♪ >>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS."

"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM, BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, AND BY -- >>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "METRO FOCUS."

I'M JACK FORD.

WE HAVE A PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR NEW YORK AND THE NATION.

JUST LAST FRIDAY THE CITY'S ESCALATING GUN VIOLENCE CRISIS ADDED YET ANOTHER TRAGIC CHAPTER AS A GROUP OF NYPD OFFICERS WAS AMBUSHED DURING A DOMESTIC DISPUTE CALL IN HARLEM.

IN THE WAKE OF THE DEADLY SHOOTING MAYOR ERIC ADAMS HAS ROLLED OUT AN AMBITIOUS AND SOMEWHAT CONTROVERSIAL ANTIGUN LAW.

IN WASHINGTON THEY'RE WONDERING WHAT'S NEXT AFTER THE PACKAGE WAS BLOCKED IN THE SENATE.

REPRESENTING THE 16th DISTRICT IN THE BRONX AND WESTCHESTER IS CONTINUING HIS FIGHT FOR AND ONE THAT EVEN LED TO HIS ARREST LAST WEEK AT A PROTEST AT THE CAPITOL.

SO WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE CONGRESSMAN BOWMAN JOINING US ONCE AGAIN TO FOLLOW UP ON THESE AND SO MANY ISSUES.

WELCOME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPENDING TIME WITH US.

>> OF COURSE.

GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT.

LET ME START WITH THE VOTING RIGHTS BILL.

AS I MENTIONED, LOCKED IN THE SENATE, NOT THE HOUSE, BUT FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE DO YOU SEE ANY VIABLE PATH FORWARD FOR EITHER THIS PACKAGE OR SOME VERSION OF THIS PACKAGE THAT COULD MAKE IT THROUGH THE SENATE?

>> YES, I DO SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAVE NO CHOICE.

WE SEE STATE LEGISLATURES ACROSS THE COUNTRY DOING EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO MAKE IT HARDER TO VOTE AND IF EVERYONE DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS, EASY ACCESS TO THE BALLOT, WE DO NOT HAVE A DEMOCRACY.

OUR DEMOCRACY HAS BEEN UNDER ATTACK FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

LITERALLY LAST YEAR ON JANUARY 6th SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US AS CONGRESS TO STEP UP AND DO OUR JOBS AND THE JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ACT AND THE FREEDOM TO VOTE ACT ARE TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT WILL HELP US GET THERE AND NOW IS THE TIME TO ALTER THE SENATE RULES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PASS THESE TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION.

THE FILIBUSTER WAS NOT PART OF THE CONSTITUTION, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THE FOUNDING FATHERS WANTED.

THEY NEVER WANTED A SUPER MAJORITY VOTE IN THE SENATE TO PASS LEGISLATION SO IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING TO SEE TWO MEMBERS OF MY OWN PARTY PUSHING BACK AGAINST THE BILL.

SO, YES, THERE IS A PATH FORWARD.

WHETHER THE BILL IS BROKEN UP INTO PIECES THAT WILL ADDRESS ISSUES OF STATES NOT HAVING TO CHECK IN WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BEFORE CHANGING LEGISLATION, WHETHER IT'S OUTSIDE PRESSURE ON THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND THOSE TWO SENATORS, IT HAS TO HAPPEN AND THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT POINT.

IT'S NOT JUST WHAT HAPPENS IN CONGRESS, IT'S WHAT HAPPENS ON THE OUTSIDE.

IT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN ARIZONA AND WEST VIRGINIA.

REMEMBER, IT WAS THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, A DECADE LONG MOVEMENT THAT TRANSFORMED THIS COUNTRY AND GOT US VOTING RIGHTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS AT THE SAME TIME.

WE'RE GOING TO NEED A SIMILAR MOVEMENT IN THIS MOMENT TO GET IT DONE.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE NOTION OF POSSIBLY BREAKING THE BILL IN PARTS.

WE KNOW, WE ARE ENMESHED IN THIS HYPER PARTISAN ENVIRONMENT, ESPECIALLY IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD THE EXPRESSION ABOUT NOT LETTING PERFECT BECOME THE ENEMY OF GOOD.

SO YOU'VE HEARD SOME PEOPLE SAY IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT WE COULD FIND SOME PARTS OF THIS BILL THAT WE COULD PULL OUT AND MAYBE GET SOME PARTISAN AGREEMENT ON SO THAT SOMETHING GOOD CAN HAPPEN, MAYBE NOT PERFECT IN THE EYES OF THOSE THAT ARE BACKING THIS, BUT AT LEAST SOMETHING GOOD CAN HAPPEN?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, DEPENDS ON WHAT THAT IS, RIGHT?

WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS STATE LEGISLATURES GERRYMANDERING DISTRICTS TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE NOT MAKING THEM DEMOCRATIC AT ALL IN TERMS OF THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE DECIDING WHO IS BEING ELECTED.

STATE LEGISLATURES ARE MAKING IT EASIER FOR THE STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS TO OVERTURN ELECTIONS IN CERTAIN STATES.

THEY'RE TAKING AWAY DROP BOXES FOR MAIL-IN VOTING.

THEY'RE MAKING IT MORE CHALLENGING FOR PEOPLE TO RECEIVE A MAIL-IN BALLOT AND THEY'RE MAKING MORE -- THEY'RE CREATING MORE STRINGENT I.D.

LAWS SO IT DEPENDS.

THEY'RE DOING ALL OF THIS WITHOUT HAVING TO CLEAR IT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO IT DEPENDS WHAT WE ARE NEGOTIATING.

ALLOWING ALL OF THAT TO HAPPEN AND NOT ALLOWING PEOPLE TO RECEIVE FOOD AND WATER WHEN THEY'RE STANDING ON LINE TO VOTE IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND THIS IS, WHAT, WE ARE NOW 56 YEARS IF MY MATH IS CORRECT FROM THE ORIGINAL VOTING RIGHTS LEGISLATION.

MY MATH'S PROBABLY A LITTLE OFF, BUT IT'S SEVERAL DECADES, AND THE FACT THAT WE'RE STILL FIGHTING THIS FIGHT IN 2022 IS PREPOSTEROUS.

SO, YES, ALWAYS NEGOTIATING.

YES, WE DON'T WANT THE PERFECT TO BE THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD, BUT WE HAVE TO SEE THE DETAILS BEFORE WE CAN MAKE ANY OF THOSE DETERMINATIONS.

>> LET ME ASK YOU JUST VERY BRIEFLY, I ASKED YOU IN THE INTRODUCTION, YOU FOUND YOURSELF UNDER ARREST AT THE CAPITOL.

I'VE SEEN DETAILS ABOUT IT.

YOU ESSENTIALLY WALKED OVER TO SHAKE THEIR HANDS AND AS YOU SAID TO SHOW THEM YOU EXPRESSED SUPPORT AND YOU ENDED UP GETTING ARRESTED.

TELL US REAL QUICKLY WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT?

WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT?

>> I'M GOING TO BE OUT THERE WITH PROTESTORS EVERY TIME THEY COME TO WASHINGTON.

I WILL TRAVEL ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY TO CONTINUE TO BE WITH PROTESTORS.

THEY ARE PUTTING THEIR BODIES ON THE LINE.

THEY'RE ON HUNGER STRIKE.

THEY WERE OUT THERE IN THE FREEZING COLD TRYING TO GET THE ATTENTION OF EVERY SENATOR THAT WOULD LISTEN.

IF I HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PUT MY BODY ON THE LINE WITH THEM, I WILL DO THAT.

AND, AGAIN, WE ARE GOING TO NEED THIS SORT OF ACTION THE SAME WAY WE HAD ACTION LIKE THIS IN THE '60s, THE ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT, BLACK POWER MOVEMENT, CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

EVEN PRIOR TO THAT, SUFFRAGE MOVEMENTS, LGBTQ RIGHTS, ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT.

IT HAS BEEN MOVEMENTS BY THE PEOPLE, NOT ELECTED OFFICIALS, BY THE PEOPLE FIRST THAT HAS TRANSFORMED OUR COUNTRY OVER TIME.

WE NEED THE SAME THING RIGHT NOW.

>> I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A STUDENT AT YALE IN THE LATE '60s, EARLY '70s, GOING TO PROTEST MEETINGS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'RE BEING TEAR GASSED.

REALLY, IS THIS THE WAY THIS IS GOING TO PLAY OUT?

WE KNOW HOW THINGS DID, INDEED PLAY OUT AND HOW THE NATION DID CHANGE ITS STANCE ON THE VIETNAM WAR.

SPEAKING OF STANCES AND THINGS CHANGING.

I MENTIONED IN THE INTRODUCTION THE HORRIFIC INCREASE IN GUN VIOLENCE WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE CITY AND ESPECIALLY IN NEW YORK CITY.

