>> GOOD MORNING.
WELCOME TO A VERY SPECIAL
GATHERING OF THE NIH FAMILY TO
EXPERIENCE THAT -- AND HOW
SOMETIMES THOSE THINGS GO WELL
AND HOW SOMETIMES OTHERS GET IN
THE WAY.
WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE,
AS A SPECIAL PRESENTER THIS
MORNING, THE PLAYWRIGHT AND
PERFORMER ANNA DEAVERE SMITH.
I FIRST HEARD ANNA DEAVERE
SMITH'S NAME FROM MY MOTHER.
MY MOTHER'S A PLAYWRIGHT.
MY MOTHER WAS ASKED TO GO TO NEW
YORK, THE BIG CITY IN 1980 AND
BE ON A PANEL OF PLAYWRIGHTS WHO
WERE WRITING NEW WORKS.
SHE WAS A LITTLE SKEPTICAL
BECAUSE MY MOTHER WAS ONE WHO
THOUGHT COMMUNITY THEATRE IN
SMALL TOWNS WAS WHAT THEATRE WAS
IN NEW YORK.
WELL NOBODY AS NEW YORK AND SHE
ARRIVED THERE WITH A BIT OF A
CHIP ON HER SHOULDER ABOUT THIS
WHOLE EVENT.
AND I THOUGHT OH  BOY, SHE'S
GOING TO COME BACK AND SAY
THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT NEW YORK
WORTH TALKING ABOUT.
BUT INSTEAD SHE CAME HOME
TOTALLY CARRIED AWAY BY THE
WOMAN SHE HAD MET ON HER PANEL
WHO ALSO UNDERSTOOD WHAT THEATRE
WAS ALL ABOUT, THAT IT WAS ABOUT
IDEALS AND IT WAS ABOUT
LANGUAGE.
AND IT WASN'T ABOUT THE BIG SHOW
AND THE FIREWORKS AND THE
EXPLOSIONS AND THE FANCY DANCE
NUMBER.
IT WAS ABOUT CONCEPTS.
ST NOT THEIR SENSE OF
EXCITEMENT, AS YOU WILL SEE BUT
IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
BECAUSE AS THE NEW YORK
SOMETIMES WROTE, SHE IS THE
ULTIMATE IMPRESSIONIST, SHE DOES
PEOPLE.
SHE INTERVIEWS INDIVIDUALS, LOTS
OF THEM AS PART OF CARRYING OUT
A CREATION OF ONE OF HER WORKS
AND THEN SHE INHABIT IT'S THEM
AS YOU WILL SEE IN A MOMENT.
SHE RECOGNIZED THE MCARTHUR
FELLOWSHIP, TWO TONY
NOMINATIONS, SHE WAS A RUNNER UP
FOR THE PULITZER PRIZE IN THIS
PLAY YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE
EXCERPTS FROM.
ANNA DEAVERE SMITH GRACIOUSLY
AGREED TO COME HERE EVEN THOUGH
SHE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE
VERSION OF THIS PLAY LET ME DOWN
EASY AT THE ARENA STAGE.
THERE ARE FOUR MORE PERFORMANCES
OF THE PLAY BEFORE IT MOVES ON
TOUR.
TONIGHT AND THREE NIGHTS NEXT
WEEK, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND
THURSDAY, AND I'VE JUST HEARD IF
YOU'RE INTERESTED IN GOING AND
TAKING SOMEONE WITH YOU, THERE'S
BEEN AN ARRANGEMENT FOR A HALF
PRICE TICKET FOR THAT SECOND
PERSON.
YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THAT
AT THE DOOR AS YOU GO OUT, IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF THAT OPPORTUNITY.
EVERY GENERATION PRODUCES A FEW
ARTISTS WHO BOTH CONVEY AND
TOUCH US IN TERM OF OUR
CONSCIOUS.
ANNA DEAVERE SMITH IS ONE OF
THOSE TREASURES OF THIS
GENERATION.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU, LET ME
ASK YOU TO WELCOME THE ARTIST,
THE PERFORMER, THE STAR OF THE
WEST WING WHERE SHE PLAYED NANCY
MCNALLY, THE NATIONAL SECURITY
ADVISERS.
AND NOW THE PERSON WHO HAS PUT
TOGETHER A REMARKABLE SHOW, LET
ME DOWN EASY.
PLEASE WELCOME ANNA DEAVERE
SMITH.
[APPLAUSE] 
>> IT'S REALLY A HONOR TO BE
HERE WITH YOU AND I'M ALREADY
INFUSED WITH TRULY -- OUR
COUNTRY AND THE WORLD.
AND THE MISSION THAT YOU HAVE
AND THE FAITH THAT YOU HAVE IN
MAKING PEOPLE BETTER SO I'D LIKE
YOU TO APPLAUD YOURSELVES.
[APPLAUSE]
AND DR. COLLINS, I WOULD STAND
UP HERE AND GO ON AND ON ABOUT
HOW I DON'T DESERVE ANY OF THE
THINGS ESPECIALLY WHAT YOU SAID
ABOUT ME BECAUSE YOU ARE THE
TRUE RENAISSANCE MAN.
EVERYTHING FROM FAITH TO MUSIC
TO SCIENCE.
I WON'T GO ON AND ON ABOUT HOW
WORTHY I AM BECAUSE I'M REMINDED
OF GOLDA'S LINE DON'T BE HUMBLE,
YOU'RE NOT THAT GREAT.
I'M HAPPY I CAME HERE TODAY
BECAUSE WE GOT IN WITHOUT ANY
TRAFFIC JAMS HERE AT THE GUARD'S
GATE.
I THINK WHEN THE WORD GETS OUT
THAT YOU'RE STUDYING OBESITY,
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LONG LINE
OF BLACK ESCALADES TRYING TO GET
FROM A SIZE 2 TO A SIZE 0.
I'M JUST GOING TO DO SOME
EXCERPTS NOW FROM LET ME DOWN
EASY AND WHEN I WAS A GIRL MY
GRANDFATHER TOLD ME -- I GREW UP
IN BALTIMORE MARYLAND IN A
SEGREGATED ENVIRONMENT AND I
THINK THE WORK I WAS DOING FOR
THE LAST 35 YEARS WAS REALLY TO
DEFY THE IDEA THAT WE BELONG IN
BOXES AND CATEGORIES.
I'VE BEEN GOING ACROSS THE
COUNTRY FOR A LONG TIME NOW WITH
A TAPE RECORDER INTERVIEWING
PEOPLE WITH THE WHOLE GOAL OF
PUTTING MYSELF IN PEOPLE'S WORDS
THE SAME WAY YOU PUT YOURSELF IN
PEOPLE'S SHOES.
I'M TRYING TO ABSORB AMERICA BY
ABSORBING THE WORDS THAT PEOPLE
SAY TO ME.
DR. COLLINS AND I WILL TALK A
LITTLE LATER ABOUT WHY I TOOK
THIS PROCESS OVER A 30 YEAR
PROCESS INTO MEDICINE AND
HEALTH.
SO EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE GOING
TO HEAR ME DO FROM NOW ON IS
GOING TO BE WORD FOR WORD OR AN
ATTEMPT AT BEING VERBATIM WITH
SOMEBODY THAT I INTERVIEWED WITH
THE TAPE RECORDER.
THE FIRST PERSON I REALLY WANT
TO DEDICATE THIS, DR. COLLINS,
TO FLETCHER COLLINS, ALSO KNOWN
AS FLECH, IS THAT RIGHT, KNOWN
AS A MUSICOLOGIST.
THERE'S A MUSICOLOGIST I ADMIRED
BEFORE YOUR FATHER, ALAN LOW MAC
AND HIS FATHER JOHN LOMACK USED
TO STUDY COWBOYS.
HE DID THIS SO LONG AGO HE USED
TO HAVE SPECIAL PICK UP TRUCK
JUST TO CARRY THE EQUIPMENT IN
ORDER TO RECORD THEM.
BUT THEY WOULDN'T PUBLISH A LOT
OF THE WORK HE DID WITH COWBOYS
BECAUSE IT WAS CONSIDERED SO
VULGAR THEY WOULDN'T PUT IT IN
BOOKS.
I JUST WASH YOU THIS COWBOY IS
THE TRADITION OF A FOUL MOUTH.
BUT WE'VE GOTTEN PERMISSION TO
USE THIS HERE.
BUT I THINK HE HAS A LOT TO TELL
US ABOUT THE THINGS THAT CONCERN
ALL OF US IN THIS COUNTRY RIGHT
NOW.
I GIVE EVERYTHING A TITLE
BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING KIND
OF ORGANIC POEMS. 
SO THIS IS TOUGHNESS.
I GOT HUNG UP BY A BULL, BULL
STEPPED ON MY BACK IN THE RODEO,
PROBABLY WEIGHED OVER 2200
POUNDS.
