by B. White

Holla!
One hundred twenty-three thousand, five hundred (123,500) down 117,500 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 ---

Thoughts for the Week

There will come a time when you believe everything is finished and that will be the beginning...

Holla-Outs

Hey, Robert Goodlow, oh I mean Chicken man, Holla! I heard you are a big time I-Witness reader, thank you. You know I love that, Holla!

Congratulations

Is there a doctor in the house? Hey Sabir Muhammad, I hear I can call you "Doctor" now that you just received you PhD from the Educational Curriculum Instruction Department at UW-Milwaukee with your thesis presentation "Teachers Burn Out." Let me say it: "Dr. Sabir Muhammad." It has a ring to me; I love it, congratulations!

Sidney Brown Softball League

The Season has ended for softball lovers and Rose Park Porkie’s Lounge are the league champions with Groovin Inn finishing second and Promises Lounge placing third. You go Porkies!

Last week Zanzibar Lounge Men’s Sunday Pool League knocked off People’s Lounge. But this past Sunday, People’s Lounge made a come back ripping Zanzibar, so they are both 1-1 stay tuned.
Happy Birthday
Hey, Phyllis Spence! It’s yo Birthday, Happy Birthday!

Hey, Rev. Vertram S. Gregg, past presiding elder pastor of St. Mathews CME Church. I heard you celebrated a big birthday, 99 years old, and all you friends threw you a big shindig. Hey, when I grow up, I want to be just like you, Happy Birthday!
In Our Prayers
Brian Pickens, a Wauwatosa West High School Junior aspiring to attend the University of Miami in the Electrical Engineering program, was admitted into Children's Hospital of Wisconsin's pediatric Intensive Care Unit suffering from heart failure with no known cause or family history.

Brian’s hospital stay was for five weeks. He remains under the doctor’s care as he waits to get on the list for a new heart.

Brian’s first symptoms were believed to be distress associated with asthma. Three weeks later, he was admitted to the hospital and properly diagnosed with heart failure. Many in the community have come together to show the young man some love on October 6, Miracles & Blessings a non-profit based organization will host a charity event at the Mary Ryan's Boys & Girls Club 1-6 p.m. as part of an heart awareness campaign and charity event for Brian. Activities to include entertainment, auction, raffle drawings and celebrity appearances. Let us keep Brian in our prayers and support this young man and his family. Our prayers are with you Brian.

Condolences

To the family of Dolores Gauthier, our prayers are with you.

Oprah has put her money where her mouth is and she is showing that Bill Clinton is not the Black president of Black people. Even though all the mainstream media is pushing Clinton now over his wife who is supposed to be running for president.

It just goes to show you how this country works. These same folks have beat Bill Clinton like he stole something, (Some say he did) but now that a Black man, Obama, is in the race, white people want Bill to save them now from Black people, I love it! I would not want to be Bill or Hilary running up against two strong, educated, articulate, smart Black women like Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey. If I were them, I would rather suit up and go fight in Iraq, because its gon’ be one.

I applaud Oprah for stepping out and saying, I am the American Dream and I am going to fight for it so that others will continue to have the opportunities America has provided me inspite of herself. Hey, Oprah I never really knew the actions of a spook now I understand it, Holla!

Oprah you have followed the lead of many like Harriet Tubman, Paul Roberson, Aretha Franklin, Harry Belafonte', Ossie and Ruby Davis, Ray Charles, the Last Poets, Stevie Wonder and James Brown; the people who dared to try to make a difference in the world. Moreover, all they ever wanted was to be treated as a human being doing their part to make the world a better place.

Well Oprah, you have I-Witness' vote and any support I can give along with some of my friends who believe in freedom. Asante' Sana (Thank You) for practicing democracy, for democracy requires participation and it only works when one participates.

Associated Press

Megan Williams of Charleston went to hang out with friends. Megan is African American and her friends were all White. She went with them to a home where she was beaten, stabbed, choked, tortured and sexually assaulted by six people for a week often threaten with death. She was also called the N-word as well.

Her injuries were so severe that she had to have surgery and remains in the hospital. Six Chapmanville, West Virginia residents have been arrested and charged with kidnapping, torture and sexual assault. They are being held on $100,000 bail.

The two friends that Megan went to the house with have not been found.

