Video: @GovernorWilder Interviewed at Length by @RolandSMartin

Virginia's 66th Governor, L. Douglas Wilder, Talks with BlackStar Network owner Roland Martin 👊🏽 “There are too many people out here hustling race and not meeting the people, Wilder says at 9 minutes as he and Roland Martin talk about the real meaning of Juneteenth on Rollin’ With Roland, Martin’s interview show on the BlackStar Network.

Wilder is the author of the book Son of Virginia and regularly gives his views on current events at Wilder Visions. Martin’s latest book is White Fear which covers the growing anxiety among some in the U.S. as the nation becomes more diverse.

At 91 years old, America’s first Black Governor to be elected after Reconstruction is as sharp as a knife and has much to say about the history of America and his political experiences in Virginia.

This lengthy interview of Wilder is rare given that legacy news organizations in Virginia such as the Richmond Times-Dispatch and The Virginian-Pilot rarely publish his views though he is a historic figure.

“We have a Mayor here in the City of Richmond who just spent a half a million dollars to have the city come up with a new logo.”

Wilder talks with Roland Martin, owner of the BlackStar Network, on his show Rollin’ With Roland for over an hour. Wilder served as Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1990 to 1994. He also served as Mayor of Richmond and was elected Virginia’s first Black Lt. Governor in 1985.

The times of particularly interesting moments ⏱ during the interview are noted below.

👊🏽 At 8 minutes Wilder speaks on what his father told hm about his grandfather’s experiences during slavery.
👊🏽 At 17 minutes Wilder and Martin talk about the influence of dark money in politics after the Supreme Court’s citizens united decision.

👊🏽 At 28 minutes Wilder talks about his campaign for Lt. Governor.
👊🏽 At 31 minutes Wilder speaks how he was received in Southwest Virginia as he campaigned in the 1980s.
👊🏽 At 42 minutes Wilder speaks with Martin on why historically Black colleges and universities remain historically underfunded.
👊🏽 At 48 minutes Martin asks Wilder about his views on Justin Fairfax, Terry McAuliffe and what advice he might have for President Biden.
👊🏽 At 51 minutes Wilder asserts that “education will always be at the top” of all public policy issues because it impacts every other issue.
👊🏽 At 60 minutes Wilder criticizes Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney for spending a half million dollars on a new logo for the city.

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