A MEAN BULL BUT WHEN I HIT THE
GROUND, HE STEPPED ON THE LEFT
SIDE TWO BACK FEET, BROKE FOUR
RIBS, L2, L3 AND THERE'S A
NEUROLOGIST IN THE FRONT ROW --
HE TOLD ME KID YOU BETTER GO TO
THE HOSPITAL I'LL BET YOUR
KIDNEY OR SPLEEN RUPTURED.
NO I'M ALL RIGHT, I JUST BROKE
SOME RIBS.
NO YOU NEED TO GO GET CHECKED
OUT, THIS IS A NEUROLOGIST,
MILITARY HOSPITAL.
HE GOT ON THE PHONE BECAUSE
CIVILIANS CAN GO TO A MILITARY
HOSPITAL IF IT'S A LIFE AND
DEATH SITUATION.
AND HE TOLD THAT IT IS LIFE AND
DEATH.
I WAS KIND OF LAUGHING, HE
DIDN'T BELIEVE HIM YOU KNOW.
BUT THEY TOOK ME TO THE HOSPITAL
AND I HAD TO PISS IN A CUP.
IT WAS JUST STRAIGHT BLOOD.
BROOK ARMY MEDICAL CENTER IN SAN
ANTONIO  TEXAS I'M WONDERING HOW
LONG I GOT TO SIT OUT.
A HOUR LATER THEY TOLD ME THEY
WERE GOING TO HAVE TO REMOVE MY
LEFT KIDNEY.
I BEGGED THEM FOR HALF HOUR AND
TOLD THEM I ONLY RILE BULL IF I
GOT ONE KIDNEY LEFT BUT JUST AS
SOON TRY TO HAVE TWO.
THEY TRIED A NEW DEAL, THEY PUT
A STINT IN THERE AND THAT SAVED
HALF MY KIDNEY SO I GOT ONE HALF
KIDNEY.
AND THEM GUYS, THEY GET PAID A
FLAT RATE.
IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE TRYING TO
BE RAPE ME TO MAKE MORE MONEY TO
PAY THEIR MERCEDES BENZ BILLS OR
WHATEVER THEY GOT.
I BET YOU THEM GUYS DON'T EVEN
DRIVE THEM FANCY SPORTS CARS
LIKE THE DOCTORS DO.
COST ME A FLAT RATE.
1200 BUCKS, YEAH.
1200 BUCKS, FLAT RATE.
IT DIDN'T MATTER IF I GOT CAT
SCANS, WHATEVER THEY DID TO ME.
DIDN'T CHANGE WHEN I WAS IN THE
ICU FOR SIX DAYS, DIDN'T CHANGE.
I DIDN'T GET NO DOCTORS BILLS OR
NOTHING.
I WAS IN THERE 11 DAYS, COST ME
1200 BUCKS, FLAT RATE.
EVERYONE, EVERYONE PAYS A FLAT
RATE, DOESN'T MATTER WHAT IT IS
AND PERSONALLY I FEEL LIKE WE
NEED TO GO TO A DEAL LIKE THAT.
[APPLAUSE]
AND I THINK, I THINK I HAD
BETTER DOCTORS THERE THAT WANTED
TO BE DOCTORS TO THESE PRICKS
THESE DAY GO TO COLLEGE MAKE A
KILLING, DON'T REALLY GIVE A
SHIT.
YOU TELL ME A POOR DOCTOR, I'LL
KISS HIS ASS.
WE'LL SEE, WE'LL SEE WHAT
DOCTORS WANT TO BE DOCTORS WHERE
THERE AIN'T AS MUCH MONEY IN IT
THEN YOU GET YOUR GOOD DOCTORS.
THEM GUYS, THEY TOLD ME.
IF I DONE ANY OTHER HOSPITAL IN
SAN ANTONIO THEY WOULD HAVE
TAKEN MY KIDNEY OUT SO I'M VERY
GRATEFUL FOR THEM DOCTORS.
I GOT INSURANCE, FAMILY POLICY,
BLUE CROSS OF IDAHO, TURNING 60
BUCKS A MONTH TO COVER ALL OF
US.
THEN WE GOT A 7500 DOLLAR
DEDUCTIBLE WHICH IS STUPID.
WE DON'T EVER MAKE THAT.
ALWAYS PAYING MONEY, WE GOT TO
PAY A $7500 DEDUCTIBLE FOR THEM
TO MEET IT.
THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO RAPE US,
LIKE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT GOT THE
MONEY, THEY RAPED THE POOR.
PRETTY SOON THE MIDDLE CLASS
ARE, AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO
START RAPING THE RICH.
AND THEY'RE GOING TO BREAK THE
WHOLE COUNTRY, I THINK.
BUT BASICALLY I'M AN OPTIMIST.
[LAUGHTER]
THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO SAY, I'M
AN OPTIMIST.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHEN YOU RIDE
BULL AND DO GOOD FEEL LIKE
THERE'S NOTHING IN THIS WORLD
THAT COULD PROBABLY BEAT YOU UP
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW,
BECAUSE JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST
FEEL LIKE LIFE COULDN'T BE
BETTER, LIKE THAT'S WHAT LIFE'S
SUPPOSED TO BE.
LIKE YOU KNOW THERE'S SO MUCH
POWER IN IT BECAUSE IF YOU THINK
ABOUT IT WE SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO
STAND IN THE BACK OF A BULL
BECAUSE WE WAY 150 POUNDS AND
THEY WAY OVER 2000 POUNDS.
FEEL JUST LIKE A KING AT THAT
MOMENT, DAMN.
AND I THINK IT'S TERMINATION.
I THINK IT COMES INSIDE YOU WHAT
KEEPS YOU ON THAT BULL.
I DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT
THAT, NO.
I DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT THAT
DAY, YOU KNOW.
I DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT WHEN
I'M NOT RODEOING ANYMORE.
MAYBE EVEN BIGGER IN SPACE WHEN
MY BROTHER DIED.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO
BE LIKE FOR SURE.
THAT WAS PRETTY BIG SPACE BUT I
LIKE IT.
YES, BUT I FEEL LIKE WHEN I'M
DONE RODEOING, THE DAY MY
BROTHER DIED, YOU KNOW.
TOUGHNESS.
WELL WE'VE BEEN IN UTAH AND THE
BULL WENT THROUGH THE METAL
SHOOT AND TORE MY FACE ALL UP.
MY BUDDY TOOK ME TO THE
HOSPITAL, SPENT FIVE HOURS
FIXING UP MY FACE.
I HE HAD TO BE THAT ROW OH THAT
NIGHT AND I DIDN'T WANT THEM TO
PUT ME UNDER ANESTHESIA OR
HOWEVER YOU SAY THAT WORD.
THEN HE WAS GOING TO STRAIGHTEN
OUT MY NOSE AND WHEN THEY
STRAIGHTEN OUT YOUR NOSE HAD
THEY TAKE THESE RODS AND SHOOT
THEM UP YOUR NOSE AND WORK YOUR
WAY UP AND THAT STRAIGHTENS YOUR
NOSE ALL UP.
FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING CLEAR
THROUGH MY BRAINS OFF THE TOP OF
MY HEAD AND EVERYBODY SAID IT,
EVERYBODY SAID IT SHOULD HAVE
KILLED ME AND THEY DIDN'TN'T
KNOCK ME OUT.
BUT I DON'T HAVE MUCH PAIN SO I
GUESS THAT WOULD BE TOUGHNESS I
GUESS.
BUT GOOD THING ABOUT IT WAS ONCE
YOU STRAIGHTEN OUT THE NOSE, I
CAN BREATHE AND I COULDN'T
BREATHE SINCE I BROKE MY NOSE IN
A HIGH SCHOOL RODEO. 
THAT'S BRENT WILLIAMS.
[APPLAUSE]
SO THIS NEXT PERSON, RUTH CATS
IS GOING TO GIVE YOU HER CD IN
THE MIDST OF THIS, I WON'T TELL
YOU THAT, THAT'S THE DRAMA.
THIS IS CALLED THAT BED ROCK OF
CARE.
THAT BED ROCK OF CARE WAS THERE
FOR ME.
I'M NOT SAYING IT'S THERE FOR
EVERY PATIENT AS WE TALKED
ABOUT.
I'M IN A PRETTY UNIQUE POSITION
BUT DESPITE THAT UNIQUE POSITION
I CERTAINLY -- AND MAKE SURE
THAT THINGS WERE DONE IN A WAY
THAT I THOUGHT THEY SHOULD BE
DONE.
I HAVE A SURGEON, AN ONCOLOGIST,
A GROUP OF NURSES AND DOCTORS
DOWN IN THE ONCOLOGY CLINIC, A
THERAPEUTIC RADIOLOGIST IN THE
RADIATION THERAPY UNIT TOOK
THROUGH WHAT I NEEDED AND AS
MANY QUESTIONS AND OTHERWISE BE
SUPPORTIVE AS I FELT I NEEDED AT
THE TIME.
THEY GAVE ME HOME NUMBERS WHICH
I NEVER HAVE ABUSED AND DIDN'T
ONLY CALL WHEN I WAS RUNNING A
CERTAIN FEVER I WANTED YOU TO
KNOW ABOUT.
