Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
WHAT THEY MEAN FOR 2014.
>> HAPPY NEW YEAR.
AND WELCOME TO A SPECIAL EDITION
OF "BLACK NOUVEAU."
I'M JOANNE WILLIAMS.
FOR MUCH OF THIS WEEK'S.
PRATER, WE'VE GATHERED A PANEL
OF GUEST TO TALK ABOUT THE MAIN
EVENTS OF 2013, AND DISCUSS WHAT
LIES AHEAD FOR THIS YEAR.
WE'LL VISIT THE FORMER JACKIE
ROBINSON MIDDLE SCHOOL ON FOND
DU LAC AVENUE.
IT'S NOT A SCHOOL ANYMORE.
PEOPLE LIVE THERE NOW.
WE BEGIN THIS NEW YEAR WITH THE
2014 VERSION OF THE CHILDREN ARE
CRYING CALENDAR.
>> THIS IS THE 12th EDITION OF
THE CALENDAR, AND ONE OF ITS
CREATORS, MUHIB DYER, JOINS US.
WELCOME BACK TO "BLACK NOUVEAU."
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME,
MS. WILLIAMS.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
12 YEARS.
>> 12 YEARS.
>> DID YOU THINK YOU WOULD MAKE
12 YEARS WHEN YOU DID THE FIRST
ONE?
>> NO, IT WAS JUST AN
EXPERIMENTAL PROJECT THAT FIRST
YEAR.
ME AND MY SISTER, WHO IS THE
GRAPHIC DESIGNER ON THE PROJECT,
WE HAD A LITTLE MAKESHIFT CAMERA
AND I WROTE MY POETRY AND WE
JUST TRIED TO PUT SOMETHING
TOGETHER THAT WOULD BE
INFORMATIVE TO THE COMMUNITIES
AND IMPACTFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY.
>> WHY A CALENDAR.
WHY NOT A BOOK OF POETRY OR A
FILM, WHY A CALENDAR?
>> WELL, WE FIGURED OUT THAT,
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY NEEDS A
CALENDAR.
AND YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WITH A
BOOK, A BOOK IS AN OPTION OF
WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO
PURCHASE THIS, SO WHAT WE TRIED
TO DO IS CREATE A CALENDAR THAT
REALLY HIGHLIGHTED WHAT WAS
GOING ON IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
COMMUNITY, THE POSITIVE AND THE
NEGATIVE, AND PUT THAT TOGETHER
WITH SOME POWERFUL POETRY THAT
WOULD TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF THE
PEOPLE IN THE CITY.
>> NOW I'M LOOKING AT THE
PICTURES THAT ARE IN THE
CALENDAR THIS YEAR ANDLED SAY
THAT MOST OF -- AND I WOULD SAY
THAT MOST OF THESE ARE PRETTY
UPLIFTING PICTURES.
IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE AIMING FOR
FOR 2014?
>> WELL, THE CONCEPT BEHIND THIS
YEAR'S CALENDAR IS THE I WILL
NOT DIE YOUNG CAMPAIGN AND WE
ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT THERE
ARE 7,000 BLACK MALES WHO DIE OF
HOMICIDE IN AMERICA.
AND YOU KNOW, THE STANCE THAT WE
TAKE IS THAT WE HAVE TO COME
TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY IN ORDER
TO RALLY AROUND THE YOUNG
AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES, SO WE
TRY TO GIVE POSITIVE SUGGESTIONS
OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO,
SOLUTIONS TO REALLY SOLVE THAT
PROBLEM.
>> SO SOMEBODY WANTS TO GET THIS
CALENDAR, WHAT'S THE WEB SITE.
>> THE WEB SITE IS WWW.I MR. NOT
DIE YOUNG CAMPAIGN.COM OR CALL
ME.
>> WHAT'S THE PRICE.
>> $10.
>> WELL, THERE'S 12 MONTHS OF
THE YEAR, THAT WORKS OUT TO LESS
THAN A DOLLAR A MONTH.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> ARE YOU PROUD OF THIS
CALENDAR?
>> I AM.
I REALLY AM, AND ONE OF THE
PROUDEST ASPECTS OF THE CALENDAR
TO ME IS THAT IN 2002, I HAD A
YOUNG FRIEND OF MIND, HIS NAME
WAS ISMAIL MATHEWS AND HE WAS
KILLED AND WE DO A SCHOLARSHIP
EVERY YEAR IN HIS NAME, SO WE
DONATE A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS
TOWARDS A SCHOLARSHIP TO HELP A
YOUNG AT-RISK YOUTH GO ON TO
COLLEGE, SO IT'S A WAY TO HAVE
HIS MEMORY CONTINUED, BUT AT THE
SAME TIME, IT'S A WAY OF GIVING
BACK TO THE CITY THAT I LOVE.
>> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
COMING AND SHOWING US THE 2014
CALENDAR.
I WILL NOT DIE YOUNG AND IF YOU
WANT TO GET IT, YOU GO TO HIS
WEB SITE AND HE'LL BE HAPPY TO
DELIVER IT TO YOU EVEN.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> THANKS FOR.
COMING AND JOINING US ON "BLACK
NOUVEAU."
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NOW I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT THE SNOW, I DON'T HAVE TO
WORRY ABOUT CUTTING THE GRASS.
WHEN THEY SEE US GOING AND
COMING, YOU KNOW, THEY SAID
SOMETHING MUST BE GOING ON GOOD
OVER THERE, YOU KNOW, BUT THEN
THAT RAISES THE LEVEL, I THINK,
OF PRIDE, YOU KNOW, IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> WORKING WITH MILWAUKEE PUBLIC
SCHOOL, THE FORMER JACKIE
ROBINSON SCHOOL WAS REPURPOSED.
THIS FIVE ACRE PARCEL OF LAND IN
SHERMAN PARK WAS TURNED INTO
LIVING SPACE.
>> IT WAS A VACANT SCHOOL, IT
WAS A BIG SCHOOL, SO THERE
WEREN'T A LOT OF TAKERS TO REUSE
THE SCHOOL, AND WHAT WE DID IS
WE CAME IN AND DID 68 SENIOR
APARTMENTS HERE, WHICH RIGHT
WHEN IT WAS COMPLETED, IT WAS AN
AMAZING LEASE UP AND IT'S A
SENIOR DEVELOPMENT, WHERE 68
SENIORS LIVE HERE, AND WE REALLY
BELIEVE THAT'S ONE OF OUR BEST
PROJECTS.
>> THESE ARE MARKET-RATE
APARTMENTS IN THIS HISTORIC
BUILDING.
THERE ARE WASHERS AND DRYERS IN
EACH UNIT, WIDE HALLS THAT A
SCHOOL WOULD TYPICALLY HAVE, A
COMMUNITY ROOM THAT USED TO BE A
LIBRARY.
>> SHERMAN PARK USED TO BE
PECKHAM AND I WENT HERE MANY
YEARS AGO.
>> WE HAVE THE LOCKERS HERE,
BECAUSE IT'S A LANDMARK, THEY'RE
NOT FUNCTIONAL, BUT IT STILL
REMINDS YOU OF A SCHOOL UNTIL
YOU GET INSIDE YOUR APARTMENT
AND EACH ONE IS INDIVIDUALIZED,
YOU KNOW, IT'S -- IT'S YOUR OWN
PERSONALITY AND IT MAKES IT FUN.
YOU'VE GOT NICE SIZE ROOMS, YOU
HAVE A NICE BATHROOM, AND
IT'S -- YOU CAN FIX IT UP
HOWEVER YOU WANT.
TO MAKE IT LOOK NICE.
>> THEY'RE ALL HANDICAP
ACCESSIBLE, SO THERE ARE LARGER
HALLWAYS, THE DOORS ARE WIDER,
AND ANYONE IN A WE'LL CHAIR OR A
WALKER OR -- WHEELCHAIR OR A
WALKER OR WHATEVER CAN MOVE
AROUND WITH EASE WITHIN ALL OF
THE ROOMS, IN AND OUT OF THE
KITCHEN AREA.
>> THE ARTWORK WAS ONE OF THOSE
THINGS THAT WE REALLY THOUGHT
WAS IMPORTANT.
THE SHERMAN PARK NEIGHBORHOOD IS
SO RICH IN TRADITION, AND WE
REALLY DID KIND OF AN HOMAGE TO
SHERMAN PARK, AND THROUGHOUT
EVERY CORRIDOR, WE HAVE DONE AN
ART THEME THAT REFLECTS THE
GREAT MANUFACTURERS AND
EMPLOYERS THAT HAVE -- THAT WERE
IN THIS AREA WHEN THE SENIORS
WERE IN THEIR HEYDAY ON THE
MANUFACTURING LINE AND REALLY
HAVE AN UNBELIEVABLE
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE CLOSE
KNIT AND EVERYONE WAS MAKING
MONEY AND IT WAS AN AMAZING
COMMUNITIES.
