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We All Know What DEI Hire Really Means
Episode 175 • 1st October 2024 • TonyTidbit: A Black Executive Perspective • TonyTidbit ™
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Episode Audio Link: https://podcast.ablackexec.com/episode/We All Know What DEI Hire Really Means

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In this episode of A Black Executive Perspective podcast hosts Tony Tidbit and Chris P. Reed delve into the controversial topic of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) hires. Special guest Josh Moon, an investigative reporter and columnist for the Alabama Political Reporter, discusses his provocative article, 'We All Know What DEI Hire Really Means,' which suggests that 'DEI hire' has become a racially charged term. Moon shares his perspectives on the misuse of the term DEI, racism in corporate and political environments, and his experiences as a journalist in Alabama. The conversation also touches on broader issues of race, political divisions, and the challenge of promoting inclusivity in the workplace.

▶︎ In This Episode

  1. 00:00: Introduction to DEI Controversy
  2. 00:41: Meet the Hosts and Studio Shoutouts
  3. 02:21: Guest Introduction: Josh Moon
  4. 02:53: Josh Moon's Background and Career
  5. 05:52: Diving into DEI and Racism
  6. 07:21: The Irony of DEI Criticism
  7. 08:32: The Realities of Racism and DEI
  8. 12:41: Political Manipulation and Racism
  9. 15:58: Josh Moon's Bold Statements
  10. 24:39: The Trump vs. Harris Debate
  11. 27:03: Understanding the Appeal of Trump's Base
  12. 27:57: The Impact of Obama's Presidency
  13. 28:38: Nationalism and Xenophobia
  14. 29:26: DEI and Affirmative Action
  15. 31:01: White Privilege and Systemic Racism
  16. 32:51: Responses to Progressive Views in Alabama
  17. 41:37: Corporate DEI Policies and Challenges
  18. 48:50: Final Thoughts and Call to Action

🔗 Resources

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

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This episode was produced by TonyTidbit ™ . Copyright © 2024 A BLACK EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this podcast may be reproduced without prior written permission. For permissions, email podcast@ablackexec.com .

Transcripts

Josh Moon:

You know, I, I think we have allowed, uh, through complacency

2

:

and, um, and really shock in a lot of

cases, uh, the term D E I, uh, to be

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:

transformed into something ugly, uh,

and to, and to be, uh, uh, essentially

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:

redefined as, as racism itself.

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:

Uh, you know, I never imagined living in

a world where people would look poorly

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:

upon diversity, equity, and inclusion.

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:

Tony Tidbit: We'll discuss race and how it

plays a factor in how we didn't even talk

8

:

about this topic because we were afraid.

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:

BEP Narrator: A black

executive perspective.

10

:

Tony Tidbit: Welcome to a black executive

perspective podcast, a safe space where

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:

we discuss all matters related to race,

Especially Race in Corporate America.

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:

I'm your host, Tony Tidbit

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:

Chris P. Reed: and I'm

your co host, Chris P.

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:

Reed.

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Tony Tidbit: And we're live at WNHU 88.

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:

7 at the Richter dial, the University

of New Haven podcast studio.

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Want to thank them for allowing

the Black Executive Perspective

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podcast to record here.

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:

They got how much longer

before they come back, Noel?

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:

BEP Narrator: About a week or

so, a week, a week and a half.

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:

Tony Tidbit: So guys, keep enjoying

yourselves while you're going, right?

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:

Because you're going to be back

here, and the professors ain't going

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:

to take it easy on you, alright?

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But go Chargers!

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:

Chris P. Reed: We'd also like to thank and

shout out our partners at CodeM Magazine,

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where their mission is saving the black

family by first saving the black man.

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:

That's CodeM Magazines,

2M, CodeM Magazine dot com.

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Tony Tidbit: Yeah,

definitely check them out.

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Ian Haney Lopez and his book

Dog Whistle Politics discuss how

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modern racism isn't just about

perpetuating traditional stereotypes.

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He explores how racism is strategically

used to achieve specific objectives.

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Lopez highlights how politicians

exploit subconscious biases to

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garner backing for policies that

oddly harm not only people of color.

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But also the white working class as well.

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He explains this type of coded

language functions at dual levels.

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It provokes racial anxiety

while providing speakers the

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cover to deny any racial intent.

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In this episode, Josh Moon, an

investigative reporter and columnist for

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the Alabama Political Reporter joins us to

discuss these issues, as well as to delve

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into his thought provoking article titled,

We All Know What DEI Hire Really Means.

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Josh will unpack the controversial idea

that the term DEI Hire is frequently

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used as a coded word for racial slurs.

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Within political and

corporate environment.

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Chris P. Reed: So before we get

too deep into it, let me give

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you a little bit about Josh Moon.

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Josh is an award winning columnist

and investigator reporter working

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in Montgomery, a graduate of

Auburn university, Montgomery.

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Uh, Josh has spent the last 15 years

covering the state of Alabama in

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a wide variety of news from sports

to education, to state government.

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So he's, he's primed for this, ready

for this, and we're going to get it in.

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Josh, podcast.

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Josh Moon: Hey guys.

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Thank you.

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Cool.

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Chris P. Reed: So Josh, before we go

too deep into the article and other

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things that you have going on, tell

us a little bit about where you are

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currently and a little about your family.

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Josh Moon: Oh, yeah, sure.

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Uh, you know, actually I've,

I've been around here for a

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little longer than 15 years.

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Um, uh, I mean, I, I've been

covering stuff in this state now.

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Some of it was sports

back when I first started.

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Um, and so, you know, at that time

everybody was trying to get into

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newspapers and, uh, we didn't realize.

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Quite the sinking ship that they

would, if they would turn out to be.

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Tony Tidbit: But,

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Josh Moon: uh, yeah.

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So I've been around for,

for quite some time.

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Matter of fact, I was born

in, uh, in Decatur, Alabama.

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Um, and, uh, so I grew up, uh, in

north Alabama and around and, um,

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have, uh, lived in the state for,

for pretty much my whole life.

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And, uh, we have, uh, uh, made a living

out of, uh, Uh, out of kind of covering

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the politics and the craziness that

happens here and uh, trying to do our part

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to make it a little bit better, I guess.

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Tony Tidbit: Awesome buddy.

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And look, you know, one of the things is

you've been around for a long period of

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time, not just working for the, uh, the

political, uh, uh, uh, paper newspaper,

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but also, I believe you also work for the

other, uh, newspaper in Alabama as well.

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Is that correct?

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Josh Moon: I ha I, I worked for,

uh, the Montgomery Advertiser.

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Montgomery Advertiser.

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Tony Tidbit: Thank you.

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Josh Moon: Yeah.

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I worked for Montgomery

Advertiser for a number of years.

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Um, uh, that's where I

started my, my news career.

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Uh, basically I started, I actually

started there when I was still in

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college at, uh, at a UM and, um, and

then left from there in, uh,:

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believe it was about eight years now.

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Um, and, uh, and went over to the Alabama

Political Reporter, and I have been.

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Uh, really enjoyed that little venture.

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It's worked out really well, uh,

for me and for, for them, I think.

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And so it's really, it gave me a lot

of freedom and a lot of opportunity

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to do different things and, uh, you

know, kind of take some ownership and

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make it to where, you know, somebody

else wasn't making all the money.

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So, uh, it's always nice to be able to,

you know, to feed the family and stuff,

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you know, and then, you know, that's

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Tony Tidbit: right, my friend,

that's, that's the key.

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That's why we get up and do what

we need to do on a daily basis.

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So listen, my friend, you know,

obviously you've, and you,

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we're going to get into it.

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You wrote a lot of articles.

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Um, you've been doing this

for a long period of time.

