I-Witness

Milwaukee’s Number One Community Column

"Droppin' It Like It's

Cooking with Trulys!

The Dean Family: Dominique, Julia, Louis and Simone pictured at the Brookfield Farmers Market where the family held a demonstration of the delicious marinade seasoning. The family grilled prime rib that had been marinaded with their special sauce. Look for the full story in WEEKEND. (photo by Barbara White)

by B. White

Holla!

Two hundred thousand, five hundred (253,500) down 4,400 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, 4,400 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.

"Correction"

This week I informed you that WISN 12 Co-Weekend Anchor DeMarco Morgan was named Journalist of the Year by the NABJ. I did not mention it was in the area of Community Service. This is even a better Journalist Recognition Award. Any body can do a job well but it takes that special person who puts passion in it and takes it out to share with the world to uplift. Again DeMarco the universe is yours dance in it baby dance, Congratulations!

Holla-Outs

To my favorite doctors, Dr. Wayman Parker and Dr. Goodman, and the two of you really know I am naturally 35, Holla!

My favorite girls over at Midtown Health Center Carla Keys and Nikila Higgins, Thank you for the coffee mug Nikila, I love it!

Clarence, Nancy and Candanice Miller my family from Chicago who always find away to visit their little sister, It was good seeing y’all.

Business Holla-Outs

Chancellor Collins of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation welcome to Milwaukee, I need to give my sistas a heads up on you. He is fine my sistas, single and new to our big old city. Thank you for the ink pens Chancellor every time I write you know I will be thinking of you, Holla!

To Pearl Cotton of WPC Creations who makes some of the most beautiful flower displays for weddings and special occasions.

Hey, Cheryl over at Brown’s Ham House, thank you so much for the earrings they are beautiful. When I wore them, everyone loved them.

Diane McSwain, James Youngblood, Gwen Coleman, Velma King, hey y’all stick ’em up, Holla! I had a good time with y’all over at Brown’s Ham House.

Alvin (Woody) Holloman who make sales his own polish sausage called Woody’s Mild or Hot Polish. They are carried in all the major grocery stores through out the county. Hey, Woody my favorites are the hot ones they are soooooo good, Holla!

Kenitra "Noonie" Dillon just Hollering at you gurllll.

Congratulations

I-Witness’ favorite twins Michaela and Melisa Copeland who are now attending MATC and will be entering the school of nursing. Hey, you two you know you are my favorites, keep advancing that next generation, I love it!

To: Maanaan Sabir and Stephanie Wright on their recent engagement. Maanaan and Stephanie are teachers at Carver Elementary School. The two will wed next year. Okay you two I am looking forward to the big day.

Bank Manager Ralph Simmons of Associated Bank in Madison, Wisconsin was just promoted to Assist VP. You go, Ralph, you know I love it! Congratulations.

Marissa Thrower, guard/forward on the Marquette University Basketball Team majoring in Communication. Go Marissa keep advancing that next generation, I love it!

Steve Adams and Thelma Sias who just celebrated 22 years of marriage, hey you two it sure must be nice to have someone to keep you smiling for 22 years, wishing you a hundred more years of pure bliss, I love it! Congratulations!

To newlyweds Jeff and Patricia (Currie) Jones who were recently married in Washington, D.C. Jeff Jones was the former legislative aide to Alderman Willie Wade who left to become the top assist to the VP for Disney in Los Angels, California.

Birthday Holla-Outs

Clara Smith, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday. I know your birthday is always a special day in the Smith house. On this day 14 years ago, you received two miracles and your two baby boys are still with you. Keep believing in miracles and have a great day.

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, Happy day Regina Stevens.

Happy Birthday Kesi Mbalia Lumunba, Happy Birthday from your father Kehinde Mvata Lumunba,

Get Well-Holla-Out

Hey, Reuben Harpole just found out you were ill. You know you have to get well real soon whose gotta connect all the dots for us. Besides I need some information on how to dance in the universe and only you can teach me. Our prayers are with you, get well my friend get well.

Condolences

To Virginia Moutry and Family on the loss of your daughter Evangeline Denise Moutry who had just recently attended her class reunion. Evangeline was an alumnus of the "Class of 76" North Division High School.

