Hot fun in the summer time for Lelah Huntley (third from left) at Questions Nite Club

by B. White

Holla!

Two hundred twenty thousand, five hundred (220,500) down 29,400 to go, I-Witness showing the beauty of Black people, our passions, compassion, intellect and Black life in love one event at a time.

Hey, 29,400 Black people to go and I-Witness and the "Milwaukee Community Journal" will have touched close to 250,000 Black families in Milwaukee.

I-Witness loves the people who ask about the countdown or keep up with the count, like Senator Lena Taylor or Georgia Evans who has it down to the science.

I-Witness does the countdown to show how many Black people she touches each week and of course, to see if she could touch every Black family in Milwaukee. Y’all need to quit; y’all always make me successful. We have 29, 400 families to go I will then release my list of my favorite people of 2005/2006.

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

Holla-Outs

Annie Turkal and Christ Ghobriel, Holla!

Al (Alvin Toles) the father of State Representative Barbara Toles, Antonio Baker hangs out at Brown’s Ham House.

Shirelle Whitaker, serving in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, Atten--tion-Salute!

Dr. Levon Cotton over at Children’s Hospital.

Business Holla-Out

To my favorite folks at the Fashion Bug, Ciera Leflore, Sherry Washington and Manager Cathy Grey, y’all, they say I give them such a hard time when I come in the store. Maybe because I cannot ever make up my mind but they are great; they try to assist me in every way. Of course, if they do not, my cheerleader Lee McGregor a regular customer at the Fashion Bug will get them. I love it! Hey y’all I have a good time with you every time I come there.

Yvette Harris, who is a big I-Witness Fan, Thank you Yvette, I love it!

Hey, Mike (Michael Robinson and Woody), you are my favorite Ventriloquism act on the move. Mike and Woody are fantastic for the kids so if you get a chance check them out you will love them.

Birthday Holla-Outs

Jr. Hip-Hop Queen Jailyn Allison Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, I know you did not know I could sing, Holla!

Ruth Howard and Lynn Cotton Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Lelah, Scotty Knox celebrated his birthday, and in celebrating he talked about a friend who has passed away who gave him life. He stated: "he raised me and if he had not been in my life I probably would not be here today to celebrate this day or any other day and I miss and thank him so much." That friend was Malik Holt, the son of "MCJ" Associate Publisher, Mikel Holt.

Psssst

Wendy’s Old fashion burgers will be coming out with a new burger that’s suppose to knock all the other burger places out the box, stay tuned.

A group of Black businessmen are in the process of finalizing the purchase of the Jungle Club downtown ... stay tuned.

 

Rhonda Whyte, a senior analyst, has moved to Camarillo, California to join the Well Point Corporation. Rhonda keep advancing that next generation I love it.

Condolence

To the family of Lucille Morrison, our prayers are with you.

To the Family of Gerald Anthony Cotton, Gerald was my nephew and the funniest nephew I know. Whenever he would finish the story, he would have you rollin’ on the floor. He also was the gatekeeper of the family. He kept in touch with all of us and kept us updated on everybody’s lives. We will miss you Gerald don’t know who is going to tell us stories like you and have us rollin’ on the floor.

To the Family of Elmer Pointer Jr. who was my cousin, He was the big teddy bear who always found a way to make sense to folks when they needed it most. He also was the big time bowler at least he thought so. You will be greatly missed Junior.

Go, Go, Go, Go Blue Devils!

Members of North Division’s classes of ’80 and ’81 at the class picnic, which was the culminating event of their high school reunion at Washington Park. (photo by Barbara White)

The North Division Classes of 1980 and ’81, and my favorite Diva Elaine Crawford held their three-day class reunion with its kick off at Savoy’s Night Club.

It was a party in there as the alumni greeted each other with much joy and love. The theme "Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now."

The bartenders at Savoy’s were doing their jobs to the fullest. Renee, who will never let the guys see apple pie the same, didn’t have on her apple bottoms but she was wearing those jeans, and Teresa was busy making everybody’s drink taste better because she made it, Holla!

If I could sing a song to describe the atmosphere in Savoy’s it would be, "That’s what friends are for."

