Remembering Al Jarreau
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SalutesSalutesBlackBlack HistoryHistory MonthMonth REMEMBER WHEN… On Nov. 11, 1994, my lifetime Mil- Our thought-provoking program -- which I co- hosted in 1994-95 with ex-alderman Michael McGee waukee pal, Al Jarreau -- who passed Sr. -- had been going strong for seven months and was Al Jarreau helped away at 76 on Feb. 12 in Los Angeles the city’s best call-in talk show ever. It was better than -- helped me make local radio talk Charlie Sykes on WTMJ, Mark Belling on WISN and make Mlwaukee garnered much higher listener ratings than WMCS. show history on WNOV's ground- But on that memorable 8-10 a.m. time period 22- talk show breaking "Carter-McGee Report." plus-years ago -- which came to be known as our Alwin -- his actual first name -- along with James “Music, Music, Music” show -- we outdid ourselves history in a “Pookie” Hudson, Mel Rhyne, John Taylor and Willie with a landmark broadcast. Before it was over, camera Higgins, crowded into our studios to exchange stories crews from three TV stations had arrived to film what Al Jarreau was happening. Kim Robinson Photo Robinson Kim musical and perform on the most popular, highest-rated Black March 12, 1940- talk show in Milwaukee’s history. I originally got the idea for the show a week or so February 12, 2017 extravaganza Observed by millions nationally as Veterans Day, earlier after learning that Jarreau -- my old boyhood Nov. 11 commemorates the sacrifices made by the men pal -- would be in town Nov. 11 for a concert at the By Richard G. Carter Riverside theatre. “I remember the night, when first we and women of America’s military. But the veterans we honored that bright morning in Milwaukee -- leb by Seeking to uplift the spirits of our listeners after air- met, our hearts were young and gay…” Jarreau --were a different brand. They were an eclectic ing so many heavy programs, I called one of his out- The Spaniels, “Doncha’ Go” group of accomplished musicians with local roots. And of-town phone numbers and extended the invitation. (Vee-Jay Records-1955) what a morning it was. (continued on page 2) www.communityjournal.net 25 Cents BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE VOL. XL Number 30 February 15, 2017 PAID MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN The Milwaukee PERMIT NO. 4668 OMMUNITYOMMUNITY OURNAL WISCONSIN’S LARGEST AFRICAN AMERICAN NEWSPAPEROURNAL C The cultureJ and style of C Africa were showcasedJ at St. Ann Center’s Bucyrus St. Anne’s Campus as part of a month-long celebration of Black history. African Center drums summoned adult clients, day care children, vol- showcases unteers and staff to the inter- generational park recently. Keeping the beat were two young African drummers from the Ko-Thi Drum Ensemble—Christian, 17, and his cousin Judah, age 4. Robert “Redd” Jones, a mentor who attended Neighborhood culture Starting off a fun-filled fashion House as a teen, shares his experiences with gun violence. show were the 2-year-old Meerkat --Photo by Camille Paul class. Evan stepped out in a loose, colorful dashiki from West Africa. with style! Next came Kingston sporting a green kofia—a brimless cylindrical cap Local youth share Strutting in style to the with a flat crown, worn by men in beat of two members of East Africa. the Ko-Thi Drum Ensem- Harper was beautiful in her powerful stories at ble, St. Anne’s Lucille Arm- wrapped dress and gele—a head tie strong (shown above) and worn in many parts of southern and Diane Beckley (inset pic- western Africa. Teen Gun Violence ture) show off some of the fashions of Africa on dis- Tariyah turned heads with her play during St. Anne’s cel- cheetah-print lappa, a garment worn ebration of Black history. by women in West Africa. Kamilah Prevention Summit Below: Kingston (left) was stunning in a black head tie, and By Camille Paul--Neighborhood News Service sports a green kofia, a Edwin rocked a kanzu—a robe worn Nelicia Miranda, 15, remembers hanging out with her cousin, Anita Bur- brimless cylindrical cap by men in the African Great Lakes gos-Brooks, at girls’ nights. Nelicia and her sister would visit Burgos-Brooks with a flat crown worn by region. and they’d paint each other’s nails and eat their cousin’s fried shrimp. men in East Africa. Kami- St. Ann Center staff came next. “We were there almost every other day; she would work late and we would lah (at right) waves to the Nurse Annie Smith modeled a gold- audience as she wears a watch her daughter,” Nelicia said. “It was like our second home. She was just black head tie. trimmed midi dress in deep purple— a good person to be around.” --Photos courtesy of St. the color