Tamron Hall and Kandi Burrus declined to share their first experiences with racism after being asked about them on Wednesday’s episode of Watch What Happens Live.
The 49-year-old talk show host and reality star Kandi, 44, appeared remotely on the Bravo talk show and host Andy Cohen, 52, quickly brought up racism in light of the new dialog on race relations sparked by the police killing of unarmed black man George Floyd in Minnesota.
Andy from his home in New York City said that he was finding personal stories ‘connective’ to the whole experience and asked them both if they had specific memories growing up of experiencing racism, with Tamron asked to respond first.
Politely declined: Tamron Hall during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live on Wednesday declined to share her experiences with racism growing up
The former NBC News national correspondent called it an ‘interesting question’.
‘Obviously I’ve heard and watched so many other friends and family members and celebrities and non-celebrities talk about it. For me, we don’t have enough time to name all of the things that I’ve seen, that I’ve experienced,’ Tamron said.
She recalled hosting a special following the shooting death of black teenager Trayvon Martin in 2012 and focusing on the same subject.
‘Now, in reflection, I feel like it’s not productive because we know what’s happening now. What happened to me as a kid in Texas, even as a young woman trying to break into this business. …We know the story, so whether it’s my story or Kandi’s story,’ said Tamron who added there were enough racism stories ‘in the bank that we know what the problem is’.
Also passed: Kandi Burruss also declined to share her childhood experiences with racism
‘To unload a bunch of stories, we know the stories, you know the stories, Kandi knows the stories. But what do we do now?,’ Tamron said.
Kandi said she agreed with Tamron.
‘We can keep going on and on and on about the past, but right now we really need to be putting that plan of action together to figure out how we can continue the fight and not just let it be just for now,’ Kandi said.
Action plan: ‘We can keep going on and on and on about the past, but right now we really need to be putting that plan of action together to figure out how we can continue the fight and not just let it be just for now,’ Kandi said
‘How do we continue the fight? And that’s the main conversation that we need to have,’ she added.
Tamron talked about the progress in the Black Lives Matter movement, which was met with disdain by some in 2013 when it was launched after George Zimmerman was acquitted in the shooting death of black teenager Trayvon in Florida.
‘Now when you go on social media, every network, every person with a voice has a black box on their Instagram or a message showing their support,’ she noted.
Important strides: Tamron talked about the progress in the Black Lives Matter movement, which was met with disdain by some in 2013 when it was launched after George Zimmerman was acquitted in the shooting death of black teenager Trayvon Martin in Florida
Kandi expressed her frustration with All Lives Matter proponents who don’t understand the meaning of the Black Lives Matter movement and accuse her of being alienating.
‘I’m not trying to alienate you, I’m just trying to get everyone to include us,’ Kandi said.
The Real Housewives Of Atlanta star also got emotional while discussing bringing up racism with her children.
Racism talk: The Real Housewives Of Atlanta star also got emotional while discussing bringing up racism with her children
She said her four-year-old son Ace was a policeman on career day and her husband Todd Tucker, 46, tried to explain current events and the civil unrest to him.
‘Ace was confused. He was like, ”So, the police are the bad guys?” Now isn’t that crazy to have to explain that to a four-year-old?,’ Kandi said as her voice cracked.
‘For you to be black and have to worry about the police being the bad guys. I know you guys say I cry all the time, but that’s an emotional thing for me,’ Kandi said wiping away tears.
Tears flowing: ‘For you to be black and have to worry about the police being the bad guys. I know you guys say I cry all the time, but that’s an emotional thing for me,’ Kandi said wiping away tears
‘And Andy, I know you care about us, but you don’t have to think about that. That’s something that we have to think about for our sons,’ she added as Andy, who has one-year-old son Benjamin, nodded in agreement.
Kandi said she has been preaching to friends to encourage their children to become political leaders starting at the local level.
‘We need to start grooming our children the same way that white men are groomed to go into politics,’ Kandi said.
Kandi said she’s been on a Real Housewives Of Atlanta group chat that recently has been focused on how they can encourage Bravo to show they are allies and supporting them in the movement.
Andy said he was hoping they could all work together to work for change and make things better.
Political leaders: Kandi said she has been preaching to friends to encourage their children to become political leaders starting at the local level