Boy did I hear the stories of who had a crush on whom, who ran from whom and who was all that and a bag of potato chips. All in all the classes of ’80 and ’81 have remained very close. Assistant Fire Chief Sain and his wife Charlotte were in the house. The class president of 1981 Greg Bouice says: had there been no 1011 West Center Street, there would have been no North Division, nor would we be here today. We all grew up together and we do the reunions to keep in touch and see how each other are doing. It is a good thing.

Part 2

The second night was filled with fun at the Bavarian Inn where music teacher Arlene Skirski was the keynote speaker.

Part 3

Meet me at the park it’s going down ... I think they made that song for the Blue Devils on this day. There was a cook out at Washington Park. For the finale, the party was on from the time I arrived. It was wild: grills cooking, basketball, volleyball, hoola hoopin’ and DJ Shaun Smith was rocking the park.

The Classes of ’80 and ’81 have a joint reunion every four years. In chatting with many of them, their pride in going to North Division is like sunshine. All they say is Blue Devils forever. I-Witness Diva Elaine Crawford--her classmates refer to her as "Telephone, Telegram, Tell Elaine"--is the vice president of the class of ’81 and one of the main organizers of the reunion.

All their greetings were with love. There was Susan McKay, a real estate agent with Brooks Realtor; Jesse Anderson, who was once an exotic dancer with a stage name of the "Mobster" and now he is a teacher. He is fine too my sistas. Daryl (piggy) Powell, a long shoreman at the Port of Milwaukee, is hilarious. I actually met him the day before at the festival. I did not know him but he found a way to have me in stitches then. He is funny! Then there was Shaun Jones, an accountant at Quarles and Brady Law Firm; Pat Hightower, a transaction analyst at GE; let’s not forget country singer KC Williams or Larry Whatley, owner of the All-Star Sports Connection and Restaurant.

The Blue Devils were having a great time. As we ate, their memories surfaced and they talked about why they always put state champions on the T-shirts.

"We wear the state champion T-shirts because it was the first time we went to state and won it," they all echoed. They also talked of the walk out they did when MPS officials were going to close North Division. They believe had their team not went up state and won, and if they had not staged a walk in the dead of winter, they would not have graduated from North Division because it would have been closed.

They thanked Howard Fuller and Pauline McKay, who were also North Division alumni for their support in the walkout.

Richard Cummings, who was the physical education teacher for the class of ’80 and ’81 stopped by, as did Charlotte Jones, of the class of 1981 who is a Union Steward with Lo. 1654. Also in attendance were: Lelance Reiver, a producer who works with Rapper Lil’ John; Gary Turner, who has made a career in U.S. Navy; and Gregory Ware, who is director at the University of Wisconsin System in the Multicultural Center for Educational Excellence.

DJ Shaun is whippin’ it; he is playing all kinds of music from the ’80s and some.

Jerome Buie, who is too funny, is a carpenter and he wears the Blue Devil Badge proud. As well as, Rick Carter who is owner/operator of Action Logicist, a mail center, Linda Grandsberry, a loan administrator with J.P. Morgan and my Diva Elaine Crawford, a computer apecialist with Family Bridges. I listed some of the occupation of the classes of ’80 and ’81 because it was in the ’80s that the words "lost generation" first started to surface; I wanted to share with y’all they are not lost.

So let’s not believe all these labels they put on our kids to make money.

One other thing I saw in these young people was hope. Many good things have come out of North Division contrary to all of the other things said about it. I picked up from many of the Blue Devils something else. No matter what class year they have a sense of community, as well as a bond among themselves that no other school has. Many of them are the volunteers in our community they know how to give back.

A Day in Matrimony

Muhibb Dyer and his bride Tonia Liddell (second and third from the left) were married in a traditional Muslim ceremony at the Baitur Qadir Mosque. Muhibb is a member of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam, Inc. (photo by Barbara White)

"Bisnilleh hir Rahman nir Rahin, In the name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful... and the steps of the union as one begins." Nationally renowned poet and teacher Muhibb Dyer and Tonia Liddell were married in a ceremony that was quite new to me at the Baitur Qadir Mosque. Muhibb is a member of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam, Inc.

