"Milwaukee Community Journal" Publisher Patricia O’Flynn Pattillo congratulates and praises the 2006 Terence N. Thomas Scholarship winners during the newspaper’s 30th Anniversary Celebration Sunday. (photo by Harry Kemp)

 

by B. White
Holla!
Two hundred fifty-one thousand (251,500) down 6,400 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, 6,400 Black people to go and I-Witness and the "Milwaukee Community Journal" will have touched over 253,000 Black families in Milwaukee.

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

"Attention!"

The Million Father’s March is asking all fathers to take their sons to school on the first day of school. I-Witness thinks it is a wonderful idea.

Many fathers across the nation will take off work for a few hours to put their sons in new directions, Moms it is a good idea for the men to go to school with their daughters on the first day also.

It brings them to a completely new level of looking at education. Keep building strong families and advancing that next generation, I love it! Salute to you Million Father’s March organizers.

Holla-Outs

To: Model Sheena Luckett better known as Ms. G.G.

To: Rapper Ms. Teeze who recently returned from St. Louis and Tennessee where she opened for the New BarKays and is now headed for Atlanta.

To: Jimmy Evans Hey how you doing saw your daughter, Linda Rogers; I told her to tell you Holla!

To: The Rev. George Selris and the Rev. Apostle Jones of True Van Church C.O.G.I.C. Just Hollering at you.

 

Birthday Holla-Outs

To: WMCS 1290 Blues Master Phil Anderson, Happy Birthday Baby, you shoouu look good to me, Happy Birthday Baby you shouu look to me wishing you a great day with many more to come yo’ way. Happy Birthday, Phil just thought I would blues you a bit, Holla!

To: Paul Malone Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday from your favorite babysitter, Holla!

Okay y’all I have to really sing Happy Birthday and now I finally get it from all ends almost everybody at the "Community Journal" is a Leo.

Our publisher Patricia Pattillo, Thomas Mitchell, Jr., Kia Cook, Yvonne Kemp and Josephine Joki. Just imagine a Capricorn with all these Leos, I am really butting my head against the wall, Holla!

However, seeing how you are some of my favorite people I need to Holla-Out at you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday. Have a wonderful Day love ya!

To: Adrian Brown-Swift who is also a breast cancer survivor, sending you a big Happy Birthday Adrian. Adrian encourages all of you to go have a breast exam. Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday.

To: Dontrell Badger who will be entering high school. Hey, Dontrell your dad Richard said that he is coming to make your first day wonderful. Keep advancing that next generation, I love it!

Pssssst

My sistas it’s being rumored again that we are about to lose another one, psssst Terry Love of WJZI 93.3 is about to be taken off the market. I do not know who she is yet so maybe we still have hope, Holla!

Mike Miller--"I Got So Much To Give"

Richard Badger--"Take Your Time"

Elmer Valentine--"If You Don’t Know Me By Now"

Dr. Lamar (Spiderman) Lamores--"You’ll Never Find Another Love" and "I Found A Love"

WMCS 1290’s Phil Anderson--"This Magic Moment"

Hayward Cruise--"Got To Be Real"

Charlie B. Bobbitt--"Secret Lovers"

Kelly Macon--"Always and Forever"

"Milwaukee Community Journal" honoree Reuben Harpole. (photo by Harry Kemp)

 

It’s a celebration of 50 years

(photo by B. White

Elbert and Everjean Jackson celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary at the Wisconsin African American Women’s Center and boy was it a party.

Their four daughters Dorothy Everette, Loretta and Aretha Jackson, Daisy Wright and Pauline McCoy threw the big bash for their parents.

Elbert and Everjean now live in Columbus, Georgia and their daughters brought them back to Milwaukee to celebrate their golden day.

Elbert retired from the city of Milwaukee after 25 years and Everjean worked at Marquette Electronics now GE. They married when they were teenagers he 18 and she 15 they have sprung four generations since the day they united.

Friends and family traveled from all across the country to partake in the big day, Mississippi, Illinois, California, Florida, Michigan, Indiana and Tennessee. Their siblings are Earshline Hodges--Columbus, Georgia; Dora Burks--Redmond, Mississippi; Claudette Haggard--Vicksburg, Mississippi; Letida Smith, Leo Williams, Shirley McCoy, Catherine Barnes, Lemonia Williams, Nick Williams, all of Milwaukee.

I will tell y’all I have not been around family that have partied, loved and had so much fun in a while. They were having a good time up in there.

The couple, as well as their daughters, love fishing so all the tables had centerpieces with gold fish in them, I loved it!

Elbert I could tell loves to dance, he got I-Witness, and as he did his thang the hall started chanting "go Elbert, go Elbert," he was having a ball.

Mike Hightower Productions provided music.

Of course, I had to ask the question, how did it last this long--50 years.

Everjean said, "I want you to know it was not easy. I was the mean one and he was the easy one." Elbert said, "when it got tough I would just leave for a bit, but I always came back."

