03/29/00

LC000329

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

WARREN>> THE LAPD IS PULLING OUT ALL THE STOPS, EVEN TURNING TO TELEVISION COMMERCIALS TO CONVINCE PEOPLE THEY WANT TO BE COPS.

NOAH NELSON>> THE DEPARTMENT HAS PRODUCED COMMERCIALS LIKE THESE AIMED DIRECTLY AT YOUNG PEOPLE AND PLACED ADS IN NEWSPAPERS AND PUBLICATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ITS GOAL IS TO ATTRACT APPLICANTS FROM CALIFORNIA TO NEW YORK.

DOUG LARKIN>> I THINK THAT THEY SEE BEYOND A SCANDAL BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE NATION RIGHT NOW THAT ARE VERY SCANDAL-RIDDEN.

VAL>> IS RACISM A HABIT IN AMERICA? IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS, WE MEET A MAN WHO SAYS IT IS AND IT WILL TAKE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO ROOT IT OUT.

JODY DAVID ARMOUR>> YOU HAVE TO SAY, WHEN YOU'RE IN THE PRESENCE OF CUES TO TRIGGER YOUR HABIT, "HEY, I'M NOT GOING TO SUCCUMB TO THE HABIT. WHEN I'M IN THE PRESENCE OF SOMEONE BLACK, I'M GOING TO MONITOR MY RESPONSES AND NOT ALLOW MYSELF TO FALL INTO THE HABIT OF DISCRIMINATION AND STEREOTYPES."

WARREN>> ALSO TONIGHT, THEY ARE THE ICONS OF MOVIE MAGIC FROM ANOTHER ERA. EVERYTHING FROM FRED ASTAIRE'S SHOES TO MARY PICKFORD'S CURLS. SO HOW DO THEY END UP ALONGSIDE DINOSAUR BONES?

VAL>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT FOR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2000.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS:

THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION
WHICH IS DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMED CALIFORNIA CITIZENRY.

GTE
A COMPANY COMMITTED TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS EXCELLENCE AND AN OPEN DIALOGUE AMONG ALL PEOPLE.


AND THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

WARREN>> GOOD EVENING, I'M WARREN OLNEY.

VAL>> AND I'M VAL ZAVALA.

WARREN>> OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT, A TURNAROUND OF SORTS FOR THE LAPD. AGAINST A BACKDROP OF DAILY HEADLINES ABOUT THE RAMPART DIVISION SCANDAL, MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER WANT TO BE LA COPS. THAT'S A DRAMATIC CHANGE FROM LAST FALL WHEN THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS SLOWED TO A TRICKLE BECAUSE OF A BOOMING ECONOMY AND LOW UNEMPLOYMENT.

VAL>> BUT THE CURRENT FLOOD OF APPLICANTS IS A MIXED BLESSING. IT RAISES NEW QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE DEPARTMENT SCREENS NEW RECRUITS AND, AS NOAH NELSON TELLS US, SOME ASPIRING OFFICERS ARE VERY YOUNG.

NOAH>> THESE AREN'T YOUNG SOLDIERS OR MILITARY ACADEMY CADETS. THEY'RE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO WANT TO BE COPS. SPECIFICALLY, LAPD COPS. 

MIKE RUSSELL>> I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE SOMEONE. I WANTED TO BE SOMEONE'S HERO OR SOMETHING.

NOAH>> FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD MIKE RUSSELL IS ONE OF THE OVER 400 KIDS IN THE LAPD MAGNET SCHOOL PROGRAM, A PROJECT THAT GIVES STUDENTS A HEAVY DOSE OF POLICE-TYPE TRAINING. LIKE MOST OF THE OTHER KIDS HERE, MIKE SAYS HE IS IN AWE OF THE LAPD AND PLANS TO SIGN UP WHEN HE'S OLD ENOUGH.

MIKE RUSSELL>> I LIKE THAT THEY BREAK DOWN CRIME AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY. EVERY DAY WHEN THEY BUST SOMEONE, IT'S AT LEAST SOMEONE THAT THEY'RE TAKING OUT AND LESS OF A THREAT TO US.

NOAH>> SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD SENIOR, TYLER JOHNSON, IS ALSO PROUD OF HIS CONNECTION TO THE LAPD AND DOESN'T BELIEVE THE NEGATIVE THINGS HE'S BEEN HEARING ABOUT IT.

TYLER JOHNSON>> MOST THINGS THAT COPS DO ARE GOOD, NOT BAD. THAT'S JUST WHAT'S POPULARIZED BY THE MEDIA, THE BAD SHOOTINGS. THERE ARE GOOD SHOOTINGS. THINGS WHERE THEY SAVE PEOPLE OR WHAT HAVE YOU. THOSE ARE THE THINGS YOU DON'T HEAR ABOUT.

