00:00A lot of people are talking about how white people can't really tell black stories, so
00:09it's a collaborative effort to work with you.
00:12So how do you feel about that criticism, though?
00:13Is it a valid sort of criticism?
00:16Yeah, I think it's...
00:17Hit it, Tiana!
00:19She's not militant.
00:23She's able to convey to...
00:26I got you, boo.
00:27Tell it, tell it.
00:28I think that is absolutely a valid concern in our community.
00:33We want our stories to be told with authenticity.
00:37We want our stories to be told with heart and accuracy.
00:41And not to say that someone who is of another culture can't do that.
00:45As you see, Mike O'Malley is doing a great job doing it, but there is validity in wanting
00:49a story about you, told by you, as well as what we're doing over here on STARS with Mike
00:56O'Malley, it's a different perspective.
00:58You're having the two cultures come together and seeing what that does.
01:03And it's a lot of dialogue.
01:04There are moments where it's heated on set or in the room because someone feels like,
01:10well, you know, I think that is a valid way of saying that, or that this family, no matter
01:16who they are, would go through that.
01:18And there are strong opinions on that set.
01:20You have some very strong opinionated actors.
01:24And it's a great debate, though.
01:26Where is it just human?
01:28Where is this just a human experience?
01:30And where does that split come where, well, this is particular to our experience as an
01:36African-American family?
01:37Mike O'Malley's not afraid to ask questions.
01:39That's good.
01:40You know, we love the fact that we play out a Catholic, you know, a Catholic, Irish,
01:46Irish Catholic family because we still get his perspective.
01:50So you have two worlds that collide, that meet, but that tell a new story.
01:55Right.
01:55So it's wonderful to be a black family in a different position, kind of because I've
01:59never played a Catholic before.
02:00I had no idea what Catholicism was or how to go about being a Catholic until I asked
02:06questions to Mike.
02:07I was like, hey, what does it mean to be a Catholic?
02:09So we share our stories, but I love the fact that he's not afraid to ask us.
02:14Yes, it's important to ask a question.
02:15He asked us about the black culture.
02:17I know nothing about the white Catholic Irish culture.
02:20I ask questions.
02:21So I think that's a win-win situation for us with Survivors Memorial.
02:25And that's why it's doing so well.
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