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>> I WAS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO
THE DESTRUCTION OF MY COMMUNITY.
THAT NAIL THAT I TURNED MY LIFE
AROUND, I OWE IT TO MY COMMUNITY
TO BE A MAJOR PART OF THE
UPLIFTMENT.
>>
>> HELLO.
WELCOME TO "BLACK NOUVEAU."
THIS IS OUR EDITION FOR MARCH 5,
2014.
I'M JOANNE WILLIAMS.
MARCH IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
AND WE BEGIN OUR SALUTE WITH A
WOMAN WHO HAS PRESERVED MUCH OF
MILWAUKEE'S AFRICAN-AMERICAN
HISTORY, IRENE GOGGINS.
WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT FROM THE
BLACK HEALTH COALITION OF
WISCONSIN, AND WE'LL PROFILE
HIP-HOP WRITER J.M. BENJAMIN,
WHO BELIEVES IN GIVING BACK TO
HIS COMMUNITY.
BUT WE BEGIN WITH THE MILWAUKEE
ART MUSEUM'S CURRENT EXHIBIT,
UNCOMMON FOLK, TRADITIONS IN
AMERICAN ART.
IT REFLECTS THE RICHNESS OF FOLK
AND SELF-TAUGHT ARTISTS, LIKE
BILL TAYLOR.
LIDDIE COLLINS HAS MORE.
>> ONE OF THE BEST COLLECTIONS
OF AMERICAN FOLK ART IN THE
COUNTRY IS LOCATED AT THE
MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM.
PIECE HE IS OF THIS COLLECTION
ARE ALWAYS ON DISPLAY AT THE
MUSEUM.
THE MUSEUM HAS NOW BROUGHT
TOGETHER A LARGE SECTION OF
THEIR COLLECTION, FOR THE PUBLIC
TO VIEW AND CELEBRATE THOSE
ARTISTS THAT ARE SOME TIME
OVERLOOKED.
THE EXHIBIT ENTITLED, UNCOMMON
FOLK, TRADITION IN AMERICAN ART,
FOCUSES ATTENTION ON ART THAT
REFLECTS COMMUNITIES, HISTORIES,
AND CULTURAL TRADITIONS OF AN
ARTIST.
>> THESE ARE TRADITIONS THAT
HAVE CONTINUED IN AMERICAN ART,
AND ART OF ARTISTS WHO MAY NOT
BE NECESSARILY TRAINED IN ART
SCHOOLS, BUT ARE WORKING WITHIN
TRADITIONS THAT ARE MORE
COMMUNITY-BASED, OR LIKE, THE
SHAKER TRADITION OR YOU KNOW,
SOMETHING THAT'S HANDED DOWN
WITHIN COMMUNITIES.
>> THE ART GENRE LOOKS AT SOME
LESSER RECOGNIZED TRADITIONS IN
ART AND ART MAKING.
LESS RECOGNIZED BECAUSE THE FOLK
ART TRADITION ENCOMPASSES
SELF-TAUGHT ARTISTS.
>> SOME OF THESE ARTISTS WERE
GENUINELY SELF-TAUGHT.
NO ONE EVER SAT THEM DOWN AND
SAID, THIS IS HOW YOU DRAW.
THIS IS HOW YOU DRAW
PERSPECTIVES, JAMES CASTLE, ONE
OF THE THREE ARTISTS WE
HIGHLIGHTED, SORT OF FOCUSED ON,
IS AN ARTIST WHO TAUGHT HIMSELF
HOW TO DRAW.
HE TAUGHT HIMSELF HOW TO DRAW
PERSPECTIVES, AND THEN HE ENDED
UP KIND OF ABSTRACTING ALL OF
HIS OWN DRAWINGS AND THEN KIND
OF PUTTING THEM BACK TOGETHER IN
A REALLY COMPLICATED,
SOPHISTICATED WAY.
SO THERE ARE TRUE SELF-TAUGHT
ARTISTS INCLUDED IN THE
EXHIBITION, BUT THEN THERE ARE,
FOR INSTANCE, THE QUILTERS,
SOMEONE WOULD HAVE TAUGHT THEM
HOW TO DO QUILTING, YOU KNOW,
AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF
GROWING UP.
YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE CARVERS IN
HERE WOULD HAVE BEEN TAUGHT HOW
TO WHITTLE, HOW TO CAR OF
CERTAIN WOODS, -- CARVE CERTAIN
WOODS.
WE HAVE LOTS OF DIFFERENT
DRAWING STYLES REPRESENTED, IT'S
REALLY AD BROTHER OF ACTRESS
RANGE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT OUR
COLLECTION HAS.
WE HAVE SECTIONS DEVOTED TO
MAKING QUILTS OR CARVING, AND
EVEN THE DECOYS ARE REALLY KIND
OF A MAKING TRADITION.
AND THEN WE HAVE SUBJECT MATTER
TRADITIONS LIKE HISTORY, WHICH
INCLUDES SOME OF THE PERSONAL
HISTORIES LIKE THE MORNING
PICTURES, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
DONE IN MEMORY OF SOMEONE WHO
PASSED AWAY IN THE FAMILY.
WE HAVE TRIBUTES TO JOHN F.
KENNEDY, WE HAVE SOCIAL
COMMENTARY ON STALIN AND HITLER
AND MUSSOLINI.
THESE ARTISTS WERE NOT AFRAID TO
BE KRAIT -- CRITICIZED IN THEIR
ARTWORK OR PORTRAITS.
YOU THINK OF PORTRAITS AND THINK
OF 19th CENTURY PORTRAITS BUT
THEN IN THE SHOW WE HAVE
CONTEMPORARY PORTRAITS AND
WHAT'S SO INTERESTING TO ME
LOOKING AT THESE ARTISTS IS WHEN
YOU LOOK AT A SPAN OF 100 YEARS
AN YOU LOOK AT THE PORTRAITS
HANGING NEXT TO EACH OTHER, THEY
MAY BE DONE 100 YEARS APART AND
SOME THINGS HAVE CHANGED, BUT A
LOT HAS REMAINED THE SAME.
WE HAVE A LOT OF THE
WOODCARVINGS FROM A MILWAUKEE
CARVER, FARMER, WHO WAS A
PREACHER, HE RETIRED HERE IN
MILWAUKEE, AND HE STARTED MAKING
WORK AND HE MADE THESE WONDERFUL
TWO DIMENSIONAL WOOD RELEASE
CARVINGS, AND HIS STYLE IS
ACTUALLY QUITE COMPLICATED, AND
THEN YOU HAVE A MORE SIMPLY --
SIMPLISTIC STYLE, ECONOMIC
CARVINGS OR THE DRAWINGS AND
PAINTINGS OF BILL TRAILER.
THERE'S A LITTLE SECTION OF WORK
DEVOTED TO APPALACHIAN ARTISTS,
ONE OF THE ARTISTS, CHARLES KIN
ANY, REALLY LIVED AND WORKED IN
HIS COMMUNITY AND RARELY
VENTURED OUTSIDE OF IT AND HIS
WORK IS FULLY INFORMED BY HIS
VARIOUS TIMES IN APPALACHIAN.
WE HAVE VIEWS, LANDSCAPES, CITY
SCAPES, WHAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER
A TRADITIONAL LANDSCAPE OF A
BEAUTIFUL COUNTRYSIDE, GRANDMA
MOSES IS INCLUDED IN THAT PART
OF THE EXHIBITION AND MORE
CONTEMPORARY URBAN SCAPES AS
WELL.
>> THE UNCOMMON FOLK EXHIBIT AT
THE MILWAUKEE ART MUSEUM GIVES
PEOPLE THE CHANCE TO RECOGNIZE
AND LEARN, TO APPRECIATE ANOTHER
ART TRADITION THAT IS PART OF
THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN ART
MAKING.
>> WE'VE DONE SOME INTERESTING
THINGS WITH THE INSTALLATION.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE COLLECTION
IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
I WOULD LOVE FOR PEOPLE WHO COME
TO THE MUSEUM A LOT AND ARE
FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF THESE,
WOULD, I WOULD LOVE FOR THEM TO
STAND IN FRONT OF A WORK AND
SAY, I KNOW I'VE SEEN THAT, BUT
I'VE NEVER SEEN IT LIKE THAT.
>> UNCOMMON FOLK, TRADITIONS IN
AMERICA ART.
>> MARCH 31 IS THE DEADLINE TO
SIGN UP FOR THE HEALTH CARE MARK
PLACE.