WHENEVER I TALKED TO THEM I FELT
NO QUESTION WAS STUPID.
BUT I HAVE COME TO LEARN ENOUGH
ABOUT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM THAT
WHILE I THINK THAT DOCTORS AND
NURSES AND INSTITUTIONS, EVEN AS
WONDERFUL AS YALE IS, MAKES
MISTAKES, HAVE THEIR ATTENTION
DIVERTED AND CAN'T BE THERE FOR
YOU IN EVERY WAY YOU WANT THEM
TO BE THERE.
AS MUCH FAITH AS YOU HAVE IN
THIS PLACE, EVERY TIME THEY GIVE
YOU CHEMOTHERAPY, I HAD A FRIEND
THERE WITH ME TO MAKE SURE THAT
THAT BAG WITH THAT STUFF IN
THERE THAT THEY WERE ABOUT TO
PUMP INTO ME WAS EXACTLY WHAT I
WAS SUPPOSED TO GET, NO MORE IN
THE RIGHT STUFF.
I WILL ALSO TELL YOU THAT ON THE
LAST DRUG, WELL THROUGHOUT THE
PROTOCOL, IF YOUR TEMPERATURE
WENT ABOVE 102, NO, I'M SORRY,
101.2, THEY WANT YOU TO CALL.
IF IT WENT HIGH ENOUGH THEY WANT
YOU TO COME INTO THE HOSPITAL
YOU KNOW TO MAKE SURE THAT
NOTHING WAS WRONG.
AND MINE AT ONE POINT HAD GONE
UP TO 102.
AND THEY ADMIT YOU IMMEDIATELY
TO THE ONCOLOGY CLINIC.
AND AN ONCOLOGY FELLOW WHICH IS
NOT ONE OF OUR FULL TIME FACULTY
BUT SOMEONE WHO IS IN TRAINING
HERE SPECIALIZING IN ONTOLOGY
CAME INTO MY ROOM.
I WANT TO APOLOGIZE BUT WE CAN'T
FIND HER RECORDS.
COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT KIND OF
CANCER YOU HAVE?
I SAID THIS IS APPALLING.
HE SAID NO, HEY, IT'S NOT JUST
YOU.
[LAUGHTER]
THAT HAPPENS HERE QUITE A BIT.
I SAID I AM APPALLED FOR EVERY
PATIENT WHO COMES ON THIS UNIT.
AND I HAD TO GO THROUGH FROM
LIKE THE BEGINNING, MY WHOLE
STORY.
WELL EVENTUALLY I TELL YOU, I
TELL YOU, I KNEW I COULD TELL
 BY
HIS QUESTIONS, HIS QUESTION WAS
GOING TO BE DO YOU WORK.
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND MY POSITION
HERE, I SHOULD BE TREATED HERE
LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
HE SAYS LIKE DO YOU WORK MIDWAY
THROUGH HIS QUESTIONS.
I SAID I DO.
HE SAID ARE YOU WORKING FULL
TIME?
I SAID I AM.
HE SAID, WHERE ARE YOU WORKING?
I SAID, I'M ASSOCIATE DEAN AT
THE MEDICAL SCHOOL.
[LAUGHTER]
NOW HE LOOKED UP.
NOW HE LOOKS UP.
HE SAID AT THIS MEDICAL SCHOOL?
I SAID AT THE YALE SCHOOL OF
MEDICINE.
HE FOUND MY FILES WITHIN HALF AN
HOUR. 
THAT'S RUTH CATS.
[APPLAUSE]
SO I TOLD YOU THAT I'VE BEEN
SEARCHING FOR AMERICAN
CHARACTERS SINCE LATE 1970'S BUT
FOR THIS PROJECT ON HEALTH AND
GIVEN WHAT YOU DO, YOU CAN
UNDERSTAND WHY I DECIDED TO CAST
MY NET WIDER AND I DID 320
INTERVIEWS ON THREE CONTINENTS,
I DID A LOT OF INTERVIEWING IN
AFRICA.
WHILE I WAS THERE IN AFRICA, IN
SOUTH AFRICA HAVING LOOKED AT A
LOT ABOUT HIV/AIDS, WE CAME HOME
ONE DAY AFTER A LONG DAY OF
INTERVIEWING AND I HAD -- AND
THERE WERE THESE  IMAGES OF A
DISASTER THAT WAS A LOT LIKE
AFRICA.
WHEN I TURNED THE SOUND UP I
LEARNED IT WAS HAPPENING IN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WITH
HURRICANE KATRINA.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT THOSE
IMAGES WERE IN RELATIONSHIP TO
OUR COUNTRY.
AND I WENT HOME AND OF COURSE I
WENT RIGHT AWAY DOWN THERE AND I
DID INTERVIEWS AND THIS
PARTICULAR WOMAN I THINK SHE
WORKS HERE IN YOUR ENVIRONMENT
BECAUSE SHE HAS GOT SUCH AN
INSTINCT FOR THE BETTERMENT OF
ALL.
AND SUCH A MISSION IN HER HEART.
SHE'S AN ADVANTAGED WHITE WOMAN,
VERY PRIVILEGED AND A DOCTOR AT
CHARITY HOSPITAL IN NEW ORLEANS.
I HEAR BETWEEN BELLEVUE OR
CHARITY IS THE FIRST HOSPITAL
FOR POOR PEOPLE AND THIS IS HER
ACCOUNT OF WHAT HAPPENED TO HER
PATIENTS.
THIS IS CALLED A HEAVY SENSE OF
RESIGNATION.
YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT START OUT
ASSHOLES AND THEY END UP
ASSHOLES.
AND THEY MAY EVEN WIND UP BIGGER
ASSHOLES.
THE BIGGEST ASSHOLE I EVER MET
IN MY TRAINING EXPERIENCE, GOD
THERE'S SO MANY.
[LAUGHTER]
MM-MM.
GOD, IT'S SO TOUGH.
OH, I KNOW, I REMEMBER HIM.
I CAN'T REMEMBER HIS NAME BUT HE
WAS SUCH AN ASSHOLE.
HE WAS A RESIDENT WHEN I WAS A
MEDICAL STUDENT AND HE WAS IN OB
GYN AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT OB
GYN STUFF KIND OF REALLY HIT A
NERVE WITH ME AND HE WAS ONE OF
THESE LIKE I CAN'T WAIT TO GET
OUT OF CHARITY HOSPITAL, THIS IS
A HELL HOLE, THESE PEOPLE BLAH
BLAH BLAH BECAUSE ONE OF THE
PLEASANT PARTS OF MY JOB AT
CHARITY HOSPITAL A PUBLIC
HOSPITAL IN NEW ORLEANS IS, I
SEE PEOPLE WHO COME IN TO TRAIN
AT CHARITY WHO HAVE IN MY MIND A
TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IN
SOME SENSE WITHOUT LIVING IT,
HOW IT IS TO BE POOR AND TO OPEN
YOUR HEART AND OPEN YOUR MIND TO
THESE FANTASTIC PEOPLE WE HAVE
COMING INTO THE HOSPITAL AS
PATIENTS.
I SEE PRIVILEGED STUDENTS WHO
COME IN TO TRAIN FROM ALL OVER
AT CHARITY BUT THEY COME WITH
THEIR OWN BAGGAGE ABOUT WHAT
CHARITY IS OR ABOUT THE CHARITY
POPULATION, OUR POPULATION.
THAT'S KIND OF A COMMON PHRASE,
LIKE OUR POPULATION MEANING THE
PEOPLE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF AND
OUR DISTANCING OURSELVES FROM
BECAUSE PEOPLE COME IN FROM
THEIR OWN RACISM AND THEIR OWN
CLASSES.
AND THEN, THIS GUY WAS FULLY
INTENDING TO, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE
SET UP A, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE HE
WAS CONSTANTLY TALKING ABOUT OH
WHEN I GET OUT, I'M NOT GOING TO
HAVE THESE KIND OF PATIENTS
TRANSLATION POOR BLACK, YOU
KNOW.
NO PRENATAL CARE, BLAH BLAH
BLAH.
ONE NIGHT WE WERE ON CALL AND
ONE PERSON CAME INTO THE
HOSPITAL WITH PELVIC
INFLAMMATORY DISEASE.
SO HE AND I WENT TO THE
EMERGENCY ROOM.
IT'S TREMENDOUSLY PAINFUL TO BE
EXAMINED WHEN YOU HAVE PELVIC
INFLAMMATORY DISEASE.
AND SHE WAS 13.
SHE WAS THERE WITH AN AUNT, BUT
HER AUNT WAS NOT IN THE ROOM.
IF I REMEMBER RIGHT, THIS GUY
MADE HER AUNT LEAVE THE ROOM.
AND HE DID A PELVIC EXAM ON HER
AND SHE WAS SO SCREAMING OUT AND
IN SO MUCH PAIN AND HE SAID TO
HER, I WANT TO GET IT RIGHT.
