Somewhere in 2018 I got the idea to do a documentary that would examine the role of voter access in the upcoming presidential election. My across-the-hall colleague June Cross was quietly working on her own documentary on the same subject. Fortunately we got into a conversation that led to a collaboration between us, a great colleague from Frontline, Tom Jennings, and the data team at Columbia Journalism Investigations. And we were all fortunate to have CJS Dean Steve Coll and Raney Aronson, Executive Producer of Frontline support the idea. The result was Whose Vote Counts, a film that was released just before the election and rewarded with the esteemed Peabody Award (it came in the mail today.) I’m thrilled we got to do this film and angry that we even needed to. But I’m nonetheless thankful for this recognition.
I’m told Vader is here too but no way I’m going near that thing.
The best thing I did this week was having lunch with 90 year old former United States Senator (and Presidential candidate) Fred Harris, who also happens to be the last surviving member of the Kerner Commission.
Albuquerque.
Albuquerque.
Albuquerque.
Albuquerque.
Dipped for a few with the camera this morning. Tribeca on a workday.
Me at my most touristy. Hey Seattle, thanks for coming out last night!
Me at my most touristy. Hey Seattle, thanks for coming out last night!
Me at my most touristy. Hey Seattle, thanks for coming out last night!
Me at my most touristy. Hey Seattle, thanks for coming out last night!
Hard to explain the impact this book had on me and my whole generation of writers and critics. Greg Tate created a body of work that literally showed how it should be done (and showed lots of us who were struggling to get a foothold that it even could be done.) Rest In Peace, Greg. And thank you for the example you set.
So long San Francisco and thank you to everyone who came out to support The Matter of Black Lives.
