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Power, Style & Scandal: ‘Sinners,’ Fast Fashion & Smokey Robinson
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Join Bruce Anthony and his sister J. Aundrea for an unfiltered Sibling Happy Hour on Unsolicited Perspectives! We dive deep into why “Sinners” is the must-see movie of the year-exploring its layered storytelling, standout performances, and why it’s left audiences spellbound. Plus, we unpack the end of an era as Forever 21 closes its doors, discussing the rise and fall of fast fashion and how online shopping is reshaping retail.
We’ll break down the Met Gala’s bold Black Dandyism moment, confront new sexual misconduct allegations against music legend Smokey Robinson, and chart the evolution of technology—from burning CDs and payphones to unlimited streaming and smartphones. Along the way, we explore the enduring impact of the MeToo movement and challenge Gen Z’s “what’s a dial-up?” reactions with nostalgic stories about dial-up internet and 10¢ text messages. #sinners #SinnersMovie #fastfashion #forever21 #metoomovement #genz #millennials #smokeyrobinson #unsolicitedperspectives
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Thank you for tuning into Unsolicited Perspectives with Bruce Anthony. Let's continue the conversation in the comments and remember, stay engaged, stay informed, and always keep an open mind. See you in the next episode!
#podcast #mentalhealth #relationships #currentevents #popculture #fyp #trending #SocialCommentary
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to Unsolicited Perspectives 🎙️🔥💥
00:44 Sibling Happy Hour: Spicy Takes & Drinks 🍹🌶️
02:31 Movie Review: "Sinners"-Why This Film Has Us in a Full Nelson! 🧛♂️🎬
10:41 Fashion & Shopping Trends: Forever 21, Fast Fashion, and the End of an Era? 👠💸🛍️
18:22 Met Gala Magic: Black Dandyism Steals the Spotlight 🎩✨
25:28 SMOKEY ROBINSON SCANDAL: 85-Year-Old Legend ACCUSED?! 😳⚖️
35:20 WHY WOMEN ARE TIRED OF BEING UNSAFE 😤🚨 (Trigger Warning!)
37:06 POWER CORRUPTS: Why Rich Men GET AWAY WITH IT 💰😡
38:57 The Me Too Movement & Generational Change: How Far Have We Come? 👊📢
45:58 Gen Z’s History Lesson: What Today’s Youth Are Missing 📚🤔
49:03 Technological Changes Over the Decades: Dial-Up Internet & 10¢ Texts?! 💾📞📲
01:03:22 CULTURE CRISIS: Why Parents FAILED Gen Z 🧠👨👩👧⚠️
01:06:45 Final Thoughts & Farewell: Until Next Time, Stay Curious! 🎭🔥
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Transcript
Introduction and Podcast Focus
00:00:00
Speaker
Do you feel old? These young kids will let you know that you are old. And s Smokey Robinson and some mess. We're going to get into it. Let's get it.
00:00:18
Speaker
Welcome. First of all, welcome. This is Unsolicited Perspectives. I'm your host, Bruce Anthony, here to lead the conversation in important events and topics that are shaped for today's society. stay Join the conversation and follow us wherever you get your audio podcasts.
00:00:32
Speaker
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for our video podcasts and YouTube exclusive content. Rate, review, like, comment, share. Share with your friends, share with your family, hell, even share with your enemies.
00:00:44
Speaker
On today's episode, it's a sibling happy hour. I'm here with my sis, J. Andrea. We're going to be dilly-dadding a little bit, and then we're going talking about Smokey Robinson, and then we're going be talking about why millennials feel old.
00:00:58
Speaker
But that's enough of the intro. Let's get to the show.
Obsession with 'Sinners' and Film Originality
00:01:08
Speaker
What up, sis? What up, brother? I can't call it. I can't call it. You know... We talked about it on a YouTube exclusive that aired. It's out right now. So, ladies and gentlemen, if you want to watch the YouTube exclusive where me and my sister talk about Sinners, the movie, go ahead and check that out. Just be aware. Spoilers.
00:01:27
Speaker
We talking about the movie. Yeah. But... We filmed that, don't three days ago. the I'm still obsessed with this movie. I've been watching. There's something about it that gets literally in your spirit, in your mind. I don't know what it is, but it's got everybody, including me, in a choke hold and will not let go. I'm in a full Nelson. i am in a sinner's full Nelson, and I cannot get out.
00:01:56
Speaker
I, look, I've been watching so many little tidbits about people who think that they got these clues and I'm like, hmm, that it is interesting. There's a lot of people out there, a lot of content creators dissect this. And I really like it when people who are, who study cinema or in cinema dissect so many things that will go over a lot of people's heads.
00:02:18
Speaker
I have a feeling that a lot of people will go to that movie And some of them will walk away be like, it's a vampire movie. They won't get any of the major themes that Ryan Coogler was talking about.
00:02:30
Speaker
i didn't go into them I didn't go into the movie thinking it was just gonna be a vampire movie. I went in thinking, hey, Ryan Coogler is gonna do something special because he don't ever miss. And I walked out like, good God, that was so much and so great.
00:02:44
Speaker
And then the more and more i started thinking about it, the more and more I started picking up on little things. It can be entertainment for the mindless. Yeah, sure. But if you want to be, I don't know, in thought or be intellectual about it, it's that as well. It's literally for everybody except for little kids. Little kids can't go see that.
00:03:05
Speaker
No. Not little kids. Not for children. Not for children. I mean, if you are, I would say 10 or above, you can go see that movie. No, there's sex scenes in that movie. There's no nudity, though.
00:03:17
Speaker
True. Yeah. Okay. i' Sure. Sure. At least 13. At least 13 could go see it. I think it is PG-13. Is it rated R? ah damn um It's a lot of blood. so But it's not a lot of gory blood, ladies and gentlemen. this and It's not gory at all if you haven't seen it. And by the way, if you haven't seen It is rated R. Okay. you have his i Well, because of sex scenes. I don't think PG-13 has sex scenes. And if you haven't seen this movie yet, ladies and gentlemen,
Theater Experience vs. Home Viewing
00:03:44
Speaker
why? Why? Why? Go see this movie. It is great. my best
00:03:48
Speaker
I told my bestie, was like, you really should go see this movie. She was like, okay, I'll wait for it to come on TV. I was like, no. no You got to go see it in the movie theater. yeah You need to experience it on a big screen with that sound. so you And my movie theater had the sound all the way up. And I must have been on un sitting underneath the speaker.
00:04:06
Speaker
Because it was thumping, but I was still like, you know what? I'm here and I'm ready for it. Yeah, i've I have not seen a movie since before the pandemic. I have not been in a movie theater since before the pandemic.
00:04:18
Speaker
This is the first movie that I've seen since 2019. And I saw it twice. In the theater. and In the theater. And I saw it twice. Yeah, i want to go see again. And i want to go see it a third time.
00:04:29
Speaker
Because it's that good. If I don't, and listen, I'm saying this right here, right now. If I don't see Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Costume, Soundtrack, and I would like to see a Best Actor nomination.
00:04:50
Speaker
Oh, Michael B. Jordan should... Michael B. Jordan. Absolutely, Michael B. Jordan should get Best Actor nomination. if it and best director, best screenplay. If I don't see... Best supporting actor actress. Best supporting... And actress, yes. Delroy Lindell and for Hailee Stansfield. Like... like and And for... ah I can't always butcher her name.
00:05:12
Speaker
Oh, you're talking about Wumi Musaka? Yep. They should both be in the category. I don't know who I would have win because it's almost not fair. Yeah. They both did. that look ladies and gentlemen, just go see this movie.
