Man Ray, what's up, what's up?
We are back at the
right?
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Hey, hey.
What's happening, man?
Shannon.
Yeah.
I'm not sure how many people have already saw this video, but there's a video where there looks like it's a child's birthday party.
in the front yard or whatever you call that, the coldest sec, I don't know.
There's a birthday party going on and there's, I believe, about three kids.
There's a mom, a dad, and a dog.
Shots start ringing out from a distance, it sounds like.
Somebody starts shooting.
And you see like the dad waving his arms for some reason.
I don't know what he's doing.
The dog is out of here already.
The dog entered the stage, okay?
The dog got survival skills, okay?
But then you see the mom grab her two kids until the spare child go home.
She tells this little boy to run back home.
My homie is dodging
bullets trying to make it to see another day.
We're talking about the video that's been going viral and there's been a lot of conversation around the video because some people are like, this is why I hate for my kids to go to people's houses.
And then other people are just judging the parents' survival skills.
It looks like none of them had any type of... The dog would have saved them before they would have saved themselves.
I don't know.
just kind of was like, you're on your own, kid.
Like, yo.
they having a shoot
kids over
Send that
shootout across the
how
even give him a
Wow.
I got
the
door they were though like what?
Let me go in the garage, bro.
Like what is
and the dad just looking I tried to wave them down hunt.
I tried to stop him
What is
Hello, you ain't even got to invite me in.
One
Listen,
Man, but I just feel like what you said was.
Spot on when you said we've grown so far away from taking care of other people's kids like their first like thought was run home like bro Like that wouldn't that would not cross my mind.
I know that for a fact like that What?
Come on, let's move it everybody in do said run home like like y'all was gonna run out of space in the house or something I would be in jail as a parent.
I would be in jail after that surface
the
You saw it's a little extra app a little extra appetizer It's kind of in the same realm, but did you see the video?
Where like a little black kid came up to the door.
He's like y'all got some food And then Then the lady was like no not today.
We having dinner right now and then a bag of chips
He was like, no,
it
play.
play.
Right, like you sure?
her.
That equates to food, don't
I'll take what I can get.
I believe she gave him that though.
Shannon.
Yeah, man.
Let's
next
Let's get into the meat and potatoes.
Pause.
He just came on.
Y'all want some meat and
potatoes?
Like, bro, what?
got the appetite.
We rolled out well.
Wrong time, but it rolled out
Yeah,
How do you want meat and potatoes?
Are nursing homes?
No, men are loner.
I'm not doing this with y'all today.
This is crazy.
Speaking of meat and potatoes, men are loner in nursing homes.
A study of Minnesota nursing homes found men reported significantly less satisfaction.
I'm not laughing at them, but it was just cap locks on the less satisfaction with facility activities.
They had fewer friends and were less able to rely on family for support compared to women residents and men overall spent considerably more time alone.
Researchers noted men were more likely to be disappointed when family couldn't meet all of their care needs and often experienced more frustration over the loss of social status that comes with entering a nursing home.
A notable exception in that same study, Black, Indigenous, and other men of color participated in more group activities than white men.
particularly games and religious services, and were more likely to organize their own informal social groups.
So it's not like a white man is who, damn, Shannon, is that where the white man that got forced out of the work field
went?
You found him, right?
What
back
Since
them They are nursing home
How we got to this?
Guru
He said, is this how sugar babies are born?
Maybe.
Oh, my gosh.
Oh, my gosh.
But no, we're talking about our men are lonelier in nursing homes than women.
And we got to that because yesterday show, you know, there was a report that said.
Women forced men out of, well, straight white men, let's be clear.
They said straight white men were forced out of the workforce for the last decade and women were promoted over them, which was the rise of this stay at home boyfriend.
That was yesterday, right?
And then somebody called in, I can't remember who called and asked like, I wonder where did those white men go?
Like if they were forced out of work, where did they go?
And I think we found them, Shannon.
And it was
It says a notable exception in that same study.
Black, indigenous and other men of color participated in more group activities than white men, particularly games and religious services and were more likely to organize their own informal social groups.
So separately, a.
Pew Research Survey found men and women report feeling lonely at roughly equal rates overall.
The real gender gap is that men are less likely to turn to their networks for emotional support when they need it, not that they're inherently lonelier.
I think they're inherently lonelier, that's all I think.
But they got the data, they got the
Well, and what I feel like I know this here too is that you don't want thing black people going to do is get together.
We going to play some dominoes.
We going to figure something out.
So that's what I felt like I read in that, too.
It said man in color, indigenous people.
participated more in group activity, which sound like black people to me.
You know, we like a good kickback, you know, like a good hangout.
how's it
And I'm fine, and I'm listening to what you're speaking about.
But I call, like, I know about nursing homes, because, oh, my gosh, I guess I could say about the last 20 years, I've been dealing with nursing homes because you have parents, you know, to get old and you take care of them and they pass away.
So I have brothers in nursing homes, nursing homes.
And I have one brother, he's been complaining.
that he's being treated there.
And I picked him up a lot.
He had kids, but you know, he never had that contact with the kids he should have.
And so they'll call him, but one don't, one will, he got two.
But we do a lot, you know, over that way.
But he was telling me that one of the guy pushed them down the steps.
But one day I went over there, I saw the guy dragging them down the steps.
And then he came down with a busted lip.
And I asked him, I said, what happened?
He said the guy pushed him down the steps.
And so I was with him last night because I had taken him out a lot with me.
I was just a cold that I fell down there.
But now I'm back taking him out more and he told me even more.
And so I told him I'm going to have to speak to somebody because no, that's not right.
My brother's got Parkinson's and he's on the Walker.
So he can't really defend himself at all.
And for somebody to be just that evil to push somebody down steps, that's crazy.
But anyways, I have two in the second one.
He kind of, you know, he's more talkative, but men don't talk.
You know, please, it's happening to him.
I saw his lips.
I had to ask him, and he don't talk.
And I said, well, how can I help you if you don't talk?
And so anyways, I got to get to that story, but you know, helping them out.
But I was thinking about the graphic, and Val Filler spoke at my...
junior high graduation.
And I'm 77.
So you know how long ago that was.
And Father Grapey, I worked with some of his relatives, but my brother, the one in the nursing home, marched with him.
But my mom would let us go nowhere.
The girl couldn't go nowhere.
We had to stay under my mother.
So, you know, I would have to read about a whole lot of history in the city.
And then I heard on the radio, this guy, he was speaking, he's got a book.
And his name is Michael Barnes.
And he's got
a book called The Destruction of Black Milwaukee.
He goes through the whole scenario, how the city was so prosperous, and we all lived together at that time, and how, you know, they tore up the houses and moved the expressway through, they put up slides, moved the white people out.
You know, all the destruction that keeps them coming and coming at us, and we have to call just to even get garbage picked up in the city lights that's dumped.
But I just want to say some of that stuff, but I'm doing a little live out in the hospital too.
I have people, my close relatives, we have to fight for them at hospitals and take them, they send them back home.
Next thing to know, they're sicker than ever sicker.
When I heard people say that, they come out sicker than ever sicker.
And now they're coming out sicker than ever
sicker.
know,
We'll
OK, yeah.
you share.
If you got
I'd love to hear you.
But what I will say is what stood out to me when she was speaking was her saying a lot of times men won't speak.
And I think you brought that up.
Some men, they're less likely to create those.
relationships and create those spaces where they have like people that got their backs and that that's super sad.
I feel like first of all she needs to get a hold of a good lawyer and definitely be taking it over the cna's head or whoever
else because
the
The sad reality is that they'll likely deal with people that take advantage of them You hear cases like this all the time where like people are in comas and things are happening or people can't speak or it happens all the time so that's even more
I think it's even more work for the family to do, but I mean, like she said, she needs to be talking to somebody, get her a lawyer or something and figure out what's going on because sometimes they won't speak up, but when they do give you that little information, you got to take it in and go with it for real because that's this hard in here.
I hate that.
These are real life cases in Wisconsin.
So November 25th, former Atrium Health and Senior Living CEO Kevin Breslin was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison in order to pay 154 million after diverting more than 37 million in Medicare slash Medicaid funds away from resident care across 23 Wisconsin nursing homes.
