I got a special guest this
morning. April and let me get
to make sure I get all the
buddies names right. April
Harris is here. The founder and
CEO of the Black Arts Council
of Racine is here and we'll
tell you another other special
guest in just a moment. But
April, tell us about the before
we get to the competition in our
area today. Tell us about the
Black Arts Council of Racine.
If you found it, when did it
start? What's its goal?
What's its purpose? Hello
everyone. We founded the
Black Arts Council in 2018.
It's an organization, so 501
C3 organization that highlights
and promotes local black artists
here in Racine and the
surroundings, other cities as
well, but mostly Racine. So
that's what we do. We've done a
numerous things, poetry, contest.
We've done just poetry events.
We've done even drawing
contests through the organization,
different things like that. So
yes. Okay, how many people are
members of the organization? We
haven't really done membership
as much, but we do have a board.
And so there are people that
volunteers and things that help
us out with the events. Yes.
That's good. Let's get to the
competition you had. This was a
talent competition. Yes. And the
ages were involved in the
competition. How old do you have
to be? What was the cutoff?
What was the beginning age? The
ages were 8 to 18. So we had
to be 8 to 18. So yeah. Okay.
We have the winner here. Yes. How
many people were in the
competition, by the way? There
were many participants, but as
far as like the different
talents that competed, it was
probably up to 12. Yes. Okay.
That's tough. If it was made,
two people would be tough. Yes.
And we have the winner here.
Abrea said words. Abrea is
how old are you? 10 years old.
10 years old. Whoa. What a
great age. 13. Not so good.
That's a bad age. 13 to 16.
Not so good. But 10 is just
right. So perfect. So you've
got involved with the comp. I
mean, I got to tell you, he is
dressed like better than
anybody else in this building
today. Oh, wow. I didn't
realize we were both wearing
red shirts today. Great minds
think alike. What can I tell
you? And your talent is what
now? Violin. Violin. How long
have you been playing it? 34
years. 34 years? Three to
four years. Just checking. Three
to four years. Why did you pick
up a violin? Because I just
want to try new instrument. And
there is these two violins on
YouTube that inspired me. Whoa.
That's good. Wow. Now, what
kind of music do you play on
your violin? Christian. Christian
music. Now, what school do you
go to? You told me this. I go
to a whole Christian school. Where
is that located on Douglas
Avenue? Okay. Are you good in
school? Got good grades? Yes.
And so you got to have good
grades. But playing a violin.
What a talent to have. You want
to stick with it. You think
that's going to be the only
instrument you play. You want to
branch out and get other
instruments. I think it's going
better. I think it's going to
be the only instrument that I
play. Yeah, I told I was telling
you guys off the your my brother
plays. He plays the guitar, the
piano. Well, actually the organ
plays harmonically plays the
clarinet. He could play with
I'm learning the piano and I'm
the worst student because I don't
know what to do with this. If I
practice, I'd probably be good
mediocre if I practice. But I
don't practice enough. You get a
practice a lot. Yes. Yeah. Okay.
In just a minute, you're going to
give us a little sample, right?
He brought his violin in today.
And we're going to give a little
sample of it. And what did we
nervous? This is just a
conversation between all of us
here. So give us a what kind of
talent was in the competition?
Different kinds of talent. We
had dance groups. We had kids
that did acrobatics, you know,
solo singers. And then of course
the violin. How did you judge?
You know, it's one thing to judge
a violin player against a violin
player. How do you judge
acrobatics against a violin
player? How do you judge a violin
player against a singer? I mean,
that's got to be tough because
there's so many. There's so
different. I mean, this may be the
best best acrobatic team
ever saw, but against a great
violinist. I don't know how you
do that. Yeah. And then yeah,
it was, uh, yeah, with the
different ages as well. So yeah,
we had three awesome judges.
Um, and they, they judged them
with, you know, different
creativity, their presence, their
style, um, different things
like that. So yeah, they picked
out three winners and
number is was number one. I
can never be a judge. I feel
awful because you're breaking
someone's dreams. And I don't
want to be that person that
ruined your, you know, your day
or whatever. I didn't win. And
you know, I just, I couldn't do
that. That's why I would never
be a judge on these things,
because I couldn't deal. I
couldn't deal with the guilt
after which it's just the way I
am. Well, that's great. So,
what are the things that this
Black Arts Council do beside
the talent competition?
Uh, we, uh, we produced, uh,
like four plays. Oh, really?
So we do produce plays. Um,
we do different things like
that. So, mm-hmm. If you're
going to play, so can you give
us any of the information? Um,
we did a play a couple of
years ago, Pike Blind. Um,
we just done a stage reading
with seven women about, uh,
stories about seven women. So,
that was a stage reading. We
did that at Starbucks. We do a
lot of our plays at, at the
Unified School. So, yeah,
right. I'm like you're
starting. Yeah. Well, that's
great. I take lessons, uh,
piano lessons with a little
girl. She was about eight
years old. We started. Now,
she's, uh, 12 years old. She
could just do this. She plays
the viola. She plays the piano.
Oh, and she just has this
talent where she could just
do it. And she just picks up
the piano. And I see her play
with two hands. I see how
you're doing that? How are
you reading two different? I
don't you know anything about
music? A little bit. Well, I
had, I thought all music is on
one staff. The G staff. Mm-hmm.
And then I find out there's
another one called the, uh,
F clef or the base staff. And
the notes are in different
orders. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
And I said, how do you keep
track of that? Well, that's
your left hand. That's your
right hand. Again, how do you
keep track? Guide our church
plays the piano. And I said to
him, how do you do the left
hand when you're trying to
concentrate on the right hand?