Islam is a religion that is based on the principles of righteousness, not based on a specific tribe or religion, race, creed or color. It is believed that Islam is the final and complete code of Divine guidance for the brotherly unification of all mankind as set with the Holy Prophet Muhammad.

As the women guest arrived even those who were not of Islamic faith paid respect with coverings of their head and full body clothing or African clothing.

The men and the women are directed to separate areas. The women sit on one side of the room with the bride-to-be and the men are on the other side with the groom-to-be. This was very interesting to me because I wonder how they connect. I soon found out. I was allowed to travel between the two rooms.

Upon the bride’s arrival she was ushered into a room for final touches before joining her guests. She is dressed in traditional white with head covering. Her mom and mother-in-law as well as other women assisted her. And believe me she acted just as any other bride would on their wedding day, Holla!

The groom-to-be enters with all the other men who greet him in love and wish him well. He is dressed in white and silver African grab. In addition, I need to share this, Muhibb showed much joy and it touched us all.

As we waited to get started, the guest began to arrive former Mayor Marvin Pratt and his son Michael Pratt, nationally renowned poets TA Muumba, Soul Colby, Allen McDougall and the Maestro Poet and story teller Teju Ologboni.

Not knowing how the ceremony was going to take place with the bride and groom being separated, I was directed to the President Nasirullah Ahaplad of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam, Milwaukee Chapter who was to perform the ceremony. Of course, my first question was why are the men and women separated and how do they wed.

He shared with me that the men and women are separated only in the presence of guests. Islam is a religion of righteousness and a very practical religion where Allah helps in all. The men and women are separated for their own protection God knows all human weakness. This is the way to reduce many of those temptations. He further states, "you will not see alcohol because we consider it a drug."

Many more guests have arrived Alderman Mike McGee Jr., Kwabena Nixon, Courtney Martin, Congresswoman Gwen Moore and her sons, Jason Booth, Hip-Hop Queen Michelle Allison, Kia Ali, Simon Warren, Muhammad and Hanisfa Sabir and sons Manaan Sabir and Chris Cooksey the whole family are Kempo Gojo (Black Belts)--they are some of the best in the nation. Also attending was Abdunnoor Karim who is a petty officer in the U.S. Navy, Lavelle Muhammad and Mr. Wonderful (Gee of Gee’s Clippers).

The ceremony begins as both men and women take off their shoes and enter their perspective places. On the side with the women, the bride is escorted in by her mom Patricia Liddell, mother-in-law Annissa Walid and sister-in-law Deadra Richelle, she is seated under an archway with flowers and the family of women are seated to the left and right of her. A big screen television shows the other side where the men are.

The men also remove their shoes and a prayer rug is spread across the room.

The men pray before the ceremony then all the men, including Muhibb’s stepfather Khalid Walid and his brother Michael Dyer, enter and sit on the floor with Muhibb sitting in the middle. The president begins the ceremony, which he explains is very simple.

The room was filled with voices saying Sulum, which means peace be upon you. President Nasirullah Ahaplad called upon Allah for his blessings in Arabic.

He cites marriage is about responsibility. "God has bound together a garment and exalted the man in kindness to your wife. The best behavior is the behavior; it is in how you treat your wife. Be good to women for God has given her to you. He who is good to his wife and children is the best. And prayer is the key to paradise."

This is the first time two young people of this Mosque have morally, mentally and spiritually brought their lives together. Looking for Allah for help and support. There must be understanding and a coming together on morals.

President Nasirullah Ahaplad goes on to interpret and give clarity to a few of the verses in the Koran, on how he must treat her and vice versa. Both must conduct themselves in an honorable and righteous fashion and follow the religious tenets that governs relationships between man and woman and the course that Allah has set for the couple.

Here is where the groom is asked if he and the bride-to-be having agreed upon a Dauviries, a Dauvirie is the amount of money the groom and bride agree upon that he must pay to her family for her hand. Muhibb paid $10,000 to her family. The bride and groom must agree upon the amount, the decision is based on what the bride sees as her value and they both must agree.