MAYOR ADAMS HAS STEPPED UP AND IN RESPONSE MADE SOME PROPOSALS THAT INCLUDE AMONG OTHER THINGS MORE POLICE OFFICERS ON THE STREET ALSO GOING BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THE COURTS ABOUT PERHAPS CHANGING THE BAIL STATUTES AND THE APPROACH TO BAIL RIGHT NOW AND REINTRODUCING AN ANTI-GUN UNIT TO THE STREETS.

WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON THOSE PROPOSALS?

>> I DISAGREE WITH BAIL REFORM BEING THE REASON WHY WE ARE SEEING THE INCREASE IN GUN VIOLENCE.

OBVIOUSLY REASONABLE PEOPLE CAN GET IN A ROOM AND HAVE A DISCUSSION TO REALLY DRILL DEEP INTO WHAT'S CAUSING THE RISE IN GUN VIOLENCE.

WHAT WE HAVE SEEN REGARDING BAIL REFORM IS THERE HAVE BEEN SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE COMMITTED HARM AFTER BAIL REFORM, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY, WELL OVER 95% THE DATA SHOWS HAVE NOT, YOU KNOW, COMMITTED ANY ACTS OF HARM.

SO WE HAVE TO BE SMART.

WE HAVE TO BE COLLABORATIVE AND WE HAVE TO TAKE A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

ARE THESE COPS GOING TO BE PREVENTIVE?

IS THIS UNIT GOING TO BE PREVENTIVE?

THERE'S STILL A STRAIN BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITIES, PARTICULARLY LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES OF COLOR SO I BELIEVE A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH IS NECESSARY.

HOW ARE WE INVESTING IN JOBS?

HOW ARE WE INVESTING IN MENTAL HEALTH?

HOW ARE WE INVESTING IN EDUCATION?

HOW ARE WE INVESTING IN HOUSING TO ENSURE WE'RE PROVIDING SUPPORTS FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY BE AT RISK?

HOW ARE WE USING ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GOING TO JAIL BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD BAIL?

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED AND SEEN, YOU KNOW, IS PEOPLE ARE BEING LET RIGHT BACK INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES WITHOUT RESOURCES.

FINALLY, THIS MIGHT BE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, THE GUN THAT KILLED THE 22-YEAR-OLD OFFICER WHICH IS HORRIBLE AND HEARTBREAKING IS A GUN THAT CAME INTO NEW YORK FROM BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

AND THAT'S WHY FEDERAL LEGISLATION LIKE HR-8, AS WELL AS THE LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED BY JIM CLYBURN THAT HAS BEEN GATHERING DUST IN THE SENATE, NEEDS TO MOVE, BECAUSE THAT WOULD INCREASE BACKGROUND CHECKS, IT WOULD CLOSE LOOPHOLES AND STOP THE FLOW OF GUNS COMING INTO NEW YORK STATE BECAUSE A MAJORITY OF THE GUN CRIMES THAT HAPPEN IN OUR CITY AND IN OUR STATE ARE DONE WITH GUNS THAT COME FROM OUTSIDE THE STATE.

THIS IS FEDERAL POLICY THAT CAN CHANGE THIS AND MAYOR ADAMS HAS CALLED FOR FEDERAL POLICY TO STEP UP.

>> SO SOME WAY THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN AID THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HERE IN THE COUNTRY.

ANOTHER QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU.

YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN -- INTIMATELY INVOLVED IN LEGISLATION THAT'S DESIGNED TO PROVIDE YOU MENTIONED MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES FOR OUR RETURNING VETERANS.

GIVE US A QUICK SENSE OF THE AMENDMENT THAT YOU BACKED AND WHAT IT MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO FOR VETS?

>> YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T BEEN TAKING CARE OF OUR VETERANS FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

IT'S BEEN REALLY TOUGH FOR THEM TO TRANSITION BACK TO CIVILIAN LIFE.

THE -- YOU KNOW, THEY COME BACK INTO THE STATES.

MANY STATES DO NOT HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND ASPERATUS TO HELP THEM FIND HOUSING, JOBS AND THE HEALTH CARE THAT THEY DESERVE AND NEED, AND PARTICULARLY WE FOCUSED ON THE ISSUE OF MENTAL HEALTH BECAUSE THE DAILY SUICIDE RATES OF OUR VETERANS IS SO ASTRONOMICALLY HIGH AND HAS BEEN FOR SO LONG AND WE INTRODUCED THIS LEGISLATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WHO ARE TRANSITIONING BACK TO CIVILIAN LIFE HAVE ALL THE SUPPORTS THEY NEED, HAVE ACCESS TO THE HEALTH CARE THEY DESERVE AND HAVE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS WITHOUT HAVING TO TURN OVER A MILLION STONES TO GET THAT SUPPORT.