WE TRY TO BRING THEM BACK TO THE
GLORY DAYS OF SHERMAN PARK, SO
ALL OF THE ART ARE GRAPHICS FROM
THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY THAT ARE
PUT TOGETHER IN AN ARTISTIC WAY
SO THAT PEOPLE KIND OF FEEL AT
HOME, NOSTALGIC, BUT IT'S UPBEAT
AND PEOPLE REALLY LOVE THE
ATMOSPHERE BECAUSE IT'S
STATED -- IT'S MODERN ART, BUT
IN A HISTORIC WAY.
>> SOME DEVELOPERS THINK IT'S
HARD TO BUILD AND MANAGE ON THE
NORTH SIDE OF MILWAUKEE.
BUT THIS COMPANY DOES NOT.
>> THIS IS ABOUT 2007, WE'RE ONE
OF THE FEW DEVELOPERS THAT HAVE
REALLY FOCUSED ON THE NORTH SIDE
OF MILWAUKEE AS AN OPPORTUNITY.
MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT IN THE
GENERAL PUBLIC, THAT THE NORTH
SIDE OF MILWAUKEE, YOU KNOW, IS
A DETRIMENT, EITHER TO MILWAUKEE
OR THE STATE AND WE LEAK AT IT
AS AN OPPORTUNITY AND AS
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPERS, WE LOOK
AT IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE
THE HOUSING STOCK REALLY NEEDS
TO BE UPDATED.
PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR
AFFORDABLE QUALITY HOUSING ON
THE NORTH SIDE OF MILWAUKEE AND
THE DEMAND TO ME IS ENDLESS.
AND EVERYTHING WE BUILD ON THE
NORTH SIDE OF MILWAUKEE, LEASES
UP THE MINUTE IT IS COMPLETED
AND TO US IT'S A VERY ATTRACTIVE
MODEL, SO WE'RE FOCUSED OWNED
BUILDING COMMUNITIES AND
STABILIZING THE NORTH SIDES OF
MILWAUKEE.
>> THE USE OF TAX CREDITS MADE
THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THIS
BUILDING POSSIBLE.
>> WHAT HAPPENS IS THESE TAX
CREDITS ARE GIVEN TO THE
PROJECT, THE PROJECT SELLS THOSE
TAX CREDITS TO A THIRD PARTY,
THAT PAYS MONEY TO THE PROJECT,
WHICH REDUCES YOUR CONSTRUCTION
COSTS AND LOWERS YOUR RENT AND
WE COUPLED THE HISTORIC CREDIT
AND THE AMOUNT OF HOUSING TAX
CREDIT, WHICH GAVE US ENOUGH
DOLLARS TO REALLY MAKE A SPECIAL
DEVELOPMENT WITH ALL THOSE
THINGS INVOLVED.
>> GETTING MORE OF THESE KINDS
OF DEVELOPMENTS BUILT IS
DEPENDENT ON GETTING TAX
CREDITS, WHICH ARE DETERMINED BY
THE QUALIFIED ALLOCATION PLANS.
>> THAT DETERMINES WHERE THESE
CREDITS GO AND WHAT POLICIES ARE
DRIVEN BY WHEDA AND IT'S A VERY
POLITICAL PROCESS.
MILWAUKEE GETTING MORE CREDIT IS
A POLITICAL TYPE OF ACTIVITY
THAT PEOPLE SHOULD CALL THEIR
REPRESENTATIVE AND SAY WE NEED
MORE OF THIS IN MILWAUKEE.
>> THE FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS ON
FAMILIES.
THE SO THEY ARE BUILDING THREE
AND FOUR BEDROOM UNITS THAT
ATTRACT FAMILIES, SUCH AS THE
VILLAGE SQUARE APARTMENTS ON
34th AND VILLARD THAT IS BUILT
OVER A LIBRARY.
THE BLUE RIBBON LOFTS ON 9th
9th AN WINNEBAGO.
>> WE BELIEVE THAT PROGRAM WILL
HELP TO STABILIZE THE NORTH SIDE
OF MILWAUKEE AND STABILIZE THE
NEIGHBORHOODS TO BRING THEM BACK
TO WHAT THEY ONCE WERE.
>> BUILDING BETTER HOUSING IS
ONE WAY TO HELP IMPROVE A
NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO DO
BUSINESS.
IT'S OPEN FOR BUSINESS, AND
THERE IS AN UNLIMITED DEMAND,
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LIVE ON THE
NORTH SIDE IN QUALITY HOUSING
AND WE WANT TO TAKE ADVANTA OF
THAT AND BUILD ON THAT AND BUILD
COMMUNITY OFF OF THAT.
>>
>> AND NOW FOR OUR YEAR IN
REVIEW.
WE'RE JOINED BY JOSEPHINE HILL
FROM THE WISCONSIN
AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN'S CENTER,
GERARD RANDALL, EDUCATION
CONSULTANT AND "INTERCHANGE"
PANELIST.