That's crazy.
August 2025, a Milwaukee County judge placed four Wisconsin nursing homes into receivership after operator Bedrock Health Care ran out of money following hundreds of health and safety violations.
That's crazy.
July 2025, a former nurse at Spring Valley Health and Rehab Center pleaded no contest.
to negligent negligently abusing a resident after amputating a patient's foot without a doctor's or the right.
That's crazy.
Oh,
And they.
Oh, I know how boiling we go.
We don't see what I got to say in one second after these last two cases.
The 62 year old man died days later.
That's crazy.
November 2024, a Kenosha County judge awarded four million to the family of a Parkside Manor resident with dementia who died after wandering away from the facility.
That's crazy.
We got cousin Al online.
Al, how you feeling today?
You on live with Ray Nitty and maybe Shannon on the lunch break.
I'm wonderful.
See, a lot of times abuse comes from when the family does not show up.
Because when you have families who are active and proactive, they know they have to be on their toes.
Unfortunately for some families, a lot of those family members are bastards.
And they feel they only show up when it's the holiday or they feel when they have pity.
You know, especially in some black families, they don't really care about them.
So they want to do everything from a back approach.
But when you are in the mix every other day or every day, abuse will not happen.
So if that family member done everything right, you should be there for them.
But if you're not there for them, they should let your ass rock.
Like a dead person in golf and nascats, right at the cemetery.
Because I feel like this, and I'm talking about black people, I don't care about you whites, because y'all already do what you do with your own people.
If you.
and go to church every Sunday and praise that black ass living in the sky, who did not raise you, did not birth you, did not give you a meal, and you can go check on your mother, your father, and you only can show up on holidays.
You make sure when your time comes, you be about principle.
And if you are one of them people, I hope they let you rock, okay?
Furthermore, stop using the bastard you got for torture as an excuse not to show up, because you had a mother and father before the bastard was born, okay?
We have this thing in black families.
We're too busy, but they be the first one given family member names when they go in the hospital.
Don't even give the family name.
You give that thing in the sky, you got baptized, you give his number and see if he show up.
Abuse only happens when the family don't show up.
And when that person dies, you should not be at the funeral.
You shouldn't be on obituary.
You shouldn't have your hands up.
A matter of fact, claw your crooked toe ass in the cabinet and say, schooled over, because I know I was never good for anything.
Keep your candy, and we're going to be about principal, goddammit.
That's the only way to go.
We're not like the ages where they make sure the family members OK.
When it comes to us, they want to get their check.
They want to sell their house and they want to act like they're too busy.
So, this is too busy and you can't check on your family members.
God damn it.
Right.
Go to the cemetery and say, hey, I want to come in and the rest of them in their Air Force one to say, well, bring your black ass in because we've been waiting for you.
Have a great weekend.
I was
few
Jesus, don't do it.
Don't do it.
It's the speaker, not the speaker.
What up, what up, what up, what
Welcome back, welcome back to the Lunch Break crew.
Ray Nitty, maybe Shannon DJ, Brother Z. Holding us down on the production and sound, man.
This is the award-winning 1017, the truth.
We talking about...
Lonely men and not well not lonely men.
That's not quite true, but We were talking about men being more lonely in nursing homes and then we are now transitioning to Our nursing homes actually safe and we read a few of them Shannon
One of
What is going on?
I read it again.
Just for those that are just joining us, a former nurse at Spring Valley Health and Rehab Center pleaded no contest to negligently abusing a resident after amputating a patient's foot without a doctor's authorization.
The 62 year old man died days later.
That's, I don't even know what to say.
You cut my foot off,
100 he got who was ordered to pay 154 million dollars after diverting more than 37 million in Medicare and Medicaid funds away from residents care from resident care across 23 Wisconsin nursing homes and these be I don't know what this Who is this dude Kevin?
Breslin and these be folks that had these positions and Abusing a power to do BS
I wonder what 23 Wisconsin nursing homes were funds diverted from.
I got an idea, but I wonder.
We got a little national scope for them too, Shannon, about
the
Two and three say yeah beat them
I'm
gonna push them over a little bit like it's so normal like I worked at the hospital, right and I Understand why people say like some of these nurses are the worst people you will ever meet my worst human beings like I Worked in the emergency room for five years doing like registration and I was just like, huh
Don't put me in here.
It's just one of those things that's so disheartening because you're dealing with people at the worst of their times, at the lowest of their times, and you taking advantage of that.
And you acting like you can't walk away.
These people can't walk away half the time.
You taking advantage of people that pretty much need you.
Yeah, and like Al said,
Some of these people, they made their bed and they laying in it.
They ain't do nothing for their family and now they're in a nursing home and they ain't got nobody to show up for them.
But if those people are your loved ones that showed up for you and did for you, it's your job to show up because things are less likely to happen when they know people are coming.
I carried that sentiment even at my child's school.
And one phone call, that's all I'm coming.
I'm gonna figure out, we gonna get to the bottom of that.
Somebody, you think they bullying you?
I'm on my way.
What is the teachers doing?
They gonna get sick of me before I get sick of y'all.
So it's one of those things where when they know you're coming, people are gonna be less likely to act up because they know, oh, this cousin gon' come.
The National Council on Agents estimates one in ten adults over 60 experience some form of elder abuse each year and the Department of Justice's own research suggests only about one in 24 cases actually gets reported.
Meaning the true scale is likely far larger than the official statistics captured.
Also says older adults who experience abuse have a
300 times higher risk of death compared to those who don't, according to NCOA research.
Wisconsin's own reported elder abuse cases have climbed steadily for two decades from 3,251 cases in 2001 to over Jesus, to over 10,000 by 2021.
Per the State Department of Justice That's a 300% is crazy
Like I said, I don't I think anytime where you're a vulnerable person you just aren't safe because People are more selfish than they are good and some people might have a bad day and then take it out on you and they don't they don't see it No other way because that's what they used to and that's what they used to doing around there
So anytime you're in a vulnerable state, whether you're a child, whether you're an adult that can't do everything for themselves, whether you have some sort of disability, I think people that have people in their lives that are willing to step up and show up for them are extremely blessed.
And the ones that aren't, like, we got to do a better job of advocating for them.
You know, like she said, she's been showing up and asking the questions.
And I think people, even people around like bystanders, there's no reason this type of behavior is happening and a coworker ain't reporting nothing.
Nobody is suspicious of this person that just is there.
You know what I'm saying?
Like it's obviously this type of stuff goes unchecked and it's not being reported properly.
So I don't know.
I think all hands on deck needs to be a thing when it comes to people that are vulnerable.
I agree 100 percent eight three three two one two ten seventeen.
That is the number to dial.
When we come back.
When we come back, we will get into Malcolm Jamal Warner's widow breaks her silence.
We're going to talk about what happened.
We're going to talk about the lawsuit that broke right after.
And then we're going to get into some family tension that was happening.
Uh, but this is the lunch break with Ray Nitty and maybe Shannon.
Don't go anywhere.
What
Man, I'm feeling good, man.
We got some good conversations going.
It's Friday, man.
We almost done with the work week.
Like I said earlier in the show if you have work if you working at a nine to five right now This that day where the where the higher ups ain't really there like that you you can really mess off Just click a button or two every hour and listen to the lunch break.
They don't know what you're doing over there
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Man, the menu was full today.
I want to catch us up I'll say you have to read the reviews on the nursing homes and then we had a Marcus He said that this conversation hit hard for me because my mother was putting a put in a nursing home when she was diagnosed with dementia before she got dementia She always told us never put her in a nursing home, but my oldest sister and my youngest sister put her in a home without the
of me or my older brother or my younger brother.
For that reason, I am no longer talking to them.
I'm working overtime, hard and long for me and my wife to buy a home to move her in with us.
Man.
I think that's
you got to definitely stay all hands on deck.
And I mean, him and his wife are working to get a home and get her back in they care and that's what matters.
And I feel like as long as, like I said, as long as you show that your presence is there often and you do surprise visits and everything under the sun, I do feel like the likelihood of people doing something is way less because they ain't know like, oh, okay, like.
their family shows up for this person.
