by B. White
Holla!
Sixy thousand, five hundred (60,500) down 185,000 to go, I-Witness touching Black people all over the city of Milwaukee, and the world one event at a time.

--Black People are the First Wonder of the World--

"Until the Lion writes his own story, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter."--African proverb

Thought for the Week

If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities…
--Maya Angelou

Holla-Outs

Hey, Linston Young over at Heavy Hitters, just want you to know I-Witness truly appreciates the great work y’all are doing. Keep helping souls to heal, I love it!

To: Armani Watkins. I know you are only 4 years-old, but you are already a true gentleman. Thank you for picking my paper up and giving it to me. Young guys like you will grow up and do good things in the world; keep being the gentleman you are growing to be, I love it!

Hey, Rochelle Bland over at the MacArthur Square Parking Systems, thought I would Holla at you.

Hey, Tisha Houston over at Subway on 35th and North Avenue. So, you thought the strangest sub order was chicken and steak until I came in asking for a tuna and turkey sub, which is the best sub, okay I can still hear you laughing, cut it out Holla!

Hey, Judge Valerie Hill and staff in Branch 1 of the Municipal Court, thank you for being a big time I-Witness reader. Thanks for sharing with the court my "In My Shoes" series about Goodwill Industries and telling them you cannot wait for part two of the story. It is heartwarming to know that people as yourself follow the series.

P.S. Thank you for inviting me to be a judge in the municipal court for "In My Shoes" it is on my list of jobs to do, Holla!

Hey, Debbie Harris it was so nice to see you and chat about family, the Washington High School reunion and to simply catch up. Thank you for being a big I-Witness reader, you know I love it! Holla!

Hey, Judge Mosley and staff over at Branch 2 of the Municipal Court, I sat in your courtroom and watched how you tried to be people sensitive and work with them to put their lives back on track. To watch you work with the young man who you recommend to the wielding program was truly inspiring, and you could tell he appreciated it. Thank you for being a judge with human interest and not simply blind justice.

Hey, Pete over at the U.S. Post Office on 35th Street, now you know what it feels like to be among the hens when they want to catch up, Holla!

Holla-Out to Murray Gee, Carlotta and Thellis Bullock over at 1st Choice Catering where the food is "so goooood," Holla!

Hey Rebecca Carter over at Northcott Neighborhood House, it was nice to find out that you are a big-time I-Witness reader, thank you, you know you made my day, Holla!

Hey, 2-year-old, Aryhia Evan Mitchell, you are getting ready for the world already, I love it!

Birthday

Holla-Out

To: Vernita Lee, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday...

Congratulations

Hey, Somer who is about to graduate from Marquette Upward Bound and St. Joan Antida High School, I see you have received a scholarship from the Kappa Phi Kappa Fraternity. You go girl, you know you are simply, Phenomenal.

Condolences

To the family of James Fisher, our prayers are with you.

It’s Yo’ Birthday, It’s Yo’ Birthday

Renee Stevens Whitehead celebrated her birthday with money, money, which made her hot, hot, hot! Renee’s money goblet was filled through the night during her party at Zanzibar Lounge. (photo by Barbara White)

Renee Stevens Whitehead celebrated her birthday with three generations. Lauren Stevens and her daughter Charmaine Nord helped Renee celebrate at the Zanzibar Lounge.

It was a party y’all, Doritos, dips and cheese chucks filled the bar as D.J. Jazz D. Mak pumped us full of the Dramatics.

All kinds of folks were in the house to share in Renee’s day, including author George Salter, Andy Balderas and Michael Blake, who thought it was his birthday. I personally thought he was Michael Jackson cuz he had turned into a dance machine, Holla!

Ms. Rosie, who had the last birthday at the Zanzibar, told me she sent our paper all over the country to all her relatives, y’all know I-Witness loved that, Holla!

Renee of course is celebrating her 25th birthday and she is letting all of us know it’s her birthday, while her money goblet was filling up. She’s on the floor being fast, ahhh move over a bit Michael, it is not your birthday, Holla!