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Why did you want to come on

the Black Executive Perspective

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podcast to talk about this topic?

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Josh Moon: Well, I think it's important.

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I think it's an important topic, uh, for,

uh, you know, for the state of Alabama,

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for, for, and for all corporations really.

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Um, uh, because, you know, I, I think

we have allowed, uh, through complacency

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and, um, and really shock in a lot

of cases, uh, the term DEI, uh, to be

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transformed into something ugly, uh,

and to, and to be, uh, essentially

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redefined as, you know, is racism itself.

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Uh, you know, I never imagined living in

a world where people would look poorly

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upon diversity, equity, and inclusion, uh,

you know, which is what DEI stands for.

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And, and I mean the, the idea

that somebody would take equity

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and say, Oh, that's just wrong

is, you know, it's a ludicrous

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idea, but that's what's happened.

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I mean that, you know, they, they

have turned DEI into this, Um, into

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an, almost an example of unfair

practices targeted towards one race.

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And of course it's the, you know,

the phony aggrieved white guy,

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uh, out there that is, uh, you

know, we've had it so tough.

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Uh, so, you know, uh, it really,

uh, I mean, listen, if you put us

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on a level playing field, you know,

I think it would probably, life

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would probably be a little tougher.

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So I think that's what

they're screaming about.

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Tony Tidbit: Right, right.

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Well, listen, buddy.

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We're glad you're here.

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We definitely you already seem

like you're chomping at the bit.

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We're definitely chomping

at the bit to get into it.

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So you ready to talk about it?

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My brother.

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Josh Moon: Sure.

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I'm ready to go in.

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You're all

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Tony Tidbit: right.

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Let's talk about it.

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Chris P. Reed: So, so let

me jump right into it.

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I mean, like you said, you've

been baiting the hook here.

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The idea that is ironic when this

was first brought to me by Tony.

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I didn't expect you.

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I didn't expect the fire that you

put on paper and, uh, I'm like, man,

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I hope his address is not public.

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I hope his numbers not published because

he is in the great in the great state

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of Alabama talking to all this rhetoric.

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But give us a little bit about.

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Why you came so Yosemite Sam guns

blazing about this, you know,

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and why it kind of, uh, put the

bee in your bonnet, so to speak.

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Josh Moon: Well, all right.

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So, I mean, first of all, I've

lived here my whole life, so

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I'm as redneck as they are.

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So bring it over here.

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I got guns and stuff too, okay?

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Bring it.

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I got, I got a pickup truck.

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I can tow you out of here.

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Uh, so that's fine.

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Uh, but, uh, listen, I,

honestly, I'll be honest.

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Thank you.

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I feel like I've written harsher

things, uh, uh, before in the past.

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Um, and, uh, you know, and,

and things much more, much more

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controversial, uh, than this.

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Uh, but I just, I think my biggest thing

is, is it, it bothers me to no end.

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These people that still, place such

importance on the color of someone's skin.

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Um, and, and, and tend to

denigrate people based on that.

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Uh, what, you know, and, uh, that to me

is what the problem where the problem

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stem and, uh, you know, and, and we

still have it today and we still have

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these people who can't get past it.

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We still have these people who want to

build their entire, you know, Persona

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around it who feel like whenever there's

an effort to level the playing field I

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said before that it's somehow a personal

affront to them and it's going to cost

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them something which you know I live

in a state that's governed by a whole

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lot of people that I wouldn't trust to

water the plants when I'm on vacation so

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you know, I Level in the playing field.

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I understand why they're threatened by

that because there are going to be people

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who are better equipped to do this job

than they are, who are more, um, who are

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smarter, who are better people overall.

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Um, and I think too often we have leaned

into, uh, away from, uh, Uh, certain

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people because of the color of their

skin and we've created an unfair playing

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field and then we've taken with DEI was

just simply a means to kind of get us

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back somewhat closer to that playing,

you know, to leveling it out, making

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it more equitable, uh, showing people,

uh, that if you, you have diversity, if

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you have inclusion, uh, in things that

you're going to find candidates That

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maybe don't look like you but who are as

equipped or better equipped to do some

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of the jobs That we're we have right now

in our state government and our corporate

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corporate america And all walks of life.

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I mean we've seen it.

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I mean, you know, I'll go back

to my sports days You know, how

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how many times did we hear that?

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The black kid just can't

be the quarterback.

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They just can't be the quarterback, you

know, this can't be right and then all

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of a sudden But gave a few of those guys

a chance to be the quarterback And we

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may not ever have another white dude

win a MVP, you know, I mean, you know,

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really, I mean, seriously, there, it's

not just that they're good, they're

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better, they're better than that.

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And for, and just, and it, what

really makes me angry is to think

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about how many great players.

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that we've wasted getting to that.

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And it's the same in every walk of life.

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Apply that to every position.

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How many great people did we

toss away because of racism and

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ignorance and just really stupidity?

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Because man, it is so stupid

if you think about it.

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I mean, if you really just think about

the reality of we're going to deny this

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person, or I don't like this person

because of the color of their skin,

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or I think that person is stupid.

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Is dumber because of the color of

their skin or less equipped to do

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this because of the color of their

skin Or more apt to commit crime

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because of the color of their skin.

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That's the stupidest thing.

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I mean You know, I think I've told

you before, you know, I tan up real

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nice in the summer And so in the

summer am I am I dumber, you know,

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am I am I more you know what I mean?

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It's it's it's that's how ludicrous

it is and has always been to me

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Chris P. Reed: So yes, it is though.

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Go ahead.

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Go ahead.

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Yes Do you truly believe?

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Um, that it is.

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And I'm asking from an

ignorant perspective because

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I just don't know enough.

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Do you believe that they

genuinely believe this stuff?

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Because even on a political dynamics

now, there are things that are

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spewed or said or disseminated.

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And I'm saying it's, it's impossible

that a rational person is believing this.

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I think that it's a convenient scapegoat

or a convenient mirage To mask the true

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insecurities as opposed to me believing

this, this woman or this, uh, uh, uh,

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Latino or this black person is just not

smarter, not better, not more equipped.

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It's just easier for me to say

that as a disguise, because I have

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insecurities of, like you said,

fear of losing out or fear of.

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Even in the playing field.

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But I don't necessarily

believe they're less.

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I just believe I don't want to lose mine.

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Is that valid or is that

does that make sense?

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Josh Moon: Yeah.

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Oh, absolutely.

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It makes sense.

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I think, well, so I think

there's a mix of people.

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Um, you know, I think, I think first of

all, uh, to get to the person that you're

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talking about, somebody that's saying

it for their own personal advantage.

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Um, I think there are fewer of those

simply because I believe that somebody

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that says those things and is doing it

for that way has to be a little smarter.

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Uh, than the average,

uh, you know, out there.

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And so I don't think there's a lot

of people that look at it that way.

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I do believe there are people, um,

in government and, uh, in leadership

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positions who, who use these things

as wedges to fool the idiots.

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Uh, and they're doing it on purpose.

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Okay.

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Yeah, exactly.

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So they're doing Purpose to divide

people and say There's a great cartoon

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Of I believe it's of rupert murdoch

sitting at a table Uh, and rupert murdoch

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has a stack of money in front of him.

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Uh, and then there is another white older

guy Uh, that's sitting there at the table

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and he has just a small amount of money.

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And then there is a minority person

sitting on the other side of the table

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and Rupert Murdoch is saying to the,

to the white guy, Watch out for it.

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He's trying to take your money.

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And so that's what this,

what this is about.

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I mean, that's what this is about to,

to a certain degree in corporate America

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and government in a lot of places,

it's these people that are, that have

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it and they don't want to lose it.

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You know, they don't want to give it up.

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They don't want to let it go.