00:05:26
Speaker
Yeah. But if I don't see a clean sweep...
Fast Fashion and Environmental Impact
00:05:31
Speaker
At next Oscars? No, I mean, they don't have to win. They don't have to win. it I'm talking about, but they need to be in every one of these categories because from the sound to the sights, the costuming, everything. And it was so meticulous. It was so well-researched. It was so well done.
00:05:50
Speaker
No, i want to see I want to see them nominated for everything. Because this movie, I don't know what it is, it gets in your soul. don't know what it is about this movie, but you can't stop thinking about it.
00:06:05
Speaker
The second time I went to see it, I saw it with our mother. if She has been watching YouTube videos. Just interviews, you know, ryan Ryan Coogler's interviews, interviews with the cast and stuff. Like just because of something, I don't know what it is. Oh yeah, you know, we had to do a lot of of attentionality of, all all with Michael B. Jordan, just his his his role, his acting. Like there was one time where he just walked in the room and I was like, that's smoke.
00:06:37
Speaker
Yeah, like and like it's like, I don't know what it is about this movie, but it's so layered and it's so nuanced and it's just, it was so well cast and acted and shot and directed and written.
00:06:51
Speaker
And yeah, to me, I know the year just started. We're only in May, but that that's the movie of the year for me. I think this movie is going to be impactful for generations. And this is a high, high bar. Yeah.
00:07:05
Speaker
Yeah. Like The Godfather. yeah not They're not the same movies, but I'm talking about as impactful as a cinema experience and people walking away with, wow, that's just a cinematic masterpiece.
00:07:22
Speaker
And I'm sorry. i I'm sorry about this. I forgot Jack O'Connell as Remick. I would like to see um a nomination for him as well. yeah Yeah, no. There is nobody. There is not one person...
00:07:35
Speaker
yeah on that cast. Right. Because the cast is really about seven, right? It's it's it's ah Michael B. Jordan, the guy that played Remick, Cornbread, Mary, Sammy.
00:07:50
Speaker
Annie. Annie. Delta Slim. No, I mean, Mary is... Oh, Annie, Delta Slim. So it's like, it's a cast of like nine. Like, it's a small cast. It's not a crazy... Don't forget Pearlene.
00:08:03
Speaker
Pearlene. Oh, yeah, that's right. Sammy's love interest. Pearlene was there. Yeah. She took a couple vampires out before she got bit. She took a couple hours. We forgot to say spoiler warnings.
00:08:15
Speaker
oh Oh, spoiler warning. but It's too late now. there's but Honestly, I feel like most people have seen it at this point. Most people in your circle have seen it. I know a lot of people who haven't seen it. I've been raging.
00:08:26
Speaker
Like, you need to go see this movie all week. And people are like, eh. And I'm just like, no, I don't um't truly think you understand. you need to go You need to go see this movie. And I think the reason why it hits so well, and ladies and gentlemen, we're not gonna keep going on and on about this, because we've already got a whole episode on YouTube that's about 15 minutes long. Go check it out.
00:08:45
Speaker
and And After Hours, because we talked about on After Hours. Me and my sister have been talking about this movie for a long time. But that yeah I think the reason why it hits home, not only is great screenplay, beautifully directed cinematography, all that stuff.
00:08:59
Speaker
It's also the fact that it's original. Yeah. Like, it's it's not a it's not a book turned into a movie. Right. It's not a comic book. It's not a remake.
00:09:11
Speaker
You know, it's it's it's not treading on something else like Wicked. You know what i're saying? It's just original. And I feel like originality...
00:09:24
Speaker
Like not a lot of people are doing it in television, film, or music in all forms of entertainment. yeah People aren't coming out with original stuff anymore. i mean I mean, and and ah Ryan has said this himself.
00:09:38
Speaker
yeah vam He doesn't own vampires, right? That's not an original concept. the the um All of these archetypes in the movie, right? The the disillusioned blues...
00:09:50
Speaker
singer or the struggling blues singer, the the gangsters, the the like the did the conjure woman, the different things. These are not archetypes he said that he owns, but he was like, how can I tell a story using these kinds of characters but tell it my way? And I feel like he did that.
00:10:10
Speaker
And it was just such a good movie. Ladies and gentlemen, go out there and see it. If you ain't got a whole lot of money, go see The Mad Name. You know, matinee is... Well, I say it's only $13, but you got to get you some popcorn and soda. You're going to end spending like $40, $45, $50 just on yourself.
00:10:30
Speaker
But it's worth it. Trust me. It's worth it. Speaking of money, Check it out. Forever 21 filed for bankruptcy and closed all its doors. a Now, I've i've shopped at Forever 21, but obviously not for myself.
00:10:47
Speaker
the The only times I've been in Forever 21, it's been with girls and women. And I say girls specifically for my goddaughter. Yeah. A lot of people, I don't talk about my goddaughter a lot on this show.
00:11:00
Speaker
That is my dear. She's been my goddaughter for over 20 years now. She chose me to be her godfather after her godfather that was named for birth. du They didn't have a connection. me and her had a connection.
00:11:13
Speaker
She's my cousin, but chose me to be her godfather. And I spoiled her rotten when she was a kid. yes Spoiled her
Met Gala's Black Dandyism Theme
00:11:20
Speaker
rotten. And I remember... Going into Fair Ever 21 the very first time, and it was with my goddaughter.
00:11:26
Speaker
And we went to the mall, and I told her, I said, look, you have a budget. Yeah. This is the amount of money I'm going to spend on you at the mall. Don't go over this budget. And of course I went over the budget.
00:11:38
Speaker
Yeah. Because she kept taking me into stores. Oh, I just want to look. Oh, can I get this? I know I'm over the budget. She went through the budget almost at Forever 21. Yeah. yeah but But I'm fond of Forever 21 because even though I was in a relationship at that particular time,
00:11:53
Speaker
all the women, because I'm older, like I'm 16 years, 17 years older than my goddaughter. 20? Yeah. Almost 20. 19 years older my goddaughter. So I'm older. So I'm this grown man, and she could theoretically be my daughter, right?
00:12:07
Speaker
So they see this grown man taking this little girl out to go get clothes, and every woman in there was just like, oh, that is so sweet. And she hammed it up for me.
00:12:18
Speaker
yeah She was like, yeah, he's really good to me. He's gonna get me the... She hammered it up for me and also swindled me out of more stuff. Yes, yes. Yeah. but Let's remember the real reason she hammered it up. Yeah, she hammered it up and swindled me out of more stuff. that yeah That's what it was.
00:12:33
Speaker
But a namesake, Forever 21. I mean, that was literally 20 plus years ago, bankrupt. And, you know, is so like brands like Forever 21 and H&M, they were the first fast fashion that really was like national.
00:12:52
Speaker
like There was fast fashion, obviously, before that, but like that was really like a a popular like national brand. and But then you get you know Fashion Nova and Shein and it's all online and it's easier to get and return stuff and there's less people going to the brick and mortar.
00:13:12
Speaker
Yes. And, you know, it just didn't evolve fast enough. It didn't have evolve fast enough. i I think a lot of these stores are going to start to go out of business. The the main stores pretty much won't because they don't deal in fast fashion. Like the Macy's and Nordstrom's. You're right.
00:13:31
Speaker
They're going to maintain. But these Forever H&M's, I don't know if they have them all over, but H&M's. Stores like that. Mm-hmm. Where they give you fast fashion, cheaper made clothes for decent prices.