I love the Zanzibar parties they always have their little special way of doing things. Brown’s Ham House catered the nice spread. Our dessert was prepared by Glenda, her famous "Jell-O Shots," Jell-O with real liquor in them served in little shot cups. After a few of those Jell-O shots, I started thinking I was Aretha Franklin and started singing to Hearstes that he was some kind of wonderful, I even scathed just like her, Hearstes loved it! Holla!

Okay DJ Jazz D Mak was playing my song: "I came out to have a good time, I got my money, I got my whisky, I came out to have a good time..."

Hey, Renee I had a good time we are not going to tell how much fun you really had and how all of us thought it was our birthday too, Happy Birthday wishing you many more.

Midwest Kings and Queens

The Midwest Kings and Queens hosted their annual Steak and Chicken Cook-Out Fundraiser at Diamond’s Lounge. (photo by Barbara White)

It is that time of year y’all where the roar of the engines of all motorcycle clubs will fill the air.

The Midwest Kings and Queens hosted their annual Steak and Chicken Cook-Out Fundraiser at Diamond’s Lounge.

The sun is shining bright and Rider Clubs citywide, in all shapes, sizes and races, Black, White, Latino even Chinese are out partying, I love it! Bikes of all sorts line the street, the Harley, Honda, Suzuki even the German bikes are glistering in the sun and the energy is wild up in here.

DJ Wild child of the Night Owls is rocking the house, "You are the one who make me feel so real good, and I am hooked on you, and then I find out you’re somebody’s else’s guy. What am I suppose to do, when I’m so hooked on you and I realize your somebody else’s guy. Well I realize I can’t let go, you are the one whooo makes me feel so real gooood." Oh sorry y’all, I’m back I was having one of those flashbacks and I was feeling real good, Holla!

The Kings and Queens under the leadership of Willie Coleman and Henry Washington is one of the most financially sound riders’ clubs in the city and do many good things through out our community. This past Easter they provided Easter baskets to many young children, donated $1,500 to Muscular Dystrophy, and have traveled as far as Memphis, Tennessee to partake in charity rides for scholarships. They hold many fundraisers for children organizations in our community.

In the house, is the Babymaker, T-Dubb, D.J. Clark Kent; Nicole Johnson; Humphrey Nangal, owner of Diamonds; T-Rex; Peach Nation; Annette Smoody; and Money Grip and he is fine my sistas, Holla!

D.J. Wild child is playing my song, y’all know "I found love on a lonely highway" and he asked me to give him my love, he turned me out and I love that man, Holla!

The Kings and Queens hold a few club titles, like the best-dressed club and the #1 cooks and yes those steaks are tender and the macaroni and cheese is too good!

They have recently chartered two buses to attend the National Bikers Association 30th Anniversary that will be held in Kansas City this summer. It’s a party y’all, Money, Money, Money, Money, Money.

Hey, Kings and Queens I always have a good time hanging out with y’all and I truly appreciate that you know how to have fun but do good things in your community. Keep doing the good things, I love it!

Do y’all think the biggest news and battles of the day were workers or the immigration rallies across the nation, wrong.

The biggest battle in Milwaukee was between WISN 12 and WTMJ 4 and their two popular anchors DeMarco Morgan and Carol Meekins and their special segments on Vernita Lee the mother of Oprah Winfrey.

Each station did a segment on Lee at the same time, which aired on Monday night on the 10 p.m. news. The battle was hot and steamy as the two local stations tried to take each other to the hoop to win Black viewers and the ratings for the best segment. Once people in our community heard that, the two stations were battling. Many saying, "Oh both stations are doing a segment on Oprah’s mom, how are we going to watch both they come on at the same time.

Most said well we have to watch DeMarco he is the community’s favorite anchor so they went into action. Many folks in this community like Carol Meekins as well but DeMarco is the one around here, Holla! Let me say for the record neither DeMarco or Carol were aware of the dynamics going on in this community that I am aware of surrounding their interviews and I-Witness kind of knows because every where I went folks were talking about it and never mentioned that they had talked to either. The big question, whom are you going to watch tonight. Well on Monday night everyone watched DeMarco, the ratings are out and he did an excellent piece.

Folks thought Carol piece was pretty good. They caught the end of it or watched it the next day.