I ask what you would say to young people today who are contemplating marriage. Everjean: "Do not jump into marriage unless you are sure. Arguments, they happen. If they do wrong tell, them and the two of you keep on moving."

Elbert stated, "stay away from them little cigarettes." (Weed)

There was a nice spread and they were served on China.

They both say they love retirement and fishing. Y’all let me say they partied up in there. Elbert had all his granddaughters and they had him in a circle. There was the Soul Train Line, stepping, you get the idea they partee!

Hey, Elbert and Everjean, I do not know if I will know what it will feel like to be devoted to one person for 50 years but if I need to know, I want to be just like you two. Congratulations on your Golden Day wishing you 50 more years of true bliss.

The Back Packs

(photo by B. White)

Governor and Mrs. Doyle joined Milwaukee County Supervisor Elizabeth Coggs-Jones and two festivalgoers at the MLK Back-to-School Festival. (photo by Barbara White)

Thousands turned out for the 12th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Back to School Festival in honor of Kara Muhammad a past King Advisory Committee Member who recently passed. This year’s theme "Education is the Dream Fulfilled."

More than 6,500 book bags with supplies were distributed to give kids a healthy start on their first day of school. And it was not school that many of the children had on their mind, I do believe on their minds were focused on clowns, arts and crafts, balloon jumping, food and drinks, music, dance and out right fun.

The "Back to School Festival" is the brainchild of County Supervisor Beth Coggs-Jones who saw a need in her district to help children whose parents were having a difficult time getting their children prepared to learn.

Thus, the King Advisory Committee was formed at first with family and friends as volunteers and one it has grown to where the whole community comes to assist now.

It is a child focused festival but it even has something for the child in you.

I sat and enjoyed the gospel groups like Christian Soul, a male quartet who rocked the park they had every sanctified out there as they sang "By the Grace of God," I loved it!

There were the praise dancers, the Wisconsin State Choir that really did some good things with the children and then there were the Gladney Singer who sang "Down in the Valley and they heard Jesus calling them." They rocked it; they are bad.

I want to give out a Holla! to all the volunteers. Being a former volunteer of the festival, I know how hard you work to bring the good things to the children in our community and I-Witness salutes you. In addition, a special Holla-Out to Kamilah Craig a soldier in the U.S. Army station in Ft. Jackson, Virginia and was home on leave and wanted to do some good stuff, I love it!

Both 98.3 and 860 radio stations were in the park. D. Rock hosted the talent stage, this is where you found all the teens and they had some pretty good talent this year. Rapper Ms. Teeze was checking out the talent there. Mississippi Otis had that corn going. I only had two pieces, and you know it was good.

Governor and Mrs. Doyle addressed many of the festivalgoers as well as Supervisor Coggs-Jones. He thanked her for her vision.

Okay I-Witness is a bit hungry now so I went to hang out with the Master Chefs Raymond Jones, Quincy Johnson, Garland Murray Jr. and cooks Ezekil Averhart, Billy Bullocks, Eric Young and Bobby Brown, no Whitney was not there, Holla! Again, these guys volunteer their time starting at 6 a.m. on the day of the festival.

In addition, I want you to know they make some of the best brats and chicken wings.

Meeting me in the park throwing down was Barbara Sprewer, County Supervisor Toni Clark who was doing our favorite sport (Guy Watching), brother/sister team Percy Dorsey and Martha Love and a host of others.

Hey Beth and King Advisory Committee just want to say y’all know I think you’re special it takes compassionate people to do what you do, love children and I just want to say I love the way you do the things you do. Keep doing the good things.

A mother, a son, a life continues

Paulette Smith has continued the life of her son Stacy (Ace) Smith through what he loved most his car. She hosted the Second Annual Ace ‘M Up Car Show Day on 4th and Juneau, downtown. Ace was a member with the Unique Car Club.

Stacy (Ace) Smith was murdered on the streets after being asked for his car. He did not know his assailants Anthony Jones and Allen Butler who were ultimately apprehended.

Ace worked at St Joseph’s Hospital as a valet and he owned a car wash.

Smith says of her son: "he was a good person, he loved cars and he built his car from scratch, he was so proud of it."

She continued: "I have become involved in the things my son loved because there were so many things he wanted to do that he did not get a chance to finish. Therefore, I am going to complete them for him.

I have taken over the car wash and all his other dreams. It is a consciousness about his life, how he lived and how he was a down to earth and good person. "Ace ‘M Up celebrates the life of the young Black man and his car and I dig it. There are over fifty cars here.

She continues: "there are only a few Black males who do the shooting in our community. I want to show the world through Ace’s life that we are not animals we are human beings. My son got a life sentence and young men who choose this road of life must be purged out of our community.

"Look at what one man’s life has done. (As she points to all the folks there.) The young people cruising, many are like my son they just loving their cars.

"They are collectors and you would not get other races of folks to come to our neighborhoods where they can show them off but they will come downtown." (There were several White fathers and their sons as well as other races that came to check out the cars.)