OH, WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM.
DON'T TELL ME YOU HAVEN'T HAD
SOMETHING BIGGER THAN THESE TWO
FINGERS UP THERE OR YOU WOULDN'T
HAVE GOTTEN THIS TO BEGIN WITH.
I MEAN, HE WAS MY RESIDENT.
SO HERE I WAS, I WAS A THIRD
YEAR MEDICAL STUDENT AND HE WAS
A SECOND YEAR RESIDENT.
HE WAS SEVERAL LEVELS ABOVE ME.
I WAS SO SHOCKED AND SO CREST
FALLEN AND SO REALLY BET MYSELF
AFTERWARDS THAT I DIDN'T DO, I
DON'T KNOW WHAT, PUNCH HIM BUT I
DID SAY TO HIM WHEN WE WERE OUT
OF HER EAR SHOT I SAID I CANNOT
BELIEVE YOU WOULD TREAT SOMEBODY
LIKE THAT AND I CANNOT BELIEVE
THIS IS DISGUSTING TO ME.
AND HE SAID, AND I REMEMBER THIS
BECAUSE IT'S SUCH THE TYPICAL
LINE, YOUR OH WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE
IN MY SPOT.
WHICH IS THE FAUX JADED LIKE
WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE SO MANY 12
YEAR OLDS WITH PELVIC
INFLAMMATORY DISEASE.
WHAT?
YOU BECOME AN ASSHOLE?
[LAUGHTER]
ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVE SO MUCH
ABOUT WORKING AT CHARITY
HOSPITAL, A PUBLIC HOSPITAL IN
NEW ORLEANS, EVERY SINGLE
PATIENT WHO COMES THROUGH THAT
DOOR HAS GOTTEN THE SHIT END OF
LIFE OF THE SHIT END OF THE
STICK IN LIFE, PERIOD.
BUT THROUGH MY INTERACTIONS WITH
THEM, I COULD TREAT THEM LIKE
THEY WERE THE SAUDI ARABIAIAN
PRINCESS COMING TO THE MAYO
CLINIC.
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO REASON WHY
I CAN'T GIVE EVERYBODY TOP OF
THE LINE BEST MEDICAL CARE.
BUT THAT'S DIFFICULT WHEN THINGS
STARTED TO DETERIORATE HERE
AROUND  KATRINA AND THE VENEER,
THAT JUST FELL.
ON THURSDAY, THE STORM WAS ON
SUNDAYMENT ONE OF MY PATIENTS
SAID TO ME.
HE HAD LOST, HE HAD FAMILY
MEMBERS HE LOST, HIS GRANDMOTHER
AND HIS AUNT BUT HE HEARD THE
FAMILY MEMBERS LOST HIS
GRANDMOTHER AND HIS AUNT.
SO HE WAS JUST REALLY GRIEVING.
AND YOU KNOW, PRETTY YOUNG GUY
LIKE IN HIS 40'S.
HE HAD A SPINAL CORD INJURY SO
HE WAS PRETTY IMMOBILE, VERY
IMMOBILE LIKE MOST OF MY
PATIENTS VERY IMMOBILE.
I JUST WENT IN AND I WAS JUST
SITTING BY HIS BEDSIDE AND BY
NOW IT'S LIKE 106 DEGREES, THERE
ARE NO LIGHTS.
WE ARE REDUCED TO FEEDING PEOPLE
VERY SMALL PORTIONS.
AND I TRIED TO KEEP A STIFF
UPPER LIP IN THE BEGINNING.
HEY, WE'RE GOING TO GET OUT OF
HERE, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, BLAH
BLAH BLAH.
I GREW JUST EXHAUSTED AND I WAS
SITTING BY THE BEDSIDE.
SUDDENLY SAID TO ME DR. KAY, THE
PATIENTS IN THE PRIVATE HOSPITAL
GOTTEN OUT?
DID YOU KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE?
HE SAID DO YOU THINK WE'RE GOING
TO GET OUT TODAY?
STARTED GOING ON FIVE DAYS.
I SAID WELL, I LOOK OUTSIDE, I
SEE THE SUN IS SETTING.
NOW THEY MADE A LOT OF PROMISES
ABOUT COMING BUT I SEE THE SUN
IS SETTING AND I DON'T KNOW WE
MAY BE HERE ANOTHER NIGHT.
BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE GOT TO BE
PREPARED FOR THAT.
I SAID I DON'T KNOW, WE MAY BE
HERE MORE THAN ONE NIGHT.
DO YOU THINK THEY'RE EVENTUALLY
GOING TO COME AND GET US?
I SAID I DON'T KNOW.
I SAID I JUST DON'T REALLY KNOW.
AND SHAME, NOT TO BE ABLE TO DO
FOR PEOPLE WHAT I WANTED TO DO
WHICH WAS TO GET THEM THE HELL
OUT OF HERE INTO A SAFE PLACE.
MY PATIENT AT CHARITY ARE NOT
GONE, THE NURSES AT CHARITY ARE
NOT GONE.
THEY KNEW WE WERE GOING TO BE
THE LAST ONES OUT.
THEY KNEW THAT THE HOSPITALS
DIDN'T HAVE PRIVATE HELICOPTERS.
YOU CAN SEE THE DESPERATION OF
BEING POOR IN THIS COUNTRY AND
IN SOME WAYS IT STRUCK DEEP
DOWN, THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST
TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO
PEOPLE.
UNPRIVILEGED.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE
EVER BEEN TOTALLY ABANDONED BY
MY GOVERNMENT.
BUT IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME FOR
MY PATIENTS OR THE NURSES OR THE
PEOPLE WHO WORKED AT CHARITY
HOSPITAL.
AND I HAVE A LOT OF HISTORY WITH
THE PEOPLE FROM THE FLOOR.
WE ALL, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THEM
KNOW ME SINCE I'M A MEDICAL
STUDENT AND 100% OF THE NURSES
ON THE FLOOR ARE AFRICAN
AMERICANS.
AND THE AFRICAN AMERICAN NURSES
AND THE PEOPLE WHO WORK AT
CHARITY SAID TWO THINGS TO ME
EARLY ON.
THEY SAID ONE, THEY OPENED THE
LEVEES ON US, MEANING THEY HAD
FLOODED THE POOR AREAS OF NEW
ORLEANS PARISH TO SPARE THE
OTHER PARTS.
AND TWO, THEY SAID TO ME EARLY
ON, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COME
AND GET US.
WE'RE GOING TO BE STUCK HERE.
AND HERE I AM COMING FROM MY
POSITION OF PRIVILEGE IN THE
WORLD.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW.
WELL OF COURSE THEY'RE GOING TO
COME AND GET US.
OF COURSE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN.
THEY KNEW WE WERE HERE, WE WERE
IN CONSTANT FACT WITH FEMA BUT
MY PATIENTS REALLY DIDN'T AND
THAT PART MADE ME ASHAMED.
I THOUGHT WHAT?
IT MUST FEEL LIKE THIS YOUR
WHOLE LIFE, JUST THAT FEELING
THAT WE HAVE TO DO FOR OURSELVES
BECAUSE NOBODY'S GOING TO COME
AND GET US.
JUST THAT FEELING OF BEING
ABANDONED.
THAT WAS ALL NEW FOR ME.
HA HA HA.
BEING ABANDONED?
THAT WAS ONLY FOR MY PATIENT BUT
FOR SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE, IT WAS
JUST ONE MORE THING.
AND THEY JUST WENT ABOUT THEIR
BUSINESS.
EVERYONE ON THAT FLOOR FOR SIX
DAYS IN THAT HEAT WITH NO POWER.
THEY NEVER MISSED A YEAR IN
OUTPUT, THEY NEVER MISSED A
TRICK.
AND WITH A HEAVY SENSE OF
RESIGNATION.
AND SO THAT HOLE THAT I HAD
ALWAYS TRIED, YOU KNOW, HEY
YOU'RE HERE AT CHARITY BUT DON'T
WORRY ABOUT IT, WE'RE GOING TO
GIVE YOU THE BEST POSSIBLE CARE.
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE ARE GOING TO GIVE YOU THE
BEST POSSIBLE CARE BUT WE CAN'T
MAKE FEMA OR THE GOVERNMENT COME
AND GET US. 
[APPLAUSE]
THIS ONE IS USUALLY FANCY WITH A
VIDEO TAPE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
WITH A SPECIAL QUESTION BY
DR. COLLINS I'M MODIFYING IT A
LITTLE BIT.
I'M BLOWING MY NOSE.
I DON'T HAVE A COLD.
I GET NERVOUS WHEN I'M AROUND
IMPORTANT PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND MY
NOSE RUNS.
YOU THINK I'M KIDDING BUT I
ACTUALLY SAID THIS AT STANFORD
WHEN I WAS OUT THERE TO DO
MEDICAL GRAND ROUNDS AND THIS
YOUNG DOCTOR CAME UP TO ME AND
SAID YOU HAVE ANTICIPATORY
RHINOSITIS.
