Lee's Wednesday Musings

Members of the Tell Me More production team. Pictured: (back row, l-r) Will Wright, George Lyle, Beneva Schulte, Douglas Hopper; (third row) Claudette Habermann, Lee Hill, Addie Whisenant, Monika Evstatieva, Marie Nelson; (second row) Teshima Walker, Jennifer Longmire; (front) Michel Martin. Credit: Margaret Low Smith, NPR.

Lee, here...

Like the photo? It's a picture of the TMM staff (with the exception of a few folks) at a recent Capitol Hill event with the Congressional Black Caucus.

Now, picture the same people in the photo decked out, from head to toe, in costume attire for Halloween ... I'll help you out a bit: Michel sat at the microphone for today's program dressed as Tina Turner. And, yes, I am blogging in my Rick James ensemble. Breathtaking. Kidding, am I? The beauty of radio (and blogging) is that you'll never know...

So, my colleague, George Lyle, and I co-wrote and recorded this commentary the other day on colorism in the Black community. We thought it would be interesting to offer our perspectives, as black men. So often, it seems, these observations are only told by women of color and among women of color. But, ill-informed perceptions can set-up shop in the lives of men, too. Here's a note we received from one of our Canadian "brothers":

I'm a dark skinned brother in Windsor Ont., Canada and I know that I have had to face much more discrimination than the light skinned brothers. But also I get no love whatsoever from the black women in my community where I was born and have lived for 50 years. So at this very moment I find myself unemployed, unmarried and childless and frankly speaking don't have much love for my own race.

Any idea the wounds of colorism could slice so deeply? Maybe you'll hear his expressions, in his own voice, in this Friday's BackTalk.

Tomorrow ... Oprah's storm.

Authorities in Johannesburg, South Africa are pulling up their sleeves to investigate The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls there. All the latest buzz follows allegations of abuse by one or more students. Many are watching closely to see how, and if, the billionaire philanthropist and media mogul will weather this storm. Tomorrow, we'll talk to someone who's in South Africa. She'll take us further inside the story as some ask why the academy seems to have an infinite list of restrictions when it comes to student contact with the outside world...

And, I know this is early -- I think you can say you read it first on our blog -- but I've been in meetings lately discussing a very cool project we're working on for NPR's 2008 presidential election coverage. All I can say is that we plan to take web user interactivity to an entirely new level.

So, stay connected...

P.S. We're also wondering if Friday's "Blackout" might affect the opening night of American Gangster, co-starring actor Denzel Washington ... Any thoughts? Just curious.

Lee Hill

4:14 PM ET | 10-31-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

TMM Makes the 'Post'

Not to brag, but to brag ... a tiny bit. Did you check out the profile of the show in the Sunday Washington Post? I was embarrassed to bring it up yesterday. I don't know why ... I hate getting my picture taken, I hate being interviewed. Hypocritical, I know, but true.

That isn't to say I WON'T do an interview -- I generally do if asked by a credible outlet, and if I have time -- otherwise, that's like being a chef who won't eat other people's food. You can't expect people to come to your restaurant if you won't trust them enough to go to theirs. Still, being interviewed is not my favorite thing. But I can't complain, especially because the writer of the piece clearly knows the radio business, has covered it, and asked good questions. And, I knew the photographer from when I was a White House correspondent! She was there, too. I think she worked for a newsmagazine then ... so that was cool. My picture was taken by a gal who takes pictures of the President!

Uh, SO WHAT, you say? I know, I know. We all breathe the same air. Still, kinda cool, right?

OK, one last dumb story: I got home the day Susan came to take the pictures for the Post and my husband said, "so how was your day?" And I was hemming and hawing, "oh, well, it was kind of interesting ... I, uh..." And then, before I could answer he busts out with, "I had my picture taken today for Washingtonian Magazine. I'm in their list of top lawyers (again). It was really cool."

So, he took all my shine! What could I say then? ... Me, too? My picture will be out before your picture? That is so messed up -- on the same day. Sigh.

Oh, and speaking of things I should have mentioned yesterday, but didn't: did you check out George and Lee's colloquy on colorism? I can't describe it -- that would it ruin it. You just have to hear it for yourself. So if you missed it, pause for a minute and check it out.

Now, onto TODAY, we had a very interesting conversation with Martin Luther King III about the meaning of activism and collective action in this day and age.

...And I have to tell you how moved I was by our Mocha Moms visit with Sandra Lee. She's the brains behind the Food Network's show Semi-Homemade. As much as I've watched that show, I never realized how hard the road had been that led to her success. Suffice to say, her life ain't been no crystal stair. The memoir is worth reading, and the recipes ... those'll work, too. I'm a slow cooker fan myself.

But Sandra Lee has to give up the tater tots. There is no room at the inn for tater tots. I'm sorry. That's just the fact...

Michel Martin

5:54 PM ET | 10-30-2007 | permalink | comments (6) | e-mail post

Talking to Genarlow Wilson...

Genarlow Wilson pictured in early 2007 at Georgia's Burruss Correctional Training Center.

Tracy J. Smith, Georgia Department of Corrections

I confess it was a little strange, after talking ABOUT him for all these months, to actually talk TO him.

I'm speaking about Genarlow Wilson, of course. He's 21-years-old now, no longer a teenager.

This is one of those stories that I, personally, would not have known about, but for the fact that it engaged the blogosphere. It started as a regional story -- an incident in a small town outside of Atlanta. Genarlow was 17 at the time, an athlete, considered college material. He attended a New Year's Eve party in 2003 where he, among others, had sex with a 17-year-old girl and oral sex with a 15-year-old girl. It was all caught on videotape. And it all came to light when the 17-year-old went to the authorities, alleging she had been raped. The 15-year-old was adamant that her experience was consensual. Setting aside for the moment that I don't think anybody would like the idea of his or her child participating in this situation, the question arose of a 10-year minimum sentence and whether it was the appropriate punishment ... and all because of a quirk in the law.

Wilson and the others were very quickly acquitted of raping the 17-year-old. But the 15 year old was NOT old enough to give her consent; hence, the statutory rape charge. AND, Georgia law, at the time, required that oral sex with an underage participant be very severely treated, designed to protect kids against pedophiles. Instead, it became a symbol of all that many consider wrong with the criminal justice system.

Where does race enter it into it? I have no idea. Wilson is black, the 15-year-old (at the time) is also. But I do know that this case raises a lot of questions about morality, about the law and about what society owes its young people -- to both protect and inform them.

