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>> WELCOME TO "BLACK NOUVEAU."
THIS IS OUR EDITION FOR
MARCH 26, 2014, I'M JOANNE
WILLIAMS.
THIS WEEK, WE VISIT A FAMILY
GET-TOGETHER THAT OFFERS MUCH
MORE THAN FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP.
WE'LL PROFILE POET LENARD MOORE,
WE'LL TALK WITH CHILDREN'S BOOK
AUTHOR, JAMES METHU AND TRAYVON
MARTIN'S MOTHER, SYBRINA FULTON
SPOKE TO THE MATC RECENTLY AND
WE'LL HEAR WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY
AT HER NEWS CONFERENCE.
LET'S BEGIN ON A LIGHTER NOTE
WITH THE CAST OF THE MILWAUKEE
REP'S NEW MUSICAL, "AIN'T
MISBEHAVIN'."
♪♪
♪♪
♪ WHEN MY LEFT HAND COMES OUT
MAKES NOTES, I'M HALFWAY TO PLAY
THE PIANO ♪
♪ THEN RIGHT THERE THE
INTERSECTS
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
>> LEGISLATES MEET THE CAST
>> LET'S MEET THE CAST OF "AIN'T
MISBEHAVIN'," FOLKS WITH ALL THE
ENERGY, I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU
GET ALL THE ENERGY TO DO ALL
THOSE SONGS, BUT WHAT IS YOUR
NAME.
>> I'M ERIN WILLIS, I'M
ORIGINALLY FROM ANN ARBOR,
MICHIGAN.
I PLAY ANN IN THE ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
>> IT MAKES SENSE TO YOU.
>> I'M CHRISTOPHER JAMES
CULBERSON, ORIGINALLY FROM
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, I PLAY
ME AND WE SING, I ALSO PLAY
SAXOPHONE AND DRUMS, AND TAP
DANCE IN THE SHOW.
>> EVERYBODY IS BUSY.
THE PIANO PLAYER, WHAT'S YOUR
NAME?
>> MY NAME IS KENNY GREEN AND I
PLAY FATS WALLER AND THE TRUMPET
AND BARITONE.
>> DO YOU DANCE?
>> I DANCE.
>> WHILE PLAYING ONE OF THE
INSTRUMENTS.
>> SOMETIMES, ACTUALLY, I DO.
>> INTERESTING.
OK.
AND YOUR NAME?
>> I'M BETHANY THOMAS, I LIVE IN
CHICAGO BUT I'M ORIGINALLY FROM
KENOSHA.
I AM MOSTLY SINGING IN THE SHOW.
A LITTLE BIT OF DRUMMING.
>> I HEAR YOU DO A LITTLE BIT OF
DANCING TOO.
>> VERY MINIMAL.
>> DO YOU DO MORE DANCING THAN
SHE?
>> A LITTLE BIT, YEAH.
I'M BRITNEY COLEMAN FROM ANN
ARBOR, MICHIGAN AS WELL AND I
LIVE IN NEW YORK BUT IN THE SHOW
I'M COVERING THE STRINGS.
I'M PLAYING UPRIGHT BOAST --
BASS, VIOLIN AND A BANJO LELEI.
>> WHAT'S A BANJO LELEI.
>> IT'S A SMALL BANJO STRUNG
LIKE A UKULELE.
>> IS THIS ITS ENTIRE CAST OF
AIN'T "AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'"?
IT'S A LOVE OF SINGING AND
DANCING FOR YOU FIVE FOLKS TO
CARRY.
>> IT'S A LOT OF FUN.
I LOVE ALL THE PEOPLE AND IT'S
THEY'RE ALL SO TALENTED.
IT'S TWO HOURS.
IT JUST COOKS.
♪♪
♪♪
>> LATER IN THE PROGRAM, WE'LL
TELL YOU HOW YOU CAN WIN TICKETS
TO SEE THE SHOW.
IT'S PLAYING AT THE MILWAUKEE
REP'S STACKNER THEATER THROUGH
MAY 18th.
>> THE MESSAGE IS PRIMARILY
ABOUT RESPECT AND RESPECTING ONE
ANOTHER.
IT'S ABOUT EDUCATION, IT'S ABOUT
BEING EMPOWERED, IT'S ABOUT
BEING ENCOURAGED.