That family will pop up at any point in time.
You know what I mean?
Sometimes you just gotta let your presence be known.
But yeah, I'm sorry to hear that.
huh?
on
that we need.
Bring us home.
Yeah, Malcolm
We work nothing.
So Malcolm Jamal Warner is beloved for playing Theo, a huckstable on the Cosby show, and he drowned off the coast of Costa Rica, July 20th, 2025.
That was almost a year ago at 54.
while the family was on vacation and he was swimming with his young daughter.
His widow that was married to him since 2017, Tanisha Warner, kept her identity private for years and only confirmed publicly who she was shortly after his death.
Just before the one year anniversary, Tanisha sat down for her first TV interview with Gayle King on CBS.
In this air, July 23, 2026, that was my birthday.
Just let everybody know.
And she spoke about grief and raising their now nine-year-old daughter and how unfair his death still feels.
There was a lawsuit that broke out or that broke right after.
Just after the interview aired, news broke that Tenisha has filed a $1.2 million lawsuit against Warner's mother, Pamela Warner, who served as the trustee of the Warner Family Trust, established in 1996, decades before Tenisha and Malcolm even met.
Under that trust existing term, 70% of his assets go to his mother.
Pamela and 15% to his late father's estate and 15% to his half sister, meaning Tanisha and their daughter are not direct beneficiaries under that original document.
Mind you guys, the document was created before those two are even in the picture.
So, Tanisha Soot claims that she and Warner signed a prenuptial agreement in 2022, promising her a million dollar life insurance policy as a beneficiary, but he died before ever finalizing this policy, so she's just asking the trust to cover it, plus unpaid salary, anniversary payments, and a Roth IRA.
Her spokesperson says Warner was in process of finalizing a new estate plan to replace the drawn-up
the one that was drawn up 20 years before he even met Tanisha when he died.
So Pamela Warner posted her own tribute around the anniversary referencing how cruel and evil and greedy humans can be, widely read online as a veiled response to the lawsuit, though she has not addressed it directly by name.
And Pamela is his mother.
When Gayle King asked Tanisha directly whether she was in communication with Pamela Tanisha responded only that the family is grieving notably not confirming an active relationship Man, I who sides you on right?
You a merry man.
If you were in this position Well, hopefully you're never in that position because you won't be with
it's the plus.
It's just something women made up.
is that?
Hey!
And then I'm like sugar baby stuff.
you got the calculator out right
Oh my god.
You know what the Bible said, Jesus paid it all.
it all is crazy.
Yeah.
payment,
break with Ray Nitty.
Amanda in the chat, I'm
Winnie 101.7, the true.
Make sure you follow our host, Ray Nitty at R-A-Y-N-I-T-T-I, Ray Nitty, and maybe Shannon at M-A-Y-B-E-S-H-A-N-N-O-N, cross law platforms.
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We got the grapevine with Manon.
And then we also have tap in with Jazzy.
You don't want to miss this lineup.
See y'all next week, Monday through Friday.
Same time, same place.
We kicking in with your cousins on the lunch break, man.
What you got right before we head out?
joining
It's definitely not.
The views and opinions of the hosts and guests of this program are of their own and not a reflection of Milwaukee black media or 101 7 the truth Good afternoon Milwaukee.
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My way of thinking is that the parents do all they can.
But once the kids leave off that door, whatever have you, they make their own decisions.
I don't care if you nine or 99.
It's still your decision about the situations that you didn't bob yourself in.
Look into their taxes.
Look into this.
We talking about elected officials doing backdoor deals and somehow she still wanna blame immigrants.
That's what we talking about right now.
We following the money and you still wanna blame black people and immigrants and welfare and all of these things for policies and backdoor deals that put poor people in worse position.
Live from the American Family Insurance Studio at the Third Street Market Hall.
become an issue?
Here are your hosts, Ray Nitty and maybe Shannon.
What up?
What up?
What up?
What up?
What up?
Good afternoon.
Good afternoon.
Good afternoon.
Thank you.
If you are now punched in on your lunch break with Ray Nitty and maybe Shannon, man, on the award winning one on one, seven, the truth.
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How you feeling about yesterday show?
I want you to tell the people miss Shannon on you know Just give a recap for maybe those that wasn't able to join us yesterday So we got a bunch of stuff that we didn't get to because of how Engaging the topic was so I yeah, Shannon give him a rundown or would derailed us yesterday
That that has been a topic online and across news networks.
So we're like, let's talk about that.
Let's get people's views and opinions on the stay at home boyfriend and why it's happening.
Ray came with the facts and all the things laid out.
And brother Z, of course, came with a clip that we weren't suspecting he was gonna play from Fox six news.
And as she describes the, you know, epidemic of boyfriend staying home and blah, blah, blah at the end.
Miss Lady decides to throw in, well, this is what women want.
You guys are pushing straight men out to work for it.
So that derailed our conversation.
It definitely, definitely derailed the convo because it just took us on a whole different conversation.
Shots out to the folks in the chat.
Jasmine Jazz West Let's chop it up Tap tapped it LBSQ all right.
Oh, we're gonna figure out what that means in a sec.
Let's chop it up Anita Nicole once again y'all make sure y'all are Like share subscribe, please like Shannon said like share and subscribe Man, it was a few things we didn't get to yesterday Shannon on
You know, we had our appetizer that we wanted to share with the folks, which was this video.
And maybe we'll do it when we come back from the first break.
And then we didn't get to the loneliness.
The men are lonelier in nursing homes.
And I think we had an epiphany as to why.
Oh,
And then we also wanted to talk about our nursing homes actually safe for our families, because we've seen so many situations where, you know, people had to put hidden videos and cameras in order to, you know, see if their family members being treated right.
And some of those things are just terrible.
And then we also talked about the cost of quitting too soon.
And that was actually a good conversation.
Maybe we'll go into that a little bit more, Shannon, but what's your thoughts before we go to break, Shannon, on some of these
I definitely think we should go into the cost of quitting too soon.
I thought that was a really dope conversation, and you had a really cool story behind that.
I think as a creative or anybody that has like dreams like they would want to hear more about that story because that was really cool.
Even like the friend that you spoke of I called in like if he'd call in again I would love to ask a few questions.
But yeah we got a nice little lineup going on and the male loneliness epidemic is a thing so I think it would be
Cool to hear how that correlates to them being alone in nursing homes even though that they're less of the population because men tend to live a little less longer than women So I think all of this would be dope to touch base on and I'm super excited for this episode
You feel what I'm saying?
So it's like, how do we, how do you keep pushing on that?
And then we also do have today, Shannon, I want to make sure I don't forget, Black Arts MKE.
Executive Director Barbara Wanzo will be joining us today.
And we'll ask some questions for her about that, man.
So definitely interested
Yesterday was fun, though.
Yesterday was fun.
But yeah, we got a couple questions for Miss Wanzo.
And we just want to talk about what they have going on with Black Arts MKE Theater Festival.
So definitely looking forward to that.
But yeah, the cost of giving up too soon, quitting too soon, I've seen it.
I feel like I've given up on certain things too soon as well.
And then you're on the sideline.
you know, you see somebody living out your dreams that you shared or whatever the case may be.
So it is important that we stay focused, we stay consistent, we stay grounded, we stay surrounded with people that are, you know, pushing us forward because sometimes, Shannon, you know, people give up just based off of
the energy and the people that they got around them.
And what's crazy is you don't even realize sometimes like your closest friends might not be the ones pushing you.
But like even for me, like I noticed like sometimes like when I don't feel as motivated by people closer to me, like it's people online that'll randomly write me.
And I'm like, dang, I didn't even realize you watch like what I do.
And they were like, dude, keep going.
Like what you got going on this dope?
And I'm like, dang, like.
Hold on now.
I needed that at this moment.
And it's good to know like some people that you don't talk to on an everyday basis are actually rooting for you.
So you never know who needs to hear what you what you got to say or who you motivate throughout this, you know, life.
100, 100, 100 percent.