It is believed that her two friends took Megan to the house for the sole purpose to be tortured perhaps even killed. Police found Megan on a tip they received of a girl being held against her will. Megan's mom Carmen states her daughter is mentally challenged. It is interesting the six have not been charged with a hate crime.

O.J. Simpson Strikes Again

Okay y'all let us remember that a person is presumed innocent until found guilty, but, here it goes again...Will O.J. Simpson be able to get a fair trial? Simpson was arrested over the weekend and charged with allegedly leading a group of his friends, who were armed, to reclaim personal possessions that he says had been stolen from him. The Heisman Trophy winner is facing seven felony counts from breaking and entering to robbery and armed robbery.

I am not a supporter of O.J. but I am a supporter of the constitution and due process as stated by the constitution. If O.J. did these things let's let him have his day in court.

All weekend on every news channel, talk show and print media O.J. was the discussion, alleged tape recordings and video clips could be seen and heard of O.J. along with alleged armed robbers demanding his things.
White people all over the world, were chopping their lips, rejoicing saying, we finally got him.

Many of you can recall O. J. being a Heisman Trophy winner and hall of famer with a grand career in the NFL. But what he is most noted for is being found not guilty in a double murder where race all over this country became the issue and where folks found out how broke our justice system really is. Perhaps, we are about to see it again.

Whether or not O.J. is guilty, he is being singled out and already being treated different under the law. If he is guilty boy is he stupid, why do we always helped them out.

Needless to say as citizens who believe in the constitution, we must ensure that O.J. gets a fair trial. It is not in the best interest of justice to allow revenge trials, or better yet a lynchings. We, as citizens, must all speak out for fairness here. Justice must be blind.

Ride for Charity

Michael Mayo (center) stands in front of the motorcycle as they prepare to take off for the first annual Ride for Charity Poker Run. (Lower photo) Motorcycle club members are all smiles (photos are by Barbara White)

The first annual Ride for Charity Poker Run hosted by County Supervisor Michael Mayo hit the Lakefront where the sun shined bright and the flies bit every body even if you were not on a bike, Holla!

The Supervisor wanted to help two entities in our community the Wisconsin Black Holocaust Museum and the National Association for Black Veterans, Inc. NABVETS.

Okay y'all I-Witness had to rise with the birds for the ride because it took place at 7:30 a.m. I must admit that it was great being on the lake at that time of the morning; it was God’s Country.

Mayo and his volunteers Albert Keal, Carrie Mayo, Judy Reed, Corry Joe Biddle of the Wisconsin Black Holocaust Museum and his wife Ellease Mayo were there enjoying the rising sun and glistering ripples of water assailing a top of the lake.

The ride would begin at the War Memorial, then to America’s Black Holocaust Museum, the HLMC Club, Tap Whatever, the National Association of Black Veterans, the Milwaukee County Zoo, Sherman Perk (the Coffee House) finishing at Bradley’s on Bradley Road. Each stop hosted a special activity. At five stops, each motorcyclist is given a card from a deck. After each has collected all five cards, they turned them in at the final destination to see who has the best poker hand to win prizes.

The riders clubs that participated were Hell Lovers, #1 Stunnas, Buffalo Soldiers, the Dirty Dozen NABVETS, Night Owls, Dakameleons and other independent riders.

Okay so I-Witness did not go to all of the places but I caught up with them at the new supper club and entertainment complex called Bradley on Bradley Road, it is a real nice place; Louis Anyanwu is the owner.

There was a nice lunch waiting for every one as they dined and listening to the sounds of one of I-Witness' favorites Duchie Rodgers and Black Earth Plus. They were rocking the place.

Okay y'all I love the names of the riders. There names will have you rollin' on the floor: Star Ship, Witch Doctor, Legend, claim jumper, Dr. Zero, these are hilarious.

Supervisor Mayo began to call off the winners of the poker hand, Dr. Zero had the best hand with three of a kind, and he won the big stuff a Harley jacket, clock and shirt. Quiet Boy, had two pair 5s and Queens and he won a Harley shirt and scarf, Mack had a pair 6s and won a Harley shirt, and John Morgan won a piggy bank Harley Helmet and a phone book with a pair of 3s.