>> SYBRINA FULTON, MOTHER OF
TRAYVON MARTIN, WHO WAS KILLED
DURING A VIOLENT CONFRONTATION
IN 2012, TRAVELS THE COUNTRY,
MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF
AND DON'T FORGET WHAT HAPPENED
TO HER SON.
SHE WAS IN TOWN FOR THE
MILWAUKEE AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE
BLACK STUDENT UNION ANNUAL SOUL
FOOD CELEBRATION AT THE MARCUS
CENTER.
SHE SAID TELLING HER SON'S STORY
IS HELPING HER HEAL.
>> WE'RE TELLING PARENTS TO JUST
BE AWARE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THEY'RE HAVING THAT CONVERSATION
WITH THEIR KIDS AND THE KIDS ARE
AWARE THAT PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE
THAT WILL PROFILE THEM BECAUSE
OF WHAT THEY'RE WEARING, BECAUSE
OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN.
>> SHE'S SPOKEN WITH STUDENTS
ABOUT PROFILING AND THEY ARE
VERY VOCAL.
>> THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT OUR
NEXT STEPS ARE.
THEY WANT TO PARTICIPATE.
THEY WANT TO BE INVOLVED AND
THAT'S GOOD, BECAUSE THEY'RE
MOTIVATED RIGHT NOW.
SO IF THIS CASE DID ANYTHING, IT
WAS THE TO MOTIVATE OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE AND THAT'S A GOOD THING,
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE NOT
SLEEPING.
THEY'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO
WHAT'S GOING ON, AND THAT'S A
GOOD THING.
>> MS. FULTON SAID THE DEATH OF
A CHILD IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF
HURT.
IT'S MORE INTENSE.
>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT CUTS
RIGHT TO THE CORE, SO IT BREAKS
YOUR HEART EVERY TIME YOU THINK
ABOUT IT, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE,
HE HAD HIS LONG LIFE AHEAD OF
HIM, AND THAT WAS CUT SHORT, AND
IT'S LIKE, ALMOST NOTHING I
COULD DO TO BRING IT BACK, AND
IT HURTS A GREAT DEAL.
>> AS SYBRINA FULTON HEALS,
SHE'S HELPING TRAYVON MARTIN'S
OLDER BROTHER HEAL TOO.
>> I SHOWED HIM A LOT OF LOVE
AND WE TALK AND WE TALK AND WE
TALK AND I MAKE HIM TALK AND I
MAKE HIM EXPRESS HOW HE FEELS,
AND I TELL HIM HOW I FEEL, I
MEAN, I FEEL DEPRESSED ABOUT THE
SITUATION, BECAUSE IT'S A
TRAGEDY, YOU KNOW, SO I ALLOW
HIM SPACE TO CRY, I ALLOW HIM
TIME TO HEAL AND THEN WE JUST
TAKE ONE DAY AT A TIME.
>> HOW DO YOU PROTECT THE CHILD
YOU HAVE WITHOUT SMOTHERING HIM?
>> I DON'T.
IT'S NO MIDDLE POINT FOR ME.
RIGHT NOW, I DON'T HAVE A
BALANCE IN BETWEEN THERE,
BECAUSE HE'S 23 YEARS OLD, HE'S
IN SCHOOL, IN MIAMI.
HE'S IN COLLEGE, YOU KNOW, SO
THIS IS HIS LAST YEAR, AND I'M
OVERPROTECTIVE, BECAUSE I DON'T
WANT THE SAME THINGS THAT HAPPEN
TO HIM THAT HAPPENED TO HIS
BROTHER.
SO I'M OVERPROTECTIVE.
I ALWAYS WANT TO KNOW WHERE HE'S
GOING, WHAT HE'S DOING, WHO HE'S
WITH AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO I'M OVERPRO HE CAN TECH
DIFFICULT.
-- OVERPROTECTIVE.
>> A FOUNDATION HAS BEEN
ESTABLISHED TO REACH OUT TO
FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS
OF GUN VIOLENCE.
THE TRAYVON MARTIN FOUNDATION.
♪♪
POETRY AND MUSIC, KEEPING THE
LARGE BLUE HOUSE SPOTLESS.