Tuesday the second segments of the interviews by both anchors were to run, WISN 12 was riding high they won on Monday. Not to be outdone TMJ 4 started morning commercials heavily promoting the second segment of the Meekin’s interview with Oprah’s Mom at 10 p.m. and then started running commercials on WMJR 98.3 radio to encourage listeners to watch TMJ 4 at 10 p.m.

WISN 12 struck back and begin promoting DeMarco’s part two interview with Oprah’s Mom at five. WISN then placed billboards along I-43 so that drivers could drive home and watch DeMarco and the interview at 5. At the same time, WISN was running promo on the Internet.

Folks at Brown’s Ham House, and the Municipal Courts were in the discussion and of course, all agreed to watch WISN 12 and DeMarco, stating they would watch TMJ 4 and Carol Meekins at 10 p.m. if DeMarco was not on at the same time. Okay so I-Witness does not have anything better to do, Holla!

I just thought this was interesting, it was good to see the two stations battling to include our community in their ratings and tried to take each other to the hoop, I have never seen them do that before, I loved it!

As of press, time I do not know what the Tuesday night ratings were but I did watch both segments. Both anchors were personable but DeMarco’s segments won with me because it had more energy, focused more on Vernita Lee than Oprah, and what she liked, he gave us more details, taking us back to the old neighborhood and finally the hot water corn bread won me over, Holla!

Yes, y’all know DeMarco is one of I-Witness’s favorite guys, I watch both DeMarco and Carol regularly and feel both are very talented but I looked at both segments and their works from an objective point of view and DeMarco was my choice of best feature segment of the two. I just loved that every one got involved and that the stations wanted to target our viewer ship. It was a good thing and Lee dazzled us all. Congratulations to both Carol and DeMarco, I enjoyed both segments.

P.S. Hey, DeMarco, you looked well sitting behind the evening news anchor’s desk, Holla!

And the poets feed the soul

Devon Reid of Questions Night Club congratulates Kwabena Nixon, a local poet and one of the owners of the new Milwaukee Sub. (photo by Barbara White)

There is a new Red, Black and Green House on the corner of 21st and Hopkins where words will now feed the soul. National renowned Poets Kwabena Nixon, Dan Vaughn, Muhibb Dyer and Brian Morgan have joined words and have opened a fast food restaurant called Milwaukee Sub where they will sell quick things like chicken, sub sandwiches etc. They will do it all, in their words: "Eat until you’re full but always feed your soul."

Folks came from all over on opening day, where red, black and green balloons floated against the fiery sun skies to celebrated and wish the poets well in their new endeavor.

Inside the new sub shop the blue walls are filled with photos of the "1968 March to Selma" Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Dr. King, and the 2007, the Children are Dying calendar--featuring I-Witness. Inspiring quotes, "When your belief is strong and your purpose just, no obstacle can stand in your way."

Chatting with Kwabena, I asked why did the poets come together to open a business.

"The idea came from Muhibb who thought that we should now begin to create another arm of what we have been doing in the community," Kwabena said.

"First we educated through our words, Flooding the Hood with Dreams" as Campaign Against Violence and attempted to address the violence in our community and the killing of our children that must stop.

After Muhibb stated, "we must begin to start looking at self-reliance. We all began to look at in order to remain independent you must have some control over your economics and if you really want to make a difference and change in your community, you must show you can do it so that our folks will know they can do it. The best way to get people involved is to show them that you can make things happen."

These poets are very special to I-Witness and make my heart beam because they know what liberation and struggle is all about and they will not give up until freedom is the taste of honey that spurs from the tips of their tongues for Black People and I truly appreciate their fight for the children of our community. They are not a period; they are a coma in life.

Hey Milwaukee Subs, I know y’all will feed and nourish many souls and not only am I proud of you but I can feel the spirits of Marcus Garvey, Fred Hampton, Ida B. Wells loving you for taking Black into the future and becoming enterprising moving to the level your generation was to develop, your steps may appear a baby step big it’s a giant’s step into to the mission and paths created for y’all long ago and I thank you for your courage and ability to dream, the universe is yours baby, dance in it dance.