JOINING US IS CLAIREENE
MITCHELL, COLLABORATIONS AND
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR OF.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER MARCH 31 IF
YOU'RE NOT ENROLLED?
>> IF YOU'RE NOT ENROLLED BY
MARCH 31 AND NOT HAVE YOUR
PREMIUMS PAID, YOU WILL NOT HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENROLL AGAIN
UNTIL THE NEXT OPEN ENROLLMENT
PERIOD AND THAT'S SCHEDULED TO
BE IN NOVEMBER.
YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO ENROLL
UNTIL THEN UNLESS YOU HAVE A
LIFE-CHANGING EVENT, SO THERE'S
A SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD FOR
INDIVIDUALS WHO GET MARRIED OR
HAVE A CHILD, OR CHANGE JOBS, OR
HAVE A DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE WITH
THEIR INCOME, THEN THERE'S A
LIMITED SCOPE OF TIME CALLED
OPEN ENROLLMENT, SPECIAL OPEN
ENROLLMENT PERIOD AND THEY WOULD
HAVE TO DO THAT WITHIN 60 DAYS.
>> BUT BASICALLY, PEOPLE SHOULD
BE SHOOTING FOR THE MARCH 31.
>> MARCH 31, YES.
TO HAVE THEIR ENROLLMENT
COMPLETED AND WHAT THAT WOULD
MEAN WAS TO COMPLETE ON-LINE OR
PROCESS APPLICATION AN PAY THEIR
PREMIUMS BEFORE MARCH 31.
>> HOW HAVE WE DONE SO FAR?
>> WELL, WE AND BLACK HEALTH
COALITION OF WISCONSIN, WE'VE
BEEN BUSY.
I LEFT THE OFFICE AND PEOPLE ARE
IN THE OFFICE BEING HELPED EVEN
TODAY.
WE'VE BEEN BUSY TRYING TO DO AS
SUCH OUTREACH AND EDUCATION AND
PROVIDE THE ENROLLMENT
ASSISTANCE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
AND FROM THE LATEST REPORT, I
SAW FROM THE KAISER FOUNDATION,
WISCONSIN IS DOING PRETTY WELL
IN CONSIDERING, WE'RE ABOUT
WHERE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS,
THE LAST TIME I CHECKED, WE WERE
OVER THE NATIONAL AVERAGE AS FAR
AS ENROLLMENT OF THE OVERALL
POPULATION.
BUT MORE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE.
>> TELL ME ABOUT THE INDIVIDUALS
YOU'RE TALKING TO.
DO PEOPLE COME IN UNDERSTANDING
WHAT THIS IS OR IS IT STILL
CONFUSING SITUATION?
>> IT'S A MIXTURE OF IT.
ESPECIALLY WHEN WE DO OUR
COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS AND
THAT'S THE TIME FOR PEOPLE TO
REALLY ASK THE QUESTIONS AND
PEOPLE DO STILL HAVE A LOT OF
QUESTIONS AND TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND, ESPECIALLY IN
REFERENCE TO WISCONSIN AND HOW
DIFFERENT THINGS ARE HERE,
VERSUS OTHER STATES IN REFERENCE
TO MEDICAID AND WHAT'S GOING ON
WITH THE MEDICAID CHANGES AND
THEN WITH THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT, SO PEOPLE DO STILL HAVE A
LOT OF QUESTIONS AN WE'RE TRYING
TO PROVIDE THE PROPER CONTEXT,
WITH THE ACCURATE INFORMATION
WITH THAT AND THEN GENERALLY
WHEN PEOPLE COMING IN TO GET
ENROLLED, THEY WANT TO GET
ENROLLED.
THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET THE
COVERAGE, THE NEEDED COVERAGE AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE.
>> TELL ME AGAIN, WHO IS
ELIGIBLE FOR THIS?
>> REALLY THE TARGET POPULATION
FOR THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IS
INDIVIDUALS FROM THE AGES OF 19
TO 64 WHO DON'T ALREADY HAVE
INSURANCE THROUGH THEIR PARENTS
IF THEY'RE YOUNG ADULTS OR DON'T
HAVE INSURANCE THROUGH THE
PRIVATE MARKETPLACE, FROM AN
EMPLOYER, OR ARE NOT ALREADY
COVERED THROUGH MEDICAID OR
MEDICARE.
