(Upper photo) Participants gathered at the FBI Training Center, where they learned the ins and outs of life as an FBI Special Agent. (Lower photo) I-Witness holding an automatic machine with instructor (photos by Barbara White)

by B. White
Holla!

Two thousand five hundred (2500) down 253,500 to go, I-Witness touching Black people all over the city one event at a time.

Holla-Outs

Hey, Jermaine Kelly, Holla!

To: Chris Grier thought I would Holla-Out at you ...

Welcome home Rita McCain-Walker over at WHEDA. Nice to know you are back.

To: Campaign Manager Molly Christofferson, who is a big-time I-Witness reader, thank you. Hey Molly, meet me at the club it’s going down, Holla!

TO: Harry Burts and Linda Leveringston over at WE Energies, Holla!

To: all the Q’s, who held the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Best of Omega Shoot-Out Golf Tournament. Clark Lovell won the Manhood Award-The Best Golfer, Cid Black took second, the Scholarship Award and County Supervisor Michael Mayo came in third with the Perseverance Award. We will not talk about the Uplift 4, who is wild and crazy and had their own party, we will simply call them Jack Daniels, Tangaray and Gin and juice that had them loose, Holla!

The real golfers were Garry Howard, sports editor at the "Journal Sentinel" and Ruben Cotton who walked off with the money. Congratulations Guys, Holla!

To: Travis Carson just hollering at you.

Hey, Officer Jackie Christian over at District 5 thought I would Holla at you.

To: Jan Stenlund and all the staff over at SDC.

To: David Laffotee-U.S. Navy, Avis Ferguson-U.S. Navy and she works at the Pentagon, Zerdbia Waojzieeicsoski-U.S. Army and Oslesby-U.S. Army, Atten--tion Salute!!

Congratulations-Holla-Out

To: George and Delores Pumphrey on their seventh wedding anniversary. Hey, you two I know you had a wonderful day; I-Witness wishes you 7x10 more years. Congratulations.

Birthday Holla-Outs

To: Ms. Diva Elaine Crawford, go diva, go diva, it’s yo’ birthday. It’s yo’ birthday, Happy Birthday, Divas 4 ever, Holla!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Hap-py Birth--day Frankie Q (Frank Armstrong-Ray’s Clipper) Happy Birthday to you, Wishing you the best day ever ...

Hey, Nini, (Knyjja Reed) pssst ... you know you are my favorite niece do not tell the rest of them, Holla! I just wanted to wish you the biggest Happy Birthday I can. Love Ya! Have a great day.

Psssst ...

Former City of Milwaukee Elections Commission Director Julietta Henry is back in public service; she works for Governor Doyle’s administration. She states: "I am excited about all the things we are going to be doing in the office and I look to serve the citizens of the State of Wisconsin." Henry is a breast cancer survivor. You go Gurl!

I-Witness as Elliot Ness, Special Agent FBI

Okay y’all know I-Witness is adventurous so this time I became a FBI agent. Nothing has yet touched being a firefighter, but being a FBI agent is close.

At the invitation of former Milwaukee League Director Ken Little, I decided to join him and others at the FBI training center.

Y’all know I was draggin’ after being with Ms. Rose. I rose at about 8 a.m. Saturday morning, not sure of my directions I called Isaac Sawyer over at A-1 Security to direct me to Waukesha where the sight was. Upon my arrival, I joined close to a hundred other citizens who were taking the six-week training course, which the FBI host annually.

In chatting with Richard K. Ruminski, special agent in charge, he shared with me exactly what the FBI was all about and why they invite citizens into their trainings. Ruminski states, "The FBI is a federal agency that deals with counter terrorism and counter intelligence, and crimes of U.S. interest overseas. We further deal with white-collar crimes, corruption, Civil Rights, and violent crimes that break federal laws, kidnappings, fugitives, hostages, drugs etc. The FBI’s charge is to investigate any federal violation of the law."

Ruminski also said the FBI often works with local authorities, community leaders and everyday citizens to give the public a better understanding of the FBI’s role. I-Witness found that unlike television the FBI works within the Constitution of the Unites States as set forth.

We started with classroom instruction, this segment was on weapons the FBI uses. We were shown the different weapons used depending on the type of mission. There was a Q&A session on different types of situations and the weapons.

We were escorted outside to watch a real life simulation of a hostage situation, where the SWAT Tactical Team was brought in. Every measure is used to resolve the situation through negotiators. The goal is to resolve without tactical response. Tactical response is the last resolve. Ruminski states: "we will always try to negotiate. The negotiator gives the last word."