I-Witness loves Hangin’ Out

I-Witness hung out with Andre’ Lee Ellis of Andre’s on Garfield, Larry and Marqurita Goudy for lunch at "The Tracks" on the eastside. We had a good time as we munched on the fish special cod and shrimp. Our server was Sataya Froemning who was quite attentive and very nice. I also ran into my Godson Darren Cox who I had not seen in a while and Barber Eddie Joe Brooks.

We had a very relaxing lunch the fish fry was very good but I loved the fries and I am not a real fry person. We chatted about world affairs and local issues and of course, our favorite council member Mike McGee Jr.

Sataya brought all a piece of seven layer chocolate cake, for all those that love chocolate this was the cake to have, Holla!

Hey, Andre’, Larry and Marqurita, I had a good time with you hope to hangout again soon, thanks.

Monique Jackson (standing, far right), a teller coordinator for US Bank, taught children at Congress School the ins and outs of money during a recent career day event held at the school. (photo by Barbara White)

A, B, C, D, E, F, G...H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X Y, and Z, now I know my ABC’s tell me what you think of me, Holla!

I-Witness as well as 60 other community people were invited to Congress K-8 Extended Year-Round School for their first school wide Campus Career Day at the request of Cloria Wheeler, Parent Involvement Specialist.

There was citywide participation in the event representing a host of occupations. Debra Ford, executive director of Human Resource for MPS; State Representative Jason Fields; Gaulien (Gee) Smith of Gee’s Clippers; Judge Paul Murphy of West Allis; Steve Krey, an MPS teacher; State Trooper Robert Simpson; U.S. Army Lieutenant Homer Buckingham; Elizabeth Townsel, a loan officer at Mid America Bank; Aldermen Willie Wade and Joe Davis; Jennifer Hayes, a sign language interpreter; Associate Minister Phillips of Providence Baptist Church; Barry Applewhite, music supervisor for MPS; Daniel Heard, Fire and Police Commission; Laura Robinson, respiratory therapist at St. Luke’s; Monique Jackson, a supervisor at U.S. Bank; Michael Wallace, electrical engineer; Justin Lange, a buyer for Kohl’s Department Store; Amos Owens; Reverend Kenneth Wheeler of Cross Lutheran Church; Judge Leonard Martin; De Ann Heard; Tarena Love, personal banker at Associated Banc-Corp; Milwaukee Assistant District Attorney; and Milwaukee Police Officers Mike Hayden and Malcolm Morgan.

There were also many hard working volunteer parents both moms and dads, including Dormon Mason Thurman, Michael Wallace, Kimberly Simpson, Lagail Hurt and Shanique Ku Hill.

We were given a choice to do class room presentations, become a panelist or be a presenter in the gym where all the little children came to visit you, I chose the gym, and I wanted to be with the little kiddies. It turned out to be a fun-filled day for me. The children were filled with questions and I would ask them question like, "what they wanted to be when they grew up?" Most said they wanted to be a police officer but that is because Officers Hayden and Morgan taught them how to salute, swore them in as junior officers and gave them a badge.

We talked about what a writer does and I shared our newspaper with them and showed my pages to them. I also explained to them the meaning of "Holla." A young Latino child called it "Hola!," which is Holla in Spanish. After our short session I took their picture and told them that from now on when they see me, they would have to say: "Holla!" Y’all know I loved it!

We were treated very well; there was a quick breakfast, a very nice lunch where all the presenters got a chance to meet and chat. Okay, y’all be careful about what you share with little children because they do not forget, every time I went into the hall way and a class just happen to be going the children would see me and start saying Holla! Everyone would start rollin’ on the floor. It was so funny I loved it!

In seeing that it made me think how innocent and impressionable children are and how as adults we must be, very careful and responsible in what we say to them and what we do in front of them.

It was a fun day for me at Congress Extended Year-Round School. I have been invited back. All the presenters were presented with a gift of a nice calculator or a nice leather notebook and a beautiful thank you card thanking us for making the first school wide "Career Day" a success.

Congress is a year round school with strong parental involvement and you can clearly feel their presence in the school. The children displayed excellent behavior most of the time.

Hey Congress School thank you for the invite, it was my pleasure to join you and all your other guest, I could plainly see your school will produce many good citizens for the future, keep doing the good things and advancing that next generation, I love it!