We previously talked to Genarlow's mother, Juanessa Bennett. We talked to his lawyer, B.J. Bernstein. We talked to a number of people advocating for his release ... and we talked to young people at his former high school in Douglasville, Ga., to ask them what lesson they drew from Wilson's experience. Today, just days after the Georgia Supreme Court ordered Wilson's release, we managed to talk to HIM.

Some believe that Wilson would never have been prosecuted to this extent had he been white, but it's hard to know given the unique circumstances ... and a complaining witness (even though that witness was not considered credible by the jury). I'd still like to talk to both the prosecutor and the Attorney General for their take on this emotional and complicated case.

And speaking of emotional and complicated...

NOT to make too much of a random Detroit disc jockey's decision to hold a promotion that would have allowed light-skinned black women into a nightclub for free ... BUT, this is one of those things where one might ask, what was he thinking? But more to the point, why does anybody care? But we do care. How do we know we care? Because complaints poured in from across the country. In this day and age, what does that mean?...

That was the subject of a couple of conversations today.

Some of this will be familiar to many of you. Some of it will not. I said in my introduction to the conversation that this was really a subject that people of color grapple with, but our associate editor, Douglas Hopper, who is white, begs to differ. I'll let him explain:

I often fret about the color of my skin ... especially during the summer, when my ghostly white skin is exposed to ridicule. I envy my white friends with more olive-toned complexions, which I think is healthier-looking. For better or for worse -- in my world -- pasty white skin is not attractive. And don't even get me going about how this plays out in the gay male community. We're dripping with fake tans. Of course, the associations are different than they are for people of color. My skin color has never cost me a job. And yes, my insecurity may be the product of airbrushing and a booming tanning industry, not centuries of oppression. But, I am not alone. White people definitely have skin color issues. If you have any doubt, just take a minute to remember all the orange people walking around this summer! There'll be more soon.

Thanks, Douglas.

Michel Martin

3:53 PM ET | 10-29-2007 | permalink | comments (9) | e-mail post

Friday's Heavenly Voices

I'm not going to call any names and tell you which one of our guests almost gave me a heart attack today by sliding into HIS or HER chair just one minute before airtime. I'm just going to say, THANKS for coming ... but don't you understand that a sister has bad nerves?

Anyway, it all worked out. I must investigate whether there's a patron saint for people who work on deadlines; like St. Francis, who cares for animals, and St. Christopher, who watches over travelers ... Is there an angel up there watching over those of us facing "dead air" if somebody doesn't show up?

Speaking of angels, heavenly voices. We had an interesting visit to the Washington National Cathedral. Last week, you may remember that His Holiness the Dalai Lama was here to receive a Congressional Medal of Honor. While here, he participated in a very wide range of activities, some of which made the news, some of which did not. He had a low-key, but (I'm told) very profound visit to a place we've visited before on this program, the N Street Village. It's a treatment facility and residence for women struggling with homelessness and addiction.

Another event -- not as high-profile as the Congressional event, but pretty intoxicating in its own right -- was a concert held at the majestic cathedral. If you've ever been there, you can imagine the high, high ceilings, the stained glass windows, the incredible organ, the marble carvings. Now, picture that, and then put Keb' Mo' and Crosby, Stills & Nash in that scene.

Graham Nash, among others, started working three years ago on something similar to a summit, involving interfaith spiritual leaders ... and musicians. They call it "Pray for Peace." Hear them talk about it...

You might think this is all some lefty anti-Bush, anti-war thing. ...And you'd be wrong. One of Nash's motivations is what some conservatives call the clash of cultures. Also, one of Keb' Mo's ongoing themes is individuals taking responsibility for their own happiness and for the happiness of their communities.

I was wondering if, in putting on an event like this, either man had a concern about people who are just along for the ride, those who have no real belief in the purpose of the event, who just want to hear some great artists, up-close and personal. Their answer was interesting...

Also, it was great to talk to our third guest, the Rev. Dr. Samuel Lloyd, Dean of the Cathedral. We think we should have him back for a separate Faith Matters conversation, don't you?

But, to the degree that this event reflects more left-of-center politics ... in response to today's political issues, is there a more right-of-center event, multicultural of course, that also includes music as a vehicle for change?

I'd like to know about it. And, would the Sen. Barack Obama gospel tour qualify?

Looking ahead to next week ... Have any of your friends sent you e-mails about the so-called "Black Out," sponsored by radio host Warren Ballentine? He wants African Americans and other progressives to refrain from spending money on November 2nd to demonstrate the buying power of the African American community, and to protest what he calls ongoing indifference to acts of injustice (the Jena Six, etc.). There's also a call for a November 16th march on Washington to the U.S. Department of Justice, protesting what organizers are calling the department's indifference to hate crimes being committed across the country.

The ongoing question ... do marches matter?

I'd like to know what you think. We'll be talking to organizers of the march next week...

Hope you have a good weekend. My family will be doing the usual -- birthday party, school event, yada, yada, yada...

And, I still haven't seen Tyler Perry's new movie. I have to know what my girl Teshima was talking about.

Michel Martin

3:08 PM ET | 10-26-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

More on How the TMM 'Sausage' Gets Made...

Andreas Duess

As you know from Lee's post yesterday, we were scrambling to try to figure out how to cover the California wildfires fires in a way that made sense for our program. In other words, we don't want you to turn us on and hear what you just heard on Morning Edition. So, what to do? We started thinking about how we find out what's going on -- what our our team is listening to on TV and on the radio -- and then we started asking ourselves, what if we didn't rely on those programs to inform us? What if we didn't speak English? Or, what if our circumstances made it such that we did not want our presence known to authorities? What would we do, then?

That's what brought us to Eddie Sotelo, a.k.a. El Piolin, one of the country's top Spanish-language radio hosts. Sotelo is on Univision and based in Los Angeles. We wanted to get his take on how folks outside what we call the "communication mainstream" are coping with the wildfires. Sotelo had just driven a truck of supplies from L.A. down to San Diego ... and talked to us just as he was about to go on the air.

...It's also why we talked to Amy Isackson, a reporter at NPR member station KPBS in San Diego. She had both fascinating and horrifying stories about the risks undocumented workers were taking as a result of the disaster -- refusing to evacuate, or even trying to cross the border.

Then ... last night, our producer, Douglas Hopper, got the call he'd been waiting for. He'd been trying to reach tribal leaders on American Indian reservations in the area to ask how their folks were faring. Why? Well, many of the tribal lands are rural and filled with brush ... very dry from a lack of rain. Also, some reservations are remote, have their own fire departments, and generally don't rely on county infrastructures. Late last night, we finally got a hold of tribal council chairman Vernon Wright, from the Rincon Luiseno Indian Nation. Wright gave us an update on what was happening in his community.