00:13:47
Speaker
Clothes that I could never really fit. They're gonna go out of business. And yeah, nobody wants to go to the store anymore. I can order it, try it on. If I don't like it, send it back. right and And for the most part, Fashion Nova and Shein ain't real good about returns.
00:14:02
Speaker
Okay, so. but But it's so cheap. But a lot of times it's so cheap that you're just like, okay, that's fine. This one doesn't fit. Like I purchased a dress for an event I was going to.
00:14:15
Speaker
And I didn't know what size I would need. I bought two from Shein. And the one that didn't fit, I donated. Okay. You know, like that. But this was a dress of $7. Like, I didn't feel too bad about... That sucks.
00:14:30
Speaker
Because men's clothes don't be that cheap, even for fast fashion. You know, it's easy. I could go on Fashion Nova... Or Shein, spend $100 and have three, maybe four items where women can go on there and and have 20 items.
00:14:45
Speaker
So you're going to be mad if that's the case because I just purchased like, let me see. I got like five outfits and two pairs of shoes from Shein. I spent less than $100. What? You buying shoes from Shein too? No, that's going too far. No, I from Shein.
00:15:02
Speaker
and And guess what? Them shoes are holding up. Look, let me tell you something. Just fine. ah One of our listeners is a friend of mine, and she's gonna listen to this, and I know gonna hear from her, because she is completely against fast fashion to what it does to the environment.
00:15:16
Speaker
Yes. It is terrible for the... Yes, I'm not gonna lie about that. Yeah, but she's gonna be like, tell your sister to stop it! And gonna be like, mm-hmm. I absolutely will not. Just so much.
00:15:29
Speaker
I'm going to tell you that right now, friend. I'm so sorry. I do know the impact that fast fashion has on the environment. But you recycle. I do recycle.
00:15:42
Speaker
But, you know, i oh well, that's the thing. like i I recycle even my fashion. so like Like I said, I bought two of the same dress in two different sizes. The one that didn't fit, I donated to the Salvation Army. So I don't i don't I'm not just filling landfills with with clothes. I also recycle my clothes. And and I also buy recycled clothes. also thrift shop too. So, it' you know, and i know, i know.
00:16:11
Speaker
I'm not perfect. I know that it's creating waste and pollution and high carbon emissions and the chemical pollution and all of the things.
00:16:22
Speaker
I know. yeah I am also guilty of this, but I also live on a budget ah and I don't know how to sew. There you go.
00:16:33
Speaker
There you have it. So you spent, you said you got what for $100? Five outfits. Outfits, not five items. outfits. Outfits. They were they were like coordinated, like it was a shirt and pants together. It was coordinated. And then the outfits, two of them were like red forward, the other one the other three were pink forward, so I got a pair of pink sneakers and a pair of red sneakers.
00:17:00
Speaker
Why are you saying like that? pair of red sneakers and pete sneakers and pink sneakers. pink sneakers. but Hey, look, you know, i that's one thing we're going to be doing styling. Because I did see the picture that you took when y'all went to the the Black art show. Black boy art show. Black boy art show. I was like, yo, Jay got that outfit.
00:17:20
Speaker
And was like, OK. It was taking a chance. But you pulled it off. I thought it was very artsy. Yeah, it was very artsy. Yeah. Yeah, it was very artsy. That's what I'm saying. It was taking a chance.
00:17:32
Speaker
I was going to an art show. Yeah, you i mean i I said you pulled it off. Yeah. We siblings. You know, we all... All three of us will take some chances fashion-wise. Yes. Okay, we know that I take chances all the time. Yes. I'm getting i'm getting grief right now.
00:17:48
Speaker
Our mutual friend is watching this episode right now talking about, at That dead damn dangling air ring Bruce got in. Yes. And it's a feather too. By the way. Yeah. Yeah.
Personal Style and Cultural Shifts
00:18:00
Speaker
By the way. And I like it. It's dangling. It's dangling. And that's just the way it is. That's just the way it is. I mean, this ah it's the style. I mean...
00:18:10
Speaker
You know, style is cyclical, but this is, it's what's in right now. I actually saw someone and I wish we had time to talk about this, maybe on After Hours, but the Met Gala. I don't know if you kept up, but this year's theme was the Black Dandy.
00:18:26
Speaker
don't even know what that means. Okay. It was, a it was, the theme was Black tailoring. So just Black fashion designers.
00:18:38
Speaker
No. Black dandyism, which is, let's see what ah Google has to say about this. A cultural movement and fashion style where Black individuals use clothing and personal style, particularly those associated with the European dandy as a form of expression, resistance, and assertion of identity in the face of societal limitations. What's the five-year-old way of explaining all of that so I can understand it? Because you just said a lot of words.
00:19:06
Speaker
So i would I would describe Black dandyism is is definitely men in suits and not just suits, but like multiple pieces, multiple piece suits.
00:19:17
Speaker
There's definitely high style, high flair, color, pattern, mixture. you would You would probably liken it to like style of like maybe the forty s The 30s or the 40s. So what um Malcolm X was wearing when he and Shorty hit Harlem in the Spike Lee movie.
00:19:39
Speaker
Yeah. Okay. Maybe not a zoot suit, but definitely. Why not a zoot suit? But a very, very tailored, you know, pocket square, tie pin, like very high style. I saw some pictures and there was a lot of outfits that I was like, okay, you know, that's a fashion risk. I saw somebody on the Met Gala carpet with that dangling earring and I forgot who it was. I can't remember who it was, but...
00:20:09
Speaker
looked fantastic. It's just what's in vogue. Yeah, no. Like, I was so happy when i saw the dangling earrings started becoming popular because... So, ladies and gentlemen, I've been wearing earrings off and on since I was 18 years old. So almost 30 years. is Exactly 27 years. But, um... And I was one of the first people out of my peer group that wore earrings in both ears.
00:20:38
Speaker
ah um i who Who was the one that I saw wearing? I think it was Baby? No, it was before Baby. Nah, it was Baby. Baby from Big Timers and Cash Money.
00:20:50
Speaker
He was wearing them in both ears, and I was like, that's dope. yeah But it wasn't real popular yet. yeah And I remember when I came home... Dad, at the time, wasn't feeling it. yeah He was like, men don't wear earrings in both ears.
00:21:03
Speaker
Very masculine, very machismo. yeah And I was like, first of all, I know you ain't questioning my machismo. Many women that they got running through hair, number one. Number two. It's the look, dad.
00:21:14
Speaker
And I look gorgeous in it. He was like, see, that's what talking about. Use the word gorgeous. Can't you use handsome? I'm gorgeous. Okay. Grandma said I was gorgeous. I'm gorgeous. And I remember my boys at first was like, I don't know if I'm feeling this.
00:21:27
Speaker
Right. Because I was also the one in the group that had was wearing two chains. Yeah. but it is like This is before 2 Chainz. Right. This is before 2 Chainz. So I've always been somebody to take chances. And I always wanted to wear dangle earrings, but there was no way that you could really pull that off with the hip hop gear that we were wearing at that time.
00:21:49
Speaker
yeah It was baggy. super baggy clothes and big diamond earrings, but nothing dangly. And I wasn't going wear a hoop like I was Michael Jordan because I was lame. yeah I wanted dangly. I always say that I wanted the George Michael.
00:22:02
Speaker
I wanted that George Michael. I wanted to bring the 80s back, but the 80s weren't back. The 80s is back. Well, the 80s and the 90s and the are all kind of mixing in together right now. were still wearing dangly earrings. If you watch Class Act, it wasn't Class Act.