>> WHAT IF SOMEBODY IS ALREADY
HAS A CONDITION, WHAT IF
SOMEBODY IS DIABETIC, SOMEBODY
HAS CANCER, ARE THEY ELIGIBLE?
>> YES, THAT'S ONE OF THE GREAT
EXCITING BENEFITS OF THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
IT REMOVES THE PREEXISTING
CONDITIONS THAT INSURANCE
COMPANIES COULD DISCRIMINATE
INDIVIDUALS FROM.
SO IF A PERSON HAS A PREEXISTING
CONDITION LIKE DIABETES OR HIGH
BLOOD PRESSURE, WHATEVER THE
CASE MAY BE, THEY STILL CAN GET
INSURANCE, AFFORDABLE INSURANCE
AND CANNOT BE DISCRIMINATED
BASED ON THAT OR THEY CAN BE
DROPPED FROM AN INSURANCE PLAN
BECAUSE OF THAT.
>> ARE THERE PEOPLE WHO ARE
STILL OUT THERE SAYING I DON'T
NEED INSURANCE, I'M HEALTHY, I'M
DOING ALL RIGHT, WHY DO I NEED
THIS?
>> YES, THERE ARE PEOPLE AND
THAT'S WHY THIS VENUE AND THIS
OPPORTUNITY IS IMPORTANT TO GET
THE WORD OUT TO AS MEAN PEOPLE
AS POSSIBLE.
WE'RE HUMAN, RIGHT, SO WE'RE NOT
MEANT TO FUNCTION WHERE WE HAVE
PERFECT EYE DEALING HEALTH.
SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO
EACH OF US AT SOME POINT IN TIME
HEALTHWISE, WHETHER IT'S A
CONDITION WE MAY HAVE THAT COULD
BE HEREDITARY OR SOMETHING THAT
HAPPENS FROM THE POINTS OF US
BEING HUMAN OR IT COULD BE AN
ACCIDENT, WHETHER IT'S A SPORTS
INJURY OR A CAR ACCIDENT.
ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN WHERE WE
WOULD NEED TO ACCESS HEALTH
CARE, SO THIS IS SOMETHING AS
RELEVANT, THAT'S IMPORTANT,
THAT'S NEEDED FOR EVERYONE.
>> WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE
CHILDREN, SHOULD THEY BE LOOKING
AT THIS TOO?
>> EVERYONE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT
THIS.
AND WE'RE REALLY TELLING
EVERYONE TO REALLY EXPLORE,
LOOK, SEE WHAT THEIR OPTIONS
ARE, EVEN IF THEY HAVE
INSURANCE, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S
EMPLOYER BASED AND IT'S OVER
9.5% OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD INCOME,
LOOK AT THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT,
THE MARKETPLACE EXCHANGES AS AN
OPTION TO MAKE IT MORE
AFFORDABLE FOR THEM.
BUT EVERYONE, AND ESPECIALLY
CHILDREN, I MEAN, PARENTS, YOU
KNOW, IT'S HARD TO HAVE HEALTHY
CHILDREN, IF THE PARENTS
THEMSELVES AREN'T HEALTHY,
RIGHT?
SO PARENTS, YES, TO BEHOOVE
THEMSELVES OF THIS OPPORTUNITY
SO THEY ARE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR
HEALTH CARE NEEDS TAKEN CARE OF.
>> HOW CAN PEOPLE FIND OUT MORE
IF THEY WANT TO GET IN TOUCH
WITH YOU OR THE BLACK HEALTH
COALITION.
>> THE BLACK HEALTH COALITION OF
WISCONSIN, WE'RE LOCATED OUR
OFFICE IS IN WISCONSIN
AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN'S CENTER,
AND THAT'S 3020 WEST VLIET
STREET.
WE'RE OPEN GENERALLY MONDAY
THROUGH FRIDAY, 9:00 A.M. TO
5:00 P.M.
PEOPLE CAN COME OR CALL AND MAKE
AN APPOINTMENT OR FREELY COME
AND CAN ALSO ACCESS US VIA OUR
WEB SITE AT BACW.ORG AND OUR
PHONE NUMBER IS 414-933-0064.
>> DO THEY HAVE TO BRING
ANYTHING ALONG.
