Today's Special

TGIF! Five intense days of meetings, interviews, bookings and... We close the week with great material (if I might say so, myself...) for you.

Here's what your chefs have cooked up. Please, have a bite:

Social Networking Sites -- Are MySpace and Facebook just for making friends? We thought so, too, until we learned of their role in the case of Shaquanda Cotton, where social networking has helped to make all the difference. If you don't know who Shaquanda Cotton is, read on; and if you do, chances are it's because of what we're about to tell you: She's a teenager from Paris, Texas, who was sent to prison for up to seven years for pushing a teacher (which she says she didn't do, by the way).

Her story was first covered by a "traditional" journalist, Howard Witt of the Chicago Tribune. But then a man named Frazlier Pope read Howard's story, and decided to use the Web site Facebook as a vehicle for telling Shaquanda's story and mobilizing his peers to action. His dozens of peers soon became hundreds, which in turn soon became THOUSANDS of Shaquanda sympathizers. Why did Frazlier Pope do it? We'll let him tell you.

And (a producer's dream), we were able to locate Creola Cotton, Shaquanda's mother. She and Mr. Pope are introduced for the first time. Check it out.

*LITERALLY just in as I was writing this.*

Also...

Dispatches -- In case you don't remember (how could you forget?), this is the segment where we talk to our journalism colleagues about what's happening around the globe, namely in Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America. This time we went outside of the NPR family because for a decade, Univision's Teresa Rodriguez has been obsessed with one especially horrible situation in Mexico: the heinous murders of more than 400 young women in Juarez, just across the river from El Paso, Texas. Teresa joins us from Miami to talk about her book, The Daughters of Juarez, which details the unsolved killings of hundreds of girls and women...

Plus, something a bit less serious...

Sneakers! -- As part of our ongoing fascination with the "Next Big Thing," we chased down twin brothers Shane and Shawn Ward, two of New York's newest designers and creators of Detny. They are trying to make it happen in the shoe business. We asked them to talk shop with me about shoes...sneakers, specifically (or whatever they're called where you live...tennis shoes, Chucks, etc...give me a break, I'm from Brooklyn!). We chat about the details -- their designs, materials and even a little about how, in some places, your footwear can make you a target...

Then...

In Your Ear -- Another new one for us (and you, too...) Grammy Award-winning artist Macy Gray dropped by our studios recently and told our director, Rob Sachs, what SHE listens to (since WE like to listen to HER).

And, now for dessert...

Can I Just Tell You? -- This is where I serve up my own personal dish, or view, on something. This week, something we long for every year (at least in this office...I can't speak for you): We salivate like hounds when we hear that special knock on the door, or get an e-mail that someone is selling...Girl Scout cookies!

Well folks, that's a wrap for this week... and for the month of March. But before we go, we want to hear (or rather, read) from you.

What's your take on social networking sites and advocacy?
Do you belong to MySpace, or Facebook? What do you use it for? As in the case of Frazlier Pope helping Shaquanda Cotton, have you ever found it useful for something other than meeting new friends (or getting a hot date!)?

Also, we like knowing what you're listening to. What's in your iPod or the CD player at home... in the car... or dare we ask... at work!?

Blog on my brothers and sisters (no, you don't have to be black to fit in this category...I'm inclusive). Blog on...

Michel Martin

3:21 PM ET | 03-30-2007 | permalink | comments (18) | e-mail post

 

Complicated Lessons

Do you have kids in public schools? Do you know any? How about this: Do you ever plan to get operated on... or hire someone who went to public schools? Do I have your attention now?

I'm asking because 90 percent of America's kids go to public schools. We can debate all day whether American schools in general are up to par, how they stack up against schools in the nations we're most likely to compete against economically (and we should debate... all ideas welcome.)

But one thing is clear: too many schools are in trouble. It's not for nothing that President Bush made education the focus of his first campaign for the presidency. His big idea is to insist upon increased standards of accountability for schools and to give parents more choices if the schools don't meet those standards (It's complicated, I know...)

