MCJ celebrates its past, honors the present with an eye on the future

It was a star-studded event Sunday at the Italian Community Center as the star of the day, the "Milwaukee Community Journal," Wisconsin’s largest African American newspaper shined its brightest.

The entire MCJ staff--Publisher Patricia O’Flynn Pattillo and husband Dr. Roland Pattillo, Senior Publisher Bob Thomas, Associate Publisher Mikel Holt, Editor Thomas Mitchell, Journalist Kia Cook, Administrative Staffers Teretha Martin, Colleen Newsom, Josephine Joki, Sales Representative Jimmy Johnson and yours truly, columnist Barbara White--celebrated 30 years of delivering uplifting, empowering and thought provoking stories of Black people and Black life.

I-Witness’ guest and escort for the evening was one of my favorite guys, Mr. Wonderful (Gaulien Smith of Gee’s Clippers) and a perfect gentleman. I was picked up at my house, the car door was open for me and I traveled in a black BMW, It was like going to the Academy Awards, and I was Cinderella, y’all know I loved this, Holla!

Patricia O’Flynn Pattillo, Robert Thomas, Mikel Holt founded the "Milwaukee Community Journal" on September 1, 1976, along with Jimmy Ewing (deceased).

The quartet felt that with the growing Black population in Milwaukee we did not have a voice in our destiny here. Thus, the "Milwaukee Community Journal" was born to provide a voice and advocacy on issues and concerns pertaining to the growing Black population in Milwaukee.

Now 30 years later the "Community Journal" is not only the largest African American Newspaper in the state but it is No. 1 in its mission, and telling the good news about Black people and Black life. Employing more than 15 talented and professional journalists, administrators and sales reps the "Milwaukee Community Journal" has paved its way to not only being read by many ethnicities throughout the state of Wisconsin, but now many across the nation.

The 30th Anniversary also hosted the Dr. Terence N. Thomas Memorial Scholarship Fund. Terence, who passed from an asthma attack, is the son of "MCJ" founders Patricia Pattillo and Robert Thomas.

Both parents who are true believers in education saw a need for more young people to enter the medical field, so they established the fund in honor of their son in conjunction with the Medical College of Wisconsin. Since its inception in 1996, the memorial fund has distributed more than $214,000 in scholarship awards.

As Mr. Wonderful and I arrived folks were everywhere in their gala attire women were in colorful suits and dresses some even wore their Sunday hats and they looked gorgeous. The men were decked in colorful or black-tie suits and they were looking good my sistas, made a girl want to Holla! Then y’all know Mr. Wonderful is fine too. Therefore, I was cool Holla!

The theme for the gala was a "Journey through the Past, Present and Future." The place was beautifully decorated: red glistering table decorations, colorful abstract centerpieces and a gift of picture and time in gold net sachets were given to the entire guest. Tony Neal and the Band provided music.

WTMJ4 News Anchor Carole Meekins opened the program by presenting "MCJ’s" Welcome. She thanked "MCJ" for the real news. "So many times, we see the negative images of Black people, it is incredible that we can continue to give 30 years of good news," she said. She was excellent.

Governor Doyle presented the state proclamation on behalf of the five million citizens of Wisconsin and congratulated "MCJ" stating he is "looking forward to 90 more years." Mayor Tom Barrett, who declared it "MCJ" Day all over the City of Milwaukee, also gave congratulations. There were many other political congratulations from all branches of government.

Mitchell Avant of Coca-Cola Bottling Company announced the Grand Processional of the "Best of the Best," with a video presentation and Tony Neal and Company performing "Simply the Best," originally sung by Tina Turner. The awardees entered. Many of the recipients’ community have been featured in the column the "The Best of the Best," which is written by our publisher Patricia Pattillo and it recognizes the contributions they have made to our community. The awardees paraded throughout the hall for all to see as the guests stood and applauded.

Dr. Pattillo did the Invocation and dinner was served. It was a nice spread Cornish hen with all the fixings. Associate Publisher Mikel Holt did the historic review of "MCJ" reflecting on its colorful past.

WISN 12 Weekend Co-Anchor DeMarco Morgan, one of I-Witness’ favorites, gave us inspiration of our history and took us on a stroll of the past 30 years. He spoke of all the things that happened in our fight for inclusion, our strive for empowerment and our achievements. He also was commentator for the fashion show that took us through clothing fashions from 1976 to the present. Okay, y’all you know Goldie and Foxy Brown was part of the scheme of things. It was really nice. And of course, DeMarco was fantastic and he was fine too, my sistas.