>>
>> IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY
BRING THEIR HOUSEHOLD INCOME
INFORMATION, SO IF THEY HAVE
THEIR TAX INFORMATION, THEY CAN
BRING THAT, BUT SOMETHING TO
REALLY VERIFY WHAT THEIR
HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS.
>> ALL RIGHT. WELL THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US.
APPRECIATE YOU COMING TO VISIT
US AGAIN.
IT'S NOT OVER YET.
MARCH 31 IS THE DEADLINE.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO SIGN UP FOR THE AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT IF YOU NEED IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>>
>> WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR CITY,
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT WHAT'S
TAKING PLACE IN SCHOOL, IN YOUR
COMMUNITY, THINGS LIKE THAT?
>>
>>
>> IN SCHOOL, OUT OF SCHOOL?
>> OUT OF SCHOOL.
>> MY NAME IS J.M. BENJAMIN, I'M
AN AUTHOR, I'M HERE TO TALK TO
YOU GUYS AND SHARE WITH YOU
WHERE I COME FROM.
>> J.M. BENJAMIN IS A PRODUCT OF
HIS ENVIRONMENT.
HE GREW UP IN A HOUSING PROJECT
IN NEW JERSEY, BAD CHOICES,
LANDED HIM IN PRISON.
>> BY THE TIME I WAS 14 YEARS
OLD, I WAS ALREADY CARRYING A
GUN AND HAD BEEN ARRESTED AND
BEEN IN THE JUVENILE DETENTION
CENTER FIVE OR SIX TIMES.
BY THE TIME I WAS 15 YEARS OLD,
I WAS CHARGED AS AN ADULT.
IN NORTH CAROLINA FOR DRUG
TRAFFICKING AND WAS CENTS TO
ADULT PRISON.
>> AND PRISON IS WHERE BENJAMIN
STUMBLED INTO THE WRITING GAME.
HE WAS ENCOURAGED TO WRITE WHILE
IN PRISON FOR 12 YEARS.
A COUNSELOR ENCOURAGED HIM TO
START WRITING.
>> I THOUGHT LONG AND HARD AS TO
WHERE WOULD I BEGIN, AND I
STARTED WRITING ABOUT THE LAST
TIME I HAD SEEN MY DAD WHEN HE
WAS IN PRISON.
YOU KNOW, WHAT WHOLE EXPERIENCE
AND WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE
SOMEBODY THERAPEUTIC AND ONLY
INTENDED TO BE A JOURNAL WOUND
UP BECOMING A 400 PLUS PAGE
MANUSCRIPT.
>> IN THE LATE 1990'S EARLY
2000, HE DISCOVERED URBAN
FICTION, AND FOUND THAT THE
JOURNAL HE HAD WRITTEN FIT IN TO
THAT STYLE.
>> THE URBAN FICTION IS JUST A
STORY LINE BASED OUT OF URBAN
SETTING.
THINGS THAT GO ON IN URBAN
COMMUNITIES MEANING LIKE LOWER
HOUSING INCOMES,
POVERTY-STRICKEN ENVIRONMENTS,
DYSFUNCTIONAL HOMES, THINGS OF
THAT NATURE.
>> HE FOUND THAT A LOT OF THE
URBAN FICTION HE HAD READ WAS A
MISREPRESENTATION, HAD A WEAK
MESSAGE OR NO MESSAGE ABOUT THE
WORLD HE CAME FROM.
>> SO I WANTED, YOU KNOW, I
WANTED TO WRITE THE REALITY OF
WHAT URBAN FICTION, MY OPINION
OF WHAT URBAN FICTION SHOULD
DELIVER TO A READER.
I WRITE HIP-HOP FICTION, STREET
LIT, URBAN LIT, WITH SUBSTANCE.
THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS THE
BAD GUY DOES NOT GET AWAY.
YES, I DO, I DO PIN THE TAIL
WHERE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT GO
ON IN THE URBAN COMMUNITIES, IN
THE HOOD, IN A NEGATIVE LIGHT.
I PULL ALL OF THAT IN TO A STORY
LINE.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I
CREATE AN ENDING TO WHEREAS
THOUGH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE,
EX-OFFENDER, OR SOMEONE
STRADDLING THE FENCE, READS A
J.M. BENJAMIN BOOK, THEY KNOW IF
YOU DO THIS, THESE ARE THE ONLY
RESULTS.
