Now, a conversation with Ambassador Andrew Young, a pivotal figure in the civil rights movement,

former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and a two-term mayor of Atlanta.

The country last saw him as he delivered a heartfelt homily at the funeral of former President

Jimmy Carter last month. I spoke with Ambassador Young in Atlanta last week to get his insights

on the current political moment and his reflections on his extraordinary life of service.

Few lives have so clearly traced the arc of the civil rights movement as that of Ambassador Andrew

Young. Activist, diplomat, mayor, and statesman,

his journey has both shaped and been shaped by the fight for equality.

Your life is a chronicle of civil rights progress in this country.

What does this current moment feel like to you?

You know, I don't know, but first thing that popped into my mind was

the spiritual Lord I don't feel no ways tired we've come too far from where we started from

and nobody ever told us that the way would be easy but I don't believe he brought us this far to leave us and

I'm not worried I'm not anxious it's just another struggle my parents taught me to deal with the slights and oppression. My father's mantra was, don't get mad, get smart.

He said, if you lose your temper in a fight, you lose the fight, and that your mind is the most

powerful thing you have. Your father's advice to get smart. What does getting smart look like today?

Well, never let your adversary define the problem.

Because the things that President Trump considers problems, I consider blessings.

Like what? Well, I always have thought that my Christianity says this is my father's world.

And this hunger and starvation of God's children anywhere is a responsibility that I should assume if I can.

Nationalism went out in the 1900s. In fact, that's probably what the Second World War was about.

To say that we can't make it as a single nation on this planet and that we've got to learn to live together as brothers and sisters or we will perish together as fools.

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