Special Agent Josh Mayers was our instructor. We were broken off in groups to get the real feel of what it is like to shoot a weapon in this case a Glocks and a MP5 which the FBI say gives them equal power for some of the kinds of weapons they run into.

I-Witness chose to shoot the MP5. At first, I was a bit uncomfortable because I thought the gun would kick once I shot it but it did not. I want y’all to know I was pretty good and hit all of my shots.

Many Milwaukee-area citizens attended the class for varied reasons. Some of whom were gun owners, while others were not.

Ken Little brought his whole family on this day, his wife Daphne, two sons Kenny Jr., Drew and a friend Clam Robinson. He states: "I thought this would be a good experience for the boys to teach them how to handle a weapon in the right content. I try to give my children different experiences to expand their minds."

I chatted with both boys in regards to what they know about guns now. Kenny who is 16 stated it was the first time he has ever shot a gun. "It was an experience," he said, "you have to use the proper safety procedures because guns are dangerous."

Drew who is 14 said it was fun and a new experience, "but I know guns are dangerous and you only use them when necessary." I asked him when is it necessary to use a gun. He stated: "if someone breaks into your house, it should not be used to play with, I know that. Just someone showing the gun kills some people."

The Little family are not gun owners.

Gus Hosseini, owner of Belize Night Club, was also in the class with his family. "I deal with law enforcement all the time and I appreciate the job they do," Hosseini said. "I know what they go through and I want to do my part and show my support." Gus is a gun owner.

Gerald Childs came with his sister and her friend because he was interested to see and hear the different training tactics and weapons the FBI uses. "I believe information is knowledge and power the more you learn about guns. We should even start teaching little kids about guns. This way they can learn the proper purpose of guns." Gerald is a gun owner.

We broke for lunch and I will tell y’all the FBI did beat the fire department out on that; we had my favorites brat and a bunch of other stuff.

I then moved into what is called FATS--Fire Training System--where a real crime situation is simulated. Supervising Special Agent Stuart Frank, who supervises kidnapping, violent crimes, taught the course.

Okay y’all I am not going to tell you I killed my partner, Holla! Our scenario was in an underground parking lot. A rich woman was going to her car, when all of a sudden a man came running toward her. We watched the situation, unfold as the man points a gun toward the victim. He turned toward us as if pointing; we felt threatened and moved to disarm. Okay so I-Witness killed him and I would have kept shooting him because as he tried to surrender he still had the gun in his hand. I could not take the chance that he would not get a shot off. At that point, it was my life or his.

It was really interesting to spend this day just seeing and interacting with the agents of the FBI. I was able to participate in almost real situations to see the kind of job the FBI has to do. It is different when you have to make the call and it may cost you your life. The other thing I picked up is that the agents are very proud to work for the agency and their country.

Hey, you guys I just want to tell you that Special Agent I-Witness has a new respect for your job and your love of American and our safety. I know now until I am in the situation or can examine all the evidence I cannot call it. Thanks for the experience I learned a lot. Atten-tion Salute!

Balloons and Leather

Members of the Kings and Queens Motorcycle Club danced the night away during their second annual fall dance, which was held at the Prince Hall Grand Lodge. Men and women came out decked in their leather paints and skirts to celebrate an dhae a good time.

The Midwest Kings and Queens Motorcycle Club hosted their second Annual Fall Dance at Prince Hall Grand Lodge.

Colorful balloons and leather filled the banquet hall as D.J. Clark Kent (yes, I do think he is related to Superman) rocked the house.

Y’all know I love seeing the riders in their leather. Many of the guys wear the vest with the leather pants while my little sistas wear the leather with the short skirts and high-heeled shoes. All the jackets as well as the vest reflect many symbols, such as the club name and their rank in the club.

It was wall-to-wall. In the house, were the Free Riders from Aurora, Illinois and the Heavy Hitters MC from Louisville, Kentucky, as well as riders citywide came to join the Kings and Queens in partee. The Heavy Hitters are a group of police officers and bounty hunters I love it. I also love the generational and gender mix of the riders. The clubs also have families within the organization. Mothers and daughters, fathers and sons come together to have a good time. To dispel the myths the riders are the working class of this city, with many having professional jobs.

In Milwaukee, if you really want to party go where the softball teams are, the bowlers and yes the riders. They know how to do dat there, do dat there, Holla!

Hey T-Dubb, I had a good time and I’m going to get me one of those jackets, short skirts, heels and ride one day, Holla!

I-Witness and the Ambassador

Congratulations to Attorney Rick Graber, senior managing partner of the Law Office of Rinehart Boerner, Van Deuren. He also served as chair to the Wisconsin Republican Party on his appointment as ambassador.