THEREFORE, I IMPRISONMENT.
>> SINCE HIS RELEASE FROM PRISON
IN 2006, HE'S WRITTEN MANY
BOOKS, SUCH AS HEAVEN AND EARTH,
HIS BOOKS ARE FAST PACED AND
EXCITING.
HE HASN'T LOST TOUCH WITH WHERE
HE COMES FROM, SO WHEN HE
TRAVELS, HE TALKS WITH YOUTH
ABOUT HIS HISTORY, OVERCOMING
HIS PAST.
>> I KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW, WHAT'S
GOING ON IN MY CITY BACK IN NEW
JERSEY, GOING ON RIGHT HERE IN
MILWAUKEE AND IN CHICAGO AND IN
INDIANAPOLIS AND IN NEW YORK AND
ST. LOUIS AND SO ON AND SO
FORTH, WHICH IS OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
ARE DYING AND GOING TO JAIL
YOUNGER AND YOUNGER, AND GANG
AND STREET VIOLENCE PLAYS A
SIGNIFICANT PART IN IT.
AND I'M NOT TRYING TO TELL YOU
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO, AND WHAT TO
DO.
THAT'S NOT WHY I'M SITTING HERE.
I'M ONLY SHARING WHAT I DID AND
WHERE IT GOT ME AND WHAT I HAD
TO DO TO OVERCOME THAT AND MAKE
IT OUT.
AND WHAT I HAD TO DO WAS UNLEARN
AND RELEARN A NEW WAY OF
THINKING.
BY SHARING MY STORY AND THIS
INFORMATION WITH YOU, IT IS MY
HOPE THAT I GET YOU TO MOVE
FORWARD.
THIS IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT RIGHT
HERE.
THIS IS ABOUT THE FACT THAT I
WAS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE
DESTRUCTION OF MY COMMUNITY,
THAT NAIL THAT I TURNED MY LIFE
AROUND, I OWE IT TO MY COMMUNITY
TO BE A MAJOR PART OF THE
UPLIFTMENT, SO THIS RIGHT HERE,
THIS IS NOT ONLY FOR YOU, THIS
IS FOR MYSELF.
>> FOR J.M. BENJAMIN, BEING A
SUCCESSFUL WRITER MEANS BEING
RESPONSIBLE.
>> MY WRITING IS THE FOCAL POINT
OF HOW I LIVE BECAUSE I CAN'T
TALK THE TALK AND NOT WALK THE
WALK.
AND I REALIZE THAT AGAIN, I
ACCEPT MY RESPONSIBILITY, THE
RESPONSIBILITY THAT HAS BEEN
PLACED ON ME TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE THROUGH MY WRITING.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS,
EVERY TIME I WRITE A STORY,
CREATE A STORY LINE ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, THE STREET GUY OR THE
STREET FEMALE, IT'S A CONSTANT
REMINDER TO ME THAT I'M JUST ONE
BAD CHOICE OR DECISION AWAY FROM
RETURNING BACK TO PRISON.
SO WHEN I WRITE ABOUT THIS GUY
THAT'S CARRYING THIS GUN, YOU
KNOW, SELLING THESE DRUGS AND
YOU KNOW, POLLUTING THE
COMMUNITIES AND CORRUPTING THE
YOUTH AND DEGRADING OUR WOMEN,
DISRESPECTING OUR PEOPLE OR JUST
PEOPLE IN GENERAL, NOT EVEN SO
MUCH JUST AFRICAN-AMERICANS,
BECAUSE IT'S REALLY NOT ABOUT
BLACK, WHITE, LATINO, IT'S ABOUT
US AS A PEOPLE.
IT MAKES ME APPRECIATE MORE HOW
FAR I'VE COME.
AND IT MAKES ME CONSCIOUS OF HOW
MUCH MORE WORK I STILL HAVE TO
DO.
>> HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE HIGH
INCARCERATION RATE OF
AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN IN
WISCONSIN.
DID YOU KNOW WISCONSIN LOCKS UP
BLACK MEN AT A RATE HIGHER THAN
ANY STATE IN THE NATION AND IT
MIGHT HAVE AN IMPACT ON YOU.
>> JOIN JOANNE AND ME TO FIND
OUT WHY AND HOW AT A BROADCAST
OF WUWM RADIO BROADCAST.