LAY TOY I CAN'T DENNIS, REPORTER
FOR WUWM MILWAUKEE PUBLIC RADIO
AND MUHIB DYER, COMMUNITY
ACTIVIST.
MUCH OF THE NEWS IN 2013 WAS
DOMINATED BY NATIONAL EVENTS.
THE DEATH AND CELEBRATION OF THE
LIFE OF NELSON MANDELA, THE
COMMEMORATION OF THE 50th
50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARCH
ON WASHINGTON FOR JOBS AND
FREEDOM AND THE SLOW ROLLOUT OF
THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
WERE THOSE STORIES BIG HERE OR
WERE THERE MORE SIGNIFICANT NEWS
JUST IN SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN?
WELL, LAST YEAR OUR PANEL
SPECULATED THAT THERE WOULD BE A
LOT OF THINGS CHANGING IN
MILWAUKEE.
LET'S TALK A LITTLE BRIT FIRST
OF ALL ABOUT EDUCATION IN
MILWAUKEE.
THAT'S ALWAYS ONE OF THE BIGGEST
SUBJECTS TO DISCUSS.
RECENTLY, WE LOST LAURIE WYNN,
WHO WAS A GIANT IN EDUCATION IN
MILWAUKEE.
WOULD YOU AGREE?
>> I WOULD AGREE.
SHE WAS A PIONEER IN MANY WAYS.
AND CERTAINLY, ONE OF THE
STRONGEST ADVOCATES FOR PUBLIC
EDUCATION THAT WE'VE HAD
NATIONALLY.
SHE LED MANY IN THIS STATE TO
APPRECIATE THE ROLE THAT PUBLIC
EDUCATION PLAYS IN THE LIVES OF
YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE LIVES OF
COMMUNITY.
SOME WOULD TRY TO PINPOINT HER
AS JUST A LABOR LEADER, BUT I
THINK SHE WAS MUCH MORE THAN
THAT, AND CERTAINLY, THAT WAS
ATTESTED TO BY THE RECENT AWARD
THAT SHE RECEIVED FROM COMMUNITY
BRAINSTORM, THE JAMES BAKER
AWARD, WHICH IS THEIR HIGHEST
HAYWARD.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT EDUCATION IN
GENERAL.
MUHIB DYER, YOU GO INTO THE
SCHOOLS.
WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON EDUCATION IN
2013 IN MILWAUKEE?
>> WELL, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY
THAT I'M GOING TO START WITH A
QUOTE, THAT YOU KNOW, EDUCATION
COMES FROM THE LATIN ROOT WORD
WHICH MEANS TO DRAW OUT.
AND I THINK IF I WOULD REALLY
HAVE TO ASSESS WHAT'S GOING ON
ESPECIALLY WITH AFRICAN-AMERICAN
MALES IN THE MILWAUKEE PUBLIC
SCHOOL SYSTEM, I THINK WE'RE NOT
INVESTING MORE IN THEM AND
DRAWING OUT THE LATENT TALENT
THAT'S WITHIN THEM.
AND I THINK THAT YOU KNOW, IF
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE OUR YOUNG
MALES AND SAVE OUR YOUNG FEMALES
AND PUSH THEM IN TO THE NO
WORLD, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO BEGIN TO HAVE -- NEW WORLD,
THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
BEGIN TO HAVE FLEXIBILITY IN
TERMS OF HOW WE STRUCTURE THE
CURRICULUM.
>> JOSEPHINE, WHAT ARE YOUR
THOUGHTS ABOUT EDUCATION IN
MILWAUKEE?
>> I DON'T THINK WE'RE INVESTING
ENOUGH IN EDUCATION, ESPECIALLY
WITH YOUNGSTERS FROM THE CENTRAL
CITIES.
WHAT HAPPENS IS ONCE BUDGETS ARE
CUT, THEN ALL OF THE ARTS ARE
OUT OF THE SCHOOL.
THE ELECTIVES ARE OUT OF THE
SCHOOLS.
AND MANY OF THESE YOUNGSTERS ARE
VERY CREATIVE, VERY TALENTED,
AND WITHOUT THE ARTS IN THE
SCHOOLS, THE MUSIC, WE LOVE TO
SEE BANDS IN SCHOOLS AND
ORCHESTRAS AND SO FORTH AND
YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE GOT TO FIND
THEIR NICHE AND WE HAVE TO REACH
OUT TO THEM TO FIND THAT NICHE.
AND IT'S NOT EIGHT HOURS A DAY
OF SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, ENGLISH
AND THE SOCIAL STUDIES.