President Nasirullah Ahaplad then asked the groom, "has there been an offer?" Muhibb says, "yes, this is what I offer." Then the men of her family--her-step father Harold Simon (who stood in for her father William Allen) and her brothers Paul and Chris Allen--stand for her and accepted the Dauvirie of $10,000. Tonia is watching from the other room as her family accepts the offer and the president officially announces them husband and wife. He then asks all the men to put their hands in the air and pray for the newly married couple. You hear chants of joy, from the new husband congratulations fills the air. On the other side, the women surround the wife and fill her with hugs and good wishes.

A fellowship follows the ceremony of course; in separate rooms as the guests celebrate the new husband and wife. Muhibb was grinning like a chess cat--you could feel his joy radiating throughout the room--and he was barefooted.

The couple are now brought together to thank their guests and receive their well wishes. Pictures were taken, and the couple was whisked off to the site of their reception at Wisconsin Black Historical Society where the party began, and the husband and wife said in union "May Allah continue to bless all of you..."

My mind was just thinking and it said...

I-Witness, I watch the "O’Reilly Factor" with host Bill O’Reilly on the Fox News cable station every night. I find it to be an interesting show. I like hearing all sides of issues on all the shows. O’Reilly speaks his mind on numerous subjects; besides it’s a relief from watching the local talk show hosts here.

I-Witness, I believe everyone has a right to speak their opinions and we have the right to influence folks to our way of thinking if we can no matter who you are in America. However, those of us who are in the media have a higher responsibility than most folks.

We must be responsible in the messages that we put out to people. (One of my favorite people, Gaulien Smith [Gee’s Clippers] told me: "God would hold us in the public light to a higher accountability" ... and he is right.)

On Monday, July 24, Bill O’Reilly did a segment of his show regarding Professor Kevin Barrett at UW-Madison, who is teaching Islam to students, stated this professor will teach students that our government was responsible for 911; it was not a terrorist act.

The professor has outraged many Americans with his theory to the point that they want him removed. So far, it has been without success.

Most of the powers that be at the university feel it is important to have different viewpoints for students to preview to come to their own conclusions about things.

Now you can believe whatever you want to believe and it is a horrible thought to think that our government would do such a thing but in America, we can have opinions if we choose to.

The professor sent a letter to O’Reilly’s boss in response to his statement stating that O’Reilly said he should be killed and he did not appreciate it.

Well on that day, O’Reilly did go over board and showed great irresponsibility in the way he displayed his displeasure at the university’s refusal to fire the professor.

He stated that if the professor were in Boston he would be floating in the Boston River, which to me suggests that he was saying in Boston the professor would be killed for having such thoughts and raising such questions.

The day we start wanting folks dead for having opinions and verbalizing them perhaps, we need to start questioning who the real terrorist is.

O’Reilly you know, Hitler killed folks for having an opinion different than his and just imagine had he won. Why you wouldn’t even have an opinion and could not opine? So, let us not advocate murder for folks who have a different opinion than yours.

After watching the movie "Wag the Dog’s Tail" the cover up on Agent Orange, the killings of Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X etc., it’s easy for Americans to believe our government can do a lot of dishonest things and then cover it up and not just under the Bush Administration, either.

No matter what the problems or what we think of her, America is still the greatest country on earth, where Americans can have voice and opinions without reprisals and you don’t have to agree with everyone.

Shame on you Bill O’Reilly, you and Fox News owe the professor an apology for threatening his life, you need to correct it now; that was very irresponsible.

I-Witness, I usually do not get into White folk’s fights, but when folks advocate murder because they differ in opinion with someone denying liberty to one can injure us all.

In other words, when no one says anything about the power of suggestion to suppress and silencing one’s voice and opinions by the suggestion of murder, we all need to be concerned it could be you or me, next.

Freedom of Speech is a virtue. Say nothing and we can all be slaves again.

My mind was just thinking and it said enough said...

It’s yo’ Birthday, It’s yo’ Birthday!

Lelah Huntley (center) was havin’ a good time at Questions Nite Club. And why shouldn’t she! It was her birthday party! A host of friends and family came out to help Huntley celebrate. (photo by Barbara White)

Okay it is my favorite club upon my arrival I am greeted nicely then told he is in there. I smile as I continue my stroll into one of my favorite places to be Question’s Night Club where I can see Tooty who is fine for no reason, Holla! However, tonight I am going to look at Tooty and party with Lelah Huntley of Mi’Le Productions at her Big Birthday Bash.

