Spoken Word Scene

ANCHOR INTRO:

Piece opens with NABJ Slam SOUND.....BRING UP.....FADE UNDER : (CUT NAME: SLAM POETRY)

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE PACKED THE EMPIRE ROOM AT MILWAUKEE'S HILTON HOTEL THIS WEEK. THEY WERE ATTENDING THE "SPIRIT IN THE WORDS" POETRY SLAM. JOURNALISTS ROOTED FOR THEIR COLLEAGUES WHO BRAVELY STEPPED TO THE MIC. THE EVENT, HOSTED BY SHARI HEADLY IS PROVING TO BE ONE OF NABJ'S MOST SUCCESSFUL EVENTS. BUT, AS NEXT GENERATION RADIO's GERARD FARROW REPORTS, ONCE THE CONVENTION ENDS, POETRY SCENE REMAINS

TIME: 4:58

(OPEN W/NAT SOUND.......BRING UP STAIRCASE)

INTRO LINE: Natural Sound

IN NORTH MILWAUKEE, AT AN UPSTAIRS SHOP AT 3424 WEST VILLARD AVENUE, YOU'LL FIND A BOOKSTORE CALLED CULTURAL CONNECTION. IT'S A PLACE WHERE LOCAL BLACK POETS AND AUTHORS SHOWCASE THEIR WORK. SHARON LUCAS HOLDS HER YOUNG SON'S HAND AS THEY COME UP THE STAIRS. SHE WAS RAISED IN MILWAUKEE'S INNERCITY AND HAS LIVED IN THE AREA ALL HER LIFE. AT THE BOOKSTORE, LUCUS USES THE SPACE TO EXPRESS HERSELF.

(TAPE)
CUT NAME: Passion clip-Start
INCUE: Yeah we traveled...
OUTCUE: ...desire, is passion.
CUT LENGTH: (fade after the word "passion"....)

ALTHOUGH TODAY IS A QUIET DAY AT THE BOOKSHOP, LUCUS SAYS, ONCE A FULL POETRY SHOW IS ON, IT CAN BRING AN ECLECTIC GROUP.

CUT NAME: Sharon paints picture of scene
INCUE: I've gathered when...
OUTCUE: ...type of races
CUT LENGTH: 16 secs.

LUCAS KNOWS THAT MILWAUKEE ISN'T THE FIRST PLACE PEOPLE GO TO HEAR POETRY. BUT EVER SINCE THE 1997 MOVIE, "LOVE JONES", WHICH IS BASED IN CHICAGO AND FEATURES THE CITY'S LITERARY CULTURE, MILWAUKEE SPAWNED ITS OWN, POETIC EXPLOSION.

CUT NAME: The style Milwaukee brings to the scene
INCUE: Milwaukee brings I ...
OUTCUE: ...in that manner.
CUT LENGTH: 21 secs.

BUT UNLIKE CHICAGO WITH ITS OWN ESTABLISHED POETIC INFRASTRUCTURE, MILWAUKEE IS STILL WORKING ON THEIRS. LUCAS SAYS FOR MANY LOCAL POETS, IT'S A HUSTLE.

CUT NAME: How people are getting their stuff out there
INCUE: So a lot...
OUTCUE: ...to be heard."
CUT LENGTH: 13 secs.

LUCAS HAS TRIED MANY TIMES TO GET HER VOICE HEARD. SHE SUBMITTED HER POETRY IN CONTESTS BUT DIDN'T GET THE RESPONSE AND SUPPORT SHE FELT SHE NEEDED. SO IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR, ALONG WITH A PARTNER, LUCAS MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO SELF PUBLISH. SHE WAS AFRIAD OF REJECTION YET SHE HAD TO WORK THROUGH, WHAT SHE SAYS, ARE BAD HABITS.

CUT NAME: Strength to pursue
INCUE: I'm always telling...
OUTCUE: ...and my goal.
CUT LENGTH: 31 secs.

BUT TO ACHIEVE HER GOALS IT DID NOT COME WITHOUT SACRIFICE....INCLUDING USING HER INCOME TAX REFUND.

CUT NAME: Roof
INCUE: At one point...
OUTCUE: ...to do it.
CUT LENGTH: 18 secs.

THERE WERE MANY TIMES WHEN SHE WASN'T ENCOURAGED TO PUBLISH HER BOOK. SO FROM THE EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT LUCAS KNOWS THAT BACKING FROM THE BLACK COMMUNITY, MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

CUT NAME: We need to support black authors
INCUE: We need to...
OUTCUE: ...to do something positive
CUT LENGTH: 20 secs.

LUCAS' BOOK ENTITLED, "GHETTO GODDESS: POETRY FOR THE SPIRIT AND SOUL" IS NOW A PART OF MILWAUKEE'S POETRY LEGACY. SHE HOPES IT WILL SERVE AS INSPIRATION FOR OTHER BLACK WRITERS IN THIS CITY--TO FOLLOW THEIR DREAMS AND TO FOLLOW THEIR PASSIONS.

CUT NAME: Passion clip-End
INCUE: Yeah we laughed...
OUTCUE: ...up and die.

FOR NEXT GENERATION RADIO NEWS, I'M GERARD FARROW.