WE SPEND SO MUCH MONEY ON OUR MILITARY AND SO MUCH MONEY ON DEFENSE BUT MOST OF THAT MONEY AND THOSE RESOURCES GO TOWARDS WEAPONS MANUFACTURING AS OPPOSED TO TAKING CARE OF THE PEOPLE WHO LITERALLY RISK IT ALL FOR OUR FREEDOMS.

SO THAT'S WHY WE INTRODUCED THE LEGISLATION.

WE ARE EXCITED THAT IT PASSED THE HOUSE.

WE'RE EXPECTING IT TO PASS THE SENATE AND THIS MAY BE MY FIRST PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WILL BE SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE PRESIDENT.

>> GOOD FOR YOU.

GOOD FOR YOU.

ONE THAT IS WORTH WHILE.

YOU TALK ABOUT, I KNOW, IN THE LEGISLATION STEPS TO DESTIGMATIZE THE NOTION OF MENTAL HEALTH.

I INTERVIEWED ON OUR PROGRAM A TERRIBLY WOUNDED VETERAN WHO HAS COME BACK AND BEEN AN ADVOCATE.

HE SAID CURIOUSLY WHAT HE'S SEEN IS VETERANS WILL WORK OUT 24 HOURS A DAY TO REHAB PHYSICAL INJURIES BUT THERE'S A RELUCTANCE TO EVEN ADMIT THAT THE MENTAL DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE.

SO HOPEFULLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING WILL HELP WITH ALL OF THAT.

LAST AREA I WANT TO TOUCH BASE WITH YOU IF WE CAN, GOT ABOUT A MINUTE AND A HALF HERE.

YOU ARE AN EDUCATOR.

IT'S WHAT YOU DID BEFORE YOU WENT TO CONGRESS AND EARNED DOCTORATE IN EDUCATION.

THE FOUNDING PRINCIPAL OF A MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT HAD AN EXPANSIVE INTEREST FOR THE YOUNG STUDENTS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE SEEING HERE NOW ARE CALLS FOR KIND OF A RETURN TO REMOTE LEARNING.

WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON THE VALUE, THE PLUSES AND MINUSES, IF YOU WOULD, OF REMOTE LEARNING FOR THE ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE?

>> IT'S NOT AN EITHER/OR.

IT'S A BOTH/AND SITUATION.

WE NEED A REMOTE LEARNING OPTION, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS TIME -- THIS UNPREDICTABLE TIME OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

MANY STUDENTS AND MANY FAMILIES FOUND THAT THEIR KIDS ACTUALLY DID BETTER WITH REMOTE LEARNING SO MY HOPE WAS DURING THE LAST ADMINISTRATION AFTER WE PASSED THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN IN MARCH 2021 THAT THEY WOULD DO THE WORK TO CREATE A ROBUST, COMPREHENSIVE REMOTE LEARNING OPTION BEFORE OPENING SCHOOLS IN SEPTEMBER.

THEY DID NOT DO THAT SO WHEN THE ADAMS ADMINISTRATION CAME IN, THERE WAS NOTHING IN PLACE FOR THEM TO SORT OF LEAN ON.

AND THEN THEY WERE HAVING THIS EXTREME CONVERSATION, FULL REMOTE?

FULL OPEN?

IT'S BOTH.

REMOTE OPTION, OPEN THE SCHOOLS AND IN THE 21st CENTURY WE SHOULD MAINTAIN A REMOTE OPTION BECAUSE SOME KIDS HAVE -- ACTUALLY THRIVE ON THAT AND BECAUSE WE WANT TO LOWER CLASS SIZE AND BEING MORE INNOVATIVE IN GENERAL IN OUR SCHOOLS.

>> DO YOU THINK, THIS WILL BE THE LAST QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU, WE'VE SEEN SO MANY ISSUES HAVE BECOME POLITICIZED.

WE'VE SEEN ISSUES OF SCIENCE AND MEDICINE, VACCINES AND MASKS AND WE SEEM TO SEE NOW ISSUES OF SCHOOL CHILDREN AND WHAT'S POLITICIZED.