NOAH>> THE LAPD IS COUNTING ON YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE THESE TO SOMEDAY ADD NEW BLOOD TO THE DEPARTMENT, WHICH HAS BEEN HURTING FOR ENOUGH QUALIFIED PEOPLE.

DENNIS KING>> IF WE START EARLY ENOUGH AND WE GET TO THEM EARLY ENOUGH BEFORE THEY GET INVOLVED WITH DRUGS, BEFORE THEY GET INVOLVED IN GANGS, ETC., THEY'LL BE ABLE TO PASS THEIR BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION. THAT'S ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT THE AVERAGE PERSON WHO APPLIES FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM FAIL OUT BECAUSE OF POOR BACKGROUNDS.

NOAH>> WITH THE INTEGRITY OF THE DEPARTMENT BEING CALLED INTO QUESTION ALMOST EVERY DAY, INCREASING THE POOL OF QUALIFIED APPLICANTS HAS BECOME A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE LAPD. BUT ATTRACTING THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN EASY.

A FEW YEARS AGO, ON AVERAGE, 1,200 PEOPLE EACH MONTH WERE TAKING THE ENTRANCE EXAM FOR THE POLICE ACADEMY. BUT BY LATE LAST YEAR, THE NUMBER HAD DWINDLED TO ONLY 300 A MONTH. A STRONG LOCAL ECONOMY WITH A COMPETITIVE JOB MARKET WAS A BIG REASON FOR THE DROP IN APPLICATIONS AND THE RAMPART SCANDAL DIDN'T HELP MATTERS. TO GET MORE PEOPLE, THE LAPD DECIDED TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE.

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THE DEPARTMENT HAS PRODUCED COMMERCIALS LIKE THESE AIMED DIRECTLY AT YOUNG PEOPLE AND PLACED ADS IN NEWSPAPERS AND PUBLICATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ITS GOAL IS TO ATTRACT APPLICANTS FROM CALIFORNIA TO NEW YORK.

SGT. BILL FRIO>> WE DECIDED TO GO OUT FROM THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA AND WE DECIDED THAT WE WOULD GO TO AREAS THAT LOOKED LIKE THEIR ECONOMY WAS NOT AS GOOD AS OURS, THAT THEIR COST OF LIVING WAS NOT AS GOOD AS OURS, AND WE TARGETED THOSE AREAS. WE HAVE GONE OUT THERE, WE'VE GIVEN THE TEST, AND WE'VE SEEN SOME SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT.

NOAH>> LAPD RECRUITERS HAVE BEEN COURTING APPLICANTS IN BOSTON, CHICAGO, PORTLAND AND SEVERAL OTHER CITIES WITH A BIG PUSH SCHEDULED FOR NEW YORK. THE PAYOFF SO FAR THIS YEAR HAS BEEN A STAGGERING 4,200 OUT-OF-TOWN APPLICATIONS WITH 2,400 PEOPLE SIGNING UP IN MARCH ONLY. MANY OUT-OF-TOWN APPLICANTS SAY THEY'RE LURED HERE BY THE ENTICING COMBINATION OF A $41,000 STARTING SALARY, A $2,000 MOVING ALLOWANCE AND A CHANCE TO WORK FOR A SLIGHTLY TARNISHED, BUT WORLD-FAMOUS, ORGANIZATION.

RAY HAVATON>> THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A BAD APPLE IN THE PILE AND I THINK THAT LA IN GENERAL IS A GOOD PLACE. I THINK THE COPS ARE GOOD AND I WANT TO BE PART OF THAT GOOD THING GOING ON.

NOAH>> CHIEF BERNARD PARKS SAYS HE SUPPORTS POLYGRAPH AND DRUG TESTING OF ALL APPLICANTS AS PART OF A TOUGHER SCREENING PROCESS OF RECRUITS. PARKS HAS SAID THESE REFORMS, ALONG WITH A MORE THOROUGH FINANCIAL BACKGROUND CHECK, MIGHT PREVENT RAMPART-LIKE ABUSES FROM OCCURRING AMONG THE HUNDREDS OF NEW PEOPLE TO BE HIRED. ONE CRITIC WHO SCOFFS AT THAT CONCLUSION IS POLITICAL WRITER, EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON.

EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON>> DEEPLY IMBEDDED IN THE LAPD, DEEPLY IMBEDDED IN THE CULTURE OF THE LAPD FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, IS THE SIEGE MENTALITY, CIRCLE THE WAGONS MENTALITY, THE US VERSUS THEM MENTALITY.

NOAH>> HUTCHINSON BELIEVES THERE IS SOMETHING DEEP IN THE CULTURE OF THE LAPD THAT TESTING AND SCREENING CAN'T CURE.

EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON>> WHAT ABOUT SCREENING THE INTEGRITY OF THOSE IN HIGHEST POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY IN THE LAPD? IN OTHER WORDS, I'M TALKING ABOUT THOSE IN THE COMMAND STRUCTURE OF THE LAPD. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SUPERVISORS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COMMANDERS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CHIEF OF POLICE. WHAT ABOUT THEIR ATTITUDES? IS THAT US VERSUS THEM ATTITUDE DEEPLY IMBEDDED IN THEIR THINKING, IN THEIR MENTALITY?

I'M SUGGESTING, IF IT IS, I DON'T CARE IF YOU BRING IN A RECRUIT WHO HAS THE HEART AND SENTIMENT OF MOTHER THERESA AND ST. PAUL, IF THAT MENTALITY IS STILL THERE AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS AND CONTINUALLY BEING REINFORCED, EVEN IN THE TRAINING, THEN I'M TELLING YOU, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHERE THE RECRUIT COMES IN. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, THAT INDIVIDUAL'S GOING TO BE INCULCATED INTO THE VERY NEGATIVE THINKING THAT'S PASSED DOWN FROM THE HIGHER-UPS IN THE LAPD.

NOAH>> EVEN WITH RECRUITMENT AT FULL SPEED, THE DEPARTMENT'S GOAL TO PUT 750 NEW OFFICERS ON THE STREET BY THE END OF THE YEAR WON'T BE MET. BUT THE RECRUITS ARE COMING, DESPITE THE NEGATIVE HEADLINES AND THE CLOSER SCRUTINY OF THEIR PASTS.

DOUG LARKIN>> I THINK THAT THEY SEE BEYOND A SCANDAL BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE NATION RIGHT NOW THAT ARE VERY SCANDAL-RIDDEN. WE'RE NOT THE ONLY. SO I THINK THEY SEE BEYOND THAT AND THEY WANT TO BE LAPD. THEY WANT TO WEAR THIS BADGE AND I DON'T BLAME THEM.

WARREN>> THIS IS ALL VERY NEW, THIS NOTION OF GOING OUTSIDE OF TOWN, FROM THE LAPD. WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE PEOPLE WHO APPLY DON'T GET IN?

NOAH>> WELL, FIFTEEN PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE WHO TRY TO GET TO THE ACADEMY NEVER MAKE IT THERE, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF BACKGROUND CHECKS. THEY FAILED THE BACKGROUND CHECKS OR THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO BE COPS ANYMORE.

WARREN>> FIFTEEN PERCENT GET IN OR FIFTEEN PERCENT DON'T GET IN?

NOAH>> FIFTEEN PERCENT GET IN.

WARREN>> GET IN. SO MOST -- EIGHTY-FIVE PERCENT, THEN, DON'T MAKE IT.

VAL>> ARE REJECTED. WOW, THAT'S A HUGE REJECTION RATE. NOW, BACKGROUND CHECKS APPARENTLY ARE A BIG OBSTACLE. WHAT EXACTLY IN THE BACKGROUND CHECK KEEPS EIGHTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE FROM BEING HIRED?

NOAH>> WELL, WHAT'S NEW IN ALL OF THIS IS THE FINANCIAL BACKGROUND CHECK. IF YOU'VE GOT BANKRUPTCIES OR LATE PAYMENTS, THESE KIND OF THINGS -- JUST LIKE BUYING A HOUSE IN SOME WAYS. YOUR JOB KIND OF COUNTS ON WHETHER OR NOT YOU'VE GOT A GOOD FINANCIAL BACKGROUND.

VAL>> WHY IS A FINANCIAL BACKGROUND SO IMPORTANT FOR BEING A POLICE OFFICER?

NOAH>> I THINK IT SPEAKS TO CHARACTER, THEY SAY. I THINK IT SPEAKS TO YOUR VULNERABILITY TO BEING CORRUPT PERHAPS. IF YOU'VE GOT YOUR PERSONAL BUSINESS IN ORDER, YOU'VE GOT YOUR PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS IN ORDER.

WARREN>> OF COURSE, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE KIDS FROM THE MAGNET SCHOOLS, THEY'RE TOO YOUNG TO HAVE ANY BACKGROUND.

NOAH>> THEY'VE BARELY GOT HOMEWORK DONE.

VAL>> THAT WAS AMAZING, AND THEY'RE SO YOUNG. IT'S ALSO INTERESTING HOW THEY STILL HAVE VERY IDEALIZED IMAGES OF POLICE, DESPITE THE RAMPART SCANDAL. THEY SEE THE POLICE AS A REALLY POSITIVE FORCE IN THE COMMUNITY.

NOAH>> WELL, THEY'VE WATCHED A LOT OF TELEVISION. THEY ADMIT THAT. THEY'VE SEEN A LOT OF MOVIES AND THEY'VE SEEN THE LAPD SAVE THE DAY MANY TIMES.