Now at the local level of government: the mayor's office. A number of big city mayors have their own big idea... In Los Angeles, Albuquerque and Washington D.C., the mayors want to follow the lead of their counterparts in Boston and New York and take over responsibility for their city schools. It's a hot issue everywhere it's been raised. Picketers showed up at D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty's house to criticize his proposal.

So that seemed as good a reason as any to talk to him about why he thinks this is such a good idea (We also reached out to Mayors Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angles and Martin Chavez of Albuquerque, but they showed us no love...)

Who's the major beneficiary of school takeovers? Too much power for a mayor? Should all cards be on the table, and all options considered, when a school system is obviously struggling?

The conversation spilled over into our Chat Room (hooray! Another new segment!). In "the room:" Keith Boykin, best-selling author and host of BET's "My Two Cents;" Ruben Navarrette, nationally syndicated columnist and Faye Anderson, freelance writer and public policy consultant.

In addition to schools, they also talk to us about the controversy swirling around Alberto Gonzales, the U.S. Attorney General. We especially wanted to get their take on whether they think ethnicity has anything to do with his situation...Why bring that up, you say? Well, we try to say out loud what others may only be whispering about... all kinds of opinions to consider.

And, of course, we discuss my personal obsession -- American Idol. Need I say more?

Last...certainly not least -- remember our post "A Common Virus" about HPV? Well, I told you at the time, I had never heard of this before. Many of you were quite up to speed and shared some powerful stories; many of you were just as clueless as I was. And many of you guys wanted to know: What about the men? Fair question. We heard you. We asked Dr. Richard Schlegel, chair of the pathology department at Georgetown Medical Center to answer your questions..

Web extra! Hear a commentary on HPV by Bill Fletcher, associate professor at Brooklyn College, at the City University of New York.

So... school takeovers. Where do you come out? Who runs your school system and do you think it matters?

Plus, make time for our Diversity Coach...etiquette expert and lifestyle guru Harriette Cole will be in house this week for one of next week's programs (she's a busy lady) ...if you have a question for her about cross cultural communication, dating, entertaining, weddings...do send it along!

Michel Martin

5:25 PM ET | 03-28-2007 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post

 

New Segments, New Voices

So... piloting week... what is it? Three? It's becoming a blur. Actually, we like piloting. I might even say we love it. (Kind of like the way we like doing push-ups -- you're so happy when it's over and you're on your way to becoming buff... no, really.) We like it because it's a way to experiment with what we call our "signature" segments, the segments we think give us our distinct flavor. So far, you've heard a few of them: Mocha Moms, Dispatches, the Barbershop. Your response to these has been outstanding, even when critical.

So we want to introduce you to both a new segment and a new person here on
Rough Cuts, our "International Anchor Buddy." We love all of our NPR correspondents serving overseas and we want you to hear from them as much as possible. But we also like hearing stories from the "inside out," from people who not only cover the story but also live it in some way.

And one of the wonders of radio is that for a bit more than the cost of a phone call, we can bring you those people. For anchor buddies we are looking at "me's" elsewhere (scary thought?): radio and TV hosts, bloggers and others who give you the scoop on what's going on in their world.

Earlier, I checked in with Bassie Montewa of Bush Radio in Cape Town, South Africa, where he hosts the daily radio call-in program "Back Chat." Bush Radio is respected as one of the oldest, if not the oldest, community radio stations on the continent. It's commonly referred to as the "Mother of Community Radio in Africa."

Bassie talked to us about preparations for the 47th anniversary of the Sharpeville Massacre and a sneak peak at his radio show's line-up for the anniversary. He also dished on his career in radio and the format of his program. Take a listen and let us know what you think. It would be great if you'd share with us names of radio and TV hosts elsewhere in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean whom you would like to hear on our air, too, as part of our regular rotation. Shoot us a line.

In last week's post, we mentioned the fourth anniversary of the Iraq war. In all of the non-stop war coverage, two voices you may not have heard from belong to Nancy Trejos and James Blue, two Iraq war correspondents. Nancy recently returned from Iraq as a reporter for the Washington Post. James, formerly of ABC News, is a producer with the Koppel Group at Discovery. They join us to talk about their coverage but also whether being a reporter of color makes a difference.