HOW DO WE STOP THAT?

>> WE START BY LISTENING, BY REALLY LISTENING TO EACH OTHER, REALLY HAVING HONEST CONVERSATIONS WITH EACH OTHER, UNDERSTANDING IN A DEMOCRACY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DISAGREE, REASONABLE PEOPLE DISAGREE AND THAT'S FINE, BUT IT CAN'T BE ABOUT RIGHT OR WRONG.

CAN'T BE DRIVEN BY EGO AND EVEN ANGER AND HATE.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER WE SHARE THIS COUNTRY, WE SHARE THIS PLANET TOGETHER.

IT'S ON US TO TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES, EACH OTHER AND OUR FAMILY.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR CHILDREN.

>> WELL, THAT'S A WONDERFUL WAY TO WRAP UP THIS CONVERSATION.

AGAIN, LISTEN TO EACH OTHER.

WE DON'T HAVE TO VILIFY SOMEBODY BECAUSE WE DON'T AGREE WITH THEM AND LET'S SEE IF WE CAN FIND SOME SORT OF MIDDLE GROUND.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I KNOW YOU'RE DOING A LOT.

GOT A LOT ON YOUR PLATE.

I'LL LET YOU GET BACK TO WORK.

WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO YOU SOON.

>> OF COURSE, JACK.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>>> ATHLETE, ACTIVIST, ICON, THE GREATEST.

FORMER HEAVY WEIGHT CHAMPION MOHAMED ALLI WAS ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

FROM HIS CHILDHOOD IN THE SEGREGATED SOUTH TO HIS FINAL FIGHT WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE, MOHAMED ALLI NEVER BACKED DOWN.

BANNED FROM BOXING DURING HIS PRIME BECAUSE HE REFUSED TO FIGHT IN VIETNAM, HE BECAME A SYMBOL OF THE ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT AND DEFENDER OF CIVIL RIGHTS.

AS THE GREATEST HE WAS A BOXER OF UNDENIABLE TALENT AND COURAGE AND IN THE RING ONLY ALI COULD FLOAT LIKE A BUTTERFLY AND STING LIKE A BEE.

BUT WHAT WAS ALI LIKE AT HOME AS A FATHER AND HUSBAND?

THE ANSWERS CAN BE FOUND IN THE NEW BOOK "AT HOME WITH MUHAMMAD ALI, A MEMOIR OF LOVE, LOSS AND FORGIVENESS" WRITTEN BY HIS THIRD YOUNGEST CHILD, HANNAH ALI AND BASED ON 80 HOURS OF RECORDINGS THAT A FATHER LEFT FOR HIS DAUGHTER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THIS IS REALLY AN AMAZING COLLECTION OF STORIES THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO TELL ABOUT YOUR FATHER.

FIRST, I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU, WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION TO DO THIS BOOK?

>> OH, MY GOSH.

I HAD A FEW.

SO THERE WAS THE SITUATION WITH MY FATHER BEING -- I ALWAYS SAY THAT HE BELONGED TO THE WORLD.

PEOPLE LOVE HIM.

THEY'RE SHARING SO MANY STORIES.

ASKING A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

THE QUESTION WE GET THE MOST IS WHAT WAS HE LIKE AT HOME?

WHAT WAS HE LIKE AS A FATHER?

WAS HE THAT BOASTFUL, BR BRAGG BRAGGADOCIOS.

I WANTED TO SHARE THAT SIDE OF MY FATHER WITH THE WORLD.

I WANTED TO SHARE THE THINGS I WAS LEARNING WITH THE AUDIO RECORDINGS HE GAVE ME IN THE '70s.

I WANTED TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION.

I WANTED TO SHARE MY MOTHER'S STORY AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP AND MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY FATHER.

>> WHILE THIS IS A BOOK, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE NOT GOING TO HEAR AUDIO RECORDINGS.

>> ZBLIET THERE ARE TRANSCRIPTS IN THERE.

>> RIGHT.

>> MAYBE IT'S NOT INTERESTING.

IT WOULD FIT WITH THE CHARACTER, HE HAD THE FORESIGHT TO MAKE SOME OF THESE AUDIO RECORDINGS, THAT HE THOUGHT IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT SOME OF THESE ARE PRESERVED FOR TIME.

>> PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THIS.

IN HIS MIND HIS GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT WAS BEING A FATHER.

HE LOVED BEING A FATHER.