Mayo thanked all for coming as he called up Mike Beal representing NABVETS as he thanked and gave a salute to all our soldiers both here and aboard. Reggie Jackson of America’s Black Holocaust Museum presented them a check from the ride. Each of the two representatives thanked Mayo. Moreover, the party continued.

Hey, Michael, nice first run. I salute you for wanting to support our vets who are putting it on the line for all of us and for supporting America's Black Holocaust Museum that keeps our history alive. I had a good time and cannot wait until next year so you can make sure I ride, Holla!

P.S. for all of you who have not checked out Bradley on Bradley Road, check it out; it is really nice. All those events y'all host in those small rooms downtown, you can now go there.

Love in Action

Thirty-seven years ago, a woman and her daughter decided to love children here in Milwaukee. So, they started to provide games for them at their home feed them and give them old fashion love. Thirty-seven years later, the legacy of a mother and her daughter still lives on in the lives of many.

It was Claretta (Mother Freedom) Simpson and Commissioner Jeanetta Robinson who opened their home to poor neighborhood children nearly four decades ago. The need for love and care became so great that the mother and daughter had to expand with the help of the community who believed in their good works.

Career Youth Development (CYD) was born with a mission to empower the social-economically poor and disadvantage youth whose very existence is threaten daily. CYD has grown from just being a lover of children to becoming a hand up for families to empower themselves toward their fullest potential with a better future for them and their families.

CYD still offers after school programming, but they also have a school, job training, character building, drug treatment programs physical and mental health services; and yes, of course, they still do it with such dignity and give lots of love.

Over the years CYD has found a way to say thank you to all that have supported them with an awards program. The awards also showcase young people and their accomplishments as well as selecting honorees that have made great contributions to our community by creating the CYD Image Awards. This year’s theme was "To God be the Glory" and was dedicated in celebration and memory of Mother Freedom Claretta Simpson who devoted her life to the fight for human and civil rights as well as her love for children.

The awards were hosted at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Jeanetta Simpson-Robinson is the founder/CEO and Earl Hill is the Policy Board Chair.

It was a who’s who event at the awards with many officials and community leaders who were present. But the special guest were the Image Awards, 2007 "Man of the Year, Lupe Martinez, President/CEO of Umos and 2007 "Woman of the Year Linda Stewart, President of North Milwaukee State Bank.

I-Witness was seated with Pastor Ray Simpson, Cynthia Simpson of Perfectly Fit Apparel and Michelle White of the Wonderful World of Children Child Care.

James Nelson decked out in his tuxedo tails looking handsome did the welcome and he was dynamic.

Jeannetta Robinson took to the podium to thank God and all who have support CYD through out the years. She stated: “yes, there is hope. Jesus is hope and he is inside of you. God does not care whether you are Black or white, God’s color is love. Money is not everything. I asked my friends for their skills to help the poor and kids. We got a staff that God sent to us and we teach, ‘Failure is not an option.’ We tell the children, ‘you are God’s child;’ and we tell them ‘you can be the president of the United States.’ CYD has produced doctors, lawyers, politicians, teachers, we work with God’s children."

Robinson continued with her welcome address, citing the process of admitting God’s children into the CYD program. She indicated that other agencies often "bring us their worst and say we can do nothing with them. We take them, love them, help them and give them a new direction and strength."

She also said that CYD has planted seeds as she sighted the examples of the thousands of children who have found success coming through the doors of CYD. And she encouraged everyone to continue doing a little more about "our Father’s business."

Many other speakers followed Jeanetta congratulating her on her and CYD’s 37 years of loving the children and all the services they offer to the community including their home buying program and their national award winning Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation program.

Vocalist Penny Smith rocked us with a gospel piece and one of I-Witness’ favorites Lil Jewel (German Womack IV) entertained us as well.

The two honorees Lupe Martinez and Linda Stewart were each recognized for their good works in the community. Each received a plaque and expressed words of appreciation.

Developer Ed Bolton took to the podium sharing with us his support of Mother Simpson and Jeanetta since the civil rights era. On behalf of Lenni Siker and himself, who just purchased a water company and wanted to contribute to CYD in a big way to help some of their programs, Jeanetta was presented a bottle of CYD water as a for profit venture for the organization.

Jeanetta as well as others of the organization were elated. They have their own water now. There was the introduction of a new CYD theme song and video, Johnny Mills as well as other folks throughout the city featured, it was pretty good.