00:22:17
Speaker
No. No, was definitely wouldn't. They weren't wearing no... Who was it? it was It was like the three guys were after Kid and Play. I can't remember. oh ah you House Party.
00:22:29
Speaker
House Party. for Full force. Full force. had the dangly earring. You're right. But that was really... They were coming off of the eighty s But still, it was still in the House Party was like 1990, and that look wasn't... Remember, they was wearing some stuff that wasn't cool no more.
00:22:47
Speaker
That's the reason why Kid and Play wasn't wearing it. In the 80s, it was cool. But by the time it got to the 90s, it wasn't cool. By the time we was in the it damn sure wasn't cool. But I'm glad it is back.
00:22:58
Speaker
And I'm glad. Oh boy. I'm looking at some, some album covers of Full Force. Guys, if you want to know what the eighties was about, or please pull it. It's just.
00:23:09
Speaker
Types. Kung fu vests with no shirt underneath. Uh, lots of, lots of, lots of belly shirts. Uh, if y'all and Jerry curls. And Jerry curls. Yes. Full Force. us Hey, look, and Ksen and dance.
00:23:27
Speaker
Please, please look up full force. But yes, the Met Gala, it was very black and very beautiful. And it also raised the most money for the costume institute, the Met Costume Institute that they've ever raised in their 77 year history.
00:23:44
Speaker
That's really dope. That is super dope. Yeah. Well, speaking of music, we're going to get into Smokey Robinson and his troubles next.
00:24:03
Speaker
Jay, something literally came across my timeline today. Yeah. Today. And I switched up well we were going to what we were going to be talking about, which was Trump. And I just don't feel like it.
00:24:15
Speaker
I just really don't want don't feel like it. Though I do find it humorous that he continuously puts these AI-generated pictures on his true social and that the White House reposts it.
00:24:28
Speaker
Yeah. But I don't want to get into that. Whatever. Whatever.
Smokey Robinson Allegations
00:24:32
Speaker
Something else came up on my timeline, and I was like, oh, we gotta talk about this. And it's about Smokey Robinson.
00:24:39
Speaker
Now, for those of you who don't know who Smokey Robinson is, some of you are probably younger millennials. Well, hell, you might just be a millennial. And Gen Z people. You probably wouldn't know him unless you were on YouTube and you saw this video where he made this...
00:24:55
Speaker
Song about not doing gangs, and it was called Gang Banging. Look it up on YouTube. It's absolutely hilarious. But before that, he was the lead writer for Motown.
00:25:07
Speaker
yeah He is responsible for so many hits. yeah Why is he in the news? Well... Four former housekeepers of Motown legend Smokey Robinson have filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court accusing the singer, who is now 85 years old, of sexual assault, battery, false imprisonment, and workplace negligence.
00:25:29
Speaker
The plaintiffs, identified as Jane Doe through four, alleged that Robinson subjected them to repeated sexual assaults, and in some cases, great. Now, we don't say the R word.
00:25:40
Speaker
And we don't, and instead of the other word, we say corn because YouTube kind of blocks those words. So grape, okay, but you know what what what we mean. So these are the things that he's accused of. During their employment at his residence in Chatsworth,
00:25:58
Speaker
Bell Canyon and Las Vegas, beginning as early as 2007 and continuing until 2024. twenty twenty four The lawsuit also names robinson white white Robinson's wife, Frances Robinson, as a co-defendant, claiming she contributed to hostile work environment and failed to intervene in her husband's alleged misconduct.
00:26:17
Speaker
The accusers, who are all Hispanic descent and worked as housekeepers, some of them as personal assistants, cooks, or hairdressers, say they were often summoned to private areas of the home when Frances Robinson was not present.
00:26:29
Speaker
Some allege Robinson would emerge from the shower, unclothed, and coerce them into sexual acts. with specific incidents described as occurring in the blue bedroom, the laundry room, and the garage.
00:26:42
Speaker
The lawsuit further claims the women were paid below minimum wage, worked excessive hours, and faced threats and derogatory language. The lawsuit seeks at least $50 million dollars in damages.
00:26:54
Speaker
The women have not yet reported the incidents to law enforcement, citing fears of retribution retribution or retaliation, public humiliation, and concerns about their immigration status. Robinson's representatives has yet to comment publicly on the allegations.
00:27:07
Speaker
So ah what evidence do they have? They haven't publicly disclosed any specific evidence yet, but I'm sure it'll come out in the civil lawsuit or else it's going to be thrown out.
00:27:20
Speaker
So, Jay, with all these things happening, with all of these actors and musicians, entertainers, that's a...
00:27:32
Speaker
I wouldn't even say a rebound, a continuation of Me Too. Yeah. Smokey. Smokey Robinson. I mean, no one is above anything, right? Right.
00:27:44
Speaker
no No one is. And we all know that power corrupts. Certainly fame and celebrity do. Money does.
00:27:55
Speaker
So...
00:27:58
Speaker
I don't know you know. Again, as many people know, my first instinct is always to believe the victims. So we'll see. We'll see as it plays out in court.
00:28:12
Speaker
the The issue that I'm having, which I... It's kind of resolved by the fact that they're concerned about their immigration status. So that leaves a lot of people of Latin and Hispanic descent who work in the U.S. who are concerned about their immigration status to put up with a lot of very...
00:28:38
Speaker
um Demeaning. Demeaning, ah sometimes violent situations ah dealing in domestic work in this in this country and or obviously around the world, but in this country specifically. And and specifically right now.
00:28:54
Speaker
Yes. yeah So a lot of people are like, well, in 2007, he was what, 65, 66, 67 years old, something like that. So they're like, how this old man Till today, where he's like, I mean, till 2024, he's 85. So it's like, they're like, okay, how does this, oh, oh, oh. How does this old man, you know, how does this happen?
00:29:20
Speaker
Well, if you're concerned about whether or not you'll even be able to stay in this country, if you report this, that's how.
00:29:33
Speaker
Yeah. Right now, here in Washington, D.C., ISIS is here. Not ISIS. Ice. Ice, okay. I put ass on everything, ladies and gentlemen. That's just... I'm Black in America.
00:29:46
Speaker
That's just how we talk. Ice is here and this area. And they are raiding restaurants. It is like the Gestapo has hit this area. who And a lot of people whose immigration status is... And they could even be...
00:30:02
Speaker
legal residents here yeah still being taken up by ISIS and put in places that and their family members can't find them. yeah It's a real cause cur for concern. And it's been that way ever since 2016.
00:30:15
Speaker
two thousand and sixteen Okay. It's gotten worse in the last three or four months, but it's been that way. yeah How do I feel about this particular situation?
00:30:28
Speaker
Do I believe that it could be true? Absolutely. You said it. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Yeah. Okay. And I've been on this, you know, I'm a
Women’s Liberation and Cultural Accountability
00:30:40
Speaker
nerd. I'm a history nerd.
00:30:41
Speaker
I've been on this documentary kick. And CNN does great documentaries. And they have these decade documentaries. This is broken up into like 10 episodes. It was ah ah tackling important issues from each decade. And I'm on the 70s right now.
00:30:55
Speaker
Okay. Okay. And the show that i just finished watching, and this is apropos, is the women's liberation movement. And the ERA, a right?
00:31:06
Speaker
The Equals Rights Amendment that still hasn't been passed. And the treatment of women, specifically in this country, I don't know what it's like in other countries. I know women historically have just been treated like ish since the beginning time.
00:31:22
Speaker
Second-class citizens. Yes. So much so that there was an internet story that was was like, what if Eve didn't bite the apple?
