife Minnie brought

Charles Charles’s wife Minnie brought her three little children and friends

her three little children and friends

her three little children and friends and relations in old borrow car

and relations in old borrow car

and relations in old borrow car [Music]

[Music]

[Music] nobody has told these three little boys

nobody has told these three little boys

nobody has told these three little boys yet everybody rides crying and shaking

yet everybody rides crying and shaking

yet everybody rides crying and shaking their heads nobody knows quite how to

their heads nobody knows quite how to

their heads nobody knows quite how to tell these three children that Jim Crow

tell these three children that Jim Crow

tell these three children that Jim Crow killed Alfonso and my child too is dead

who will tell these three boys that

who will tell these three boys that their daddy is gone he helped with the

their daddy is gone he helped with the

their daddy is gone he helped with the fascists and the Nazis to death who will

fascists and the Nazis to death who will

fascists and the Nazis to death who will tell these three sons that it was Jim

tell these three sons that it was Jim

tell these three sons that it was Jim Crow coffee that killed several thousand

Crow coffee that killed several thousand

Crow coffee that killed several thousand the same is there dead

and you began to write ballad

and you began to write ballad celebrating your heroes from

celebrating your heroes from

celebrating your heroes from african-american history like the

african-american history like the

african-american history like the freedom fighter Harriet Tubman when John

freedom fighter Harriet Tubman when John

freedom fighter Harriet Tubman when John Brown hit them at Harpers Ferry my men

Brown hit them at Harpers Ferry my men

Brown hit them at Harpers Ferry my men were fighting right out inside and when

were fighting right out inside and when

were fighting right out inside and when John Brown swung upon the gallows it was

John Brown swung upon the gallows it was

John Brown swung upon the gallows it was then oh my heaven cried

then oh my heaven cried

then oh my heaven cried [Music]

[Music]

[Music] now give the black man guns give the

now give the black man guns give the

now give the black man guns give the black man powder to Abe Lincoln this I

black man powder to Abe Lincoln this I

black man powder to Abe Lincoln this I said for you holy cripple the snake of

said for you holy cripple the snake of

said for you holy cripple the snake of slavery but we got to fight to kill it

slavery but we got to fight to kill it

slavery but we got to fight to kill it dead

but you did more than write songs you

but you did more than write songs you literally put your life on the line to

literally put your life on the line to

literally put your life on the line to stand in solidarity with the victims of

stand in solidarity with the victims of

stand in solidarity with the victims of race hatred and against American fascism

race hatred and against American fascism

race hatred and against American fascism you were there on the ground during the

you were there on the ground during the

you were there on the ground during the bloody Peekskill riots of 1949 in New

bloody Peekskill riots of 1949 in New

bloody Peekskill riots of 1949 in New York State you stood shoulder to

York State you stood shoulder to

York State you stood shoulder to shoulder with Paul Robeson Pete Seeger

shoulder with Paul Robeson Pete Seeger

shoulder with Paul Robeson Pete Seeger and up to 30,000 others facing the

and up to 30,000 others facing the

and up to 30,000 others facing the onslaught of racist mobs Klansmen and

onslaught of racist mobs Klansmen and

onslaught of racist mobs Klansmen and plainclothes and police in uniform you

plainclothes and police in uniform you

plainclothes and police in uniform you saw the rioters smashing car windows

saw the rioters smashing car windows

saw the rioters smashing car windows dragging peaceful concert goers from

dragging peaceful concert goers from

dragging peaceful concert goers from their cars to beat them up you stood on

their cars to beat them up you stood on

their cars to beat them up you stood on a bus that was being attacked you were

a bus that was being attacked you were

a bus that was being attacked you were leading the frightened people and

leading the frightened people and

leading the frightened people and defiant songs of protest we shall not be

defiant songs of protest we shall not be

defiant songs of protest we shall not be moved we shall overcome and then you

moved we shall overcome and then you

moved we shall overcome and then you went home and you sang about everything

went home and you sang about everything

went home and you sang about everything you’d seen Paul Robeson he’s the man who

you’d seen Paul Robeson he’s the man who

you’d seen Paul Robeson he’s the man who faced down the Ku Klux Klan over Pete

faced down the Ku Klux Klan over Pete

faced down the Ku Klux Klan over Pete scales golf and grounds his words came

scales golf and grounds his words came

scales golf and grounds his words came Seldon all around him there to jump and

Seldon all around him there to jump and

Seldon all around him there to jump and clap and cheer I said the best I had my

clap and cheer I said the best I had my

clap and cheer I said the best I had my 30,000

30,000

30,000 well the clansmen leaders sent home Paul

well the clansmen leaders sent home Paul

well the clansmen leaders sent home Paul would lose his head when 35,000 vets

would lose his head when 35,000 vets

would lose his head when 35,000 vets broke up his concert but less than four

broke up his concert but less than four

broke up his concert but less than four thousand came to side in with a clan and

thousand came to side in with a clan and

thousand came to side in with a clan and around Paul’s lonesome oh my 30,000

around Paul’s lonesome oh my 30,000

around Paul’s lonesome oh my 30,000 [Music]