The ladies of AT&T Community Network teach others to stay healthy

It was all fun as the Black employees of the AT&T Community Network shuffled their way to health. (photo by Barbara White)

Black employees of AT&T Community Network hosted their first Health and Wellness Pampering Session, bringing women together to give them info on how to start managing their health and simply being well at the coffee house "Coffee Make You Black."

It was a blast; there was a healthy breakfast of fruits, muffins, pastries, y’all know I love the cappuccino at Coffee Make you Black.

There was massage pampering; Warm Spirits products to make your skin soft. I liked the Anahita’s body butter it made me feel so soft. There were many presentations by various women on all aspects of our health. Several cookbooks were introduced to us to teach us how to cook healthier soul food.

It was stated your health is your responsibility, it is important that you get to know your body, we can no longer just accept what doctors tell us, we know our bodies better than anybody so seek other opinions when you are not satisfied with your doctors opinions. Many gave examples of how they had to take over the management of their health from their doctors. These were some of the topics of discussions.

Tesha Washington from the outreach department of the group said I just wanted to see how many women would attend and who would be interested in healthy things for women.

Lydell Jackson who attended states my niece works for AT&T, many in our family have died from heart disease, many in our family has suffered and I want to learn how to eat right and do better because I want to live longer.

We continued to discuss lifestyle changes and the release of stress in our lives. Then the real fun began exercise line dancing, to the left, kick, kick, and tush, down, down, down, it’s called the Louisiana or Cupid Shuffle, it was a party in Coffee Make You Black, today, Holla!

It was so much laughter as the young women instructed their elders on the different shuffles, Joyce Jackson said I decided at the last minute to come and I am glad I did as she shuffled right, left, rock four times, knee sway, she loved it.

Okay y’all ready for this, we even did the Gangsta Walk or shuffle y’all know we were to cool, Holla!

I-Witness can now do all kinds of shuffle and I will not forget them because Maxine Geter wrote down all the steps, Holla! There were numerous nice raffle items beauty and pampering baskets, gift certificates, AT& T phones and a Warm Spirits Spa Bowl.

Hey, My Sistas over at AT&T, I just want to say I attend many women group activities and yours was one of the warmest and most welcoming of women that I have attended. I had a great time and cannot wait until next time. Keep doing the good things I love it!

Getting the facts on Blacks and Cancer

Darlene Crowley (at podium) shared an inspirational story during the American Cancer Society Sankofa Project event. (photo by Harry Kemp)

The Sankofa Project hosted its third annual Cancer Education Awareness at the North side YMCA.

Many turned out to partake in the cancer awareness program, MCJ Mikel Holt; Dr. Pat McManus; Martha Love Retired Police Officer Fred Birts; Ruby Robinson; Family Practicner, Bathena Webber; City of Milwaukee Health Commissioner Bevan Baker; Sarah Melvin and the Reverend Louis Silby of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. The Reverend Silby said his church is apart of "Body and Soul" project established by Sankofa in the churches through out the city.

There was a panel of many but the most interesting was those who have battled and are battling with various types of cancer; each gave their powerful will to live testimonies.

I chatted with Shauna Williams, project director, who said "we out reach to the community to educate the community on cancer. We need the community to be responsible. Be come partners and advocates with the American Cancer Society. Cancer affects minorities and other under served populations and in Milwaukee; it affects us more than any other race of people."

Williams said that Black people are likely to develop and die from cancer, so the Sankofa Project does the educational awareness to dispel the myths that surround cancer and to make sure that people are working with accurate information for those who need it the most.

"We have many outreach educational Signature events we recruit and train volunteers on the mission and teach how to educate about cancer," Williams stated.

In addition to working with the churches through the Body and Soul project, the Sankofa Project is also on site in neighborhood clinics to make sure people know how to contact the American Cancer Society. The group has also started working with schools to spread their message to the youth.

At the event, they offered free blood pressure screening; prevent blindness screening, set prostate and colon appointments.

First Choice Catering catered a wonderful healthy and tasty lunch for the entire guest.

The American Cancer Society particularly the Sankofa Project is doing some good things to make all of us aware of the dangers of cancer and how we can combat it. It is a good thing.