And I know you've shared some stories on this show where, you know, we've came across random people.
on the street or people will send you a text message like, man, love what y'all talked about today on the show, man.
I really need it.
So it's like, it's good.
Like you said, it's great to hear those things.
And sometimes you do need to hear it.
I agree with you 100% because you, you know, you like, all right, is am I doing this in vain?
You know, am I?
But that's why it's important to stay consistent because sometimes that one person.
that one person that we might reach is super, super important.
We don't know what we'll inspire in their lives, you know, inspire them to do or keep them from doing, you know, so.
I remember there was a story.
I can't remember exactly what artist it was, but they were saying how like their song on YouTube has super low views.
And like, I'm talking like in the hundreds, you know, and for YouTube, that's not, that's not much.
But they said, J. Cole or somebody ended up reaching out and it was like, imagine like you only get in a hundred views, but one of them hundred is J. Cole.
Like, so it's like, you never know who's watching.
You don't know who's inspiring.
You don't know who's like, you might be on the verge of making it, even though the numbers don't feel like it or what you're doing at the time and feeling like it, you might be on the verge of something really special.
So even if you have to do certain things in moderation or Dow things, like the dream back a little bit,
You know, I'm doing it still.
I think it still needs to be done half the time.
Man, you brought.
You brought you brought something up that did you see the story with the ASAP Rocky and the guy that he reached out to about like rebranding?
So ASAP.
I just randomly saw it.
I don't know why I sent it to you.
But yeah, so he must have DMed this artist creative, whatever.
And you know, the creative, sometimes we be too quick to post our blessings and things as well too.
And the person posted it like, you know, and showing ASAP DMing him like, oh man, you know, when God blah, blah, blah, you know.
Just showing up, showing that ASAP DM'd him about re-helping him with his re-branding and whatnot.
And then ASAP then was like, ASAP Rocky was like, you know what?
He basically was like, nah, I'm cool.
I don't want to work with you no more.
Because he posted it, you know?
Because it's like, you don't even know what you might have ruined for ASAP.
So man, just keep your head down, man.
Let's not, don't.
rush to show.
go
anywhere.
What up, y'all?
What up?
What up?
What
Welcome back.
Welcome back.
You are now punched in on your Ludge Break with Ray Niddy and maybe Shannon on the award-winning 101.7.
The truth.
DJ BrotherZ holding us down with the production and sound.
Main.
We talking about never giving up too soon man.
You don't ever want to give up and the cost of quitting too soon We had a homie we've called in yesterday and I had shared a story.
I just shared a story about you know his journey with You know a dream that he was very very early on and He had a podcast
with Ivy and that was based out in Houston, but he's from Milwaukee.
And.
They did.
They did.
A podcast festival.
They did a podcast festival, and it was super dope.
But in trying to get sponsors and people to support, people didn't even know what a podcast festival was.
And they had multiple podcasts from the city.
Come on the show and gave them 30 minutes to do their live performance in front of the audience and so forth.
And they had Charlemagne, Charlemagne the God and I don't know the other brilliant idiots I think Shannon.
I think that's what it was called, right?
So he, uh, he, um, he didn't know what a podcast was, you know, and not a podcast.
I'm sorry, because they had a podcast.
He was like, I don't know what a podcast festival is.
And.
You know, he was like, oh, OK, OK, OK.
And then after the years go by, you know, he now has a podcast festival.
And during these times, I had, I know, right?
During this time, I had always, you know, hit him, hit Ivy, like, man, y'all got to bring the pie back, man.
You can't give up on that, man.
You got to.
And same ways people have done the same with me and plenty of things that I've, you know, shared and it was.
was working on it.
Like, man, you got to do this.
You got to finish that.
But, you know, just to see where it is now and for him to call in and share his experience, I think that was super, super humbling.
But Shannon, we have our guests joining us now.
OK.
We have our guests joining us.
How are you all doing?
I'm gonna
have y'all
I'm gonna stand up like Kyle be standing up and get it together.
There you go.
Right there.
Appreciate the advice, Kyle.
She's like, man, I'll be having stuff to do.
I'll be I need to stand up.
All right.
Yeah, you know what?
Plug it in right there and that that one right there.
But yeah, right there.
Boom.
Yes, ma'am.
You know, welcome to the lunch break.
Welcome, welcome, welcome.
Oh, it's good to be here.
We good.
We
We are good.
There we
audience.
I am Barbara Rwanzo, and I'm the executive director of Black Arts MKE.
I'm Sherri Williams-Pennell, and I am pleased to be associated with Black Arts MKE, not only as an artistic associate, but I've been pleased to direct and to write and
to be, I'm gonna say, the biggest fan of this organization that has been a blessing to Black Arts in Milwaukee.
You know that for sure.
we are family.
There we
Well, our mission is to increase the.
availability of black arts in in this well not in the city but the
the whole area, you know, greater Milwaukee area and beyond.
We have programming that extends from youth programming to all of the public programming like we do like the Black Arts Festival that we do annually.
Most people know our organization through Black Nativity by Langston Hughes that we do in December.
That's our signature production.
And our youth programming is in several MPS schools.
after school programming, where we, it depends on what the school wants for their school, but we do drumming and music and, you know, the performing arts, drama, et cetera.
And then of course we are just, you know, thrilled to be, to have original works, like through Bronzeville Arts Ensemble and what we're gonna talk about today, Val and Grappi.
And I forgot to mention that I'm also the producing artistic director for Brownsville Arts Ensemble, which is under the umbrella of part of the family, Black Arts MKE.
You know, our board members, one of our board members, Grady Crosby is actually from North Carolina.
He was a senior executive with Northwestern Mutual and was very familiar with the National Black Arts Festival in North Carolina.
And when he came to our board, he brought this concept, you know, to...
to our board and then I was sent to the National Black Theater Festival in North Carolina and with the intent of doing something like that in Milwaukee.
And we wanted initially to also have to partner with a local theater company
to bring that to the city.
And that was kind of the genesis of the idea.
And once we got into it, our concept in this was to bring black arts to the community.
Our home currently is at the Marcus Center, but we wanted to be all over the city with events and theatrical productions, et cetera, and get our local talent, which is...
massive involved in this event.
This is why it's important for us to offer our programming for the festival at the Wisconsin Historical Society and Museum, Black Historical Society and Museum.
And we're grateful to Glaborn Benson and Jamila Benson for opening this opportunity to collaborate.
I was actually, I'll say gifted with this project by Joshua Poya, who is the person who conceived it, curated the music, and wrote this wonderful tribute to Vell R. Phillips and to James E. Grappie, two icons of not only
Milwaukee's history, Wisconsin's history, but national history.
These wonderful people who help to work with young people.
This was really a movement of the youth and they helped to guide the Milwaukee commandos to lead 200 nights of nonviolent protests, at least from our side, nonviolent protests for open housing.
as one of the lines from the play says, it wasn't to get to the suburban areas, we weren't looking at Brookfield and Macquan, we just wanted to get the 27th Street.
That's the
First, I'll start with Val Phillips, the first woman alderman, the first black alderman, the first secretary of state, black and woman, the first woman judge and black woman, elected judge in Milwaukee County, a feminist womanist,
I'm gonna say there was a terminology my mother would use she would say a race woman which meant proud of her people and Accomplishments and wanted to uplift the people of Milwaukee and in doing so Setting a standard that lifted black people and people of color across the nation So and father graphe a man of faith
who lived his faith.
He was not afraid to speak out.
In fact, you know, apprentice McKinney and the commando said, what was that?
They used a terminology to say that he was really a soul brother in vanilla skin.
Because he understood the struggle of oppressed people and he wasn't afraid even necessary to give up his life for
but it's pretty dope to get
here.
In fact, you know that album of the Roots and you see the woman running for her life.
That was a photo from one of the 200 nights in Milwaukee.
that.
Yes.
music.
My aesthetic really is to allow my expression to be in the form of a, a gagrio.
Although I'm not male.
Although this is maybe not a part of my familial lineage.
but it is my training.
And that is to bring the story, and it's my calling, to bring the stories of the African-American experience to the stage and to collaborate with other theater professionals.