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And, and this is a means

to an end for them.

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But.

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And you also need those compliant

people to buy into the rhetoric Um,

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and so that I think there are a lot of

people out there who see DEI as this

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racist thing Uh, because so many people

have pushed it from the top to say.

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Oh, no, look They're they're trying to

take your you know, the oh listen if you

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get on a plane and the pilot is black

He's probably inferior, you know It's

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stupidity, you know, I mean it really is

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Chris P. Reed: but

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Josh Moon: but they they buy it

partly because You It's what they

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want to believe, uh, because they

want to believe in themselves.

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They want to believe that they

are, they're working hard.

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They want to believe that, you know, they

deserve these things and they're not,

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they're not doing anything to, you know,

to deny a black person a job or a Hispanic

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person a job or anything like that.

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But so why are they being denied?

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You know?

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And, and so I think it's an easy kind

of scapegoat that is used to divide.

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And there are just a lot

of people who believe it.

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Tony Tidbit: Let's do you know, buddy.

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Number one.

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Thank you for that is funny because

we we chatted about that last

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week in our last episode, right?

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And you I don't know if he's listening

or we should have had you come in, right?

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Because you're right on point where we are

and pretty much everything that you said.

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Here's the thing.

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I just want to because you wrote

an article and um, and I just

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want to paint a picture here.

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Um, I was in Martha's Vineyard

on the beach with my family.

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Okay.

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And I read your article.

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Okay.

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And, and it's funny, I

emailed you from the beach.

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Okay.

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And said, Josh, I just read

your article and I would love

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to set up a call with you.

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You know, I'd love to see if

you, you know, blah, blah, blah.

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And here you are.

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So that's how this article struck me.

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So I want to read, um, I want

to read a couple of excerpts.

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I want to read one area first and

I want to get your thoughts on it.

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You spoke a little bit about

it, but your article is, we all

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know what DEI hire really mean.

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And you kick it off like this, and

I quote, DEI Hire means the N word.

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Let's stop beating around the bush.

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Let's stop talking in riddles.

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Let's stop being cowards.

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When you proclaim that so

and so is a DEI Hire, you're

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basically using a racial slur.

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You're saying, without really saying,

that this person is somehow lesser

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because of their skin color, But that

their skin color along with the noble

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ambition of diversity, equity, and

inclusion was responsible for them

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landing the job, role, or attention.

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Don't run from it.

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Don't deny it.

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We all know it's true.

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So you came out and you said earlier,

you wrote some, some stronger articles.

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All

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right.

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But you came out guns

blazing on this right.

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I'm right off the first sentence.

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D.

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E.

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I.

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Hire means the n word.

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So talk a little bit about

how did you come up with that?

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What made you come that way?

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When something, to be fair, and we

talked about dog whistles, and this

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is what DEI, Hire has turned into

a dog whistle, just like woke, woke

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turned into a dog whistle, right?

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So I'd love to hear your thoughts

a little bit more about that.

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Josh Moon: Yeah.

335

:

Well, you know, and, and as I told

you, uh, you, you emailed from the

336

:

beach and I responded from the beach.

337

:

That's right.

338

:

Yeah.

339

:

We were both working very hard

that day, um, uh, which is

340

:

fine, you know, which is fine.

341

:

Uh, but no, you know, I,

I, I, I just, all right.

342

:

So I'm, as you can probably tell from

the accent, I'm in the Southern state.

343

:

Okay.

344

:

Um, and, uh, and so I hear a lot

of this, um, Closeted racism.

345

:

Okay.

346

:

Um, you know, we, we don't,

we don't have to be fair.

347

:

We don't have a lot of the

outward racism of the past.

348

:

You know, I know sometimes people

hear stories about the South and

349

:

they think about certain things in

Alabama, especially, you know, about

350

:

how things are and how life is here,

especially for minority folks and stuff.

351

:

And, um, you know, so, but, uh, To be fair

to the progress that has been made, we

352

:

don't have a lot of that outward racism.

353

:

That doesn't mean there's no racism.

354

:

I'm not getting, don't get me wrong.

355

:

It's just that, you know, sometime

back, most of our society here

356

:

was shamed into doing away with

the separate water fountains.

357

:

Okay.

358

:

Um, and so we, we, we now hide it and

we hide it in certain ways in which the,

359

:

the, the, Words like DEI hire or you're

at woke is another great example of that

360

:

or you know Just certain things that

are done that you know, wink and a nod

361

:

you know, we had for example, I wrote a

column today about a Superintendent of

362

:

a school system here in this state who

was run out of his job because he did

363

:

too good of a job Educating the Hispanic

population in his school system and

364

:

And as he did so he neglected the white

folks that were there that were paying

365

:

his salary um, you know, apparently the

hispanic folks not don't pay any taxes

366

:

or anything, but uh, regardless but

so That's what It, it, it bothers me.

367

:

And this is what I often tell

people is you're a coward, you

368

:

know, if you want to say it, say

it, don't, don't run around from it.

369

:

Don't, you know, say it, say what you

mean, stop beating around the bush and

370

:

be a man enough to come out or woman

enough to come out and say what you mean.

371

:

All right.

372

:

And this is what they mean.

373

:

This is what, when they call Kamala

Harris, a DEI hire in a race against that

374

:

other person, um, We know what you're

saying, you're, you're trying to denigrate

375

:

her based upon the color of her skin

and nothing more because when you stack

376

:

up the resumes, there's no comparison.

377

:

There's zero comparison between

the two of which one is more

378

:

apt, more capable to do that job.

379

:

All right, there's no

comparison whatsoever.

380

:

And that's even before you

get into the coup stuff.

381

:

Okay.

382

:

But, uh, uh, you know, but

yeah, I mean, so that's where

383

:

that can, I get so tired of it.

384

:

And sometimes, sometimes when I don't, do

either one of you write, uh, write columns

385

:

or opinion pieces or even Facebook posts.

386

:

No, no, no.

387

:

You, you ruined it from me.

388

:

But your article, so I dunno.

389

:

Anybody else, it'll never have

390

:

, .

Chris P. Reed: You set the damn bar.

391

:

Sorry.

392

:

Josh Moon: I dunno.

393

:

Anybody else's experience, but

sometimes when I sit down to

394

:

write, I sit down to write it.

395

:

Mm-Hmm.

396

:

, because I ain't really pissed.

397

:

All right.

398

:

I've, I've something that's pissed me

off and, and I, and so it flows through.

399

:

Sometimes that's not the case.

400

:

Sometimes I just write from, you know.

401

:

Uh, and, and I have something that I want

to say and I have always found it serves

402

:

me best to, as one person, uh, I used to

cover, uh, HBCU, uh, here in Alabama and

403

:

a guy who told me like my stuff one time,

Tom said that my, my greatest quality

404

:

as a writer is the fact that I put it

down there where the goats can get it.

405

:

Chris P. Reed: I do

have a question for you.

406

:

So if you look at simple economics, the

reason why something costs is cost what

407

:

it costs or is as high as it is is because

somebody is willing to pay that price.

408

:

Right?

409

:

Right.

410

:

Real simple.

411

:

Real simple.

412

:

When you were, Calling out folks.

413

:

Are you calling out the consumer?

414

:

Are you calling out the

purveyor of these ideas?

415

:

Because I couldn't tell who was getting

these strays that you were shooting.

416

:

Like, are you talking about the

politicians and the leaders that are

417

:

like you said, intelligently, uh,

in a concerted effort, spewing this

418

:

foolishness, or are you shaming the

people who are absorbing this and allowing

419

:

for the price to be as high because

they're willing to pay that price?

420

:

Josh Moon: Yes.

421

:

Chris P. Reed: Okay.

422

:

Okay.