(I-Witness is neither Democrat nor Republican) President Bush nominated Graber to the post of becoming ambassador to the Czech Republic; the U.S. Senate confirmed him.

I-Witness has known the new ambassador for many years and he is one of my favorite White guys, I do not have many, Holla! At a going-away reception, I-Witness hooked up with him for a bit. Graber was quite excited sharing with me all the things that he and his wife, Alex, had to do to prepare for the ambassadorship. From attending ambassador school to learning about the country and its language, Graber had to become a Czech Republic whiz. He even taught I-Witness a few things in the language department, like "Dobry Den" means good morning and "Pivo" means beer, y’all didn’t know I-Witness could speak Czech, Holla!

The ambassador has two sons. Eric will go to Czech Republic, while his son Scott will visit in the summers he is presently attending college in Wake Forrest, North Carolina.

Being an ambassador means, you represent the president and the United States on all official events and business regarding the country. In addition, the ambassador has to promote America and maintain diplomatic relationships with the assigned country.

Graber will manage a staff of close to 300, a security team plus nine Marines. They will live in a mansion, where he will frequently entertain and conduct business. The appointment is for two-years. As if being a managing partner at a big-time law firm was not enough for him, Holla! Graber shared with me, how big of an opportunity this was for him and his family, the opportunity to represent the greatest country on earth, is awesome, he said.

At the reception he was acting like an Ambassador already, I loved it.

The ambassador is a big-time I-Witness reader and will continue to read from Czech Republic, I love it!

I thought Attorney Christopher Ware, a longtime friend of the ambassador, was on the verge of tears most of the time during the event.

He shared with me how he and Graber had breakfast every Friday morning for the last 25 years. He said he is going to truly miss him, he almost had me crying, Holla! I cheered him up I told him whenever he starts really missing the ambassador he could call me and we will go to Mr. B’s Ham House for smothered pork chops just as Graber and I did.

Hey Ambassador, looks like you will have to send the Marines now to get you some of Mr. B’s smothered pork chops, Holla! Again, Congratulations Mr. Ambassador, all of us wish you the best in your new endeavor, I know you will serve well.

Happy Birthday to you

Teacher, nationally renowned Poet and the People’s Champ, Kwabena Nixon, Happy Birthday to you, it was guys night out for Kwabena on his birthday. Caesar Stinson, Poet Simon, and others took the "People’s Champ" all over the city in celebration of another year of his life.

I hooked up with the "People’s Champ" at Gee’s Clippers where Poets run rapid, Holla! The group then traveled to other sites where the poet spits (recites poetry).

Later the People’s Champ was taken on a cruise where his fiancee Ms. Jazzie gave him a surprise party. He literally rocked the boat, Holla! The celebration concluded at Onyx Nite Club, where the "People’s Champ" called it a night.

Hey, Kwabena you had a day, I was going to sing, Happy birthday to you, you know I can sing very well, Holla! However, I know you rather hear a poet spit. Therefore, here goes:

Every Time I hear a poet spit

"I can feel my spirit leave as many of u begin to nourish my mind with yo’ different rides in life,
Yo’ different interpretations
And yo’ world view
Energizing my spirit
With yo’ foot prints,
As u take off on a trip
To dance yo’ dance in the universe,
Where u feel safety in the presence of God,
U thank the Creator for the universe and yo’ existence, in a break dance of Webster’s holdings, lingos of the world, and yo’ native utterance of jubilations,
Inspiring my soul to walk and step outside in the shoes of yo’ existence ...
Whether it be in yo’ flavor of twinge, transition, fabrication, the creed of love in dance, in the universe,
it becomes en-ccchanting,
As yo’ footprints travel
through my mind, drafting, creating drafting, creating, flicking pictures, the realness of earth, in stereo sound, with the holdings of Webster and the utterance in yo’ native jubilations, it touches my soul as it snaps me back, as we all snap into Amen’s and the last call for alcohol,
leaving me energized, feelin’ like I am in church sometimes, every time, I hear a poet spit. I-Witness 9-23-06

Happy Birthday to the "People’s Champ" Kwabena Nixon, Holla! Love ya!

Happy Birthday to Three

Lamarr Franklin, Margie Reid and Fred Brown held a joint birthday celebration at Garfield 502 Club.

The club was beautifully decorated with balloons in honor of the three celebrates. It was wall to wall as everyone got his or her groove on. In the house, Ray Buford and Frank Armstrong over at Ray’s Clippers Barber Shop, Dr. Rogers Onick, Shantel B. and Yvonne McCaskell, it was so many folks I cannot name them all and it was a partyin’ up in there.