And I'll say young people who are learning and have an interest in theater, bring them on board and allow them to be a part of the process of theater making.
And I was,
raised here in Milwaukee, Milwaukee-born and raised, but I also was able to go away to school, to Spelman College and gain my undergraduate degree, not in theater, but I was active in the arts while I was in school, and then went away to gain a master of fine arts at UW-Madison in directing.
So really, this really is my calling.
I've been a part of it all of my life.
I love to talk about the...
the center for beauty and culture that was on King Drive, then was Third Street and Center.
It was
two doors south of Center Street.
And it was a place where black girls and boys came to learn drama, dance.
And I say ballet, learning ballet in French from a man by the name of Wardell Anderson.
And a lady by the name of, we said, Mr. Rod.
We didn't even know her first name because you only called adults, Mr. and Miss, right?
So Miss Sarat.
And they taught these, these courses in the language of, of that, that art form.
And we also learned African dance from Mr. Anderson and modern dance because that was during the early years.
Oh, well, I'm really dating myself, but it's okay.
Cause that's history is during the time.
the heyday of Alvin Ailey when he was touring.
And so modern dance was very much in vogue.
And so we learned modern dance, African dance, ballet.
And all of this is a part of my training and my background.
And that's what I like to share and pass along.
And it's incorporated into the theater.
So when you come see Val and Grappi, it's not, it's also the words
of
these iconic...
members of our community, but then we see it interpreted in the form of dance and music as well.
And I'm gonna tell you, it's parody.
Because that's how oppressed people, we survive through comedy and laughter.
And if we can't find some way of getting out that stress through laughter, I don't know what have happened to us.
So when you come, you will hear familiar songs from the late 60s and 70s, but they are delivered in the same fashion, but they're telling a different story through
got some
with this?
Inspired to keep moving in our forward direction in the midst of this struggle.
To know that if these, during this time of great oppression,
If these two iconic members of our community and the youth could come together against great odds and open housing in Milwaukee, what can we do today with all of this knowledge that we have and the technology in our favor?
Just look at this radio station and all that you're able to get the word out.
I want people galvanized and it's important
to vote.
If it wasn't for Val Phillips becoming that first African American and woman older person and speaking up.
Going back year after year for six years, bringing up open housing legislation for our policies for our city over and over again.
If she didn't give up and if people didn't vote her in, where would we be right now?
Don't give up.
We still see how we still on subject, but don't go anywhere.
Don't give up on the lunch break yet, because when we come back, when we come back after these messages, we got some more questions.
Shannon got some more questions for the both of them.
You're tuned into the lunch break on the award winning one on one, seven to truth.
Don't go anywhere.
sorry.
I'm Barbara Wanzo.
Sherry Williams-Panel.
This has been a joy and it's been heartbreaking at the same time because the deeper we delve into what we call in theater dramaturgy, that's the research we did at UWM.
library, the Golden Maier Library, the Bronzeville Collection, and the Marquette Archives, and also the Wisconsin Black Historical Society, we realize history's repeating.
And if we are not telling our truth, I like that the truth, that we're not telling the truth, and we're not teaching the truth, we can find ourselves in a very dark place very soon.
So it's it's beautiful to remember and to honor and at the same time it's a reminder Do not fall asleep stay awake be aware keep working and I'll keep saying you vote
and from black arts MKE's perspective, you know working with ultra talented Shiro's like Sherry and Bronzeville Arts ensemble is is
pure joy.
You know, there's there are lots of theaters in town that do the famous stuff by August Wilson or Dominique Moroseau, but to also have from Bronzeville original work, being able to tell our stories.
I mean, that's, you know, for a town like Milwaukee, it's very special.
And, you know,
what we found working with youth in our month-long performing arts summer camp, our youth, they don't know our history.
And so being able to bring these stories, these artworks to our city is immensely important.
We're different.
If we are going to, if Black Arts MKE is going to exist, we have to serve our community.
We are not kind of a build it and they will come and see all the things you can see on TV or YouTube or whatever.
We want you to learn about history, but we also want you to see some of our talented black directors and artists that are in the city telling our stories.
You know, that's very unique in a town like Milwaukee.
to
So as somebody that's an artist, and this is more so for you, Ms.
Barbara, and from the executive director lens, right?
As someone I'm an artist and I have been working a long time in trying to figure out talent leaving.
the city, right?
We lose so much of our creative talent to these larger cities, your Atlantis, your LA's, your even in our backyard, Chicago, you know what I mean?
So what are you seeing from your lens?
How can we retain our homegrown talent so we could use their talent to make our home better?
You know, it's interesting.
I
Like I said before, we work a lot with our youth.
And we've been doing the camp for, I think, at least eight years.
So we've seen a lot of these youth go off to HBCUs.
And I'm all for going to HBCUs, but come back.
and make a difference in your community.
And we're seeing a lot of that.
But if they know that they can come back to the performing arts in our city, give them a reason to come back, because it's not just about work.
We're coming full circle.
People want to be well-rounded individuals.
They want to have things to do.
But they also want to have cultural experiences.
And we have that for them.
So, you know, we want them to come back.
That's, that is my pitch.
You know, it's like, we'll support you.
I write a lot of recommendation letters for youth, whether they're trying to get into a specific high school or HBCU.
But what I do tell them is go out, have fun, get your education, but come back.
Sure.
I'll
answer about the was about from the festival That the opportunity is here to create there are many stories to tell and you have a place
where you can create at the stories that you want to tell.
Tell the story.
I think it was Toni Morrison who said, she wrote the books because she couldn't find the story she wanted to read.
So you have something you want to see on the stage, be it a drama, a dance, whatever that performance might be.
If you can't find it, create it.
and it can happen with Black Arts MKE.
And I'd like to just ask people to come out and support Black Arts MKE and the performing arts as a whole C-Villagra.
I mean, this is incredible.
And with any luck and blessings, we will be able to take this beyond Milwaukee, maybe to Madison and other cities.
Because this is an important story.
This is what it's all about.
But we need you to support your black institutions and nonprofits.
Because we can't.
We can't exist without you.
And we're doing this for you.
Please come out to the Wisconsin Black Historical Society and see a lot of our programming.
It's unique and interesting, and I promise you, you will not find this
anywhere
else in the city.
And they can get tickets where?
Oh, the website.
You can just go right on blackartsmke.org.
It's right on the home page that you can click through for event-bright tickets.
And at the door.
Oh, yes, you don't need a ticket if you're gonna walk in.
We love that.
So please walk in.
It's the Thursday of each week.
So I think that's the 13th and the 20th.
And we want everybody to feel included.
I mean, the regular tickets are nominal.
$25.
However, we want, you know, kids and students, and we want everybody to come out and
see
this.
So it's pay what you can, and you don't have to pay anything.
So there's no excuse not to come and see Velongrappi and all of the other programming.
And, you know, people say that they always miss the Black Nativity Auditions.
Don't miss it this year.
We're telling you that they're happening as part of the festival.
the Dough
got
Shannon.
What up
y'all
It was a great interview, but what's funny is, what was stood out for me was them saying that the movement was that of the youth, and we tend to forget how impactful the youth is.
even now like youth entertainers and stuff like that I was reading something the other day about how entertainers like helped win wars is acting as spies and stuff like that but you know that's just me thinking how how much the youth and the entertainers matter when it comes to certain things it's also funny because the
name Father Grappie always stood out to me because my dad when he was younger he would say how he would find himself getting into stuff as the youth and he was he worked with Father Grappie before and I was
like
little bit
he
important to realize how much like the youth matter man and like stories like this like they said they have to be told because if we forget history we are We gonna repeat it.
So I think it was a dope conversation.
I'm super I want to see this show I'm gonna be there at the end of the month So hopefully it's running then like we got to get those
them some more information.
You know, that was very interesting here because I always like saw the pictures of Father Gropi and I heard some of the stories and what he participated in and what he was impacting.
but to actually hear it firsthand and now to be able to go and see a play in parody form where they're making it fun.
You know, that's kind of like what the lunch break like to do.
We like to have some serious fun, you know?
Yes.