BEYOND THAT, YOU WERE AN ARTIST,
DRAWING AND PAINTING IN PRIVATE
HOURS.
♪♪
>> MUSIC IS POETRY.
>> HOW YOUR LOVE GROWS.
YOUR OLDEST MAN CHILD PRAYING
LONG THIS NIGHT.
>> THE FIFTH GRADERS AT CAPITAL
WEST ACADEMY GOT TO HEAR BOTH
WHEN POET LENARD MOORE CAME TO
VISIT.
MOUNT MARY COLLEGE BROUGHT HIM
TO MILWAUKEE FOR A READING ON
CAMPUS FOR POETRY LOVERS, AND TO
CAPITAL WEST ACADEMY FOR FUTURE
POETRY FANS.
MOORE HAS BEEN WRITING POETRY
SINCE HE WAS JUST ABOUT THE AGE
OF THESE KIDS AND TODAY, HE
TEACHES AT MOUNT OLIVE COLLEGE
IN NORTH CAROLINA.
HE'S A PROLIFIC AND RECOGNIZED
POET.
HIS COLLECTIONS HAVE BEEN
HONORED SINCE 1983.
THEY COVER EVERY SUBJECT AND
LOCATION IN HIS LIFE FROM THE
BATTLEFIELDS OF DESERT STORM, TO
HIS GRANDMOTHER'S COUNTRY HOME.
>> THE HOME PLACE.
WHEN I WALK THE PATH THIS
MORNING, THERE IS ONLY A SLIGHT
LIGHT IN THE THEN WOODS.
I COME UPON A CREEK NEAR TIN
ROOF HOUSE AND THERE IS NO ONE
ANYWHERE TO WITNESS MY PRESENCE.
MEANWHILE, THE WIND RISES
THROUGH THE BRANCHES.
BUT SOON, REACHES GROUND FALL.
A FEINT SMELL OF HONEY SUCKLE
SUSTAINS ITSELF ON THE AIR,
WHILE QUAIL ROLLS THE SLOPE
REEDS.
MY EYES WILL NOT LET GO.
NOW I THINK OF MY GREAT
GRANDFATHER, WHO ONE TIME WALKED
THESE WOODS THROUGH DAYLIGHT.
>> THIS IS THE COUNTRY HE KNEW.
AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR THIS HOME
PLACE.
HERE, I TOO WISH TO GROW OLD AND
SAYING WITHOUT WORDS IN THIS
PART OF THE WORLD, SO LIVELY AND
PURE.
>> I CAN HEAR A DOG BARKING.
SOMEWHERE IN THE FAR DISTANCE,
HERE WHERE THE FORCES OF FORMER
LIFE DO NOT SPEAK.
THEY'RE HUDDLING INTO
THEMSELVES, A BROTHERHOOD OF
SAINTS.
WE ARE THIS FRESH GREEN WORLD,
WHICH CRADLES EVERYTHING INTO
ITSELF.
♪♪
>> SAX MAN JAMES DALLAS, A
MILWAUKEE MUSICIAN, ACCOMPANIED
MOORE, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD
NEVER PERFORMED TOGETHER BEFORE,
THE CONNECTIONS OF MUSIC AND
WORDS EASILY FLOWED.
>> A POEM OF THE SENSES.
SHE WASHES, RINSES, AND RATTLES
THE RUSTY POTS AND PANS, WHILE
THE SMELL OF COLLARDS STRETCH
ACROSS THE KITCHEN AS THE HEAT
WAVES BECOME HOTTER AND HOTTER,
THEN I LEAVE, BUT NOT BEFORE
EATING A PINT OF STRAWBERRY ICE
CREAM.
>> WHEN THE KIDS AT CAPITAL WEST
KNEW MOORE WAS COMING TO VISIT,
THEY WROTE THEIR OWN HIAKU, A
JAPANESE-STYLE POEM AS A THANK
YOU.
>> THEY PROMISE TO WORK HARD SO
WE CAN WRITE TOO.
>> IF WEREN'T -- IF YOU WEREN'T
A POET, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR
BACKUP JOB?
>> IF I WERE NOT A POET, WHAT
WOULD I BE?