SO MAYBE I CAN BE ADMITTED TO
HAVE SOME STUDIES DONE OF MY
NOSE.
JUST AROUND IMPORTANT PEOPLE.
SO THIS IS JOEL SEAGULL AND YOU
CAN IMAGINE HIM OVER A HOSPITAL
BED MAYBE SITTING IN HIS ROOM
WAITING FOR CHEMOTHERAPY.
I MEAN MY GOD, ABC NEWS HAS
REALLY BEEN GOING THROUGH IT
WITH THIS STUFF.
EVERYBODY FOR DAVID WESTON ON
DOWN KNOWS WHERE I AM, KNOWS
WHAT I'M DOING, KNOWS WHAT'S
GOING ON.
I SCHEDULED THIS SO THAT I COULD
BE WELL ENOUGH ON FRIDAY TO BE
ABLE TO DO THE MOVIES.
THEY ARE HOPING I DON'T GET MUCH
SICKER, HOPING I CAN MAKE IT
THROUGH THE SUMMER DOING THE
MOVIES.
AND I'M DOING MY BEST.
CANCER WINS.
CANCER IS A TOUGH DISEASE.
CANCER MIGHT BE TOUGHER THAN
TYRANSAURES RISK.
TUBERCULOSIS, CANCER SUFFERS,
THE PLAGUE, BUBONIC PLAGUE.
EVERY CANCER IS DIFFERENT LIKE
SNOW FLAKES.
AND THE WHOLE THEORY WITH CHEMO
IS THEY KILL EVERYTHING.
IT'S LIKE BEATING YOUR DOG WITH
A STICK, THEY KILL THE FLEAS.
NEVER IN MY LIFE DID I THINK OF
MYSELF AS STUFF.
I WAS ALWAYS THE LAST KID CHOSEN
IN FOOTBALL, BASEBALL.
I'M PRETTY TOUGH, REALLY SHOCKED
THE SHIT OUT OF ME TO DISCOVER
THAT.
I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHERE IT
COMES FROM.
I LIKE TO SAY IT COMES FROM
3,000 YEARS OF BEING KICKED
AROUND EUROPE.
OH, I HAVE A JOKE.
THERE IS A CATEGORY OF JOKE,
THIS IS THE ULTIMATE.
OLD MAN DON'T HAVE LONG TO LIFE
JOKE.
THE MOST FAMOUS IS GEORGE BURNS.
HE'S IN VEGAS.
HE'S IN HIS 90'S.
THERE'S A KNOCK AT THE DOOR.
IT'S THIS GORGEOUS CHORUS GIRL
WHO SAYS I'VE COME TO OFFER YOU
SUPER SEX.
AND GEORGE BURNS SAYS I'LL TAKE
THE SOUP.
[LAUGHTER]
MILTON BERYL'S JOKE WAS I'M SO
OLD I'M AFRAID TO ORDER A THREE
MINUTE EGG.
[LAUGHTER]
MY JOKE, MY JOKE IS I'M SO NEAR
THE END I WANT THE PILL THAT
CAUSES PREMATURE EJACULATION. 
[LAUGHTER] 
I'M ALWAYS ACTING.
IT'S A CHARACTER I PLAY.
THE GUY ON TELEVISION, THE REAL
JOEL SEAGULL IS A LITTLE BIT SAD
AND LONELY.
THEY HAD BEEN DEPRESSED.
I'M NOT A DEPRESSED PERSON.
THE WAY I FEEL, THE WAY I
DESCRIBE THE ANXIETY I'M FEELING
IS LIKE WHEN YOU'RE A LITTLE KID
AND YOU'RE GOING TO SCHOOL AND
THERE'S SOMEBODY WAITING IN THE
BATHROOM TO BEAT YOU UP.
YOU GOT TO GO TO THE BATHROOM.
THAT'S HOW I FEEL EVERY TIME I
GET TESTED.
DO I PRAY?
NO, I DON'T PRAY.
WELL, SEE I'M JEWISH AND IT'S
DIFFERENT.
BOOK LEARNING.
YOU LEARN THAT YOU DON'T ASK GOD
FOR THINGS BECAUSE HE'S NOT
GOING TO GIVE THEM TO YOU.
PRAYER TO ME IS WHOOPING A LOT.
I DO NOT BELIEVE IN A GOD WHO
WOULD IN ANY WAY INTERACT
BETWEEN ME AND MY DISEASE.
I'M VERY JEWISH. 
LET ME DOWN EASY. 
I LIKE HIM A LOT. 
I LOVE IT.
I FEEL A HAND PUTTING ME INTO
THE GROUND AND VERY GENTLY
MOVING AWAY. 
AND I'M LIKE THAT. 
JOEL SEAGULL.
[APPLAUSE]
THIS IS THE LAST ONE.
I THINK THIS MIC IS A LITTLE BIT
HOT.
MENT SO THIS IS A WOMAN I MET IN
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA AND
SHE AS AN ORPHANAGE FOR PARENTS
WHO DIED OF AGE AND HER PARENTS
OF DIED AND IT'S CALLED DON'T
LEAVE THEM IN THE DARK.
AND I LOVE LOVE LOVE PRESENTING
THIS PLACE, I LOVE PRESENTING
THIS PIECE IN AN ENVIRONMENT
LIKE THIS.
BECAUSE YOU SHARE THIS WORLD
VIEW.
DON'T LEAVE THEM IN THE DARK.
WHEN I SAY THAT AT THE END, I
SAY THAT TO YOU NOT AS A REQUEST
BUT AS AN AFFIRMATION FOR THE
VALUE OF WHAT EACH AND EVERY ONE
OF YOU IS DOING EVERY SINGLE
DAY.
SO TRUDEY HOWELL IS ONE OF YOUR
SISTERS, ALL THE WAY IN
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA.
LAST YEAR WE HAD FOUR OR FIVE
CHILDREN, BABIES THAT PASSED
AWAY AND THIS YEAR WE'VE HAD ONE
SO FAR.
WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THEY FOUND
ME ANY TIME OF THE NIGHT AND SAY
THIS LITTLE KID IS VERY VERY
SICK AND I'LL GO AND I'LL SIT
WITH THE CHILD UNTIL THE CHILD
PASSES AWAY.
SO I MAKE SURE THAT I'M THERE
FOR EVERY CHILD.
THAT'S HOW I SEE IT, THEY DON'T
KNOW THAT THEY'RE DYING.
THEY JUST KNOW THAT THEY'RE VERY
SICK.
BUT THE ELDER CHILDREN THAT
WE'VE GOT HEAR, THE 12 YEAR OLD
AND THE 14 YEAR OLD WE'VE GOT
HERE I TALK WITH THEM THE WHOLE
TIME ABOUT THIS.
AND WE HAD ONE CHILD -- AND
UPSET FOR DAYS AND HOURS AND
TELLING HER ABOUT THE VIRUS AND
TELLING HER ABOUT THIS.
AND SHE KNEW SHE WAS NOT GOING
TO MAKE THE WEEKEND.
SO SHE CAME TO SEE ME ON THE
FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND SHE SAID
HER MOTHER HAD VISITED HER THE
NIGHT BEFORE.
NOW I KNEW THAT HER MOTHER HAS
MASSED AWAY SIX YEARS PRIOR TO
THAT.
SO I SAT HER DOWN AND I SAID
WELL KNOW WHAT TIME DID YOUR
MOTHER VISIT YOU.
SHE SAID NOW.
IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT.
I SAID WELL IF YOU SEE YOUR
MOTHER TONIGHT AGAIN, IF YOUR
MOTHER VISITS YOU TONIGHT AGAIN,
YOU MUST TELL HER THAT I SAID
THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH THAT I
LOOKED AFTER YOU FOR SO LONG.
SHE SAID NO SHE WON'T.
THE NEXT MORNING I CAME IN HERE
AND SHE WAS SITTING ON THE
STAIRS AND SHE SAID MOTHER HAD
VISITED HER THE NIGHT AGAIN.
AND THAT HER MOTHER SAID SHE
MUST PACK ALL HER CLOTHES, THAT
SHE'S COMING TO FETCH HER, THAT
SHE'S GOING HOME.
I PROMISE YOU IT WAS, I WALKED
UP TO HER AND I SAID DID YOU
TELL YOUR MOTHER THAT I SAID
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND SHE
SAID YES.
AND MY MOM SAID THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
AND I HAD GONE INTO HER ROOM,
ALL HER CLOTHES WERE PACKED, PUT
IN PLASTIC BAGS AND IT WAS
WAITING FOR HER.
THAT'S IN THE MORNING AT 3:00 IN
THE MORNING SHE PASSED AWAY.
AND I MADE SURE THAT I BURIED
HER NEXT TO HER MOMMY.
SO HER MOTHER CAME AND FETCHED
HER AND SHE KNEW SHE WAS GOING
TO DIE AND IT'S NOT A BAD THING.
SHE WAS PREPARED.