00:31:37
Speaker
I don't think she did, personally. And it was really Adam who bit the apple and blamed it on Eve, and that's the reason why men have Adam's apple. Yeah, got stuck in his throat. Got stuck in his throat because the lie. And I was like, you know what?
00:31:49
Speaker
That sounds like something that a man would do. It's just completely lie on a woman. And i'm like I'm watching this documentary on CNN of just people fighting to exist. Yeah. Right?
00:32:00
Speaker
Yeah. And in that fight to exist, there's always a counter to that. Right? Don't change what I love. yeah Leave me alone. We're not really ah bothering you. I'm talking about me.
00:32:13
Speaker
No, it's going to change what I believe in in my existence. you No, that's... I'm just trying to exist. well Well, if your existence means that my way of life is going to change,
00:32:24
Speaker
I don't want you to have your existence. That's essentially what is happening. That's exactly it, yes. And this was in the 1970s, so over 50 years ago. And we're dealing with the same stuff. Yeah.
00:32:35
Speaker
But what I do see a change is that now the men who do these things are being brought to task. It doesn't matter if you're Jeffrey Epstein, Harvey Weinstein, R. Kelly, Diddy, Shannon Sharp, or Smokey Robinson.
00:32:54
Speaker
yeah The only person that can actually get away with it is the current president of the of the United States. That's the one where he's like Teflon. yeah But men are being called to task. And of course, the majority of men, not gonna say all, because I'm not one of them, the majority of men are gonna be like, he didn't do that.
00:33:12
Speaker
Because it's always natural to try and take the side of your team. Right? Right. right And just naturally, men are always like, women always lie. Women don't always lie. I'll tell you always lie.
00:33:23
Speaker
It's men. But... I'm just happy whether or not the story is true. And I hope it's actually not true. Because I hope that these women actually didn't have to go through what seems like... prison.
00:33:41
Speaker
yeah Right? yeah
00:33:44
Speaker
But if they did, I'm glad Smokey is being called to task because these are the things that should be happening. And for all those people and who who will want to make excuses and want to say, no, he didn't do it, women, beeline, y'all are the problem.
00:34:01
Speaker
yeah Y'all are the problem. So, like I said, I hope this isn't true. But if it is true, he needed to be buried underneath the jail. I don't care if he's 85. Yeah. Because you've been a terror for 17 years, and it's probably... It didn't start... If it's true, it didn't start 17 years ago.
00:34:18
Speaker
Right. It could probably go all the way back to Motown. Could. Could. It could probably go all the way back to Motown. And those women ah had to be because he had so much power in Motown.
00:34:32
Speaker
He was Barry Gordy's golden boy. yeah so And that does something to your psyche. I don't know what it's like to have a lot of power. I know what it's like to be in charge, to be in charge of hiring and firing people.
00:34:44
Speaker
Sometimes that type of stuff goes to people's heads. Yeah. You start to feel like you're a Teflon, like you are untouchable and that the world is yours, the world is your oyster and you can do whatever you want.
00:35:01
Speaker
And for years, decades, they have, that has been true. Boys will be boys. Right. That has been true. But we tired.
00:35:13
Speaker
I'm going to be honest with we're tired that we can't just go to work and just do our jobs and go home and be safe at home, be safe at the grocery store or at the gas station or just be able to just exist in safety. We're tired of not being able to exist in safety.
00:35:34
Speaker
And so we're going to start talking. And I would love a lot of the lot of these you know older women from the Motown era.
00:35:47
Speaker
I would love to hear their stories. and The only reason we knew what was happening to Tina Turner is because it was so damn public. The divorce and everything, and it was so damn public.
00:36:00
Speaker
Not ah to at the end though, not during. not dar I wasn't alive, so I don't know. Right, I don't know. But ah you look at Aretha Franklin biopic, she was getting she was getting beat you would just I would love to hear their stories about, you know, because again, they're also growing up in a time where this is just the way things were. There were no laws against beating your wife until like the 60s or 70s. I can't remember it.
00:36:29
Speaker
But there were no laws against beating your wife. i i it So the protections for women, this is new. I hope more women continue to
Passing Down Cultural History
00:36:40
Speaker
speak up.
00:36:41
Speaker
And we continue to change the way these men interact with, not just with women, but with power.
00:36:53
Speaker
The way they interact with the world, having money and fame and celebrity and power, just change it. And it don't even have to be a lot of power.
00:37:05
Speaker
He could be the assistant manager at Kenny's Shoes. Not Kenny's Shoes. Not getting shoes. You know what I'm saying? It don't even have to be a lot of power and it corrupts so quickly. Yeah. i So we, you both talk about our time working in a restaurant industry and ah working. I've heard the hospital is the same working in a restaurant industry is Sodom and Gomorrah come to come to real life. Okay.
00:37:41
Speaker
And
00:37:44
Speaker
You know, in my younger years, I've changed. I've grown up. I've grown up, ladies and gentlemen. and I would just want to point this out. I was a serial groper. um There were some women that it was me, I grope you back, and it was cool. And then there were some women that were absolutely furious about it.
00:38:04
Speaker
yeah And I was like, never do it again. Yeah.
00:38:09
Speaker
I want to hear what they feel about it now. Did they just deal with it because it was the culture? Yeah. Or were they really okay with it? Because i think sometimes we get in these environments where things that we wouldn't stand for will accept because their environment is accepting of it.
00:38:29
Speaker
Yeah. I say all that to say this. The reason the Me Too movement has taken off is because they... or the children, maybe the grandchildren, of the women who led the women's liberation movement in the 60s and 70s. We're also the daughters of the women who told us these stories.
00:38:53
Speaker
Right. Like, we what we saw what was going on with our grandmothers and aunts and all of these things. in it it we So we're we're also the the daughters of these women. Right. Right.
00:39:08
Speaker
So the point I'm trying to make is, is that when one person speaks up and says, you know, I did not like that. I know that was the environment that we were in, but I didn't like it. I didn't like the casting couch.
00:39:23
Speaker
o Oh, yeah I didn't really like it either, but I just thought that was the way things are. Yeah. Yeah. That gives power to the next person to be like, look, I wasn't okay with this.
00:39:35
Speaker
I just accepted it. yeah And that's what a lot of people who combat people coming forward need to realize. yeah is it it Everybody's been in this situation, they've been in an environment where they accepted something That goes against them.
00:39:51
Speaker
yeah But because they because of the environment, they just accepted it. And when they got out of that environment, they was like, why was I accepting that? yeah We've all had those type of situations. So you just need to look inside yourself and you need to be like, well, why did these women stay 17 years?
00:40:07
Speaker
Because sometimes, even when it doesn't feel right to you, you accept the environment that you're in because the environment dictates that's su acceptable.
00:40:17
Speaker
yeah And it's not until you're outside of that environment that you realize, I wasn't okay with that. That actually really, really sucked, and I don't want to be a part of any of that.
00:40:28
Speaker
yeah And that's what people need to really, really realize. When people gain their voice... It's because they see I was accepting something that was against my soul.
00:40:40
Speaker
Yeah. and and And I would challenge the the people who challenge when it takes women, sometimes years to come forward, to ask themselves, well, what would you have done? when faced with when faced with a When faced with a man like Harvey Weinstein and the power and the reach that this man had,
00:41:05
Speaker
What exactly would you have done? No, you wouldn't have.
00:41:11
Speaker
A lot of people talk about, if i if this was my situation, this is what would do. if ah If I was a slave, they would have had to know you would have been out there picking cotton. That was the exact analogy that I was about to use, but I was going to wait for it to behind the scenes. But that was the exact analogy that I was going use. But I am of them people be like, wouldn't have out there.