I think it's worth nothing that 54 journalists have been killed in this conflict. Do you find yourself wondering why they go? Let us know.

And finally, another new segment we'd like you to hear:

"The Next Big Thing." This week we take a look at personal DNA tests. Huh? No, this isn't a "Baby Daddy Drama." Geneticist Dr. Rick Kittles -- who, it has to be said, owns a testing company -- talks to us about why people pursue these tests. And we found a family story that we had to share. You'll have to listen to get all the details, but I will "spill" this much: a black woman from Harlem, N.Y., and a white man from Poplar Bluff, Mo. What's the unique connection?

Which brings me to ask: Have you ever discovered a long, lost relative? What was that like? Would you ever consider submitting DNA to learn your family roots? Please do let us know!

Let the blogging begin... and the piloting continues.

Michel Martin

2:20 PM ET | 03-26-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

 

We Have Our Diversity Coach!

Last month we pitched an idea to you about a diversity, or culture, coach -- "Culture Coaching 101?" to be exact.

Well, good news: We found one! Later this week, we'll be joined by the fabulously talented Harriette Cole. Here's my short version of her bio: life and etiquette coach, author of at least 1,000 books (OK, maybe a tiny exaggeration there), syndicated columnist and... former lifestyle and fashion director for Essence magazine. Can we say "diva"?

Oh, and she just signed on as creative director for Ebony magazine.

She's already prepping to answer those taboo questions about culture, diversity and those hangnail life experiences that place you in need of some serious "coaching."

Note: We've just entered spring and Cole has also written extensively on wedding etiquette. She can also help you (and your image) from making one of those disastrous faux pas we often read about. You know, those "Oops! I didn't know..." moments!

What's on your mind? Quick! Send us your questions...

Michel Martin

12:20 PM ET | 03-26-2007 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post

 

Protesters, Moms and the Streets

If you've been following the news at all recently, you know that this week marked the end of the fourth year of the war in Iraq. There were protests all over the country -- maybe even where you live. On a big story like this we're always trying to figure out what isn't being said. Who haven't we heard from?

Since one of the biggest protests was here in Washington, D.C., where we are based, one answer was as obvious as the noses on our faces. Why did the demographics of the protesters seem so out of balance with A) the folks serving in Iraq, who include a good number of blacks and Latinos, and B) the country on the whole? We wondered why that might be -- especially given that African-Americans have played such a large role in grassroots protests in the past, and the Latino community has recently demonstrated its ability to organize through massive immigration reform marches last year.

For answers and analysis, we talked to a few people: First, we heard from Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), who participated in his community's protests. Then, in a separate discussion, we hear from Los Angeles anti-war organizer Greg Akili and author Yvonne Latty, who has written about black soldiers in American wars. Her book is titled In Conflict.

Now we'd like to know your observation of America's anti-war protesters. Would you say that they're ethnically diverse? If not, what do you think are the reasons? Or should it even matter?

And back by popular demand... Mocha Moms!

We still marvel at the overwhelming feedback we received from you the last time they were with us -- "White Mothers, Black Sons," remember? This week, the regulars joined us to chew over how to talk to children about grief and tragedy and to share opinions on teaching their children about swear words and cultural slurs. This week's Moms are Jolene Ivey, Cheli English-Figaro and Davina McFarland.

Have you had these talks with your children? Do you wish someone had had this kind of talk with you? How'd it go? Please, share.

And last, a special treat: Have you checked out our "Heard On The Street" features? We've been going out gathering the sounds of the city: the conversations, the music, the noise. In this go-round, the sounds these gents make are definitely not noise.
They call themselves "After the Storm," and their stage is the streets of the nation's capitol. One of our team members, A.C. Valdez, recently spent time with them. They spoke about their mission: their life-long devotion to classic doo-wop. We think that makes them a must-see if you're ever in D.C.

As for our situation: We're still pushing out those pilots, preparing for what we hope will be an on-the-air launch in April. We still don't have a name! But we think we're getting closer (hope, hope, fingers crossed). We're smoothing out the rough edges... we hope.