EARLY ON, I THOUGHT I MIGHT
FARM, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE
LIFE WILL TAKE YOU.
>> MOORE WILL ALWAYS BE A POET,
AND AFTER HIS VISIT, PERHAPS ONE
OF THESE CHILDREN WILL BE A POET
TOO.
>> SO ALL OF YOU ARE GOING TO
WRITE.
>> 93 OUT OF 3,200, THAT'S HOW
MANY BOOKS WERE WRITTEN FOR
CHILDREN ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE IN
2013.
93.
A STUDY BY THE COOPERATIVE
CHILDREN'S BOOK CENTER AT
UW-MADISON COUNTED THEM ALL.
AND FOUND THAT THE NUMBER HAS
GONE DOWN IN THE LAST 20 YEARS.
WELL, OUR GUESTS, JAMES METHU,
IS THE AUTHOR OF ONE OF THOSE
BOOKS, "THE ADVENTURES OF SUPER
TIME, AN INTERNAL COMPASS."
WELCOME.
>> I'M GLAD YOU CAME TO TALK TO
US ABOUT SUPER TIME.
I NOTICED THAT THE ILLUSTRATION
LOOKS A LOT LIKE YOU.
WERE YOU THE INSPIRATION FOR
SUPER TIME?
>> JOANNE, I'LL TELL YOU THAT I
WAS THE INSPIRATION, PHYSICALLY,
I USED TO RUN AROUND WITH CAPES
ALL THE TIME AS A LITTLE KID, I
HAD A BIG IMAGINATION, BUT
CHARACTERISTICALLY, I THINK I
REPRESENT A LOT OF THE KIDS THAT
NOT ONLY THAT I GREW UP WITH,
BUT THOSE THAT I JUST
ENCOUNTERED IN LIFE.
>> WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO WRITE A
CHILDREN'S BOOK?
>> WELL, I DECIDED TO WRITE A
CHILDREN'S BOOK, JOANNE, BECAUSE
I THINK WE'RE PAST THAT POINT OF
WE SHOULD DO THIS OR THIS WOULD
BE A GREAT IDEA.
I THINK WE MUST CREATE A DYNAMIC
ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN,
ESPECIALLY DISADVANTAGED
CHILDREN.
>> THERE'S SO MANY CHILDREN NOW
WHO DON'T READ MUCH ANYMORE.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO CONVINCE
THEM TO DO THAT?
>> WELL, JOANNE, THE FIRST THING
I WANT TO DO IS CONVINCE
EVERYBODY, EVERY YOUNG CHILD, NO
MATTER WHAT RACE OR WHAT THEY
BELIEVE IN, THAT THEY CAN BE
GREAT.
I THINK SPECIFICALLY, FOR
DISADVANTAGED KIDS, THERE'S A
LOT OF REASONS TO BE DOWN.
I THINK ONCE THEY CAN SEE
THEMSELVES AS SUCCESSFUL
INDIVIDUALS, THEN I THINK WE CAN
ENGAGE THEM WITH THE CORE
SUBJECTS OF MATH, SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY, OR ENTREPRENEURSHIP,
BUT THEY FIRST MUST SEE
THEMSELVES AS THE VICTOR.
>> DID YOU REALIZE THAT THERE
WERE SO FEW BOOKS WRITTEN ABOUT
BLACK PEOPLE, WHEN YOU WROTE
YOUR BOOK?
>> I HAD NO IDEA.
I KNEW THERE WAS VERY FEW, BUT I
HAD NO IDEA IT WAS THAT SMALL.
IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT -- IS
THE PROBLEM, BUT JOANNE, TO MY
POINT, WE USUALLY DON'T SEE
OURSELVES IN SUCCESSFUL
SITUATIONS.
>> NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT SUPER
TIME.
HE HAS A GREAT -- TIMMY.
HE HAS A GREAT IMAGINATION AND
HE TALKS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE
ABOUT WHAT HE IMAGINES.
>> EXACTLY.
HE TALKS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.
SUPER TIMMY, HE COMES FROM A
DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUND,
ONE-PARENT HOME, HE'S A YOUNG
IMPRESSIONABLE KID WHO LOOKS TO
OTHERS FOR LEADERSHIP, BUT THE
GREAT THING ABOUT HIM, HE HAS A
GREAT ENVIRONMENT AND HE LEARNS
SO MUCH FROM OTHERS.