VAL>> MAYBE THERE'S HOPE YET --

WARREN>> MAYBE THEY'LL SAVE IT.

VAL>> NOAH NELSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WELL, TOMORROW, ON OUR TOP STORY, INNER CITY SCHOOLS ARE OVERCROWDED. SUBURBAN SCHOOLS ARE NOT. HAS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA BEEN FAVORING THE SUBURBS OVER THE CITIES? THAT'S TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT AT 7:00.

WARREN>> RACIAL BIGOTRY IS EASY TO SPOT, BUT USC LAW PROFESSOR, JODY ARMOUR, CONTENDS THAT AMERICAN SOCIETY IS RIFE WITH A MUCH MORE INSIDIOUS FORM OF DISCRIMINATION. HE CALLS IT "NEGROPHOBIA". VAL RECENTLY SPOKE WITH ARMOUR AND ASKED HIM TO EXPLAIN THIS SUBTLER FORM OF RACISM.

VAL>> YOU'VE WRITTEN A BOOK, "NEGROPHOBIA AND REASONABLE RACISM". YOU'VE RAISED SOME VERY, VERY HOT QUESTIONS AND ONE OF THEM IS, IS A PERSON NOT REASONABLE IN BEING FEARFUL OF A BLACK MAN? AND THE EXAMPLE YOU GIVE, WE'LL START OFF WITH THIS STORY. IT'S A WOMAN, 10:30 AT NIGHT, SHE'S GETTING MONEY OUT OF THE ATM MACHINE. SHE NOTICES BEHIND HER A FIGURE COMING IN IN A TRENCHCOAT AND SOMETHING ON HIS OR HER HEAD. SHE ALSO NOTICES THAT IT'S AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE. SHE HAS A GUN, CORRECT? SHE TURNS AND HE REACHES FOR SOMETHING, THERE'S A QUICK EXCHANGE OF FEAR AND SHE ENDS UP SHOOTING HIM. MANY PEOPLE WOULD SAY SHE HAS EVERY REASON TO BE FEARFUL THAT SHE WAS ABOUT TO BE A VICTIM OF CRIME.

JODY ARMOUR>> RIGHT. AND IT'S EERIE, ISN'T IT, HOW MUCH THAT FACT PATTERN, THAT TABLEAU, ECHOES THE [DIALLO] CASE AND SO MANY OTHER CASES. THE BERNARD GOETZ CASE. WE SEE THIS PATTERN RECURRING THROUGHOUT THE YEARS OVER AND OVER AND THE SAME QUESTION ARISES. IS IT REASONABLE TO FEAR SOMEONE IN PART BECAUSE OF THEIR RACIAL IDENTITY?

VAL>> AND THE ANSWER FOR MANY ANGLOS OR NON-MINORITIES WOULD BE, WELL, YES, LOOK AT THE CRIME RATES. YOU KNOW, LOOK AT OUR HISTORY OF WHO'S THE VICTIM AND SO FORTH. ARE THEY WRONG?

JODY ARMOUR>> WELL, YEAH. THERE ARE TWO REASONS THEY'LL GIVE. ONE IS THE RATIONAL DISCRIMINATION POINT THAT YOU JUST MADE. THAT IF THERE'S A STATISTICALLY RATIONAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RACE AND THE RISK OF VIOLENCE, FOR EXAMPLE, IF CRIME STATISTICS SHOW THAT THERE IS, THEN WHY ISN'T IT REASONABLE TO RESPOND DIFFERENTLY TO SOMEONE WHO'S BLACK AND SOMEONE WHO'S NOT BLACK?

WHAT I TRY TO DO IN THE BOOK IS GO AFTER THAT PARTICULAR POSITION AND SHOW THAT SOMETHING CAN BE SEEMINGLY RATIONAL, BUT NOT REALLY REASONABLE. THE EXAMPLE THAT I TRY TO GIVE IN THE BOOK IS THE BLACK COUPLE WHO TOOK IN A MOVIE IN TIMES SQUARE. UPON LEAVING, IT WAS 11:00 P.M. THE HUSBAND SAW THAT IT WAS RAINING, SO HE RAN TO GET THE CAR. IT WAS PARKED A COUPLE BLOCKS AWAY. HE LEAVES HIS WIFE STANDING UNDER THE MARQUEE. WHEN HE GETS BACK, SHE'D DISAPPEARED. HE LOOKS AROUND, DOESN'T FIND HER, EVENTUALLY DISCOVERS SHE'S BEEN ARRESTED, BOOKED, STRIP-SEARCHED FOR LOITERING WITH THE INTENT TO PROSTITUTE.

VAL>> IS THIS A TRUE STORY?