He says, I keep it real simple
with the left hand. You're
right. It's very difficult. Mm-hmm.
But I keep it real simple. And
if I don't, I get confused. So
yeah, I can see you playing
instrument. I used to play
violin, clarinet, and yeah. Look
at you. But not as good as
me. Love them. Was it my
practice? No. That's what
did me in. Oh, I can't
wait to hear this now. What
are you going to play for us?
Uh, trust in God. Trust in
God. Okay. Why don't you do
what you got to do now? Get
ready with your violin. Get
ready enough. You have to
practice. And if there's
anything in the way here, tell
me we'll get it out of the
way. And this is going to be
your bravest Edwards and
your old violin. You're
going to do it over there. You
just, you can play. I'm going to
just turn this mic on for you.
You can play with the violin.
You can play with the violin.
You can play with the violin.
You can play with the violin.
You can play with the violin.
You can play with the violin.
You can play with the violin.
You can play with the violin.
Wow, that was fantastic.
I noticed he's not even looking around the room.
I noticed he's not even looking around the room.
Well, what if he wanted to play the violin.
What do you look for in life?
A rapper.
Yeah, there's a career that you can always, you know, depend on.
A rapper.
Do you do any reps now?
Yes.
Oh, could you give us a little bit?
You do it off the top of your head?
Oh, no.
I'm not going to bend you on this.
You don't want to do it.
You don't want to do it?
No.
Okay.
When you're famous though, I want you to come in here first.
All right.
You'll do your first rap here.
That's good.
Well, that's great to have.
This is fantastic.
Any of your friends play instruments?
No.
No.
I don't think so.
Wow.
What made you pay?
Who got you started in music, by the way?
Just come to you one day or your mom or her?
It was just YouTubers.
I've seen it on YouTube.
That's right, the YouTubers.
I've seen YouTube.
Who knew something good would come out of YouTube?
Never dreamed it could happen.
Well, that's fantastic.
That's great.
Congratulations.
10 years old.
You're on your way.
That's great.
That's amazing.
10 years old making music out of that box.
It's awesome.
Yeah.
I better practice more.
I got to practice.
Okay.
So what's ahead now for the group, for the organization?
So we have a poetry in the park coming up.
Sometimes this month, probably the fourth or third week of this month,
on the weekend.
So what is that going to call again?
Poetry in the park.
So we'll have poetry in the park.
And then yeah, we do things like back to school, back, book, back,
giveaways too.
So we'll be having that at the end of this month.
But yeah, a few things coming up.
We have our annuals, annual things coming up February.
We have our award ceremony.
So, yeah, Brayess might be one of, of course, he will be one of the ones receiving on award
on the Black History Month of February.
So we do that annually.
Just a few things, like in the community.
I can't believe it.
I just heard.
Yes.
I can't believe it.
That's fantastic.
So we're poetry in the park.
What park are we talking about?
I'm thinking, we still got to get a park.
Because they're all booked up like this.
Really?
Yeah.
Yeah.
So I'm looking at Pitchard Park.
But yeah.
So, yeah, there would be food trucks and then a few poets from Milwaukee and Racine
and Kenosha wherever.
But yeah.
We do the poetry in the park as well.
Wow.
Okay.
I wish I had a talent like that.
Yeah.
I just, you know, writing poetry with something you really can entertain yourself with.
Yes.
Yeah.
Well, I'm just floored by one aired here.
Well, I got a picture.
Glad we got it.
And we're going to podcast this.
So the world is going to be able to hear it now.
And who knows?
And by the way, if you get anything out of this, 15% off the top goes to me.
You'll see enough.
Well, this is fantastic.
Thank you very much, April.
Thank you.
Is there anything else you need to tell us that I don't know about yet?
Oh, nothing I can think of.
Thank you for having us.
Okay.
So I want you to keep us abreast of all your activities going around.
Definitely.
And if I, if you don't hear me respond to it, nag me a little bit because some slow.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
Oh, this is fantastic.
A bravest.
I can't begin to tell you how proud I am of you.
You are a talented young man.
Shirt and tie today.
Totally nice.
All right.
And I like that.
So oh, and school's starting soon.
Mm-hmm.
When does it start for here in Racine?
Like September 3rd or something?
Oh, good.
Somewhere around there.
I hear these people.
It started like in mid-August.
In mid-August.
Mm-hmm.
That's not fair.
That's right.
I used to hate mid-August because my department store where I live said, back to school sale,
going back to school.
You got three weeks.
What are you back into school now for?
Give me a break.
It's just, it just started summer.
But you like school?
That's a no.
No, that's a no.
When I get a pause like that.
That's a no.
Well, I know.
Every school is kind of annoying.
It gets in the way of all the fun.
But do you do well in school?
Mm-hmm.
That's a no.
That's a yes.
He doesn't want to say yes.
That's a yes.
I know you do.
Yes.
I know you do well in school.
You look like that person to this well in school.
Well, thank you very much, Ubraius.
I think this is fantastic.
I think you did a great job today.
I'm very proud of you, my friend.
Thank you.
And don't forget about us.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
You start getting your own group together.
You come back here.
Okay.
Okay.
All right.
Thank you, Ubraius.
April.
Thank you very much.
And who did you bring with you today?
You brought Ken Burley Davidson.
She's actually a team,
a team member of ours for our programs and things like that.
Okay.
And Angela, his grandma.
It's just amazing.
Thank you guys for coming into the Ubraius.
Thank you very much.
Congratulations on your win.
Okay.
All right.
All right.
April and Ubraius.
Ubraius is the winner of the youth talent contest
in the Black Guards Council overseeing.
And April Harris is the founder's CEO looking for big things
from everybody.