423

:

Everybody can get it.

424

:

Okay.

425

:

Cool.

426

:

Yeah.

427

:

I mean, I really,

428

:

Josh Moon: if, if you are a part of this,

then that's who I'm talking to, you know,

429

:

I mean, I want you to be smarter at the

bottom end, uh, and stop electing fools

430

:

that, that try this stuff and, and stop

fooling you into, uh, you know, into,

431

:

into doing this stuff and hating your

neighbor, uh, because of the color of

432

:

your skin, even though, even, you know,

as I've also written a bunch of times,

433

:

you know, I have as a working person, I

have far more in common with the working

434

:

black man, the working Hispanic man,

the working woman, the working mom.

435

:

I have far more in common with them than

I do the white guy that's running things.

436

:

All right.

437

:

Tony Tidbit: We

438

:

Josh Moon: got a whole lot.

439

:

Our lives are way more similar.

440

:

Our interests are way more similar.

441

:

So why are you letting that

dude dictate the way you think?

442

:

Tony Tidbit: Buddy.

443

:

So, and, and, and.

444

:

You know, that's the question.

445

:

That's where we struggle, right?

446

:

Because you're a hundred percent right.

447

:

And I don't understand, you know, where

you have working blacks and working whites

448

:

and working Hispanics and working Asians.

449

:

We all want the same thing.

450

:

Yes.

451

:

Okay?

452

:

And But their strategy, not the

people, but the politicians and leader

453

:

strategy is to divide and conquer.

454

:

Okay.

455

:

And we're stupid enough

where we don't come together.

456

:

And really see through these things

because if we come together and do

457

:

exactly and think exactly what you just

got been saying They wouldn't be in power

458

:

Okay, and so at the end of day, I'm just

wondering, you know Why can't we just

459

:

see through this because I struggle I'm

gonna be totally honest with you You

460

:

talked about how you get, you know mad

and you write I get mad as well because

461

:

when people can't see through something

to me that's just so much so common sense

462

:

Seeing

463

:

a person that's actually using these

people using people to get power Lying

464

:

to them saying that he has their best

interests at heart When he really doesn't.

465

:

Okay.

466

:

He really cared, but he'll say

anything to get people to vote for him.

467

:

Okay.

468

:

And, and you wrote, hold

on, let me just put this.

469

:

Cause I got to read this.

470

:

Cause you wrote some stuff in

here, which I was dying laughing.

471

:

Right.

472

:

And you said, uh, uh, uh, Oh, here it is.

473

:

You said Harris is an unqualified.

474

:

This is what you wrote.

475

:

So let's lay this out.

476

:

Harris is unqualified DEI hire.

477

:

Donald Trump is a deserving

qualified presidential candidate.

478

:

Harris, an attorney who worked for the

District Attorney of San Francisco,

479

:

the California Attorney General, a U.

480

:

S.

481

:

Senator, and the Vice President of

the United States is a DEI hire.

482

:

But the guy that was born on third base

blew through hundreds of millions of

483

:

dollars of his family's money, declared

bankruptcy multiple times, has been

484

:

rightfully convicted of 34 felonies,

failed at almost every business venture

485

:

in which he was the majority owner,

and whose sole claim of success in

486

:

the venture that bailed him out was a

reality TV show in which he hired and

487

:

fired people to run a fake business,

is the qualified candidate candidate.

488

:

And you say, man, stop it.

489

:

End quote.

490

:

So I mean, how did we get here?

491

:

Because that it doesn't add up.

492

:

And how does it, you know, and

let's be fair, though, there's black

493

:

people that support trump as well.

494

:

Let's be fair.

495

:

Okay.

496

:

How doesn't people see through this?

497

:

And they want to label her.

498

:

As a DEI hire they labeled

the mayor of baltimore because

499

:

the bridge was the bridge.

500

:

I mean the uh, The ship hit the

bridge as the DEI mayor these same

501

:

dog whistles How come people can't see

through these things in your opinion?

502

:

Josh Moon: Uh, first of all, I will

say in donald trump's defense he

503

:

is a Excellent personal marketer.

504

:

Okay, he has done it And he is so good.

505

:

I mean you you have got to You

Let go of, of all, uh, I mean,

506

:

just you, you have, you've got

to let go of all personal shame.

507

:

Uh, to be, to do what he

does and, and he does it.

508

:

I mean, he'll, he'll lie straight to

you and, and, and clearly believe it

509

:

and know that he's lying while he's

doing it and, and know that, you know,

510

:

that he's lying while he's doing it.

511

:

Okay.

512

:

And he'll still do it and he'll

do it with such confidence.

513

:

I think that it attracts

a lot of people when he.

514

:

When he says the thing that he does

because he's very good at giving

515

:

people an excuse not to hate him.

516

:

And he's very good at saying

things that touch a nerve with a

517

:

certain segment of the population.

518

:

Uh, and uh, particularly folks who are

very patriotic, uh, you know, and, and

519

:

have a, uh, a less educated, uh, opinion.

520

:

View of the world and of the

country and of the inner workings of

521

:

government and, and global economics.

522

:

Okay.

523

:

And so I think those things

play very well into his favor.

524

:

And if you look at his base of people.

525

:

Those are pretty much his base of people,

you know, that's that's his base of

526

:

support are those people and so I think

that Is who he appealed to along with

527

:

and part of the appeal has been this Um,

we're gonna do we're gonna take this your

528

:

country back through You know, and we're

going to give it back to you because

529

:

this, this has been stolen from you, from

the, you know, from what you, you know,

530

:

it's not like what it used to be in the

fifties, you know, which I mean, doesn't

531

:

necessarily explain the, the support of

the black folks, but I mean, you know,

532

:

um, but it does explain a lot of the

other support that he has out there.

533

:

Uh, and I think it was made possible.

534

:

Um, obviously nothing, uh, there's

no derogatory mention for, for Obama

535

:

there, uh, but you know, the fact

that we had the nation's first black

536

:

president, he was very successful.

537

:

A lot of people really

gravitated towards him.

538

:

A lot of people voted for him, um, and

you know, and they did so with such

539

:

glee, but Obama pushed us too far.

540

:

They pushed us too far.

541

:

I mean, because listen, he just

refused to stop being black.

542

:

Okay.

543

:

. I mean, and, uh, and, and you

know, he just maintained being

544

:

black, his whole presidency, and

really he's still doing it today.

545

:

And, uh, I mean, and so.

546

:

Haven't we given enough at

this point racism is dead.

547

:

We can do whatever we want and and

trump came in pushing this message

548

:

of nationalism of uh, you know

of We're going to be tough again.

549

:

We're going to stop this We're going to

return to the old ways of doing stuff

550

:

and it resonated with a certain group of

people And I mean you add in a in a dash

551

:

of russian interference and there you are

552

:

Chris P. Reed: I think, I think the

silliest part is we created a, he

553

:

really incited a level of xenophobia

in a country full of immigrants.

554

:

Um, and that was ironic as hell, right?

555

:

Josh Moon: But those are immigrants

like them, not immigrants like us,

556

:

they're not like us, different classes

557

:

Tony Tidbit: of immigrants, right?

558

:

His wife is an immigrant.

559

:

You came here the right way.

560

:

The right way.

561

:

Exactly.

562

:

Chris P. Reed: So this concept of,

of, I don't know openly and candidly

563

:

what a DEI job is or what they would

qualify as an acceptable or accepted

564

:

DEI job, because we talk about black

jobs, he said, and then DEI hires is

565

:

what's going around now in this concept.

566

:

And basically, if you just do deductive

reasoning, If you're not a straight,

567

:

white, Christian male, you're a DEI hire.

568

:

Josh Moon: Pretty much, yeah.