WE'VE GOT TO KIND OF INCORPORATE
THOSE ARTS AND MEET THE YOUNG
PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.
>> DO YOU AGREE?
IN THE RADIO STATION, DO YOU
TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES DEALING
WITH EDUCATION?
>> WE DO, ESPECIALLY RECENTLY,
BECAUSE THERE WAS A REPORT THAT
CAME OUT THAT SAID AGAIN,
WISCONSIN HAS THE HIGHEST
BLACK-WHITE ACHIEVEMENT GAP IN
THE COUNTRY AND WE THINK THAT AT
SOME POINT, IT HAS TO BECOME
UNACCEPTABLE FOR LEADERSHIP AND
UNACCEPTABLE FOR TEACHERS FOR
BLACK STUDENTS NOT TO SUCCEED
HERE.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT A DIFFERENT
SUBJECT, SINCE THERE'S SO MANY
THAT WE WANT TO GET TO.
LET'S TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE
BIGGEST STORIES FOR 2013, WHICH
IS THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
ALSO KNOWN AS OBAMACARE.
WHICH I SOMETIMES CALL OBAMA
CARES.
WHICH GETS A REACTION FROM SOME
PEOPLE.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT?
>> I THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN
SO MUCH WRITTEN ABOUT THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT THAT PEOPLE
ARE STILL CONFUSED ABOUT IS IT
OBAMACARE, IS THAT THE ACTUAL
ACT, OR IS THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT THE ACT.
PEOPLE JUST DON'T -- THEY CAN'T
DISTINGUISH WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND I THINK THE WHITE HOUSE, THE
GOVERNMENT HAS TO DO A BETTER
JOB OF INFORMING EVERYONE, WHAT
THEY NEED TO DO TO APPLY, I
THINK THE NICHE WITH THE
COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS A DISASTER.
BUT NOW THINGS SEEM TO BE GOING
VERY WELL.
BUT I THINK THE MARKETING HAS --
THEY HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB OF
MARKETING THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT.
>> WOULD YOU AGREE?
>> I THINK IT GOES BEYOND THAT.
THE COUNTRY STARTED OUT WITH THE
PREMISE THAT WE NEEDED TO MAKE
SURE THAT MORE PEOPLE RECEIVED
AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE.
AND THEN, WE HAD THE PRESIDENT
PROPOSE AND MOVE THROUGH
CONGRESS A PLAN THAT NOW MOST
PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO DISCOVER
ISN'T REALLY AFFORDABLE.
AND IT'S NOT GOING TO COVER ALL
THOSE FOLK THAT INITIALLY IT HAD
BEEN INTENDED TO COVER.
WHAT MR. PROBABLY HAPPEN IS THAT
CONGRESS WILL COME BACK, AFTER
THE NEXT CONGRESS, MEANING AFTER
THE ELECTIONS NEXT NOVEMBER, AND
WILL PUT IN PLACE SOME CHANGES
TO THE ACT TACK WILL INCLUDE
COVERING PEOPLE WHO HAVE
PREEXISTING CONDITIONS, MAKING
SURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE GET IN TO
THE PLAN, BECAUSE THAT'S
PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ISSUE
THAT'S -- THAT'S GOT TO BE
ADDRESSED NOW.
HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE YOUNG
PEOPLE TO SIGN UP FOR A PLAN
WHEN THEY DON'T FEEL THEY NEED
TO HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE.
>> WELL, LET'S ASK --
>> YEAH, I WANT TO INTERJECT
HERE, BECAUSE YOU SAID SOMETHING
ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
ISN'T NECESSARILY THE MOST
AFFORDABLE.
I THINK FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
LOOKING TO SIGN UP FOR THIS, A
LOT OF THEM ACTUALLY QUALIFY FOR
THE SUBSIDIES THAT ARE THERE,
AND SO, IT'S PRETTY REASONABLY
PRICED, IF YOU LOOK AT IT IT
WITH THE SUBSIDIES.
NOW AS FAR AS CALLING IT
OBAMACARE, WE MADE A
CONCENTRATED EFFORT IN THE
NEWSROOM NOT TO DO THAT, BECAUSE
WHEN YOU TALK TO PEOPLE, FOR
SOME REASON, THEY THINK THAT
THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
OBAMACARE AND THE AFFORDABLE
HEALTH CARE AND WHEN YOU ASK
THEM ABOUT IT AND WHICH ONE THEY
LIKE, THEY SAY I HATE OBAMACARE
BUT I'M FOR THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT.
IT MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL.
SO I AGREE WITH YOU IN THAT IT'S
A MARKETING ISSUE AND YOU REALLY
HAVE TO GET OUT THERE AND LET
PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THIS IS.