00:41:28
Speaker
have been too hot. That's first and foremost. It would have been too hot and my fingers would have hurt. You know how I feel about my hands. Nope. And you'd have bad back because you're tall and you're stooping over that cotton. But you would have been out there getting that cotton. Like, stop it.
00:41:43
Speaker
Yeah, people will accept until somebody shows them, hey, you ain't got to accept this. Yeah. And I'm saying this, and I'm not... I am bashing.
00:41:55
Speaker
I'm bashing opponents against people speaking out.
00:42:00
Speaker
Women need to stop being the enemy of women. men always naturally going to be opposed to being called to task for their actions because nobody ever really wants to be accountable.
00:42:14
Speaker
No. not Not really. Because that takes you looking inside yourself and critiquing yourself. So nobody truly wants to be accountable. So there's always going to be a natural a natural animus, is that the the word I'm looking for?
00:42:28
Speaker
Between women coming forward and men not wanting to hear it. Yes. Yeah. Okay. But damn it, women, I don't care yeah if you're like, your man would never do anything like that.
00:42:42
Speaker
Other men would, and you know it. yeah You've seen it and you've experienced it. Don't write it off. Don't combat women. Because what men will do is they will find that one woman or the grouping of women that say men ain't bad and prop them up.
00:43:01
Speaker
Yeah. But here's the thing. You ain't never going get rid of a pick me. Yeah, well. You ain't never gonna get rid of can shame You can shame them enough. No, they are shameless. Everybody, all of them.
00:43:13
Speaker
Pig me? Yes, because 100% of women have been sexually harassed in this country. You have dealt with some sort of harassment in this country.
00:43:26
Speaker
Y'all can't even walk down the street. Can't even walk down street. Can't even get your grass cut. Nothing. Can't even get your grass cut. They do nothing. Okay? so So for them to then get on a platform and say that this doesn't happen when they know it does, because it's happened to them, it's happened to their sisters, cousins, aunts, mother, ah grandmother, your friends, you know that it does.
00:43:55
Speaker
And for you, for the acceptance and validation of some man that hates you, hates you, gets on the internet and talks about you like a dog, but you want that validation so badly that you're willing to sell yourself out and sell other women out.
00:44:19
Speaker
Yes, that pick me's are 100% shameless. You cannot be shamed because they have no conscience. and
00:44:32
Speaker
and Well, you know who can't be shamed? who Gen Z. They, look, they not keeping their mouth shut. They say what they believe and they stand on it.
00:44:45
Speaker
However, as much as I play praise Gen Z, y'all need to do a little bit of a history lesson, just a tad bit, because y'all don't know certain stuff that just happened a decade prior to you being born.
00:44:56
Speaker
I actually have a different take on that, but let's talk about it. Okay, we're going to get into that next.
00:45:11
Speaker
All right, sis, we talking about Gen Z and them not knowing about stuff that happened a decade prior. But you said you had a different take. But before I say anything, I need to hear what your take is.
00:45:22
Speaker
It's not their fault. ah yeah Well, okay. It's not their fault. You know whose fault it is? Their parents. Yeah, it's their parents' fault. Because how do you and I know Earth, Wind, and Fire?
00:45:34
Speaker
because our parents Didn't we go see them in concert? Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Didn't want to go, by the way, mom and dad. I fought. Did not want to go. Actually had a good time. But not because of them.
00:45:46
Speaker
Had a good time because of the Gap Band. But yes, we know Earth, Wind & Fire. How do we know the Gap Bear?
00:45:52
Speaker
Well, it's not... I don't think our situation is parallel to a lot of people. because Because parents were... Because our father was a musician. And our parents were so young.
00:46:05
Speaker
I mean, mom is the one... that told me who Jodeci was. We were riding in the car. It was 1991. We were riding in the car, Forever My Lady came on. yeah And i was like, oh my God, this is a great song.
00:46:18
Speaker
Who is this? She's like, oh, that's Jodeci. And in my mind, I'm like, why do you know who Jodeci is? I'm 11, mom is 34. She's 10 years younger than I am right now. She was young. She knows who Jodeci is. She knows who Jodeci is.
00:46:33
Speaker
So we had young parents to introduce us to the 70s. Yeah. but wait But we didn't know nothing about no 60s. ah Now, you know what?
00:46:45
Speaker
Because I first started... listening to stuff in the 60s, our grandparents. Yeah. Our grandparents.
00:46:56
Speaker
And so, and then the Stevie Wonder at the close of a century album is like four disc album came out and it started with him starting out in Motown as a child.
00:47:08
Speaker
And then, and then the Jackson five. Jackson five. I was in the Jackson five before anybody, Michael Jackson was out with bad. Yeah.
00:47:19
Speaker
And we were living in Richmond at the time. So I'm seven or eight years old. And so ladies and gentlemen, I'm going to get to why I'm bringing this up, but dad had, mom and dad had all these old records. yeah He was like, you like Michael Jackson, you need to listen to the Jacksons.
00:47:38
Speaker
I was like, who are the Jacksons? Yeah. Right? Who were the Jacksons? Because I knew about the Victory album, but I didn't know that they was really doing stuff. He was like, here, listen to all these records. And he had all of their records after when they became the Jacksons and not the Jackson 5. Yeah.
00:47:53
Speaker
Mind you, ladies and gentlemen, a record player, because this is around the time where tapes, records were still kind of around, but CDs were the new thing. yeah So records were still kind of being sold, but not really.
00:48:06
Speaker
Yeah. Okay? And I learned how to work a record player, because Dad showed me how to work a record player, how to put it on a song that you want to listen to. Because there are no It's not a a button you can just push to. No. You got to count the lines. You got to count the lines. There are little line breaks, and you count the lines. Okay, I'll need the third song, so go to the third line. And that's how you start the song. That's how you start the song. Yeah. But yes, we had parents that were younger,
00:48:35
Speaker
I get what you're saying, that the parents aren't showing the kids. But ladies gentlemen, what are we talking about? So there is some viral videos going around. And I guess this would be Gen Alpha. I don't know where Gen Z ends and Gen Z Alpha begins.
00:48:50
Speaker
But Gen Z could still be a part of this as well, because they don't recognize certain things. And there are parents talking to their kids. They're teenagers now. And they were like, they would ask them, hey, do you know what burning a CD is?
00:49:04
Speaker
And they would say things like, send a CD on fire? Yeah. ah So Gen Alpha is 2010 onward. Okay. So these are Gen Alpha kids. Okay. so i'm a But Gen Z could still fall into that. So younger Gen Z people. Don't know really what pay phones are.
00:49:20
Speaker
No. Don't know what calling cards are. No. They would ask them, hey, do you know what a collect call is? ah No. They were flabbergasted. Yeah. And I was like. i let say Unless they know somebody that's been locked up.
00:49:35
Speaker
Because you definitely still deal with collect calling. No. I think they got calling cards in jail now. Unfortunately, I know. Yeah. yeah so Okay.
00:49:46
Speaker
So, yes, you still... I'm going to charge you for a collect call now. You put... you Well, you put money on like an account.
00:49:58
Speaker
Yeah. And they can call you, yes. Right. But it still gets... You're getting a call from... but but Yeah, yeah, yeah. But no, a collect call was when somebody didn't have no money. he was Because we used to have pay phones back in the Liz and John. Yes. Yes. These young kids don't know what a payphone is. It's like when you got to buy your phone.