569

:

Chris P. Reed: Because if you're a woman,

you're If you're a latino, if you're

570

:

black, if you're a lgbtq plus, you know,

a plus any of these things, you become

571

:

in the qualification of a DEI hire.

572

:

So therefore, the only true hires.

573

:

And I'm just trying to get

some clarification here.

574

:

It appears as if, if you think about

it as is being depicted, the only real

575

:

deserving employed people are black or

white, male, Christian, heterosexual men.

576

:

Josh Moon: Yes.

577

:

Yes.

578

:

That's true.

579

:

That's true.

580

:

I did not want

581

:

Chris P. Reed: you to say yes

582

:

Josh Moon: there.

583

:

Yeah.

584

:

And listen, this is not new.

585

:

This is not new.

586

:

I mean, this, this went on

with affirmative action.

587

:

Yeah.

588

:

You know, exactly,

589

:

Tony Tidbit: exactly.

590

:

Josh Moon: You know, how

many times did you hear that?

591

:

When, whenever, whenever

there was some part, whenever

592

:

there was a woman or minority.

593

:

Uh, that did anything on a job that you

disagreed with, uh, or that doesn't,

594

:

that didn't necessarily know the job

as well as you felt they should know.

595

:

How many times did you hear

a person say to, about, well,

596

:

that's an affirmative action.

597

:

Probably, you know, I mean it was that

this was always this thing is that that

598

:

person you keep and that's Oh, this

is oh i've had so many, uh, you know

599

:

that when we talk about white privilege

Oh, you should have read some of my

600

:

columns about white privilege if you're

cool Yeah, got some of those got some

601

:

of those emails about those Uh when

I tried to point out examples of this

602

:

that you know, and and I would say to

people You know was was your life easy?

603

:

Did you have it easy?

604

:

And of course, inevitably, everybody

who's, you know, a certain age, No!

605

:

What, are you kidding me?

606

:

No, I worked hard for everything I got.

607

:

I was like, that's right.

608

:

And, did anybody try to keep you from

going to the school that you went to?

609

:

Did they try to stop you

from buying the house in the

610

:

neighborhood in which you bought it?

611

:

Did anybody, did they ever

kick you off of a bus?

612

:

Or, or not stop for you in a cab?

613

:

Did they ever, did you ever

not get an interview because

614

:

of the sound of your name?

615

:

Did any of that stuff happen to you?

616

:

Well, imagine how tough your

life would be if some of that, I

617

:

don't know how y'all feel about

custody, but sometimes I get rid

618

:

Yeah.

619

:

Uh, so yeah.

620

:

But some of the stuff I

imagine beat you, be you.

621

:

Yeah.

622

:

Yeah.

623

:

So, you know what I mean?

624

:

And, and, and so I think that's

where, um, this, this kind of comes

625

:

from is that this, they've, they've

done an excellent job of painting

626

:

any, any effort to level the playing

field as an attack on white people.

627

:

Tony Tidbit: Right.

628

:

Zero sum game basically, right?

629

:

We can't, um, we can't share, right?

630

:

They're, they're not coming.

631

:

We're not, we can't share with others.

632

:

If we do that, they're

going to take what you have.

633

:

Okay.

634

:

And that's the game.

635

:

Let me ask you this.

636

:

You're in Alabama, you, um, and you

just said it, I read your article.

637

:

You just said I wrote, I wrote it.

638

:

Many articles that was

stronger than this one.

639

:

You just talked about white privilege.

640

:

Tell us some of the response that you're

getting based on what you're writing.

641

:

And, and I hate to use the word red state

because this is the United States, right?

642

:

But in a very conservative

area, I would imagine.

643

:

Tell us to give us a little feedback of

what people are saying to you is if people

644

:

applaud or they're like, Oh my God, I'm

glad Josh, thank you for doing this.

645

:

Or, you know, do you have,

you know, 24 hour body guards?

646

:

I mean, just let us know what's going on.

647

:

Chris P. Reed: Also

648

:

in

649

:

this

650

:

regard, I would be happy to hear the

best justification you've received

651

:

because these people can pick up,

all people can be very creative.

652

:

But what I've realized is the most.

653

:

Staunch bigots are extremely creative

in their belief system and how they

654

:

justify their activities and actions.

655

:

Josh Moon: Yeah, no, uh, I will say you're

probably surprised because there are a

656

:

lot of people here who think like me.

657

:

Um, there, there are a lot

more than people realize.

658

:

And even, even at, uh, the worst, you

know, the, even when we, we go to the

659

:

polls and you can see it on paper, uh,

you know, what, what, what Trump's going

660

:

to get, what, versus, you know, the,

the democratic candidate opposing them,

661

:

uh, it's going to be a 60, 40 split,

you know, and so, I mean, listen, that's

662

:

a big margin in the political world.

663

:

That's a 20 point margin, but in,

in life, you know, in real life,

664

:

you know, you, you don't 60, 40.

665

:

You're getting there, you know, and

I think even among the 60 Uh, there's

666

:

a there's a solid percentage of those

folks who are far more reasonable and

667

:

understanding and educated and You know,

they may vote for trump because they

668

:

like trump's tax policies or something

along those lines Uh, they like the

669

:

republican way of doing things you

know, conservative economic standpoint.

670

:

They don't necessarily buy it.

671

:

It's a big, right now.

672

:

It's a big problem around here, is the

IVF stuff and, uh, and, and some of

673

:

the, you know, the the Roe fallout.

674

:

Uh, in suburbs, you know, with, with, with

suburban women, it's, it's a huge problem.

675

:

Pretty big problem, uh, for the, for

the, uh, Republican party in the state.

676

:

But yeah, so, so it's not as bad.

677

:

And a lot of the responses I receive

are, are from people who say, listen, you

678

:

know, we think the same way, or I don't

necessarily agree, uh, with everything,

679

:

but I do agree with X, Y, and Z.

680

:

And I do think that this, or they'll come

back and they'll, they'll have a very

681

:

reasoned thing and say, listen, isn't

it time that we figure out a better way.

682

:

to do this than through DEI

or through Affirmative Action.

683

:

Isn't there a better way that we can, we

can judge people, uh, more appropriately,

684

:

regardless of skin color and, and, and

level the playing field like you're

685

:

talking about, which, you know, if you

can come up with it, I'm all for it.

686

:

I just, you know, I don't

know that the solution exists.

687

:

Um, but, uh, you know, I also get the

crazies, you know, and, and, um, I, I,

688

:

I've had people, but you know, I've,

I've been on so many things now I've

689

:

been on, you know, and around for so

long that I think people kind of realize

690

:

that I'm, I may be crazier than they are.

691

:

Um, and so they, they, they, they

don't, you know, they're like,

692

:

I don't know, man, he, he seemed

like he might do something to you.

693

:

Uh, but, um, and so, You know, at least

I'm going to punch back, you know, and

694

:

it's, so it's not, um, I think that kind

of tempers the, the responses I get.

695

:

Sometimes I get some crazies, I get

some people that, that, uh, you know,

696

:

are just, uh, out of their minds.

697

:

And, um, you know, it was just like, I got

one today to the, uh, column I wrote about

698

:

the, uh, The superintendent that got ran

out and, uh, and it's the guy wanted to

699

:

remind me that I worked for a, in a failed

industry that no one trusts anymore.

700

:

And, uh, this is the reason why, because

that person got run because he turned

701

:

his back on his true constituency and

the people who were paying his salary.

702

:

And, uh, he forgot who hired him, um,

and, you know, uh, and that type of thing.

703

:

And so, yeah, I, I get, I

get those a lot, but it is.

704

:

It, and I'll post it on Facebook.

705

:

And, uh, Facebook is, Facebook is better

than, than the alternatives out there.