SHE WAS PREPARED TO GO.
ALL HER STUFF WAS PACKED, ALL
HER TEDDY BEARS WERE PACKED AND
WE TOOK EVERYTHING, HER CLOTHES
AND TEDDY BEARS AND WE PUT IT
WITH HER IN HER COFFIN.
SHE WENT VERY HAPPILY.
SHE WAS 12 YEARS OLD.
WELL I JUST TELL THEM THAT THERE
ARE DIFFERENT STAGES OF LIFE.
I SAY YOU GET BORN AND SOMETIMES
WHEN YOU'RE BORN YOU'RE SICK.
I SAID YOU GOT THIS  GERM IN YOUR
BODY AND WE TALK ABOUT THE GERM
AND WE SIT AND PLAY WITH THE
DOGS, WE PLAY.
I SAY LOOK AT THIS UGLY GERM
THAT'S GOT INTO THE BODIES
MAKING THIS LITTLE CHILD VERY
SICK.
AND SOMETIMES THIS CHILD HAS HAD
ENOUGH AND YOU KNOW THEY'RE
GETTING SICKER.
YOU KNOW IT'S GETTING TO THE
NEXT STAGE AND THEY ASK
QUESTIONS LIKE WHAT HAPPENS IF
I'M DEAD.
I SAID NOBODY CAN ANSWER THAT.
AND THEY ASK ABOUT GOD AND THEY
ASK ABOUT CAN WE COME BACK AND
VISIT YOU.
YOU KNOW THAT TYPE OF THING.
THEY ALWAYS WANT TO SAY, THEY
ALWAYS JUST WANT TO SAY CAN WE
COME BACK TO THE ORPHANAGE, YOU
KNOW THAT TYPE OF THING.
I TELL THEM, I JUST SAY YOU ARE
ALWAYS IN MY HEART EVEN IF YOU
PASSED AWAY, YOU ALWAYS IN MY
HEART.
YOU ALWAYS WITH ME.
YOU KNOW, SO IN ANY CASE, DON'T
LEAVE THEM IN THE DARK.
DON'T LEAVE THEM IN THE DARK.
THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO OFFER YOU.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] 
>> HAVING SEEN THE FULL SHOW,
THERE ARE SO MANY OTHERS THAT
YOU DIDN'T GET TO SEE THAT TELL
SO 
SO FASCINATING, SOME SIGNIFICANT
POINTS THAT YOU'RE MAKING IN A
SUBTLE WAY, NOT HITTING US OVER
THE HEAD.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A LOOSE
CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS.
BECAUSE I THINK WHAT YOU'VE DONE
CREATES A SENSE OF WONDER BUT
ALSO A SENSE OVER CURIOSITY
ABOUT HOW YOU CAME TO THIS
PARTICULAR ONE OUT OF A HUNDRED.
HEY WE'RE GOING TO BE FORMALLY
SITUATED HERE I SEE.
SO ANNA, MAYBE FIRST TO START
THAT OFF, CAN I ASK, WHY DID YOU
PICK THIS TOPIC?
YOU HAVE DONE OTHER SHOWS THAT
INVOLVED POLITICS, THAT INVOLVES
CERTAINLY ALL OF THE TENSION OF
A PROGRAM.
WHAT LED YOU TO THAT?
>> WELL I WAS INVITED BY ONE OF
YOUR COLLEAGUES, RALPH, WHEN HE
WAS HEAD OF INTERNAL MEDICINE AT
YALE.
BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN YOU STILL
GOT LETTERS AND FANCY
STATIONARY.
I DON'T THINK I EVER GOTTEN A
LETTER ON STATIONARY AS FANCY AS
YALE MEDICAL SCHOOL STATIONARY.
[LAUGHTER]
AND INVITING ME TO COME TO YALE
AND TO INTERVIEW PATIENTS AND TO
PERFORM AT MEDICAL GRAND ROUNDS.
I EVEN HAD TO LOOK UP LIKE WHAT
IS MEDICAL GRAND ROUNDS.
I THOUGHT WELL, I'M GOING TO
MAKE A FOOL OF MYSELF IN MEDICAL
GRAND ROUNDS.
IT TOOK ME A COUPLE YEARS TO
DECIDE TO DO IT.
AND IN LARGE PART I THINK AS THE
SON OF A MUSICOLOGIST YOU WILL
UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THIS.
I HAD DONE A PROJECT HERE IN
WASHINGTON TRYING TO STUDY THE
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRESS AND
THE PRESIDENT.
I WENT ON TWO PRESIDENTIAL
CAMPAIGNS, INTERVIEWED THREE
PRESIDENTS, READ EVERYBODY'S
BOOK, ALL THIS STUFF AND A
JEFFERSON SCHOLAR SAID SOMETHING
THAT HELPED ME UNDERSTAND WHAT
WAS GOING ON IN MY INTERVIEWS IN
WASHINGTON.
HE SAID THAT THOMAS JEFFERSON
COULD NEVER BE FOUND IN VERBAL
UNREST.
AND SO WASHINGTON IS A PLACE
WHERE LANGUAGE IS VERY VERY
CONSIDERED.
SO I JUST FINISHED THAT PROJECT.
WE'RE WEARY FROM IT.
WENT TO YALE.
THEY JUST SENT IN PATIENTS ONE
RIGHT AFTER THE OTHER, TURNED ON
MY TAPE RECORDER.
THIS IS PREDIGITTAL AND I ONLY
HAD TO ASK ONE QUESTION.
I DIDN'T HAVE TO READ ANY BOOK
AND I CONSIDER MYSELF AS A
STUDENT OF EXPRESSION.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO
DO BEST -- SHE WANTS TO GET
PEOPLE TO START SINGING SONGS
WITHOUT ASKING FOR IT.
SO I'M TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO
SING, I'M TRYING TO GET THEM TO
DO INTERESTING VERBAL THINGS
WITHOUT ME HAVING TO DO ANYTHING
BECAUSE THEN I KNOW IT'S REAL.
I KNOW IT'S ORGANIC.
I WANT THEM TO REVEAL THEMSELVES
TO ME THROUGH LANGUAGE AND
THROUGH THE SOUNDS THEY MAKE
REALLY.
HOW THEY DESIGN THEIR LANGUAGE.
THAT ONE QUESTION WAS, WHAT
HAPPENED TO YOU.
PEOPLE WERE TAKING OFF THIS
CLOTHES, SHOWING ME, THEIR REAL
CLOTHES, SHOWING ME THEIR SCARS.
ONE MAN JUST HAD A HEART
TRANSPLANT GRANDDAUGHTER CAME
IN, READ FROM HER JOURNAL,
PEOPLE SANG.
THE WOMAN TALKED ABOUT HER
FAITH, I SAID DO YOU PRAY.
SHE SAID YES.
I SAID WOULD YOU PRAY FOR ME.
FATHER, HERE I AM AGAIN.
JUST BOOM, RIGHT INTO THE WHOLE
THING.
CHURCH.
SO HOW CAN I TURN MY BACK ON
THAT PROJECT.
THAT'S WHERE IT STARTED FIVE
YEARS LATER AFTER DOING GRAND
ROUNDS I CAME, I DECIDED TO TRY
AND MAKE IT IN THEATRE.
>> SO SOME THAT YOU SHOWED US,
PARTICULARLY THE DOCTOR IN A
VERY POWERFUL WAY THAT SOMETIMES
WE TRY NOT TO LOOK AT AND YOU'VE
DONE THESE INTERVIEWS.
WITH THAT INTENTION THAT YOU
WERE TRYING TO CONVEY THAT YOU
CAN LOOK AT THOSE THINGS -- WAS
THAT PART OF WHAT YOU WERE
TRYING TO CONVEY TO AN AUDIENCE
IS YOU CAN LOOK AT THOUGH
THINGS, YOU MUST.
IT WILL BE SURVIVABLE BUT IT
SHOULD AFFECT YOU, IT SHOULD
CHANGE YOU, IT SHOULD CAUSE YOU
TO THINK DIFFERENCELY ABOUT YOUR
FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS.
>> WELL, I MEAN LOOK.
BEFORE I HEADED FOR AFRICA, I
HAD THIS BIG TRIP ALL PLANNED
UP.
SAMANTHA POWER GOT ME HOOKED UP
FROM THE PRESIDENT OF RWANDA TO
EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, JUST BOOM
BOOM BOOM, I WAS GOING TO GO
RIGHT THROUGH THAT COUNTRY, TEN
YEARS AFTER THE GENOCIDE,
UGANDA, WENT TO A PLACE WHERE
TRADITIONAL HEALERS WERE SOUTH
AFRICA, YOU KNOW.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, DURBIN WAS
JUST A GHOST TOWN.
RIGHT BEFORE THAT TRIP I SAW TO
MYSELF WHAT ARE YOU DOING.
THIS IS GOING TO BE SO
UPSETTING, IT'S GOING TO BE SO
DEPRESSING.