It was really nice, balloons everywhere. On the bar were Tanqueray mints, little booklets with your horoscope and the Tanqueray Girls in green and white with samples of Tanqueray and orange juice, Tanqueray and pineapple juice and Tanqueray and cranberry juice--each with neon flashing stir. I loved the touch.

Donovan was the Tanqueray guy and Tooty; well he was just fine for no reason. DJ Kaos was rockin’ a packed house. It was a party in there.

Hip-Hop Queens Michelle Allison and Tanya Whitaker, nationally renown poets Kwabena A. Nixon, Muhibb Dyer and Black art Maestro Simon Warren were in the house.

Donovan has made I-Witness an H-bomb and it had me singing, "I’m a bad, bad..." well y’all know the rest, Holla! Donovan had me partyin’, it is wild up in there. Okay my sistas Donovan is handsome.

Lelah is going around greeting her guest as DJ Kaos is tearin’ the roof off the mutha. It is a party in there y’all. Kendra Hill, Adi Armour of Creative Impressions, Joe Johnson who has one of the most beautiful smiles, a girl could get lost in it, Holla!

Sahara Redd of Houston, Texas was in town out celebrating with her brother Henry Redd and then there was Daniel Beard who has a body that makes you say mmmmm. Okay my sistas I know you get the message. Most guys have a six-pack, he has a full eight-pack and it’s tight, Holla!

I love watching the young professionals when they are out using their ATM cards ordering up some stuff.

Lelah is partyin’ and she has I-Witness on the floor doing "Meet Me In The Park It’s Going Down..." I think I am getting good at this dance I love it!

My nieces, NiNi Reed and Myisha White, are here. Nini and I are on the floor doing meet me in the park it’ going down, it is wild in there y’all I love it!

Oh, here is Mr. Wonderful (Gee of Gee’s Clippers) y’all know he is my favorite and he was doing his thang.

Okay, y’all ready for this Omire Jackson of Mi’le Production and I have poet Kwabena in a sandwich and he is holding his own, but y’all know we are handling him, Holla! Hip-Hop Queen Michelle well y’all know she stays busy--the young guys love her, Holla!

Okay by now y’all have discovered I think it’s my birthday too. I think all the bartenders, Marlene Staples, Marquis Leflore and Donovan think it is their birthday too. It’s a party in there.

There is a nice spread the jerk chicken wings were good and Marlene made some of the best Macaroni and Cheese.

The Neo-soul group Growing Nation brought Lelah up front and serenaded her with a birthday song as the crowd cheered them on.

Oh I-Witness has to dance some more this time with Kia Ali. Hey, y’all I feel like a dance and a sex machine, I came in here 35, now I beginning to feel 25, Holla!

Folks are everywhere having a wonderful time celebrating our girl, Lelah who is now on the VIP stage dancing with all of her guest having a party. I loved it! Oh yes Devon Reid is in the house and I want all my sistas to know he is cute!

Hey, Lelah I had such a good time I thought it was my birthday too, and so did Donovan, Kwabean, Mr. Wonderful (Gee), Michelle, Marlene, Mimi, Kia and Tooty well you know he was just being fine for no reason, Holla! Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday cannot wait until the next one, so meet me in the park so we can make it go down same time next year, Holla!

Hot Fun in the Summer Time

Gin and juice it’s got me loose it got me accused of something I didn’t do... that was the Blues y’all that filled the air at the Ninth Annual Garfield Avenue Blues, Jazz, Gospel and Arts Festival. This is a special festival to me because I-Witness was its first coordinator and I set the fun-filled family oriented tone for this festival. In addition, it was meant for folks to just come together and have a good time right here in their own community and boy did folks have a good time at the festival.

Tom Jacobson, Andre’ Lee Ellis and the board of directors has continued to do a great job of keeping the festival a family oriented and fun-filled day, it is the best street festival in the city and I salute you.

The festival opened with a New Orleans-style parade starting from Walnut Street to the festival site.