JODY ARMOUR>> THIS IS A TRUE STORY BY IRA GLASSER OF THE ACLU. NOW FROM THE POLICEMAN'S STANDPOINT WHO ARRESTED HER, HE HAD A RATIONAL BASIS TO ACT AS HE DID. LET'S ASSUME, PERHAPS COUNTER-FACTUALLY, BUT LET'S ASSUME THAT THERE WAS PROSTITUTION ACTIVITY IN TIMES SQUARE, MOST OF IT WAS DONE BY UNESCORTED WOMEN, A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF IT WAS DONE BY WOMEN OF COLOR, LET'S SAY BLACK WOMEN, AND MOST OF IT OCCURRED BETWEEN 10:00 P.M. AND 2:00 A.M. HE WOULD SAY, "I HAD A RATIONAL BASIS FOR REACHING THE CONCLUSION THAT THIS WOMAN WAS LOITERING WITH THE INTENT TO PROSTITUTE." IT WAS AFTER 10:00 P.M., SHE WAS UNESCORTED, SHE WAS BLACK AND SHE WAS IN TIMES SQUARE, RIGHT?

BUT I THINK WE FIND HIS ARRESTING OF HER, HIS CONDUCT OUTRAGEOUS AND REPREHENSIBLE EVEN IF RATIONAL TO SOME EXTENT, IS NOT BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY EVIDENCE FOR HIS BELIEF, BUT BECAUSE HE DIDN'T DO MORE TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ERROR BEFORE HE ACTED. I THINK INTUITIVELY WE THINK HE SHOULD HAVE WAITED LONGER, GATHERED MORE EVIDENCE, MORE INFORMATION, BEFORE SUBJECTING THIS WOMAN TO THAT KIND OF TREATMENT, BECAUSE THE GRIEVOUS CONSEQUENCES OF ERROR IN THAT JUDGMENT AND IN THAT ACTION ARE SO GREAT. BY THE WAY, SHE WAS FIVE MONTHS PREGNANT. INNOCENT WOMEN IN HER SITUATION WILL BE SUBJECTED TO THAT KIND OF TREATMENT. WE RECOIL AND I THINK RIGHTLY SO.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE MESSAGES I TRY TO BRING HOME IN THIS BOOK IS JUST BECAUSE BEHAVIOR SEEMS TO HAVE RATIONAL BASIS TO IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S REASONABLE TO ACT ON IT. YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES OF ERROR. YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE MISTAKES. WHAT ARE THE SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF THOSE MISTAKES?

VAL>> BUT WHAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF TIME? WHAT IF, FOR EXAMPLE, THE WOMAN GETTING CASH FEELS THREATENED AT THAT MOMENT?

JODY ARMOUR>> ONE OF THE THINGS I TALK ABOUT IN THE BOOK IS THAT WE DO HAVE THE POWER TO CONTROL EVEN OUR UNCONSCIOUS DISCRIMINATORY IMPULSES. IF YOU THINK OF THE UNCONSCIOUS AS SOME DARK LITTLE INNER RECESS IN THE HUMAN PSYCHE THAT IS INACCESSIBLE EXCEPT ON A PSYCHIATRIST'S COUCH, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO SAY THAT'S PRETTY HOPELESS TO ASK PEOPLE TO TRY TO REGULATE THAT. BUT WHAT I TALK ABOUT IN THE BOOK IS THE COGNITIVE UNCONSCIOUS. THAT IS, HABIT. HABITUAL RESPONSES THAT WE DEVELOP FROM A VERY EARLY AGE AND, ONCE THEY'RE DEVELOPED, THEY CAN RUN AUTOMATICALLY.

ALL A HABIT IS IS A WELL-LEARNED SET OF ASSOCIATIONS THAT RUN AUTOMATICALLY WHEN WE'RE IN THE PRESENCE OF CUES THAT TRIGGER THE HABIT. WHAT I TALK ABOUT IN THE BOOK IS CONTROLLING THAT HABIT. WE CAN ALL CONTROL THAT HABIT, BUT TO CONTROL A HABIT TAKES ATTENTION, INTENTION AND EFFORT. YOU CAN'T TAKE AN OSTRICH-HEAD-IN-THE-SAND APPROACH TO A HABIT. YOU CAN'T TRY TO IGNORE THE CUES THAT TRIGGER IT. YOU HAVE TO SAY, WHEN YOU'RE IN THE PRESENCE OF CUES THAT TRIGGER YOUR HABIT, "HEY, I'M NOT GOING TO SUCCUMB TO THE HABIT. WHEN I'M IN THE PRESENCE OF SOMEONE BLACK, I'M GOING TO MONITOR MY RESPONSES AND NOT ALLOW MYSELF TO FALL INTO THE HABIT OF DISCRIMINATION AND STEREOTYPES."

VAL>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BASICALLY RAISING PEOPLES' AWARENESS, SELF-AWARENESS?

JODY ARMOUR>> ABSOLUTELY.