Frankly, all of those folks sounded like they could use some rest.

I hope you liked my conversation with Anu Kumar. Every week, we try to dip into the The Washington Post Magazine and this week, I have to tell you, there was a gender-split. Most of the women on the staff were fascinated by Anu's story about why she continues to observe a tradition attached to the Hindu festival of Karwa Chauth -- the tradition holds that married women must fast for 24 hours, from moonrise to moonrise, so their husbands will live a long life. The women in my office found ourselves asking whether we'd be willing to do that (even though I think only one of us is Hindu ... I'll let you guess who said yes).

After listening to today's conversation with Kumar, you should read the Post's piece here. I believe their web story includes cover art from the actual printed version of the magazine, which has a lovely photo (but, sadly, not of Anu).

And, the icing on the cake: U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez. It was the Republican from Florida's first interview with NPR in a while. Martinez, a Cuban-American, talked to us about President Bush's recent Cuba speech -- HIS (the President's, that is) first discussion of Cuba in some time.

Tomorrow ... TGIF.

Michel Martin

7:47 PM ET | 10-25-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

We're Working Late ... It's the 'How'

Lee Hill, NPR

Lee, here...

So, it's Wednesday evening and TMM, for the most part, still has a full house (a big deal, considering that we turn on the lights here at about 6:00 each morning). We just wrapped-up a "special" editorial meeting (which makes two for today -- our standard meeting is each morning) to brainstorm on exactly how we should present you with two pressing news stories for tomorrow's program.

Of course, there are the fires happening in California. It seems everywhere you turn, there's "extensive" coverage, and rightfully so. NPR News is there and covering the story as it unfolds, along with just about every other news outlet. And, as always, we're thinking hard about what this program's angle will be and how we might offer a contribution that is of value ... and experiences that, maybe, you haven't already heard.

We think we've found them. So, you'll want to listen closely tomorrow...

The second story we're working on for tomorrow -- the other reason we're still here -- revisits today's comments by President Bush imagining a post-Castro Cuba. It touched a nerve (not a good one) with some Cuban officials. Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque has already reacted publicly, saying Bush's remarks encourage "hatred toward Cuba."

And, I'm just wondering, is it at all just a little awkward for the president of one country to make forward-glance-type remarks about the president of another country when he or she isn't dead ... yet?

We'll talk to U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez from Florida. The Republican lawmaker is a first-generation Cuban. He'll share his reaction to the President's comments ... and on how he's generating his own headlines in the news.

Also tomorrow, here on the blog, we'll bring you a glimpse into a special event recently attended by Michel, and a few of our other colleagues here, on Capitol Hill. It was a special session with the Congressional Black Caucus discussing influential African American voices in the media, namely in public radio. We're still waiting on the photos. Trust me, when we get them, you'll see them.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by the fires in California, and those who might still be in harm's way.

Lee Hill

5:20 PM ET | 10-24-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

Today's TMM: All About Choices

Our theme today was Choices. Choices in education, questioning whether public school systems should allow the U.S. military to run charter schools; the choice to speak-up about politics, and choices when it comes to the health of a child ... and your money.

I have to be honest; we didn't plan it that way. But when we looked at many of the issues currently in the news, and how they seem to follow a common theme, that's just how today's program seemed to naturally evolve (I LOVE it when that happens). Actually, our line editor, Kyle McKinnon, is the one who stepped back, saw the "big picture" and pointed it out to me. Say hello to the people, Kyle...

Hey, people ... it turns out that this program -- whether you hear it on the radio, stream it online or in podcast form -- has such a nice rhythm to it, and we try to I.D. the day's beat early on. Of course, sometimes the program is so "live" and ALIVE that it takes on a heartbeat and life of its own. Credit the host for that. She also prettied-up the "forest-through-the-trees" idea today to make it sing.

We thought all the questions about military charter schools was so interesting that we're also going to follow it on tomorrow's program. You heard from two parents today, with different views. Tomorrow, you'll hear from someone who has studied the issue AND, hopefully, from one other voice about overall trends in high school education. We hope you'll join us...

Also, I wanted to mention the piece we did on the songs of protest. We got the idea from Chris Macias, who wrote a piece for the Sacramento Bee noticing that today's music artists, with a few exceptions, are not as explicit about their own political views in their music as artists were during other times of war. Macias argued that there were subtle political messages in their work. In true Tell Me More fashion, of course, we wondered why. So, we invited both Macias and Serj Tankian of System of a Down on to talk about it.

But now, I'm thinking ... those pieces we heard were sentiments and ideas associated with left-of-center politics. That's logical, after all. What is usually protested? ... If not the status quo (or those in power), recent anti-war messages have been associated with the politics of the left (but not always ... certainly, isolationism in World War I was associated with the center-right).

NOW, I want to know about topical music of the right or center-right political leanings. I don't mean racists. We've all heard (I suspect) about the racist twin-girl singers whose music is being promoted by white supremacist groups. Rather, I'm interested in mainstream conservative political views as expressed by artists. ...Do we not think about this so much because it's so mainstream, especially in the genre of country music (I'm proud to be an American -- how many political campaigns have used that one)? But even that really isn't what I'm thinking about, because that song expresses an ongoing value, pride in nationalism. I'm interested in topical stuff.

So ... anybody want to send some songs our way? If there's an interesting theme. I'd do a follow-up...

Tomorrow. We have a wonderful (I think) conversation with a most unlikely peacemaker. Betty Bigombe was packing for a business trip for her job at the World Bank -- more concerned about whether she had enough shoes for every outfit and paid all the bills before her travel -- when she saw that civil conflict in Uganda was escalating. Most of us would have shaken our heads, turned off the TV and kept packing. Not Betty. She did pack ... but not for her business trip. What she did, and how she did it, might offer one of the more helpful things you'll hear this week about how peace can be achieved ... even in some of the most difficult, intractable conflicts.

That's tomorrow...

Michel Martin

4:39 PM ET | 10-23-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

The Last Minute

Here's a question: how much do you really want to know about how the sausage gets made? Do you like the image of that seamless, effortless broadcast that flows smoothly from one subject to another? Or should I admit how many times my heart rate elevated beyond normal levels this morning (and not because I was thinking about my husband -- or Denzel)?

Okay ... let's just say that this morning's show was not without its anxiety-inducing moments -- although all turned out fine. Got a call late last night from legendary producer Kenny Gamble, of Gamble and Huff fame (The Sound of Philadelphia) that he'd be joining us for today's discussion of the situation in Philly. Did we have enough mikes? Would he get there in time? Would the already booked guests feel slighted? Yes, yes, and no. Thank Goodness.