Pssssst

Hey, y’all I want to put something in your ear. "MCJ" Kia Cook just got engaged to Davin Green, y’all should see the ring. I’m whispering because not even her mother knows yet. Hey, Kia you go gurlll, Davin seems to be a very nice guy. Wishing the two of you the best and lots of love.

A segment of "I’m on Fire" a gospel movie was shot at the Zanzibar Bar. It’s about the seduction by Satan to get people to kill the Sunday school teacher because of her faith to God. The husband and wife team Thomas and Janice Crump are the producers of the movie. They have been doing the performance across the country as a play but now have a request from the Marcus Theatre to make it into a movie. Demetrius Lee of G-Limits (God’s Limit) Productions shot this segment of the movie.

911

"Everybody is looking for a Hero"

September is not far and the memorials will begin for all those who lost their lives in the 911 attack at the World Trade Center in New York. There were many heroes on that day, yes, we will see them but most will not look like us (Black) even though many who look like us died being heroes also. I send my condolences to all the families who lost their love ones in this tragic assault upon this country.

While, we as human beings seem to always be looking for a hero, back in the day we looked upon our parents as our first heroes, we have gone as far as to make them up such as Superman, Batman who fight for and tried to bring goodness to all humankind. Today, we no longer have the traditional family or can look into our families for that hero that makes us dream, makes us do right, makes us do well. The hero that protects us even makes us want to be a cape crusader. Yet today, we are still aimlessly roaming in search of a hero.

Well I-Witness has found one--his name is Charles Laurencin of New York. He is the brother of Dr. Denise Laurencin, a family practitioner at Midtown Health Center.

Charles was 61-years-old upon his death in the wake of 911. Black People watched in horror along with the rest of the world as smoke, brick, fire, screams and tears filled the air in New York on that day.

Charles Laurencin, a Vietnam Vet worked for the Morgan Stanley Investment Company as a security guard stationed.

It was believed prior to the 911 attack an attempt had been made before to blow the Twin towers, with that information Morgan Stanley Investment Company who occupation 20 floors of the tower hired a former Vietnam Vet with the last name of Rackellar to do security and develop a security plan for them in case of another attempt.

It was Rackellar, who contacted his friend and comrade Charles to offer him a job. Both had served together in the U.S. Military.

Rackellar and his team designed and developed the security plan, each were responsible for a floor, Charles’ was the 60th Floor.

On the day, of the attack Charles had cleared his floor and was assisting others on the ground when his wife called on his cell phone wanting to know if he was all right. He told her he was, she wanted him to come home and he told her he would but he had to go check to see if every one was out the building, he would then be home.

Rackellar told the rest of his team to stay on the ground and help while he and his comrade (Charles) go and do one final sweep to make sure every one was out. Just like in Vietnam, where the two men served together. Again, they journeyed together through the fires of the jungle and it was here that they both died, doing what only soldiers understand, ensuring safety and protecting freedom as a human right.

They risked it all. Morgan Stanley Investment Company lost seven of their people in the attack. Many more were saved and safely left behind to tell the story of Laurencin and Rackellar giving life and becoming a hero to all Americans. When they went back into the building the pair did not stop to see if they were saving a Black, White, Green or Pastel person they went in to save a fellow human being.

The two left us with a powerful message that says "you must believe in something and if you truly want to live this beautiful life the Creator has given us then you must risk something because you have loved and have been loved, these two men showed us they loved human beings and they gave their lives proving it.

As you watch upcoming movies, memorials and other tributes on September 11 this year and if you do not see any Black people shown as some of the heroes in 911 do not sweat it Charles would not want us too.

We just need to tell our children his story on that day and show them a real hero who did not let color define whether you helped another human being in distress. Do not sweat that all the stories and heroes will be lily white. Even if they do not say his name, show his picture, or tell his story. Do not sweat it.

Truth has its own way of shining through and no one can stop its boldness. You see, today, we have recorded the real history, told not only Charles Laurencin story of being a Hero, we have also told the story of one of their heroes as well Rackellar who with Charles saved many lives of all races and are our heroes in Black and White cause they did it the way all of us have been taught to do the American way.

To: Charles Laurencin, Rackellar and all those who dared to give and risk their lives to help a fellow American. Atten---tion Salute!

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