The Colbert Report Season 4 Episode 157 2008-12-08 Geoffrey Canada

In season 4 episode 157 of The Colbert Report, aired on December 8th, 2008, Stephen Colbert welcomes guest Geoffrey Canada, an American educator and author. The episode begins with Stephen discussing the recent news of Detroit’s struggles and the possibility of a bailout for the auto industry. As always, his opinions on the matter are humorous, satirical and filled with political commentary.

Next, Stephen introduces his guest, Geoffrey Canada, who is the founder and CEO of Harlem Children’s Zone, a non-profit organization that aims to improve the lives of underprivileged children and families in Harlem, New York City. Canada is also the author of the book "Fist Stick Knife Gun: A Personal History of Violence in America."

Throughout the episode, Stephen and Geoffrey engage in a lively conversation about education, poverty, and violence in American society. Stephen challenges Canada’s views on education reform, asking whether he believes that underprivileged children are capable of success if they have access to better resources and funding. Canada argues that while resources are important, the root of the problem lies in a larger societal issue of poverty and inequality.

The conversation takes a more serious turn as Stephen asks Canada about his personal experiences with violence, and how it has shaped his work with children. Canada shares his own story of growing up in the South Bronx, where he witnessed and experienced violence firsthand, and how it motivated him to create the Harlem Children’s Zone.

As the interview comes to a close, Canada offers a message of hope and empowerment to underprivileged children and families struggling with poverty and violence. He encourages them to believe in themselves and their abilities, and to strive towards a better future.

The episode ends with Stephen thanking Canada for joining him on the show and offering his own humorous take on the interview. As always, The Colbert Report provides a mixture of humor, satire, and insightful commentary on important social and political issues.