NPR: TMM's 'Beauty Shop' Appointment

TMM's 'Beauty Shop' Appointment

Michel Martin (back row, center) is pictured with members of a special Tell Me More Beauty Shop at John T. Elliott's Professional Hair Design in Columbia, S.C. Pictured: (front) John T. Elliott; (back row, l-r) Tressa R. Glover, Katrina Shealy, Ginetta Hamilton and Mary Lynne Diggs. Credit: Monika Evstatieva, NPR

In Columbia, S.C. ...

Well, we made it. Our second remote broadcast! We were in Las Vegas last August, remember? And today and tomorrow, from South Carolina ETV in Columbia -- a really great facility. What a hookup!

We think we had a fine show for you this morning. We know you've heard a lot from Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), as well you should have, given his role -- he is number three in House leadership, and a key reason the primary in South Carolina moved to an earlier date. But I think he passed along some nuggets. Clyburn mentioned what he wants to see in an economic stimulus package: Summer jobs (you heard it here, first). And, you heard his culinary advice: get the shrimp and grits, and barbecue ... don't get it twisted.

Speaking of twisted or, rather, twists, what did you think about our beauty shop conversation? We didn't have time to get into this in the intro (sometimes intros take too long, as it is), but the beauty shops have been a key focus for the fierce Obama-Clinton battle down here. Sen. Barack Obama forces have blanketed black-owned shops, visiting them every two to three weeks.

But the Clintonistas are not giving any quarter. We heard the famous Maya Angelou ad for the first time as we were heading into the studio at the crack of dawn. I must say, it was interesting hearing that famous voice in a campaign ad, asking folks to vote for "my girl, Hillary," just as I am sure it was strange for some to hear Oprah stumping for her Senator, Barack Obama.

... But as I said before, give people respect for being willing to participate when so many are not.

Tomorrow, we have a special Mocha Moms for you with the Mocha Moms of Columbia, S.C. And, a reporter's roundtable. All reporters are here on the scene.

FYI: It is COLD down here. I mean COLD. What is UP with that? Some are saying the weather contributed to poor turnout in the GOP primary last Saturday. But I wonder if it was that, or if the negative campaigning turned people off.

But you do wonder what will happen this coming Saturday when the Democrats in South Carolina vote...

Michel Martin

3:31 PM ET | 01-21-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Brilliant show. Brilliant Host...way too good! Your style, your intelligent questions...you raise the bar. Listened to your program for the first time tonight and it will not be the last.

Sent by John Truex | 8:52 PM ET | 01-21-2008

I am wondering why folks really believe bill clinton was the first Black president: http://www.breitbart.tv/html/33364.html

Sent by Rebecca | 11:48 PM ET | 01-21-2008

IF rep. clyburn is so driven by economic concerns why is the CBC ignoring an certain key issue. The fact that almost 0% of African Americans are involved in the hot field of far deeper mathematics and physics. The CBC has been informed of this topic, yet ignore it. IF this is not link to economics, what is.

Sent by jerry a. Myers | 4:58 PM ET | 01-22-2008

I agree, I'm embarrassed everytime I hear that he is the Black President. It is sooo Aunt Jemima.

Michel
Please review the debate last nite. Obama brought up Wal-Mart & tha''s when Hillary slapped back with Rezko. BTW Rezko is whole lot more serious than what board she sat on.

Last point.
I'm curious why no one is talking about Obama turning down the CBC when they went to the Senate in 2004 to get support to protect the votes cast by the mostly Black community in Ohio? Obama voted no, Hillary voted yes. I have asked his campaign that question many times with no response. I'm still asking

Sent by Pamela | 6:34 PM ET | 01-22-2008

I want Obama to be our next Prez. I aint hearing the stupid conversation 'bout he gonna get killed if he's 'elected. That's the Fear thing kicking us in da butt big time. Too many of us ate FEAR for breakfast, lunch and dinner when we was kids. I remember seeing the cereal box labeled FEAR sitting on the kitchen counter over my friends home when I dropped by to see if Pookie or Sammy Earl wanted to go play ball. We ate some at home too. Don't get me wrong now, but our mama offered us some grits and eggs and bacon every now and then too.They mama, a big woman, be standin' there, starin' down at them, hands on hips, yellin' "An ya betta eat it all 'fo ya get up from dat table!" (Pookie died of an overdose of self-hatred when he was only thirteen. Don't know where Sammy is. Hear he daid too!) FEAR was one of those marked down items bought with welfare stamps and low wages. Ya could get a big family-sized box that would last for days unless one "boyfriend" or 'nother was layin' aroun' eatin' everythin' in sight. When one left 'nother one would show up. Ya go to da cabinet to get some an' all ya find was an' empty box. Another fresh box would show up pretty quick though. Seems we kept FEAR in da house. I remember the FEAR commecial on the radio when we was kids. The refrain of the stupid jingle was "Shut yo mouth, shut yo mouth!" We'd get up and dance ev'rytime it come on. It was usually on during the Amos and Andy Show. We be jumpin' aroun' until dat belt sneaked around da corner of da door n' caught one of us in da butt. We all start ta shakin' den waitin' fo dat belt to keep on comin'. Mamma used to call her belt FEAR. She yell from da kitchen, she say "I gonna put da fear of da Lawd on y'all iffen ya don't stop dancin' in dere!" We sit back down, snigglin' n' holdin' our hands over our mouths so she don't hear us laughin'. Whoever got hit was usually cryin', holdin' in dem deep sobs that told us FEAR was in him or her an' it wasn't goin' away. I thought FEAR wasn't being et by us po' folk no mo'. I thought I seen Martin Luther King's face on some new cereal some of us was eatin. It had this big word on it--COURAGE! Another cereal box had Malcolm's face on it and it was called "MO COURAGE!" Dey kept jackin' the price up on dem cereals so we couldn't afford dem no mo. Soon folks fogot about dem an' we went back to eatin' FEAR. Oh, it has a bright shiny new look, some hoochie mamas is on da back of da box. They done put da faces of some athlete on dem boxes now too. I sho am glad Obama's face aint on none of dem boxes of FEAR. He don't seem like somebody who'd sell out and let his face be put on a box of high fructose corn syrupy flakes labled FEAR!

Sent by George Edward Buggs | 6:43 PM ET | 01-22-2008

Send a Comment

Comments are reviewed and edited by NPR prior to display. All comments will be read, but not all will be posted.

NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its Web site or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.

E-mail this Page

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No
May we contact you with information about NPR programming and services? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No

(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)

E-mail Updates from the Tell Me More Blog

Share Your Story

What would it take to get your vote? Share text, audio or video.

'Tell Me More' with Michel Martin

"Nothing is assumed." That's the unofficial motto of Tell Me More, the new Monday-Friday talk show with host Michel Martin. Grounded in lively interviewing and compelling storytelling, the program seeks to present diverse new voices, cross borders, challenge conventional wisdom and discover how other people think.