VAL>> AND FINALLY, I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOUNT, IF YOU CAN, YOUR FATHER'S STORY. HE WAS --

JODY ARMOUR>> YES.

VAL>> -- A VERY SUCCESSFUL, AMBITIOUS AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAN IN WHAT CITY?

JODY ARMOUR>> YES. IN AKRON, OHIO --

VAL>> AKRON, OHIO.

JODY ARMOUR>> -- IN THE LATE 50'S AND EARLY 60'S, AND HE VIOLATED CERTAIN RULES OF ORDER, THE RACIAL CASTE SYSTEM IN PLACE AT THAT TIME.

VAL>> AND HE SPENT FIVE YEARS IN PRISON?

JODY ARMOUR>> YES. HE WAS ARRESTED AND CONVICTED OF POSSESSION AND SALE OF NARCOTICS, MARIJUANA, AND HE EVENTUALLY APPEALED HIS OWN CASE AND WAS ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE CASE WAS TRUMPED UP, THAT THE EVIDENCE WAS PLANTED AND HE WAS RELEASED AFTER FIVE YEARS, BUT HE HAD TO GO THROUGH A FIVE-YEAR LEGAL ORDEAL TO DO IT. THE RAMPART CASE REALLY STRIKES HOME WITH ME. THIS IS NOT --

VAL>> BECAUSE YOU WERE A YOUNG BOY WHEN THEY BURST IN AND ARRESTED YOUR FATHER --

JODY ARMOUR>> YES.

VAL>> -- AND PLANTED THE EVIDENCE IN THE KITCHEN CUPBOARD?

JODY ARMOUR>> YES, IN THE KITCHEN CUPBOARD WHICH WAS AS CLEAN AS A WHISTLE. MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A VERY FASTIDIOUS WOMAN AND THERE WAS JUST -- WE ALL KNEW WHAT IT WAS THAT WAS HAPPENING. IN SPITE OF THAT, I TRIED TO REMAIN HOPEFUL AND OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WHERE WE CAN GO. RATHER THAN CURSE THE GLOOM, I'M TRYING TO LIGHT A CANDLE AND SAY WE CAN GO THAT NEXT STEP, BUT IT TAKES PEOPLE OF GOOD FAITH AND GOOD WILL AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN CALL ON AND WE CAN BE.

VAL>> JODY DAVID ARMOUR, AUTHOR OF "NEGROPHOBIA AND REASONABLE RACISM", THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

JODY ARMOUR>> IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE. THANK YOU.

WARREN>> HE'S GOT SOME VERY CHALLENGING IDEAS. WHAT WERE THE RULES THAT HIS FATHER VIOLATED THAT LED THE POLICE TO PLANT THE MARIJUANA?

VAL>> BESIDES BEING AMBITIOUS AND SUCCESSFUL, HE WAS MARRIED TO A WHITE WOMAN. SO JODY ARMOUR'S PARENTS WERE IN A MIXED MARRIAGE AND THAT WAS NOT VERY ACCEPTABLE IN OHIO IN THE 50'S.

WARREN>> KNOWS WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT.

VAL>> YES, HE DOES, FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. EXTRAORDINARY PERSON.

WELL, IF YOU HAVE SOME THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS ON WHAT JODY ARMOUR HAS TO SAY, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. HERE ARE THE WAYS YOU CAN REACH US. LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS SEGMENT OR ANY OF THE REPORTS WE AIR HERE ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

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WARREN>> MOST VISITORS TO LA COUNTY'S NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, YOU'VE BEEN AMONG THEM, ARE LOOKING FOR DINOSAUR BONES AND NATIVE-AMERICAN ARTIFACTS. BUT THERE'S A SECRET TREASURE HIDDEN AMONG THE SKELETONS, THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTION OF HOLLYWOOD MEMORABILIA IN THE WORLD.

VAL>> THE COLLECTION STARTED OUT AS A WAY TO DOCUMENT HOW FILMS WERE MADE, BUT ALONG THE WAY IT TURNED INTO A VIRTUAL ARCHIVE OF CINEMATIC HISTORY. PATT MORRISON TAKES US ON A PERSONAL TOUR, IN TONIGHT'S PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS.

PATT>> YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY. DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ. THIS SAYS WE'RE AT THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF UNNATURAL HISTORY WITHIN THESE WALLS. FOR SEVENTY YEARS, LARGELY UNSEEN AND UNSUNG, THE MOST COMPLETE AND COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTION OF MOVIE-MAKING ARTIFACTS IN THE WORLD. THE NATURAL WORLD AND THE OTHER KIND.

BETH WERLING IS COLLECTIONS MANAGER FOR ALL OF THE HOLLYWOOD ITEMS, THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ITEMS AT THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM. THAT MAKES YOU THE QUEEN OF HOLLYWOOD.

