probation or whatever we’re on with this COVID still.
much more is it going to take? Am I spinning my wheels? Am I standing at the edge of the ocean screaming into the ocean and no one hears me? That’s where the frustration comes in, with people you are trying to reach. If the heads of companies are hearing what you’re having to say, it can make a real difference when it comes to employment standards. If your political leaders are listening, the people who create law, if your president is listening to you.
TH: Probation. Oh my gosh. Well listen, I look forward to days on the water. I look forward to my son being able to learn how to swim and do all those things with you, and most importantly, I look forward to you continuing to have this unique voice and this powerful presence, not just today but for many, many years to come. DL: Thank you, Tamron. Very rarely do we get this opportunity to interview each other, which says a lot about what our forefathers did to help progress when it comes to race. But I am so proud of you, Tamron. Every day when your show comes on I’m almost in tears, because to see a black woman with that platform is just amazing and
TH: We know one person is listening: Dave Chappelle. [Ed note: In his recent Netflix special, Chappelle criticized Lemon for calling on black celebrities, rather than protestors, to speak up about racial injustice.] Why don’t we make it a Dave Chappelle moment. We know
“IT’S TIRING THAT PEOPLE COULD THINK THAT
YOUR VOICE, YOUR ACTIONS ARE INTIMIDATING.”
somebody in Hollywood is listening. I had to interject. Tell me about this Dave Chappelle moment. Have you spoken to him on the phone? Did you email Dave Chappelle? When is lunch? When is your beer summit— or I should say, your bong summit? DL: I’ve reached out to Dave and we talked. There is something in the works that we are planning. I don’t know if it’s going to be a bong summit, but it’s going to be a summit of sorts. And I agree with him—and listen, I’m not here to fight with anyone, and I’m especially not here in this moment to fight with a black person who holds a position of power in this country, because we all need each other in this moment. All hands on deck, and we need to unify in our message and in our strategy.
how you use it is humbling and inspiring. I’m so happy that you’re in my life, that you’re my friend, but I’m also happy about what you bring to the world. TH: There was a far greater black woman that had this space. DL: Oprah. TH: I think you might know her as Oprah. As my brother calls me Noprah. Thank you for the compliment. DL: Hold on. There’s one more thing that I want to say. I want people to know—and I’m not sure how this will fit in—but we were talking about people telling you to carry yourself as a black man in a black body in this country. It’s tiring that people could think that your voice, your words, your actions, your stature are intimidating. I don’t know if white people can relate to that, but black men certainly can. Just our actions and our presence is deemed more threatening. That’s exhausting. I want that to stop because I’m tired of being exhausted in that way, just by my mere difficult presence. That’s it.
TH: Your mother—does she help you? DL: I talk to my mother every single day. Every single night when I’m coming home, my mom is my reset. Hey, what are you doing? Did you watch the show? Great. We talk about food or something and then I can decompress. And then on the weekends usually...honestly, I try to get as close to water as possible. Out on the beach, out on the boat or out on a lake or something, because I feel like that is my happy place. I try to lean into the people I love the most, into my fiancé and my crazy kids who are fur babies, my dogs, and talk to people like Tamron Hall. And spend more time with people like Tamron Hall when we’re out of
TH: You are a part of the revolution, and I know that people realize that. It’s been my pleasure to watch with each passing moment more and more people recognize why diversity is necessary, and why you are a necessary part of this. 107