706

:

The Twitter, uh, world, the

Twitter world is insanity.

707

:

And, but, you know, 90% of those people

are fake, you know, so that helps,

708

:

uh, you know, and, uh, so I, I don't

even really mess with that anymore.

709

:

But, um, it's, it's a, uh, it's a

weird, it's a weird kind of mix of, of

710

:

things and I, I think that it's, um.

711

:

You know, I, I'll say that.

712

:

I know when I have said something or

written something that they cannot.

713

:

Argue because they are extra

mad and they are extra hateful.

714

:

So, uh, that always tells whenever

one comes in, my wife said, I just

715

:

don't know how you put up with that.

716

:

And I was like, well, because I know when

somebody sends me something like this,

717

:

that I have gotten so far under their

skin because what I've said is true,

718

:

that they can't stand it any longer.

719

:

Uh, and that's how

720

:

Chris P. Reed: it in, in, in

Alabama specifically, because that's

721

:

obviously where you're born and

raised and things of that nature.

722

:

Um, What do you say if, if somebody says

that you, the people of Alabama don't

723

:

have a desire to be progressive, that

they don't have a desire to evolve, that

724

:

they want to be stuck in a suspended

animation when they felt like things were

725

:

greater, easier or more favorable to them.

726

:

Do you see that as part of the

dynamic or this is a chance for

727

:

you to tell the world, you know, on

this platform, if that's a misnomer?

728

:

Is it really not that way?

729

:

Josh Moon: You know, I,

no, I mean, it's that way.

730

:

I mean, the, the majority of the

people are, you know, they're,

731

:

they're stuck in this and they

don't want to be progressive.

732

:

They don't, they want

things to be like they were.

733

:

They liked their little small towns.

734

:

They liked their small town life.

735

:

They liked the way the

things were running.

736

:

They don't want anybody to disrupt

that or tell them that they're wrong.

737

:

Um, I will say that sometimes I think,

um, their desire to, to be that way gets.

738

:

Misconstrued as less progressive or,

uh, or less caring and sometimes it's

739

:

not a matter of, you know, we don't

want to, we don't, we won't, we like

740

:

our town the way we like our town.

741

:

Uh, but they're not saying, Hey,

we like our town and we don't want

742

:

any of those folks in the town.

743

:

They're just saying, we

like it We like it small.

744

:

We like it, you know, lazy and easy going

and laid back kind of a town and we don't

745

:

want the, we don't want the big industry.

746

:

We don't want the big,

you know, the box stores.

747

:

We like the mom and pops in the

downtown areas and that kind of thing.

748

:

Um, but, you know, and in terms of.

749

:

Of progression of schools, you know, I

I for I give you a really good example

750

:

a couple years back We we had some

charter schools You know that everybody

751

:

everybody was a charter school craze and

now private school funding and all this

752

:

kind of stuff has come through That this

state as well But we had a little small

753

:

town a very conservative small town that

just fought like hell against a Charter

754

:

school that was coming in there from this

folks that were out of they were running

755

:

it from out of state It was gonna suck

up resources from their public schools.

756

:

They did not like that Their public

schools were probably 50 50 black white

757

:

They did not have any private schools

in the state in the in the county

758

:

really now that was a big problem for

a couple Of more wealthy people that

759

:

were trying to get this charter school

in And that's what they wanted it for

760

:

they wanted to essentially turn it

into an effect Oh private school They

761

:

could send their white kids to and get

them out of those dangerous schools.

762

:

Now, there was no evidence that

those schools were dangerous.

763

:

There's no evidence those

schools were not underperforming.

764

:

As a matter of fact, there

were some of the better

765

:

performing schools in the state.

766

:

Uh, but they still weren't

happy for some reason.

767

:

Couldn't really put our finger on it.

768

:

Uh, but you know, it, and they,

those folks in that town, Fought

769

:

against that and they killed it.

770

:

They they they absolutely killed that

charter school and stopped it from

771

:

coming um, and and saved their public

schools and their public school teaching

772

:

positions that went along with it and

and so I think those sorts of things

773

:

You know still happen and and you know,

they're but they're on the flip side.

774

:

There are the folks like the Ones I

talked about who ran the superintendent

775

:

out, you know, right because he was too

good at educating the hispanic kids and

776

:

um, You know Those things happen here.

777

:

Um, and, and we, we do resist progress

and we do look at progressivism as some

778

:

sort of a bad word, uh, you know, and, and

I've never, never really understood that.

779

:

And as I tell people all the time,

yeah, all the things that you're

780

:

doing that are good for the state,

somebody suggested a progressive

781

:

suggested you do that 15 years ago.

782

:

And, and you fought it and, but now here

we are and, and it's all worked out.

783

:

Okay.

784

:

And I, and so, yeah, I mean, there,

there's going to be that fight against it.

785

:

And that's just the way that

a lot of people are here.

786

:

Tony Tidbit: Josh, let me ask you

this, you know, from a corporate.

787

:

standpoint, right?

788

:

You know, the term DEI hire,

obviously we've been talking about it.

789

:

Your article was about, it wasn't

about DEI hire, uh, the term overall,

790

:

but you were talking specifically

about Kamala Harris as being a

791

:

DEI, uh, uh, uh, vice president.

792

:

In terms of corporate jobs or

jobs in the state of Alabama,

793

:

are there challenges of pushback?

794

:

in terms of the policies when it

comes to DEI, um, in those companies?

795

:

And if so, what, what's

some of the pushback?

796

:

And then my, my follow up question

to that, people of color, In

797

:

the state, Hispanics, blacks,

Asians, what, what are they doing?

798

:

How do they, are they just sitting back

and like, you know, it's 60, 40 and

799

:

nothing we can do, or, or are they pushing

back in terms of trying to, it might

800

:

be tough, but trying to get a change

and trying to change minds and hearts.

801

:

Josh Moon: Uh, yeah, you know, I would

say, um, on the whole, uh, that most of

802

:

the businesses and especially the major

businesses in this state recognize the

803

:

value of diversity, equity and inclusion.

804

:

And I think many of them,

uh, long before the state.

805

:

Adopted those practices they did as well.

806

:

And you know, I've written some stories

about regions bank who's one of the bigger

807

:

banks in this state and uh, blue cross

blue shield of alabama and and the uh,

808

:

the dei programs and Inclusion programs

that they have thought about implementing

809

:

and they were they were doing that Way

before way before so yeah way before and

810

:

so I think I think that those businesses,

and matter of fact, just last weekend,

811

:

uh, the business council of Alabama,

which is a kind of a conglomerate of

812

:

Alabama's bigger businesses here, uh,

talked about how they were going to,

813

:

uh, put together a, uh, a campaign, uh,

program where they were going to recruit

814

:

candidates, they were going to look for,

uh, for better candidates that were more

815

:

business friendly, and that they were

going to start, basically what they were

816

:

saying without saying is, we're going to

start focusing on some of these radicals

817

:

that are, uh, looking at the, the,

participating in these culture wars, um,

818

:

and doing some of this nonsense, like

getting rid of DEI, and they're instead.

819

:

We're going to recruit candidates.

820

:

We'll oppose those people.

821

:

And so I think they understand

that we've probably moved way

822

:

too far to the right here.

823

:

Uh, because at a point, I mean, and

this is what I've argued with a lot of

824

:

business people over the years is at

a point, man, you're hurting yourself.

825

:

I mean, they're, they're, This, this

sort of hiring and stuff introduces

826

:

new ideas, brings in new markets,

bring, you know, opens you up

827

:

to a whole slew of, of consumers

that you would never have before.

828

:

And also to employees, to great

employees that would come in and

829

:

transform your business and help

you out in ways you never imagined.