That's it for today.

Thanks for listening and, as always, we appreciate your constructive feedback. All of it makes us stronger and better. Stay tuned.

Michel Martin

1:07 PM ET | 03-22-2007 | permalink | comments (20) | e-mail post

 

Living in the Studio...

As you can see, the momentum of our pilot production has picked up quite a bit. We've practically been living in the recording studios here doing "intros," "outros" and lots and lots of engaging interviews. Our mornings are early (...almost beyond reason) with nights known to sometimes go later than we'd like.

But no complaining here.

We've developed an insatiable appetite for our growth. And the journey, so far, has been nothing short of amazing! Besides, spending so much time together "building" has helped our staff to bond... after we fight, of course.

For each pilot hour produced, our team chooses a sample group of segments to share with you, here on our blog. We try to select those that reflect what we're attempting to do with the program -- our tone, our focus, our mission.

Today's lineup:

Political Blogosphere -- Bloggers Kim Pearson and Josue Sierra discuss this week's news: Bush's visit to Latin America, the recent controversial firing of U.S. Attorneys and the biggest election of all right now... American Idol.

Frog Princess -- Commentator Kim McLarin dishes on an upcoming film that will be a unique first for Walt Disney Studios. McLarin is the author of Jump At The Sun.

BackTalk -- If you think we're not reading your Rough Cuts blog comments, think again. We put the spotlight on your feedback and try to find answers to your questions.

Divas Uncorked -- Callie Crossley from a Boston wine-tasting group shares how to get your wine savvy on -- not wine snobby.

March Madness -- It's that time of year again and folks are going mad. Obsessed with the "brackets?" Listen to my viewpoint...

There. We've given you plenty to chew on. As always, savor, swallow, digest. And let us know what you think. Back to the studio...

Michel Martin

4:09 PM ET | 03-16-2007 | permalink | comments (13) | e-mail post

 

Tragedy and Control

Now that Marie and I are friends again, let the pilot posts resume!

How do you feel about gun control? Well, there's been a lot of talk in Washington since a federal appeals court told the District of Columbia that it can't prohibit its residents from having guns in their homes.

To learn just how this debate hits home, we talked to two D.C. residents -- two moms -- who have lost children to gun violence. They are Valencia Mohammed, reporter for The Afro-American Newspaper and founder of Mothers of Unsolved Murders in D.C., and Shanda Smith, a social worker who works with Mothers on the Move Spiritually, or MOMS.

While they consider themselves friends, they have arrived at opposite conclusions about gun control. Their reasons may surprise you.

How are gun laws viewed in your city or state? Have you ever lost a loved one to gun violence? Listen to the opinions of our guests and let us know where you come out.

And I hate to follow with another story involving a tragedy, but I must. Hearts around the world are still mourning over the loss of 10 people who perished -- nine of them children -- in a recent New York fire. As a parent, I could not imagine how one would cope with such devastation. So we decided to pull together a small group of spiritual leaders to talk to us about what their respective faiths teach about tragedy. Just how do you "make it through"?

We spoke with Imam Johari Abdulmalik, director of Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Washington, D.C., and president of the Muslim Society of Washington, Inc; Reverend Dr. Suzann Johnson Cook, the founder and pastor of the Believers Christian Fellowship in New York and author of Live Like You're Blessed; and Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld. He is the rabbi for the National Synagogue in Washington, D.C.

Do you consider yourself a person of religious faith? If so, what role does your spirituality play in times of hardship? Not a person of faith? How has your belief system influenced you during life's challenges? Let us know.

Michel Martin

3:50 PM ET | 03-15-2007 | permalink | comments (12) | e-mail post

 

Girl Fight!

OK, this is painful. Deep breath. Marie and I had our first fight! Can you believe it?

As I mentioned before, we've been working on our first couple of pilots. These are the programs we send to the stations to encourage (force) them to pick up our show. We've done two so far, one last week and one this week.

Here's what the fight was about.

Marie -- she's the supervising senior producer, remember -- wants to post them. I don't. There, I said it! Now you know everything.