I'm interested to see that and learn more because I always just saw the picture and he like had a black on with the little white priest collar and stuff.
And
I know we only got like a minute or two before this last break and we start our two, but we do want to get into men are lonelier in nursing homes.
So we want to talk about this.
We have some studies and we got some stats because, you know, we like to dig.
So yeah, Shannon, we're going to dive into this one.
You brought this one up.
So.
I don't know who you kicked out the program and checked into a nursing home, but we're gonna have to figure out.
I'm sick of you, Paul.
We've seen numerous times, like we said, where people are mistreating our elderly in these nursing homes.
And maybe we get into Malcolm Jamal Warner's widow breaks her silence.
I think that's going to be an interesting conversation as well.
But don't go anywhere, you all.
This is Ray Nitty and maybe Shannon on the lunch break, but we come back in a be-our-too.
What do you do?
Don't go anywhere.
The views and opinions of the hosts and guests of this program are of their own and not a reflection of Milwaukee black media or 101 7 the truth Good afternoon Milwaukee.
You're tuned in to the lunch break on 101 7 the truth where everything is an option on the menu
Grab your lunch, hit send on that email, and get ready for the best hour of your day.
My way of
thinking
is that the parents do all they can.
But once the kids leave off that door, whatever have you, they make their own decisions.
I don't care if you nine or 99, and it's still your decision about the situations that you get involved yourself in.
Look into their taxes.
Look into this.
We talking about elected officials doing backdoor deals and somehow she still wanna blame immigrants.
That's what we talking about right now.
We following the money and you still wanna blame black people and immigrants and welfare and all of these things for policies and backdoor deals that put poor people in worse
position.
Live from the American Family Insurance Studio at the Third Street Market Hall.
become an issue?
Here are your hosts, Ray Nitty and maybe
Yo, what up?
What up?
What up?
What up?
What up?
What up?
Good afternoon.
Good afternoon.
Good afternoon.
Thank you.
If you are now punched in on your lunch break with Ray Nitty and maybe Shannon, man, on the award winning one on one, seven, the truth.
Man, make sure y'all are tapped in with us, man.
8332121017 is the number to dial.
833-212-1017 is the number to dial.
Bring a friend on your lunch break, man.
Tell them how I pull up, man.
What we serving up?
You pretty, pretty tasty over here.
Shannon, how you feeling?
I'm
Man make sure you guys head over to Facebook where you can find the lunch break guys Follow that page help us grow our community.
We are at over 600 followers right now We trying to keep it growing if you guys want to join the chat watch us live in the studio
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And then make sure you follow your host.
We got Ray Nitty at Ray Nitty, R-A-Y-N-I-T-T-I.
across all platforms, maybe Shannon, M-I-B-E-H-A-N-N-O-N across all platforms.
How y'all feeling today, man?
It's Friday.
It's
How are you feeling, Shannon?
How are you feeling about yesterday's show?
I want you to tell the people, Miss Shannon, you know, just give a recap for maybe those that wasn't able to join us yesterday.
So we got a bunch of stuff that we didn't get to because of how engaging the topic was.
So, yeah, Shannon, give them a rundown of what derailed us yesterday.
that that has been a topic online and across news networks.
So we're like, let's talk about that.
Let's get people's views and opinions on the stay at home boyfriend and why it's happening.
Ray came with the facts and all the things laid out.
And brother Z, of course, came with a clip that we weren't suspecting he was gonna play from Fox six news.
And as she describes the, you know, epidemic of boyfriend staying home and blah, blah, blah.
At the end, Miss Lady,
decides to throw in, well, this is what women want.
You guys are pushing straight men out to work for it.
So that derailed our conversation.
It definitely, definitely derailed the convo because it just took us on a whole different conversation.
Shots out to the folks in the chat.
Jasmine Jazz West.
Let's chop it up.
Tap, tapped it, LBSQ.
All right, I'll with it.
We gonna figure out what that mean in a sec.
Let's chop it up.
Anita Nicole, once again y'all, make sure y'all like, share, subscribe, please, like Shannon said.
Like, share, and subscribe.
Man, it was a few things we didn't get to yesterday, Shannon.
You know, we had our appetizer that we wanted to share with the folks, which was this video.
And maybe we'll do it when we come back from the first break.
And then we didn't get to the loneliness.
The men are lonelier in nursing homes.
And I think we had an epiphany as to why.
Oh,
And then we also wanted to talk about our nursing homes actually safe for our families, because we've seen so many situations where, you know, people had to put hidden videos and cameras in order to, you know, see if their family members being treated right.
And some of those things are just terrible.
And then we also talked about the cost of quitting too soon.
And that was actually a good conversation.
Maybe we'll go into that a little bit more, Shannon, but what's your thoughts before we go to break, Shannon, on some of these things?
I thought that was a really dope conversation and you had a really cool story behind that.
I think as a creative or anybody that has like dreams like they would want to hear more about that story because that was really cool.
Even like the friend that you spoke of I called in like if he'd call in again I would love to ask a few questions.
But yeah we got a nice little lineup going on and the male loneliness epidemic is a thing so I think it would be
Cool to hear how that correlates to them being alone in nursing homes even though that they're less of the population because men tend to live a little less longer than women So I think all of this would be dope to touch base on and I'm super excited for this episode
Yes.
Yes.
Yes, man.
Um Yeah, I think it was super dope.
I that we've called in and shared that story about
what was going on back then when, you know, nobody is doing podcasting at that time, really.
And to, you know, feel like, all right, it was no money in this thing.
You feel what I'm saying?
So it's like, how do we, how do you keep pushing on that?
And then we also do have today, Shannon, I want to make sure I don't forget, Black Arts MKE.
Executive Director Barbara Wanzo will be joining us today.
And we'll ask some questions for her about that, man.
So definitely interested
Yesterday was fun, though.
Yesterday was fun.
But yeah, we got a couple questions for Miss Wanzo.
And we just want to talk about what they have going on with Black Arts MKE Theater Festival.
So definitely looking forward to that.
But yeah, the cost of giving up too soon, quitting too soon, I've seen it.
I feel like I've given up on certain things too soon as well.
And then you're on the sideline.
You know, you see somebody living out your dreams that you shared or whatever the case may be.
So it is important that we stay focused, we stay consistent, we stay grounded, we stay surrounded with people that are, you know, pushing us forward.
Because sometimes, Shannon, you know, people give up just based off of
the energy and the people that they got around them.
And what's crazy is you don't even realize sometimes like your closest friends might not be the ones pushing you.
But like even for me, like I noticed like sometimes like when I don't feel as motivated by people closer to me, like it's people online that'll randomly write me.
And I'm like, dang, I didn't even realize you watch like what I do.
And they be like, dude, keep going.
Like what you got going on this dope?
And I'm like, dang, like.
Hold on now.
I needed that at this moment.
And it's good to know like some people that you don't talk to on an everyday basis are actually rooting for you.
So you never know who needs to hear what you what you got to say or who you motivate throughout this, you know, life.
100, 100, 100 percent.
And I know we've shared some stories on this show where, you know, we've came across random people.
on the street or people will send you a text message like, man, love what y'all talked about today on the show, man.
I really need it.
So it's like, it's good.
Like you said, it's great to hear those things.
And sometimes you do need to hear it.
I agree with you 100% because you, you know, you like, all right, is am I doing this in vain?
You know, am I?
But that's why it's important to stay consistent because sometimes that one person.
that one person that we might reach is super, super important.
We don't know what we'll inspire in their lives, you know, inspire them to do or keep them from doing, you know, so.
I remember there was a story.
I can't remember exactly what artist it was, but they were saying how like their song on YouTube has super low views.
And like I'm talking like in the hundreds, you know, and for YouTube, that's not that's not much.
But they said Jake Holt or somebody ended up reaching out and it was like, imagine like you only get in a hundred views, but one of them hundred is
Jake
Like, so it's like, you never know who's watching.
You don't know who's inspiring.
You don't know who's like, you might be on the verge of making it even though the numbers don't feel like it or what you're doing at the time.
I mean, feeling like it, you might be on the verge of something really special.