BETH WERLING>> WELL, THAT'S ONE WAY OF LOOKING AT IT, YES. 

PATT>> HOW DID YOU COME BY SUCH AN ENORMOUS COLLECTION AND HOW DID IT COME TO BE SO UNKNOWN?

BETH WERLING>> WELL, WE HAVE THE COLLECTION, THANKS TO A VERY FARSIGHTED CURATOR WHO WAS HERE IN 1930 BY THE NAME OF EARL TYSON. HE APPROACHED THE MUSEUM AND SAID, "LISTEN, ONE OF OUR MISSIONS IS TO COLLECT MATERIALS PERTAINING TO LOS ANGELES BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRY AND HERE WE HAVE THIS MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY. PERHAPS WE SHOULD START COLLECTING MATERIALS THAT DOCUMENT HOW MOVIES ARE MADE." SO BEGINNING IN 1930, WE COLLECTED SCRIPTS, CAMERAS, EDITING EQUIPMENT, LIGHTS, COSTUMES, PROPS, EVERYTHING YOU COULD THINK OF THAT IT WOULD TAKE TO MAKE A MOTION PICTURE.

PATT>> NOW, THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY MUST BE KNOCKING AT YOUR DOOR ARE ALL THE OTHER FLEDGLING HOLLYWOOD MUSEUMS.

BETH WERLING>> WE HAVE A GREAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD WHO ARE NOW ASKING TO BORROW PIECES FROM THE COLLECTION AND, YES, WE DO LOAN THE COLLECTION OUT FOR SHORT-TERM LOANS FOR SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS.

PATT>> WHAT DO THEY SAY WHEN THEY FIND OUT THIS STUFF IS HERE?

BETH WERLING>> MOSTLY JAWS DROP AND PEOPLE DON'T REALLY BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY, "YES, WE HAVE THAT", VERY MATTER-OF-FACTLY. MOST OF THE MATERIAL THAT WE HAVE WAS GIVEN DIRECTLY TO US BY THE STARS, THE COSTUMES OF THE STARS WHO WORE THEM, OR STUDIO HEADS AND, IN SOME CASES, CAMERAMEN OR SOMEONE AFFILIATED DIRECTLY WITH THE FILM.

PATT>> SO YOU HAVE A DIRECT CONNECTION. IT'S NOT EVEN SECONDARY?

BETH WERLING>> OH, YES. IN MOST CASES, IT'S THE REAL MCCOY.

PATT>> WELL, AMONG THE MORE TANGIBLE, TOUCHABLE THINGS IN YOUR COLLECTION ARE THESE WONDERFUL COSTUME PIECES.

BETH WERLING>> WELL, WE BROUGHT SOME OF THE HATS OUT JUST IN YOUR HONOR.

PATT>> SO KIND. AND THIS, ONE OF MY FAVORITES, IS A KIND OF A TRASHY TUDOR NOVEL CALLED "DOROTHY VERNON OF HADDON HALL". I DON'T THINK THE MOVIE TITLE WAS QUITE THAT LONG.

BETH WERLING>> IT WAS ACTUALLY "DOROTHY VERNON OF HADDON HALL".

PATT>> STARRING MARY PICKFORD, WHO WAS PROBABLY THE MOST FAMOUS WOMAN IN THE WORLD FOR TWENTY-SOME YEARS.

BETH WERLING>> UM-HUM, DEFINITELY.

PATT>> LET'S LOOK.

BETH WERLING>> AND THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE PERIODIC FILMS THAT SHE MADE THROUGHOUT THE 20'S WHEN SHE WANTED TO TRY AND GET AWAY FROM HER LITTLE GIRL ROLES AND TO TRY TO MAKE IT AS AN ADULT ACTRESS.

PATT>> LET'S SEE THE BACK. OH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

BETH WERLING>> UM-HUM.

PATT>> BEN HUR.

BETH WERLING>> THIS IS ONE OF THE HELMETS FRANCIS X. BUSHMAN WORE IN THE FILM AND --

PATT>> WHO WAS THE BAD GUY.

BETH WERLING>> YES. AND YOU CAN SEE --

PATT>> SWEAT STAINS.

BETH WERLING>> -- THAT THEY REALLY MADE HIM WORK. ORIGINALLY, THIS WOULD HAVE HAD A PLUME ON THE TOP, BUT WHEN MGM GAVE THIS TO US A FEW YEARS AFTER THE FILM WAS MADE, THERE WAS NO PLUME. JUST THE HELMET LEFT.

PATT>> SO THIS WAS GIVEN ALMOST CONTEMPORANEOUSLY WITH THE FILM, 20'S OR 30'S.

