In his first television interview since being released from prison, rapper Meek Mill tells NBC News' Lester Holt: "I think we always been DIVIDED in America where it's always black and white. I don't really call it black and white. A lot of black people are in prison, a lot of Spanish men are in prison. A lot of these laws and policies are made to keep most of these minorities trapped forever." Mill adds, "I had eight years of probation that turned to 16 years of probation. Something is not working. I'm still doing time for that case." To watch the preview, click here, and the transcript of the excerpt is provided below.
Mill's sit-down with Holt, just one day after leaving prison, airs this Sunday, May 6 at 7 p.m. ET/PT, 6 p.m. CT., as part of a one-hour Dateline titled "Dreams and Nightmares: The Meek Mill Story." The interview is Holt's second with Mill in the past few weeks. The two men first spoke in April by phone while Mill was still behind bars: https://nbcnews.to/2qVdlOx.
Sunday's broadcast features exclusive access to Mill's release, including footage of the rapper flying on a chopper with Philadelphia 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin moments after leaving prison. Holt also speaks with Rubin, as well as Mill's mother Kathy Williams and his sister Nasheema Williams. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative Bryan Stevenson, and Mill's lawyers are among the several other voices featured.
"Dreams and Nightmares: The Meek Mill Story" explores many controversies surrounding the criminal justice system, including the parole system, possible wrongful convictions, challenges faced by law enforcement, alleged police abuse and the disadvantages of growing up poor and black in America. Mill's story has propelled some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment to help galvanize millions of people to call for a change in the criminal justice system. The program is produced by Dan Slepian and senior producer Paul Ryan.
Interview Excerpt:
MEEK MILL: I think we always been DIVIDED in America where it's always black and white. I don't really call it black and white. A lot of black people are in prison, a lot of Spanish men are in prison. A lot of these laws and policies are made to keep most of these minorities trapped forever. I had eight years of probation that turned to 16 years of probation. Something is not working. I'm still doing time for that case.
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"Dateline" is the longest-running series in NBC primetime history. In its 26th season, "Dateline" is anchored by Lester Holt and features correspondents Andrea Canning, Josh Mankiewicz, Keith Morrison and Dennis Murphy. Airing Fridays at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT and Sundays at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m CT., "Dateline" reaches more than 20 million people every week through its broadcast, and millions more through its social media platforms. David Corvo is the senior executive producer, and Liz Cole is the executive producer. Follow Dateline on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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