Cory Booker Thanks Kimmel: ‘There’s a Reason Why Authoritarian Leaders Attack Artists’

KIMMEL How are you ░░░░░░░░ BOOKER I m really ░░░░░░░░ I want to thank ░░░░░░░░ You know I don ░░░░░░░░ know if you know ░░░░░░░░ my family moved out ░░░░░░░░ right after the war ░░░░░░░░ War II My mom ░░░░░░░░ raised out here KIMMEL ░░░░░░░░ BOOKER And they tell ░░░░░░░░ stories It was a ░░░░░░░░ tough time in the ░░░░░░░░ community Nationally horrific things ░░░░░░░░ happening from church bombings ░░░░░░░░ assassinations But here in ░░░░░░░░ A it was black ░░░░░░░░ at that time that ░░░░░░░░ that community comedians from ░░░░░░░░ Pryor to Redd Foxx ░░░░░░░░ helped heal and turn ░░░░░░░░ absurdities of the time ░░░░░░░░ not just laughter but ░░░░░░░░ helping them deal with ░░░░░░░░ anguish And we re ░░░░░░░░ that time now There ░░░░░░░░ a reason why authoritarian ░░░░░░░░ attack artists because they ░░░░░░░░ so powerful And we ░░░░░░░░ in one of these ░░░░░░░░ moments again A lot ░░░░░░░░ people tune in now ░░░░░░░░ just to laugh but ░░░░░░░░ to have someone who ░░░░░░░░ help them address what ░░░░░░░░ going on feel a ░░░░░░░░ of a larger family ░░░░░░░░ Well I appreciate that ░░░░░░░░ nice BOOKER Yes it ░░░░░░░░ really important work Cheering ░░░░░░░░ Applause KIMMEL Your job ░░░░░░░░ probably slightly more important ░░░░░░░░ Look we need everybody ░░░░░░░░ now KIMMEL Yeah Are ░░░░░░░░ talking about Bruce Springsteen ░░░░░░░░ Because this must really ░░░░░░░░ Listen look Bruce has ░░░░░░░░ line the poets around ░░░░░░░░ write nothing at all ░░░░░░░░ just stand around and ░░░░░░░░ it all be It ░░░░░░░░ allusion to the fact ░░░░░░░░ in a time of ░░░░░░░░ politicians are important but ░░░░░░░░ are more important artists ░░░░░░░░ more important Cheering and ░░░░░░░░ KIMMEL He is a ░░░░░░░░ who s never done ░░░░░░░░ but good for the ░░░░░░░░ correct I mean really ░░░░░░░░ Springsteen BOOKER Bruce is ░░░░░░░░ of the again he ░░░░░░░░ an artist who understands ░░░░░░░░ roles of artists during ░░░░░░░░ times He sings to ░░░░░░░░ s pain but also ░░░░░░░░ s possibilities He expands ░░░░░░░░ and deepens connection And ░░░░░░░░ him to attack an ░░░░░░░░ like that doesn t ░░░░░░░░ his strength it shows ░░░░░░░░ weakness Cheering and Applause ░░░░░░░░ Yeah I agree Of ░░░░░░░░ I agree.”