00:00Talk to me about the power of a woman. What makes a woman powerful?
00:04I think that when you lay hold of your gifts and you use those gifts to make change in the world, that's what makes you powerful.
00:13Okay, so your new show, all about the current political times, correct?
00:18Oh, well, actually not about the current. It really takes place in the late 60s, early 70s.
00:25Right, but it kind of has a little bit to do with what's going on now. What are your thoughts on the ERA not getting passed?
00:31Well, here's what I'm going to tell you. So many things are repeating themselves.
00:38You know, when we are doing this show on FX called Mrs. America, it's interesting how some of the things that happened in the 70s are playing out all over again.
00:50You know what I mean? But I think that we collectively are at a different space, at a different place, and are able to use all of our different platforms.
01:03All these women here today are agents of change, and I think that is special.
01:11Are you surprised by the reception that When They See Us has received so far?
01:15You know, when it comes to When They See Us, when we did the work, I wasn't thinking about the reception.
01:22So, yes, I have to say I am surprised. You know, we were just doing the work.
01:27I didn't see, you know, 16 Emmy nominations while we were in it. You know what I mean?
01:33You just wanted to make sure you told the story to the best of your ability,
01:36because these young men who experienced this horrible thing are still living.
01:42You know, and we want to make sure, we wanted to make sure we handled them properly.
01:50As women, how can we get involved in what's going on in the political climate?
01:55Well, I think that you have to find groups and people whose agenda you support,
02:01and then you have to lean in, whether that's through volunteering, whether that's through your social platforms,
02:07whether that's through forming other groups that are in alliance with what they think.
02:12You just got to show up.
02:14Did you ever think that When They See Us, like, has it changed your career,
02:18the way you look at things or do things about your life?
02:20Well, it confirms for me that the thought in my mind about being able to do dramatic work,
02:29it affirms that, because a lot of people say,
02:32you're a comedian, stay in your lane.
02:34And I'm like, don't put baby in the box.
02:37I can do many things.
02:38So the fact that I did the dramatic work and was nominated for it,
02:43it was almost like a double dip.
02:45And as a female comedian, who did you watch growing up?
02:47Who did you look up to?
02:52I was a big fan of Carol Burnett, a big fan of the entire cast of In Living Color.
03:01I liked, let me think, who else did I really, really like?
03:06Bernie Mac.
03:09You know, so many people, you know.
03:12But Carol Burnett was definitely the one.
03:15What makes Carol so special to you?
03:19I just feel like there's nothing she can't do.
03:22You know what I mean?
03:23And she didn't just belong to one specific group of people.
03:27You know what I mean?
03:28Her comedy was universal, and that's what I loved about it.
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