>> YOU TALK ABOUT HIS PARENTS,
HIS GRANDPARENT, HIS UNCLE, WHO
RUNS A FARM.
HE GETS A LOT OF DIFFERENT
EXPERIENCES.
WHY SO MANY VARIED EXPERIENCES?
>> I THINK VARIED EXPERIENCES, I
TOTALLY BELIEVE IN THE SAYING
THAT IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE
A CHILD.
AND I THINK EVERY PERSON, NO
MATTER WHO YOU ARE, THEY HAVE AN
EXPERIENCE THAT THEY CAN SHARE
THAT A YOUNG CHILD CAN PROFIT
FROM.
SUPER TIMMY, THE SAME WAY HE CAN
LEARN THESE BAD THINGS AND WATCH
CERTAIN THINGS ON TELEVISION, IN
THE SAME MANNER, HE CAN RECEIVE
GOOD INFORMATION AND USE HIS
GOD-GIVEN ABILITIES.
>> ARE WE GOING TO SEE SUPER
TIMMY GOES TO THE LIBRARY OR
SUPER TIMMY GOES TO THE ART
MUSEUM?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
SUPER TIMMY WILL BE IN MANY
DIFFERENT SCENARIOS, SCENARIOS
THAT PARENTS AND TEACHERS CAN
LEARN AND ENJOY TOGETHER.
THIS IS THE FIRST BOOK IN THE
SERIES, BUT MY GOAL IS TO GET
SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND
THE COUNTRY, SO WE CAN MAKE THE
SERIES BIG TIME.
>> ARE YOU GOING TO WRITE A
SUPER SUSIE?
>> DEFINITELY A SUPER SUSIE, MY
WIFE SAYS I HAVE TO INCLUDE A
SUPER SUSIE OR SUPER, ANY
BEAUTIFUL WIFE'S NAME.
>> WHAT IS YOUR WIFE'S NAME.
>> AKITA.
SUPER AKITA.
THAT WORKS PERFECT.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING AND
TALKING TO US ABOUT YOUR BOOK,
SUPER TIMMY, INTERNAL COMPASS.
FAMILY GATHERINGS CAN BE A TIME
FOR JOY OR SADNESS.
THEY CAN ALSO BE A TIME FOR
SHARING IMPORTANT FAMILY
HISTORY.
LIDDIE COLLINS REPORTS ON ONE
GATHERING.
>>
>> FOOD, FAMILY, LAUGHTER.
WHAT A COMBINATION.
AND A COMBINATION WITH A
PURPOSE.
>> EVERY WEEKEND --
>> SUCCESS COMES FROM HOW THEY
WERE RAISED.
>> ACQUAINT AND REACQUAINT
FAMILY MEMBERS, BASICALLY
COUSINS.
I FOUND THAT MANY OF OUR COUSINS
DON'T KNOW EACH OTHER, AND I
JUST THOUGHT IT WAS TIME TO
BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER, THAT
WANTED TO COME, AND WE JUST
BREAK BREAD TOGETHER, AND GET TO
KNOW EACH OTHER AND JUST TALK
ABOUT FAMILY TIES AND FAMILY
VALUES.
>> GRANDMA IS COOKING THE
DINNERS THAT WE ALWAYS HAD AT
OUR HOUSE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
>> I CAME BECAUSE I KNOW SO FEW
OF MY RELATIVES AND I'D LIKE TO
GET TO KNOW THEM.
I MOVED AWAY WHEN I WAS 20 AND
I'M JUST RETURNING.
49 YEARS AGO, WE COULD SEE EACH
OTHER IN THE STREET AND NOT EVEN
KNOW OUR CHILDREN COULD MEET
EACH OTHER, AND NOT KNOW THAT
THEY WERE RELATIVES AND I THINK
IT'S GOOD TO KNOW WHERE YOU COME
FROM, WHO YOUR RELATIVES ARE.
>> THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN
LIFE OTHER THAN GOD HIMSELF, IS
FAMILY.
AND I'M LIKE CLAUDIA, I HAD LOST
TRACK OF MY FAMILY.
>> LEGACY.