Why devote a whole program to one city? As their columnists would point out, it's not the murder capital of the country -- in terms of homicide rate per capita, sadly New Orleans would have that distinction. But in terms of the number of murders, Philadelphia has one of the worst rates of the top ten cities. And the depravity of the killings -- the brazenness and the senselessnes -- has caught our attention. What also caught our attention -- thousands of men gathered yesterday to say they want it to stop and pledging their efforts to making it stop. We thought that was worth an hour of our time ... we hope you agree.

And don't worry ... if you haven't heard the program yet, there were many moments of inspiration ... let us know.

Michel Martin

1:08 PM ET | 10-22-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

What Does The Bible Tell You?

Douglas here ... (sitting in for Tell Me More web producer Lee Hill).

Anyone who knows me, knows I'm no shrinking violet. In fact, sometimes I don't know when to shut up. But put me in front of a microphone and somehow ... I forget who I am. Maybe the show producers didn't know that when they told me I'd doing the weekly Backtalk segment with Michel? Maybe no one noticed that my heart was about to jump out my chest?

In the end, after some good laughs, I appreciated the challenge (even though I lost a few hour of sleep over it) ... and maybe I'm giving myself a hard time (it wasn't that bad... I hope), especially given that I was sitting across from a 20-year broadcast news veteran ... Talk about pressure!

Take a listen.You should hear the comments about Bill Cosby and his new book with Dr. Alvin Poussaint.

When I'm not pretending to be Lee - and sweating in the studio - I'm normally a booker for Tell Me More. And there's one thing I'm always looking for in guests - honesty. Doesn't matter who you are - or who people think you are - just tell me what you're really thinking and I'm there. The two guests in today's Faith Matters segment did just that. They were profiled in a new documentary called For The Bible Tells Me So, which is out in theaters this month. The film follows five Christian families as they struggle to reconcile their faith and having a gay child.

Gene Robinson was the first gay Episcopal Bishop (you might remember the controversy surrounding his consecration in 2003). His is a story about being the gay child (and an inadvertent cause celeb). Brenda Poteat is a minister at a predominantly African American church in North Carolina ...and she's the mother of a lesbian daughter. They both call themselves Christian. They both believe in the power of compassion. But when it comes to the issue of homosexuality, The Bible tells them something very different. Their conversation with Michel raises a lot of questions about faith ... and the line between judgment and acceptance.

We're curious ... what does your faith tell you about homosexuality? Have you reckoned with your own religion when someone you know or love came out as gay or lesbian? Has your faith affected the way you think about your own sexuality? Listen to the conversation and let us know what you think.

And be sure to tune in on Monday. Like many cities across the country, Philadelphia is struggling with a rising murder rate - this year, almost one homicide per day. Michel will be talking to Philadelphia's police Chief Sylvester Johnson. Last month he announced his endorsement of a plan to get 10,000 men to help patrol the streets as "peacekeepers"... and this weekend thousands are expected to march in Philadelphia in support of anti-violence measures. We'll be talking about the march - and what's to be done about the surge in violence - with a roundtable of community activists. And members of the music group, Kindred will join us! They'll tell us how their music reflects their roots in Philly. Even if you don't live in Philadelphia - or for that matter a big city - this is one show you shouldn't miss.

Thanks for checking in. I'll be on the lookout for your comments.

~ Douglas

Michel Martin

2:06 PM ET | 10-19-2007 | permalink | comments (6) | e-mail post

A GREAT Commentary ... And Watching the Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama of Tibet greets supporters in front of the Capitol during recent festivities in Washington, DC.

MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

I am remiss.

I flew out of here yesterday to do a remote-location interview, and I did not give an appropriate shout-out to our girl, Teshima Walker (Supervising Senior producer -- our girl for short) for her commentary, which broadcast yesterday, on Tyler Perry's newest film Why Did I Get Married?. I have not seen the film yet; I knew that Jill Scott is in the film because we talked about it when she came on the program. But I had NO IDEA the character she plays wears a "fat suit" and is subjected to some very cruel humiliation by the character who plays her husband in the film.

Anyway, Teshima and I were chatting about it via e-mail (How was your weekend? Blah, blah, blah...) when she unleases this critique that had me rolling! I jumped out of my chair, ran to her office -- which I should have done anyway; she sits only five steps from me, but I digress -- and said, "this is our Can I Just Tell You? for this week."

DO YOU KNOW SHE HAD THE NERVE TO TELL ME NO? She was "too busy."

Anyway, I'll let her speak her for herself, which she is clearly able to do:

LORD, LORD, LORD. When Michel Martin asked me to write a commentary, I thought, Wow! She's so encouraging. She listens to us. She's amazing. But ... I smiled. I was gracious ... and I moved on to the list of 100 other things I have to do daily to prepare for the next day's show. Have I mentioned Michel is persistent? I started to sweat ... I got a little frustrated. You know how you feel when you're nervous -- outside of your comfort zone? I mean, look, writing a special "guest" Can I Just Tell You? commentary is a big deal 'round here. Immediately, I started writing and, I swear, the entire office needed my attention. I couldn't concentrate. I didn't have writer's block, but I was a "Rambling Rose" for the first minute of trying to construct my thoughts! Eventually, I cussed. I thought, Am I going to have to get to work earlier than my 6:30a arrival just to finish this essay?! Then I prayed, Lord help me to hold out. And do you know that I couldn't sleep? ... A cute, fat black woman needs her eight hours, baby. Well, as you know I got through it ... As the segment was being broadcast, Michel sent out a staff e-mail saying, "Teshima is bringing the heat..." I felt happy. She always tells the staff that we shouldn't be afraid to try new things, and to not be afraid of our own success. I'm glad I wrote the commentary ... even if Michel had to "make" me do it. LOL.

Can I just tell YOU? The next time I tell somebody they should do a commentary, give me my props. I do know how to pick 'em, right?

And, I hope you get a chance to listen to the interview about the Dalai Lama today. I was quite interested ... this is a part of the world I do not know at all. The Dalai Lama is quite a celebrity, certainly a great figure on the world stage, but so are other people who have not had his impact. I wanted to know, what accounts for the enormous success of the Free Tibet movement over the years? Is it him, is it the times? I had so many questions...

We were fortunate to have Thomas Laird in town and willing to talk with us. He has just published a book based on some 60 hours of conversations with the Dalai Lama over a three year period. Laird is also quite an expert in his own right, having moved to Tibet at the age of 18 (he now lives in New Orleans).

We also had China scholar Kenneth Lieberthal with us to tell us how China views the United States' recent recognition of His Holiness with the high honor of the Congressional Gold Medal.