>> DO YOU HAVE HEALTH CARE,
WOULD YOU CONSIDER SIGNING UP
FOR THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT?
>> YES, I WOULD, BUT THIS IS --
IT'S A DEEPER ISSUE THAT HAS
DRAWN MY ATTENTION TO THIS WHOLE
SUBJECT MATTER, AND IT'S THE
FACT THAT I HAD A CONVERSATION
WITH DR. McMANNUS FROM THE
BLACK HEALTH COALITION OF
WISCONSIN, AND I ASKED HER
OPINION ON IT AND ONE OF THE
MOST INSIGHTFUL THINGS THAT SHE
SAID, THAT SHE BELIEVES THAT
THIS ACT IS MOVING THE COUNTRY
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
VALUEWISE.
>> OK.
>> NOW WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT
MAYBE ECONOMICALLY, WE NEED TO
WORK OUT SOME THINGS, OR
STRATEGICALLY, WE NEED TO
REEVALUATE, HOW IT WAS
INTRODUCED, IT MAY HAVE SOME
KINKS IN IT, BUT VALUEWISE, WE
ARE MOVING MORE FROM THE COUNTRY
SAYING THAT HEALTH COMPARE IS A
PRIVILEGE, TO HEALTH CARE IS A
HUMAN RIGHT.
AND IF I CAN JUST SAY THIS REAL
QUICK, IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS,
I'VE HAD FOUR PEOPLE THAT I KNOW
DIE.
FROM DIFFERENT HEALTH REASONS.
SOME IN MY AGE RANGE TO A LOT
OLDER, CANCER, HEART ATTACKS, I
KNOW A YOUNG MAN, HE JUST FELL
DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF SCHOOL
YESTERDAY, SO THERE IS SOMETHING
GOING ON WITHIN THE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND
HEALTH IS A PRIORITY AND JUST
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT, IT
SHOULDN'T BE A DEATH SENTENCE.
>> WHAT CAN WE DO THOUGH?
YOU MENTIONED MARKETING AS BEING
ONE OF THE WEAKNESSS OF THE
EXACT.
WHAT CAN WE AS ORDINARY CITIZENS
WHO THINK WE UNDERSTAND IT, DO
TO TRY TO SHARE THE MESSAGE OF
IT, TO OTHER PEOPLE WE KNOW, TO
MAYBE PEOPLE WHO YOU SEE EVERY
DAY?
>> DO WE KNOW ENOUGH TO BE ABLE
TO SHARE THE MESSAGE?
>> I DON'T REALLY FEEL
COMFORTABLE WITH SHARING THE
MESSAGE, BUT I'M A GOOD
RESOURCE.
THE BLACK HEALTH COALITION OF
WISCONSIN HAS PEOPLE THERE WHO
HAVE BEEN TRAINED, AND I HAVE
ENCOURAGED PEOPLE, I'VE GIVEN
THEM THE PHONE NUMBER TO THE
BLACK HEALTH COALITION, I'VE
SUGGESTED THAT THEY GO AND TALK
WITH SOMEONE FROM THE BLACK
HEALTH COALITION, WE'VE HAD BIG
MEETINGS AT THE WISCONSIN
AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN'S CENTER,
SPONSORED BY THE BLACK HEALTH
COALITION TO GET THOSE PEOPLE
WHO WERE INTERESTED, WHO WERE
CONCERNED, SO THAT'S WHAT I DO.
I'M A GREAT RESOURCE IN TERMS OF
JUST SENDING PEOPLE OUT THERE.
>> EVERYBODY ELSE A RESOURCE?
>> YEAH.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES I THINK JUST
SAYING, HEY, THIS ACTUALLY
EXISTS FOR YOU.
I DON'T NECESSARY MY KNOW HALL
THE DETAILS, BUT HERE IS
SOMEPLACE THAT YOU CAN CONTACT,
WHERE YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT
IT.
IT GOES A LONG WAY.
>> LIKE EDUCATION.
HEALTH IS INTERTWINED WITH
POVERTY.
AND THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
COMMISSION HAS CREATED TWO TASK
FORCES TO LOOK AT ONE, HOW
SHOULD THE AGENCY ADDRESS THE
NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS
COMMUNITY, AND SO IT IS A
RESOURCE, AND THE SECOND IS, HOW
SHOULD IT ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF
THOSE IN POVERTY, WHO HAVE
HEALTH CARE ISSUES.
AND I THINK BOTH OF THOSE, WHEN
YOU BEGIN TO LOOK AT IT.