00:50:15
Speaker
No. A payphone are phones that were out in public. Yes. You had to have a quarter and later 35. thirty five said No, later. got It started as a dime.
00:50:25
Speaker
First of all, that was before our time. it But it started as a dime. but Our time, it was a quarter. And then it did go up to like 35 cents after that. Yeah. And you would put some money in the little slot and you would dial your number. Now, if you didn't have no money, there was a certain system that you could use to call somebody and they had to accept the charges and they would be that was those charges to be put on their phone bill.
00:50:48
Speaker
Yes. Yeah. Long distance calls cost money back in the day. These kids also don't know that Internet to them is so readily available and so fast.
00:51:00
Speaker
Yeah. It's literally just you open the browser and you're on the Internet. That is not how it used to be. But we've talked about dial-up before, but they don't understand the fact that the internet, you had to go to the computer to get to... That was the only place that you could get the internet. There was no such thing as streaming, because you can get the internet to your television now,
00:51:23
Speaker
Yeah. Your phone, your tablet, everything. get in No, you had to sit down at a desktop computer. yeah and And again, got to explain what a desktop computer is. No, these young kids know what a desktop is because they're using those for gaming systems. Okay. Okay. yeah yeah Yes. You had to sit at a desktop computer.
00:51:44
Speaker
Yeah. yeah and and And get on to the internet. It wasn't internet's just always on and there and you just open the browser. No, you had to go to the internet.
00:51:59
Speaker
You had to get there. i don't know how else to describe but... but But that that's what it was. You had to log on. they They got songs now at the push of a button.
00:52:12
Speaker
Any song they want at the push of button. They don't understand what it's like, even in the internet age, to try and download a song. Forget a whole album, a song. One song. Off of Napster, LimeWire, Kazaa, and you think you got the song. You download it all night long, and song it's not the songs you wanted.
00:52:30
Speaker
Or you hear, gangsta grills, grills, grills, grills. all through the song, because it's from somebody's mixtape. A DJ Mac exclusive. Fuck it. And you'll be like, no.
00:52:44
Speaker
I just want the song. They don't know nothing about that. just want the They don't know about. Okay, go ahead. I had to relive that experience, because i you know I'm ah a data scientist now. I was actually coding something, and I was running a model, and it actually took hours all day long for this model to run. And I'm like, this is how the internet used to be.
00:53:08
Speaker
yeah This is how it used to be. This is how long things used to take on the internet. And I was flabbergasted that I actually had to wait more than like five minutes for something to render or for a model to run. And and ah because even I've gotten used to how quick and accessible everything is.
00:53:32
Speaker
when but but It wasn't for what? 20 years ago, it really wasn't. Look, Wi-Fi was barely a thing 20 years
Evolution of Communication Technology
00:53:43
Speaker
ago.
00:53:43
Speaker
Yeah. It was barely a thing. It used to be that you only had internet at one computer. Yes. For the entire house. Because you're plugged in with your phone cord into the motor.
00:53:58
Speaker
Right. it's on, the internet exists only on that computer. It is not available to the entire household. You have to go. i don't understand. And there's no other way for me describe.
00:54:10
Speaker
You had to go to the internet. Look, another thing these kids don't get, these I'm talking about Gen Alpha now, the older Gen Alpha, that the these kids who are in high school now, right?
00:54:23
Speaker
They don't know because they could just FaceTime their friend whenever they want to. Anytime of the day and they could talk for hours. Yeah. We had to wait until after 9 p.m.
00:54:34
Speaker
Yeah. Because we only had a certain amount of hours on our cell phone. Yeah. But after 9 p.m.? Not hours, minutes. Yes. Our cell phone, it was in minutes. It wasn't like, oh, you get six hours free. No. You had 120 minutes if new have you got the cheek plant. Yeah.
00:54:54
Speaker
to talk, and then after that, they started charging you per minute. Yes. yeah Astronomical prices. Yes. So you had to wait until after 9 when it was free. And don't call me before 9, because I had one of my boys used always call me at like 8.45. I'm like, bro, just wait 15 minutes.
00:55:13
Speaker
And sometimes I'd forget. And I'm like, yo. We've been talking for 10 minutes. I'm using up my minutes, man. I call you back after 9. Yeah. Or call my house phone. Don't call my cell phone before 9 PM. If you got to talk to me before 9 PM, call my house phone.
00:55:28
Speaker
Yep. And the house phone is, kids, a stationary phone that exists in the house that was available to everyone in the house. Everyone shared the same phone number.
00:55:42
Speaker
And you had that thing. And anybody could call it faith for anybody in the house. Yes. One number for everybody.
00:55:53
Speaker
For everybody. Everybody didn't have a number. Let me tell you, in high school, if you had your own line. Oh, that i was just getting ready to say that. When you was really fancy, you had you had a second line. If you had your own line in high school,
00:56:07
Speaker
and you didn't have to deal with, this is another thing kids don't have to deal with. The parent picking up the other end and being like, get off the phone. I need to make a call. And you on there with your friend or you trying to holler at a tenderoni or something like that and you just got embarrassed.
00:56:21
Speaker
If you had your own line and you never had to deal with your parent cutting in, talking about they need to use the phone because you had your own, you were it. Like you were it. If you had a pager and your own line, you were it.
00:56:33
Speaker
Let me tell you. Our mother was a hater. and forler I love her dearly. yeah I'd be on there trying to mack on a young tender brony. You know I'm saying?
00:56:45
Speaker
Hello? Hello? You know if there's no dial tone yeah that somebody's on the phone. yeah You could go find the phone and find out what they're talking. But no. Hello? Hello?
00:56:56
Speaker
Yeah, mom, I'm on the phone. Well, get off because I need to make a phone call. Okay, several times. Several times. Dad every once in a while, but then dad would go on the phone, who you talking to?
00:57:09
Speaker
A friend of mine. Who is it?
00:57:14
Speaker
it's It's Lisa. Hello, Lisa. It is nice to meet you. i' am Bruce's father. You will never notice struggle, kids. You will never notice struggle. Y'all get mad because your parents want your location?
00:57:26
Speaker
A location. Well, they didn't need our location. They didn't need our location. Because they knew where we were. well now Well, sometimes. we We were kids. We left the house. We just left the house.
00:57:37
Speaker
Yes. They didn't know where we were. They knew certain locations where they could go. They would probably find us. Yes. But we was out in the wilderness. Yes. it would Literally. and You didn't know where your kid was.
00:57:50
Speaker
You just hoped they told you the truth. But surely, you didn't know where your kid was. But it's like, y'all worried because they got your location on? They would get on the other line and listen.
00:58:03
Speaker
Yes. And you wouldn't know another person was on the phone if they had their finger a there hand over their receiver. They'd be like, and listening in on that conversation, what they talking about?
00:58:14
Speaker
You didn't have Unless you left the house. These kids also don't know. Texting used the cost. Texting per text.
00:58:25
Speaker
Per text and you had to pay money to text people. That was not a free service. yeah there This whole unlimited texting, unlimited minute, unlimited like talk time and all that stuff.
00:58:39
Speaker
Yeah, there was no unlimited nothing. That came with technology. The technology, it got cheaper to do these things because the technology got so advanced that they could offer unlimited. But before,
00:58:51
Speaker
You had to pay for that time. You had to pay. Remember when you had to pay for data? You had to pay for data. It wasn't unlimited. I mean, i understand there are still some plans that's not unlimited, but most most cell phone companies give you unlimited data. Yes.