>> AT TUESDAY, MARCH 11 AT
10:00 A.M. IN THE MORNING AT
BLACK HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 2620
WEST CENTER STREET.
>> WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.
THE SHOW IS FREE.
PLEASE JOIN US.
>> AND FINALLY TONIGHT, IF YOU
WANT TO KNOW TODAY'S NEWS, YOU
CAN GO TO A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MILWAUKEE'S
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY, FOR
THE LAST 60 YEARS, YOU GO TO THE
WILLIAM WHO LOVES TO SHARE.
IRENE GOGGINS.
>> I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW, AS
IS OFTEN SAID, TELEPHONE,
TELEGRAM OR TELL IRENE.
I WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW ABOUT
RICH AND BEAUTIFUL HERITAGE,
WONDERFUL PEOPLE.
>> IRENE GOGGINS IS A COMMUNITY
HISTORIAN.
SHE'S BEEN SAVING PHOTOGRAPHS,
NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS AND PROGRAMS
FOR MORE THAN 70 YEARS.
STORIES OF ALMOST EVERYONE SHE
MEETS AND SHE HAS MET SO MANY.
>> THIS HAS BEEN PRETTY MUCH
GOING ON FOR AS LONG AS I CAN
REPRESENTATIVE BALDWIN.
I CAN REMEMBER AL -- I CAN --
FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.
I REMEMBER PHOTO ALBUMS BEING AT
THE HOUSE SINCE I WAS A KID
REALLY.
>> HER ONLY CHILD KENNY SAID
IRENE WAS THE NEIGHBORHOOD MOM,
THE WOMAN WHO WELCOMED ALL THE
OTHER KIDS INTO HER HOME AND
SUPPORTED ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE
BOY SCOUTS AND THE NORTH SIDE
YMCA.
>> THIS ACTION SHOWS THE
DEDICATION OR THE LAYOUT OR THE
CORNERSTONE OF 12th AVENUE.
>> 19 --
>> I MEAN, AND GARFIELD.
>> BUT THE AMAZING PART OF THIS
HISTORY COLLECTION IS NOT JUST
THE THOUSANDS OF PICTURES AND
DOCUMENTS THAT ARE TUCKED AWAY
IN EVERY CORNER OF HER
APARTMENT, BUT THAT THE INDEX
FOR THEM ALL IS HER.
IRENE REMEMBERS ALMOST EVERY
FACE AND FAMILY IN EACH PICTURE.
>> THIS IS CALLED THE OLD
PHALANYX CUB AT THE YMCA.
THIS IS RUSSELL YOUNG, BILLY
SAUNDERS, LAWRENCE SAUNDERS,
J.C. THOMAS, BENSON, THERE'S
LINCOLN, C.L. JOHNSON AND
THERE'S YOUR FATHER.
JOHN WILLIAMSON.
HARRY GARDENER, CLARENCE
JACKSON.
BILL MOSBY.
SANFORD CARTER.
>> THAT'S HER PASSION.
SHE LOVES THE HISTORICAL SIDE OF
THINGS.
SHE WANTS YOU TO COME TO HER
HOME AND THE ARCHIVE WILL BE
YOU, HER BRINGING THE BOOK OUT,
HER SHOWING YOU A PICTURE AND
THEN HER GIVING YOU A THREE HOUR
STORY.
THAT -- YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT
NEEDS TO BE ARCHIVED, YOU KNOW,
JUST HER CONVERSATIONS, SHE
LOVES TO INTERACT WITH PEOPLE.
>> HER HUSBAND, PAT GOGGINS,
SUPPORTED HER PASSION.
AFTER ALL, WHAT ELSE COULD HE
DO.
>> I DON'T KNOW, BUT I KNOW THAT
MY HUSBAND I READ THE NEWSPAPER
WITH THE SCISSORS IN MY HAND AND
IN THE EVENING, HE WILL BE GOING
TO READ THE JOURNAL OR SENTINEL
OR SOMETHING AND HE WILL TURN TO
A PAGE AND THERE WOULD BE A
GREAT BIG SPACE THERE WHERE I
CUT IT OUT AND HE ASKED ME IF I
COULD PLEASE, I SAID, WELL, I
THOUGHT HE HAD READ THE
PAPER, -- I THOUGHT YOU HAD READ
THE PAPER.