WE HAVE NATIONAL HEALTH CARE FOR
THOSE WHO ARE IN POVERTY AND WE
HAVE NATIONAL HEALTH COMPARE FOR
THOSE WHO ARE ELDERLY, THE
QUESTION IS, WHAT ABOUT THAT BIG
MIDDLE AND THAT BIG MIDDLE OF
THOSE WHO HAVE RESOURCES, AND
THOSE WHO JUST FALL ABOVE THE
LINE OF HAVING THE RESOURCES,
AND DIRECTING THEM TO THOSE
PLACES WHERE THEY CAN GET
ASSISTANCE.
>> BY THE END OF 2014, DOES
ANYBODY PREDICT THAT THIS WILL
BE CLEARED UP ENOUGH SO THAT
PEOPLE WILL FEEL COMFORTABLE
WITH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT?
>> NO.
NO.
>> WHY NOT.
>> I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE
AROUND.
REALLY?
>> BY THE END OF 2014, I THINK
THE NEW CONGRESS COMING IN AFTER
THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS, WILL
HAVE FELT A MANDATE TO CHANGE IT
DRAMATICALLY.
AND THAT SEEMS TO BE THE WAY THE
POLLS ARE PREDICTING AT THIS
POINT.
THE MOVEMENT IS GOING.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE
PRESIDENT IS GOING TO BE
CHALLENGED ALONG WITH OTHER
MEMBERS OF HIS PARTY TO RESIST
ANY DRAMATIC CHANGE TO THE
LEGISLATION.
>> YOU SEEM SURPRISED.
>> I DISAGREE WITH THAT
ACTUALLY.
I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO GO INTO
A HEAVY MARKING CAMPAIGN.
I THINK AS PROBLEMS WITH WEB
SITE CLEAR UP, MORE PEOPLE WILL
BE ABLE TO SUNSHINE UP.
THERE'S PROBLEMS WITH ROLEOUT.
WHEN WE REMEMBER MEDICARE PART
D, THERE WAS PROBLEMS WITH THAT
AS WELL AND IT WAS EVENTUALLY
WORKED OUT.
>> WE LISTEN TO DIFFERENT RADIO
STATIONS.
>> EXACTLY.
>> I'M GOING TO MAKE A NOTE FOR
WHEN WE GET TOGETHER TO TALK
ABOUT 2015.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THAT MEANS WE ALL HAVE TO COME
BACK.
>> WE ALL HAVE TO COME BACK.
LET TURN THE PAGE AND TALK
ABOUT -- LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT,
PARTICULARLY THE MOTION PICTURES
THAT CAME OUT IN 2013.
THERE WERE SO MANY MOTION
PICTURES, EITHER ABOUT
AFRICAN-AMERICANS, WRITTEN BY
AFRICAN-AMERICANS, DIRECTED BY
AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
THAT YOU HAD YOUR PICK OF
VARIOUS THINGS TO GO AND SEE.
WE HAD 12 YEARS OF SLAVES, WE
HAD LEE DANIELS, THE BUTLER, WE
HAD FRUITVILLE STATION, WE HAD
THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY, WE HAD THE
INEVITABLE DEFEAT OF MR. M.
PETE, WHICH WAS DIRECTED BY
MILWAUKEEAN GEORGE TILLMAN JR.,
WE HAD BLACK NATIVITY.
ALL THE MOVIES THAT CAME OUT IN
2013.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
>> WELL, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
ONE MOVIE THAT YOU'VE NAMED IN
THAT BUNCH, ALL OF THEM ARE JUST
PRETTY DEPRESSING.
I THINK IT'S -- IT'S BEEN
PRIMARILY DUE TO THE COUNTRY'S
DESIRE TO WANT TO KNOW MORE
ABOUT THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
EXPERIENCE.
AND PEOPLE BEING WILLING TO
INVEST IN MOVIES THAT HAVE MORE
HONEST PORTRAYALS THAN WHAT
THEY'VE HAD OFFERED TO US IN THE
PAST.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> I WOULD SAY MY CONCERN ABOUT
IT IS REALLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT
COMES TO HOLLYWOOD, IT'S NOT
THAT THERE ARE MORE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN MOVIES, BUT
THAT THERE ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
MOVIES THAT DEPICT US IN THE
GREATEST LIT.