00:59:07
Speaker
that That wasn't a thing. That didn't used to be a thing. and i that This just came to me. I am a... block texter. yeah Some people are block texter. Some people are stream texters. Ladies gentlemen, what I mean by that is somebody, you're having a conversation with somebody and they send you seven texts in a row. They're all one line.
00:59:28
Speaker
Right. They go boom, boom, and boom, boom. boom boom boom yeah I literally hate that. It's people putting in their own beats, like their own pauses. So it'll be, girl i got to tell you something.
00:59:41
Speaker
And that's the end of the message. And then the next message is, because you are not going to believe this. And you have to read it. if It's inserting drama. into what you would normally just probably just you do a block so people just read it you try to read it in the other person's voice.
00:59:59
Speaker
I mean you always read in another person's voice. Yeah but the stream text is is to insert those those beats into a conversation those dramatic pauses.
01:00:11
Speaker
ah Not everybody for dramatic pauses. I am actually neither. I don't do a block and I don't do the stream. I send you one text.
01:00:21
Speaker
yeah And it's short. And if I have to send more, then I'm sending a voice note. And if I have to do more than one voice note, then I'm calling because I don't, I'm not going, I'm not goingnna write a book.
01:00:33
Speaker
but I would call you the queen of voice note, but I got a friend and it's like, okay, she's always like, okay, let me tell you what's going on. And then I'll have like seven voice notes because they're only a minute long. yes I have like seven voice notes. I was like, you know, you could probably just call me. yes it's just like here and It's like hearing an audio novel.
01:00:50
Speaker
Yes, it is like a podcast. Like, honestly, sometimes I get voice notes from my friends and I just make some popcorn. I sit down, turn the phone on and go play all. Yeah.
01:01:03
Speaker
And you get the T that way. You know, you get the T. But I'm a blocked texter. And I think it's because texts used to cost per text. Yeah. And I got used to saying everything that I needed to say in one text because I'm only paying 10 cents once. Yeah.
01:01:17
Speaker
Yes. Yes. Y'all think it's 10 cents. What's the big a deal? First of all, I was only making minimum wage. Minimal wage was $6.80 an hour. Yeah. Okay. So you do the math at $6.80 an hour for 40 hours a week.
01:01:30
Speaker
How much money is that? It ain't a lot. It ain't a lot. It's less than 200. It's little bit more than $250. Right. And then take tax. So it ain't a lot.
01:01:41
Speaker
And think about how many text messages you send a day. Think of how much data you use. Just checking your email or getting on Instagram.
01:01:53
Speaker
Like how much data Oh, I, you can- Actually go on to your bill and look at how much data you use and then multiply that by 10 cents.
01:02:05
Speaker
And you tell me if it adds up or not. i realized that I needed to get an unlimited plan probably like 10, was like 10 or 12, 15 years ago. Time is all just morphing together as I get older. Yeah.
01:02:21
Speaker
But when I saw that I had used 32 gigs of data in one month. And i was like, oh yeah, I need an unlimited plan because this is ridiculous. A $700 phone bill. yeah This is untenable.
01:02:35
Speaker
Yeah, that this is ridiculous. But ladies and gentlemen, this is, you know, if if your Gen Zers, younger Gen Zers and Gen Alpha don't know about the 90s or what they love to call now the it's your fault.
01:02:48
Speaker
yeah it's your fault now You needed to explain this. You need to show movies from that era and then they'll ask questions. Yes, it's the parents' fault. for not I'm telling you, if and when I become a mother, i am showing them the old movies.
01:03:06
Speaker
You got to. You are going to listen to the old songs and watch the biopics and all of the things. You are going to know your history, your cultural history and heritage.
01:03:19
Speaker
You're going to know it. it is It is my responsibility to make sure that you understood how difficult it was for me to live. when I was your age and how easy you have. Yeah, no, don't do that.
01:03:32
Speaker
No. Don't do that. But I mean, yeah, I mean, it's like, you know, passing on cultural traditions and stuff like that. I think we lost the plot somewhere and people are not making sure. I love when I see kids that will vibe out to like, oh, SWV or something like that. You know what saying? I'm like. That they learn from TikTok. What'd you know about SWV they'll know the whole out why because when their mom was cleaning up
01:04:01
Speaker
I'm like, you know, our parents are playing their music. We are playing our music. And so that's jams. Yeah. To clean our parents were also playing 90s jams because Don't Be Cruel. We knew Saturday, Don't Be Cruel, come on.
01:04:16
Speaker
But again, our parents were young. They were so young. It was their music. They were so young. it would there They were the demographic for this music. Yeah. they in their 30s, they were young. Late 20s, early 30s. That's where they were. yeah so so So this was also, they were also listening to the radio but and knowing in the new songs and stuff. Like, it was there. it They were just old to us.
01:04:40
Speaker
But like, no, now you you've got kids that like know these old songs and stuff. And it's 100% because the way they were raised. So when you got kids that just don't know nothing,
01:04:55
Speaker
That's the parents' fault. That's not the kids' fault. They don't know to look for this stuff. Well, I had heard about Blaxploitation movies and then sought them out. Our parents didn't introduce us to Blaxploitation movies.
01:05:09
Speaker
Um...
Blaxploitation Influence on Culture
01:05:10
Speaker
Through the music, because the way I knew about ah Sweet Sweet Back's badass song was because didn't Earth, Wind & Fire do the soundtrack for that before they were really Earth, Wind & Fire? They did that soundtrack. They didn't get paid for it either.
01:05:25
Speaker
Yeah, well. Melvin Van Peeples. God rest his soul. On that note, Jay, what do you want to tell the people out there? Hey, there's a product that my mom put me onto called Skin So Soft.
01:05:40
Speaker
It is a mosquito repellent. Get it.
01:05:45
Speaker
I don't know y'all see my hands. They're cut up, scratched up, because I got so many mosquito bites. I wear long sleeves and long pants, so they've been biting me on my hands. And I've been itching.
01:05:56
Speaker
Skin's so soft. It don't stink. it so It's very nice. It's a lovely ah blend, and it keeps the mosquitoes away. You're going to need that.
01:06:07
Speaker
You're going to need that, especially down here in Atlanta. Freedom. Freedom. Freedom. ah Okay, get some stuff. They don't even to sponsor to the show, ladies and gentlemen. But on that note, to get I want to thank you for listening.
01:06:20
Speaker
I want to thank you for watching. And until next time, as always, holla.
01:06:28
Speaker
That was a hell of a show. Thank you for rocking with us here on Unsolicited Perspectives with Bruce Anthony. Now, before you go, don't forget to follow, subscribe, like, comment and share our podcast wherever you're listening or watching it to it. Pass it along to your friends. If you enjoy it, that means the people that you rock will will enjoy it also. So share the wealth, share the knowledge, share the noise.
01:06:51
Speaker
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01:07:03
Speaker
But the real party is on our Patreon page. After Hours Uncensored and Talking Straight-ish, After Hours Uncensored is another show with my sister. And once again, the key word there is uncensored. Those are exclusively on our Patreon page.
Conclusion and Call to Action
01:07:16
Speaker
Jump onto our website unsolicitedperspective.com. .com for all things us.
01:07:21
Speaker
That's where you can get all of our audio, video, our blogs, and even buy our merch. And if you really feel generous and want to help us out, you can donate on our donations page. Donations go strictly to improving our software and hardware so we can keep giving you guys good content that you can... clearly listened to and that you can clearly see.
01:07:40
Speaker
So any donation would be appreciative. Most importantly, I want to say thank you. Thank you. Thank you for listening and watching and supporting us. And I'll catch you next time.
01:07:52
Speaker
Audi 5000. Peace.