It's not that I don't want the feedback, and it's not that I don't think they're any good at all. They're fine. But I want better than fine. We're trying for something new here and I just don't think we're there yet. I loved the topics and I loved the guests. One of the things I especially loved was the first Diversity Coach segment. Remember, this is an idea that developed from some of our listener posts (in other words -- YOU). I thought it was interesting and fun. But I just don't think I achieved the kind of voice and spirit I'm aiming for. I want to wait a bit more until I think we're closer to the mark. Is that so wrong?

Marie disagrees. She can tell you about that herself:

Hello, Marie here. This is probably the first and last time that I get to have the final word. Michel may think that I take this open piloting process too seriously, but I have come to value all of the listener comments and trust that you will let us know what you think of our recent efforts. Besides, it's just no fun at all, producing interesting segments that no one gets to hear.

And I can imagine that if I were a proud parent watching my daughter come down the stairs decked out for her prom, that my admiration of her beauty would overshadow all the memories of the years of braces, teen acne and awkward growth spurts. We are thrilled that so many of you have stuck with us through this journey -- and I believe we will emerge as true beauties.

So in the spirit of compromise, we decided to offer a few pilot segments for your listening pleasure. There's an introduction to two of our coaches: the diversity coach and the money coach. We also produced a segment on the Cherokee Nation's decision to expel from citizenship the descendants of slaves who were owned by Cherokees. Finally, in the wake of the New York City Council's symbolic decision to ban the N-word, we brought together a diverse group of scholars and activists to address the question: Is fighting slights the right fight?

We hope you take the time to listen. And as always, tell us what you think.

Michel Martin

3:40 PM ET | 03-12-2007 | permalink | comments (17) | e-mail post

 

The Power of Memory

"He remembered things we had never known. How to dress rope-burned skin. How to wire a neck, broken, distended, to make the bones straight again. Arrange the high, starched collar and necktie so they hid the marks that makeup could not conceal..."

-- Ravi Howard, Like Trees, Walking

What's the power of a memory? That's the question we are asking this week in interviews with the authors of two powerful books, both involving lynching. The first, a novel, is quoted above. It's Ravi Howard's debut and it is set in Mobile, Ala., in 1981.

The second, On the Courthouse Lawn, is a nonfiction book by civil rights lawyer and law professor Sherilyn Ifill, who examines lynchings on Maryland's Eastern Shore in the 1930s. Both books cover a subject from our not-so-distant past that we've all heard about, even as fewer and fewer of us actually remember all the gory details.

And that's something both authors wondered about, especially since lynchings in this country were once among the most public of crimes. Why is so little known or discussed about this hideous chapter in our nation's history -- or rather, why is this only a subject known or remembered by few?

Ifill reminds us that, rather than being the work of a few rotten apples, lynchings were literally spectacles: planned in advance, executed in public places with hundreds and sometimes thousands of people watching, including men, women and (sickening to contemplate) children. The entire purpose was to publicly terrorize a community, mainly, it has to be said, the black community. It usually worked. And it's still working, Ifill says. In her book, she explains how and why.

Howard, the novelist, reminds us that this phenomenon didn't end "back in the day." His story is organized around a real event, a lynching in 1981 of a young black man walking home from a basketball game. Howard's novel describes in vivid detail how this random act reverberates through the community. His protagonist is the scion of a local black funeral home whose members were tasked with tending the bodies of victims through the generations.

You can hear my interviews with these two authors on today's News & Notes hosted by the fabulous Farai Chideya. Along with Prof. Ifill, I also interviewed a folklorist and former professor at Salisbury State College (now university), Polly Stewart, who had also researched lynchings on the Eastern Shore. In the aftermath, she found out in very personal terms the cost of breaking the silence about that part of her town's history.

What do you think? We receive so many contradictory messages around opening up the past. On the one hand, we say that those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it; on the other, some say, "Let sleeping dogs lie," and "What's past is past." As Americans, we are critical of countries and cultures that let century-old grievances rule their societies. Yet some argue, as Prof. Ifill does, that we are doing the same thing when we fail to acknowledge the past. Where do you come down on this question?

And while we're at it, what other hidden history fascinates you? Please do let us know.