So even if you have to do certain things in moderation or Dow things, like the dream back a little bit,
You know, I'm doing it still.
I
Man, you brought.
You brought you brought something up that did you see the story with the ASAP Rocky and the guy that he reached out to about like rebranding?
Oh, so ASAP.
I just randomly saw it, I don't know why I sent it to you.
But yeah, so he must have DMed this artist creative, whatever.
And you know, the creative, sometimes we be too quick to post our blessings and things as well too.
And the person posted it like, you know, and showing ASAP DMing him like, oh man, you know, when God blah, blah, blah, you know.
Just showing up, showing that ASAP DM'd him about re-helping him with his re-branding and whatnot.
And then ASAP then was like, ASAP Rocky was like, you know what?
He basically was like, nah, I'm cool.
I don't want to work with you no more.
Because he posted it, you know?
Because it's like, you don't even know what you might have ruined for ASAP.
So, man, just keep your head down, man.
Rush to show.
anywhere.
What up, y'all?
What up?
What up?
Welcome back.
Welcome back.
You are now punched in on your Ludge Break with Ray Niddy and maybe Shannon on the award winning one on one, seven.
The truth.
DJ BrotherZ holding us down with the production and sound.
Main.
We talking about never giving up too soon man.
You don't ever want to give up and the cost of quitting too soon We had a homie we've called in yesterday and I had shared a story.
I just shared a story about you know his journey with You know a dream that he was very very early on and He had a podcast
with Ivy and that was based out in Houston, but he's from Milwaukee.
And.
They did.
They did.
A podcast festival.
They did a podcast festival, and it was super dope.
But in trying to get sponsors and people to support, people didn't even know what a podcast festival was.
And they had multiple podcasts from the city.
Come on the show and gave them 30 minutes to do their live performance in front of the audience and so forth.
And they had Charlemagne, Charlemagne the God and I don't know the other brilliant idiots I think Shannon.
I think that's what it was called, right?
So he, uh, he, um, he didn't know what a podcast was, you know, and not a podcast.
I'm sorry, because they had a podcast.
He was like, I don't know what a podcast festival is.
And.
You know, he was like, oh, OK, OK, OK.
And then after the years go by, you know, he now has a podcast festival.
And during these times, I had, I know, right?
During this time, I had always, you know, hit him, hit Ivy, like, hey, I got to bring the pie back, man.
You can't give up on that, man.
You got it.
And same way as people have done the same with me and plenty of things that I've, you know, shared and it was.
was working on it.
Like, man, you got to do this.
You got to finish that.
But, you know, just to see where it is now and for him to call in and share his experience, I think that was super, super humbling.
But Shannon, we have our guests joining us now.
OK.
We have our guests joining us.
How are you all doing?
I'm going to ask.
I'm gonna
have y'all
Don't need to worry about it.
I'm gonna stand up like Kyle, be standing up and get it together.
There you go, right there.
Appreciate the advice, Kyle.
She's like, man, I'll be having stuff to do.
I'll be I need to stand up.
All right.
Yeah.
You know what?
Plug it in right there.
That that one right there.
But yeah, right there.
Boom.
Yes, ma'am.
You know, welcome to the lunch break.
Welcome.
Welcome.
Welcome.
All right.
It's good to be here.
Good.
We good.
We are.
audience.
I am Barbara Wanzo, and I'm the Executive Director of Black Arts MKE.
I'm Sherri Williams-Pinnell, and I am pleased to be associated with Black Arts MKE, not only as an artistic associate, but I've been pleased to direct and to write and
to be, I'm gonna say, the biggest fan of this organization that has been a blessing to black arts in Milwaukee.
Because we need blessings for black arts in Milwaukee.
You know that for sure.
Yes.
So, I know me and Shannon got some questions for y'all.
So, you know, we like to treat everybody like family when they come in.
You know, just just just bear with us because you know, we go treat it like you know, we know y'all because
we are family.
Well, our mission is to increase the.
availability of black arts in in this well not in the city but the
the whole area, you know, greater Milwaukee area and beyond.
We have programming that extends from youth programming to all of the public programming like we do like the Black Arts Festival that we do annually.
Most people know our organization through Black Nativity by Langston Hughes that we do in December.
That's our signature production.
And our youth programming is in several MPS schools.
It's after
after school programming, where we, it depends on what the school wants for their school, but we do drumming and music and, you know, the performing arts, drama, et cetera.
And then of course we are just, you know, thrilled to be, to have original works, like through Bronzeville Arts Ensemble and what we're gonna talk about today, Val and Grappi.
And I forgot to mention that I'm also the producing artistic director for Brownsville Arts Ensemble, which is under the umbrella of part of the family, Black Arts MKE.
You know, our board members, one of our board members, Grady Crosby is actually from North Carolina.
He was a senior executive with Northwestern Mutual and was very familiar with the National Black Arts Festival in North Carolina.
And when he came to our board, he brought this concept, you know, to...
to our board and then I was sent to the National Black Theater Festival in North Carolina and with the intent of doing something like that in Milwaukee.
And we wanted initially to also have to partner with a local theater company
to bring that to the city.
And that was kind of the genesis of the idea.
And once we got into it, our concept in this was to bring black arts to the community.
Our home currently is at the Marcus Center, but we wanted to be all over the city with events and theatrical productions, et cetera, and get our local talent, which is...
massive, um, involved in this, this event.
This is why it's important for us to offer our programming for the festival at the Wisconsin Historical Society and Museum, Black Historical Society and Museum.
And we're grateful to Glabron Benson and Jamila Benson for opening this opportunity to collaborate.
I was actually I'll say gifted with this project by I'm Joshua poya who is the person who conceived it curated the music and wrote the this wonderful tribute to Vel our Phillips and to James a grappy to icons of not only
Milwaukee's history, Wisconsin's history, but national history.
These wonderful people who helped to work with young people.
This was really a movement of the youth and they helped to guide the Milwaukee commandos to lead 200 nights of nonviolent protests, at least from our side, nonviolent protests for open housing.
as one of the lines from the play says, it wasn't to get to the suburban areas, we weren't looking at Brookfield and Mekwon.
We just wanted to get the 27th Street.
That's the
First, I'll start with Val Phillips, the first woman alderman, the first black alderman, the first secretary of state, black and woman,
first woman judge and black woman, elected judge in Milwaukee County, a feminist womanist,
I'm gonna say there was a terminology my mother would use she would say a race woman which meant proud of her people and Accomplishments and wanted to uplift the people of Milwaukee and in doing so Setting a standard that lifted black people and people of color across the nation So and father graphe a man of faith
who lived his faith.
He was not afraid to speak out.
In fact, you know, apprentice McKinney and the commando said, what was that?
They used a terminology to say that he was really a soul brother in vanilla skin.
Because he understood the struggle of oppressed people and he wasn't afraid even necessary to give up his life for
Yeah, so I know
I'm not born and raised in Milwaukee, but I do remember seeing the historical picture of Father Gropy and the people when there was a protest and so forth.
So I've always seen the picture and heard the name.
So this is actually pretty dope.
Sorry for using that word.
No, no use it.
But it's pretty dope to get like this actual history here.
And I'm very interested in checking out this all play here.
In fact, you know that album of the Roots.
and you see the woman running
her life.
That was a photo from one of the 200 nights
Milwaukee.
My aesthetic really is to allow my expression to be in the form of a.
Although I'm not male Although this is maybe not a part of my familial lineage But it is my training
that is to bring the story and it's my calling to bring the stories of the African-American experience to the stage and to collaborate with
other theater professionals and I'll say young people who are learning and have an interest in theater bring them on board and Allow them to be a part of the the process of theater making and I was
raised here in Milwaukee, Milwaukee-born and raised, but I also was able to go away to school, to Spelman College and gain my undergraduate degree, not in theater, but I was active in the arts while I was in school, and then went away to gain a master of fine arts at UW-Madison in directing.
So really, this really is my calling.
I've been a part of it all of my life.
I love to talk about the...
the center for beauty and culture that was on King Drive, then was Third Street and Center.
It
was two doors south of Center Street.
And it was a place where black girls and boys came to learn drama, dance.