"MCJ" Editor Thomas Mitchell shared with us the mission of "MCJ," which is to counter the negative aggression imposed upon Black people by mass media with positive stories.

Many joined "MCJ" in celebrating its 30 years: Urban League Director Ralph Hollmon, NAACP President Jerry Hamilton, Waukesha NAACP President Lillie Wilson, Martha Toran, Potawatomi Community Liaison-Raejean Kantor, County Supervisor Willie Johnson, Brenda, Willie and Hilda Perkins of Perkins Family Restaurant, State Representative Barbara Toles, WMCS 1290 Co-Host Lori Wynn, Milwaukee County Business Development Director Freida Webb, Taki Raton and many, many more.

Mrs. Pattillo acknowledgements of all those who sponsored the celebration and the anniversary committee, which included Chairman Mitchell Avant, Beverly Benson-Kern, Morris Andrews, Karen Dotson Jackson, Dasha Kelly, Tony Martin Neal and Sharon Pitter. The committee did a fantastic job. She then recognized her staff for their talents, professionalism and sacrifice. In turn, the staff presented her with a surprise gift of appreciation.

FOX6 News Anchor Joann Williams brought us to the future and the Dr. Terence N. Thomas Memorial Scholarship Awardees. She pulled rank on both Meekins and DeMarco, as she stated, "Carole you have been here 15 years, DeMarco you have been here two years and well I have been at Fox for 27 years."

She continued: "I’ve seen a lot in my time and many changes; I just want you two to know, I’m the senior around here." She had us rollin’ on the floor. She was the senior and she was funny. Williams began the introduction of the scholarship recipients: Jasmine Braboy, major-Arts/Design-Chicago Art Institute, Lauren Bridgeman, Major-Broadcast/Journalism-Hampton University, Trenton E. Dockey, major-Psychology-Morehouse University, Alan Hamberlin, major-Psychology-Spelman College, Adom N. Hinkle, major-Biology-UW-Madison, Angela Marchant, major-Pre-Med-Brandeis University, Cavalier Johnson, major-Political Science-UW-Madison, DeVaughn major-Pre-Med-John Hopkins University, Sharon Pitter, major-CIS/Graphics Arts-MATC, Caroline Walker, major-Pharmacology-UW-Madison, London Williams, major-Architecture-UW-Milwaukee, Christina Redd, major Law-Marquette University and the Ernestine O'Bee Award $1000 to Tanesha Willis, Master Degree in Teaching-University of Phoenix."

Each recipient will receive $2,000. Congratulations to all of you keep advancing that next generation I love it!

Mrs. Pattillo was surprised with a tribute by each of the scholarship recipients presenting her with three roses each equaling the 30 years "MCJ" has been in business. She was in tears and rightfully so--it was touching.

In closing, Mrs. Pattillo gave us a history of how she became a publisher and some of her background. She stated, "we understand now what I-Witness is talking about when she speaks of these young guys especially DeMarco."

Carole Meekins gave an "Amen" to that. Y’all know I was rollin’ on the floor, Holla! She shared: "Coming from East St Louis, Illinois and learning that being educated in public school was not like education in private school and with the support of family, friends and a higher calling then all of us.

"That then pushed me to this destiny. Our community is strong, 98% of it is the silent majority we cannot give the 2% the power to stereotype the other 98%. God is good and he has a purpose for all of us. I am humbled not just by the "Community Journal" but us, as a community and we must keep pushing that success because success breeds success. If the mind can conceive it, it can be achieved. I thank all of you, my staff, my husband, sister-in laws and family for everything." It was a nice close. Folks began taking pictures and getting to DeMarco, Carole, Joann and Mrs. Pattillo to say hello.

There was energy in the room that may have felt like hope. It was electrifying and it filled the room all evening.

Perhaps, it was our ancestors beating the drum singing our song, maybe it was us in the room who can look back and bring all the goodness forward as we continue to clear paths and make footprints, or could it have been the young people, who have dared to be and have spread across the nation, reaching for the globe determined to take their place in the universe while the past and we of the present chant to the future "dance my child dance for in you we (Black people) are forever."

Mrs. Pattillo, Mr. Thomas and Mikel it was a good time and exemplary, Asante’ Sana (Thank You) for the action of your vision and your fight for freedom, you are my Shero and Heroes, why you are "Simply the Best" Atten---tion Salute!