LEGACY IS THE PRINCIPAL REASON
THAT I'M HERE.
WE GREW UP HAVING FAMILY
REUNIONS, FAMILY GATHERINGS, AND
THE BENEFIT OF THAT WAS
INSTILLING IN EACH AND EVERY ONE
OF US THE POWER OF LOVE AND
KNOWING WHO YOU ARE.
>> HISTORICALLY, FAMILY HAS BEEN
AN IMPORTANT SURVIVAL ELEMENT
FOR THE BLACK FAMILIES.
>> THEY'RE SO MUCH MORE STABLE
WHEN THEY'RE CONNECTED WITH
THEIR FAMILIES, BUT ALSO IN A
VARIETY OF WAYS, LIKE
FINANCIALLY MORE STABLE, THEY
HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT SYSTEM AND
A SUPPORT NETWORK, SO IF
SOMETHING HAPPENS, SOMEBODY IS
SICK, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU NEED
SOMEBODY TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR
KID, YOU HAVE YOUR FAMILY TO
TURN TO AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE
REASONS WHY AMONG
AFRICAN-AMERICANS, FAMILY HAS
BEEN SO IMPORTANT HISTORICALLY
IS THERE WASN'T REALLY THAT
LEVEL OF PROTECTION, THAT
AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAD, THAT
THERE WASN'T A LAW THAT WASN'T
POLICE.
THERE WASN'T ANYBODY YOU COULD
TURN TO BEYOND FAMILY MEMBERS
AND SO FAMILY BECAME SO, SO VERY
IMPORTANT, AND SO I WOULD THINK
THE FAMILY, THAT CONNECTION OF
THAT SUPPORT, AND THAT NOT JUST
THE LOVE AND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL
WELL-BEING, BUT ALSO JUST THAT
OVERALL SUPPORT IS VERY
IMPORTANT.
>> OUR FAMILIES PROVIDE US WITH
CULTURE, WITH NOT JUST LOVE AND
SUPPORT, BUT ALSO CULTURE AND
HISTORY AND AN IDEA OF WHO WE
ARE AS A PEOPLE, A COMMUNITY AND
SO THE MORE YOU'RE CONNECTED
WITH YOUR FAMILY, YOU'LL KNOW
MORE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR OWN
HISTORY.
ALSO SEEING THE VERY STRUGGLES
THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE
TAKEN PLAYERS AND SO TALKING TO
PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE OF THEIR
GRANDMOTHER'S GENERATION OR EVEN
THEIR GREAT GRANDMOTHER'S
GENERATION, LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE
HER AROUND OR OUR GENERATION
WHERE THEY CAN SEE THE STRUGGLES
THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE GONE
THROUGH THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF
HISTORY EVEN IF WE LOOK AT
MILWAUKEE OR EVEN, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE IN THE MIDWEST OR EVEN
ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTH, YOU
KNOW, THE VARIOUS CHALLENGES AND
STRUGGLES AND I THINK THAT WOULD
GIVE PEOPLE A REAL GOOD RENEWED
APPRECIATION FOR WHAT
AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE ACTUALLY
GOING THROUGH TODAY.
>> I HOPE, WHEN YOU LEAVE HERE
TODAY, YOU WILL SAY, AT LEAST I
CAN TAKE ONE TIDBIT BACK WITH ME
THAT WILL HELP ME UNDERSTAND
MORE ABOUT MY FAMILY.
>> RAISE YOUR HAND.
THANK YOU.
NOW, THIS IS THE DESCEND ANTS OF
WILLIE, RAISE YOUR HAND.
>> HELEN GEE SHARED HISTORICAL
INFORMATION ABOUT A BOOK SHE
WROTE ABOUT THE FAMILY'S HISTORY
AND DID A ROLL CALL OF THE
DIFFERENT BRANCHES OF THE MACLIN
CLAN.
>> RAND THE DESCENDANT OF
LEATHIE, RAISE YOUR HAND AND THE
DESCENDANT OF ROOSEVELT, PLEASE
RAISE YOUR HAND.
>> NOW NOT ONLY IMPORTANT FOR ME
AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
ATTENDING, BUT ALSO FOR MY
CHILDREN AND MY CHILDREN'S
CHILDREN.