AND I TALKED TO EVERYBODY ABOUT
IT FROM LIKE YOU KNOW
ACUPUNCTURE PEOPLE TO HEALERS.
I WAS LIKE WHAT AM I GETTING
MYSELF INTO, I'VE MADE A
MISTAKE.
IT WAS THE RICHEST TRIP.
THE ONLY THING I WAS GRATEFUL
FOR IS I GOT MY WHOLE TEAM OUT
OF THERE WITHOUT GOING TO THE
HOSPITAL.
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRETTY
HORRIBLE IN UGANDA, RIGHT, THE
PUBLIC HOSPITAL.
WE VISITED THERE.
BUT WHEN PEOPLE, YOU KNOW THIS
BETTER THAN I.
WHEN PEOPLE ARE VULNERABLE IS
WHEN THEY'RE THE MOST GIN RUSS.
HAVEN'T YOU LEARNED THIS?
THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
THE MOST, THE RICHEST PEOPLE ARE
SOMETIMES THE LEAST GENEROUS AND
THE PEOPLE WHO SEEM TO HAVE THE
LEAST ARE SO MUCH WANTING TO
GIVE.
AND PEOPLE WANTED TO GIVE ME THE
STORY OF THEIR TRAGEDIES AND
THEY WERE SO INVESTED IN MAKING
THEMSELVES AND EVERYTHING ELSE
BETTER.
THAT IT WAS A ENORMOUSLY,
ENORMOUSLY HOPEFUL INVESTIGATION
EVEN AT ANDERSON, SAME THING.
>> SO PEOPLE WHO ARE FACING THE
GREATEST CHALLENGES THAT SEEM IN
MANY WAYS LIKE THEY'RE IN THE
DARKEST HOUR ARE THE ONE THAT
HAVE THE GREATEST COURAGE.
WE SEE THAT CERTAINLY IN A
MEDICAL ENVIRONMENT HERE AT THE
NIH MEDICAL CENTER.
IT'S AMAZING WHERE THAT STRENGTH
WELLS UP FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE
FACING SOMETHING THAT MOST OF US
CAN'T IMAGINE HOW WE WOULD
HANDLE IT.
JOEL SEAGULL'S PIECE WHICH I
LOVE WHERE HE TALKS ABOUT I
DIDN'T KNOW I WAS TOUGH UNTIL I
HAD TO BE FOR THIS.
HIS COURAGE CAME THROUGH IN WAYS
THAT HE DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE WAS
THERE.
>> AND THIS THEME OF TOUGHNESS
GOES THROUGH THE WHOLE PLAY.
LANCE ARMSTRONG IS ONE OF THE
CHARACTERS, ONE WOMAN CATCHES
HERSELF ON FIRE TRYING TO MAKE A
FIRE DANCE FOR HER GIRLFRIEND.
AND I THINK REALLY THE COWBOY
SAYS IT BEST WHEN HE SAYS, WHEN
YOU THINK ABOUT IT, I MEAN
THAT'S WHY I FEEL HE'S CARRYING
THE REAL GOOD NEWS AND THE
MESSAGE ALTHOUGH HE'S THE MOST
RIGHT WING OF ANYBODY I EVER
INTERVIEWED.
[LAUGHTER]
WHEN HE SAYS, WHEN YOU THINK
ABOUT IT, WE SHOULDN'T BE ABLE
TO STAY ON TOP OF A BULL THAT'S
TRYING TO BUCK YOU OFF BECAUSE
WE WEIGH 150 POUNDS, THEY WAY
OVER 2000 POUNDS.
BUT I THINK IT'S DETERMINATION.
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT
COMES FROM INSIDE YOU THAT CASE
YOU ON THAT BULL.
AND SO I THINK HE'S REALLY
CARRYING THAT IDEA.
SO WHEN PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING
WHETHER IT'S TO WIN THE TOUR
DE FRANCE OR GETTING OVER
GENOCIDE IT'S SO FASCINATING AND
SO CREATIVE WHAT THEY'RE DOING
AND I  MARVEL AT IT.
>> TELL US ABOUT YOUR CRAFT OF
INHABITING PEOPLE, DOING
IMPRESSIONS OF THEIR SOULS AS
"THE NEW YORK TIMES" SAYS.
TELL US ABOUT QUEEN MARGARET AND
RICHARD THE THIRD.
>> SOMEBODY'S DOING THEIR
HOMEWORK.
[LAUGHTER]
>> NO SURPRISE.
[LAUGHTER]
>> SO WHEN I WENT TO COLLEGE, I
THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE A
LINGUIST AND THE WORLD FELL
APART AT THAT TIME I WENT CROSS
COUNTRY WITH NO SENSE THINKING
WHEN I GOT TO CALIFORNIA, I WAS
A BALTIMORE GIRL, I WOULD DO
SOMETHING A SOCIAL MOVEMENT.
BY THE TIME I ARRIVED IN
CALIFORNIA ALL THE SOCIAL
MOVEMENTS WERE OVER.
[LAUGHTER]
AND SO I BY A FLUKE, I HAD NO
INTENTION OF BEING AN ACTOR, I
WAS JUST TRYING TO VOLUNTEER AS
A STAGE MANAGER IN A VERY VERY
HIGH POWERED THEATRE.
AND THE SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR
BACK IN THOSE DAYS KIND OF
LAUGHED AT ME AND SAID OH MY
DEAR, EVERYONE'S IN THE UNION.
AND SHE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS
ACTING THING I COULD DO, PAY FOR
TO COME TO AND I DECIDED I'D GO.
AND THE FIRST DAY I MET MY
SHAKESPEARE TEACHER, I WAS VERY
VERY INTIMIDATED BY THIS.
AND SHE HAD A THEORY.
THE WHOLE IDEA WAS TO TRY TO GET
US TO JUST SAY THE WORDS, JUST
SAY THEM, DON'T BE THINKING ALL
THE DEEP THOUGHTS.
AND SO SHE SAID IN SHAKESPEARE,
THE LANGUAGE THAT SHAKESPEARE'S
WRITTEN USUALLY GOES LIKE THIS.
DOT DOT DOT DOT DOT.
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH SHAKESPEARE
LIVED IN A TIME WHEN THE FASTEST
MOVING THING WAS A HORSE.
DA DA DA DA DA.
BUT IN THE SECOND BEAT IN IT
GOES DA DA DOT DOT THIS MEANS
THAT THE PERSON IS IN
PSYCHOLOGICAL TROUBLE AND THE
EXAMPLE SHE GAVE IN KING LEAR AT
A CERTAIN POINT SHE SAYS NEVER
NEVER NEVADA NEVER NEVER
EVERYTHING'S UP SIDE DOWN.
SO SHE SAID GO HOME, TAKE 14
LINES OF SHAKESPEARE, SAY THEM
OVER AND OVER AGAIN UNTIL
SOMETHING HAPPENS.
MOST OF MY CLASSMATES WERE LIKE
WHAT THE HECK IS SHE ON, YOU
KNOW.
SO I'D GO TO THE TENDERLOIN TO A
USED BOOKSTORE WHERE ALL THE
SORT OF DOWN AND OUT CHALLENGED
PEOPLE DRUG ADDICTS AND SO
FORTH, I CAN GET A REALLY CHEAP
COPY OF SHAKESPEARE THERE, WENT
HOME AND LOOKED THROUGH FOR ANY
14 LINES A WOMAN SPEAKING.
I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT
SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS REALLY OTHER
THAN WHAT I SORT OF PUSHED
MYSELF TO IN COLLEGE.
AND BOOM, HERE WAS QUEEN
MARGARET.
14 LINES IN RICHARD THE THIRD.
SPEAKING TO RICHARD'S MOTHER,
VERY UPSET BECAUSE RICHARD HAS
KILLED HER SOB.
- KILLED HER
SON.
THAT DOG THAT HAD ITS TEETH
BEFORE ITS EYES, TO WORRY LENS
AND LAP THEIR GENTLE BLOOD, THY
WOMB LET LOOSE TO CHASE US TO
OUR GRAVES.
HERE I AM IN MY BASEMENT
APARTMENT IN SAN FRANCISCO
SAYING THIS OVER AND OVER UNTIL
LIKE THE WE HE E HOURS IN THE
MORNING AND I SAW QUEEN MARK.
THERE SHE WAS IN ALL OF HER
JEWELRY STANDING IN MY
APARTMENT.
AND THERE WERE NO BELIEVE ME,
THERE WERE NO CHEMICAL
SUBSTANCES.
AND I THOUGHT WOW THAT'S LIKE
WHAT I IMAGINATION WAS LIKE WHEN
I WAS A KID.
AND I THOUGHT I SAW SANTA CLAUS
OR I THOUGHT I SAW JESUS OR I
THOUGHT I SAW THE TOOTH FAIRY.
I WANT MORE OF THAT.
HOW CAN I GOODATE THAT TO HAPPEN
AGAIN.