And ... Turkey. It's a part of the world that sits, literally, at the meeting of East and West, which makes for an interesting confluence of stories. The story quest by Armenian Americans to have the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks recognized as genocide has been the subject of an emotional debate in the U.S. in recent days. Armenian Americans and their supporters in Congress thought they were close to a Congressional resolution, but support is waning after intense lobbying by administration officials and the Turkish government.

And I just want to say that, while all historical events have their own meaning and do not (and should not) rely on comparisons to have importance, I think I understand both the intense desire for recognition of past acts and the resistance to it. I do, in part, because it echoes debates we have had here in the U.S. As an African American, I understand the emotion many feel as perpetrators of horrible racial crimes are finally brought to justice in the modern era. There is a sense that the victims' deaths were not invisible, nor in vain; a sense that the social compact has been restored to its proper place, a sense that society is willing to say, no more. And yet, as an American, I think I also understand those who say, "let the past be the past," that the only way forward is to go forward ... and that dwelling on the past is exactly what has kept so many societies mired in centuries-old grievances.

I hope it's not crossing the line to say that here is an area where I have compassion for those who struggle to balance moral leadership with political responsibility. It's times like this when I'm glad I don't have to do their jobs.

And, finally, The Women of Brewster Place. I'd love to know ... did you read the novel THEN, in 1982, when it debuted?
Did you LOVE it? ... HATE it?
Have you read it since?
And, does it still speak to you? A musical version is about to debut here in Washington, D.C. We give you just a taste of what you can expect.

We would love to know what you think...

Michel Martin

6:34 PM ET | 10-18-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

The 'What If?' of SCHIP

So yesterday I had to dash out of the office AGAIN to run to the doctor -- different kid this time. Not trying to tell you all my business -- or hers -- but I may have mentioned, I do have twins, they are little, and they have to go to the doctor with some frequency, some of which you can anticipate, some of which you cannot (in our case bee stings, very bad rash ... ).

Here's what occurred to me: my biggest issue was getting out of here and getting them seen by my preferred providers. But once I got appointments it was just a matter of getting them there. Once I'm there, it's taken care of; I think my job is pretty well done. I pull out my co-pay, drop off the prescriptions, and feel pretty good about being super mom (or at least competent mom ... and yeah, I know, take the antibiotic until it's finished ... yada yada yada).

What about the millions of people for whom it's not that simple? I thought, as I pulled out my $20 co-pay, and then another $20 for prescriptions, just how lucky we are. I was so worried on the way to the doctor; so relieved on my way out. And part of the relief was knowing I could take care of my child to the best of my ability.

That's what led me to SCHIP. As you know, we like to do politics on Friday ... and one of the issues in front of us for this week's Political Chat: the boring-sounding health program that has become the focus of furious partisan and ideological disagreement. The Democrats want to expand this program to provide health insurance for kids just above poverty level; (most) Republicans say that's an unwarranted expansion of government and there are better ways to accomplish the same goal. The President vetoed the Democrat-sponsored bill saying if you want to talk about health care, talk about all of it; Dems running for President say that???s exactly what they plan to do.

I'm not one to dismiss partisan or political wrangling as unimportant. Hel-lo ... politics is the vehicle by which government happens. And there are legitimate differences of opinion about how to best get health care to the biggest possible number of people. Market incentives? Single payer? A combination of risk pools?

Anyway, we look forward to that conversation on Friday. So, I want to ask, what kind of policy discussion best serves your interests? Do you want to know the nitty-gritty of details? Or why an issue is going this way or that?

Let me know ... and both kids are feeling better thanks ... and so is Mom.

Before I forget, I do want to point out the diversity of guests on today's show. We had a look back at the life of one of America's best-known Native American activists ... and a visit with one of America's least known, but most influential, African American filmmakers. Plus ... a white mother struggling to make sense of her daughter's awful encounter with the juvenile justice system -- a case that inadvertently got caught up in race, but isn't necessarily about race -- and our monthly visit with the magazine mavens! (We'll miss Betty Cortina, editorial director of Latina Magazine. Betty -- you???re fabulous! Keep us posted on your next move.)

Michel Martin

4:50 PM ET | 10-17-2007 | permalink | comments (5) | e-mail post

TMM's 'Ordinary Oprahs' Returns!

NPR administrative assistant, Wendy Johnson, is pictured with children at a small village school outside Accra, Ghana in March 2007.

James Johnson

Lee, here...

Earlier this year, Tell Me More, or the program formerly-known as Rough Cuts, brought you stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. We called them Ordinary Oprahs, people who use what they have -- little or much -- to make a big difference in either their local community, or the world at-large.

We received an outpouring of listener feedback following our early conversations back in January. Here's a note we received from Jamie:

I really enjoyed this episode. I particularly liked hearing how ordinary people are making a difference. So much media attention is given to the big names who are doing good works - and certainly their work deserves attention - but it's equally important to hear what average Americans are doing because this is where the real inspiration lies. I like the new show! I can't wait to hear more.

(Back when we were VERY new, of course)

And, a note from Lindsey, who wanted us to know she's doing her part:

My dear friend and coworker Rose, who works as a loan processor has funded, entirely on her salary and donations a preschool (Destiny Preschool) and scholarship program in her home country of Belize ... Each year I sponsor two of her graduating students through their kindergarten year for books and uniforms ... Anytime I feel limited in my own capacity to give I think of what Rose has achieved with seemingly very little resources.

And now, again, we want to hear from you ... Do YOU know someone who's making a difference in an extraordinary way? And, yes, feel free to include yourself.

Tell us more about the Ordinary Oprahs in your world ...

Lee Hill

9:03 AM ET | 10-17-2007 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post

This Just In ... A Call from Cosby

So, after we get off the air, who is burning up my phone but ... Bill Cosby. First, he called producer Douglas Hopper, who then passed the phone to me.

It seems he wasn't happy with our interview with Dr. Alvin Poussaint. I've interviewed Cosby before, so I wasn't exactly surprised. He has a habit of (how shall we say it?) ... expressing his views strongly about interviews after the fact ... even, apparently, interviews that don't include him.

But we chatted. It turns out he had a great story idea for us, which I'll keep in my back pocket because we do want to pursue it. Actually, he had two great ideas.

I asked him if he wanted to record something for our Friday BackTalk segment. He said he said no. But, I took notes from our conversation. A bit of which I do want to share ...

While on the telephone, Cosby seemed to be referring to one of my questions to Dr. Poussaint, where I asked him if Cosby's initial critique of dysfunction in black America was, however well-intended, perhaps a bit too caustic, too sharp ... even demeaning.