I'LL BE HERE TACKING PICTURES
ALL THE WAY I'LL BE HERE AND
THESE WILL BE PICTURES AND
MEMORIES THAT THEY CAN LOOK BACK
UPON.
>> I KNOW WE'VE PASSED THE ONES
ON THE STREET, EVEN AT OUR
CHURCH, I MET OUR FAMILY MEMBERS
THERE, DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THEY
WERE OUR FAMILY UNTIL WE HAD A
FAMILY GATHERING.
>> MY MOM'S FAMILY, WE WERE
RAISED FAMILY IS VERY IMPORTANT,
OUR HOME WAS ALWAYS FILLED WITH
A LOT OF FAMILY MEMBERS.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
FAMILY MEMBERS TO KNOW EACH
OTHER, AND JUST SHARE
INFORMATION, FAMILY HISTORY, AND
JUST BE A PART OF EACH OTHER'S
LIVES.
>> ACTUALLY, I LEARNED A LOT
ABOUT MY GREAT GRANDPARENTS,
THAT I DIDN'T KNOW.
I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT MY
GRANDPARENTS THAT I DIDN'T KNOW.
AND ACTUALLY, IT MAKES ME WANT
TO KNOW MORE.
>> DR. ANGELIQUE HARRIS FROM
MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY SAID FAMILY
GATHERINGS ARE IMPORTANT.
>> WHEN THEY DO THESE TYPES OF
CONVENIENCE AND THE MORE THEY
HAVE THESE TYPES OF FAMILY
GET-TOGETHERS AND DINNERS,
THEY'LL GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER
AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THAT
EXTENDS THE SUPPORT NETWORK AND
AFRICAN-AMERICANS AS I MENTIONED
BEFORE DON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT
NETWORK THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES
HAVE IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL
SUPPORT OR WHATNOT, LIKE LEGAL
SUPPORT, ETC., SOME OTHER
COMMUNITIES OR ASPECTS OF OUR
SOCIETY, SO FOR MANY
AFRICAN-AMERICANS THE ONLY REAL
SUPPORT THEY HAVE IS THEIR
FAMILY, SO IF THEY CAN REALLY
GET TO KNOW THEIR FAMILY A LOT
MORE AND GET TO COME TO
UNDERSTAND THE VARIOUS
CHALLENGES THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS
HAVE HAD, ETC., AND I THINK IT
WOULD REALLY STRENGTHEN THEIR
OWN RIPP WITH THEIR FAMILY.
>> -- RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR
FAMILY.
>> IF YOU DON'T DILIGENTLY AND
DELIBERATELY STAGE EVENTS TO
MAKE SURE THAT FAMILY STAYS
COHESIVE, KNOW WHO THEY ARE,
KNOW EACH OTHER, THAT BOND THAT
SHOULD BE HOLDING US TOGETHER
AND THAT LEGACY OF LOVE THAT HAS
BEEN ESTABLISHED OVER THE YEARS,
IT BREAKS.
AND MY VIEW IS EVERY FAMILY
NEEDS TO DO WHATEVER THEY CAN IN
THESE DAYS AND TIMES TO MAKE
SURE THAT THAT BOND IS NEVER
BROKEN.
>> AND BEFORE WE CLOSE TONIGHT,
WE HAVE FOUR PAIRS OF TICKETS TO
GIVE AWAY TO THE MILWAUKEE REP'S
PRODUCTION OF AIN'T -- "AIN'T
MISBEHAVIN'."
NAME THE ACTRESS WHO WON A TONY
AND AN EMMY FOR HER WORK IN
"AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'."
YOU MAY RESPOND BY PHONE AT
414-297-7556, OR EMAIL US AT
TVVIEWER@MATC.EDU.
IF YOU WON TICKETS FROM US THE
SEASON BEFORE, YOU'RE NOT
ELIGIBLE THIS TIME.
THE CONTEST CLOSES ON SUNDAY,
MARCH 30th, AT 6:00 P.M.
THE TICKETS ARE COURTESY OF THE
MILWAUKEE REP.
AND THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR THIS
WEEK.
FOR "BLACK NOUVEAU," I'M JOANNE
WILLIAMS.
GOOD NIGHT.
♪♪