AND SO FOR THE THREE YEARS THAT
I WAS IN THIS VERY INTENSE
CONSERVATORY ENVIRONMENT
ACTUALLY HAVING A CLASSICAL
TRAINING, I READ EVERYTHING I
COULD ABOUT HOW LANGUAGE WORKED.
EVERYTHING.
EVEN WENT AND GOT RECONFIRMED IN
THE  EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
I JUST WANTED TO LEARN HOW WORDS
WERE CONNECTED TO SOMETHING
SPIRITUAL.
AND THEN ULTIMATELY I THOUGHT
MM-MM, I WONDER IF I COULD STUDY
THIS ON REAL PEOPLE BECAUSE I
WAS LOOKING AT POEMS AND PSALM
AND SONGS.
AND I THOUGHT WHAT IF I COULD
GET PEOPLE TO DO THOSE.
SO I STARTED INTERVIEWING PEOPLE
AND THE FIRST ONE OF MY PLAYS I
MADE IN 1981 WITH 20 ACTORS.
I JUST WENT UP TO PEOPLE ON THE
STREET AND SAID I KNOW AN ACTOR
WHO LOOKS LIKE YOU, WOULD YOU
GIVE ME AN HOUR OF YOUR TIME AND
I'LL INVITE TO SEE YOURSELF
PERFORM.
I MET A LINGUIST AT A COCKTAIL
PARTY AND TOLD HER WHAT I WAS
TRYING TO DO IS GET PEOPLE TO
SING.
SHE SAID I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU
THREE QUESTIONS THAT WILL ENSURE
THAT THAT WILL HAPPEN.
I SUPPOSE YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW
WHAT THEY ARE.
>> YES, YES.
[LAUGHTER]
>> DO YOU KNOW THE CIRCUMSTANCES
OF YOUR BIRTH.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ACCUSED OF
SOMETHING THAT YOU DIDN'T DO.
AND HAVE YOU EVER COME CLOSE TO
DEATH.
SO MY FIRST SLEW OF INTERVIEWS,
MY STUDY I WOULD TALK ABOUT
ANYTHING, BEING A LIVE GUARD AT
THE POOL, AT THE Y, HAVING A
CLOTHING STORE, BEING A
HAIRDRESSER AND SOMEWHERE IN IT
I WOULD SAY HAVE YOU EVER COME
CLOSE TO DEATH AND I WOULD LOOK
CLOSE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS AND
INDEED THE LANGUAGE BECAME VERY
VERY INTERESTING.
AND THIS SORT OF TAUGHT ME HOW
TO LISTEN AND TOOK ME DOWN THIS
ROAD AND I DON'T ASK THOSE
QUESTIONS ANYMORE.
BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE
HEALTHCARE PLAY, WHAT HAPPENED
AT YALE, IT'S THE HAVE YOU EVER
COME CLOSE TO DEATH WITHOUT ME
ASKING THAT WHEN I SAID WHAT
HAPPENED TO YOU.
THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON.
>> SO ANNA, YOU BROUGHT THIS
POWERFUL SHOW TO WASHINGTON AT
THIS INTERESTING TIME WHERE OUR
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS UNDER GOING
WHAT WE HOPE IS GOING TO BE
DRAMATIC CHANGE FOR THE BETTER
BUT OBVIOUSLY WITH MANY
UNCERTAINTIES POLITICALLY
PRACTICALLY AND SO ON, WHAT'S
BEEN THE REACTION AND WHAT WAS
YOUR HOPE THE REACTION WOULD BE?
DO YOU THINK THIS IS HAVING AN
IMPACT OF SOME SORT ON YOUR
AUDIENCES HERE IN THIS SORT OF
CENTER OF THE NATIONAL POLITICAL
DISCOURSE?
>> WELL, I JUST DON'T KNOW, YOU
KNOW.
IT PLEASES ME TO BE INVITED
HERE.
IT PLEASES ME THAT SECRETARY
SEBELIUS ASKED ME TO PERFORM AT
HSS.
I'M PLEASED AT THE MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS AND THE THREE JUSTICES
OF THE SUPREME COURT WHO CAME
AND FOUND MEANING IN THE PLAY.
AND THE PEOPLE WHO COME BACK
STAGE AND SAY THAT IT MEANT
SOMETHING TO THEM.
THAT'S WHAT I HOPE FOR IS THAT
THE PLAY DOES SUCCESSFULLY
REVEAL THE HUMAN SIDE OF THE
STORY WHICH CAN OTHERWISE BE
TIED UP AND MADE BLOODLESS BY
THE NECESSARY LANGUAGE OF
WASHINGTON.
IT'S NECESSARY, RIGHT, THAT IT
HAVE ITS FORMALITY.
BUT OF COURSE I DON'T NEED TO
TELL YOU THAT WE MUST CAUTION
OURSELVES AGAINST REALLY
TRUSTING THAT THIS RHETORICAL
ARENA WILL SAVE LIVES.
IT CAN HELP PRODUCE THAT BUT
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS IS
A VERY IMPORTANT DEBATE FOR US
TO HAVE.
WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT WHAT
WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH LIMITED
RESOURCES.
WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THE
THINGS THAT DISTURB US.
THE ETHICAL QUESTIONS THAT WE
HAVE ABOUT LIFE, ABOUT DEATH,
ABOUT HOW IT BEGINS, ABOUT HOW
IT ENDS AND WHAT WE AS CITIZENS
OR WHAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO DO
WITH THAT REALLY IMPORTANT
CONVERSATION FOR THE PEOPLE TO
HAVE.
I JUST HOPE, I GET TO TAKE THIS
PLAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, I HOPE
IT CAN INSPIRE COMMUNITY LEADERS
TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLES AND OF
COURSE THE MEDIA WHICH IS THE
FOURTH ESTATE FOR THEM TO DO IT
EITHER.
>> SO ANNA, YOU'VE BEEN VERY GIN
RUSS -- GENEROUS TO COME HERE
THIS MORNING AND SHARE YOUR
CREATIVE WORK WITH US ESPECIALLY
GIVEN THAT YOU HAVE A SHOW
TONIGHT AND THREE MORE NEXT
WEEK.
AND THIS IS A PRETTY INTENSE
SCHEDULE THAT YOU'RE KEEPING UP.
WE ARE THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES
OF HEALTH, THE PEOPLE IN THIS
ROOM AND MANY OTHERS WHO AREN'T
HERE THAT ARE PART OF THIS
AMAZING INSTITUTION ARE
DEDICATED TO TRY TO MAKE THOSE
DISCOVERIES AND THOSE
APPLICATIONS THAT ARE GOING TO
IMPROVE HUMAN HEALTH BOTH HERE
IN THIS COUNTRY AND ACROSS THE
WORLD.
AND YET AT TIMES WE TOIL AWAY
WITH EFFORTS THAT DON'T PAN OUT.
AT TIMES WE GET FRUSTRATED
BECAUSEN'T WHEN WE DO COME UP
WITH THINGS THAT LOOKS AS IF
THEY WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO
PEOPLE, IT'S HARD TO GET THAT
IMPLEMENTED BECAUSE OUR
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS OFTEN TIMES
SO BROKEN AND SO WE HAVE
OPTIMISTIC HOPES FOR A BETTER
TIME IN THE FUTURE WHERE OUR
LABORS WILL BE EVEN MORE
SUCCESSFUL IN REACHING THE
PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE SHOWN US IN
THIS WONDERFUL COLLECTION OF
VIGNETTES.
YOU HAD A CHANCE THIS MORNING TO
WALK THROUGH THE CLINICAL
CENTER, I GATHER AND TO SEE SOME
OF THE FACILITIES AND TO TALK TO
A FEW OF THE PATIENTS.
I THINK PEOPLE HERE IN THIS ROOM
ARE CAPTIVATED BY WHAT YOU HAVE
SHOWN US IN YOUR MIRROR.
IS THERE SOMETHING YOU WOULD
WANT TO BASICALLY LEAVE US WITH
IN TERMS OF WORDS OF EXHORTATION
OR WHATEVER, TO REFLECT UPON
WHAT IS GOING ON HERE AS YOU
HAVE SEEN IT THIS MORNING.
>> I GOT A TOUR OF THE PLACE.
WHAT IS MORE PRECIOUS TO ME THAT
I GOT, YOUR GIFT TO ME IS AN
UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU HAVE A
MISSION.
YOU USED THE WORD WONDER.
I HAVE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF
WONDER WHENEVER I SEE MISSION IN
ACTION IN A VERY MATERIALISTIC
TIME OF HISTORY.
AND I LEAVE HERE, I HOPE YOU
DON'T MIND, A LOT OF TIMES I GO
PLACES AND PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW
WHAT I HOPE PEOPLE TAKE AWAY.
I'M THE ONE WITH THE TAKE AWAY.
I HOPE YOU DON'T FEEL ROBBED,
BECAUSE I'M TAKING AWAY A CHARGE
TO FIND MISSION IN MY WORK AS AN
ARTIST.
AND I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR
HAVING GIVEN ME THAT TODAY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> ANNA DEAVERE SMITH,
EVERYBODY.