[Music]

[Music] you got home from Peekskill and you

you got home from Peekskill and you

you got home from Peekskill and you turned to fight against the racism on

turned to fight against the racism on

turned to fight against the racism on your own doorstep

your own doorstep

your own doorstep after you and your family had moved into

after you and your family had moved into

after you and your family had moved into the Beach Haven apartment complex in

the Beach Haven apartment complex in

the Beach Haven apartment complex in Brooklyn you learned that your landlord

Brooklyn you learned that your landlord

Brooklyn you learned that your landlord won Fred C Trump was actively doing all

won Fred C Trump was actively doing all

won Fred C Trump was actively doing all he could to keep black people from

he could to keep black people from

he could to keep black people from renting there and so you honored him

renting there and so you honored him

renting there and so you honored him with a rewriting of your celebrated

with a rewriting of your celebrated

with a rewriting of your celebrated dustbowl ballad I ain’t got no home

dustbowl ballad I ain’t got no home

dustbowl ballad I ain’t got no home beach haven ain’t my home

beach haven ain’t my home

beach haven ain’t my home I just can’t pay this rent my money is

I just can’t pay this rent my money is

I just can’t pay this rent my money is down the drain and my soul is badly bent

down the drain and my soul is badly bent

down the drain and my soul is badly bent Beach Haven that your heaven where no

Beach Haven that your heaven where no

Beach Haven that your heaven where no black ones come to Rome no no no man

black ones come to Rome no no no man

black ones come to Rome no no no man Trump Beach Haven ain’t my home

Trump Beach Haven ain’t my home

Trump Beach Haven ain’t my home and a cross beach havens grass I see my

and a cross beach havens grass I see my

and a cross beach havens grass I see my brethren who pass trying to hide their

brethren who pass trying to hide their

brethren who pass trying to hide their misery beyond the window glass we’re all

misery beyond the window glass we’re all

misery beyond the window glass we’re all crazy fools as long as race hate rules

crazy fools as long as race hate rules

crazy fools as long as race hate rules oh no no old man trove DJ man ate my hoe

oh no no old man trove DJ man ate my hoe

oh no no old man trove DJ man ate my hoe no no no old man Trump beat a man ain’t

no no no old man Trump beat a man ain’t

no no no old man Trump beat a man ain’t my you wrote those words on the 3rd of

my you wrote those words on the 3rd of

my you wrote those words on the 3rd of May 1952 in exactly four months later

May 1952 in exactly four months later

May 1952 in exactly four months later you were diagnosed with the Huntington’s

you were diagnosed with the Huntington’s

you were diagnosed with the Huntington’s disease that finally took your life in

disease that finally took your life in

disease that finally took your life in October of 1967 but you left us with an

October of 1967 but you left us with an

October of 1967 but you left us with an explicit call to action fight racism

explicit call to action fight racism

explicit call to action fight racism fight fascism wherever you see it so

fight fascism wherever you see it so

fight fascism wherever you see it so yours was truly a remarkable journey of

yours was truly a remarkable journey of

yours was truly a remarkable journey of awakening of acknowledgment and of

awakening of acknowledgment and of

awakening of acknowledgment and of repair and you certainly did wind up on

repair and you certainly did wind up on

repair and you certainly did wind up on the side of the angels at the end of it

the side of the angels at the end of it

the side of the angels at the end of it all so my own modest call to action is

all so my own modest call to action is

all so my own modest call to action is this let’s set hero-worship aside and

this let’s set hero-worship aside and

this let’s set hero-worship aside and instead let’s all take inspiration from

instead let’s all take inspiration from

instead let’s all take inspiration from Woody Guthrie’s example not only with

Woody Guthrie’s example not only with

Woody Guthrie’s example not only with regard to racism but with regard to all

regard to racism but with regard to all

regard to racism but with regard to all aspects of life that might be fit for

aspects of life that might be fit for

aspects of life that might be fit for reparation let us all constantly reflect

reparation let us all constantly reflect

reparation let us all constantly reflect acknowledge and repair so that by the

acknowledge and repair so that by the

acknowledge and repair so that by the end of our lives we can join Woody on

end of our lives we can join Woody on

end of our lives we can join Woody on the side of the Angels thank you very

the side of the Angels thank you very

the side of the Angels thank you very much

much

much [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]