-- LIGHT AND THAT'S THE THING
EVEN WITH WHAT MR. RANDALL WAS
SAYING, I STILL DON'T KNOW IF
WE'RE QUITE THERE YET, BECAUSE
THE DEPICTIONS, A LOT OF TIMES,
ARE US BEING HELPLESS OR SUB
VERSIVE ROLE OR IN SOME TYPE OF
NEGATIVE LIGHT AND WE HAVE TO
BEGIN TO FIGHT THAT, BECAUSE YOU
KNOW, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, THIS
MAN I HAVE TO CREDIT WITH
TEACHING ME HOW TO WEAR A TIE,
WHEN I WORKED FOR HIM AT THE
REACH PROGRAM, BUT WE DO HAVE,
WE DO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO THROW
A SUIT ON, WE HAVE THE CAPACITY
TO BE WHATEVER WE WANT TO BE,
AND I WANT THAT IMAGE TO GET TO
HOUR CHILDREN.
BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
>> SOME OF THOSE IMAGES ARE
COMING OUT IN THE FILMS THAT WE
SEE.
LET'S -- DID YOU WANT TO SAY
SOMETHING ABOUT MOVIES?
ARE YOU A BIG MOVIE FAN?
>> I DID SEE THREE OF THE MOVIES
AND THEY WERE DEPRESSING.
AS GERARD SAID.
THEY WERE DEPRESSING.
AND FOR VARIOUS REASONS.
AND SOME MIGHT NOT EVEN LIKE
TO -- I MIGHT NOT WANT TO EVEN
DISCUSS RIGHT NOW.
THE 12 YEARS OF SLAVE, THE
INEVITABLE DEFEAT OF MR. M. PETE
AND THE BUTLER.
>> THE BUTLER WASN'T ALL THAT
DEPRESSING.
>> IT WASN'T EXTREMELY
DEPRESSING, NO, BUT I REMEMBER
THAT WHOLE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA AND
WHAT THINGS WERE GOING ON IN THE
WHITE HOUSE LIKE IT'S JUST
EVERYTHING IS WONDERFUL, AND
CHAOS WAS REIGNING IN THE
STREETS AND THAT'S WHERE I FOUND
A LITTLE DISCONCERTING THERE.
>> OK.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, LET'S -- LET'S TALK ABOUT
WHAT WE DISCUSSED LAST YEAR.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2013, EVERYBODY
SORT OF AGREED AND GERARD, YOU
PUT IT RIGHT OUT THERE, THAT ONE
OF THE THINGS YOU THOUGHT WOULD
HAPPEN WAS THAT WE WOULD SEE THE
DEVELOPMENT OF MORE YOUNG
LEADERSHIP IN MILWAUKEE.
HAVE WE?
WHERE ARE THEY?
WHO ARE THEY?
>> LOOK TO MY RIGHT AND YOU HAVE
TWO EXAMPLES, STELLAR EXAMPLES
OF EMERGING LEADERSHIP IN THIS
COMMUNITY.
I THINK YOU KNOW, OLD FOLK LIKE
ME, THOSE WHO ARE 60 AND OLDER,
ARE STARTING TO PASS THE BATON
ON TO OTHERS.
YOU SEE EXAMPLES OVER AT THE
COUNTY BOARD, OVER IN THE COMMON
COUNCIL, THE STATE LEGISLATURE,
THAT'S JUST THE ELECTED
LEADERSHIP.
I THINK AS WE ALLOW THEM MORE OF
AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A VOICE,
YOU WILL SEE EVEN MORE
RESPONSIBILITY BEING GIVEN TO
THEM.
>> WELL, LET'S GO VERY BRIEFLY
AROUND THE TABLE, TO EVERYBODY.
2013, OPTIMISTIC OR PESSIMISTIC?
>> ALWAYS OPTIMISTIC.
>> WHY?
>> BECAUSE I'M A FIRM BELIEVER
WHEN YOU FALL DOWN, YOU DON'T
HAVE ANY CHOICE BUT TO GET BACK
UP.
>> OK.
>> LATOYA, OPTIMISTIC OR
PESSIMISTIC?
>> I'M OPTIMISTIC.
IF I WASN'T, I WOULD BE
MISERABLE.
>> ALWAYS OPTIMISTIC AND
PERSISTENTLY SO.
>> OPTIMISTIC, WHEN YOU REACH A
CERTAIN PLATEAU, CAN'T DO
ANYTHING BUT JUST KEEP ON
SOARING AND GOING UP AND I'M
VERY OPTIMISTIC.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WHEN WE ALL GET TOGETHER TO TALK
ABOUT 2015, WE'LL ALL BE VERY
HAPPY, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL
OPTIMISTIC.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> WE HOPE YOU ARE TOO.
THANKS FOR JOINING US ALL FOR
OUR LOOK AT 2013 HERE ON "BLACK
NOUVEAU."
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR
THIS EVENING.
FOR "BLACK NOUVEAU," I'M JOANNE
WILLIAMS.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
GOOD NIGHT.