Their guest did every kind of electric slide there was, even I-Witness got a piece of it.

Okay y’all, they had a spread too. A real one full of Barbecue chicken, meatballs, shrimp cups and many other appetizers.

Hey, you guys I would sing happy birthday to you but I danced for you on your day, Holla! Wishing all of you many more celebrations of life, Happy Birthday!

Black Nouveau

A reception was thrown in honor of Faithe Colas, the new co-host of the award winning television show "Black Nouveau," which airs on channel 10.

Many throughout the community came to wish her well in her new job.

Sandra Robinson, general manager of radio station WNOV, states: "it is a wonderful addition to the Courier Communications family and she will do well."

Longtime community activist, proud grandmother and Colas’ biggest fan Lucille Berrien states, "I think it’s wonderful, I’m proud of her. She has always worked so hard and I think she earned it. It’s women’s time now."

Rhonda Blue states, "I’m just glad they picked a home-grown person, many of the opportunities here usually go to all the out-of-towners, with Faithe we all can feel proud because she is one of us and has roots here."

I chatted with Faithe and she states "I feel blessed, it’s awesome and I’m feeling up to the challenge. It is a wonderful opportunity, print, radio and now television to continue to reach Black audiences and elevate, the thing that we all have been trying to do, enrich Black families. And I am proud to be apart of the many organizations who wake up every morning with that on their hearts."

Colas said she considers the opportunity an honor.

"I am honored to be working with MPTV prestigious team of producers, and look forward to building a good center with co-host Keith Murphy." Colas continues, "Sharon Patterson (the former host) left a legacy and I believe I can do her proud from one sista to another. I want to be able to do some exclusive things like the arts, and literacy."

Well Faithe, I-Witness wishes you well in your new endeavor, keep telling the good stories about Black people, I love it!

Black Nouveau airs every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. on MPTV-10/36.

Ms. Rose

Y’all know hangin’ out with Ms. Rose (Rose Lu Hing) is an adventure all by it self, Holla! She is funny, very knowledgeable, and gutsy and can be quite charming. She is a good mentor but what we have most in common is that we love Black people.

I-Witness hung out with Ms. Rose for two days. We went to Garfield 502 where we had dinner and became Absolutely correct, Holla!

We first shared the platter sampler catfish strips, chicken drumettes, steak potatoes, it takes away the hungry pains.

Garfield 502 has a new bartender, whose name is Rhona Fields--she is good. Y’all will have to go there and let her make you a margarita on the rocks and a strawberry daiquiri, which she makes with real fruit, I love it! We ordered our dinner to go I had the five snaps and a pop steak catfish and Ms. Rose did chicken.

We headed over to Bill’s Lounge where we were in the company of former officer Kerri Washington who now works for coordinated campaign of the Democratic Party and owner Gene McRay. April and Chelsea Jackson, two sisters joined us. Chelsea worked at Bill’s until she became ill. She is now a cancer survivor heading toward full recovery. She says with the support of her family, her good friend along with many prayers is bringing her through, and she thanks and loves them all.

We talked about politics, y’all know Kerri wants everyone to get out and vote, education, our folks and even Brett Favre who it is believed is the only quarterback to have 400 touchdowns in 248 games.

It was a good time. The next evening Ms. Rose and I went back to 502 to toast club co-owner Lamarr Franklin for day one of his two-day birthday party. We did our correct thing and then headed to Bill’s Lounge again with Ms. Rose announcing we are all going to continue to celebrate Lamarr’s birthday at Bill’s. Jurrella McDonald, everybody was down. They love Ms. Rose down at Bill’s young people as well. We had a good time. Until next time Ms. Rose.

Hangin’ Out with Fred

I hung out with a school chum of mine Fred Hopkins who now lives in Texas. He was in town this week to wrap up some final business. Fred and I-Witness go all the way back to Junior High School and later on to Washington High School. I want y’all to know he was older after all, I am only 35, Holla!

We talked and caught up on everybody and everything we used to do when we were in school too.

We went shopping and just hung out, of course, we went to Mr. B’s Ham House for lunch and Fred stated, "He had not had a good meal like that in five years. He did the ox tails.

Fred used to work for Milwaukee County as a social worker. He now lives in Texas and has a ranch with all kinds of fruit and pecan trees. He also has cattle on his land. He has invited me down there for a visit. Can y’all see I-Witness being a cowgirl, rustling cattle and picking pecans, Holla!

Hey, Fred it was good seeing you, I had a good time with you, who knows maybe next year, I might feel like being a cowgirl wearing spurred boots and a ten gallon hat, Holla!