International Recording Artist and Blues Maestro Otis Clay entertained us with a song called "Walk a mile in My Shoes" a new song off his new gospel CD featuring guest artists the Soul Stirrers and Carla Thomas. It was pretty nice. (Clay also has released a new blues CD I will share next week on that.) Clay is also Chairman of the Board of the Harold Washington Cultural Center in Chicago, Ill. He came to share in the awards presentation after many of the children from CYD visited the Washington Cultural Center in Chicago.

The highlights of the evening, of course, are the children and the 2007 CYD King and Queen Court. This is where all the children participated. Dressed in their formal dresses and tuxedos, they were presented to all of us in grand fashion. Of course, you hear mothers and fathers ooohing and ahhhing cheering their children on as the court is introduced to us.

Bobbie Love, Snowbird Ratzel and Tracey Neal were the king and queen court coordinators and you can only imagine the hard work they put in working with the children to make it roll. The Rev. Jose Flores and CYD Deputy Direct Charles Walton also worked with the court.

The crowning of the 2007 King and Queen of CYD took place as a proclamation was presented to the talented teens who have aspirations of being a lawyer and doctor. Both the King and the Queen strolled with their court claiming their place in the universe. The king and queen will receive scholarships and will represent CYD through out the year at different events.

Hey, Jeannetta and all of you at CYD: I saw Love in Action. Y'all have a special way of loving children and changing lives. I love seeing the children dressed up and walking in strides that say: "I am somebody." I know y'all worked extremely hard with the children to show them that there is a great big universe out there waiting for them to claim. Keep advancing that next generation, by keeping Love in Action, I love it!

Ebony Fashion Fair

A model dazzels and shines at the 50th Ebony Fashion Fair. (photo by Barbara White)

It was dazzling, regal, noble, stately, flashy, awaking, enchanting and inciting for the young and the restless and those who wish they were. It was the Ebony Fashion Fair 50 Year Anniversary Glam Odyssey fashion journey into bliss and beyond defining fabulous.

It was a sold out house at the Pabst Theatre. Milwaukeeans waited to view the new lines in fashions. Many of them sporting their own unique designs showing off Milwaukee as a fashion conscious city with its own styles.

Ebony Fashion Fair is celebrating 50 years as the world's largest traveling fashion show that institutes and defines Black beauty. In 1958, Eunice W. Johnson, who had a passion and love for fashions and welled groomed people, founded Ebony Fashion Fair. A queen and fashion giant in her own right, Johnson traveled to the fashion capitols of world like Paris, Rome, London, New York, selecting over 200 of the speak-for-themselves designs in the boldest of color and the latest styles from the top designers. Ebony Fashion Fair presents the annual show to fashion lovers in over 200 cities across the North America including Canada.

In it's inception Johnson used the event to raise money for charities across the nation for scholarships for young people to attend college. She masterfully linked the Fashion Fair to all kinds of fraternal and maternal organizations across the country in partnerships to achieve the goals of providing opportunities while educating a nation.

Over the last 50 years, playing to audiences of over 100,000 annually, Ebony Fashion Fair has raised over $50 million for charities to invest in the future of the world. Under the direction of the skilled wand and vision of Eunice W. Johnson.

The local Chapter of the Cream City Links was the partnering organization here in Milwaukee; Paula Taylor-Boyd is the president. Vivian Mayes was the chair of the event and Deidra Edwards was the chair of receptions.

I-Witness was the invited guest of Mary Shaw and Vivian Mayes. Never in my wildest imagination did I think that the Ebony Fashion Fair Show would have me almost out my seat.

Jada Collins, author, model and Ebony Fashion Fair commentator, set it off in Act I called "Decade Cavalcade" where 13 young models strutted their stuff in a fun, high-energy way that brought cheers from the audience. Scene after scene brought awesome choreography and timing in what could be deemed an award-winning Broadway production, and the reviews were filled with raves. Ebony Fashion Fair had the audience "ohhhing and ahhhing;" it was Showtime at the Pabst Theatre, y'all.

The talented commentator Jada continued our journey with her fantastic storytelling of models wearing designs of some of the top designers in the world like French designer Pierre Balmain, Virgin Island designer Wayne James or American designer Tracy Reese with accessories from the likes of Kokin Millinery, LaRare and Rossi Moda, featuring fashions from all over the world Japan, Canada, Argentina, Bolognese and Germany. All the models were great and displayed their crafts with grace and style filled with pure pleasure and fun.