Michel Martin

2:17 PM ET | 03- 7-2007 | permalink | comments (17) | e-mail post

 

Movin' and Shakin'

One of the great things about being in journalism is having the license to call people up just because they are movers and shakers and you want to know who they are or what they are all about. (Of course they may not pick up the phone, but... ) This interview comes of that license. When we learned that corporate lawyer Ralph Everett had been tapped -- and had agreed -- to take on the leadership of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, considered the nation's premier black-oriented think tank, we really wanted to know more about him.

Why? Well, in some cities this may not be a big deal, but in Washington it is.

The Joint Center, like other "think tanks," is an important source of research and policy information. It feeds reporters and policy makers alike with the kind of information you can't get anywhere else, but it has a special niche, focusing on issues of particular importance to African-Americans.

Ralph Everett has been a trailblazer in many respects, as a lead staffer on Capitol Hill, as the first black managing partner at a major Washington law firm. I wondered why he, having achieved what some would consider the pinnacle of career success in his chosen field, would be inspired to take on a non-profit, however prestigious. I always think it's fun to ask people why they do what they do. And I also think it's fun to check in with people who are "firsts." This kind of reporting is probably going to go away at some point -- the "first" minority person or woman to do this or that thing will become passe. But it hasn't yet, and while we're still noticing these things, it's interesting to hear about what it's like (or was like) to be one of these trailblazers.

In that spirit, this interview aired today on News & Notes, which has been following new power players on Capitol Hill among other important subjects. Check it out and let us know what you think.

And as for us, we're piloting away! We finished our first "real-time" pilot last week and we hope to let you hear it soon. We learned we have some kinks to work out -- for example, I managed to forget to leave enough time after my interviews to announce the upcoming segments. And some people say I talk too fast (So?! I'm from New York already!). But, hey, that's what piloting is all about.

Michel Martin

3:19 PM ET | 03- 5-2007 | permalink | comments (6) | e-mail post

 

'Buzz, Buzz, Buzz...'

I have worn my hair natural since I was 9 years old, for reasons I'll go into at some other time. My mother was outraged when I showed up with it, so of course I had to keep the 'fro if for no other reason than to annoy her. First, it was kind of a political thing. Then it was just a convenience thing. And then finally, my short crop became my signature. Women and their hair is its own interesting topic, but for today the point is this: For most of my life, I have spent far more time in barber shops than in beauty shops.

So when my producer Marie Nelson came back to work one Monday all jazzed up with an idea after having taken her nephew to the barber shop that weekend, we knew just what to do.

We have a new feature, which we hope you'll like. It's called "Barber Shop" and it's a group of smart guys talking about the stuff guys talk about when guys get together: politics, movies and -- do we even need to say it? -- sports. But we also expect they'll talk about issues related to family, books, spirituality, fatherhood. This is the real "rough cuts" deal, folks, so listen up. We are taking you behind the curtain.

We have posted two different versions. We think this segment should include men from all backgrounds. The first group you'll hear is a group of guys who were already friends. Initially, I approached Jimi Izrael, who said he had a group of guys in mind. So we thought: Why not? We loved the idea that they all kind of fell into the shop together (even though, for our purposes, they were in four different cities -- a logistical nightmare) and just happened to talk about the stuff going on that day. They are: blogger and opinion writer Jimi Izrael, Web guru and blogger Gary Dauphin, writer Eugene Robinson, whose work has appeared everywhere from GQ to Hustler, and Dr. Lester Spence, associate professor of political science at Johns Hopkins University.

In the first version (audio), I really just eavesdropped. I introduced the segment and let the guys do their thing.

In the second (audio), I busted into the shop, so to speak. On this panel, Jimi and Lester stayed, and we were joined by an old colleague of mine, Alvin Patrick, who happens to be the executive producer of ESPN's morning show, Cold Pizza.

I strongly suspect this is going to be one of those "love it or hate it" deals. But I'm not going to say another thing until I hear from you. Let me know what you think.

Michel Martin

1:15 PM ET | 03- 1-2007 | permalink | comments (66) | e-mail post