Here's what he said:

You gotta raise your voice -- you gotta speak. If you don't ... there's too much inertia, too much entropy. How can anybody sit around and watch this stuff [happening] and not cry out? ... Talk to some of these kids ... They don't know who their father is ... They're being watched [or taken care of] by an aunt ... You have to look into their eyes and see what they've already absorbed about who they're supposed to be ... It's not a time for anything [else], except to find the depths of what we need to do [to help solve the problem]... and then do it.

So, there's the passion ...

Michel Martin

4:20 PM ET | 10-16-2007 | permalink | comments (8) | e-mail post

'Come On, People'

Bill Cosby, as Dr. Cliff Huxtable of The Cosby Show, listens to a point made by his grandson Gary Gray during the program's final taping in 1992.

AP Photo

Bill Cosby.

What comes to mind?

A) The loveable Dr. Huxtable?
B) The cute Jello pudding guy?
C) Or, the modern day Jeremiah, sounding the alarm about the state of black America?

All of the above, of course. But it's the latter identity that interests us today. His remarks at a 2004 NAACP gala still resonate with many. He shocked a lot of people, especially black people, with his caustic and (some say) mean-spirited remarks about what's going wrong in the community. But Cosby didn't leave it there. He's traveled the country -- at his own expense -- meeting with thousands of people who want to hear more about how to fix what's going wrong and to showcase the people making a difference. He calls them "call outs."

And now, Cosby has a new book, Come On, People, written with Dr. Alvin Poussaint. Poussaint is a very well-known psychiatrist who teaches at the Harvard Medical School. (Poussaint was also an adviser to Cosby's hit television show The Cosby Show.) So, Dr. Poussaint was with us.

AND ... we were also glad to have a critique from someone with a very different perspective: Professor Michael Eric Dyson, who wrote a whole book taking Cosby to task for what he called his "Blame the Poor Tour."

We also thought it important to have a third voice, Kevin Merida. His newspaper, The Washington Post, edited a year-long series called "Being a Black Man." The stories have been collected in a new book, just out.

It was important us to have that second conversation, and we didn't want it to come-off as a ping-pong match between two guys with a beef. There are serious issues at stake and this, we thought, was an interesting way to convey that and to bring out more issues.

Take a listen. I'd love to know what you think.

I'm especially interested in taking this issue outside the black community. The conversation can feel very internal, but is it, really? Aren't these issues that most Americans are addressing ... but with greater force in some communities than others?

Sure, it's very true that black parents worry about their kids getting caught up in the criminal justice system, or, their kids being TARGETED by violent kids ... or, being PROFILED OR STIGMATIZED by the assumption of criminality -- even if their kids are doing everything right. But, I know white parents who are scared sick of drugs and alcohol taking over their kids' lives (my husband is a lawyer; believe me, I know because I answer the phone at home). I know Latino parents who are very worried about gangs targeting their kids ...

So, is there a way to talk about all of this in a manner that includes all of these concerns, but still recognizes that there are differences?

And, does the Cosby message resonate with any of you who are not black? And conversely, are there folks out there who think he's got it all wrong?

Michel Martin

2:00 PM ET | 10-16-2007 | permalink | comments (19) | e-mail post

Chef Morou, President Koroma Bring Monday Flavor

Sorry folks ... Dealing with a minor medical situation here. One of the kids is sick -- got stung by bees, actually. Yikes. I'm trying to do what I need to do and get out of here.

One of the things we try to do here is bring you stories you're not getting everywhere, or to tell those stories in ways you don't always get to hear everywhere. Africa is a place that we try to showcase, in part, because we don't talk about Africa very often ... unless it's in the context of disaster.

This isn't to diminish any of the problems in Africa; but it is to say that it's also important to pay attention when people on the continent are trying to address them. That's why we were pleased to bring you our interview with Ernest Bai Koroma, the President of Sierra Leone. If you saw the movie Blood Diamond, or if you pay any attention to Africa news, then you know about the use of diamonds to fund the horrible civil war waged across Sierra Leone. Former Liberian Dictator Charles Taylor is set to begin trial for his role in stroking that conflict (we've discussed Taylor on the program, as well). But Koroma was elected as a change agent last month. It is VERY interesting to hear him talk about his vision for Sierra Leone; when is the last time you heard of that country descried as "heaven on earth"?

... And speaking of heaven, we end with a visit with up-and-coming restaurateur Morou Ouattara. Ouatarra is currently competing on the Food Network's The Next Iron Chef. We believe the taping is already completed, but we couldn't get him to tell us who the winner is. Chef Morou's story of how he came here from the Ivory Coast, learned the restaurant business and is now trying to introduce Americans to the flavors of his homeland is yet another story about diversity ... and change. A delicious one.

And in the middle of today's program, a very personal story about how one military man believes that constant deployments helped destroy his marriage. He is not some big expert and he doesn't have a fancy degree. But it's one man's story that's worth hearing. Listen, and tell us what you think.

Now, I gotta go put the mommy hat on ...

Michel Martin

2:23 PM ET | 10-15-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

More on SuccessTech ...

Lee, here ...

We'd been rubbing our heads together about how we might bring you a conversation on the recent shootings at SuccessTech Academy in Cleveland, Ohio. Mind you, our planned conversation Friday was two days after the actual shooting. We knew you'd already been briefed on the what, the when and the who of it all -- you knew there was a shooting ... at a school ... on Wednesday ... by, according to authorities, 14-year-old Asa Coon.

What strikes us as interesting is the fact that this all happened in an urban setting ... across the street from an FBI building in downtown Cleveland, nonetheless. I spoke to a friend from that area; his parents still live there. The school is known to be a "model" school -- a "small, non-traditional" learning environment -- within the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. There is an application process. A student only enrolls after he or she has been "accepted." Even more interesting, the academy is partially-funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Of last year's graduating class of seniors, 100 percent of them went on to attend college.

Unfortunately, before knowing more about the shooter, some may have assumed that the disturbance was another case of urban discourse. SuccessTech is a predominantly black high school. Several of the students live in Cleveland's inner-city.

Still, there were others surprised to learn such a tragedy would occur outside the suburbs, in an urban area. There was the thinking that students from urban settings are sometimes already exposed to neighborhood violence outside the classroom, on city streets ... and that a city school (often "decorated" with metal detectors and security guards) offers an "island" within a community, where students can feel protected from the gun violence that sometimes awaits them outside school doors.

Not so in Cleveland, apparently.

If you haven't already, take a listen to Kenneth Trump, president National School Safety and Security Services. You might be interested to hear what he has to say.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to those wounded in the shootings, including the family of Asa Coon.