Dr. Ahamed Mbalia as well as Penny McGee attended.

While there were cars to view there was also plenty of festival foods like catfish, chicken, corn, you name it.

There were games and contest for the children and entertainment. D.J. Spider of Jordan Productions was rocking the streets as numerous local artist took to the stage like, Black Yard Zulu Nation who rocked the crowds, "Everyone put their finger in the air for God to stop the killings, stop the war, when I say Mil, you say town, Mil--- Town, stop the wicked killings on these streets, is this kilwaukee or Milwaukee, these streets make me feel like I’m living in a body bag, say stop the killings, stop the war, no more killings save the youth, stop the killings, stop self-destruction killing mankind, hold your finger up to the most high and if you are raising your children say oh yeah, stop the killings."

The special guest was Ol’ School Rapper Slick Rick from New York, he is known for "Lottie Dottie," "The Show" and "Children’s Stories." He said he flew in for the car show.

Snooky Avery, owner of Marjani Clothing on 60th and North Avenue was a sponsor and he flew in from Las Vegas to attend the car show.

Smith says Ace was about love and his car and I would rather celebrate Black men and their cars and listening to their music than to attend another home-going. (Funeral)

She thanks Alderman Michael McGee for all the assistance he has given her and his love for young people. I dig it.

As I was leaving one of the singers was filling the air with the gospel song "God ain’t brought us this far to leave us now." I am sure Paulette Smith heard it for she told me it was about a consciousness, love and what one man’s life can do.

So, we thank you Paulette for understanding and allowing your son Ace to love his car. He should not have had to die because of it, but his life has left us with a color of the rainbow which has brought other young Black men together in good spirits in Ace’s memory to have fun and freely love their cars. Keep doing the good things, I love it!

Hero’s Salute

This week WISN 12 News Weekend Anchor DeMarco Morgan will receive the "Journalist of the Year Award" presented annually by the National Association of Black Journalist (NABJ). Renee Syler anchor of the "CBS Early Morning Show," Al Roker of the "NBC Today Show" will be a part of ceremonies for DeMarco in Indianapolis, Indiana.

All of you know DeMarco, the "Distinguish Gentleman" as I call him, is one of my favorite guys, and I tell you I am as excited for him as he is. DeMarco is a very talented and wonderful young man who lives by the strong traditions of reaching back and lifting up. He is truly humbled by all the goodness the Creator has blessed him with, you can see this in his walk, hear it in his voice and cannot help but giggle with him when you see it in his infectious smile.

While he is seen weekly on "WISN 12 News," his presence is equally felt throughout this community where he works with our youth doing his part to make our community and the world a better place for all humankind.

He has a gifted way of educating me, as a writer, I have appreciated him being in my life, he has encouraged and inspired me to continue to be the best that I can be and I thank you for that, DeMarco.

DeMarco, I as well as many of your friends wish you the best, this award reflects only a fraction of your hard work and is only a stepping-stone to the good things that are still yet to come. If we could sing you a song that reflects your spirit it would go like this, "This little light of mine I’m gonna let it shine, This little light of mine I’m gonna let it shine yeah, This little light of mine I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine to show my love."

"Everywhere I go, I’m going to let it shine,

"Everywhere I go I’m going to let it shine, let it shine yeah, everywhere I go I’m going to let it shine, let it shine, to show my love."

DeMarco, you know you are my hero and I am so proud of you. Congratulations Boo the Universe is yours baby dance in it, dance ... Love Ya!

WMCS 1290 Blues Breakfast

WMCS 1290 hosted its Blues Breakfast at the All-star Sport Bar. Larry Whatley is the owner and another North Division graduate. Y’all know every Saturday I turn on Phil Anderson and it is my day with the blues.

Phil is so bad--he plays the stuff that makes you clean the whole house and wash all the clothes.

Many folks get through for the breakfast buffet, they had, chicken, bacon, sausage, eggs, grits, rice, an array with real fresh fruit and I loved that.

Phil is playing that music y’all and making me feel like I ain’t got no bones. Chris Levy, Mary Shaw, Charlie B., Sam Johnson, WMCS Sales Representative Kelly Macon and a host of others are in the house.

There were drawings every hour and folks won some decent stuff.

The Blues Breakfast is hosted by WMCS 1290 at various businesses throughout the city so stop by and have Phil play you some of that down home blues.

Correction: In the "I-Witness" column, in a story titled, "A Poets Haven" (August 2, 2006 edition of the "Community Journal") we identified Dan Vaughn, who received an award for his contributions to the city’s poetry scene during "Poetry Unplugged All-Star Line-Up" at the Onyx Night Club, as being the husband of Angela Adams, the executive director of African World Festival. That information was incorrect. Ms. Adams is the wife of Ron Adams who is well known in the spoken word community as "The Voice" and is a good friend of Vaughn. The "Community Journal" apologizes for any inconvenience to our readers, Vaughn and the Adams.