HE USED TO ALWAYS SAY HE WAS THE DADDY TO THE WORLD.

HE DIDN'T WANT TO JUST BE OUR FATHER, HE WANTED TO BE THE WORLD'S FATHER.

HE WAS A HOME BODY.

HE LOVED BEING AT HOME.

HE COULD SIT IN HIS OFFICE FOR HOURS AT A TIME ON THE TELEPHONE TALKING.

THESE LITTLE FLEETING MOMENTS THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED WERE SO BEAUTIFUL AND THEY TOUCHED HIM.

HE WANTED TO PRESERVE THAT.

IT'S FUNNY.

HE KNOWS THAT ABOUT HIMSELF.

HE'S TELLING ME THROUGH THE TAPES, YOU GOING TO BE SO GLAD I THOUGHT OF THIS.

I'M SO HAPPY I'M SO HISTORY CONSCIOUS.

IT'S SO GOOD THAT I KNOW TO THINK ABOUT THIS AND PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE.

WE ALL WISH WE HAD TAPES WHEN I WAS YOUNG.

I'M DOING THIS BECAUSE I LOVE YOU.

LIFE IS SO BEAUTIFUL.

LIFE IS SO SHORT.

HE JUST WANTED TO CAPTURE THOSE MOMENTS THAT WERE GOING TO PASS.

>> I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT FOR OUR AUDIENCE TO HEAR ONE OF THEM.

IT'S YOU AND YOUR DAD SINGING "THIS IS YOU AND I DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE ♪ >> READY ♪ THIS IS DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE ♪ ♪ EACH NIGHT BEFORE YOU GO TO BED, MY BABY ♪ >> SO ONE OF THE THINGS I FIND SO INTERESTING IS THAT OFTENTIMES WHAT LITTLE THE PUBLIC KNOWS PARTICULARLY ABOUT A SPORTS FIGURE IS WA WE READ THROUGH THE SPORTS PRESS AND WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS WAS A CHANCE TO ACTUALLY SHOW THE HUMAN BEING BEHIND THE -- IN SOME WAYS THE MAN THAT YOUR FATHER WAS BUT ALSO SOMEWHAT OF THE CHARACTER THAT HE WAS PLAYING FOR THE PRESS?

>> YES, BECAUSE MY FATHER, HE'S ALWAYS BEEN OUTGOING.

HE WAS REALLY GREAT AT MARKETING.

HE KNEW HOW TO MARKET HIMSELF, SELL TICKETS.

THAT WAS A LARGE PART OF WHAT HE DID.

HE WAS ALSO TRYING TO PROMOTE BLACK LOVE, SELF-PRIDE SAYING I AM THE GREATEST.

HE WAS VERY HUMBLE.

UP UNTIL HIS LAST DAYS, DO PEOPLE STILL REMEMBER ME?

HE WAS EXCITED TO KNOW HE WAS STILL MAKING NEWS.

I SAID, DADDY, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

DO PEOPLE REMEMBER YOU?

IT WAS GENUINE.

HE KNEW THAT HE WAS GREAT BUT HE ALSO WAS -- HE NEVER TOOK IT FOR GRANTED AND HE WAS ALSO VERY HUMBLED BY IT.

HE NEEDED PEOPLE'S LOVE AND ATTENTION LIKE HE NEEDED AIR TO BREATHE AND HE GAVE THAT LOVE RIGHT BACK TEN FOLD.

OUR DOOR WAS ALWAYS OPEN.

IT WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE TO COME HOME AND FIND HOMELESS FAMILIES THERE.

IT WAS NORMAL OCCURRENCE FOR HIM TO PICK THEM UP AND PUT THEM IN THE BACK OF THE CAR.

WE WERE EATING, PEOPLE WERE REFUSED SERVICE HE BROUGHT THEM IN AND GAVE THEM SERVICE.

HOMELESS PEOPLE HE BROUGHT IN AND HADN'T HAD A BATH IN GOD KNOWS HOW LONG.

NEVER MADE A FACE AT THEM, HE WOULD HUG THEM.

I KNOW THIS IS GRAPHIC.

EVEN WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL, HE MADE ME FEEL SO LOVED.

I WOULD BE 5, 6 YEARS OLD AND PEE THE BED, DADDY, I PEED, HE WOULDN'T GET UP.

HE'D LAY THERE.

THAT WAS A BIG DEAL.

YOU FELT SO LOVED.

THERE WAS NEVER A TIME WHEN HE WOULD SEND YOU AWAY, PUT YOU OUT.