830

:

And instead you're attacking this, uh,

you're, or you're, you're being part

831

:

of a group of people that are, uh,

uh, attacking this and allowing them

832

:

to run the state and do crazy things.

833

:

And you know, this is not

to your best interest.

834

:

And so I think maybe finally we've,

we reached the tipping point and

835

:

they kind of said, okay, we've

got to, we've got to do something.

836

:

Um, and so hopefully that will,

will help push back on some of

837

:

this and bring us back closer,

at least closer to the center.

838

:

Um, and, and, and do some things,

but yeah, I, you know, I don't know.

839

:

Um, You know, I, I think that they, there,

there, it's going to be an uphill battle.

840

:

Uh, but you know, and, and, but

as far as the, uh, as the minority

841

:

communities, the various minority

communities and employees here, you know,

842

:

there, there have been some efforts.

843

:

Uh, the, one of the biggest

things we've had recently is the

844

:

union push, uh, here, and we came

really close, you know, Alabama.

845

:

Um, has has transformed itself into

a big auto manufacturing, uh, state

846

:

and, uh, we have had, you know,

we've come pretty close to, to

847

:

unionizing the first auto plant here,

the Mercedes plant in Tuscaloosa.

848

:

And I think eventually

that's going to happen.

849

:

Uh, but more so than anything, we saw the

results of those and how those companies

850

:

transform their, their practices on

pay and hiring and everything else.

851

:

Uh, to kind of keep up with what was

happening at the unionized auto, uh,

852

:

manufacturers around the country.

853

:

And, and so I think those things along

with, you know, trying to organize

854

:

better, hopefully they can work with

the business council and some of those

855

:

major businesses now, if they're going

to start putting in that effort and

856

:

maybe they can, uh, maybe we can, we

can push it forward and hopefully get

857

:

some progressive action taking place.

858

:

Chris P. Reed: Got it.

859

:

When you look at the term D.

860

:

E.

861

:

I.

862

:

Hire and it being, uh, perceived

as synonymous with under qualified

863

:

or unqualified, what do you

surmises the solution to that?

864

:

Beyond being able to give what

you did was you laid out a resume.

865

:

For Kamala Harris, right?

866

:

And basically you just laid out the cards.

867

:

Boom, boom, boom.

868

:

But, but there's a famous quote

that says for those who believe

869

:

no explanation is required.

870

:

And for those who do not,

no explanation will do.

871

:

And the reality of it is you could

have so many qualifications that show

872

:

empirically that you're qualified.

873

:

But if someone has a belief that because

of your tone, your skin tone, or because

874

:

of your, uh, gender, Or whatever the

case may be, that absolves all of

875

:

this paperwork, all of these great

schools that you've attended, all these

876

:

certifications, all these references,

all that, is there a solution beyond

877

:

the, the vigor of someone's bias?

878

:

Or is it a situation where we just

have to kind of just keep fighting

879

:

the good fight and hope for the best?

880

:

Like, what is your thought on that as

far as a potential solution forward?

881

:

Josh Moon: Well, it's, it's

tough to compete with idiots.

882

:

Um, you know, um,

883

:

Chris P. Reed: they got a lot of energy.

884

:

Yeah, they got a lot of energy.

885

:

It's like a two year old, man.

886

:

Josh Moon: They're seldom

right, but never in doubt.

887

:

Okay.

888

:

Um, and, and so, you know, it's, um,

uh, you, so you got to run into those

889

:

people, but, you know, I think the only

thing that's going to solve that is time.

890

:

And effort and, and the programs just like

we're talking about the, the diversity

891

:

equity inclusion, because not only do

those things benefit businesses and

892

:

open up, you know, consumer markets and

things like that, they also teach the

893

:

idiots out there that there, these, these

places are, you know, that these folks

894

:

are good in those jobs that they're,

you know, I mean, how many people now

895

:

show up to an Alabama football game

and cheer on the black quarterback?

896

:

Yeah.

897

:

You know, uh, you know what I mean?

898

:

Right.

899

:

So where before that was,

you know, uh, no, no, no, no.

900

:

Uh, you know, and so, uh, that, that,

that's what I'm saying, you know,

901

:

but those, those examples of the

successes and of the, you know, and,

902

:

and people realizing, oh, Hey, you

know, those might just be people too.

903

:

Um, I think a lot of those ignorant

ideas get pushed down when you see the

904

:

example right in front of your face.

905

:

Tony Tidbit: Buddy, final

thoughts, my friend.

906

:

What do you want to leave?

907

:

Number one, you've been awesome.

908

:

Really?

909

:

I mean, we could talk to you for

the next five days straight, right?

910

:

Final thoughts, my brother.

911

:

What do you want to leave our audience?

912

:

Josh Moon: The only thing I want to say

is it's I know the thoughts of Alabama.

913

:

Okay.

914

:

And so not all of us think this way.

915

:

I know when you, I know when you heard

this accent, you deducted 1, 500.

916

:

I know you did.

917

:

That's fine.

918

:

It's okay.

919

:

It's okay.

920

:

I get it.

921

:

We've earned that.

922

:

Okay.

923

:

We've earned that

924

:

from years

925

:

of trying.

926

:

I get you.

927

:

But there are people who are trying,

there are good people everywhere.

928

:

Um, and, and there are good people

who want other good people to get

929

:

the opportunities that they deserve.

930

:

And I think that's the way so

many people should look at it is.

931

:

You and the other the last the only

thing if you don't remember anything

932

:

else, you know is is this idea of Who

you have something in common with.

933

:

Okay.

934

:

And that's, you have far more in

common with the people who live on

935

:

your street and in your neighborhoods.

936

:

All right, whether they be black,

Hispanic, white, Asian, Asian American.

937

:

Whatever, you have far more in common with

those people and those people want almost

938

:

exactly the thing, same things you want.

939

:

They want a, they want a decent job

to pay the bills, to sleep easy at

940

:

night, to send their kids to a decent

school, to hope those kids grow up and

941

:

are successful and make them proud.

942

:

They will, all people want those

same things for the most part.

943

:

9 percent of people want

those exact same thing.

944

:

All right.

945

:

And you have your interest

in the things that you share.

946

:

Are with those people and not with the

idiots that are trying to divide you.

947

:

Chris P. Reed: It's interesting that you

say that because obviously reading your

948

:

article, we want the same thing you want.

949

:

States like, you know,

Tony's on the East coast.

950

:

I'm in Texas and we want the same thing.

951

:

So the world is actually a lot

smaller than just your neighborhood.

952

:

You know, if you really give

yourself a chance to absorb that.

953

:

So my question to you is, Obviously,

you're going to keep writing passionately

954

:

and we're going to end up having

you back for something else you say.

955

:

Man, it's just, it's just, that's

the nature of things, right?

956

:

But what can a Black Executive

Perspective podcast do to help you?

957

:

Josh Moon: Oh, listen, if, uh,

if, if you guys send some folks

958

:

my way, we have our own podcast.

959

:

I host a co host a podcast, I should

say, uh, with, with David Person,

960

:

uh, who is a black journalist

here in the state of Alabama.

961

:

We host a podcast called

Alabama politics this week.

962

:

And we bring on folks from, uh, I

would say from a, a more progressive.

963

:

perspective of things and, and

give those folks an opportunity.

964

:

It's Alabama politics this week

is wherever you find podcasts.

965

:

If you'd like to listen, uh, we have

Doug Jones and Terry Sewell and a lot

966

:

of folks on from the state and some

names you might recognize, um, and

967

:

also Alabama policy, Alabama political

reporter, Alabama political reporter.

968

:

If you go there and look at our

stuff, you know, give us a few clicks.

969

:

We never hurts, you know, buddy,

970

:

Tony Tidbit: that's an easy,

easy thing for us to do.