There was a children’s area where the children got their faces painted or danced at the Disney Radio stage to "The Cha, Cha" and "YMCA." Kim Davis was getting her groove on with the little kiddies too of course, she thought no one saw her as she danced to "YMCA," I loved it!

There were so many folks there , like former Alderwoman Marlene Johnson who lives in Phoenix, Arizona now, Joyce Lemons of Subway Sub Sandwiches. Eric Bucanhan, Robert Neylon, and all of my favorite bartenders Donovan, Marlene, Devon and Tooty who is just fine for no reason from Question’s Night Club were there and one of my favorites KG (Keith Franklin).

There was corn on the cob, Bar B Q, turkey legs, real fruit smoothies, and that JaStacy’s Restaurant catfish was the bomb. KG and the Gospel spent more than a $100 on catfish at the JaStacy’s site. The other place that had the good catfish was the Duckworth Family Reunion Billy Robertson and Terry Berry and family was putting out the catfish and corn beef.

Savoy’s Night Club had broasted chicken and it was good. My good friend John and Iris Neal had the beef nachos and Debbie Jo’s Catering well you know she had the chicken wings and the hot water corn bread, my favorites.

There were so many folks walking, talking and literally dancing in the streets. So many that I can’t name them all, but there was: Pastor Lovelace Redmond of Christ Faith Fellowship Church, Anita Johnson of Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Harrison and Shirley Harrison, all of my Hip-Hop queens were there Michelle, Tanya, Catina. Additionally, all the bars and clubs in the city were represented Gene from Gene’s Supper Club, Devon Reid of Question’s.

My good friend Tony Fikes fed me cherries and Harrison D. Kern fed me peaches, y’all know I was in heaven, Holla! Michelle Redd of Redd Snapper, Attorney Betty Rodgers, Retired Milwaukee Police Deputy Inspector who is now the Chief of Security at Miller Park and Reuben Harpole who has just completed his forward in the new book about the Bronzeville area.

There were palm readers, Ko-Thi, Clowns, ancestor’s puppet arts and crafts and a host of others things it was too much to do see and eat, Holla!

There were four stages of entertainment, the Seder Family Foundation Jazz stage where Norrie Cox, and the Maestro Berkley Fudge featuring Ms. Adekola Adedapo.

Jack and Lucy Rosenberg and Jammin’ 98.3 FM were the mainstage, Andrea Williams was the mistress of ceremonies. They featured the opening ceremonies and Gospel singer Rodney Cunningham, Gospel choirs, the Clinton Rose Rosette Dancers featuring Singer David Skinner, the Davis Family singers, youth talent show winners and the Gospel Group the Clara Ward Singers.

The Jacobson and Schrinsky Law Office and the Boobies Blues Stage featured Darnell Kimble and Starfire, the Misfits and Jim Liban and Jon Paris. I-Witness was there for a bit. Jim and Jon had folks literally dancing the streets with walkers, canes and everything they rocked it!

I moved on back up to one of my favorite person KG who knows everybody in the city. Here we are doing catfish again. KG owns KG Financial a mortgage company.

I finally moved on over to the 98.3 FM Stage where they was featuring one of Milwaukee’s hottest show bands Duchie Rogers and Black Earth Plus. I want to say this: there is no better entertainers than many of the ones we have in Milwaukee, Duchie Rodgers, Jeannie Holiday, Berkley Fudge ... I will put them up against any national act you bring into this city. They have paid their dues and they are real entertainers, not performers as we get today. African World Festival take this as a hint. I did not see them in your line up. Duchie had 5th and Garfield rollin’. Folks were partyin’ including yours truly.

They call Duchie the Barry White--well I think he is Lou Rawls and many of the greats--and if you all have not seen him do Frank Sinatra you are missing a treat because he can out do Ol’ Blue Eyes.

Duchie had the crowd of hundreds rockin’. He rolled them the way he wanted featuring his entire band in different solos of Aretha Franklin, Earth Wind and Fire, you name it. The crowds hollered: "go Duchie, go Duchie." as he gave them all the best he had, I loved it! It was a party on 5th and Garfield the homeowners had their own party on their porches.

The Garfield Festival is still the best street festival in the city of Milwaukee congratulations!