Boyd spoke of Adrianne Davis who passed last year, and in tribute to her, they are pleased to announce the establishment of the Adrianne Davis Business Scholarship. Junior Martin is the recipient of the Davis $1,000 scholarship. The Links also awarded three other $1,000 scholarships as well to Andrew Humphrey, a student at Columbia University in Chicago; Rachel White, a student at Alverno College; and Linda Martin, a student at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Intermission bought out the Milwaukee models again, Queen Jestene McCord who dazzled us as she usually does, Jenell Elder-Green, Delores Hollins, State Senator Spencer Coggs and State Representative Jason Fields.

There was a pre-reception and students from the Milwaukee High School of the Arts provided a silent auction.

There were great infomercials by the sponsors of Ebony Fashion Fair. American Airlines gave away a pair of round trip tickets; Ford Motor Company gave away a car and Fashion Fair away a host of things. I loved the theatre in the infomercials presented by the models.

Yes, there were some fine Black male models and my sistas let them know it, as the models flexed their muscles and playfully stimulated our minds, Holla!

Act II brought us even more excitement, like bold colors of chocolate and mustard, Blue and chocolate or mustard with red. The exotic animal scene was the stuff. Jada skillfully fed our imagination, letting us growl and climb out of our seats. They took us there y'all, Holla! I loved it!

Of course, there was the swimsuit and beachwear. We even saw Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie on the beach, Holla! There was a style in the scenes for every woman and a wish for every man, Holla!

In it's fabulous conclusion, what's a fashion show without a wedding scene. Models Justin and Tonya Brown, who were recently married in real life, showed us love in grand style. I won't share with y'all the daring top of the wedding dress, I will only say it was for a husband's eyes only, I loved it!

There was a dessert reception following the show. Chris Cram and Company provided entertainment and they were awesome, they rocked the house. Desserts were great: there was the chocolate fountain with every imaginable desire of cookies, fruits, cheese and crackers and coffees. The models joined us.

Hey, Vivian and Mary, thanks for the invite maybe next year Penelope and I can be a babyboomers model and strut our stuff, Holla! I truly enjoyed the celebration of 50 years of Ebony Fashion Fair providing opportunities and giving to communities all cross America.

Mississippi Festival

I-Witness enjoys some of the juicy, sweet and tender corn from the Mississippi's Otis corn truck when Spider's Lounge brought Mississippi to Milwaukee. (Right photo) Jeannie Holiday rocks the crowd as she was "dancing in the streets," (B. White photos).

Belzoni, Kosciusko, Walnut Grove, it was a roll call of all the cities in Mississippi at Spider's Lounge the host to the intimate Mississippi festival. Spider of Spider's Lounge wanted to bring the neighborhood together as well as folks from Mississippi, so he envisioned a festival with a gathering of folks from Mississippi. Well many Mississippians showed up to partake in good food, entertainment and fellowship.

Mike Peeples of the Running Rebels hosted a spot as well as a few other vendors. Many who live on the block of Clark and Teutonia set up in front of their homes to enjoy the brisk but sunny day of activities.

I-Witness started out with the chilidogs and lemonade from Ensley Brown. I moved on down to the next street where Jeannie Holiday was dancing in the streets, literally. Y'all know Jeannie can blow and she was rockin us with real Ol' School. Una Van Duvall joined Jeannie and they partied, they even had I-Witness dancing the streets for a moment, I was feelin' them Holla!

Of course, I was stuck at Mississippi's Otis corn truck, where I had to have it: the juicy, sweet, tender corn with lemon pepper, lots of butter and cheese. I was in heaven, Holla! The corn was so good I had to have another with just butter and it was soooo good, Spider treated.

And y'all know that I could not resist the Fred Flintstone Bar B Q turkey legs that Spider cooked. The turkey legs were so juicy and tender that the meat almost fell off the bone. The turkey legs were on hit and everyone’s list.

I think Spider was the "everything man." He was the D.J. and he has that good music, he was security riding his bike through out and of course the cook, I loved it! Folks had a good time.

Hey, Spider: when we gon' have some more of those Fred Flintstone turkey legs? They were too good! I had a good time.