Next week ...

Another world leader sits for a chat with Michel. Monday, you'll hear from Sierra Leone's new President, Ernest Bai Koroma, in one of his first interviews with media in the U.S. since being elected last month. Koroma has a difficult road ahead of him. On the agenda: ridding his government of corruption. Tune in Monday to hear how he plans (and he does have a plan) to tackle it all ...

Lee Hill

4:51 PM ET | 10-13-2007 | permalink | comments (1) | e-mail post

Who are you Calling a B****?

Don't ever let anybody tell you we're not broadminded.

As you know, we try to focus on international news on Thursdays. So we were very pleased to have the opportunity to speak to the leader of Zimbabwe's leading opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change. If you've been following the news at all in that country, you know that circumstances are very dire -- inflation is rampant, the economy is grinding to a halt -- to a degree we can't even imagine. A country whose agriculture was once was one of the most productive on the continent is now unable to feed itself. And basic supplies -- food, medicine -- are available only in the black market.

What we wanted to know is, how can anyone live this way? And why is there no opposition to President/strongman Robert Mugabe? There is, of course, but what's it like to try to function as a credible opposition in a country where the leader shows no interest in leaving after nearly three decades in power. Coincidentally, (which is to say, our interviews came together entirely separately!) Morning Edition is running a series this week on opposition leaders and movements around the Globe; if you're interested in Myanmar/Burma, Iran and Egypt for example, pay visit to the Morning Edition program site.

Speaking of the web ... I know this is not everyone's cup of tea. I know it. OK, shield the eyes of any young ones. But if you're interested in a sassy take on politics you have to check out angryblackbitch on the Internet.

We wanted to talk to Pamela Merritt, the blogger known as the Angry Black B****, as part of the series of conversations we've been having about non-traditional paths to power. Here it is ... I wanted to talk to her because she so thoroughly embraces the B-word, which is anathema to many women. Especially if you consider that a jury in New York awarded a female executive more than $11 million in damages because another executive, New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas, insisted on addressing her that way.

So, why does Pamela Merritt feel it's her right to not only to say it, but to embrace it? Where's she coming from?

Only one way to find out. Go to the source. I find her point of view as provocative as her blog.

And I want to ask you ... do you think the B-word will ever become the new "black"? Believe it or not, there was once a time when the word "black" could be easily be interpreted as an offensive term toward African Americans. For instance, "You black so and so ..." Now, of course, it's more embraced as a harmless descriptive term for people of African descent.

So, again, what do you think? Could bitch ever be normalized, in a sense, to become the new black? ... Prompting little to no offense at all?

... And tomorrow, we cap off the week of conversations with a name you probably haven't heard in a while. Want a hint? Let me see ... she was once the toast of New York. Her best-selling memoir taught the birds and the bees to a generation of randy teens. Her name and her country of residence are the same.

Who is it?

Check us out tomorrow.

Michel Martin

8:36 PM ET | 10-11-2007 | permalink | comments (2) | e-mail post

'Tell Me Something Good'

Chaka Khan, 2006.

Getty Images

Why don't 'cha?

I don't know about you, but I'm not sure you can have a bad day with some Chaka Khan in it. Can you?

Did you love hearing your girl Chaka Khan today? Her new album, FUNK THIS, is a mixture of what you expect, and what you don't. For me, the Mary J. Blige collaboration was a revelation -- as well as, let's face it -- it was fun to hear her say how irritating it is when she can't walk down the street without people going, "Chaka Khan, Chaka Khan, Chaka Khan..."

I thought she had a good attitude about it, but I tell you, I sympathize. Remember when that Beatles song Michelle was all the rage? Man, that song used to make my teeth hurt. Everytime I heard it I'd want to run screaming into a closet 'til it was over. I can't even tell you why it irritates me so much. The tune? Because it's my name? I have no problem with Chelsea Morning.

On to more serious matters...

Prison stories.

It's interesting how shows sometimes come together like furniture in a room -- you start with one piece and then the other pieces just seem to find you. I'd heard about Rhodessa Jones because I've seen her brother's work (choreographer/dancer Bill T. Jones) and, as a longtime dance subscriber, I'm on all kinds of mailing lists. I knew she was coming to the University of Maryland. Later, I was was invited to moderate a panel discussion about her work. It was then that I got to know about her Medea Project. I saw a documentary about it.

... THEN we heard about the hearings on the incarceration rates.

And THEN we saw Howard Witt's follow-up piece in the Chicago Tribune on the Shaquanda Cotton case.

As I said, like furniture, one piece leads to another ... I hope it all fit.

Some important international news tomorrow. We hope you'll join us.

Michel Martin

4:27 PM ET | 10-10-2007 | permalink | comments (0) | e-mail post

Debating Justice Thomas

U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas prepares to testify during his 1991 Senate confirmation hearings.

J. DAVID AKE/AFP/Getty Images

Angela Wright.

To some of you that name will be vaguely familiar. To others of you it will not register at all. But if you perform a simple web search on Angela Wright and Clarence Thomas, together, you will learn that she was also a part of the drama surrounding the Senate confirmation hearings that gripped the country 16 years ago.

In brief, Angela Wright is another woman, a former EEOC staffer, who said that Clarence Thomas sexually harassed her when she worked at the agency he once headed. Wright is a former Director of Public Affairs. Like Thomas, she was a young Republican. Like Thomas, she considered herself conservative. And, as she tells us, she considered herself both loyal to him and supportive. But, she says, when she learned of Anita Hill's allegations, she immediately found them credible because she had experienced similar behavior. Wright says she did not consider it frightening; merely annoying. Why, and how, her testimony is little known is the subject of our exclusive interview.

Some of you might wonder why we did not approach Justice Thomas for his reaction. NPR has a standing request for an interview with him in connection with his recently published memoir My Grandfather's Son. To date, Justice Thomas has not granted NPR's request. So, we invited Thomas' close friend and former colleague Armstrong Williams on the program, a decision with which some of you disagree. We think having a conversation with him about Thomas was the right thing to do, as we also believe it is the right thing to hear from another participant in the story with a different -- in this instance, a very different -- perspective and recollection of events.

But, needless to say, we would still appreciate the opportunity to hear directly from Justice Thomas, particularly since Wright directly contradicts the testimony he presented about her, and her reasons for leaving the EEOC. They both agree that she was fired -- it was an at-will position, a political appointment. But in 1991, Thomas testified that it was because she used inappropriate language to refer to another staffer; she says that Thomas merely wanted to offer the position to a close associate of another EEO commissioner. As evidence, Wright points to the glowing recommendation Thomas gave her when she later sought employment at the Charlotte Observer.