And I say ballet, learning ballet in French from a man by the name of Wardell Anderson and a lady by the name of, we said Mr. Rod.
We didn't even know her first name because you only called adults Mr. and Miss,
right?
So Miss Sarat.
And they taught these, these courses in the language of, of that, that art form.
And we also learned African dance from Mr. Anderson and modern dance because that was during the early years.
Oh, well, I'm really dating myself, but it's okay.
Cause that's history is during the time.
the heyday of Alvin Ailey when he was touring, and so modern dance was very much in vogue, and so we learned modern dance, African dance, ballet, and all of this is a part of my training and my background, and that's what I like to share and pass along, and it's incorporated into the theater.
So when you come see Vell and Grappi, it's not, it's also the words
of
these iconic...
members of our community, but then we see it interpreted in the form of dance and music as well.
And I'm gonna tell you, it's parody.
Because that's how oppressed people, we survive through comedy
laughter.
And if we can't find some way of getting out that stress through laughter, I don't know what have happened to us.
So when you come, you will hear familiar songs from the late 60s and 70s, but they are delivered in the same fashion, but they're telling a different story through
this?
Inspired to keep moving in our forward direction in the midst of this struggle, to know that if these, during this time of great oppression,
If these two iconic members of our community and the youth could come together against great odds and open housing in Milwaukee, what can we do today with all of this knowledge that we have and the technology in our favor?
Just look at this radio station and all that you're able to get the word out.
I want people galvanized and it's important
to vote.
If it wasn't for Val Phillips becoming that first African American and woman older person and speaking up.
Going back year after year for six years, bringing up open housing legislation for our policies for our city over and over again.
If she didn't give up and if people didn't vote her in, where would we be right now?
Don't give up.
See, we still on subject, but don't go anywhere.
Don't give up on the lunch break yet, because when we come back, when we come back after these messages, we got some more questions.
Shannon got some more questions for the both of them.
You're tuned in to the lunch break on the award-winning 1017, the truth.
Don't go in the back.
Barbara Wanzo.
Sherry Williams-Panel.
This has been a joy and it's been heartbreaking at the same time because the deeper we delve into what we call in theater dramaturgy.
That's the research we did at UWM.
library, the Golden Maier Library, the Bronzeville Collection, and the Marquette Archives, and also the Wisconsin Black Historical Society, we realize history's repeating.
And if
are not telling our truth, I like that the truth, that we're not telling the truth, and we're not teaching the truth, we can find ourselves in a very dark place very soon.
So it's it's beautiful to remember and to honor and at the same time it's a reminder Do not fall asleep stay awake be aware keep working and I'll keep saying you vote
and from black arts MKE's perspective, you know working with ultra talented Shiro's like Sherry and Bronzeville Arts ensemble is is
Pure Joy.
There are lots of theaters in town that do the famous
stuff
by August Wilson or Dominique Moroseau, but to also have, from Bronzeville, original work, being able to tell our stories.
For a town like Milwaukee, it's very special.
what we found working with youth in our month-long performing arts summer camp, our youth, they don't know our history.
And so being able to bring these stories, these artworks to our city is immensely important.
We're different.
If we are going to, if Black Arts MKE is going to exist, we have to serve our community.
We are not kind of a build it and they will come and see all the things you can see on TV or YouTube or whatever.
We want you to learn about history, but we also want you to see some of our talented black directors and artists that are in the city telling our stories.
You know, that's very unique in a town like Milwaukee.
I know you got another question saying, let me sneak this one here real quick, because I wanted to ask you earlier, but I gotta ask you, right?
So as somebody that's an artist, and this is more so for you, Ms.
Barbara, and from the executive director lens, right?
As someone I'm an artist and I have been working a long time in trying to figure out talent leaving.
the city, right?
We lose so much of our creative talent to these larger cities, your Atlantis, your LA's, your, even in our backyard, Chicago, you know what I mean?
So what are you seeing from your lens?
How can we retain our homegrown talent so we could use their talent to make our home better?
You know, it's interesting.
Like I said before, we work a lot with our youth.
And we've been doing the camp for, I think, at least eight years.
So we've seen a lot of these youth go off to HBCUs.
And I'm all for going to HBCUs, but come back.
and make a difference in your community.
And we're seeing a lot of that.
But if they know that they can come back to the performing arts in our city, give them a reason to come back, because it's not just about work.
We're coming full circle.
People want to be well-rounded individuals.
They want to have things to do.
But they also want to have cultural experiences.
And we have that for them.
So, you know, we want them to come back.
That's, that is my pitch.
You know, it's like, we'll support you.
I write a lot of recommendation letters for youth, whether they're trying to get into a specific high school or HBCU.
But what I do tell them is go out, have fun, get your education, but come back.
I'll
answer about the was about from the festival That the opportunity is here to create there are many stories to tell and you have a place
where you can create at the stories that you want to tell.
Tell the story.
I think it was Toni Morrison who said, she wrote the books because she couldn't find the story she wanted to read.
So you have something you want to see on the stage, be it a drama, a dance, whatever that performance might be.
If you can't find it, create it.
And it can happen with Black Arts MKE.
And I'd like to just ask people to come out and support.
black arts, MKE and the performing arts, as a whole, see Velongrappi.
I mean, this is incredible.
And with any luck and blessings, we will be able to take this beyond Milwaukee, maybe to Madison and other cities, because this is an important story.
This is what it's all about.
But we need you to support your black institutions and nonprofits.
Because we can't.
We can't exist without you.
And we're doing this for you.
So please come out to the Wisconsin Black Historical Society and see a lot of our programming.
It's unique and interesting, and I promise you you will not find this
anywhere
else in the city.
And they can get tickets where oh and the website you can just go right on black arts MKE.org It's right on the the home page that you can click through for Event bright tickets
and at the door.
Oh, yes You don't need a ticket if you're gonna walk in we love that so Please walk in
It's the Thursday of each week.
think that's the 13th and the 20th.
And we want everybody to feel included.
I mean, the regular tickets are nominal.
$25.
However, we want, you know, kids and students and we want everybody to come out and
see this.
So it's pay what you can.
And you don't have to pay anything.
So there's no excuse not to come and see Velongrappi and all of the other programming.
And, you know, people say that they always miss the Black Nativity Auditions.
Don't miss it this year.
We're telling you that they're happening as part of the festival.
got
Shannon.
it was a great interview but what's funny is um what what stood out for me was them saying that the movement was that of the youth and we we tend to forget how impactful the youth is.
even now like youth entertainers and stuff like that.
I was reading something the other day about how entertainers like helped win wars is acting as spies and stuff like that.
But you know, that's just me thinking how how much the youth and the entertainers matter when it comes to certain things.
It's also funny because the
name Father Grappie always stood out to me because my dad when he was younger he would say how he would find his self getting into stuff as the youth and he was he worked with Father Grappie before and I was like every every
little bit of
important to realize how much like the youth matter man and like stories like this like they said they have to be told because if we forget history we are We gonna repeat it.
So I think it was a dope conversation.
I'm super I want to see this show I'm gonna be there at the end of the month So hopefully it's running then like we got to get
information.
Because I always saw the pictures of Father Gropi, and I heard some of the stories and what he participated in and what he was impacting.
but to actually hear it firsthand and now to be able to go and see a play in parody form where they're making it fun.
You know, that's kind of like what the lunch break like to do.
We like to have some serious fun, you know?
I know we only got like a minute or two before this last break and we start our two, but we do want to get into men are lonelier in nursing homes.
So we want to talk about this.
We have some studies and we got some stats because, you know, we like to dig.
So yeah, Shannon, we're going to dive into this one.
You brought this one up.
So.
I don't know who you kicked out the program and checked into a nursing home, but we're gonna have to figure out.
I'm sick of you, Paul.
We've seen numerous times, like we said, where people are mistreating our elderly in these nursing homes.
And maybe we get into Malcolm Jamal Warner's widow breaks her silence.
I think that's going to be an interesting conversation as well.
But don't go anywhere, you all.
This is Ray Nitty and maybe Shannon on the lunch break, but we come back in to be our two.
What do you do?
Don't go anywhere.