NOW THIS, OF COURSE, IS MY FAVORITE. THIS IS "THE MERRY WIDOW", THE ERICH VON STROHEIM FILM, AND THIS HEADDRESS -- ONE CAN SCARCELY CALL IT A HAT -- WAS WORN BY --

BETH WERLING>> WAS WORN BY MAE MURRAY AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE DRESS, THE ADRIAN GOWN, THAT SHE WORE AS WELL. BUT THIS IS BLACK BIRDS OF PARADISE FEATHERS, WHICH I UNDERSTAND MIGHT BE AN ENDANGERED SPECIES NOW.

PATT>> OH, VERY LIKELY.

[FILM CLIP]

BETH WERLING>> THIS WAS A CHRISTINA RICCI GOWN THAT SHE WORE IN "ADAMS FAMILY VALUES". 

PATT>> ONCE IN A WHILE, SOMETHING COMES ON THE MARKET THAT YOU CAN'T DO WITHOUT.

THIS I LOVE, AND YOU SAID I COULD TURN THIS.

BETH WERLING>> YES.

PATT>> THIS IS A SOUND EFFECTS DEVICE FROM RKO --

BETH WERLING>> BACK IN THE 30'S.

PATT>> -- AND IT DID NOT USUALLY ACCOMPANY MUSICAL COMEDIES AND WE'LL HEAR WHY. OH, IT SAYS "DUNGEONS" TO ME.

BETH WERLING>> THIS IS FROM ANOTHER RKO FILM, "KING KONG". WILLIS O'BRIEN, WHO WAS THE CHIEF TECHNICIAN AND ANIMATOR ON THE FILM, DONATED THIS MODEL OF KING KONG'S HAND. IT HAS A STEEL ARMATURE UNDERNEATH AND THEN THEY COVERED IT WITH RED RUBBER SPONGES, THE KIND THAT YOU WOULD JUST BUY AT THE DIME STORE, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE THERE. THEN THEY WOULD LAYER THAT WITH OTHER MATERIALS, PLASTIC OR FUR IF NEED BE, TO GIVE THE EFFECT OF SKIN.

PATT>> WHO NEEDS HIGH-TECH?

AND THIS IS PERHAPS ONE OF YOUR MOST REMARKABLE TREASURES.

BETH WERLING>> UM-HUM. THIS IS LON CHANEY'S MAKEUP KIT, THE KIT THAT HE USED IN THE 20'S. THIS IS THE KIT HE USED WHEN HE WAS WORKING ON "PHANTOM OF THE OPERA", "THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME" AND HIS LATER MGM FILMS.

PATT>> HE WAS "THE MAN OF 1,000 FACES". HE COULD LOOK LIKE ANYONE BUT HIMSELF IF HE CHOSE TO.

BETH WERLING>> YES.

PATT>> AND YOU HAVE DONE SOME OF YOUR RESEARCH BY WATCHING SILENT FILMS?

BETH WERLING>> OH, ABSOLUTELY. FIRST OF ALL, TO GET AN APPRECIATION OF THEM, BUT ALSO TO DOCUMENT THE COLLECTION, THE PROPS, THE COSTUMES THAT WE HAVE AND, IN SOME CASES, THE STILLS AND THE POSTERS. BUT WITH SILENT FILM, IT'S HARD BECAUSE MOST OF THE SILENT FILMS DON'T SURVIVE. WE'RE FORTUNATE IN THAT MOST OF THE PIECES THAT WERE DONATED TO US, THE FILMS STILL EXIST. THE CHAPLIN FILMS, BUSTER KEATON, HAROLD LLOYD, DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS, MARY PICKFORD. THOSE FILMS ARE STILL AROUND.

PATT>> IN THE 1960'S, WHEN FIRE BROKE OUT AT ONE OF THE MOVIE STUDIOS, SOME WARDROBE PEOPLE WHO WERE DESPERATE TO CLEAN OUT THE ACCUMULATION OF YEARS MADE HASTE TO TOSS PILES OF OLD COSTUMES INTO THE BLAZE. IT'S ENOUGH TO MAKE A MODERN COLLECTOR WEEP. BUT THESE THINGS, LIKE THIS KEYSTONE COPS HELMET, HAVE NO INTRINSIC WORTH. THEIR VALUE IS IN THE MAGIC THAT WE ASSIGN TO THEM. LIKE OUR ANCIENT FOREBEARS WHO MADE TALISMANS OF AN UNUSUAL ROCK OR A SPECIAL TREE, WE HAVE MADE PRESENT-DAY TALISMANS OF THE RELICS OF CELLULOID DEMAGOGUES.

WARREN>> THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.

TOMORROW ON WHICH WAY LA, THE RAMPART SCANDAL THROWS NEW LIGHT ON THE POLICE OFFICERS' BILL OF RIGHTS. IS IT A NECESSARY PROTECTION OR AN OBSTACLE TO PROSECUTION? THAT'S TOMORROW.

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VAL>> FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, HAVE A GREAT EVENING. WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

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