971

:

So we'll definitely connect after

because we can definitely, you know,

972

:

send you some guests who would probably

love to come on your show and chat.

973

:

So, you know, so that's automatic.

974

:

That's easy to do, right?

975

:

And then back to Chris's earlier

statement, you know, we would love for you

976

:

to come back on sometime in the future.

977

:

You know, obviously we're

in a political year.

978

:

So we love to come back on and

have you talk about certain things.

979

:

We got less than 90 days of

things playing themselves out.

980

:

So we can imagine there's going

to be some type of roller coaster.

981

:

There's going to be some things that we

can like for real thing that happened.

982

:

So we would always be open to

having your perspective, my friend.

983

:

Josh Moon: Well, I appreciate it.

984

:

I've had a really enjoyable time

and I hope y'all, yeah, we do

985

:

get to do this again sometime.

986

:

All right, well, one thing

I'll say, the one thing I'll

987

:

Chris P. Reed: say to leave, Tony, is you

remind me of a famous quote that said,

988

:

If you make the world idiot proof, it

will invariably create a greater idiot.

989

:

LAUGHTER That's pretty

good, that's pretty good.

990

:

That's very true, very true.

991

:

So true, so true.

992

:

Tony Tidbit: But Josh, stay right

here buddy, because you are going

993

:

to help us with our call to action.

994

:

So I think it's now

time for Tony's tidbit.

995

:

All right.

996

:

Now it's time for Tony's tidbit.

997

:

And the tidbit always is

about what we talked about.

998

:

So the tidbit today is reject code

words that disguise bias, embrace

999

:

terms that foster unity and respect.

:

00:53:20,259 --> 00:53:23,399

And that's what Josh was just

closing up on talking about the

:

00:53:23,399 --> 00:53:25,520

thing, we all want the same things.

:

00:53:25,530 --> 00:53:28,800

The people in your neighborhood,

you're closer than them to anybody else

:

00:53:28,830 --> 00:53:30,560

and they all deserve the same thing.

:

00:53:30,560 --> 00:53:32,600

So let's get rid of the code words.

:

00:53:32,830 --> 00:53:34,180

Let's reject the bias.

:

00:53:34,480 --> 00:53:38,880

And let's let's let's run to the

things that foster unity and respect

:

00:53:40,500 --> 00:53:44,060

Chris P. Reed: and then also I want

to Give another reminder to tune in to

:

00:53:44,060 --> 00:53:48,130

our weekly segment need to know with

nasingha Don't miss this week's need

:

00:53:48,130 --> 00:53:52,119

to know segment with dr Nasingha burton

a black executive perspective podcast

:

00:53:52,139 --> 00:53:57,180

has dr burton diving into timely and

poignant crucial topics That shape our

:

00:53:57,180 --> 00:54:00,800

community and our world tune in and

gain those unique insights and deeper

:

00:54:00,800 --> 00:54:04,565

your understanding of issues that

matter you do not You Want to miss her.

:

00:54:04,575 --> 00:54:04,975

She is.

:

00:54:05,065 --> 00:54:07,705

She's almost as incendiary

as our guest Josh.

:

00:54:07,725 --> 00:54:07,775

Yeah,

:

00:54:10,255 --> 00:54:11,075

Tony Tidbit: absolutely.

:

00:54:11,075 --> 00:54:11,685

Absolutely.

:

00:54:12,325 --> 00:54:14,675

So I hope you enjoy today's episode.

:

00:54:14,684 --> 00:54:17,885

We all know what DEI hire

really means with our guests.

:

00:54:18,580 --> 00:54:21,250

Josh Moon, so I think it's now time

:

00:54:22,460 --> 00:54:23,540

Chris P. Reed: for our call to action.

:

00:54:23,570 --> 00:54:26,000

Remember to incorporate less L.

:

00:54:26,050 --> 00:54:26,620

E.

:

00:54:26,790 --> 00:54:27,060

S.

:

00:54:27,110 --> 00:54:27,590

S.

:

00:54:27,800 --> 00:54:30,239

And that's learned,

empathize, share and stop.

:

00:54:30,310 --> 00:54:37,259

And so the first L or the L is to educate

yourself on racial and cultural nuances.

:

00:54:37,299 --> 00:54:40,270

Make sure you stay up on top of

these things and don't just be

:

00:54:40,270 --> 00:54:43,190

a limbing like Josh was saying,

following whatever somebody else is

:

00:54:43,190 --> 00:54:45,490

saying that doesn't even live where

you live or think like you think.

:

00:54:45,795 --> 00:54:46,465

Tony Tidbit: Exactly.

:

00:54:46,485 --> 00:54:49,525

And then after you learn,

now E stands for Empathy.

:

00:54:49,885 --> 00:54:53,905

Since you've learned now about new,

uh, uh, people and new nuances,

:

00:54:54,175 --> 00:54:57,155

now you should be able to empathize

with your fellow human being.

:

00:54:59,035 --> 00:54:59,724

Josh Moon: And share.

:

00:55:00,374 --> 00:55:02,275

Share is the first S, right?

:

00:55:02,555 --> 00:55:05,294

Uh, share your insights

to enlighten others.

:

00:55:05,625 --> 00:55:09,615

Because if your crazy friends can share

their insights on Facebook, then shouldn't

:

00:55:09,625 --> 00:55:11,275

you share smart things with them?

:

00:55:11,275 --> 00:55:19,124

Tony Tidbit: And the final S is stop

we want to stop discrimination in its

:

00:55:19,124 --> 00:55:23,074

path So when you're at the Thanksgiving

table and grandma says something

:

00:55:23,075 --> 00:55:27,395

inappropriate you say grandma, we

don't believe in that We don't say that

:

00:55:27,395 --> 00:55:29,625

and you stop it right in this path.

:

00:55:29,645 --> 00:55:34,965

So if everybody incorporates less

L E S S will build a fairer, more

:

00:55:35,055 --> 00:55:39,425

understanding world and we'll be able

to see the change that we want to

:

00:55:39,425 --> 00:55:42,445

see because less will become more.

:

00:55:42,745 --> 00:55:45,374

Chris P. Reed: So we'll remind you

to tune in for our next episodes

:

00:55:45,375 --> 00:55:47,874

and also go to the website and

sign up for our newsletter.

:

00:55:48,380 --> 00:55:51,770

Please leave us a review and subscribe

wherever you're listening to the podcast.

:

00:55:51,810 --> 00:55:55,080

This will help us scale and meet

you where you are and talk about the

:

00:55:55,120 --> 00:55:56,340

topics that are important to you.

:

00:55:57,020 --> 00:55:59,799

Tony Tidbit: And you can follow a

black executive perspective podcast on

:

00:55:59,920 --> 00:56:06,650

all our socials, LinkedIn X, YouTube,

Instagram, and Facebook at a black exec.

:

00:56:07,140 --> 00:56:10,600

For our fabulous guests, our

brother from another mother.

:

00:56:10,600 --> 00:56:14,885

It's me, Josh moon, the best

co host with the most Chris P.

:

00:56:14,885 --> 00:56:15,315

Reed.

:

00:56:15,665 --> 00:56:17,675

We got Noele Miller behind the glass.

:

00:56:17,675 --> 00:56:19,055

Who's making all this happen.

:

00:56:19,245 --> 00:56:20,555

I'm Tony tidbit.

:

00:56:20,694 --> 00:56:21,875

We talked about it.

:

00:56:22,005 --> 00:56:22,795

We love you.

:

00:56:23,015 --> 00:56:23,644

And we're out

:

00:56:28,495 --> 00:56:29,085

BEP Narrator: a black

:

00:56:29,674 --> 00:56:30,844

executive perspective.

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