Once again, it's she said, he said. Not pretty, but we feel the public is best served when all sides get their say.

And, we hope it wasn't too big of a head-snap for you, but we had previously scheduled our conversation with Karrine Steffans. It is part of our series about women empowering themselves through non-traditional means. We hope you agree that her point of view was also worth hearing...

Michel Martin

7:25 PM ET | 10- 9-2007 | permalink | comments (7) | e-mail post

Happy Columbus Day?

The juice of a whole lemon, mix with honey, hot water.
Drink.

And then there was ... a handful of fresh parsley in 8 oz. of water. Boil, let cool.
Drink.

I have been a virtual lab of home remedies. Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I'm just about back to form, voice wise. My apologies, AGAIN, for inflicting the hoarseness on you, the listening public. I won't make a recommendation, but I WILL say that I made one crucial mistake that I won't repeat: when I first noticed the hoarseness, I tried to warm up my voice by vocalizing before the show ... doing scales, etc. WRONG. It turns out I was irritating what was already inflamed. I should have stopped talking right away (which would have been appreciated by my office mates! j/k). I pass on my hard-won knowledge to you.

So today ... Columbus Day.

Be honest. Do you really think about it? Growing up in New York, Columbus Day was a day off from school. It was very much about Italian American pride, about getting some "sausage and peppers" and torone at the BIG New York parade. But it was also very much about the scramble to figure out what to do with us kids since the parents almost never had the day off.

It wasn't until I became an adult that I realized that there was another side to the coin -- that there was a whole other narrative about what it would mean to be "discovered" in your country.

This is part of the thinking behind of program today. First, the "news" -- Kevin Gover has been selected to lead the National Museum of the American Indian. He will be only the second leader of the museum, succeeding founding leader Richard West. Gover has a controversial history as a former head of the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). In our conversation, he gives his take on whether the controversy is relevant to his new post.

... And by the way, did you know that the BIA has been around for nearly 200 years? If you want a closer look, here's a short video of Gover commemorating the 175th anniversary, back in 2000:

Listening to him today, I think you will be interested to hear what he has to say about whether the National Museum of the American Indian exists precisely to give an alternate view of the dominant history.

Also, if you are on the East Coast, or planning to visit anytime soon, you may also want to check out the African Burial Ground National Monument. The esteemed director of the New York Public Library's Schomburg Center tells us why.

And ... some fun with fast girls on skates (who wouldn't mind me calling them that).

Lastly, in keeping with our theme of cultures colliding, the Spam Allstars -- only in Miami. But we bring them directly to you...

If you're working today, hey, join the party.

If you're off today, hit a museum ... and have a "sausage and peppers" for me, or a fry bread ... or gumbo.

Michel Martin

7:19 PM ET | 10- 8-2007 | permalink | comments (4) | e-mail post

Switching-Up the Lead

Voice is almost back ... at least I think so. Bear with me, just one more day. I think I'm almost there. A big thanks to the pharmaceutical industry.

So, Friday. Something a little different for our Friday lead story. We almost always lead with politics, but today we had the chance for a newsmaker interview -- with the head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

The agency used to be called the INS, but after the Homeland Security reorganization, which came after the September 11 attacks, of course, the functions of Immigration and Customs were folded together.

Listen and tell us what you think...

Julie Myers is the head of ICE. Her nomination was controversial back in 2005 because some U.S. Senators thought she was too young (she was 36 at the time) and not seasoned enough to run such a big agency. Whether she's proved her critics right or wrong is for others to judge, but there is no question that her agency is at the spear of one of this country's most pressing and emotional issues. We wanted to speak with her because we've been covering issues around immigration, both legal and illegal, for some time now.

Of course, illegal immigration gets the most attention. And Myers' agency is getting attention for raids it has been conducting in attempt to round up illegal immigrants facing criminal charges. Criticism is mounting on both sides ??? Some say the raids are abusive and inhumane; others assert that the agency has waited too long to get busy and has, as a result, let the problem get out of control.

What's it like to be between that rock and hard place?

We want to know, so we hope she???ll come back and tell us more.

Have a great weekend...

Michel Martin

7:18 PM ET | 10- 5-2007 | permalink | comments (3) | e-mail post

More on 'The Thomases'

Well I'm back. I never left, actually. Just had to duck-out to the doctor to confirm what I already knew ... I have laryngitis. I apologize, again, for the poor quality of my voice this week. But I am muddling through. It's bad, isn't it?

... I mean, whoever sang "I am Woman, hear me croak"?

But I decided it wasn't bad enough to call in reinforcements. And, who am I kidding? I am selfish. Let somebody else talk to Rita Moreno? I don't think so.

I have another FAB-U-LOUS musical guest for next week, whom many of you know. Actually, whom ALL of you know. She's been out of the studio for quite a while and has just found her way back in. She's with us next week for a combined Wisdom Watch/listening session about her new CD. I'm trying to think of a hint ... OK, how about this: You don't say her name once, but three times ... fast.

The first respondent to guess who I'm talking about wins ... our admiration.

Today's show featured an interview with Anucha Browne Sanders. She is the executive who successfully sued Isiah Thomas and the Knicks for sexual harassment. (Thomas maintains his innocence and says he'll appeal) I had an odd deja vu feeling about this ... We just did a program about Clarence Thomas' new memoir, just published, where he settles old scores, including about the sexual harassment charges leveled at him during his confirmation hearings in 1991. I was a White House correspondent during those hearings: I remember it all and, subsequently, reported a documentary about it for the now-defunct ABC News program Turning Point.

I am sure everybody has opinions about the Justice Thomas ordeal, but, let me say, while people are entitled to their own opinions, they are not entitled to their own facts. I think it is entirely fair to fact-check Thomas' new memoir and compare it to facts established in the public record. We'll be doing that, if we find appropriate and compelling guests.

I also want to call attention to our middle section of the show today: two voices from West Africa. What's the peg, you ask? Why them, why now?

Part of the reason is that Chris Abani has just published a new short novel. It is purposely vague about time, date, and place, most likely during the Biafran war, but clearly in West Africa. I think the vagueness works because the novel tells the story of a child soldier, inaptly named "My Luck."

If you think about it, how would a child -- taught to fight so brutally -- ever really know anything about why he is fighting, or what he's supposedly fighting for? He's fighting because he's been taught to fight.

The story is both beautiful and horrifying, and I hope our conversation conveys some of it. And, we felt it necessary to let everyone know that while Abani's story is fiction, the world he describes is not. Thus, our interview with