Hi, I'm Charles Blow, and I'm on the tightrope.

We are witnessing America as a failed social experiment.

How do we tell this story in a way that builds the kind of emotional momentum, the colorblind ideology built?

No many young brothers and sisters of the younger generation find themselves so far removed the best of their past.

What are we going to make out of the nothing we've been given?

How do you envision possibilities?

Hey, everyone.

Thanks for joining us on the tightrope, where, as usual, we engage in a love and justice-infused conversation on ever-increasing tough issues.

I'm Tricia Rose, and I'm here with my dear co-host and amazing intellectual and friend, Cornell West.

But before I go to Cornell, I want to just catch you all up on

our new relationship with Patreon and to remind those of you who like the tightrope that

there's additional materials behind Patreon's universe that we really would love you to join us

over there and be a part of our community. Our office hours are now a part of the Patreon site,

as well as tidbits, outtakes, and occasionally sometimes Cornell's singing a little bit of some

soul music. So you really don't want to miss some of that. So if you want to be part of the tightrope

community on Patreon, please join us at patreon.com backslash the tightrope pod and continue to stay fortified as best you can. Cornell, all right. Let's jump right in before we introduce our fantastic guest. It's good to see you. How are you? You got a special brother than David. We're going to reflect a little bit. First of all, I want to say it is a blessing to be in conversation with you, my dear sister,

once again, once again, I don't take nothing for granted. Each day is a gift and each breath

is a breakthrough. Well, especially right now, each breath is a breakthrough. I used to think that

was a kind of a metaphor. It's actually totally like the, it's actually a deal. No, no. No say that at the beauty parlor, the brothers at the barbershop. That's called wisdom. That ain't no shibboleth. That ain't no cliche. They know what they're talking about. They've been through some hell and I water. Yes, that is true. They have a sense of gratitude. Right. Appreciation for all the things, small and large. And you let that gratitude

soak your soul. It's hard for your ego to find some space up in there because that gratitude

is flowing to something bigger than you. You owe something to a cause bigger than you to folks

sacrifice for you. That's the starting point. You see, that's part of that

...