of royalty, nobility, kingship Burgos-Brooks, known as Anita Bee, was a Milwaukee poet and a member Anne’s Center for and creativity. of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. In December 2012, Nelicia and her family re- Intergenerational Care. Steven Anderson from the Ubuntu ceived a phone call at 3 a.m. informing them that Burgos-Brooks was shot unit sported a bright blue tunic from and killed in her home by her hus- Nigeria, a formal garment he wore as band, Keith Brooks. “Someone best man in a friend’s wedding. “I woke up shocked. I thought it Lucille Armstrong from the social was a dream,” she said. “It didn’t feel showed me work department wore an orange real to lose someone like that, who kitenge from Nigeria—a garment was so good, pure hearted and beau- that I have a similar to a sarong. tiful.” Joyce Davis, vice president of Nelicia told her story at Neighbor- kind heart and I adult services, was striking in a flar- hood House of Milwaukee during the ing mermaid-style dress in canary, recent Teen Gun Violence Prevention have a lot of blue and burgundy, handmade for her Summit. in Tanzania. The four-hour summit included patience...I Receptionist Marie Britt demon- presentations by Safe & Sound, fo- strated some dance moves while cused on explaining the conse- want to make a modeling a Jamaican-style green quences of drug use, and personal dress with colorful red and yellow stories or spoken-word performances difference and accents and matching head wrap. by teens about gun violence and drug Sr. Brigid Mueni from the Simba abuse. as long as I Unit wore a patterned maroon dress After the performances, a Milwau- made in Kenya and a broad-brimmed kee Police Department officer spoke help someone (continued on page 5) about gun violence in the city. Nelicia, who was 13 when she lost else, that her cousin, turned to harming herself makes me QUESTION OF THE WEEK: as a way to deal with the grief. PULSEPULSEOFOF THETHE Now that Milwaukee Bucks’ player Jabari “I felt like the world was going to happy.” end and there was no escaping this Parker is out for the rest of the season everyday problem of gun violence,” --Robert “Redd” Jones with a knee injury, do you think the team she said. “It was really difficult to COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY cope with the fact that she wasn’t here with us anymore.” Photos and question by Yvonne Kemp can make the playoffs? Why or why not? Nelicia turned to counseling and religion to find solace after her cousin’s death. Now, she works for Neighborhood House as an outdoor environmental “No. Why would “No. Jabari is in- “Yes. They can “It’s going to be educator in the summer and attends the after-school teen program. She writes you just rely on jured. I think the still make it. very difficult to poetry and hopes to attend college to major in business and open her own hair Jabari Parker? coach is missing Why? Because it make the play- salon. “I’m still growing and they are helping me,” she said. “It’s like a family He’s not a fran- some important takes a team to offs without here.” chise player moves. With the win, not one Javari. he is a The Neighborhood House teen program serves about 50 teens a week. The Until Jabari be- right strategy, player. Also, (if) key player that free program offers a computer lab, roller skating rink and basketball courts comes a fran- maybe next the coach spent the Bucks need for students. Eric Frederick Bishop LeVarn Robert Jones, 24, is now a mentor at Neighborhood House where he started chise player, we year. they need time looking at Clayton to transform going when he was 15. can not count onAnderson to play as a Martin other players on from an averageClay “I was lost as a kid. People use to call me a savage. I would do anything to Duckworth, anyone no matter who they were,” said Jones. “I would fight people, shoot at him.” team and not as this team, he Sr. team to a play- them, or rob them depending on how I felt that day.” individuals.” would see he has a great team.” off contender.” (continued on page 5) The Milwaukee Community Journal February 15, 2017 Page 2 The Milwaukee Community Journal February 15, 2017 Page 3 But like many music lovers, I also gone. There may never be another Remembering love jazz and pure-dee blues -- some like him, and I will really miss him. of which you’ve heard this morning He belongs to the ages.--Milwaukee Al Jarreau on this program. This makes today’s native Richard G. Carter is a free- (continued from page 1) show so very special to me and Mike lance columnist His response: “Richard Carter? For and, I hope, to our countless listen- About photo of Al Jarreau on you? Absolutely.” That was it for ers.