I WAS AN ANNOYING LITTLE GIRL.

SOME OF THOSE TAPES, HE'S ON THE PHONE TALKING ABOUT FREEING HOSTAGES.

I WANT SOME TOFFEE, YOU HAVE MY GOVERNESS CALL IN, I FINISHED DISTURBING HIM, GIVE ME SOME TOFFEE, HANNAH, SHUT UP, I'M ON THE PHONE.

I HAD THE FEELING AND THE TAPES VALIDATED IT.

NOW I HAD THE EVIDENCE OF THAT'S WHY.

I KNEW THAT FEELING.

>> THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT -- SO MUCH OF THE BOOK IT FEELS LIKE GOING WITH YOU THROUGH AN OLD FAMILY PHOTO ALBUM OR SOMETHING.

WHEN THERE IS SOME DISTANCE, WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT THE PHOTOS, THERE IS MEMORIES OF THIS TIME AND THIS PLACE AND THE PEOPLE THAT YOUR PARENTS WERE AS THEY GREW AS ADULTS.

I'M WONDERING WHAT WAS IT, ASIDE FROM THE GREAT TOFFEE STORY, WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT STOOD OUT TO YOU THAT YOU WERE LIKE, I ALMOST COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT THAT?

>> YES.

SO THINGS THAT I LEARNED, TOO, AND DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT.

LIKE I NEVER SAW MY PARENTS ARGUING AND I DON'T REMEMBER, I COMPLETELY BLOCKED OUT THE -- YOU KNOW, MOVING AND THE LAST NIGHTS OF THE HOUSE, ALL OF THAT.

I WAS 10 YEARS OLD.

I SHOULD HAVE SOME MEMORY OF IT.

I JUST REMEMBER MY PSYCHOLOGIST AT THE TIME BECAUSE I WAS STRUGGLING ABOUT WORRYING ABOUT MY FATHER SO MUCH, TELLING ME HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR PARENTS' DIVORCE?

I JUST BLANKED OUT AFTER THAT.

LATER WE WOULD ASK THEM, WELL, YOU BOTH LIKE MOVIES, YOU BOTH LIKE PICKLES, WHY CAN'T YOU GET ALONG OR BE TOGETHER?

THERE'S NO MEMORY OF THEM ARGUING.

MY MOTHER WANTED TO GET OUT ON OWN.

SHE MET HIM WHEN SHE WAS 18.

INFIDELITIES.

WE DISCOVERED THE LETTERS THAT HE WROTE TO HER IN 2012 OR '13 AND SHE NEVER SAW THEM.

I LEARNED ABOUT THAT AND THEN ALSO AS I WAS COMING HOME WITH ALL THESE NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS AND REMEMBERING LITTLE BITS OF HISTORY I WAS LEARNING MORE.

SOME THINGS WERE INACCURATELY REPORTED LIKE USUALLY HAPPENS.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> I WOULD GO TO MY MOM AND WE WOULD TALK IT THROUGH.

IT WAS BORN ON ITS OWN AND I WAS LEARNING IT AS I WAS WRITING IT TRYING TO SHARE THE STORY.

IT WAS OVERWHELMING.

I HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TELL THESE STORIES COHESIVELY IN A WAY TO MAKE IT INTERESTING AND INCLUDE ME IN A MEMOIR THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT PERSONAL FAMILY.

IT WAS A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR MYSELF.

I CONSIDER IT MY GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW I GOT THROUGH IT, YOU GUYS.

>> NO, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE FREQUENTLY, YOU KNOW, IF A -- ESPECIALLY IF A CHILD OF A CELEBRITY WHO WANTS TO MAINTAIN THAT CELEBRITY'S AURA OR THEIR LEGEND, ITS,ET CETERA, MAYBE THS SOME THINGS IN THE HOUSE THAT WE WANT TO KEEP TO OUR SELF.

>> RIGHT, NO.

>> YOU SPOKE ABOUT EVERYTHING.

>> I DID.

IT'S FUNNY.

IF THERE'S SECRETS I'M NOT EXPOSING, THEY'RE NOT MINE TO TELL.

IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT WOULD MAKE MY FATHER LOOK BAD.

REALLY IF THEY KNEW HE WOULD LOOK A LOT BETTER.

AND I ADDRESS THAT SOMETIMES.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE AREN'T MINE TO TELL BUT THEY'RE NOT REALLY ABOUT MY DAD PER SE.