>> AFTER WORLD WAR II, IRENE AND
PAT GOGGINS MET, AND THE REST
IS, WELL, OF COURSE, HISTORY.
>> BUT THEN WHEN HE CAME OUT, WE
CONNECTED IN SOME KIND OF WAY,
AND I REMEMBER BEING AT THE Y,
YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A VERY VITAL
ACTIVITY POINT, AND WELL, IT
CLICKED.
AND OH, BOY, AM I HAPPY FOR
THAT.
HE BROUGHT MUCH JOY TO MY LIFE.
WE WERE MARRIED ON MAY 24, 1947,
AT 1619 NORTH FLORENCE STREET,
THE HOME OF MY AUNT LIZZIE AND
UNCLE LOLO, A BISHOP, BUT THEN
IN THE FALL WE WERE BLESSED TO
MOVE IN TO THE APARTMENT OF
CARVER MEMORIAL HOMES AT
HISTORIC CO-OP THAT BLACKS HAD
BUILT IN THE 1800 BLOCK OF NORTH
4th STREET.
THERE WERE 10 UNITS IN THERE,
AND IT WAS DIRECTLY ACROSS THE
STREET FROM THE OLD
ST. MICHAEL'S HOSPITAL, THAT
LATER RELOCATED TO 24th AND
VILLARD.
AND DOWN THE STREET FROM ST.
FRANCIS CATHOLIC CHURCH.
>> DETAILS, DETAILS, THAT'S WHAT
MAKES HISTORY, IRENE REMEMBERS
THEM ALL.
IN THE 1940'S, WHEN YOU WERE IN
MILWAUKEE, THERE WEREN'T THAT
MANY BLACK FOLKS LIVING IN
MILWAUKEE.
AT THE TIME.
AND YOU SEEMED TO REMEMBER OR
YOU KNEW PRACTICALLY EVERYBODY.
>> YEAH.
IT WAS EASY TO KNOW PEOPLE
BECAUSE WE WERE KIND OF
CONCENTRATED.
WHEN WE CAME HERE, I WOULD SAY
LIKE, JUNEAU AVENUE, WAS LIKE
THE HUB.
>> YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL MEMORY.
YOU SEEM TO REMEMBER EVERYTHING
DATES, ADDRESSES.
IS THAT BECAUSE YOU COLLECT ALL
THIS MATERIAL?
>> WHEN I STARTED THE SCRAP BOOK
OR HERITAGE BOOKS AS I CALL
THEM, IT WAS -- IT WAS JUST
INTERESTING TO ME AND WE AS A
RACE HAVE BEEN WRITTEN OUT OF
HISTORY, SO I WAS GOING TO WRITE
IT IN.
>> BUT YOU STARTED TO SAY, YOU
THOUGHT ABOUT GIVING THIS UP.
>> YEAH.
>> WELL --
>> WELL, I -- PEOPLE ARE STILL
HERE.
THEY'RE STILL DOING THINGS, AND
PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT.
THEY NEED TO BE LIKE, ALEX
HALEY'S GRANDFATHER SAID, I'M
THE GOOD AND CRAZY, I'M SO TIRED
OF ALL THE NEGATIVE NEWS.
WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE OF ALL
COLORS, BUT I'M ESPECIALLY
INTERESTED IN PEOPLE OF COLOR.
>> BUT THIS IS A LOT OF WORK TO
COLLECT ALL OF THIS STUFF.
>> IT'S A LOT OF WORK.
>> WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO SAY
I'VE DONE ENOUGH, I'M JUST GOING
TO SIT BACK.
>> WELL, I GUESS WHEN MY EYES
SHALL CLOSE.
I PROBABLY WILL STILL BE
TALKING, OR MAYBE COME BEHIND MY
CASKET AND SAY, OH, I FORGOT TO
TELL YOU, DID I TELL YOU THE
STORY OF THUS AND SO.
IT'S SO VIVID, TO ME, YOU KNOW,
MAYBE A PICTURE OR SOMETHING
THAT I'VE SEEN, AND I JUST CAN'T
TELL YOU HOW THINGS CONNECT UP.
>> AND THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR
THIS WEEK.
FOR "BLACK NOUVEAU," I'M JOANNE
WILLIAMS.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
GOOD NIGHT.