IT'S HIM PROTECTING OTHER PEOPLE.

SO DADDY LIVED HIS LIFE LIKE AN OPEN BOOK.

EVEN WHEN HE WAS WITH MY MOTHER, HE WAS MARRIED.

HE DIDN'T HIDE HER.

HE DIDN'T -- THERE'S NOTHING THAT THE WORLD WILL EVER REALLY FIND OUT ABOUT HIM THAT HE DIDN'T ALREADY SHOW TO THE WORLD IN THAT REGARD.

HIS -- I THINK JUST HOW WE ARE AT HOME AND AROUND THE HOUSE, THE STRUGGLES HE WAS DEALING WITH, THE WORRIES, THE CONCERNS WE HAVE, HE WAS A HUMAN BEING LIKE ANYONE ELSE.

HE WASN'T AFRAID TO SHARE IT, SHOW IT.

HE WOULD CRY.

HE DIDN'T BOO HOO.

TEARS WOULD FALL.

HE WOULD SEE A HOMELESS FAMILY.

DADDY'S CRYING, THERE MUST BE SOMETHING AROUND THAT MADE HIM SAD OR MADE HIM HAPPY.

A LOT OF MEN ARE AFRAID TO SHOW THEIR EMOTIONS.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT TRUE STRENGTH IS BEING ABLE TO OWN IT, EXPRESS IT, BE COMFORTABLE WITH ALL OF YOUR EMOTIONS.

THAT'S HOW MY FATHER WAS.

VERY AFFECTIONATE, OPEN WITH HIS LIFE AND FEELINGS.

IN THE BOOK I TRIED TO SHOW THAT SIDE OF HIM.

SHOULD HE COME BACK AND FIGHT LARRY HOLMES.

THEY THOUGHT HE HAD PARKINSON'S SYNDROME, IT WAS HIS DISEASE.

PEOPLE THINK HE WAS OLDER AND MATURE, HE SPOKE SO QUICKLY AND FAST, WHEN HE STARTED SLOWING DOWN IT LOOKED LIKE HE WAS TALKING AT A REGULAR SPEED.

REALLY, HE WAS SLOWING DOWN.

THEN IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE YOU COULDN'T DENY IT.

LIKE I SEE HIM STUMBLE.

I'D SEE HIM SLEEPING OUTSIDE ON THE FRONT PORCH AND WOKE UP IN THE MORNING BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO DISTURB ANYONE, RING THE DOORBELL BECAUSE HE LOST HIS KEYS.

DADDY WOULD SLEEP ON THE SOFA.

HE HAD THIS WEIRD THING WITH NOT WAKING PEOPLE.

IF SOMEONE WAS TAKING A NAP, SHHH, IT COULD BE A STRANGER.

WE COULD BE WAITING FOR A FLIGHT IN THE PRIVATE ROOM AND SOME STRANGER IS ASLEEP ON THE SOFA.

HE TELLS US, SHHH IF SOMEONE IS TRYING TO REST.

AND SHARING HIS FOOD.

IF HE WAS EATING, HE WOULD START HANDING YOU FOOD FROM HIS PLATE.

WE WOULD EAT IN RESTAURANTS, HE WOULD GET UP WHEN HE COULD STILL WALK AROUND OR I'D HELP HIM, HE WOULD HAVE PRESIGNED AUTOGRAPHS.

HE'D HAVE A TOOTHPICK IN ONE SIDE OF HIS MOUTH.

HERE YOU GO, GOING TABLE TO TABLE.

THANK YOU, MUHAMMAD ALI.

THANK YOU.

DADDY WAS SO DOWN TO EARTH.

THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN'T SHARE HIM TO THE WORLD THAT HE ALWAYS BELONGED TO AND GAVE HIMSELF FULLY.

I SHARE A LOT OF STUFF.

SOME THINGS THAT PROBABLY SHOCK PEOPLE IN THERE THAT ARE A LITTLE PERSONAL.

MY DAD LIVED HIS LIFE LIKE AN OPEN BOOK.

THE WORLD WAS FAMILY TO HIM.

HE LOVED PEOPLE.

>> THAT'S A WONDERFUL NOTE TO LEAVE IT ON.

THAT, I THINK, ENCAPSULATES WHAT THE STORY WAS.

I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THIS WAS SUCH A GREAT BOOK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> IT'S SUCH, AGAIN, A DIFFERENT LOOK AT A MAN THAT WE ALL THINK THAT WE KNOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ.

BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG AND BY --